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Hozier

The Ritz, Manchester, November 12th 2014

By his own admission the last time Hozier played in Manchester it was only “to a handful of people”. This time he was playing to a sold out show with a crowd baying for his every word. This wasn’t my first time watching Hozier play live, but it is since his debut album has been released and this was a show that made the hairs on the back of my neck rise up and unlike anything else I’ve seen all year.

Opening with the stunning Like Real People Do, Hozier sounded so effortless. He cuts a very tall and slender figure on the stage, looking more comfortable when surrounded by his amazing band than when alone.  One song was all it took for someone to scream “I love you Hozier!” at the top of their lungs. I’m not entirely sure he caught it but he did look slightly uncomfortable. Clearly, he has still not become accustomed to such adulation and he really needs to learn to, for it’s just going to get worse, or better, depending on how he feels about it!

We all know that there was only really one song that everyone wanted to hear and by god he was going to make the crowd wait for it, as any smart act would. The more upbeat songs such as Angel Of Small Death And The Codine Scene, Jackie And Wilson and Someone New all kept the crowd happy, clappy and singing along. Sadly though some of the more tender, intimate songs didn’t quite bring with it the pin drop atmosphere it should have. It wasn’t even whispers but full on conversations, so much so that the lady next to me stormed off to tell a noisy bunch of chatterboxes to shut up (hoorah!).

Photo: Popped Music

As the show went on Hozier seemed to become more comfortable in his surroundings and his audience interaction grew and grew as he started to give insights to some of his songs. My favourite story was  the inspiration behind duet In A Week. “Whitlow Hills are often talked about. You often hear the words Whitlow Hills, before or after the words ‘a body has been found’. So it’s about two people, two lovers who wonder off to the Whitlow Hills to do what lovers do best.” Hozier was stood, exposed and band-less, but soon joined by Karen Cowley to reproduce this stunning song in full live glory. Yet again people chatted but this time more people stood up to the inconsiderate few and hushed them.

When the band returned the crowd was called upon to “help out with this song” by clapping along to the ever so slow beat of Work Song. This was a goosebump moment for me, hearing the whole venue put their hands together as the sound bounced off the walls and really hit you along with Hozier’s ever emotional vocal.

Sooner than I would have liked (only because I would want to listen to Hozier sing for hours on end) he played it. No introduction needed, just “this is the last one I’m going to play for you. Thank you” On that very first note the entire venue just erupted in sounds as joyful cheers and whistles escaped. The chorus to Take Me To Church was deafening as every single person sang passionately along to a song that has truly captured the imagination and hearts of music lovers across the UK.

It wasn’t quite his last though and after a short break her arrived back on stage to thank the crowd once more, to deliver his unusual choice of cover (Amerier’s One Thing) that he’s been performing at his live shows for sometime, before delivering his true final song of the night, and next single From Eden (out on Dec 1st).

If you’re lucky enough to have tickets to see Hozier then you will be taken to a place far beyond expectations, chatty people permitting, you’ll be transfixed and totally fall under his spell.

Watch Hozier perform Work Song Live for Other Voices: