Dresden Dolls Versus Gogol Bordello: a Gypsy Punk Cabaret for the ages
IYKYK. That’s pretty much the calling card of Boston-based Dresden Dolls and NYC-based Gogol Bordello. Powerhouse bands who consider themselves “punk rock cabaret”, they are both an eclectic mix of genres that defy them all. When the bands announced they would be playing two shows together in the Dolls’ hometown, buying tickets automatically became a priority.
I asked someone I’d met in line if she knew who the opener was, and she responded, “I heard it’s a marching band.” Knowing what I know about Gogol Bordello and Dresden Dolls, I had some pretty high expectations, and Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band didn’t just exceed them, they kicked those expectations out of the Roadrunner! Long time friends of the Dresden Dolls, ENSMB came to party! I have no idea how many people were on that stage, but I would guess at least 20. Horns of every type abounded, I saw an accordion, a clarinet, an entire drum line, and I think there was even a sousaphone! It was organized mayhem and damn if it wasn’t fun as hell! What an absolutely perfect band to start this frenetic evening off right!
If you have never had the pleasure of seeing Gogol Bordello before, you need to remedy this immediately. Formed in 1999 by Ukrainian-born singer, Eugene Hutz, the lower East Side Manhattan-based band is currently composed of at least seven members from all over the world, including many South American countries. The ensemble includes an electric violinist, Sergey Ryabtsev, an accordion player, Erica Mancini, and multiple percussionists, including Pedro Erazo (who also sings for the group). Numerous guests often join the band onstage for their electrifying performances, and this show included Victoria Espinoza and Kay Bontempo, of the NYC post-punk band Puzzled Panther, from Eugene Hutz’s label, Casa Gogol Records.
Gogol Bordello put on feral, raucous, thrilling shows with non-stop action that has everyone screaming, clapping, and stomping their feet. Wine is thrown, clothes come off, and we’re all left drenched in sweat, often simply from watching them perform! This last night of the Boston shows was no exception!
One of the highlights of the evening was Gogol Bordello’s encore, when both Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione, of the Dresden Dolls, joined GB onstage for an unforgettable rendition of the Nick Cave classic, “Red Right Hand”. The audience completely lost it, and I could barely remember to photograph as I became entranced by Amanda’s rousing performance.
Boston is the once and current home of the Dresden Dolls, who formed in 2000, when Palmer met Viglione after he came to a meeting of her artist collective. They’ve put out three albums over the years, before getting derailed a bit by COVID. Palmer was finishing up a solo tour in New Zealand when lockdown occurred, and she found herself stranded in a foreign land, raising her son as a single parent, as her marriage to writer Neil Gaiman was ending. The singer/keyboardist was forced to stay in New Zealand for over two years and endured countless struggles while there. After a short stay in upstate NY, Palmer decided to return to her homeland, leading to a fairly steady two year tour, with the final dates on their home turf.
While a lot of the usual Dresden Dolls fans’ flair was missing (no stilt-walkers or fire breathers in the crowd), those in attendance came dressed to impress and were queued up hours before doors. I talked to many people who had been to nearly all or all of the shows since March 2023, and there was definitely a core group of die-hards who were center rail. Everyone around me, including the 15-year-old beside me, knew all the words to all the songs, and they sang them with purpose. Many tears were shed, including by me, as Palmer talked about her pandemic journey, and how it led her to this moment. Most of us follow her on social media, so this was a familiar story, but to see the emotions firsthand really brought it home.
Both Palmer and Viglione were on fire, playing off each other and delivering all of their souls on a classic repertoire, plus two new songs. At one point, a pit actually started, leaving Amanda to remark that this was a first. For the end of the show, the Dolls were joined by Veronica Swift, a singer and the partner of Brian Viglione, for "Boston” and “Half Jack”. The group had found Swift after her cover of the band’s song “Sing” was brought to Viglione’s attention. Being so moved, Viglione contacted Swift and the two began both a musical and a romantic collaboration. Swift was a perfect fit with the Dolls and brought a lighthearted energy to the stage. The Dolls ended their set with a brilliant performance of Girl Anachronism, bringing down the house.
Swift came back out, along with a plethora of other performers, for the Dresden Dolls encore of “Sing”. The stage erupted into a frenzy of movement and emotion with multiple instruments, singers, friends, and family all joining the band to close out a monstrous reunion tour, leaving us with a night we will not soon forget.