Song Premiere: Ha Ha Tonka - "Made Example Of"

Ha Ha Tonka’s latest album was recorded in a 200-year-old barn, and it only takes a quick listen of “Made Example Of” through headphones to hear the mark the location put on the recording. Produced by Kevin McMahon (Titus Andronicus, The Walkmen), the song features huge, reverb-heavy drums and a surprisingly driving mandolin, which all take on the character of their open-barn surroundings.

“We wanted to make sure we left in all the imperfections of the barn such as the chairs squeaking and the boards creaking,” said singer Brian Roberts on the band’s website.

The track, which appears on the band’s album Death of a Decade, is led by Roberts’ lyrics that explore the frustrations of growing up with lines like “They say that if you don’t change where you’re going, you’re gonna end up right where you’re headed.”

Stream Ha Ha Tonka’s “Made Example Of” below.

The band will also be on tour through the fall, starting in late August. See dates below.

Tour Dates

August
28 – Emporia, Kan. @ Beer:30
27 – Kansas City, Mo. @ Rockhurst College (Rockhurst students only)
30 – Lexington, Ky. @ Cosmic Charlis
31 – Louisville, Ky. @ WFPK’s Waterfront Wednesdays (Free)

September
1 – Baltimore, Md. @ WTMD’s First Thursdays in the Park in – FREE SHOW
2 – Harrisburg, Pa. @ The Abbey Bar
3 – Poultney, Vt. @ Green Mountain College
6 – Hampton, Va. @ Hampton Taphouse
7 – Roanoke, Va. @ Kirk Avenue Music Hall
9 – Charlottesville, Va. @ Dickinson Theater at PVCC
10 – Moorhead, Minn. @ Concordia College
16 – Austin, Texas @ Austin City Limits Festival in
17 – Dallas, Texas @ La Grange (Free)
21 – Des Moines, Iowa @ Vaudeville Mews
22 – Green Bay, Wis. @ Crunchy Frog
23 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ Club Garibaldi’s
24 – Dekalb, Ill. @ The House Cafe
25 – Carbondale, Ill. @ PK’s
26 – Chicago, Ill. @ Cubby Bear (Free)
27 – Bloomington, Ind. @ Castle Theater
28 – Bloomiington, Ind. @ The Bishop
29 – Grand Rapids, Mich. @ Founders Brewing Company Taproom (Free)
30 – Toledo, Ohio @ Frankie’s

October
1 – Rochester, N.Y. @ Water Street Music Hall
5 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Brooklyn Bowl
6 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Kung Fu Necktie
7 – Washington, D.C. @ Rock and Roll Hotel
9 – Athens, Ohio @ Templeton-Blackburn Auditorium
11 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Pour House Music Hall *
12 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Visulite Theatre *
13 – Asheville, N.C. @ Grey Eagle *
14 – Atlanta, Ga. @ The Earl *
20 – Springfield, Mo. @ Lindberg’s
21 – Columbia, Mo. @ The Blue Note

November
23 – Kansas City, Mo. @ The Record Bar
25 – St. Louis, Mo. @ The Firebird
26 – West Plains, Mo. @ Avenue Theater
30 – Denver, Colo. @ Hi-Dive ^

December
1 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Urban Lounge ^
2 – Boise, Idaho @ Neurolux ^
3 – Seattle, Wash. @ Tractor Tavern in ^
4 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Biltmore Cabaret ^
6 – Portland, Ore. @ Mississippi Studios ^
9 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Bootleg Bar ^
10 – San Diego, Calif. @ Soda Bar ^

- * = w/ Jill Andrews
- ^ = w/ Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin