When you go to see a show, it's usually all about the headliner - right? The support(s) are there to warm up the crowd. Maybe they’re similar, or friends of the main act, but the night is centred around the headliner. That’s how it usually goes. But it doesn’t have to, and Gogol Bordello (and the people at their label Casa Gogol) have curated an excellent night highlighting the history of global punk music, celebrating the genre in full, with three differing and fantastic takes that reflect three different worlds, all uniting. Nottingham's Rock City hosted the show...
It was like time travel: three bands turning Rock City into a big time machine and taking the audience to different places and times to give us an incredibly good time. Honestly, this is the best approach to a line-up I’ve seen for a while, both varied and fun. World-punks Gogol Bordello were top of the bill, with New York art rockers Puzzled Panther and Bristolian punks Split Gogs forming one monster of a bill.
From the minute Puzzled Panther stepped out, I felt like I was in 1960s New York, specifically CBGBs. The front-women, who provide a powerful one-two vocal and visual punch, Victoria Espinoza and Kay Bonatempo, came out clad in vivid black-and-white suits, with "New York" on them. It’s clear they love where they’re from, and this is completely echoed in the music, with a live sound that echoes the earlier experimental days of Blondie and other NYC-based acts.
Their music is guitar driven in every way and that elevates both the vibe and performing quality. The set’s highlight is a simply sublime rendition of the NYC classic Venus in Furs, by the Velvet Underground, with Eugene from Gogol Bordello on guitar (it's worth noting that he is a part of the band and jumps on and off the stage, playing guitar at many different points throughout the set). This cover captures a more modern indie sleaze feel than the original, in a sped up, guitar-heavy version that features the fantastic and hugely-underappreciated chorus more. Honestly, it's the perfect way to honour the NYC scene while expanding on it.
Now, the only negative to this set was the apparent absence of the band's staple song From Boyarka to Boyaca, which honestly was slightly confusing... But overall, this was a really enjoyable set and an excellent display of post-modern musicianship; this band pay tribute to their musical ancestors but build on it in such a fantastic way. I’d absolutely love to see them again and am expecting big things from them in the future.
It's the perfect way to honour the NYC scene while expanding on it
From New York to Bristol now, with Split Dogs: a band who again meld the history of punk, this time UK punk, into something new and exciting, while also putting on one hell of a good show. The four-piece are on top form tonight, providing loud and well-written, ferocious tunes, really echoing the punk energy while again pushing it into something new.
Something that really stands out for me about these guys is their banter with the crowd, especially guitarist and secondary vocalist Mill Martinez. He jokes about going to the bar with someone who's starting pits in the crowd at one point. But the talks in-between songs aren’t just humorous, they’re powerful, riffing on the idea of support and coming to gigs and the punk scene. For a band that make arguably scary songs, they sure are nice people who truly believe in the music they make. It's really rare to see these days, and really stands out for me.
Musically, they are simply incredible, with vocalist Harry dressed in a simply brilliant pop-leaning outfit and expelling her lyrics with a playful fury, one that is matched by the band. Their blend of punk music and scene spirit is really impressive, and again, I’d love to see them again.
From New York to Bristol, and now to the world. Gogol Bordello’s global fusion is the epitome of the spirit of modern world music. I’d actually go as far as to call Gogol Bordello the forerunners and pioneers of world punk: the fusion of world music elements with punk.
When they take to the stage, the roar from the crowd is simply phenomenal, deafening in the most positive way. The band’s current touring line-up consists of founding member and face of the band Eugene Hutz on vocals and guitar, Sergey Ryabtsev on violin and vocals, MC Pedro Erazo, Korey Kingston on drums, Gil Alexandre on bass, Leo Tek on guitar, and Erica Mancini on accordion. This was just the starting line-up, as, inevitably, the band would expand as the set continued.
The band tear through a few songs from the catalogue; however, about four songs in, I find myself completely dumbfounded. The band calm down; they go quiet. The bass kicks in. It's a familiar line, teasing a familiar chord progression of my personal favourite Gogol Bordello song. The chords kick in with guitar and accordion, but the notes hit on the two and the four, giving it a dub reggae feel, Eugene stands there, still, smiling. Everyone on stage is beaming. Then, suddenly, everything really kicks in, and Pedro ad-libs over the dub sound, which is simply incredible, mimicking the lyrics of Wonderlust King. At this point, I'm in disbelief. I’d watched many, many videos of them playing gigs and performing this song, but none started like this. I’d like to coin it "The 2025 Version".
The reggae aspect continues for a minute, with Pedro continuing to riff to the crowd, with everyone lapping it up totally. Then, they tear into the normal sounding version of the song and it hits even better. My issue with the normal song is its shortness but this longer version is truly sublime. The fact that this song marks Batman’s first-ever appearance in the modern continuity of DC films (see Creature Commandos) is a brilliant fact on its own, but this version of the song is perfect in every way, the best way to elevate the song and put it into new territory. Easily a high point of the set.
The next huge moment comes as another surprise to me, one that contradicts a previous grievance of mine, specifically the confusion of why Puzzled Panther didn’t play Boyarka to Boyaca. Well, it happened, in a huge way. Victoria Espinoza and Kay Bonatempo return to the stage to provide vocals, and it's another truly fantastic moment in every way.
The finale is another spectacle, involving everyone from all three acts on stage for a huge number. Gogol Bordello’s inclusivity and willingness to collaborate really sets them apart.
Overall, a truly enjoyable set. I cannot recommend seeing Gogol Bordello enough, for world music fans, or punk fans, or people who just want to dance.
Gogol Bordello performed at Rock City on 30th October 2025.
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