 | | Gogol Bordello (pic: Shirlaine Forrest) |
Not that the heat seemed to deter either the band or their legions of supporters. Bodies were thrown upwards from the mass and leapt back into the heaving throng as Eugene Hütz led his moustachioed band of vagabonds through a set of maddeningly exciting tunes. There’s something of the Pogues to Gogol Bordello, despite the vast cultural and musical chasm that exists between the two bands, something in the way they use traditional music as their basis for their punk, rather than opting for the increasingly dull three-chord guitar approach, that leads you, skipping and dancing, into their world.  | | Gogol Bordello (pic: Shirlaine Forrest) |
As a result, accordions and fiddles whirled round the stage as Hütz, shirtless and sweating almost as much as the pit in front of him, crashed from tune to tune, grinning like a maniac and spinning like a top. If things weren’t already hectic enough, the band’s signature tune, Start Wearing Purple, pushed the crowd to mayhem, as the front rows passed the mic around for the opening few lines and Hütz led the room into what could have passed for a mini riot if there hadn’t been so many smiles. If this had been anything less than amazing, the heat would have been unbearable, but Gogol Bordello succeeded in making the majority of those present forget their lathered bodies and dance like there was no tomorrow. | 
