A lot helps a lot. Those who don't believe that have never been to a Tequila & the Sunrise Gang concert. The eight-piece combo from Kiel blows their audience out of their socks with a mix of reggae, rock and ska. Bands like the Mad Caddies, Less than Jake and the Beatsteaks, who got the live monster from the North into the supporting programme, already took advantage of this. With guitars, drums, bass, organ, trombones, saxophone and trumpets, Tequila & the Sunrise Gang roll over their audience like a multi-instrumental whirlwind. The lyrics are as diverse as the music: they deal with parties and youth memories, but also with pollution of the seas and social injustice. On April 20, 2018 the band's fifth studio album will be released. "Of Pals and Hearts" is like its predecessors highly danceable, but also strikes calm tones. "2017 was a rough year for me. Privately, but also in relation to world affairs," explains front-man Ren? Unger. "There's nothing better for songwriting than intense emotion - from any direction." They retreated to their homeland to write. Most of the texts were written in 2017 in Sch?nberg, close to the beach and with a view of nature. That can be heard and seen. Album cover and song selection reflect the battle between anger and euphoria, calm and storm. The live recording of drums, bass and guitar do the rest: "Of Pals and Hearts" is a rousing hurricane that goes to the heart and legs. In addition to serious issues such as grief, refugee policy and environmental pollution, "Of Pals and Hearts" is above all an ode to friendship. "No matter how crazy the world is, with friends you'll stand up to the worst storm," says Unger. After a common youth on the beach of "Kieilfornia" a more than suitable topic to celebrate 16 years of band history.
