Burrata, red wine and a whole lotta holiness
Like, wow! I knew when I bought tickets for Tarriona “Tank” Ball's book reading for Vulnerable AF I would be in for a time but... y’all. I did not expect to be taken in. I did not expect to be ushered into her personal sanctuary. Tank and the Bangas were already top five for me - musicians, creators, artists, writers, etc. so when I saw that Tank was releasing a book I knew I wanted that book. I knew that I would be in for a beautiful experience and... y'all. It was more than I could have even dreamed to anticipate.
Showing up to City Winery here in Atlanta I was ready for good food and good vibes. I ordered the burrata, wine, and kale salad with grilled chicken. Whew. Food, okay. The atmosphere was dope. The stage setting was simple but impactful with an oversized copy of Tank's book and one microphone center stage. Before Tank took the stage, a beautiful soul, Sha’Condria "Icon" Sices-Sibley came out and took us on a beautiful ride with readings from her new book My Name is Pronounced Holy. I wasn't ready for how fulfilling Icon's set would be. Our good sister put on a show. She sang and when she was done sanging she painted pictures of the women before her, hot combs, old neighborhoods, grandma's arms, and aunty's thighs. In that moment all the little black girls in the room were connected to her up on that stage, connected to the other black women in the room, connected to those experiences that we all have. No, black people are not a monolith, but my God our lived experiences makes it seem like we all grew up in the same neighborhood, in the same household, with the same grandmothers yelling don't let the air out. If you haven’t read her book, I’m recommending from the bottom of my heart that you go get your copy.
Thank you for showing up in your full holiness. - Icon
Message signed in my book.
Then, as if it wasn’t good enough that Icon gave us everything she had with her set, she introduced Tank. Icon was like the intercessory prayer and Tank was the sermon. Listen, and that sermon delivered us. Vulnerable AF is honest. In the reading and in the live delivery, I felt as though Tank held up my stuff in front of the congregation.
Tank even gave us hymns from her music within the set. It was beautiful. Y’all, it is beautiful.
If you have an opportunity to get tickets to a book reading or live Tank and the Bangas show, do not hesitate. It's intimate and honest. It's black women pouring into you in a way that makes you feel seen and heard and known like only black women can do.
After the show we had an opportunity to greet and take pictures with Tank and Icon. We poured into them as gratitude for what they have given to us.
If you’re not familiar with Tank and the Bangas please go to your streaming app and check out their music. You will fall in love. You will feel seen. You will keep going back for more. Start with Think Tank and get your life.
What a fucking night.
