Ha Ha Tonka

With a "Bible in one hand, broken bottle in the other" (Spin June '09) Ha Ha Tonka return with their sophomore effort on Bloodshot Records, Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South. The album takes listeners on a complex tour of the South?through lynchings and mob violence, sacrifice and reconciliation. It's dense subject matter for any artist, but delivered beautifully on this record by these native sons of the Ozarks from Springfield, Missouri.

Named after an Ozarks state park, the band has earned comparisons to Kings of Leon, Old 97s and Fleet Foxes. Rolling Stone raves that Ha Ha Tonka "occupy the sweet spot between country and indie, writing ornery songs with big hooks."