Today, Puzzled Panther announces the release of their sophomore EP Fits of Serenity, out July 15 via Eugene Hütz’s Casa Gogol Records (Rolling Stone), with a psych-dance-punk cover of The Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs” out now.
Puzzled Panther's reimagining of the song is a psychedelic-breakbeat punk symphony. Sexy, provocative, and undeniably groovy, this cover remains true to the timeless quality of the original, but in a way that is very much 2025 NYC. After supporting Eugene Hütz as King Neptune at Coney Island’s 43rd Annual Mermaid Parade last weekend, the band will perform in celebration of New York Music Month on June 30 at Rough Trade Below in NYC, before joining Gogol Bordello’s July California tour, along with Grace Bergere, including a stop at Vans Warped Tour in Long Beach. Puzzled Panther and Casa Gogol newcomers Pons will also play Celebrate Brooklyn! with Gogol Bordello on August 2.
Fits of Serenity is where Psychedelic-Manchester meets New York. The intertwined history and connection between British and New York City punk opened the door for Puzzled Panther to combine the best of both worlds. The EP is especially focused on the groove of the 90s Madchester era, updated with the iconic guitar-driven noise of NYC and Sonic Youth-inspired riffs. The result is a distinct and unique sound that is both familiar and of the future.
The New York group is led by principal songwriter Victoria Espinoza, who describes their sound as “post-punk Renai-Dance,” as well as Kay Bontempo, Brian Chase (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Eugene Hütz (Gogol Bordello), and Rob Mellinger (Casa Gogol’s Crazy & The Brains). Puzzled Panther’s self-titled debut EP also boasts impressive production credits, fully produced by Eugene Hütz, as well as the first single “Smoke and the Mirrors We Broke,” produced by post-punk legend Nick Launay (Nick Cave, Amyl and the Sniffers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Idles).
ABOUT EUGENE HÜTZ / GOGOL BORDELLO
Eugene Hütz is a Ukrainian-born artist, songwriter, and frontman of the International punk band Gogol Bordello – a rare musical force raucously illuminating stages alongside System of a Down, Rancid, and Dropkick Murphys, dueting with Regina Spektor and cutting albums with Rick Rubin & Steve Albini. A lifelong lover of the punk scene growing up in Ukraine, Hütz found himself where he felt he belonged, in New York’s Lower East Side in the late 90s, where he went to shows and later performed at the legendary CBGB. Crashing at friends’ apartments and playing acoustic sets in NYC Ukrainian bars, his group steadily grew to an 8-piece multicultural band, combining Eastern, Western, and Latin traditions. Hütz is a tireless advocate for Ukrainian solidarity, partnering with Nova Ukraine and ArtDopomoga, as well as putting together benefits with Patti Smith, The Hold Steady, Suzanne Vega, Magnetic Fields, Matisyahu, and more. Hütz has also appeared in arthouse films such as Liev Schreiber’s Everything Is Illuminated with Elijah Wood, Filth and Wisdom helmed by Madonna, and last year’s Vice documentary Scream of My Blood: A Gogol Bordello Story (Executive Producer Liev Schreiber).
