- Kate Thompson
- Mar 20, 2023
- 3 min read
‘‘The Last Days are Coming’… spend them making Jazz hands to this gloriously ‘apocalyptic carnival Rock n Roll’ sound of the weirdly named Tankus the Henge. A fine end-of-the-world tribute indeed.
Intelligent, uplifting gypsy-style 'jump about and stomp your feet music', Tankus the Henge bring colour and sound to life, as vivid and as vibrant as your psychedelic dreams.
This London-based band have been tipped for great things by the PRS (Performing Right Society) and featured in the Top 10 Acts to See at Glastonbury, and I can see why.
A Rock 'n' Roll sound with a difference
A raucously sonorous and gloriously vintage-sounding six-piece band of incredibly talented musicians playing not just the usual guitars and drums, but a piano, trumpet, sax and even an accordion! And rumour has it there was also a trombone. I thought I’d imagined it, but it was real…
When I first saw them live, they transformed the quiet Bristol night into a wild and frenzied circus of energy and fun. It’s a curious mixture of Rock 'n' Roll meets Jazz with trace elements of Reggae (yes, really) and perhaps even a touch of Ska, set off by a Victorian fairground vibe in its gypsy-carnival, folk rock cacophony.
Jaz Delorean, the showmaster
Jaz Delorean is the good looking, piano playing showman who whips up the crowd like a circus master with his passion and presence. His voice is a pitch-perfect gravel on velvet that could make a girl melt but is so damn loud has everyone just jumping up and down.
He’s a great front man in that he engages well with the audience and there’s an underlying sense of humour there which makes him very watchable. The audience seem to hang on his every word. His bright red, flamboyantly frilly shirt cuts quite a dash alongside the bowlers, top hats and squeeze box.
Regulars of the festival circuit, this high energy band has every single person clapping, singing along and stamping their feet.
What is a Henge and why is it called Tankus?
I asked Jaz about the unusual name of the band – I mean, what is a Tankus the Henge? Is it anything to do with tanks or Stone Henge? He told me, “The name of the band was written in ink on the label of a bottle we found on a beach in Louisiana. Still don't know what it means!”
On how the band met, Jaz said, “Some of us met at college, then the others were found after we went on a gay speed dating day as a joke.”
Secrets of the original band members
Jaz Delorean sings and plays piano, trombone and accordion. He writes most of the songs in the shower. A real fairground upbringing, he almost permanently wrecked the staircase of his rented Hackney home getting a piano given to him by a pantomime dame up them...
Dan Mason plays bass, sings backing vocals and works in a drag queen cabaret bar.
Louis Schultz-Wiremu plays sax, is half Maori and has an awesome name. Flying the flag for Lewisham.
Jake Stoddart plays trumpet and sings backing vocals. Came to play on the record in 2009 and never left. Probably the best dressed member.
Will Stanley joined the band on drums in August 2012, after the Colombian drummer Seb was refused a Visa. Being from Charlton, Will had no visa issues. Ladies watch out.
Tim Fulker plays guitar and is affectionately known as the Hobbit. Also runs Kingston and is a mean acoustic fingerstyle guitarist too.
See Tankus the Henge on Tour
When I first saw them live in Bristol in 2013, Tankus the Henge were on tour to celebrate the launch of their same-titled debut album of eleven songs which range from upbeat to thoughtful, including the stonking Recurring Dream and the gorgeously ethereal Riddles.
One of the best tracks on their debut album is The Deviationist Society with its lyric: “The fool who brings a knife to a gunfight - ends up - six foot below!” It is vaguely reminiscent of Carter the USM from the late 80s when these boys were still in nappies and brings the album to an exciting climax before the perfect ending of The Last Days are Coming.
Since then, they have released their third studio album Luna Park! and are often on tour across the UK and Europe.
This is an upbeat powerhouse party of a band that will lift your spirits and take you on a journey of joy.
Don’t miss seeing them live. It’ll be the end of the world one day... See Tankus the Henge - you won’t regret it, I promise you.
Words by Kate Thompson.
Article updated from the original published on Rhythm of Red, 2013.
Find out more about Tankus the Henge at www.tankusthehenge.com.