Invigorated

Listening to: Gogol Bordello (Gypsy Punks)Spent the best New Year's Eve in recent memory at Terminal 5 in Manhattan basking in the gypsy glory that is Gogol Bordello. Entertaining, amazing, deafening, at times life-threatening... these guys rocked the fuck out. For those not in the know, Gogol Bordello is a Lower East Side gypsy punk band. Except it's not just gypsy punk. Add in dub, ska, reggae, what sounds like French can-can music, some hispanic bongo beats and a bit of rap and you might start to get the Gogol Bordello sound.It's like the music gods looked down from on high and said unto me: "My child, thou hast suffered much at the hands of musicians wallowing in masturbatory self-absorption. We givest thou a night with Gogol Bordello." Not sure why the music gods talk like the King James Bible. Point is, these guys put on a show. If I ruled the world (well, the world beyond what goes on in my head) I would require bands like Interpol to attend mandatory Gogol Bordello shows. They would learn important lessons such as "audience interaction good!" and maybe even have an epiphany like "I'm here on stage in front of loads of people who have paid to see/hear me. Maybe I should actually put some energy into this."The lead singer, Eugene Hutz, and his big ole black, Slavic mustache strode, danced, jumped and cavorted around the stage. I gotta say, that mustache has more charisma than the last two guys I dated put together. I caught myself wondering how that 'stache would be in bed.There was what looked to be an actual pirate on electric fiddle. Two gypsy queen dancers/percussionists/screamers/singers added a carnival feel to the already high-octane party vibe. Accordian, drums, bongos, guitars, buckets -- it all got played.The crowd was fantastic. Even when they were attempting to trample and crush me, they were supremely good natured. I left the floor after 4 songs to seek a less mosh-y viewing spot (a prudent decision made immediately after watching the girl in front of me get punched in the face by the errant fist of the oblivious fan in front of her). I found a great spot on the second floor balcony to watch both the show on stage and the one occuring in front of the stage. The floor crowd bounced, jumped and crowd surfed at a frenetic and highly amusing pace.Once I was safe from flying elbows and bodies, I got a chance to look around at the crowd. Being an enthusiastic people watcher I was in my glory. In front of me was a 50-ish guy that looked like the less attractive brother of Chuck Norris. Beside him was a dread-locked African-American with his goth girlfriend. On the other side of me was a Jersey frat boy and his dad (or much older friend) and a Napolean Dynamite look-alike. Dancing behind me were a few neo-hippies and behind them a couple of emo kids making out. Every demographic was represented. It was fabulous.Terminal 5 itself was a great place to see a show. Lots of bars, reasonably priced beer, less reasonably price cocktails but poured strong, the bathrooms were plentiful and clean (the attendant gives out candy!), lots of good sightlines. Not at all assessable by public transportation, but not a bad walk from the Columbus Circle subway stop, especially on a night as gorgeous as last night.The band played for about two hours, stopping once to count down to midnight. Hutz blessing to the crowd: "May the forces of victory be with you in 2008!"Hell yea, I bought the t-shirt.