ITLM OTRS: Gogol Bordello, Puzzled Panther, and Boris And The Joy At 9:30 Club In Washington, DC 

Mar 25, 2026 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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By: Fleurette Estes and Raymond Burton Estes

On Sunday, March 22, 2026, Gogol Bordello brought their “gypsy punk” party to a sold-out show at Washington, DC’s legendary 9:30 Club, with Puzzled Panther and Boris and the Joy in tow. 

I first saw Gogol Bordello back on November 7, 2015 at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas. I’ll never forget that first hit—their high-energy, world-punk chaos spilling off the stage and straight into the crowd. You only get that first time once, and even from a distance, it stuck. So yeah, I was stoked to finally catch them up close in a smaller room with better sound. Even better, it was my wife Fleurette’s first time seeing Eugene Hutz and crew—and she had a blast. 

Boris and the Joy opened things up with an uplifting mix of indie-folk, electro-pop, and psych-rock. Frontman Boris Pelekh (Gogol guitarist from 2015–2024) was joined by current drummer Korey Kingston, pulling double duty. It felt right—a full-circle moment that said a lot about the camaraderie around this band. The two had real chemistry, with Pelekh bouncing across the stage, ripping through frenetic guitar parts while keeping his vocals locked in. He joked about pushing merch, saying his Jewish father insisted he have a business—though he admitted he’s not exactly built for capitalism. He also spoke warmly about his Gogol days and what that family still means to him. 

Next up, NYC’s self-described “post-punk renai-dance” outfit Puzzled Panther kept the energy high. Led by Victoria Espinoza (lead vocals, guitar, viola) and Kay Bontempo (lead guitar and vocals), they delivered a tight, kinetic set that kept the room moving. Hutz even jumped into the photo pit during their first three songs to shoot alongside everyone else—a cool show of support for a band he’s worked with and signed to his Casa Gogol label. Even better, he was mindful, making space for others (including Fleurette) to get their shots. 

After that, Hutz stuck around—this time on guitar—for the rest of their set. They tore through “Dirty Boots” by Sonic Youth, pulling the whole room in, even folks who didn’t know the band. And despite being impossible to miss, Hutz didn’t hijack the moment—he just pushed the band to go bigger. 

Then Gogol Bordello hit the stage—and didn’t let up. 

Touring behind We Mean It, Man!, they came out swinging and made good on the title. There’s a little Sex Pistols snarl in there, sure, but Gogol leans more toward the community-first spirit of The Clash. At one point, Hutz said he’s a builder—and looking around at a packed Sunday crowd of all ages and backgrounds, it’s hard to argue. He’s built something real. 

The current lineup— Erica Mancini (accordian, backing vocals), Pedro Erazo (vocals, percussion, charango), Leo Mintek (guitar, backing vocals), Gill Alexandre (bass), Sergey Ryabtsev (violin, backing vocals), Korey Kingston (drums, percussion), and of course Hutz —fired on all cylinders. 

Puzzled Panther came back out to join Gogol for “Fire on Ice Floe” and “From Boyarka to Boyaka.” Hutz joked that Ryabtsev, acting as his “executive producer,” made the crowd sit through five new songs before earning the old favorites. Fair trade. During “Start Wearing Purple,” Hutz splashed wine into the crowd with reckless abandon—suddenly the title felt less metaphorical. If memory serves me right, they teased “Gangsters” by The Specials before launching into “Pala Tute,” with Pelekh jumping in for a ripping guitar turn. 

For the encore, Hutz mentioned they’d recorded “Crayons” for the Washington, DC-based children’s show Pancake Mountain. Before “Alcohol,” he doubled down on his “builder” mindset, stacking cajóns to sit on and calling for one more like it was a personal challenge. It was a small, slightly chaotic moment—but kind of perfect. Sitting there, looking out at a crowd fully locked in and singing along, you could feel it—that shared moment that sticks with you. 

They ripped through “Boiling Point” and closed with “Undestructable,” slipping in a bit of “T.V. Eye” by The Stooges for good measure. 

By the end of the night, it was clear Gogol Bordello is still carrying the torch lit by bands like The Clash and The Pogues—blending styles, breaking boundaries, and pulling more people into the fold. Hutz shouted out the D.C. hardcore scene and Dischord Records, making it clear that history matters. Throughout the night, he also reminded the crowd that every member of the band, himself included, is a first-generation immigrant—something that still drives both their music and their message. 

For more on Gogol Bordello, click here

For photos from the show, click here

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Gogol Bordello’s setlist at 9:30 Club, Washington, DC

Ignition 

I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again 

Not a Crime 

Immigrant Punk 

Wonderlust King 

My Companjera 

Fire on Ice Floe  

From Boyarka to Boyaka (Puzzled Panther cover) 

State of Shock (The Ex and Tom Cora cover) 

Mystics 

Immigraniada (We Comin’ Rougher) 

We Mean It, Man! 

Life Is Possible Again 

Mishto 

Start Wearing Purple 

Pala Tute 

Encore: 

Crayons 

Alcohol 

Boiling Point 

Undestructable

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• 2026, 9:30 Club, concert review, Gogol Bordello, live, washington dc

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