Santi and The Hanky Tanks (2022 – Present)
Santi and The Hanky Tanks is an ensemble music group (a band) that plays mostly upbeat and super cool dancy country songs – sometimes a ballad or two sneak in there.
Our act consists of songs, crowd work, comedy bits, gags, little stunts, props, joy, excitement, drama, conflict, and friendship. We play every year at Santi’s Love and Country County Fair.
We are based out of Vancouver, BC, Canada – except Tony who is one of the most country people in the band (and the world) and lives in the countryside of South Spring Island. Tony and Santi are best friends, but a year ago Tony moved to Salt Spring to build a house in the countryside and live life wylin’. He left Santi behind, and also left Josy behind, the love of his life (she is a city girl uninterested in the country life). Two weeks ago Santi joined Tony to learn about the country life and The Hanky Tanks were born, so here we are.
You might be thinking, what do some city folks from Vancouver know about country anyways? And the truth is, not much, but it’s really taken us by storm. At first we were just listening to it, and then we started relating to it, especially with the songs about feelings. Next thing we knew, everything had changed and we were bouncing back and forth between moral and immoral doings, with songs pouring out of us like blood from a stab wound. And with the songs came truths (also pouring out), and to be honest, some truths were harder to handle than others, and some people resorted to violence and others to tears. Some people fell in love, other people got hit over the head. Anyways, every time we get on stage we give it our all to honour and to become part of the country lifestyle, no matter the cost. The country that includes everyone and gives working class folks some truths to yell out in the presence of one another.
We perform in all sorts of shapes and sizes with our lineup being made up of:
- Santi Henderson, vocals and guitar
- Tony “PP Twang” Charrette, drums and vocals
- Gabe Shepard, piano
- Jason Tait, electric guitar and handsome
- Tamlin Vetter, trumped and harmonica
- Brenna Rosen, vocals and bass
- Juliette Stephens, harmonica and vocals
- Neil Madill, bass and electric guitar
