Concert Review: Gogol Bordello – 1865, Southampton
Monday 24th August 2026
Gogol Bordello, the legendary American punk rock (sometimes called gypsy punk) band finally has played an indoor, very high-energy live show at The 1865 in Southampton, UK. On this sold-out night, support was from Bristol based punk rock band Split Dogs.
Eugene Hütz‘s Gogol Bordello is widely considered an unmissable live act, well known for their high-energy and joyous punk rock. The Ukrainian born frontman and the band, maintained a ferocious and frantic pace throughout their set.
For those who may not know. After leaving Ukraine following the Chernobyl disaster, his family lived in Eastern Europe before moving to the United States as political refugees in 1992. He later formed the gypsy punk band in New York City. The band members come from a wide variety of countries: Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Ethiopia, Ecuador, and the United States. Sergey Ryabtsev, Pasha Newmer, Leo Mintek, Gill Alexandre, Korey Kingston, Pedro Erazo and Erica Mancini play a vibrant mix of guitars, percussion, accordions and violins that drive the crowd to dance and mosh. On the contrary they also feel less like a standard concert and more like a giant mental trip, a joyous human celebration of music.
Even those whom have seen the band multiple times may agree that “Start Wearing Purple”, the chaotic anthem about the inevitability of losing one’s sanity is perfection, specifically live. The song may have been overplayed for some but it’s always welcomed at gigs for most. Frontman Eugene Hütz has explained that the song came from a real-life inside joke, when he was living with his (then) girlfriend. They had a very eccentric elderly neighbour who very frequently dressed in purple from head to toe and was “clearly bonkers”. Whenever Hütz and his girlfriend would get into some wild argument, he would tease her by saying she might as well “start wearing purple now” because she was acting just as crazy.
The show at The 1865 was impossible not to enjoy, also hard to explain in writing. You had to be there kind of situation. It was wild, welcoming, high-energy, and full of heart. They played most of their big hits and yes, they missed out a few – but there is (hopefully) always a next time. Gogol Bordello did not just perform for the crowd, they pulled the whole room into something timeless, warm and chaotic – in a good way.
Starting with “Ignition” the engines were ON, song after song all musicians gave us their best. When they played “Immigraniada (We Comin’ Rougher)” I looked around in the sea of people and everyone looked exited to be present, enjoying every second of it. For me, on top of the obvious “Start Wearing Purple” was “Alcohol” when Eugene slowed down to meaningfully present the song, and then go as mental as possible when playing “Pala Tute”. Great gig, perfect atmosphere and all this on a Monday night!
If and when they’ll play a gig around where you live, definitely go, start wearing purple, and have fun enjoying their music.
(308 photos from this gig – use this link)
