by When Gogol Bordello announced they were coming to Seattle, the collective quickly sold out not one but two nights at the Showbox Market, and probably could have done another, judging by the amount of requests coming in. They are known for their lively shows and theatrical stage setup, which always has its members moving around the space, and both shows were no exception.
Last time I saw them at Sasquatch!, they were playing the main stage, and the crown literary brought down the barricades, almost causing complete chaos. Security guards had to hold up the busted fences to save the people from rushing onto the stage. Eugene Hütz didn’t stop a single moment to express concern, he went on with the show, the way any punk would.
The band is on tour supporting their 10 year anniversary of releasing Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike, which launched them into the mainstream. They are known for touring tirelessly, which almost feels like it never stops. At the moment, they have 9 members touring around the world, probably hosting the best parties you’ll ever get to be a part of.
From the first song, Eugene flooded the venue with energy and expected nothing but the same from everyone that was there. I was in the pit trying to take pictures, and it felt endlessly chaotic, as he was running around pumping up the fans. The floor didn’t stop shaking from all the jumping around, which was an experience I’d never been a part of in a live show before.
The band included violin, drums, percussion, bass, electric guitar, accordion, and acoustic guitar (played by their frontman). They were joined by 2 dancers/singers for a lot of the songs, which made the stage seem so small but so fun. By the end of the night, people were jumping wild, throwing water around and kept the dancing going as the gypsy punks orchestrated the madness. When they played “Start Wearing Purple,” people even tried to crowd surf in addition to keeping their hands in the air the whole time. I really enjoy their live sets, as they leave you with the feeling of complete amusement and being happy to be alive. It’s no surprise these guys tour nonstop, everyone wants a piece of them.
