Der brennende Zirkus -- German for "the burning circus" -- is a Berlin-based jam band using an interesting approach to live composition.

If you ever come visit Berlin Music City in the summer, you'll find parks full of live music on a sunday afternoon. Likewise, you find buskers all over the city.

One development I have noticed in this city are bands who are using beat boxing and instruments along with loop stations to create impressive live shows. Some time ago, we covered Awesome Music Night Vol. 1 featuring Rider's Connection, a reggae band whose percussion is 100% beatboxing. Also featured in this event was Tanga Elektra -- an electro soul trio made up of a drummer and guitarist and an e-violinist who uses loop stations for live layering.

Another part of this is Der brennende Zirkus, who use the common guitar and bass, while layering beatboxing. This way, the band maximizes impact in a live setting enabling percussion, effects, and vocals with a microphone and a loop station. You can find such bands often performing in parks in Berlin, like so:

Shoutout to the german Oma in the video. 

As for the lyrics, "weit weit weg" means "far, far away" and the lyrics "...und doch so nah" translates to "and yet so close". It is a rather dreamy tune with pleasant effects and acoustic finger-picking which gives an introspective feel. Their park performances are an exciting medley of hiphop, reggae, house, and funk.

posted by Mike
August 2017