The HU // LIve Review // The Leeds Union // Leeds

For a change of scenery, we’ve come to Leeds tonight for something a little different as The HU brings their UK tour through West Yorkshire. Having gained immense popularity over the last few years, it’s incredibly busy with people crammed in to catch these guys playing.

Despite doing my research, I still wasn’t sure what to expect tonight. Clearly, there were many fans here though as chants of “HU” rang through the crowd as the band took to the stage. These chants continued whenever there was a lull in playing through the night. With all 8 band members on stage and an assortment of instruments not usually seen at a rock show, it was quite a sight to take in. As they began to play, they became truly captivating to watch. The intricately detailed instruments combined with the traditional Mongolian throat singing were just something else to see performed live. It’s one of those sights that you can’t take your eyes away from, especially watching the main vocalist, Nyamjantsan Galsanjamts as he swapped and changed a range of mouth instruments to create that iconic sound. While I couldn’t tell you what they were singing about, I can tell you that the band projected an incredibly good vibe that you couldn’t help yourself from moving along to. With a mixture of funky beats the more heavy metal-inspired songs, there was something for everyone in the crowd to enjoy. The band seemed to be having as good a time as the crowd too as the central horse head fiddle player and vocalist, Galbadrakh Tsendbaatar, kept dancing around with a great grin on his face. All of this combined with a dramatic light show made for a performance that was out of this world and the crowd seemed to think so too!

This is a band that must see whether you’re a fan of their music. I can almost guarantee that the traditional blended with more modern and contemporary music will draw you in and hold your attention from start to finish. The HU are amazing live and are a bucket list band to tick off at least once!

The Hu Are: Jaya – Nyamjantsan Galsanjamts (tsuur; throat singer), Gala – Galbadrakh Tsendbaatar (band leader; horse fiddle; throat singer),  Enkush – Enkhsaikhan Batjargal (horse fiddle; throat singer), Odko – Odbayar Gantumur (drummer), Temka – Temuulen Naranbaatar ( tovshuur player; throat singer). Unu – Unumunkh Maralkhuu (percussion drummer), Davaa – Nyamdavaa Byambaa (bass guitarist), Jambaa – Jambaldorj Ayush (solo guitarist).

 

Review: Emmie Ellis

Photography: Mark Ellis

 

 

Tour Dates
DEC 1 – Rock City, Nottingham, United Kingdom
DEC 2 – Cardiff University Students’ Union, Cardiff, United Kingdom DEC 3 – O2 Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom
DEC 5 – 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin, Ireland
DEC 6 – Ulster Hall, Belfast, United Kingdom
DEC 7 – SWG3 Poetry Club, Glasgow, United Kingdom
DEC 9 – Roundhouse, London, United Kingdom

For more show information please visit: www.thehuofficial.com

 

The HU named UNESCO Artist for Peace

Acclaimed Mongolian Rock Band Honoured by UNESCO in Paris

This huge honour from UNESCO comes after releasing their anticipated second studio album RUMBLE OF THUNDER in September this year, with 12 tracks that connect the world to Mongolian culture and its unique core values of natural preservation and spiritual connection with the earth. These core values are on full display in the heavy-rock album along with deeply meaningful lyrics that uplift Mongol people.

Over the past year The HU have released numerous music videos, each spectacularly shot and aesthetically beautiful. Visuals for tracks ‘This Is Mongol’, ‘Black Thunder’ and ‘Bii Biyelgee’ incorporate their Mongolian values and tell powerful stories, whilst showcasing the band’s extraordinary music.

The HU continue their Black Thunder Tour around Europe, performing a huge setlist including recent single ‘This Is Mongol’ and also ‘Yuve Yuve Yu’ from their first album The Gereg. They perform in Paris tonight before heading to Amsterdam and the UK. With 20 out of 33 shows sold out, and the rest with limited tickets remaining, The HU kick off their UK shows in Manchester on 28 Nov, and finish in London with a huge show at the Roundhouse on 9 Dec. They will also perform in Leeds, Nottingham, Cardiff, Birmingham, Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow. For more show information please visit: www.thehuofficial.com

About The HU

In 2019, an NPR story put a spotlight on “a band from Mongolia that blends the screaming guitars of heavy metal and traditional Mongolian guttural singing,” accurately highlighting the cultural importance and unique musical identity of THE HU. Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, THE HU, Gala, Jaya, Temka, and Enkush, are a modern rock group rooted in the tradition of their homeland. The band’s two most popular videos, ‘Yuve Yuve’ and ‘Wolf Totem’, were produced by the band’s producer Dashka. The band’s name translates to the Mongolian root word for human being, and their unique approach blends instruments like the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumur Khuur (jaw harp) and throat singing with contemporary sounds, creating a unique sonic profile that they call “Hunnu Rock.”

Their debut album, 2019 ‘s The Gereg, debuted at #1 on the World Album and Top New Artist Charts. With it, the band have accumulated over 250 million combined streams and video views to date and have received critical acclaim from the likes of Billboard, NPR, GQ, The Guardian, The Independent, Revolver, and even Sir Elton John himself.

Proving their global appeal, THE HU have sold out venues across the world in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, with scheduled festival appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Download Festival, and more, creating a community of fans from all walks of life. They quickly grabbed the attention of the industry, leading to collaborations with Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach and Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. And most recently, the band received praise from fans and critics for their Mongolian rendition of Metallica’s ‘Sad But True’, which Metallica picked up on and invited them to record ‘Through The Never’ for their Metallica Blacklist album released in 2021 alongside other high-profile guest artists like Miley Cyrus, Chris Stapleton, Phoebe Bridgers, J Balvin, St. Vincent, and so many more. The band has also explored eclectic ways to reach audiences with their sound, most notably writing and recording music for EA Games’ Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

Connect with THE HU

Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

For information, visit: http://betternoise.com/