New episode of 'TheNews' - The Beatles, The Zombies, Elton John, Larkin Poe, The HU, more!

Check out the latest episode of TheNews where TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss announcements related to The Beatles, The Zombies, Elton John, Larkin Poe, The HU, 7Horse and more!

Watch the episode HERE.

Mongolian rock sensation THE HU announce new album 'Rumble of Thunder'; share new single with video for "Black Thunder"

Check out news on the return of The HU; I loved the band's amazing set at Coachella this year (read my review HERE)...Robert Kinsler 

 

The HU / Photo Credit: Khishigsuren Baasan

THE HU, ACCLAIMED MONGOLIAN ROCK BAND, ANNOUNCE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM ‘RUMBLE OF THUNDER’ OUT SEPTEMBER 2 VIA BETTER NOISE MUSIC UNLEASH NEW TRACK AND VIDEO “BLACK THUNDER” PRE-ORDER HERE | STREAM HERE

Band Kicking Off North American Tour with Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth, and Fire From The Gods on August 19, 2022 

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The HU performing at Coachella on April 22, 2022.
Photo Credit: Robert Kinsler

Breakthrough Mongolian rock act THE HU have announced details of their long-awaited sophomore album RUMBLE OF THUNDER, recorded via Better Noise Music, and released a new single called “Black Thunder” along with an official music video. The band’s 12-track second studio album is set for release September 2 and includes “This Is Mongol,” their eco-conscious single released in May, that now boasts over a million streams in less than two months. “Black Thunder” incorporates Mongolian values, telling a powerful story of battle, faith, and death lyrically and visually. The band has been teasing new music from their sophomore album on their headlining Black Thunder Tour, at Coachella, and soon at Japan’s Fuji Rock Festival, in Australia and New Zealand, on tour with Five Finger Death Punch and Megadeth, and later in Europe and the UK - a full list of dates below. This new music was recorded in their homeland of Mongolia, after their debut album ‘The Gereg’ landed at #1 on the World Album and Top New Artist charts in its first week of release. Pre-order RUMBLE OF THUNDER HERE. See below for a full tracklist. To stream and watch the striking video for “Black Thunder,” click HERE. Fans can purchase tickets to watch THE HU on tour HERE.

 

Vocalist GALA shared, “‘Black Thunder’ is the crown jewel of our second album. The music video is split into two parts and conveys the core values of men through visuals. Our producer Dashka chose a unique location in Mongolia to shoot the video, where we had a great time riding the horses in the vast grassland of our countryside. We hope that our pride in our culture shines through, as we aimed to bring viewers joy and a piece of our culture through this video.” Speaking on their next studio album, he continued, “Our second album will include ‘Black Thunder,’ along with many new songs. We can’t wait for you to listen and enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it.”

THE HU’s last official video was set in the Mojave Desert and highlighted their unique core values of natural preservation and spiritual connection with the earth. The video for“Black Thunder” also features an epic backdrop, this time in Mongolia. Directed by Erdenebileg Ganbold and producer Dashka, the video is action packed, taking the viewers through battle and a funeral procession ritual. Watch the official music video HERE. 

 

Earlier this year, THE HU impressed various media with powerful, energizing performances on their Black Thunder Tour and at Coachella, with SF Gate’s Ariana Bindman writing, “The last time I fell in love, it wasn’t with a person. It was with a seven-piece Mongolian heavy metal band belting out guttural war cries while playing Motorhead-style riffs with traditional horsehead fiddles, electric guitars and flutes. Behind me, people of all backgrounds bob their heads, raise their fists and scream in harmony. I’m watching THE HU at Coachella, the first music festival I’ve attended since the world forever changed. And they’re f—king epic.”

 

This summer, THE HU will hit stages across North America, as they head out on tour with Megadeth, Five Finger Death Punch, and Fire From The Gods. The tour starts in Portland, Oregon on August 19, spanning over 30 dates, and closes out on October 15 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Concertgoers are promised an intense multi-faceted night of heavy rock music. Tickets are on sale now HERE.

 

The band has curated five playlists on Spotify, hand-picked by Gala, Enkush, Jaya, and Temka and feature tracks from their previous album and upcoming release. Listen here:

THE HU Complete

THE HU Playlist Curated by Gala

THE HU Playlist Curated by Enkush

THE HU Playlist Curated by Jaya

THE HU Playlist Curated by Temka

 

‘Rumble of Thunder’ Tracklist

1. This is Mongol
2. YUT Hövende
3. Triangle
4. Teach Me
5. Upright Destined Mongol
6. Sell The World
7. Black Thunder
8. Mother Nature
9. Bii Biyelgee
10. Segee
11. Shihi Hutu
12. TATAR Warrior

 

THE HU Upcoming Tour Dates:

Jul 29 – Yuzama, JP – Fuji Rock Festival

Aug 2 – Melbourne, AU – 170 Russell

Aug 3 – Melbourne, AU – 170 Russell

Aug 5 – Brisbane, AU – Eatons Hill Hotel

Aug 6 – Adelaide, AU – Hindley Street Music Hall

Aug 7 – Sydney, AU – Roundhouse

Aug 11 – Auckland, NZ – Powerstation

Aug 19 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Aug 20 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheater

Aug 23 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater

Aug 24 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheater

Aug 26 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

Aug 27 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater

Aug 30 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion

Sep 1 – Del Valle, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Sep 2 – Houston, TX –The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

Sep 6 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

Sep 7 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Sep 9 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach

Sep 10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live

Sep 12 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater 

Sep 14 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

Sep 15 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion

Sep 17 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater

Sep 18 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center

Sep 20 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview

Sep 21 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake**

Sep 23 – Scranton, PA – Pavilion at Montage Mountain

Sep 24 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

Sep 27 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater**

Sep 28 –Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

Sep 30 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

Oct 1 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Oct 4 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center

Oct 5 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

Oct 7 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater - Summerfest Grounds

Oct 8 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

Oct 10 – Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Oct 12 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

Oct 14 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Oct 15 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheater

Oct 26 – Oslo, NO – Sentrum Scene 

Oct 28 – Stockholm, SE – Fryshuset Arenan

Oct 29 – Goteborg, SE – Gothenburg Studios

Oct 31 – Copenhagen, DK – The Grey Hall

Nov 1 – Arhus C, DK – Train

Nov 3 – Berlin, DE – Metropol

Nov 4 – Gdansk, PL – B90 Club

Nov 5 – Warsaw, PL – Progresja

Nov 7 – Krakow, PL – Klub STUDIO

Nov 8 – Budapest, HU – Akvarium Klub

Nov 9 – Wien, AT – Gasometer

Nov 11 – Kralovske Vinohrady, CZ – Mala Sportovni Hala

Nov 12 – Zurich, CH – Volkshaus Zurich

Nov 13 – Milan, IT – Alcatraz

Nov 15 – Lyon 01, FR – Transbordeur

Nov 17 – Madrid, ES – La Paqui

Nov 18 – Barcelona, ES – La Salamandra

Nov 20 – Ramonville-st-agne, FR – Le Bikini

Nov 21 – Brussels, BE – Ancienne Belgique

Nov 22 – Tilburg, NL – Poppodium

Nov 24 – Cologne, DE – Live Music Hall

Nov 25 – Paris, FR – Casino de Paris

Nov 27 – Amsterdam, NL – Melkweg

Nov 28 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy

Nov 30 – Leeds, UK – Stylus

Dec 1 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City

Dec 2 – Cardiff, UK – Cardiff University Students’ Union

Dec 3 – Birmingham, UK – 02 Institute

Dec 5 – Dublin, IE – 30lympia Theatre

Dec 6 – Belfast, UK – Ulster Hall

Dec 7 – Glasgow, UK – SWG3 Poetry Club

Dec 9 – London, UK – Roundhouse 

**5FDP, THE HU, and Fire From The Gods only

 

See full list of the band’s upcoming live shows and ticket information at https://www.thehuofficial.com/tour-1.   

### 

 

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.

 

Readying their next chapter as a global force, THE HU are putting the finishing touches on their highly anticipated sophomore album, which is due for a global release later this year from Better Noise Music. THE HU will tour with Five Finger Death Punch and Megadeth starting August 19^th 2022.

 

Connect with THE HU

Website | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Coachella Weekend 2 recap: Billie Eilish, Danny Elfman, Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, more!

An art installation at Coachella.
Photo credit: Robert Kinsler

Review by Robert Kinsler

Maria Zardoya of The Marias.
Photo credit: Beth Sarah / Getty Images
For Coachella

Weekend 2 of Coachella 2022 (April 22-24, 2022) offered up so many great performances, it's impossible so soon after the event to proclaim any single performance — or even any day — the best of the event. 

One thing that is clear is how this year's running of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival clearly thrust women into the limelight. In addition to Billie Eilish's incredible headlining set on the Coachella Stage on Saturday night, the parade of top-tier women extended from early-in-the-day emerging acts such as Holly Humberstone, Nilüfer Yanya, The Regrettes, Yola and Giselle Woo & the Night Owls to bona fide favorites Phoebe Bridgers, Japanese Breakfast, The Marias, Beach Bunny and Maggie Rogers. Weekend 2 Coachellagoers even got Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams as a guest during Eilish's turn. 

Here is a recap of my favorite performances I caught at Weekend 2.

Friday, April 22, 2022

The HU performing on the Outdoor Theatre Stage.
Photo: Robert Kinsler

The HU — Mongolian hard rock outfit The HU lived up to their well-deserved buzz with a 40-minute set of electrifying cuts that fused head banging rhythms wrapped in in guttural singing and propelled by undeniable grooves. Founded in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, The HU is unlike any group this writer has ever seen and the use of instruments from their native land like the Morin Khuur (horse head fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumar Khuur (jaw harp) and strong presence made for an unforgettable outing on the Outdoor Theatre Stage. "Wolf Totem" was among the otherworldly tracks the band performed with absolute perfection.

Phoebe Bridgers at Coachella.
Photo credit: Getty Images for Coachella

Phoebe Bridgers — Standing out on a three-day bill featuring more than 150 artists isn't easy, but Los Angeles singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers did that with her bewitching hour-long set Friday night. Launching her showcase with the lovely "Motion Sickness," Bridgers performed a set that showcased her amazing songcraft and ability to use her musical talents — and those of her amazing band members — to create a soundscape that is fully her own. It didn't hurt that the video projection screen would feature a colorful animated book that would flip pages between the songs and twinkling night sky adding additional atmospheric magic to the setting. Her nuanced and artful performance reached a dramatic close with the explosive finale of "I Know The End."

Other Friday highlights included area favorites Giselle Woo & the Night Owls, English rockers Spiritualized, the soul-meets-pop New York-based Lawrence (featuring siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence), rising Los Angeles band The Marias, French singer-DJ Madeon and headliner Harry Styles — the latter who was joined by Lizzo for a version of "I Will Survive." 

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Beach Bunny performing on the Outdoor Theatre stage.
Photo credit: Jacob Mulka / Getty Images for Coachella

Beach Bunny - an early Saturday standout, the Lili Trifilio-led Chicago outfit Beach Bunny offered up a winning mix of melodic punk and power pop on the Outdoor Theatre Stage on Saturday afternoon. Although the quartet was reduced to a trio (the band's guitarist Matt Henkels was not in the lineup for some reason), the group's second-ever appearance at Coachellafest was a success with Trifilio handling all the guitar duties with enough power to help propel their great 45-minute set.

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast at Coachella.
Photo credit: Julian Bajsel / Getty Images for Coachella

Japanese Breakfast — The moniker for singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Michelle Zauner, Japanese Breakfast was clearly a wonderful discovery for many at the festival. Japanese Breakfast delivered a fully original and joyful set inside a packed Mojave Tent on Saturday afternoon. The diversity of the material included the lovely "Glider" (written for a video game), melodic sortie "Savage Good Boys" and set-ending experimental art rocker "Diving Woman." The yearning "The Body Is a Blade" from her latest album "Jubilee" was one of the most affecting songs this writer heard during the fest.

Danny Elfman at Coachella.
Photo credit: Rachael Polack / Getty
Images for Coachella

Danny Elfman — On Oct. 31, 1995, Danny Elfman said goodbye to his beloved Oingo Boingo via a 3-hour, 40-minute finale at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles (read my review of that legendary concert HERE). With that well-publicized finale, Elfman dove full time into his burgeoning career as a composer and has since written a slew of acclaimed film scores. Fast forward 27 years to Elfman's appearances at Coachella 2022 and the artist has truly come full circle. On Saturday night, Elfman and an amazing band along with an orchestra and choir performed a handful of Boingo classics as well as selections from some of his most beloved film scores along with new material from his 2021 solo album "Big Mess." This was a dazzling and satisfying run through Elfman's singularly rich sonic universe. Standouts included an amped take on the "Simpsons" theme, a medley of songs from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," and gorgeous symphonic run through "Ice Dance / The Grand Finale" (from "Edward Scissorhands"); it was marvelous to hear Elfman and company run through inspired versions of Boingo classics like "Just Another Day," "Only a Lad" and "Dead Man's Party." The new material was compelling too, especially the decidedly dark "Happy."

Billie Eilish performing on the Coachella Stage.
Photo credit: Andy Boyle / Getty Images for Coachella

Hayley Williams, left, with Billie Eilish in Indio, CA.
Photo credit: Andy Boyle / Getty Images for Coachella

Billie Eilish — Although Weekend 2 attendees didn't get the celebrated Damon Albarn (who appeared at Weekend 1) as a guest during the "Bad Guy" singer's highly anticipated set on Saturday night, they did get to enjoy a guest making her first-ever appearance at the famed festival. "Oh, look! An empty seat. Who is that for?" Eilish asked. She then introduced Paramore's Hayley Williams; they joined forces along with Eilish's brother FINNEAS (the latter who handled acoustic guitar duties) for a powerful take on Paramore's 2007 rocker "Misery Business." Make no mistake; 20-year-old Eilish is already a bona fide star. In addition to her unique vocal and musical style, she is a compelling songstress more focused on nuanced songcraft than glitzy bombast. Sure, her set included dance-minded cuts like "NDA" and "My Strange Addiction," but the gorgeous "idontwannabeyouanymore," "Lovely" and "Getting Older" revealed a greater force at play than the majority of her contemporary hitmakers. 

Other Saturday highlights included rising British rock quartet Yard Act, Disclosure and wonderful R&B singer Amber Mark.

Sunday, April 24, 2022

FINNEAS performing on the Outdoor Theatre on Sunday, April 24, 2022.
Photo credit: Rachael Polack / Getty Images for Coachella

FINNEAS — FINNEAS repeated the power of his previous week's solo set with his appearance on the final day of Coachella. Standouts of his 45-minute set on the Outdoor Theatre stage included the soulful piano-anchored "I Lost a Friend," R&B-meets-rock foray "The 90s" and heart-wrenching "Break My Heart Again." He closed out his set with the soaring Americana mining "Till Forever Falls Apart" and breezy acoustic nugget "Let's Fall in Love for the Night."

Maggie Rogers — Appearing on the Coachella Stage, singer Maggie Rogers' emotive "Light On" and soulful follow-up "Falling Water" really showcased her uplifting approach and soaring vocals. She ended her 45-minute appearance with the driving dance track "That's Where I Am." 

For more coverage of Weekend #2 of the festival, read writer George A. Paul's coverage via Rock Cellar Magazine HERE.