Hozier
Market Showbox, Seattle, WA
10.21.14
Irish musician Andrew Hozier-Byrne, better known simply as Hozier, made a stop at the Market Showbox on Tuesday for an eclectic, sold-out crowd. With a blow-up single smothering radio airwaves and accompanying emotional Lebron James commercials, does anybody really know anything about the haunting, mysterious voice currently married to the media? Lovely and talented, baby-faced yet precocious, 24 year old Hozier has grown from a unique background of blues and soul, crossing audiences and genres with a subtle ease. His pull seems universal, his music disarming. While one can only glean so much from a man on stage, the Showbox audience saw a musician that, having carved his niche, continues to keep the knife hanging from his back pocket.
The anticipation was at a fever pitch. Captivated, the crowd stood deathly quiet as Hozier strummed the opening chords for “Like Real People Do.” The drums kicked in and chills went down my skin. The music sounded warm and gorgeous, thick and orchestral, like a heavy blanket I always want to be wrapped in. Six other musicians helped to fill the stage lights, including a keyboardist, cellist, guitarist, drummer, and two gals dedicated to backup vocals. The Showbox was full of cheers and hollers, nearly drowning Hozier’s soft-spoken voice. He stopped himself before playing “Jackie and Wilson,” suddenly remembering that he hadn’t addressed the crowd yet, chuckling, “…oh but first, how are you guys doing?” The set maintained a relaxed, steady pace, with the music generally showcasing great vocals. The regular set ended with his monster single, “Take Me to Church.” Hozier released his first studio album this month, adding to his catalog of two successful EP’s. He completes his US stint in early November, returning to Seattle in February for a sold-out Valentine’s Day show.
Opener James Bay is a guitarist, singer-songwriter from Britain, who released his second EP, Let It Go, back in June. Again a melting pot of styles, Bay dabbles in rock, folk, soul, and all things between. The drumbeat in his music sets up a constant, solid backbone, giving a relative freedom for his different guitar looks. His vocals are also of note, folky but with a certain grit.
Hozier Set List:
Like Real People Do
Angel
Jackie and Wilson
To Be Alone
Someone New
It Will Come Back
Illinois Blue
Cherry Wine
In a Week
Work Song
Sedated
Take Me to Church
Encore:
One Thing
From Eden
Review by T. Monte
Photos by Sunny Martini
Hozier
James Bay
