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Gogol Bordello

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Gogol Bordello

Gogol Bordello is a Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of New York City that formed in 1999. They are renowned for their frenetic, theatrical stage shows. Much of their sound is inspired by Gypsy music, as most of their members are immigrants from Eastern Europe. The band incorporates minor-key accordion and fiddle (and on some of their albums, saxophone) mixed with cabaret, punk, and dub.

They were described by Phill Jupitus on Jools Holland Live as "a bit like The Clash having a fight with The Pogues in Eastern Europe[citation needed]."

In an interview with NPR, frontman Eugene Hütz cites Jimi Hendrix and Parliament-Funkadelic as among the band's musical influences [citation needed]. Nikolai Gogol, the band's namesake, was an ideological influence because he "smuggled" Ukrainian culture into European literary society, and Gogol Bordello wants to "smuggle [their] music into the English speaking world." One goal of the band is to spread gypsy music to an audience that would not normally be exposed to it. They list Manu Chao, Fugazi, Zvuki Mu, Sasha Kolpakov, Rootsman, and The Clash as influences as well.

Gogol Bordello first played at an after-hours club called Pizdetz on Ridge Street, where they became the house band and DJ Hutz became the house DJ.

The band was originally titled Hutz and the Bela Bartoks, but Eugene Hutz says that they decided to change the name because "nobody knows who the hell Bela Bartok is in the United States." Another possible name for the band was Kafka Whorehouse.

They have toured with such bands as Primus, Flogging Molly and Cake.

Their first single was released in 1999. Since then they've released two more full-length albums, one EP, and one full length collaboration. In 2005 the band signed to punk label SideOneDummy Records.

Their song, "Occurrence on the Border", was featured on the 4th Punk Rock Strike compilation put out by Springman Records.

The “Voi-La Intruder” recording of "Start Wearing Purple" pioneered their UK success and was later re-recorded for their ”Gypsy Punks” album to be their first North American single. A video was also released.

“Not A Crime” was chosen as their second North American single, for which a video was also recorded.

"Start Wearing Purple", without lyrics, can be heard in parts of the 2005 movie Everything Is Illuminated, at the end credits with lyrics, and is the closing song of the soundtrack. Moreover Eugene Hütz played one of the main characters in the movie.

"Start Wearing Purple", is also considered an unofficial theme song of the Baltimore Ravens football team, which was broadcast on local radio and television stations during the 06-07 season.

Several of the band members also take part in a dub and electronic side project with members of Balkan Beat Box entitled J.U.F. (Jewish-Ukrainian Freundschaft), whose sound pulls from their varied ethnic background, a sound that could be likened to a combination of DJ Hutz, Balkan Beat Box and Gogol Bordello.


The Members

Current members

Former members

Festivals

They have toured tirelessly throughout Europe and America on several international festivals, including, but not limited to:

Discography

Albums

Side-projects

References

  1. ^ Bordello, Gogol (11/10/2006). "Gogol Bordello". Official MySpace Page. MySpace.com. Retrieved 11/10/2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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