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York City at spots like “the Bulgarian
bar”. His original mix of gypsy, rock
and electronica have a mesmerized
following. Rooms are spun into twirling
tizzies, as if struck with unstoppable
dance fever. It’s not unusual to see
Eugene, sweaty, shirtless and standing
on a table, joining the throng in say an
Iggy Pop sing-along favorite like “The
Passenger”. His downtown-rocker-
boy-meets-retro-Eastern-European-
circus-master look, has not escaped
the notice of the fashion world and he
is apparently the male muse behind
Gucci’s upcoming fall men’s line. And
as if dj-ing, being a rock star and fashion
icon weren’t enough, Hutz is even doing
the actor thing. His wonderfully quirky
and comic debut performance in the
film Everything is Illuminated, in which
he starred opposite Elijah Wood has
received much acclaim and now he is
scheduled to appear in a film produced
by Madonna titled Filth and Wisdom.
Growing up in the Ukraine, Eugene
was enchanted by Roma gypsy music.
In an NPR interview, he described how power plant accident. The diversity of
hearing it for the first time “was like cultures there was inspiring to Hutz
being struck by lightning” and how, as and helped prepare him for the U.S.
his love for it grew, he felt compelled Not long after his family found their
to find a way to share this music with way to Vermont, Hutz literally found
the world. His way would be a deeply himself in New York city. There he met
personal way. In other words, Hutz was an international group of musicians
moved to create his autobiography and in 1999, started Gogol Bordello.
through music by interplaying his Roma The band’s fiddler, Sergey Rjabtzevand
family history with the experiences Hertz, both were of Romany ancestry
of his generation. Hutz says he has and felt passionate about keeping the
always been drawn to the music of gypsy music alive. The rest of the band
social unrest and desire for change. His is as diverse as they come. Hutz writes
father, also a musician, exposed him the songs while the entire arrangements
to the greats like Jimi Hendrix and the are orchestrated by the band. This is
Stooges. With Gogol Bordello, Hutz’s when, Hutz says, “very cool things
dream was to bring music across happen.”(The Observer)
cultures and inspire cross-connections The band is: Hutz, Sergey Rjabtzev,
– to bring the gypsy music to America a violinist from Moscow, Yuri Lemeshev
and the outspoken elements of punk the accordionist from Sakhalin, Russia,
music back to the youth in Ukraine. Oren Kaplin, the guitarist from Israel,
What are all these countries. How Eliot Ferguson, the drummer from the
did they appear? Who cut up the cake? U.S and Pedro Arazo, the band’s MC
(Your Country, Eugene Hutz) from Ecuador. Dancing percussionists
Hutz’s family left Kiev for the and backup singers Pamela Racine
Carpathian region after the Chernobyl and Elizabeth Sun are Thai-American
avantoure
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jackpot