On tour with Sommersöhne This summer, one of Germany's most prolific bands headlined six of the country's biggest festivals. Playing to crowds of thousands, I followed Sommersöhne through the part of the festival circuit, and witnessed the enthusiasm for a German band amongst internationally acclaimed acts.
Photo: Lena Müller. All rights reserved.
If you haven't heard of Sommersöhne, then you must not be living in Germany. With two #1 albums and several chart topping singles, Leroy Sommer, Leon Sommer, Jonas Sommer, and Noah Sommer are no strangers to success in their home country. Leroy Sommer has seen international success with his role as Steve Harrington in the Netflix original Stranger Things, while Leon and Jonas have released multiple albums under their synthwave side project, STARLINER999, and found acclaim in Scandinavia and the US. The four, however, are undoubtedly at their best when they take the stage as Sommersöhne. An energetic act that's an amalgamation of talent, showmanship, and homegrown, folksy music that resonates with an audience of all ages.
21 - 23 June 2019, Hurricane & Southside Festivals
Hurricane Festival is the largest in Germany. Pulling in big names from all over the world (this year's headliners included Foo Fighters, Tame Impala, and The Cure), it pulls in more than 70,000 attendees. Southside Festival occurs simultaneously, drawing roughly the same lineup as Hurricane. The air is thick with positivity and those in search of a good time, as festivals often are. The number of acts grows every year and a spot on one of two main stages becomes increasingly covetous.
Sommersöhne takes the stage as the sun begins setting and the energy is huge from the very start. They waste no time and demand a rush from their audience with their single Wohin du Gehst, a song lead with the pounding of a kick drum and deep vocals that make the crowd stare wondrously and, at the same time, scream along with familiar lyrics.
The set is a smooth ride from start to finish- high energy and a soft transition into their calmer songs, such as Barfuß am Klavier, where lead singer Leroy takes to a grand piano and serenades the audience with a song of lost love. For the most part the audience is silent, and from backstage the captivation with his tone is palpable. It's a serious and mournful song sung by a typically cheerful young man in his mid-twenties. This mood does not hang over the band for long, rounding out their set with Marie.
I've met the band before on numerous occasions. There at the beginning, I - along with the rest of the country - have eagerly consumed all of their works and watched them grow as musicians. Sommersöhne has had a distinct impact on the independent music scene in Germany, their shows focused on highlighting local indie talent and seeking a dedicated audience in their home country (especially in their home city of Cologne) rather than internationally. To that, Leroy (lead vocals, pianist, as well as lyricist, commonly referred to as Roy) has to say:
"I can only write in German." He laughs, sitting shoulder to shoulder with his brother Leon (guitarist, backup vocals). "I tried it in English once and the result was... to put it frankly, it was shit." Leon takes a drag from his cigarette and nods to confirm. This doesn't seem to bother Roy. The after party isn't as over the top as after parties are usually advertised; it's the band, some friends, and a few other familiar faces from artists both international and local to Germany.
"We're calm." Jonas Sommer tells me, offering me a water bottle sometime after midnight. "Ordinarily we're in bed before 11:00pm... except for Leon. He doesn't join us for morning runs." He asks if I'd like to join them, and I politely decline... for now.
Photo: Lena Müller. All rights reserved.
4 July 2019, Kosmos Chemnitz
To put it mildly, Roy is a big fan of clothes.
He's dressed in shorts and a Kate Bush t-shirt when he lays out an outfit for me. The shirt and trousers are custom Gucci, a collaboration which Roy stumbled upon largely in part to "my mother [singer Lina Sofia] being who she is" (his words, not mine). His initials are embroidered into the cuff of his right sleeve, on the left is a bee. He hasn't left his brothers to their own devices- rather, each of them is dressed in their own custom pieces.
Roy pulls his t-shirt off. I ask him if he's always been so sharply dressed, and he shakes his head. "No, not at all, I enjoy making clothes more than wearing them." He pauses to consider his statement. "Maybe I enjoy wearing them just the same now. But I've always loved a matching ensemble. Something else I owe to my mother," he smirks, "She used to put us all in matching clothes. For, like, every summer vacation. There's a cohesion to it that brings about this kind of, like," he makes a vague gesture with his hands and stalls for time. Leon interjects with one word:
"Synchronicity."
Leroy snaps his fingers and gives his brother a thumbs up. At Kosmos, the four brothers enter the stage in similar suits to a chorus of screams and hollering. Slowly over their set, each of them loses at least one article of clothing: a jacket, a vest, Roy's shirt has let loose a few buttons and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows by the time he sings their penultimate song, Oft Gefragt.
Photo: Lena Müller. All rights reserved.
13 July 2019, Happiness Festival
There's a heatwave rolling over Europe and the brothers have a singular need to cool off. Tempers aren't running high- quite the opposite, in fact. The Sommers have an effortless vibe that extends not just between the four in the band, but every sibling that dips in and out of their festival tour. There's Malte Sommer - best known as a leading man in Hollywood, an Oscar nominee that's following in his father's footsteps - Malte is the second oldest sibling that mixes drinks and has a cheery disposition. There's also Flora Sommer, whose recent success in the United States is a hot topic of conversation amongst critics and music enthusiasts alike on social media. Roy comments on his sister's success as he and the boys get ready to take a dip in a nameless stream- a tradition, it seems, for a collective of farm boys (and girl) who can often be found walking barefoot in the area surrounding a festival.
"We don't like to compare." He tells me, kicking off a pair of Birkenstocks, "Though others seem intent on it."
The brothers stand in the water for awhile, an image similar to the video for their song In meinem Bett, a slow song that tells the story of a person enrapt in the image of their partner lying in bed. It's a familiar sensation that's paired with an underlying relaxed guitar riff and warm vocals, and the live performance matches the tone of the record.
Leroy holds his microphone only a few hours after he and his brothers leap from a low bridge into the river below, and for just a second I can see Leon smiling. It's a rare sight, one I've only seen twice: in the middle of the performance at Happiness Festival, and when he emerges from the water of that nameless stream.
Photo: Lena Müller. All rights reserved.
1 - 3 August 2019, Szene Openair
August marks the end of festival season, and there's a sadness that pairs with the end of every era, no matter how big or small. Szene Openair isn't the largest festival (that honor goes to Hurricane/Southside), but it's packed with music enthusiasts, and some of Sommersöhne's frequent collaborators. Friends and former tour-mates Von Wegen Lisbeth are part of the Szene lineup (as well as Foals and up-and-comer Lewis Capaldi) and the energy of the group reads as old high school friends (it should be noted: many of Sommersöhne's high school friends join them on tour, including Gymnasium schoolmate of Roy's and band photographer, Lena Müller) reuniting for the first time in a decade. Roy greets Von Wegen Lisbeth's singer, Matthias Rohde, with a hug that sends them both tumbling to the ground, and neither of them get up for a long time, holding conversations from the floor.
These backstage antics are the perfect example of the one word that sums up a Sommersöhne set:
Joy.
Roy has garnered a reputation for being both content and happy, an infectious smile that's been commented on by media and fans alike. He's not the only one that brings joy to the group, however.
Leon Sommer is consistently straight-faced, a grin is rare and his demeanor off-stage is reserved, but as soon as he takes the stage he comes alive. He approaches the crowd with enthusiasm, he sings along with them, holds his hands out to them, invites them into his world as he strums his guitar and plays his harmonica. His harmonies are perfectly paired with Roy's and occasionally the two exchange glances, a definitive nod before they slide into a harmony like the chorus of Du bist Anders. "We've been harmonizing since we were tweens." Leon says with a shrug. "That's a long time to get it right."
Jonas Sommer, the bassist, avoids the microphone effortless ease. He leans forward, hunches over his instrument, and plays with expert precision. Though he doesn't often lift his eyes to meet the audience, his presence is still felt. Off-stage, he proves to be a courteous and engaging personality, the cliché of the quiet bassist shattered.
Noah Sommer is (as his brothers say) "the kid that just wants to make noise". To Noah, the drums are a collection of cookware and his drumsticks the wooden and metal spoons found on every kitchen counter. Of course, his drumming is hardly chaotic. He's the backbone of the group, kick drum leading a majority of Sommersöhne songs, steady beats occasionally making way for a solo. Noah doesn't say much (both on stage and off), but a bright smile and liveliness as he drums sets the tone for a joyful performance.
At the end of every set the brothers come together at center stage and wrap their arms around eachother's shoulders. Smiles are shared as they take a bow, wave goodbye, and exit the stage in a commotion of conversation and song.
Photo: Lena Müller. All rights reserved.
Saying farewell is bittersweet. I've spent several weeks on and off with Sommersöhne, a group of musicians who give a sense of hospitality that extends not only to those they invite backstage, but to their audience. Sommersöhne is a band that never seems exhausted by their demanding schedule. Sommersöhne is a band that wants to make a crowd of 10,000 feel as if you're at a house party. Sommersöhne is a band that, live or on their albums, meets you where you're at, holds out their hand, and asks you to run with them.
Summer may have come to an end, but the Sommers have plenty of time before they'll stop.
As we utter our final goodbyes each brother ends festival season in his own unique way: Noah takes a picture of the stage they performed on and sends it to his girlfriend, Leon packs his guitar into a van that's ready to burst, Jonas stops to take photos with fans that politely ask him for a selfie, and Leroy walks me to my car, thanking me for my time and wishing me a safe journey ahead. Sommersöhne Szene Openair Hurricane Southside Happiness Kosmos Chemnitz Summer Festival Köln