Gogol Bordello means it, man. The godparents of the “gypsy punk” genre, famous for high energy sets, showed no signs of slowing down at Royale on Wednesday after more than two decades of touring. The Boston crowd was treated to E Street Band-era, Springsteen-style stage antics as the colorful troupe of crusty punks showcased their latest album “We Mean It, Man!”

“Gypsy” music is, by most accounts, a diverse catch-all for the folk music of nomadic European communities. The Romani are usually mentioned by name. But the cultural identities of these musical communities tend to blur at the margins. However you slice it, there tends to be a lot of guitars, violins, accordions and a few bottles of wine. Good music for celebrating.

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The band marries the ecstatic mood of the traditional folk sound with raw textures of rock and the slick finish of modern synthesizers. It’s a motley combination, but one that fits the jumbo personality of frontman Eugene Hütz. The singer and guitarist is the kind of presence that the spotlight always finds. And if the spotlight doesn’t find him, he finds it.

Hütz joined the photographers in their pit at the start of the set by second opener Puzzled Panther, much to the delight of Gogol Bordello fans along the barrier. Like a politician on parade, he shook every hand in sight. The pit photographers didn’t know which way to turn their cameras.

Photographers at shows later in the tour are advised to follow where Hütz’s wandering eye leads. In what must have been a prepared bit, the frontwoman of Puzzled Panther ripped off the guitarist’s tearaway trousers to reveal exactly what you might imagine. Hütz captured the stunt on his phone and the footage was uploaded within hours to social media.

Par for the course when it comes to building hype for Puzzled Panther’s upcoming album, scheduled to be produced by the Gogol Bordello frontman. Hütz stuck around on guitar for the remainder of the Puzzled Panther set. Members of the band returned the favor for Gogol Bordello, joining the headliners onstage to supersize an already supersized band.

First opener Boris and the Joy spun out sunny rocktronica with a message that everyone in the room could get behind. To paraphrase: love everyone and fuck ICE.

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Michael Gutierrez

Michael Gutierrez is a writer, editor, media creative and founder of Hump Day News.

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