Hozier – Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, CA – November 4, 2023
It’s impossible not to get enveloped in a dreamy, mesmerizing trance as soon as Irish singer-songwriter Hozier takes the stage to kick off the start of his set for the Unreal Unearth tour.
On this particular night, the air felt markedly different since it was the closing show for Hozier’s first full North American tour in years. Amidst a sold-out crowd of over 17,000 passionate fans, the audience went all out in their enthusiasm for the singer-songwriter, embracing him with rapturous applause and cheering throughout the night.
Much like the start of the album, the concert begins with the seamless two-part opener, “Del Selby (Part 1)” and “Del Selby (Part 2).” Hozier showered the crowd with his soulful vocals, surrounded by shimmering lights that circled around him in the background, while a sole spotlight illuminated him and his immense talent that has spanned over a decade in the public eye.
Many first became familiar with Hozier when his breakout hit single in 2013, “Take Me to Church,” shot to the top of the charts and dominated in an unprecedented streak. Spending 23 consecutive weeks at the top of the Hot Rock Songs charts, the single was tied for the longest running #1 in the chart’s history at the time.
Yet, the release of his latest album, Unreal Unearth, proves that while Hozier’s journey is continually a work in progress, he still has so much to give as an artist — and one with longevity. The album loosely draws on the epic of Dante’s Inferno to provide an inspired telling of going through grief, reckoning, love, and the human experience.
Hozier wasn’t shy to perform songs that spanned across his discography, much to the delight of his fans. Heads bobbed up and down to the catchy beat in “From Eden,” a sea of hands swayed in the air to the haunting folk melody in “Like Real People Do,” and continued on through the encore as he belted the gospel-influenced “Nina Cried Power.”
Effortlessly commanding the stage throughout the night, Hozier expressed his bittersweet gratitude that the North American tour was coming to an end and made sure to dedicate the last part of his concert to shouting out all the names of his diligent crew that helped make the tour happen.
If you were unable to catch Hozier on this run, you have another chance in the coming months. Due to overwhelming positive reception, the singer-songwriter recently announced that he is extending his Unreal Unearth North American tour from April through September 2024. With such a unique and show-stopping voice, Hozier is an artist you don’t want to miss out on seeing live.
Larisa Jiao
Copyright ©2023 PopEntertainment.com. All rights reserved. Posted: November 7, 2023.
Photos by Larisa Jiao © 2023. All rights reserved.
