Ha Ha Tonka, March 5 at Star Bar (CANCELLED – New Date)

Photo by Calvin Engel courtesy of Bloodshot Records

UPDATE: In a turn of events good for the band and only somewhat less good for us, Ha Ha Tonka has been picked up to support the national tour of Murder by Death. They will still make it to Atlanta this spring but we will have to wait until April 20th and the show will now be at the Masquerade.

Ha Ha Tonka is a talented quartet of so-called indie rockers out of Missouri. Their unusual name is derived from a state preserve in the Ozarks which, depending on who you believe, was derived from the Osage Indians’ name for the local tributary or a wealthy businessman who originally owned the plot and thought that the name “Gunter” was a bit dull.

In any event, one thing the band Ha Ha Tonka is not, is dull. Their website’s tag line is still “foot stompin’ indie rock” and we will agree that applies in full force to their debut release on Bloodshot Records, 2007′s Buckle In The Bible Belt. It was one of our favorite records of that year and relied on it’s foot stompin’ aspects to great effect. With clear influences from country, blues, traditional music these boys also have a taste for old fashioned classic rock.

Their latest release, last year’s Novel Sounds from the Noveau South, drifted away from that rollicking sound and the traditional roots influence. There is nothing on the new record to match to bounce or darkness of “Gusto” or their a cappella version of the traditional gem “Hangman” (which they execute quite well live we might add), but that doesn’t mean it’s not a good record, just a slight departure from the first. When you’re a young band that’s called growth.

One thing we do know is that this is a show you do not want to miss. They do not venture into Atlanta often and aren’t even at the top of this Team Luis triple bill, but in our view they are the one band you want to see Friday night at Star Bar. $7.

These tracks are from their latest release.

Listen: Ha Ha Tonka – Walking on the Devil’s Backbone

Listen: Ha Ha Tonka – Close Every Valve on Your Bleeding Heart

Posted in Live.