Gogol Bordello & Puzzled Panther Talk Touring, Gear, Production, & More
Gogol Bordello has never been a band content with just raising the roof—they raise the entire damn village. This summer, frontman Eugene Hütz is leading the gypsy-punk collective into a blazing season of chaos, community, and continuity. Touring with a crew of handpicked artists from his label Casa Gogol Records, Hütz is not only reasserting the band’s legacy as live legends, but also highlighting the next wave of genre-busting artists redefining what New York sounds like in 2025.
The crown jewel of the summer run? A headlining slot at Celebrate Brooklyn! on August 2, where Gogol Bordello will share the stage with labelmates Puzzled Panther and the explosive Brooklyn trio Pons. Expect a night that veers from post-punk hypnosis to gypsy-dub fire and back again, soundtracked by some of the most vital acts in the New York underground. Grace Bergere—another Casa Gogol breakout—will open for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs just days earlier at the Beacon Theatre, cementing Casa Gogol as a growing force in the city’s sonic vanguard.
We caught up with Hütz, who was equal parts punk prophet and party czar, about the label’s recent breakout compilation, NYContinuity Vol. 1: New New York Does Old New York. The label also dropped The Outlaw Vinnie Stigma from Agnostic Front’s legendary co-founder, whose short East Coast tour turned into a living museum of New York punk, with guests like Michael Imperioli’s ZOPA, Walter Schreifels, Jesse Wagner, and of course, members of Gogol Bordello themselves.
But Casa Gogol isn’t about nostalgia—it’s about now. Nowhere is that clearer than in Puzzled Panther, a band that distills '90s Manchester psychedelia into something haunting and new. The group’s latest EP Fits of Serenity, released July 15, is all swirling textures, post-punk bite, and dreamy defiance. When we spoke to frontwoman Victoria Espinoza and guitarist Kay Bontempo, they lit up talking about life on the road and the gear that makes their wall-of-sound bloom. Their influences range from Ride to Sonic Youth to the dusty poetry of Leonard Cohen.
With shows stretching across the U.S., blistering new releases, and a touring crew that feels more like a nomadic circus than a traditional lineup, Gogol Bordello and Casa Gogol Records are redefining what it means to carry the torch of punk, psych, soul, and Eastern European grit into the future. It’s not just a tour. It’s a movement. And you don’t want to miss it.
Both bands are downright excellent, which is why we’ve included all the links below to get listening! Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a jam-packed summer!
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