Ukrainian-born singer-songwriter Eugene Hütz arrived in the U.S. in 1992 as a political refugee, fleeing, among other things, the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. By 1999 he had relocated to New York City and founded the Gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello, whose high-energy songs and performances have brought Eastern European sounds and immigrant issues to audiences across the country and world.

The current political climate has brought many of these issues to the fore, and while Hütz told GO! Magazine that he “already wrote everything there is to write about it like 15 years ago,” he still has plenty to say. Last year’s “Seekers and Finders” is the proof — the band slows down its furious punk assault throughout much of the record, allowing the stories in songs such as the title track (featuring Russian singer Regina Spektor) and “Familia Bonfireball” to stand on their own.

“The time is changing, and the issues of immigration now are completely different than the issues of immigration, say like 30 or 20 years ago when we left,” Hütz said. “It was a completely different story. We were political refugees who were graciously granted to enter another habitat and develop a new life and welcome to do that. There’s different extremities of the situation. Some people just really need a place to go for one or another kind of disaster, and then there’s also people who are just kind of seeking yet a better economical — like to kick it up a notch.”

Gogol Bordello will perform with Lucky Chops and local heroes Larry and His Flask at Midtown Ballroom on Friday.

Gogol Bordello, with Lucky Chops, Larry and His Flask: 9 p.m. Friday; doors open at 8 p.m.; $28 plus fees in advance, $32 at the door; Midtown Ballroom, 51 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend; midtownballroom.com, redlightpro.com or 541-408-4329.