There’s a superficial appeal to Hozier that’s easy to understand. His commanding presence juxtaposes against an Irish cream vocal sweetness and heartfelt delivery. Yet he gives you that little extra. Playing to a seasoned crowd at the HomeAway stage early Sunday evening, the Emerald Isle’s latest import provided warm and fuzzies, and a few surprises.
Brimming with a palpable earnestness bordering on “hard to believe with some cynical side-eye,” the singer-songwriter revealed plans to make amends for his cancellation at last year’s ACL fest. Singing despite a cold, he powered through “From Eden” and a soulful rendition of “Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene.”
“We’ll do it together, alright? No need to be afraid,” he said soothingly ahead of “To Be Alone.”
Things got interesting when he decided to throw in a couple of covers, the first being fairly predictable: the Beatles’ “Blackbird.” The second, Ariana Grande’s “Problem,” should’ve left him dead in the water, but that tenderness let him even add in some of Warren G and Nate Dogg’s “Regulators.” A little haphazard, but it worked somehow as things do for Hozier.
After thanking his entire production team – including the person who made his chamomile tea – he bowled over the crowd with a stirring execution of the Catholic credenda challenging “Take Me to Church.” When the oversized hook slammed into chests, fans remembered why they fell head over heels for the Irishman. Others were left watery-eyed, awash in gut wrenching emotion.
This article appears in October 2 • 2015.
