Gogol Bordello, Republic, New Orleans

Gogol Bordello is a perfect match for this city. Dirty, fast, loud, sweaty… most importantly though, musically brilliant. Their enthusiastically attended show at the Republic in the warehouse district of New Orleans is, well, let’s just say successful would be an understatement.

From start to finish it is a nearly perfect evening. The opening band hit all the right notes; The Outernational, a punk rock group that calls its genre future rock, from New York City open. They raise the energy of the crowd with uber political songs such as a cover of Deportees, protesting the unfair Arizona Immigration law and ending the show with a call “let all the anger and frustration you have with this system out.” The Outernational sit in the perfect resting place for them and this show, between Anti-Flag and Gogol Bordello itself. They rile up the crowd (the mosh pit kicks off within minutes of the show starting} without being a direct departure from the headliner, but being different enough to distinguish themselves.

Frontman Eugene Hutz is incredibly charming and has enough stage presence to explode the Republic. Combined with the other eight performers; the stage appears to have a magnetic draw, pulling each and every audience member closer and closer to the stage. The crowd is packed in so tight; one was thrown about with every pulse of the crowd. Hutz obviously feels the reciprocal energy, claiming he’s thinking about moving down here after living in New York City and Brazil. And this is at the beginning of the show. As the music and frenzy progresses, the entirety of the venue becomes a mosh pit, and it becomes nearly impossible to escape the shoving and sweat. After a while, you just give in, enjoying the tangible expression of energy.

One of the things that’s truly amazing about the show is the skill with which the musicians know how to control the crowd. The audience have an unbelievable amount of energy that the band just keep amping up. It’s chaos, but chaos perfectly channeled. Even the crowd surfing has a certain courteousness; everyone seems to take care of each other, with a ‘we are all in this together’ attitude, with very few (and incredibly rude) exceptions. Sometimes punk rock shows devolve into unruly and unmanageable anarchy, but not this one. This one holds on to it; a perfectly orchestrated chaotic event.

The show is mostly a singular drive towards frenzy, though of course there were lulls to give the performers and the audience some breathing room. One of these is a moment of hilarity that makes the uberfamous ‘Start Wearing Purple’ entertaining for everyone. As the first chords begin and the crowd anticipate the first words, Hutz instead begins “Is there anybody going to listen to my story”… The crowd pause for a moment and he says, it’s an old Jewish folk song - the crowd chuckles. What? He retorts, listen to it, it’s fucking Klezmer music. And then ‘Start Wearing Purple’ begins in earnest. After an encore of three, maybe four, songs, the crowd doesn’t want to let go, does not want the night to end. ‘Goodnight’, Hutz yells, ‘we are fucking tired!’

It’s no wonder the crowd doesn’t want the night to end, do you remember the last time you had a truly carnal experience? Muscles quivering, brain numb but so incredibly alive, throat hoarse from screaming. Yeah, a Gogol Bordello show is pretty much that.