Brings

Description

Founded by brothers Peter and Stephan Brings, the band has experienced pretty much every high and low that musicians can experience over the past two decades. By the end of the 1990s, the band, whose members are the sons of famous fathers (Rolly Brings, singing legend Tommy Engel and politician Norbert Blüm), seemed to have already had their best years. Then, in 2000, they hit the jackpot with ‘Superjeilezick’. This rousing power polka has become more popular with each passing year and is now one of the most popular songs in the Cologne dialect, far beyond the carnival season. Thanks to ‘Superjeilezick’, doors opened for Brings in the carnival stronghold of Cologne. A new era began for the band, complete with a successful image makeover.

Then things really took off. Hardly a carnival season in recent years has passed without a new hit from Brings. ‘Poppe, Kaate, Danze’ (initially considered scandalous, now one of the band's biggest hits), ‘Su lang mer noch am Lääve sin’, ‘Halleluja’, ‘Dat is Geil’, ‘Polka, Polka’ and the ever-moving ‘Mama, wir danken dir’ are resounding proof of how well Brings understands the sensitivities and moods of their fellow human beings. They have also developed an excellent instinct for original cover versions: they have breathed new life into ‘Man müsste noch mal 20 sein’ (an adaptation of the 1950s hit by Cologne veteran Gerhard Jussenhoven) and the Zarah Leander evergreen ‘Nur nicht aus Liebe weinen’ with gusto. They know how to seamlessly incorporate gypsy melodies, polkas and other folkloric elements into their own songs and amplify them with the power of
rock music."In a carnival set, we try to capture the essence of a concert in half an hour. We want to make people want to come and see a real concert," says Peter Brings, who, together with his bandmates, puts his heart and soul into every performance with energetic stage performances and tireless live presence on nationwide tours and festivals, as well as at carnival. No one sweats louder, no one expends more visible energy, no band in the German-speaking world lets concert audiences participate in their music in a more tangible and immediate way.

Brings have never minced their words. The fact that their songs have sometimes caused offence has ultimately only made them more popular. Their concerts throughout Germany are attended by thousands of fans every year, and have been for over 30 years.

As their biggest hit says, they are real ‘Kölsche Jungs’ (Cologne boys).

Admission: 6:30 p.m.