Gogol Bordello and Chicano Batman, Jan 1, 2016 at 9:30 Club

Many years ago, I was told that if I liked great performances, Gogol Bordello is a don't-miss act. I've been trying to go to one of their shows ever since, and this year, the stars aligned. They have a "gypsy punk" sound and completely lived up to the hype. It was a wonderful, energetic, spectacle of a show. Eric commented as we left that we'd have pirate shanties stuck in our heads all night. That was okay by me. I was bouncing as we left, smiling ear to ear.

Gogol Bordello, 1/1/16, 9:30 Club

What makes them so good? The music is catchy, but I doubt all that many people know the words. It doesn't seem like exceptional song craft and gets absolutely no radio air play, but it's infectious and fun. It sounds like the best party you wish you had gone to. The performance is high-energy and varied. They don't use all that many special effects (lights, of course, but no extreme stuff), instead using their bodies, a few props, and the stage to make every song into eye candy. They trade off in the spotlight often, and it was hard to tell how many band members they have because new people kept appearing, and others changed costumes. We settled on 10, and at least 8 of them came front and center to engage the audience at one time or another. The lead singer seems like a happy drunk guy from the Eastern Bloc, and I bet he gets his share of ladies based on charisma (not likely to happen based on looks - skinny dude, hard living.) This show was well worth staying up late. See them if you get the chance.

Chicano Batman was the opener. You should skip them. It was a slow, lounge-y act with a Latin vibe. The men in the group wore suits and had wild hair. It sounded like something from old Vegas, but from a Mexican band. Very kitschy. The lead singer jumped and moved a little like a frog and looked like a young Weird Al. The crowd was not into them at all.

Chicano Batman, 1/1/16, 9:30 Club