While not always the case, most documentary filmmakers, as invested as they may become in their subjects, try to maintain a journalistic distance. We can assume that isn’t the case for The Pied Piper of Hutzovina, a film by Pavla Fleishcer about Gogol Bordello lead singer Eugene Hutz. In fact, the impetus for making the film was largely due to the fact that Fleischer fell in love with Hutz, and it charts a 2004 visit to Eastern Europe they made together. Hutz, a New Yorker who can chart his Gypsy lineage to his grandmother, travels across the Ukraine to share his music with family, friends, and strangers, and to rediscover his roots. ...

With the geographic world continuing to shrink in the 21st century and the increased ease of travel and communication opening new doors every day, today’s musical landscape is constantly evolving. Instruments from other cultures have always been utilized in western music, but of late, world styles are making major dents in the indie scene. Be it Vampire Weekend’s African accentuation, M.I.A.’s Bollywood beats, or Beirut evoking adventures in far off lands, we have been privy to some choice innovations in this decade. New York based Gogol Bordello’s brand of “Gypsy Punk” (falling in the geographic vicinity of Beirut’s concoctions) has been garnering momentum with the release of 2005’s Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike and last year’s Super Taranta!...

Gogol Bordello at Emo's in Austin, TX (October 22, 2007). Photos by Romain Nayalkar. If you can't view the Flash slideshow above, an alternate version appears after the jump.......

Still energized after Monday evening’s Gogol Bordello show? No need to slow down because Hot Hot Heat are in town tonight to supply dance friendly ditties for further boogying. The Canadian outfit will play Emo’s in support of their latest effort, Happiness Ltd. For a chance to win free tickets and for details on the show, continue reading after the jump. And ready yourself for an assortment of new wave inspired, synth-riddled melodies. "Bandages" on......

Gogol Bordello have the unique distinction of being New York based but Eastern European inspired indie musicians, playing something called Gypsy Punk, but actually having some songwriters from the region. Their latest album, Super Taranta!, was released earlier this summer and features the sort of loud and raucous punk fans have come to love since the band's inception in 1999. A Russian violinist, a Russian accordionist, an Israeli guitarist, an Ethiopian bassist and an......

Back when we lived up in Nueva York, we kept hearing about these crazy “Gypsy-Punk” assholes who appeared out of nowhere, presumably from the general vicinity of The Ukraine. Their shows were rumored to be complete sweat-fests of insane, mobish crowds that moved to the circus-like music with a singular, beast-like quality. Their singer, reputed to have some Brian Jones sort of charm over the masses, moved from song to song in a live show,......

Austinist and Gothamist have partnered up with a bevy of awesome people -- the full roster is shown on the flyer to the left, designed by Austin's Misprint Magazine -- to throw one hell of an afterparty next Wednesday, March 15th, after Ghostland Observatory closes the Austinist+Gothamist+Alarm Magazine Day Party over at Red 7 (more on that later). From midnight to 6am, we'll be rocking the house. Expect performances by Grand National (London), The Cloud......

SXSW.com released an updated lineup for this year's SXSW Music Festival earlier today, and it's one hell of a list. The SXSW committee hastens to note that "This is a partial list of performers confirmed to appear at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival. This list is current as of 1/13/06. All of this information is subject to change." International acts include: Masahiro Nitta, DMBQ, Ellegarden, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, PE'Z, The Emeralds (Japan)......

Pitchfork today posted the initial lineup of confirmed SXSW XX artists, and the roster is ... well, see for yourself: The Adored, Annie, Arctic Monkeys, Belle and Sebastian, The BellRays, Be Your Own Pet, Blockhead, The Boy Least Likely To, The Brokedown, Calexico, Neko Case, Cat Power, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clor, Jason Collett, The Cribs, Cuff the Duke, Jamie Cullum, Dashboard Confessional, Death In Vegas, Death Vessel, Dengue Fever, Destroyer, Die! Die!......

The following is a selection of tracks by artists playing this week. Check the IST List to see when and where they'll be. Enjoy! -John Vanderslice - Exodus Damage [mp3] -John Vanderslice - Trance Manual [mp3] -John Vanderslice - Motel of Lost Companions [mp3] -Locksley - Into the Sun [mp3] -Locksley - She Does [mp3] -Locksley - All Of the Time [mp3] -Living Things - BOM BOM BOM [myspace] -Living Things - Bombs Below......