{"id":40445,"date":"2022-12-27T08:39:21","date_gmt":"2022-12-27T13:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=40445"},"modified":"2022-12-27T08:39:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-27T13:39:23","slug":"on-stage-extra-a-rockin-voice-from-ukraine-headlines-at-brooklyn-bowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=40445","title":{"rendered":"On Stage Extra: A rockin’ voice from Ukraine headlines at Brooklyn Bowl"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"Gogol Bordello plays international punk music that is wild, aggressive and filled with Eastern European influences. That\u2019s because frontman\/founder Eugene H\u00fctz\u00a0is wild, aggressive and a native of Eastern Europe.<\/p>\n

This week, the band is celebrating\u00a015 years of New Year\u2019s Eve shows\u00a0in New York and Philadelphia with shows at the two cities\u2019 Brooklyn Bowl venues.<\/p>\n

On December 28, Gogol Bordello will be in Philly to headline a show at Brooklyn Bowl (1009 Canal Street, Philadelphia,www.brooklynbowl.com\/philadelphia<\/a>). From December 29-31, the band will establish temporary residence at New York\u2019s Brooklyn Bowl. <\/p>\n

H\u00fctz has always mixed politics and world views into his music so it\u2019s not a surprise that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has become a big motivation.<\/p>\n

H\u00fctz, who is also an actor and a DJ, was born Yevgeniy Aleksandrovich Nikolayev-Simonov in Kiev, Ukraine in 1972.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very connected to that cause and what is happening there,\u201d said H\u00fctz, during a phone interview last week from his home in New York.<\/p>\n

On the night of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Les Claypool of Primus and H\u00fctz began collaborating on a joint release to rally support for the Ukrainian people. \u201cZelensky: The Man With the Iron Balls\u201d also features Stewart Copeland, Sean Lennon, Billy Strings, and Sergey Ryabtsev. Proceeds from the sale of the single will be donated to Nova Ukraine, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.<\/p>\n

According to H\u00fctz, \u201cAs soon as Russian aggression broke out, Les and I connected to address the catastrophe ASAP. We jumped on creating affirmative music that calls for unity and pays respect to the real doers in Ukrainian defense \u2013 such as President Zelensky, who demonstrated previously unheard-of stamina and heroism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reoccurring chant in the song, \u2018Revolution of Dignity,\u2019 honors the 2014 Maidan Revolution, which resulted in the removal of Ukraine\u2019s pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and lead to Russia\u2019s military intervention against the people of Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea and the start of the Donbas War \u2013 part of the broader Russo-Ukrainian War.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is our way to show that heavyweights like Les, Stewart, Billy and Sean stand with people of Ukraine and the country\u2019s sovereignty from the very start of Russian-led terror.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cZelensky: The Man With the Iron Balls\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/BowjATQloVA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On May 10, artdopomoga.com<\/a>, the\u00a0Ukrainian volunteer resource, released its first compilation \u2013 \u201cArtdopomoga Ukraine Vol.1, (2022),\u201d which included a new Gogol Bordello track, \u201cTeroborona (Civil Defense),\u201d which was recorded in the early days of the war.<\/p>\n

Teroborona is a term for Civil Defence Units formed of civilians who stood up to protect Ukraine. This is a dedication to their courage and to the courage of all defenders. The song is rooted in Ukrainian traditional dance \u201cArkan\u201d, one of true Ukrainian Hutzul spirit. All proceeds will go to Ukraine relief.<\/p>\n

Lyrics feature shout outs to specific units of Teroborona in various Towns in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

In autumn 2022, Gogol Bordello released \u201cSolidaritine,\u201d the band\u2019s eighth album which was preceded by \u201cPura Vida Conspiracy\u201d in 2013 and \u201cSeekers and Finders\u201d in 2017. This title reflected the shift of the times in terms of political and cultural polarity, violence, and strife, addressing it head-on.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made \u2018Solidaritine<\/a>\u2019 in early winter and then it came out in September last year,\u201d said H\u00fctz. \u201cWe made it very quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a sense of urgency with everything that goes on in our work. It gave emotional support to people challenged with the pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n

There was no one better to capture this unbridled spirit than hardcore legend Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits,
\nRival Schools, Quicksand). Retreating to Vermont to cut the bulk of the album over a four-day session, the band
\nand Schreifels found a dynamic working relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of it was written prior to the invasion of Ukraine,\u201d said H\u00fctz. \u201cIt did happen that this horrific invasion came on all of us. Now, the united people strike back.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven back in 2004, our punk music was devoted to the Orange Revolution \u2013 deeply connected from a global point of view.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Orange Revolution\u00a0(\u041f\u043e\u043c\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043d\u0447\u0435\u0432\u0430 \u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044e\u0446\u0456\u044f) was a series of\u00a0protests\u00a0and political events that took place in\u00a0Ukraine\u00a0from late November 2004 to January 2005, in the immediate aftermath of the run-off vote of the\u00a02004 Ukrainian presidential election, which was claimed to be marred by massive corruption, voter intimidation and\u00a0electoral fraud.<\/p>\n

Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, was the focal point of the movement’s campaign of\u00a0civil resistance, with thousands of protesters demonstrating daily.Nationwide,\u00a0the revolution was highlighted by a series of acts of\u00a0civil disobedience,\u00a0sit-ins, and\u00a0general strikes\u00a0organized by the opposition movement.<\/p>\n

Gogol Bordello even supported the Ukrainian resistance by performing in the country earlier this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe went to Ukraine in August,\u201d said H\u00fctz. \u201cWe went to support Ukrainian troops by playing in military bases. We also performed in refugee huts for people who were uprooted and crammed into very small living facilities. Despite all that is going on there, the morale is high and unbreakable.\u201d<\/p>\n

H\u00fctz and his band have always supported world peace \u2013especially \u201cPura Vida Conspiracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to H\u00fctz, \u201cThe Spanish language phrase \u201cpura vida\u201d refers to the gusto that true life should have. The album\u2019s overall message is \u2018Borders are scars on the face of the planet.\u2019 The album is about the quest for self-knowledge beyond borders and nationalities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI played in bands in the Ukraine since I was 14,\u201d said H\u00fctz. \u201cI led another band in the United States before I moved to New York.\u201d<\/p>\n

H\u00fctz started his musical career back in Ukraine with the band Uksusnik (Vinegar Dispenser). When he first arrived in the states, he was living in Vermont and formed the punk band The Fags. He later moved to New York where he met current Gogol Bordello members violinist\u00a0Sergey Ryabtsev<\/a> and former accordionist\u00a0Yuri Lemeshev<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe name Gogol Bordello existed before we became a trio,\u201d said H\u00fctz. \u201cFirst, there was a duo, then a trio and then a quartet. We were acoustic at the beginning and didn\u2019t even have a bass player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, the band, which is a self-professed \u201cvolcano of music\u201d, has settled with seven members \u2013 Eugene H\u00fctz (vocals, guitar), Sergey Ryabtsev (violin), Pedro Erazo (vocals, percussion), Boris Pelekh (guitar), Ashley Tobias (vocals), Korey Kingston (drums) and Gil Alexandre (bass).<\/p>\n

Gogol Bordello has appeared in art house films such as\u00a0Liev Schreiber\u2019s\u00a0\u201cEverything Is Illuminated\u201d\u00a0with\u00a0Elijah Wood\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cFilth and Wisdom,\u201d which washelmed by Madonna. The band is also in several documentaries, including\u00a0\u201cGogol Bordello Non-Stop,\u201d \u201cThe Pied Piper of Hutzovina\u201d and \u201cKill Your Idols.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gogol Bordello has developed a reputation for being one of the most energetic and powerful live bands on the road today. Since their genesis in the Lower East Side punk-rock scene of 1999, they have been riling up audiences with an inimitable patchwork of raucous punk and Eastern European Gypsy-swing<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a pretty good fan base wherever we go,\u201d said H\u00fctz. \u201cIt seems we always play in front of a stormy sea of people going bananas.\u201d<\/p>\n

H\u00fctz also has a message for Putin and the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cUkrainian people are going to prevail,\u201d said H\u00fctz. \u201cIt was a very big mistake to mess with them. They\u2019re unbreakable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Gogol Bordello — https:\/\/youtu.be\/LqAoEwiMtUg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Brooklyn Bowl on December 28, which has Crazy & the Brains as the opening act will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0 Gogol Bordello plays international punk music that is wild, aggressive and filled with Eastern European influences. That\u2019s because frontman\/founder Eugene H\u00fctz\u00a0is wild, aggressive and a native of Eastern Europe. This week, the band is celebrating\u00a015 years of New Year\u2019s Eve shows\u00a0in New York and Philadelphia with shows at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40444,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[14002,6518,14001],"class_list":["post-40445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-brooklyn-bowl","tag-featured","tag-gogol-bordello"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40445"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40445\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40446,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40445\/revisions\/40446"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}