Gogol Bordello — Live From Axis Mundi

Live From Axis Mundi

SideOneDummy/EMI

Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

10/20/2009 3:28pm

Near the end of Gogol Bordello's live set on the DVD portion of the Live From Axis Mundi CD/DVD package, frontman Eugene Hutz scales the stage, climbs into the balcony at New York City's Irving Plaza and proceeds to heartily smooch several women a few times while covering them with his sweat. This, after Hutz (who may or may not be wearing underwear) has had to pull his pants, dangerously close to falling down, up several times.

This is worth bringing up because while there's not that much that's remarkable about the audio included in this CD/DVD package, to judge it based on sonic quality would be wrong. The CD portion seems average as it includes tracks from the band's albums recorded for BBC sessions, songs cut while making Super Taranta! and Gypsy Punks and demos of "Immigrant Punk." At first glance, the live set seems pretty standard, too. But then you're reminded that it's not, because Gogol Bordello's insanity is all up in your face. Literally.

Hutz's band of maniacal musical misfits are all about having a good time and partying it up with everyone, while integrating every musical style possible. It's all about cramming as much fun as you can into one concise experience. To some, that might seem unnecessary or even annoying, but to Gogol Bordello's fans, it's essential and watching it unfold is entertaining.