Two nights may have not been enough for Hozier to take over Boston at the Boch Center Wang Theatre. With a packed theater and fans determined to go to both dates, it should not be a surprise that Hozier sold-out both concerts as well as the rest of his tour.
The first night of the back-to-back shows took place on November 12, 2019, and immediately filled up with a diverse demographic of Hozier fans. People of all ages and backgrounds traveled to see the singer perform some of his biggest hits, including “Take Me to Church” and “Cherry Wine,” and sang along to every track at the top of their lungs. Their vocal power was even noted by Hozier himself, who could hear attendees through his in-ears on stage.
Hozier impressed fans with his intricate finger-style guitar playing and powerful vocals that remained strong from the beginning of his set until the very end of his encore. His songs were brought to life by his intense on-stage energy and the instrumentals created by his band. Hozier constantly interacted with every band member, including a violinist and organ player, and was completely in-sync with everyone on stage with him. It felt as though it was more of a group playing together instead of Hozier being the center of attention and a band in the darkness behind him like many tours often feel like. Each instrumentalist showed off their skills and contributed heavily to renditions of the tracks featured on the show’s setlist.
Despite the constant support and overwhelming applause coming from the crowd, Hozier remained humble and focused. His attention was fixated on putting on the best show he possibly could and using his platform to advocate for important societal issues. He even took the time to speak about the protests occurring in Hong Kong and why we need to be in touch with what is going on around the world. “Nina Cried Power” accompanied intense visuals of a variety of protests behind him on-stage following this discussion. This was prior to his dialogue revolving around climate change and what the future holds regarding the state of our environment. Hozier’s mini speeches were naturally intertwined in between his tracks and each one had a defined purpose.
The stage production in Boston was breathtaking. The visuals were well thought out and matched the messages portrayed by the songs Hozier performed. They encompassed genuine and inspirational themes that told the story of each individual track in a memorable way. Between the different lighting effects and impressive set design, fans in attendance were taken to church through aesthetics and emotions. It was a performance that not only focused heavily on instrumental and vocal quality, but also the feeling of witnessing an unforgettable experience.
Hozier left his biggest hits for the end of his set and fans were not prepared for their live renditions judging by their animated reactions. This included “Cherry Wine,” “Take Me to Church” and “Work Song.” The audience picked up right where he left off as soon as the microphone was pointed in their direction during these songs. The expression on Hozier’s face screamed gratitude and pure happiness in response. At the end of his set, the singer took time to shake the hands of everyone in the front row and thank Boston for their endless support once again. After giving individual shoutouts to each member of his band one more time and bowing with them, he exited the stage and left those in attendance thinking about how badly they wanted to return for night two in Boston.
For more information on how to see Hozier on tour, click here.