2nd Album Teaser “Lessons” Revealed w/ ELLE
4th LP Out 9/24 via Bloodshot Records + Fall Tour
“ …deep-fried vocals effortlessly ride a bright, pinched melody”. – SPIN
“stripped-down, rustic instrumentation to provide the bedding for an immersive listening experience” – Paste Magazine
“southern rock meets The Cure.” – My Old Kentucky Blog
Ha Ha Tonka is an unmistakable indie-meets-Southern rock band comprised of Brett Anderson, Lennon Bone, Lucas Long and Brian Roberts. Sitting at the crossroads of Americana and indie- where Alabama meets Arcade Fire- the quartet are primed for the release of their highly anticipated fourth full-length album, Lessons, on September 24th via Bloodshot Records.
Previously revealed album track “Colorful Kids” is both bright and melancholy, the upbeat melodies belie its darker subject matter. Today the band shares a second taste of Lessons, revealing the title track with ELLE. A bittersweet cut filled with buzzy, distorted electric guitar that perhaps carries the message of the album truest to form, check out the “Lessons” stream HERE .
Sonically, Lessons marks a departure from Ha Ha Tonka’s more stripped down style to one that is filled with lush instrumentation. As the title implies, the inspiration behind Lessons stems from life’s biggest ones. Motivated by late illustrator and renowned children’s author Maurice Sendak’s musings on the creative process and what it means to be an artist, the band captured this message and the fragile, oft-irrational comedy of life in sonic form.
Named after Ha Ha Tonka State Park in their native Missouri, the band has become renowned for its authentic, effortless brand of indie-Americana, seamlessly fusing the traditional with modern, contemporary elements. Having played alongside the likes of Old 97s, Murder By Death, Langhorne Slim, Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin, Meat Puppets and more, Ha Ha Tonka will take to the road this fall on a full North American tour. Be sure to catch their captivating live show in your city!
Ha Ha Tonka on Tour:
9/26: Cincinnati, OH @ Midpoint Music Festival
9/27: Columbia, MO @ Forrest Rose Park
9/28: Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
10/2: Las Vegas, NV @ LVCS
10/3: San Diego, CA @ Casbah *
10/4: Los Angeles, CA @ The Satellite *
10/5: San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside *
10/7: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir *
10/8: Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo House of Music *
10/9: Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
10/11: Salt Lake City, UT @ Garage On Beck *
10/12: Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive *
10/18: Springfield, MO @ Lindberg’s
10/19: Ozark, AR @ Mulberry Mountain – Harvest Music Festival
10/22: Iowa City, IA @ The Mill *
10/23: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry *
10/24: Green Bay, WI @ Crunchy Frog *
10/25: Milwaukee, WI @ Club Garibaldi *
10/26: Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall *
11/8: Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe *
11/9: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern *
11/11: Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
11/13: Cambridge, MA @ TT The Bears *
11/14: New York, NY @ The Studio *
11/15: Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy *
11/16: Washington, DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel *
11/18: Knoxville, TN @ Barleys *
11/19: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl *
11/20: Nashville, TN @ High Watt *
11/21: Little Rock, AR @ Stickyz Rock n Roll Chicken Shack *
11/22: Dallas, TX @ Club Dada *
11/23: Austin, TX @ Stubbs Jr *
11/29: St. Louis, MO @ Plush
* Samantha Crain supporting