Small Loud World: Gogol Bordello

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TO CALL Gogol Bordello's Eugene Hutz a unique individual would be an understatement. It's easy to sense the Ukrainian Renaissance man hasn't really caught on to mainstream American culture yet, but he doesn't care.

In the song "American Wedding," off the gypsy-punk band's latest CD, "Super Taranta!," Hutz sings "Have you ever been to American wedding? Where is the vodka, where is marinated herring?" about Hutz's disappointment with American nuptial festivities.

Most of the band's songs are testimonies to Hutz's experiences in America (the band was formed on New York's Lower East Side) and how they differ from his considerably more laid-back Ukrainian home, most of it barked in his strongly-accented English, along with plenty of la-la-las and gang vocals.

The band's live show is something to behold; it can only be described as an Eastern European circus — Hutz will inevitably be bouncing around the stage while accordions and violins blare and two scantily clad ladies (Pamela Racine and Elizabeth Sun) bang bass drums and do back flips.

In addition to Hutz's out-of-control handlebar moustache and adorably horrible English, the band's violinist Sergey Ryabtsev looks like your crazy uncle, with his flowing gray hair whipping around as he plays some of the most enthusiastic violin you've ever heard.

Hutz has even been able to parlay the band's success into a fledgling acting career, starring alongside Elijah Wood in 2005's "Everything Is Illuminated," and starring in Madonna's first foray into the directing world in this year's "Filth and Wisdom."

But Hutz's unique lifestyle has even led to movies about him — 2006's "Wristcutters: A Love Story" featured a character not-so-slightly based on Hutz - An Eastern European rocker named Eugene with an out-of-control moustache and lifestyle to match.

»9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW; Fri. & Sat., 8 p.m., sold out; 202-265-0930. (U St.-Cardozo)

Written by Express contributor Jason Koebler
Photo courtesy Michael Buckner/Getty Images