lördag 18 Dec 2010, 15:53
Thu 16 Dec – Gogol Bordello, DeVotchKa, Alain Johannes
Describing Gogol Bordello to the uninitiated is like explaining the concept of bacon to a vegetarian. The term Gypsy Punk is commonly used in the process yet the band have more influences than there are So Solid Crew members. They can cite Israeli, New York, Thai, Ethiopian and Romany gypsy inheritance among their members. They have been onstage with Madonna, supported Rage Against the Machine and made fully fledged metalheads do silly dances. Thus, to fully experience Gogol Bordello you must see them live at least once as they are one of the few musical acts that can truly be heralded as unique.
The first support act of the night was Alain Johannes. He has been involved in Them Crooked Vultures, Queens of the Stone Age and The Desert Sessions. Appearing with his signature cigar box guitar, Johannes’ voice is haunting, blues tinged yet vibrant. His recent solo album ‘Spark’ is dedicated to his late partner Natasha Shneider. Johannes’ projects a similar energy to Gogol Bordello yet on an emotional level as opposed to a physical one.
The Devotchka’s managed to achieve a great thing. Very few musicians have the ability to alternate between the sounds of coldplay and traditional style gypsy music. In doing so they manage to sound magnificent and terrible at the same time. At first glimpse the violinist/accordionist and Christmas light strewn tuba are promising. Indeed, some of the more mariachi influenced and upbeat songs were granted a favourable audience reaction but the warmth would fade when the Coldplay kicked in. A more consistent set would have resulted in a less lukewarm reception.
Pierced punks mingled with old couples gawking at blue haired girls gawking at long haired beardy things in checked shirts. Not one person in that room could resist the violin fuelled acoustic guitar tickling their hips, ears and legs. Bottoms wagged, bruises were had and beer spray danced in the air as an hour of a half of what can only be described as some sort of foodless party took place. People laughed, fought and crowdsurfed as the feverish effects of tarantella took hold of the night.
There is something about Gogol Bordello that no other band can replicate, something ancient in the screamed Romany verses and the frantic violin. Yet the colour and vibrancy of the bass, crashing percussion and the blurred movement of the members turn the whole thing into some sort of colourful time travelling fireball.