Imagine you’re at a sweltering Mardis Gras kick-back. Cajun aromas spike your nerves and thick swamp air hangs and shines as the sun sets over the bayou. Then, out of nowhere, a queen emerges to sing you the most lyrically intricate spoken word jazz story about the human experience, love, and childhood. You don’t have to go to New Orleans to get this experience – Tank and the Bangas brought this undeniably vibrant flare of creole culture through anecdotal poetry, funk, rap, and more to NYC. The New Orleans natives were sensational for Summer Stage’s inaugural summer event, which featured a star-filled line-up of funk, jazz, and DJ acts including The Soul Rebels, Marcus Miller, and DJ Logic.
Audience members roared when the ensemble took the stage and right off the bat, lead vocalist Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball was an absolute force to be reckoned with as she commanded the crowd in a stunning yellow and silver sequin dress. With a captivating genre-blending instrumental presence and unreal lyrical prowess, the band started off the show with their original “Quick”. After the first track, we could tell there was a reason why they won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album in the last year. Tank’s style is a combination of multiple hip-hop and R&B artists combined. The ability to characterize her voice based on impulses and directions her words provide is similar to that of Niki Minaj, while her storytelling ability reminds us of great MCs like Lauryn Hill. All this to say, she’s a performer in her own league and her originality shines from the culture in her veins and brings poetry to our ears.
Accompanying Tank was an insanely talented group of instrumentalists and vocalists who helped to bring the heat during their set especially during a favorite cover of ours, “Another Star” by Stevie Wonder. There was no shortage of spoken word poetry as pieces like “This Black Girl” and “Remember ft. Samara Joy and Robert Glasper” had us closing our eyes to feel the emotion of Tank’s own human experience, a soliloquy of growing up different and finding herself through the chaos of life. Other notable tracks were a cover of “Hollywood Swinging” by Kool and the Gang as well as Big (ft. Big Freida), a song off their Grammy nominated Album Red Balloon, which brought the NOLA funk to NYC.
With the show coming to a close, what other way to end a set than with some rock n’ roll as they busted out “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey mashed up into their original track “The Bradys,” which sounded like something out of a Disney channel movie and had our heads absolutely spinning. Needless to say, Tank and The Bangas brought a refreshing new take on poetry, jazz, hip-hop, and more, making them a must-see act this summer on their US tour.
Connect with Tank and the Bangas on Instagram, Spotify, TikTok and their website.
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Building a More Inclusive NYC Music Scene
On Wednesday (2/18), the NYC venue community gathered at the iconic Brooklyn Bowl for the inaugural session of the groovement's inclusivity training series. In partnership with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and the Office of Nightlife, we explored how to move beyond simple compliance to create spaces where every fan, artist, and staff member truly belongs.
After some welcome remarks from Jeffrey Garcia, Executive Director of the NYC Office of Nightlife, we were honored to learn from an incredible lineup of experts from MOPD who provided actionable insights for our industry: Eli Ramos, Tony Wooden, Arthur Jacobs, and James Irvin led deep dives into disability etiquette while Johnny Colon provided ASL interpretation.
Key Takeaways for Venues
The session bridged the gap between big picture philosophy and daily operations. Here are a few highlights:
- Reframing Disability: We moved from a "medical model" (focusing on what a person cannot do) to a social model, which views disability as a construct that can be dismantled by removing societal barriers.
- Language as a Tool: We discussed the distinction of People-First (e.g., "person with a disability") versus Identity-First language, learning that when in doubt, it’s always best to simply ask.
- Ask, Don’t Assume: A major takeaway for front-of-house teams was to never assume someone needs assistance. The best approach is to identify yourself, ask if they need help, and—if the answer is yes—ask specifically how you can assist before taking action.
- Physical and Digital Access: The team provided a "roadmap" for inclusivity, from ensuring 32-inch clear door widths and 36-inch wide accessible routes to maintaining high-contrast digital content for screen readers.
- The Power of Small Wins: We discussed "readily achievable" barrier removal—impactful changes that don't require massive difficulty or expense but significantly improve the experience for mobility device users.
In NYC alone, nearly one million people live with a disability (a number which is likely understated). This represents a massive community of music lovers that many of our venues are only beginning to reach. Live music is at its best when everyone feels they belong, and seeing this community embrace these conversations shows just how much we can accomplish together. A special thank you to the Brooklyn Bowl team for their hospitality and to all the venues who showed up to lean into this work with us.
This is just the beginning of our series, and we can’t wait to see how these conversations spark real change on our dance floors.
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B-LINE: A 24/7 Lifeline Built for the Music Industry
The music industry finally has a dedicated lifeline. Backline, the premier mental health resource for the music community since 2019, has officially launched B-LINE—the first-ever 24/7 mental health and crisis support line built specifically for the industry. Created in partnership with Vibrant Emotional Health (the operators behind 988) and supported by Spotify, B-LINE provides immediate, confidential access to counselors who understand the specific pressures of the music world. From the grueling nature of tour schedules to the financial instability of creative work, B-LINE is designed to meet music professionals exactly where they are, any time of day or night.
This initiative is a massive step forward for the industry and hits close to home for us. Backline was founded by Hilary Gleason, Kendall Deflin Corso, Tory Pittarelli, and Stephen Grybowski—a longtime groover (check out his groover spotlight here). While B-LINE is equipped for crisis moments, it’s also a vital resource for navigating burnout, anxiety, and substance use before they reach a breaking point. It is a confidential, free service available to everyone from artists and crew members to agents and family members. Most importantly, it’s a "human-first" approach—the counselors focus on supportive conversation and de-escalation, providing a safe bridge to long-term care.
Getting help is straightforward and available in both English and Spanish. Whether you’re on a tour bus at 3 AM or dealing with mid-day burnout in the studio, support is ready.
- Call: 855-BLINE99
- Text: 254-639
No crisis is too small, and no hour is too late. For more details on the service and additional resources, visit backline.care/b-line.