It was a dreary, rainy evening in the City of Fountains when the Mongolia-native group, The HU performed. Inside The Truman, fans packed in close to each other. Having just been rocked out by The Haunt, fans were warmed up and ready for something, well how can I put this…different. Mongolian metal, who knew it would be so much fun.
The fans started chanting “Hu Hu Hu Hu” over and over when the group took to the stage. The band seemed to feed off this energy and delivered it back to the audience tenfold. The HU mixed traditional metal sounds with traditional mongolian instruments and throat singing. I have no idea how one throat sings but damn it’s an interesting sound and it fits so well into their music. While I do not speak mongolian at all and did not understand a single word of their lyrics, but I don’t think anyone in attendance minded that at all. The music was just that good. It rocked. It was different, something most people had probably never experienced before.
Galbadrakh “Gala” Tsendbaatar and Enkhsaikhan “Enkush” Batjargal both played the morin khuur, a horsehead fiddle and throat sang. Nyamjantsan “Jaya” Galsanjamts throat sang and played both the tumur hhuur (a jaw harp) and the tsuur (an asian end-blown flute). Temuulen “Temka” Naranbaatar played the tovshuur (a mongolian style lute) and provided some background vocals as well. Other members touring with The HU include: Jambaldorj “Jamba” Ayush on guitar, Nyamdavaa “Davaa” Byambaa on bass, Unumunkh “Ono” Maralkhuu on percussion, and Odbayar “Odko” Gantumur on the drumset.
I have zero regrets choosing to cover The HU’s show instead of the Justin Beiber concert a few blocks away. I’d take this musical experience over an arena full of Beliebers any day.
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All photos © Andrew Mather
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