Gogol Bordello // UEA - 08.12.13

Having been around the block for coming on 15 years now, there’s nothing clever left to say about Gogol Bordello. Sure, they still break down socio-economic and ethnic barriers with their current line-up (seven of whom were born in different nations) and they’ve cunningly re-kindled traditional Gypsy folk music with a feverishly catchy and ebullient spirit, but with that becoming somewhat par for the course, it’s their relentless touring and their unfalteringly perfect execution of every live show that must now be their mantra. And my, oh my, do they deliver that by the bucket-load. Of sweat, that is. 

This iteration, with new album Pura Vida Conspiracy and a new accordionist and guitarist, is the fourth time I’ve seen Gogol perform, and I know it’s incredibly dull to say it, but they were remarkable as ever. I wanted some let up; I wanted to be able to comment on a lack of synchronicity from the new members, or snipe at the band’s age and a possible deterioration of the enigmatic Eugene Hutz’ antics, but they emphatically refused to play ball. Despite the onus being on their latest record, Gogol stormed through a twenty-odd song set, dipping into almost all of their discography in a suitably ‘best-of’ fashion. Clear fan favourite Start Wearing Purple was riotous and bounding, whilst the elegiac Alcohol encouraged a warm sing-a-long respite from the madness of Immigraniada (We Comin’ Rougher) and Sally. Only a slight niggle of disappointment crept up as, at about quarter to eleven, it became apparent that Gogol weren’t going to play out with their trademark twenty-minute mash-up of Baro Foro and Undestructable, but the rousing Ultimate provided one last hurrah, and squeezed the last iotas of energy out of an elated, but rapidly ailing, crowd. And, looking back, as superb a finale as Baro Foro would have been, for Gogol Bordello to end their show on a superlative seems to work just as well.