Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
Gypsies left me on my parents’ doorstep
It’s the only possible explanation.
A few weeks ago, Atrios hyped a band called Gogol Bordello. Wait, hang on, don’t click on that link just yet. I have better ones. Here’s the thing: I’ve gone from ignorance to infatuation in a matter of days. I would listen to Underdog World Strike and East Infection (catchy name, eh?) nonstop, save for the fact my wife and son would begin slipping arsenic into my coffee.
Yes, that’s the sad part. I may be a Gypsy changeling, but Jake and Karen are not. “Give it a chance,” I beg them. “We gave it a chance!” they say. “Not enough of a chance!” I say. “It’s like moss, or Tom Waites. It’ll grow on you!” But it’s a non-starter.
That’s Eugene Hütz, lead singer and front man for the band. According to Wikipedia, he moved from the Ukraine to Vermont at age 14 following the Chernobyl disaster. He also acts — his big movie was Everything is Illuminated. Yeah, I haven’t seen it, either.
So, what’s this band like? You will soon understand why I rarely blog about music . . . I don’t have the vocabulary. *sigh* Okay: imagine if Georg and Yortuk Festrunk, SNL’s wild and crazy guys, had a band. A punk band. A punk, gypsy, klezmer band. That’s what Gogol Bordello is like.
But listen for yourselves. Follow that link for Underdog World Strike and listen to the excerpt of Never Young (track 2), Dogs Were Barking (track 7), and Oh, No (track 8 ). Now hop over to You Tube and watch ’em do Never Young. (Just ignore Jimmy Kimmel. Please.)
I really hope I’m not the only person in my cadre who digs these guys.
D.
I thought Gogol Bordello sounded familiar. I saw Everything Is Illuminated and I loved the film. One of Eugene Hütz’s lines, early on:
“Many girls want to be carnal with me because I’m such a premium dancer!”
It’s a great little film, touching and hilarious by turns. Now I want to see it again, or maybe read the book, or both.
In the same kind of musical vein (well, I’m guessing it is, anyway, since I haven’t heard any Gogol Bordello as yet): the Red Elvises, who did most of the soundtrack for Six String Samurai. Russian surf jams! Really, what more need I say?
Sample lyrics:
In fact:
Gogol Bordello video — Start Wearing Purple
Red Elvises video — Love Pipe featuring a lot of clips from Six String Samurai
Because I know you love YouTube as much as I do.
Hey I saw that movie! He was GREAT in it. He and the dog (a “seeing eye bitch”) were the best actors in it. I read the book first so it was hard to give the movie a chance.
your cadre?
is that like your homies?
Ah yes, Sammy Davis Junior Junior, the seeing eye bitch. Now I really have to see it again.
I take it the book is good too?
Damn! My new fAVORITES!
Okay, I’m renting it this weekend!
Yes, you are all my homies.
‘sup, homie.
If you can find it, rent Six String Samurai, too. Rock and roll kung fu action on the way through Russian-held America to Lost Vegas, where the King, Elvis, has just died…
Oh, and did I mention that the hero looks like Buddy Holly?
Word.
Or whatever.
I’ll look for it, but knowing my local video stores, I’ll be lucky to find Everything is Illuminated. Thanks for the rec!
I love Start Wearing Purple – it’s my favorite. It also drives me crazy because once in the head – it does not leave…
Now I will be humming Start Wearing Purple all day.
*sigh*
My cousin Rachel plugged me into this band.
I have my thursday 13 up before you!
(it’s the first time.)
He has a Fugazi sticker on his guitar! I’ve never heard of them but it’s right up my alley – I’m a Weird Al polka fan. I now know what to get the hubs for Father’s day. I may even get it for my uptight ” The Ventures are Gods and everyone else sucks” father-in-law just to annoy the tits off the man.
Thanks a bucket Doug!
Ooooh, thank you so much, Doug, this is *right* up my musical alley. I don’t know if you’ve heard of them or not, but do check out Birdsongs of the Mesozoic I heard them first as a college radio dj in 1985 and have been a drooling fanboy for them ever since. They have that Klezmer, punk, Art of Noise vibe going on. And…..if you’re into saxophone (and who isn’t?) check out Early to bed by Morphine. ooooh, you’ve got me music geeking, you evil man. Thank you.
Thanks, folks. I’ll check these out tonight, when I’m back in the Land of High Speed (we only have dial-up here in the office).
Kate, I timed my 13 to come up at 7 AM. Wonder what happened?
Huh. I’ll have to check them out. I myself have just gotten hooked on Jandek. Which seems to drive everyone around me crazy.