The evening started out in the historic ballroom of The Rave with support from The Rasmus, a rock band from Helsinki, Finland. The Rasmus took the stage full of energy that never let up throughout the entire set. They also seemed to have a strong fan base already inside the venue. The band opened with “Break These Chains,” a high energy song that immediately set the tone for the rest of the performance. For this being my first time hearing The Rasmus, I really enjoyed their set.
Apocalyptica, another band from Finland, took the stage next for a performance that completely blew me away. I had heard the name Apocalyptica before, but honestly did not know much about them. Seeing three guys walk out on stage carrying cellos, I really was not sure what to expect. What followed may have been one of the coolest live performances I have seen in quite a while. Three cellos and a drummer somehow created a full blown metal show.
Apocalyptica’s set mostly consisted of instrumental Metallica covers, with the exception of the final song, “Seek and Destroy,” which featured Eicca Toppinen handling vocals while also playing cello. Perttu Kivilaakso performing guitar solos on cello was incredibly impressive to watch live. Other Metallica favorites included “Enter Sandman,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and “Nothing Else Matters,” during which the band sat down for a more emotional moment in the set.
Even though most of the songs were instrumental, fans still sang along loudly to many of the classic Metallica lyrics throughout the night. The crowd was completely locked into Apocalyptica’s performance, and the band sounded incredible live. Being something so different from a traditional metal show made the entire experience even more memorable.
The final band of the night delivered yet another unique experience. Hailing from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, The Hu took the stage to a loud reaction from the packed house at The Rave. The Hu really seem to be growing their fan base, and I was happy to see such a huge turnout compared to the last time I saw them over a year ago.
If you have never seen The Hu live before, they are a must see for any metal fan. The band mixes heavy metal with traditional Mongolian instruments and throat singing, and somehow it all works together in a completely unique way. The band sings entirely in Mongolian, so most fans in the crowd probably did not understand the lyrics, but the emotion and energy still translated perfectly throughout the room.
I also noticed many Mongolians in attendance supporting their home country’s band, which added another cool layer to the atmosphere. The Hu became the first Mongolian band to achieve mainstream success in the United States, and with my in laws being Mongolian, they are a band I have personally enjoyed ever since first discovering them.
Some of my favorite songs from the set included “This Is Mongol,” “Wolf Totem,” “The Men,” and “Mother Nature,” which brought a slower and more peaceful moment to the night. During “Mother Nature,” the massive screen behind the band displayed beautiful images of wildlife and nature that perfectly matched the mood of the song.
All three bands delivered great performances, but both The Hu and Apocalyptica offered something far different from the average metal show, making this a night that was absolutely worth experiencing live.
The Hu Tour
