Gogol Bordello's Eugene H^BENT^00FC^EENT^tz (front) co-starred in 'Everything Is Illuminated' with Elijah Wood. LAUREN DUKOFF

Gogol Bordello's unique show draws on influences from the Dead Kennedys' punk to Michel Foucault's philosophy

Date published: 6/19/2008

BY RYAN BROSMER

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

If it were necessary to sum up Gogol Bordello in one word, it would be "diversity."

The band, which has been breaking genre boundaries and crossing musical borders for nearly 10 years, is at its highest point yet with a fan base that is as culturally diverse as its line-up.

Frontman Eugene Hütz, born in the Ukraine, fled to America with his family fearing nuclear fallout from Chernobyl. Hütz draws on a number of influences--both musically and ideologically--for his songwriting, and it all shines through on every track.

"I experienced rock along at the same time with discovering a lot of thinkers," Hütz said in a phone interview.

"It was all happening in perestroika time in the Soviet Union in the late '80s. So when all this information and music started pouring in, it was almost like the same swirl of things. I was basically listening to Dead Kennedys and reading Michel Foucault simultaneously."

Hütz points to Foucault as one of the main influences on his ideologies.

"It's about this balance of the society," he said. "It's about how the natural balance of society is basically destroyed through institutions, and through putting people away into mental institutions and putting old people away. It's all about building cages. And our music is about destroying all those cages."

Gogol Bordello's live show is known as being more of a cabaret show than traditional concert. Hütz compares it with the difference between a soccer player being on the attack in an Olympic game and simply being in training. What does he exactly mean by that?

"The whole place is completely buckwild."

Hütz said everyone is a participant at a Gogol Bordello show.

"It's really a different kind of energy," he said. "It's something that calls for absolute participation and unity and the creation of a sense of liberation. And building sense of community in that time. As an artist, that's one of the most powerful things you can do-- build a sense of community-- which is something that the human soul is longing for to start with. It's in our DNA. And that plays very much against and contrary to social organizations."

Want To Go? What: Gogol Bordello plays cabaret-style gypsy punk with openers Dusty Rhodes & The River Band Where: Toad's Place, 140 Virginia St., in Richmond When: Tonight; doors open at 8 p.m. Cost: $20 Info: 804/648-8623 Web: toadsplacerva.com

Date published: 6/19/2008