Ha Ha Tonka (the State Park) Vs. Ha Ha Tonka (the Band)
I grew up in the Ozarks near one of the most beautiful state parks in the state and probably the midwest, Ha Ha Tonka state park. This little area is nestled up against a quiet arm of the Lake of the Ozarks and includes an island, a castle, a spring, cliffs, and karst everywhere.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I was reading Metacritic, a website that compiles media review information, and found out that Jim Caligiuri from the Austin Chronicle put the band Ha Ha Tonka on his top 10 albums of 2007 list. How many people would use a name like Ha Ha Tonka?
Turns out Ha Ha Tonka (the band) and I have more in common than I thought. I found out that they’re a band from Springfield, Missouri, the same place from whence I was just sprung after graduating from Missouri State. Famous Springfieldians include Brad Pitt and Bob Barker. Ha Ha Tonka (the band) used to have a stupid name, Amsterband, but wisely chose something appropriately more twangy and ready to rock.
After I found out that this band had indeed called themselves Ha Ha Tonka after the state park, I headed over to their MySpace page to check them out. Turns out they’re a bit Kings of Leon, and really work that whole Drive-By Truckers souther rock odyssey thing. Their first album is called “Buckle on the Bible Belt”–a title that very accurately describes Springfield, MO–and is filled with gospel harmonies and crunchy southern rock guitar.
Now here’s the real kicker: how is it I’ve never heard of Ha Ha Tonka (the band) before? Why did I have to hear about them now that I’ve left Springfield?
Oh, well. Visit Ha Ha Tonka (the band) on their website.
