Tengger Cavalry Bring Mongolian Folk Metal to Carnegie Hall

That’s right, Mongolian folk metal in New York’s spiffy Carnegie Hall? Tengger Cavalry performed in the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on Christmas Eve for a very special show.

It was the band’s first unplugged concert and the first part of the show proved to be delicate, tender and melodic. Tengger Cavalry donned traditional Mongolian outfits during their set, making for an interesting visual. Frontman Nature Ganganbaigal plays a variety of nomadic Mongolian instruments -- the Mongolian fiddle also known as the Morin Khuur, Mongolian flute and the Mongolian guitar (Tovshuur) -- giving each instrument his all. After moving from China to New York City he also reconstructed the band with new members hailing from the States. The lineup includes Tuva fiddle player Robert McLaughlin, bassist Alex Abayev and drummer Yuri Liak.

After a 10-minute intermission, Tengger Cavalry graced the staged once again but this time in their favorite bands shirts ready to rock out for a much heavier set with amps and all. They even slipped in “Jingle Bells” for the crowd to get into the holiday spirit. The mostly instrumental set was lively to say the least but there’s nothing that completely mesmerized more than the Mongolian throat singing.

Earlier this year the band released their latest album Blood Sacrifice Shaman and although the audience was seated, fans wooed and raised their horns while rocking out to the not-so-unplugged tunes being performed. Tengger Cavalry continue to make waves, push boundaries and open minds with their eclectic sound and presence onstage.

Check out our gallery of Tengger Cavalry performing in our gallery above! If you missed the Christmas Eve show New Yorkers don’t be too bummed, the band is performing at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn on Jan 27.

Check Out Tengger Cavalry Performing "Hymn of the Earth"