CLOSEUP Tank and the Bangas

CHARLES STEINER

An in-depth profile of the exciting New Orleans band, as they surge to national prominence. The doc pulses with Tank’s fiery poetry and the band’s infectious music that defies categories. In high school Tank Ball was a national champion spoken word performer, and later brought her innovative word play and performing magic to the concert stage while creating a family of musicians. Filmed over a year, as their gigs went from their own backyard and small clubs to major festivals, the film traces their journey with interviews, concert footage and a rare look into their artistic process and musical influences — church preachers and Jay-Z to Disney cartoons and Miles Davis. After filming completed they won the NPR Tiny Desk Contest (out of 6000 entries) and immediately were granted national and international tours, and in 2018 signed with a prominent label who released the first recording in April. Billboard pronounced their performance at Coachella as one of the best. The film reveals where they come from as individuals and how they came together as a solid community of performing artists.