David Shaw and Tarriona ‘Tank’ Ball Bring the Heat to New Orleans’ Musicians on Musicians Event

Even with Bourbon Street bustling outside, nothing matched the buzzy energy of The Jazz Playhouse at The Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans as musicians David Shaw of the Revivalists and Tarriona “Tank” Ball from Tank and the Bangas sat down with Rolling Stone senior music editor Joseph Hudak for the latest installment of the “Musicians on Musicians” series in partnership with Sonesta International Hotels. 

Sitting on stage, closely surrounded by Sonesta Travel Pass guests and a lucky handful of their biggest fans, Shaw and Tank bonded over their unique artistry, friendship, and connections to New Orleans. “The real focus is how place and location influence your creativity,” said Hudak, referring to the city’s culture and how deeply entwined it is with both Shaw and Tank’s music. 

Shaw described moving from Ohio to New Orleans in 2007 to work for a gas company during the rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. “I was a construction worker and also making music,” he said. Coming from what he described as “cowshit and cornstalks,” New Orleans “felt so different and foreign in such an amazing way…Immediately I could tell the city had a special feeling to it.” Still, he is careful to pay homage to the local musicians whose hard work and legacy have carved out the Crescent City as a premiere destination for great live music: “Not being from here, it’s really about respect and respecting the lineage.” 

As a spoken-word artist, Tank—who won her first Grammy in 2025 for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album with Tank and the Bangas’ The Heart, The Mind, The Soul— got her start at local open mics. “What made my open mic night really special is it was a poetry open mic and so I always felt so comfortable to be myself because the poets were so encouraging,” she recalled. It was this support and community that provided her with the space to create her signature combination of R&B and poetry.

“New Orleans is about authenticity,” Shaw added. “Just be you and the wind will carry you.”  

Both artists have been fans of each other for a long time and recently played together at this year’s Jazz and Heritage Festival. “I love a good live show and I love a good live singer,” Tank gushed to Shaw. “You’re like a rock star to me!” Mentioning her influences (which range from poets Maya Angelou and Nicky to musicians like Queen and Tina Turner), she was also quick to add, “The Revivalists are dope, too.”

Asked what people get wrong about New Orleans music, Tank and Shaw encouraged visitors and locals alike to explore the city’s culture beyond the big events like Mardi Gras. 

“There’s an underbelly of a different type of artistry that locals make come alive,” explained Tank. “People in New Orleans entertain every day and half the time the music is free…They pour their life into it because it is a part of us.”

Following the conversation, guests refreshed their cocktails, which included spicy palomas and local rye-based favorite the Vieux Carré, snacked on beignets, then settled in for intimate sets by both artists. Shaw, playing the acoustic guitar, kicked things off with “Come Back Home” off his solo album Take a Look Inside. He then introduced a new song “Lost and Found,” saying, “It’s probably my favorite song I’ve written in awhile…I’m a pretty shy guy, but—dammit—I’m proud of this one!” After more songs and stories, he reluctantly finished with “When You Love Somebody,” telling the audience, “Someone’s gonna have to cut me off because I’m having too much fun.”

Next, Tank took the stage with the Bangas, first playing the contagiously joyful “Spaceships” from 2019’s Green Balloon. The band’s energy never flagged as they moved onto songs including “Boxes and Squares” and a cover of fellow New Orleanian Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World,” with a special spoken word addition by Tank. Calling to the happy audience, she sang, “If you love New Orleans, say it’s a wonderful world!”

As the Sonesta International Hotels hosted ‘Musicians on Musicians’ events continue, Sonesta Travel Pass members will have the opportunity to attend and cheer on celebrated artists in multiple cities throughout this year. Stay tuned for more updates!