crivelli

Salutations.


In celebration of America's ridding of their colonic masters I attended a superbly energetic beat combo who ply their tambourine shaking trade as Gogol Bordello. They are the exhile Ukrainian gypsy community's answer to the Pogues with Borat on acid as frontman.

Having been forced to attend on pain of certain incriminating photographs (the donkey was consenting) being released into the public domain I have to say that if you do not see them live with a mob of pogo-ing Manc (and assorted Northern type loons) going proverbially apeshit then you are probably missing the point.

A warning: they are loud and a bit "bass"y. You can try asking them to turn it down a little and to bring up the treble but you can expect derisory sneers and a poke in the eye.

They are a good listening experience for the young or young at heart. Some pensioners were in the crowd and, having put away their knitting and come to the conclusion that this isn't Kansas anymore Cujo/Tito/Jermaine (one of the Jackson Five) or Gala Bingo, they fair got down with their bad selves. Even I gave some thought to trying my hand at the bobbing of the up and of the down but was sweating enough as it was and that really isn't a pretty sight or one suitable for mixed company. Certainly a band for the energetic of spirit.

If all the excitement of travelling beyond Watford were not enough, I even had the pleasure of exchanging high-fives and mixing company with the ladies Perdy and nix19 and a nonSG'd family member who shall remain nameless due to advice from the legal department regarding identity fraud and some such. A meeting that both proves I exist beyond this little box and am not to be trusted. Stripped of my powers to talk spontaniously pre-scripted shite I believe I made more of a dim witted uncle who can only do Frank Spencer if he were from Delhi impression rather than a Rory Bremner.

The important thing is that everyone who enjoys the tapping of their feet and the bobbing of their head should make all efforts to see Gogol Bordello (and Perdy and nix19 and a nonSG'd family member) live.