Heilung at Webster Hall

German vocalist Kai Uwe Faust, Danish producer Christopher Juul, and Norwegian vocalist Maria Franz formed Heilung in 2014 as an experimental folk band. Designed to be more than a music experience, Heilung's performances from the beginning incorporated actors and dancers, and featured costumes, ancient texts and rituals, replicas of primitive musical instruments, and sounds from the Germanic peoples of the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Viking Age. Heilung has described its music as "amplified history from early medieval northern Europe." Heilung released its third and most recent album, Futha, on June 28, 2019.

The line waiting to enter Webster Hall tonight was atypical, with numerous fans dressed and face-painted like they were auditioning for the grittier scenes in Valhalla Rising. The show's music was also atypical, in that aside from a synthesizer, all the instruments used were those available to humans in the Iron Age, such as animal horns, whistles, bowed instruments, drums, bones, and rattles. As if the program was to be a pagan ritual, a cloaked person opened and closed the presentation by walking along the edge of the stage and incensing the audience and the room. The cast came on stage and played eerily hypnotic and heavily percussive tribal music. All melodies were created from vocal grunts, howls, chants and choral arrangements in ancient languages. Barefooted, body-painted, bearded, long-haired warriors wearing antlers on their heads and carrying spears and shields lined in various formations for war dances; other similarly-attired men played hand-held drums. Women portrayed less aggressive roles, singing and playing lighter percussion. If a storyline was intended, it was left to the imagination. This was not rock music by any means. This was an otherworldly experience.

Setlist:

1. Opening Ceremony
2. In Maidjan
3. Alfadhirhaiti
4. Krigsgaldr
5. Hakkerskaldyr
6. Norupo
7. Othan
8. Traust
9. Galgaldr
10. Elddansurin
11. Hamrer Hippyer