GIG NUMBER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX
Who
So it was four beers drunk that I made my way to the Academy. The doors had opened at a late 7:30pm and I arrived around 8ish, a time I'd easily had managed if I'd had gone home anyway. Still, on the other hand I think the beer made me appreciate the chaos more! It was busier than last time but once again the balcony remained pretty much empty throughout. It's intriguing to note that, despite the total lack of support from NME, who had the nerve to dismiss the new Gogol L.P. solely because they'd collaborated briefly with Madonna, that the Bordello still attracted more interest than LCD Soundsystem, who are hyped to high heaven by all. And another surprise was that the ticket for tonight had been cheaper than LCD too, which must mean far less profit per band member! The support band Mariachi El Bronx, who I think are also called The Bronx, were already onstage and were going down frighteningly well. They had lots of members and were all wearing uniforms, including a truly miserable looking guy on guitar and a violinist taking up the rear. The crowd were bizarrely going utterly insane, and although they were certainly not awful I couldn't see what the fuss was about. The music drifted right past me and they seemed just another unmemorable support band, albeit with a bit of personality. They couldn't resist a shameless name-checking of Gogol Bordello either, and despite the applause I just didn't get what was so special. Perhaps everyone was just in a really good mood? The crowd featured a majority of people a bit younger than me, plus some much older folks who clearly appreciate good music, but probably not a moshpit! There were more band t-shirts than I recall seeing for anyone in a long time, most featuring the slingshot logo. This was also the backdrop which was on stage throughout, although I much preferred it when they unveiled the banner during Ultimate as they'd done at their last Birmingham show. By this time I'd edged quite far forwards and the lights went down shortly after 9pm and I was more than happy to scream for the band as loud as anyone else!
After a heroes welcome and a snippet of Underdog World Strike Gogol Bordello launched into Ultimate, which is an obvious choice but what could work better? The carnage once it hit the loud bit was probably even greater than it had been in Nottingham and they swiftly followed this with Not A Crime and Wonderlust King. But what more can I say? It was wonderful, absolutely mad, and I was too busy enjoying it to take in many details! Tribal Connection slowed things down before the madness of Mishto! where I screamed along particularly hard. There was lots of pushing and shoving throughout and it was especially hard to stay on my feet, plus there was a small volume of crowdsurfing too. By the end of Mishto! I was sweating more than possibly ever before in my life and all my clothes would be quite unwearable the next day! I also had my coat wrapped around my waist and was quite concerned about losing my possessions. I had wanted to take a zipper coat but had made the mistake of believing the weather report saying it would rain so had taken a hooded coat instead without sealed pockets. I was sober enough to realise how hugely inconvenient losing my phone/cards etc would be and this forced some restraint upon me, as did the worry of losing my only pair of decent glasses. Specsavers had really let me down with my new pairs, which in fact were so awful I had no choice but to refund them! However I do think I dropped some coins, and there were plenty all over the floor at the end. All these concerns however were overshadowed by the inconvenient fact that I was losing a shoe and finding it almost impossible to remain upright with my shoelace getting caught underneath everyone's feet. I therefore had very little choice but to leave the chaos of the moshpit to tie my laces and resecure my pockets, finding my lace had nearly been ripped clean off. I'd timed this all rather well as Gogol were now playing Immigraniada (We Comin' Rougher), a new song which lends itself to carnage but doesn't do it as tunefully as their other classics. Unfortunately I couldn't get back into the crowd properly and was caught amongst some boring people, some of whom moshed in parts but clearly weren't ready to embrace the chaos that this show demanded! Break The Spell was another reasonable new song but the surprise of the evening was Through The Roof 'N' Underground, which I vaguely recognised as an old song and as I'm writing this I'm singing it to myself. It's from the same album as Baro Foro and worked nicely as a one-off surprise. Pala Tute is a stunner and I had to mosh regardless of what everyone around me was doing, but fortunately pockets of moshers extended very far back tonight! Still this song was the one most undermined by my boring position. The set had utterly whizzed by and Start Wearing Purple was the closer, a tune which goes down far too well and I'll never enjoy as much as many of the other classics.
The band were their usual array of exciting personalities, they're so interesting you really just have to see them for yourself and I see little point describing them in detail! I think there was a new drummer who had a crazy red Mohican and, although I could only spot one of the girls, my research indicates they're both still in the group. Sergey was predictably the most interesting person onstage but sadly the band have now recruited an annoying rap guy. He didn't dominate the songs as much as when he ruined parts of the live DVD that has come out but shouty rap doesn't add anything to any band and it really is the last thing that Gogol Bordello need! They returned onstage to The Sun Is On My Side, a lovely albeit quiet new song, and I was thinking how much better it worked than Alcohol, which had rudely dominated their encore last time in Birmingham. Trans-Continental Hustle completed the new songs quota and I must give full credit to the band for getting the balance between new and old spot-on, playing all the most essential classics and enough new songs to whet your appetite without ramming them down our throats! However all rational debate now goes out the window as the legendary Baro Foro mash-up started, and I swiftly barged my way past the boring people to get back into the heat of the moshpit, achieving this with probably my greatest success ever and before they even hit the chorus. I usually hate people who push in but I'd lost my place in the pit for very good health and safety reasons, not because I was buying a pissy pint of lager, and why should one of my favourite songs ever be ruined standing behind boring people blocking my path to the moshpit anyway? That chorus was as wonderful as ever and the mash-up took in plenty of songs, including My Strange Uncles From Abroad, When The Trickster Starts A-Poking (Bordello Kind Of Guy) and, of course, Undestructable. The highlight was probably when they stopped the medley dead, Sergey took point and they launched back into a full-on assault of Baro Foro. By now my shoe had pretty much come off my feet and I very nearly came a cropper. It would have been nice if the room wasn't quite so full but thankfully the worst excesses of the moshpit had worn off due to everyone's exhaustion. At the end the band launched violin onslaughts whilst dashing to the right then to the left of the stage and everyone was crazy enough to follow them and we barely stayed upright!
Once Gogol finished everyone screamed for more but what was the point, what could possibly follow that? The band hung around onstage lapping it all up, probably being too exhausted to make a fake exit anyway, before Eugene eventually admitted that they were going to play more anyway and our cheers weren't necessary! And then followed the nightmare choice of Alcohol, probably the most unwelcome and anticlimactic closing song they could pick! For some insane reason everyone was shouting for them to play it, seemingly unable to separate in their minds the fantastic drug from the rather boring tune. Eugene pretty much did it by himself while the rest of the group just had a well deserved sit down at the back. When this unnecessary effort finished the band continued to hang around and shake hands, completely at odds with the usual sharp exit which most other groups do. It was somewhat confusing, making you think they'd be playing one more, but after a few minutes of fan interaction they all left the stage and the lights came up. It's unusual, but on balance saying such a long thank you to a good crowd and catching a few breaths at the end is a good idea. I believe they finished with a short reprise of Ultimate, but I simply can't remember if this was after Alcohol or Baro Foro. Nevertheless the early finish was a relief as I could comfortably catch my train and even grab a Coke to relieve my parched throat. On the way back I drafted the review but felt distinctly uncomfortable in my terrifyingly sweaty clothes. I do wonder if another band will ever come along and make me so excited, or if Gogol Bordello are my last hurrah for insane "cutting edge" music I'll happily go mental too. Perhaps I'll be too old to truly love anyone else new this much in future and give them the moshpit they deserve. It was a great but not a perfect evening. Putting the bad news of the appalling new government aside, Gogol Bordello had omitted Think Locally Fuck Globally, American Wedding and, strangely, the fantastic Rebellious Love from the new L.P. However for such a short set they'd done very well and kept all the essential elements intact and their urge to play tons of new songs in check. The next day I felt completely battered and bruised and exhausted, but nothing of value had been lost except a competent government! Hence this proved to be yet another fantastic evening with Gogol Bordello!
Mark: 9.0/10
Gogol Bordello
Support
Mariachi El Bronx
Where
Birmingham O2 Academy
When
11th May 2010
Price
£16.00
Who with
No-one
Position
In the middle
Comments
As shocking as it is to accept, Gogol Bordello are now probably the greatest band on Earth. Of course I should clarify that by stating that Super Furry Animals still remain the greatest ever, but in terms of current brilliance and excitement levels, Gogol clearly edge it. I'd purchased and enjoyed their new album yet at the same time I realise I'll never be motivated to hear it hundreds of times over. It is a little more consistent compared to their previous efforts yet at the same time doesn't add enough killer hits to the Bordello cannon, Pala Tute being the most memorable cut. Nope, Gogol Bordello are the greatest at the moment thanks to the sheer excitement of their live show, which reaches heights I'd never have thought possible in my old age, plus by how awesome their best songs are. On the day itself I was in a good mood after being told my job would most likely be extended another three months and was busily considering my holiday options. Once again I left my bag at work to allow me to go straight out, and although it's nice to gain time for a pub tea and a few drinks it was a bit pointless since I ended up reaching the venue later (and drunker) than if I'd had gone home then out again. I enjoyed a mixed grill and a couple of pints of Welsh beer in a Wolverhampton pub, although sadly the Welsh beer wasn't Brains, as I have happy memories of drinking that there on one of my few previous visits! I then had a McFlurry to sober me up a bit and caught the train to Birmingham. It was more fun than last time as I had a paper to read but I made the mistake of heading towards the venue rather than Broad Street in my search for another pub. Although it was only a Tuesday night the few pubs I found all had standing room only so I found myself in a grotty pub drinking mediocre Abbot Ale. I did get a seat but my positive mood was rather crushed as I realised Gordon Brown was being kicked out of Downing Street on a BBC News Special. There was no sound so I had very little idea what was going on but feared that the cunt David Cameron was taking power, in defiance of the majority of the electorate who had voted against him. At this point I realised this would be my last night in a proper Britain before the inevitable prospect of a Tory government wrecking the economy and dragging us back into recession. I just hoped the job losses only hit the people who voted for this, and the twats in the pub who were rudely heckling Gordon Brown too, who looked so old they should remember how much better things were compared to the dark days of Thatcher!
Setlist
Underdog World Strike [snippet]
Ultimate
Not A Crime
Wonderlust King
My Companjera
Tribal Connection
Mishto!
Immigraniada (We Comin' Rougher)
Break The Spell
Through The Roof 'N' Underground
Pala Tute
Start Wearing Purple
The Sun Is On My Side
Trans-Continental Hustle
Baro Foro (Mash-Up)
Alcohol
