The Hu at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay

Photos and words by Alex Matthews

Mongolian rock band The Hu recently played a headlining show on their “Black Thunder Tour” at San Diego venue Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay on Saturday April 16th.  This unique band mixes elements of rock, metal, and traditional Mongolian musical styles into a totally distinctive and incredibly powerful sound.  The San Diego tour date was booked right in between debut appearances by the band at both weekends of this year’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in nearby Indio, CA.  So it was a treat to see The Hu at a beautiful, local, and intimate venue like Humphrey’s in our own backyard without making the trek out to a huge multi-day event.

The Hu are a fantastic live band with a diverse group of members playing a mix of staple rock instruments like electric guitar, bass, and drums along with more traditional Mongolian instruments like Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), and Tumur Khuur (jaw harp).  In addition, lead singer TS. Galbadrakh or “Gala” is a master of khoomei, a type of Tuvan guttural throat singing that is fantastic to experience in person.  These powerful growling throaty tones are a seemingly perfect fit for the heavier rock and metal undertones of this band.  The traditional Mongolian instruments provide a refreshing counterpoint to a pounding and punishing rhythm section which makes you want to punch your fist in the air!  The band’s energy is infectious and it’s clear that they are enjoying their time on stage playing for larger and larger international audiences.

All of the band's songs come across as anthems, and despite the language barrier there were plenty of folks in the audience singing and chanting along with the music.  Chants of “HU, HU, HU, HU" rang out frequently during the breaks in the band’s set.  And seemingly by magic the band actually managed to conjure rain during their performance!  A slow drizzle turned into a more powerful downfall as the band and audience continued to chant together throughout the evening.

The Hu were recently featured on Metallica’s special 30th Anniversary version of the Black Album called “The Blacklist” and their encore at Humphrey’s featured their cover of the classic “Sad But True” to end the evening.  This was such an amazing cover to see live, and the band had a perfect take on the energy and fierceness of this track while incorporating their own unique cultural heritage.  The song was a highlight of the evening and a great way to end the concert.  As a fan of heavy music, world music, or just anything new and exciting, this band is a must-see, must experience event.