Hubby, my older daughter, and I went to see Gogol Bordello in Boston last night. I figured out a little bit more why this is the best live band I’ve ever seen, and, when you go, the best live band you will ever see. It is their interaction with and inclusion of the audience in every move they make on stage. That’s not the only reason, but it’s one of the overarching ones.
One of my favorite things last night happened after the concert. We were driving back home on I-90 and we stopped at a rest stop to grab a bite to eat (I try, I really do. I had a cooler and food bag packed with healthy stuff, but McDonald’s fries and coffee won out in the end). While waiting in line, a 20-something man noticed my [new] Gogol Bordello t-shirt and asked, “Were you at the show?” He was in a state of bewilderment, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, a halo of bliss above his head. I answered that yes, I’d been at the show. We began to chat. It was nice to see the reverence in his face, the gears clicking in his head trying to figure out how it was possible for such a band to exist.
I also struck up a quick conversation, still in line at McDonald’s, with a teenage girl (14-years old, maybe) who had the same happy, dazed look on her face.
“Did you just come from the concert?” I asked.
“Yes. Weren’t they amazing?” she asked.
“Yes.” I answered, and: “Had you seen them before?”
“No, have you? Does he tour a lot?”
It was all so endearing.
♦ ♦ ♦
Just 2 hours ago, I bought tickets to see Gogol Bordello on Lake Champlain for a mid-August concert. This time, I’m going for it. Up in front of the stage with all the pretty young women and raving young men. RIGHT UP FRONT. That’ll be me backstage, the only sober person in a throng of groupies trying to share a bottle of wine with the band. Maybe Eugene will let me massage his hands. Or forearms. Or the twisted erector spinae muscles of his back. Yeah, that’s how fantasies work around here: me massaging famous rock stars.
It’s like my kid, clucking at me to Stop it, Mom when I was bounding, fleet-foot, up the aisle last night, dancing around, twirling my new t-shirt in the air. Nobody cares, Violet. Nobody cares what I am doing. They are not looking at me. She danced next to me the whole concert, her face glowing and carefree, safe with her parents, buoyed up by the good will all around her.
I’m here to be happy, to fill the empty spaces with energy and heat and vibration. Just like that band up there, biding our time and asking everyone to join in the ecstatic moments.
twinklysparkles 
Your daughter is beautiful. And you’re not so bad yourself, twinkly! 😉
Merci, Mme! Yes, my daughters are both lovely! Thanks!
I’ve been to 8 Gogol shows and I think this show was my favorite so far. Met some great people – Gogol fans are such a diverse friendly familia. Also ran into Sergey after the show and he is so sweet! See you in Vermont! I’ll be there with you front row – and I’m not young and pretty ; )
Welcome, Wanderlust Queen! Thanks for your comment. This was my second show. We’ll have to be in touch before the VT show and can have some identifying marks (red bandana?) to recognize each other. Unless the venue is huge. See you around again, I hope! twinkly
I guess I am stalking you all – I was at the Boston show, and I just got tickets for the Vermont show! YAY. I made it all the way up front for Boston and was dancing like a fool on one of those stupid folding chairs…. I actually made it all the way up to the rail for the encore, and then I had to beat a hasty retreat because lots of large heavy men started flying through the air and slamming into my body, I got some good bruises! Anyway. I’m totally heading for the front in Vermont as well. I will be wearing a purple bandeau top and neon green-and-black striped tights. 😀
Juliana, welcome to my blog!
I am thinking I won’t really make my way to the front in VT. Who knows, though. If it’s not too long of a stage, at least I will try to spot you. What if you change your mind about your attire?
When we saw GB in Boston at House of Blues in 2011, I got caught up near the front of the floor and I will tell you that I am far too claustrophobic to be anywhere near a mosh pit. NOT FOR ME!
At this latest Boston show, I started to climb over the chairs to get up closer for the the final encore, but those chairs are all welded together and I got some horrible bruises on both legs. I wish I enjoyed them, but at my age, my legs need all the help they can get and that was not the help they needed!
Maybe I’ll see you in VT. If I do, I’ll introduce myself!
Thanks again for stopping by and leaving a comment, twinkly