Twenty years have come and gone but gypsy punk rockers, Gogol Bordello are still here! Formed in the lower East side of Manhattan in 1999, they combine aspects of gypsy, folk, and Latin music with the energy and in your face attitude of punk rock. They recently brought their 20th anniversary tour to New Haven, Connecticut’s College Street Music Hall much to the delight of their Constitution State fans.
Opening the show was Nu Folk Rebel Alliance a band consisting of Leo Minimuntek and Pedro Erazo of Gogol Bordello. This duo performed an interesting set consisting of many Clash covers but not like you’ve ever heard them covered before. With Minimuntek on electrified acoustic guitar and Erazo playing a ukulele, they cover songs like London Calling, Straight to Hell and Rudy Can’t Fail with an almost soulful Latin sound that drifts into a harder sound more true to the originals but remaining all their own. They strayed from punk covers, dove into country waters, and came out with their heads way above the surface. At first, it was tough to recognize the song but quickly, one could realize the oft-covered classic, “Ghost Riders In The Sky” that melted into an amazing version of Johnny Cash’s hit, “Ring of Fire”. Keeping true to both the spirits of the songs and their unique style, Nu Folk Rebel Alliance had the crowd mesmerized and energized by the unique act they were seeing.
Gogol Bordello hit the stage with a vigor that lasted throughout the whole show. The band’s Ukrainian born front man, Eugene Hütz immediately became the center of attention. Dressed in an open white button-down shirt, leather jacket, and yellow and black plaid pants, Hütz moved about the stage energetically. His gestures and body movement remind one of Iggy Pop as he paraded around the center of the stage. Hütz brandished his guitars like weapons then slinging them behind his back to grab his mic stand or to gesture wildly at the crowd. Another prop of his was a bottle of red wine which he drank and doused the front row with in equal amounts.
Hütz is not the only member of the band to command attention. In fact, all members moved about the stage in a frenzy from time to time. All except drummer Alfredo Ortiz simply because the stoic timekeeper was anchored to his kit. Lead guitarist Boris Pelekh frequently leapt high off the stage multiple times in rapid succession while violinist Sergey Ryabtsev stares at the audience with laser intensity as he takes center stage during his solos. “Tommy T” Gobena is the big man on bass but he moves with the grace, fluidity, and athleticism of dance star Gene Kelly. Rounding out the troupe are back up singers, percussionists, and part time gymnasts, Pedro Erazo and Ashley Tobias. Often unencumbered by instruments, these two bring an excitement to the stage that genuinely enhance the presence of Hütz. At the end of the show, Tobias marched around the stage with a marching band bass drum adorned with the classic Gogol Bordello slingshot logo as Hütz became lost in a trancelike frenzy delivering his vocals to his adoring fans with wild abandon. With so much movement on stage, it’s a wonder they don’t constantly run into one another.
As one would expect from an anniversary tour, Gogol Bordello played a good mix of songs from their twenty-year catalog. Much to the delight of their fans, they played the wildly popular songs, “Immigrant Punk”, “Start Wearing Purple”, and “Wonderlust King”, all of which sent the crowd into a giant mosh pit. Having seen the band a number of times on different tours over the years, I can say that this is one band that never loses an ounce of appeal. Their music is different than anything else out there and their charismatic approach to presenting that music in concert is unrivaled. This band should be on anyone’s “must see” list!
Review and photos by Rich Russo
