Gogol Bordello have mixed traditional gypsy music, punk, and dub to create their signature “gypsy punk” sound. Their name is derived from Russian Ukrainian writer Nikolai Gogol, because he smuggled Ukrainian culture into Russian society, much like Gogol Bordello’s mission to spread Eastern influenced music into Western culture. Bordello refers to their supercharged, riotous performances. They were originally going to be called Hütz and the Béla Bartóks, because Bartók spent his life documenting Hungarian, Slavok, Bulgarian, and Romanian folk music, his efforts ultimately bringing the field of ethnomusicology to life.

They are also affiliated with several films and documentaries.