Somewhere between industrial music, punk, Brazilian bossa nova and hypnotic minimalism, The Young Gods have spent more than 40 years consistently defying genre boundaries. For Sasha Waltz’s »Reflektor« festival, the Swiss band takes over the late-night slot at the Elbphilharmonie – transforming it into an intoxicating journey through their uncompromising musical landscape.
Several years ago, the musicians first crossed paths with the Sasha Waltz & Guests company. For their own electrifying version of »In C«, they transformed Terry Riley’s minimalist classic into a pulsating experience of sound and movement. This time, the Swiss band can be experienced in two different settings: with »In C« and in the Late Night concert – two formats, one unmistakable artistic voice. »At the beginning, I thought we might last four or five years. But 40 years? No, I could never have imagined that,« says frontman, singer and guitarist Franz Treichler.
Since their formation in 1985, the band has influenced generations of musicians with samplers, brutal beats and a radical aesthetic – from David Bowie to Kurt Cobain, from Nine Inch Nails to Faith No More. Thirteen albums later, The Young Gods remain what they have been from the very beginning: an exceptional live phenomenon. »The Young Gods have always been a live band,« says Treichler. »I love that energy, that fire we ignite together with the audience. People really respond to it.«
PERFORMERS
The Young Gods band
