Years active 2005–present | ||
 | ||
Origin West Plains, Missouri, United States Genres Indie rock
Southern rock Labels May Apple Records, Bloodshot Records Members Brett Anderson
Brian Roberts
Luke Long Albums Buckle in the Bible Belt Profiles | ||
Ha Ha Tonka, formerly known as Amsterband (they officially changed their name on May 13, 2007), are a band originally formed in West Plains, Missouri and currently signed to Bloodshot Records out of Chicago, Illinois. The band is named after Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton, Missouri.
Contents
Buckle in the Bible Belt
After signing to Bloodshot Records, Buckle in the Bible Belt was released on September 11, 2007. "St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor" released as the first single from that album.
The band's website says that their "dark view of the realities of socio-economic hardship, backwoods prejudices and drug abuse is leavened by wry humor and a deep appreciation for regional storytelling traditions." The lead singer, Brian Roberts, is a cancer survivor who criticizes the American health care system in "This Is Not a Cure for the Common Cold". One reviewer stated that "Ha Ha Tonka make the kind of roots rock that fits the mood of America in the summer of 2008. It's restless, edgy and increasingly willing to address the dark side of This Land."
In 2008 the band opened up for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and was also a part of the 2008 Lollapalooza line up.
Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South
On June 16, 2009, Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South was released on Bloodshot Records. It was recorded at Sawhorse Studios in St. Louis with Jason McEntire who also produced their previous CD. This recording is a taste of the dark side of Ha Ha Tonka.
Death of a Decade
Ha Ha Tonka released their following album on April 5, 2011. To support the record, Ha Ha Tonka began a nationwide "Death of a Decade" tour on March 11, in Springfield, Missouri. The following night the band performed in their hometown of West Plains, Missouri, along with the Antennas Up from Kansas City. Ha Ha Tonka thanked fans at the West Plains concert by selling copies of the new album, even though its release was three weeks away.
Soon before the album's release, the band was featured on the Ozarks episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations.
The album has had several positive reviews including reviews in the Washington Post and Huffington Post and the track "Usual Suspects" was featured as a NPR's song of the day on April 27, 2011.
The song "Usual Suspects" was also used by Turner Broadcasting System as a lead-in for the beginning of Game 3 of the 2011 National League Championship Series featuring the St. Louis Cardinals and the Milwaukee Brewers.
The song "Jesusita" refers to the destructive Jesusita Fire that took place in May 2009 outside Santa Barbara, California.
Studio albums
Songs
Lonely FortunesDeath of a Decade · 2011
Usual SuspectsDeath of a Decade · 2011
Death of a DecadeDeath of a Decade · 2011