Mustachioed Men and Other Gypsian Delights

by Yvonne Zusel

At about 5:45, gypsy punk rockers Gogol Bordello do a sound check, and I'm pretty sure it was the first--and will be the last--time I ever hear such a rousing round of applause for a dude with an accordion.

Frontman Eugene Hutz has a mustache that makes it look like a small animal crawled onto his face and died on his upper lip, but God damn if he doesn't make me swoon as soon as he picks up his guitar and grabs ahold of the mic stand like it's a natural extension of his manhood. Most long-haired, meth-skinny dudes rocking pink socks and blue capri track pants would scream crazy right out of the gate, but he makes it work to his advantage.

His old man violin and accordion-playing sidekicks help complete the Klezmer wedding band on crack image. And the whole thing is just crazy enough and done with enough heart and conviction to make both the prepubescent girls and tatted dudes in the audience sing along with the words to "Sally" like there's no place they'd rather be. I realize I've had a smile plastered to my face since they played the first notes of their first song. Which, in my book, means I'm watching a damn fun show.

See more of Gogol Bordello here: