Led by manic, mustachioed, Ukraine-born frontman Eugene Hütz, New York's genre-spanning gypsy punk collective Gogol Bordello - whose members hail from all over the globe - has gone from an underground sensation to a global phenomenon.

The band's popularity has exploded thanks to a fiery, must-see live show and a pair of hugely successful records - 2005's breakout album Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike and 2007's incendiary Super Taranta!.

Now Gogol Bordello's gypsy caravan is rolling across Canada in support of Live from Axis Mundi, the band's first live CD/DVD set, which comes out Oct. 6.

Uptown called up bassist Thomas (Tommy T.) Gobena, 38, in Washington D.C., to get all the details on the new release, on Gogol Bordello's forthcoming studio record and on the Tommy T. solo album.

Uptown: Do you think Live from Axis Mundi captured the energy and essence of the now-famous Gogol Bordello show?

I think it's one of the best live DVDs out there. It's not easy to capture that energy on DVD. There's a lot of special features, and outtakes and audio (that) people have never heard, as well as beautifully captured live footage. It was shot over two days in New York which was the best place to do it.

I've always been curious about Gogol Bordello's songwriting process. Is it a free-flowing jam session or is it more of a sit-down-and-write affair?

It's a hybrid of both. All the songs are written by Eugene, and he brings them to the band in different ways - it might be on the bus after the show with red wine. We never stop playing. We'll play for two, three hours after the show. Then we'll take those songs and work them onstage, and we'll take the feedback from the audience and work them more. But we always know when a song is done.

Speaking of songwriting, you guys are working on a new studio album now. Can you give us an update?

We actually just finished recording and it will be out early next year. It will blow people away. As you can see, I'm a modest man (laughs). But this is the one thing I'm confident about.

You worked with veteran producer Rick Rubin on this one. What was that experience like?

Well, how would I explain it? You hear so much about the genius he is, about the Buddha he is and the records he's done and the people he's worked with. What can I say? He'll guide you all the way and he'll get the best out of you. It's a privilege to work with someone like that.

You also have a solo record coming out next month. Tell me about The Prester John Sessions.

I'm Ethiopian, and I've done a lot to help African music and African artists get their music out there. This is an extension of that, except it's me playing instead of running a label or any of the other things I've done. Traveling all over the world with Gogol Bordello has really inspired me. I'm kind of proud of it. I hope people will learn more about Ethiopia. The whole concept of the album was with that in mind. The actual style of the music is stuff I experienced throughout my life, so reggae, jazz, a little funk - a lot of groove-based stuff.

Do you think Gogol Bordello will ever do an African tour?

I hope so, man. This music cannot be stopped, so I wouldn't be surprised if we make it there soon.

You've played to audiences all over the world. Is the reception different country to country or is it always a party?

(laughs) Our show is definitely different because of the energy we have onstage. All good music should translate to an audience - any audience. To be totally honest, I sort of feel that once you've been through our show, it kills other shows. But each kind of music has its own space. Sitting and listening to a jazz show has a different kind of energy. Chilling out at a reggae show, well, that's not a bad deal, either. It just has to be good music coming from honest musicians.

GOGOL BORDELLO
Oct. 3, 8 p.m., Burton Cummings Theatre
w/ Apostle of Hustle