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You’d probably be forgiven for not having an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of gypsy punk; after all, it’s hardly the most mainstream of genres. In truth, though, it’s difficult to know if that’s even the most appropriate tag to apply to Gogol Bordello; they certainly take plenty of influence from gypsy music, not least through their incorporation of the accordion and the violin, and the energy that they pour into their live shows and rigid adherence to their own aesthetic means they have the punk side taken care of, too. It’s just that Gogol Bordello, often, feel utterly uncategorizable.
Led by irrepressible frontman Eugene Hutz, Gogol Bordello had slowly begun to carve out an underground reputation for themselves by the mid-noughties, mainly thanks to their raucous gigs and apparently never-ending touring schedules. Rapturous critical acclaim for their fourth album, though – 2005’s ‘Gypsy Punks: Underground World Strike’, as well as a series of incendiary television appearances helped expose them to a wider audience; in terms of the latter, a riotous rendition of ‘Not a Crime’ on Later…with Jools Holland was surely the highlight. Since then, they’ve been staples of the European and North American festival circuits, and they recorded a song for Coca-Cola’s Euro 2012 advertising campaign, entitled ‘Let’s Go Crazy’.
Gogol Bordello is one of those bands that you have to see live, even if you aren't really into the gypsy punk style of music. They have been absolutely destroying the scene since 1999, and bring one of the liveliest and intense shows to the stage of the genre.
In recent years, with their popularity rising, they have been playing larger venues and festivals, but can still be found in your local venue playing an intimate and astonishingly fun live show.The venue I saw them in was a smaller one, holding about 500 - 1000 fans who were very energetic leading up to the main act. When Gogol hit the stage there was a rush to the stage and ear scorching cheers waiting for them to start their set.
The boys from the Lower East Side are not shy on stage, and frequently came into the crowd to interact with their fans. If you're shy around sweaty, greasy gypsies then you might feel more comfortable on the sidelines enjoying the music.There will be moshing and crowd surfing, so be prepared to be bumped and jostled in the crowd.
If you're familiar with the punk scene, you'll know how intense the mosh pits can get, and Gogol Bordello is no exception.I would see these guys every time they came to town if I could, the sheer exuberance on stage guarantees you're going to have an amazing time at their shows.
The bands lead singer, Eugene Hütz, is one of the most engaging and energetic performers I've seen in recent years. I was astounded by his commitment to his fans, and ensuring that everyone has a fantastic time at a Gogol Bordello show. He truly loves his art, and it's readily apparent every time he takes the stage, or comes into the crowd -- huge grin and constant movement.I recommend checking them out any time you're given the chance. It's nearly impossible to regret the choice to see Gogol Bordello live, at least once in your life.
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