Gypsy punk isn’t a genre that many are overly familiar with, and yet Gogol Bordello have never been more atop of their game. This Manhattan eight-piece are pure insanity and pack a show of nonsense, hilarity and single handedly some of the best live music I've heard in a while.

Dave Hause & The Mermaid open tonight and get the punk ball rolling. Despite a slower opening number, deceiving many, the band quickly thrash into a blur of colour and punk riffs which already send the room into a frenzy. Even this early there is a solid turn out and more than a few highly dedicated fans screaming Dave’s lyrics back at him, a great trait for any supporting artist. The band feature a range of instruments which each apply a distinct level of quirk to each of their tracks, sometimes a humble melodica, sometimes a traditional lute-styled guitar. All in all, Dave certainly provided a strong pulse of energy to get this crowd prepped and ready for the madness to follow.

A backing banner projecting the Gogol Bordello name slowly rises, and the pure insanity commences. Opening with ‘Break Into Your Higher Self’, singer Eugene Hütz bursts onto the stage in a flurry of energetics and liveliness which demands attention from the entire room. As the rest of the band follow, the entire stage becomes one pure mess of chaos and confusion in the most delightful way possible. Each member finds themselves bouncing and thrashing around to their heart’s content, all whilst hitting every note with an equal level of passion and enthusiasm.

Gypsy punk is a peculiar genre that Gogol Bordello have entirely dominated over their career. The sound is exactly what you’d expect, the angst and anti-establishmentarianism of punk combined with the pulsing and tingling sounds associated with gypsy traditions yet, when the two combine, it is as though they were bread and butter. ‘Saboteur Blues’ provides just another special kick to the earlier part of the set and the heavier tones drive the crowd into even more of a madhouse as the crowd surfers start flying. Equally the band are not letting up and their traditional new wave punk clothing only emphasises the message behind their sound further; never before has an accordion looked so badass.

An hour in and the rammed room still shows no signs of slowing down, Gogol Bordello have certainly discovered the ultimate form of hype music, and this crowd can’t get enough of it. ‘My Companjera’ sees a wave of poodle fists being flung into the air as though we were at some kind of political march before bursting into some incredible solo work from violinist, Sergey Ryabtsev. Segey’s performance throughout the entire set is phenomenal, his instrument may not be the most ‘punky’, but his eagerness to demonstrate his abilities is unmatched. His violin makes for the crown jewel of the show and really does bring the ‘gypsy’ aspect to the tracks, which allow the two genres to blend so beautifully.

Each member of the eight-piece really is able to hold the spotlight at some point during the set, whether it be a vocal-led performance from Eugene and the backing singers or an instrumental interlude of exquisite talent. Likewise, just when you think you’re becoming comfortable with the set’s pacing, the band throw another twist in the mix, bringing out two enormous marching drums and pounding them with an immense velocity. Eugene sees this as a prime opportunity for even further insanity and soon finds himself surfing the crowd atop of this enormous drum, a fantastic sight to see and certainly not one I will be forgetting soon.

A final storm of sound and sweaty moshing during the simply insane ‘Start Wearing Purple’ and finaltrack ‘Think Locally Fuck Globally ’ are the perfect conclusion to the evening and, judging from the crowd’s deafening reaction to the set, Gogol Bordello have done themselves proud tonight. Gypsy punk may not be a genre that many will be familiar with, however, after being able to experience and witness the sound live, I am hooked. Gogol Bordello are a band who not only put on one hell of a show, but would act as a brilliant introduction for anyone into the phenomena of gypsy punk. If this band are in your town, don’t hesitate, just get down there. I assure you, you won’t regret it.

Ben Walker

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