German pop band performs free concert at North Central

As part of its U.S. tour, the German indie pop band Tonbandgerät will perform at North Central College March 17.  

Hosted by the Goethe Institut in Chicago, the concert is open to the campus community and will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, March 17, in Pfeiffer Hall. Admission is free but advance reservations are required; email Denise.Eiserman@chicago.goethe.org or call 312-263-0472. A meet and greet with the four band members will follow the concert.

Originally from Hamburg, the band has been playing since 2007 and enjoyed its big breakthrough in 2012 when it won the coveted New Music Award in Germany. In 2013 it released a critically acclaimed album “Heute ist für immer” (Today is forever) and is on a four-week tour in the United States. North Central is its only Chicago area stop.

“Tonbandgerät sings in German,” said Gregory H. Wolf, professor of German at North Central College. “There’s a misconception that all Germany bands sing in English. Tonbandgerät’s music and lyrics present a vibrant image of contemporary popular music in Germany. There are a number of highly successful German bands that sing in German and Tonbandgerät is one of the best.”

The Goethe Institut, a not-for-profit German cultural organization, promotes the study of German and fosters an awareness of German culture. This concert at North Central is part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the sister-city program between Chicago and Hamburg, the country’s second-largest city located in northeastern Germany.