The scruffy, humble and slightly awkward musician we once met about a decade ago was nowhere to be found at Dublin’s Marlay Park. Instead, we stumbled upon a bonafide rock star commanding a sold-out outdoor performance, attracting fans from all corners of the globe. Who was this man?
“Hello, Dublin,” greeted Andrew Hozier Byrne, casually inquiring about the city’s wellbeing. Throughout his nearly two-hour long set, featuring 20 songs, Dublin reciprocated the question. However, it was clear – Hozier was thriving, with no need to elaborate. Various factors contribute to this success but paramount among them is the overwhelmingly positive reception to his third album, Unreal Unearth, especially in the US. The album didn’t merely top Billboard’s Alternative, Folk, and Rock charts, but also the offshoot single, Too Sweet (released just over a quarter ago), reigned the US charts. This achievement saw Hozier become the first Irish artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 in almost 35 years (since Sinéad O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2 U in 1990). However, an oversight in the record books: Hozier is the first Irish act since U2 to traverse the US with such a comprehensive tour. Aside from occasional forays into other regions, he has dedicated most of the past nine months moulding Unreal Unearth’s music into perfection by zigzagging across the US, playing vast theaters and massive open-air venues.
Who is the man in question? Well, he sits atop the stack, decked out in a tailored three-piece suit, his white shirt undone to where the waistcoat begins. His outfit and bearing coincide perfectly with the inherent elegance of his R&B/soul/blues tunes, with their success largely resting on the delivery rather than sharp wit. As per the tune’s narrative, rhythm and blues imprinted upon Hozier from a young age, enabling his natural grasp of the genre. However, there’s a vast chasm separating the mastery of concept from proficiency in execution, and Hozier has clearly mastered both. His music, sharpened to a fine point by a team of six musicians – two of whom hail from Ireland – and two singers, offers testament to this during the Unreal Unearth tour. With this kind of talent, they certainly have the execution nailed down.
Of the two dozen songs, a fraction of them are from Unreal Unearth, reflecting the evolution of the set from a marketing-focused gig to a balanced presentation of his musical journey across three albums. The early rock-themed tracks, Eat Your Young and Jackie and Wilson, gently usher the enthusiastic audience into the crisp and vibrant evening ambiance. The softer numbers From Eden and To Be Alone invite a rhythmic oscillation amongst the crowd. On a surprising note, Francesca serves up an unexpected twist with solid riffs not typically associated with Hozier’s repertoire, cranking the concert up a notch. The ensemble sticks to this rhythm, striking a balance between heavy R&B (De Selby Part 2, Too Sweet, Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene, Take Me to Church) and extraordinarily poignant soul/pop ballads (Like Real People Do, Movement), ensuring a memorable performance.
Indeed, the rain had its role in the triumph of the concert, particularly when Hozier graced a petite stage to render two of his most exquisite tunes – Cherry Wine and Unknown Nth. Perhaps it was an optical illusion, but as the droplets landed on his shoulders, the portrayal was more of a sensitive lyricist who is passionate about his craft rather than a global rock legend accumulating wealth. The concert ended with the politically-charged, Palestine-inferring Nina Cried Power, succeeded by Work Song, which provoked the audience to joyfully echo its chorus ‘When my time comes around, lay me gently in the cold dark earth …’ while vacating the theatre.