Andrew Hozier-Byrne, AKA Hozier, is not quite a household name yet. Outside the venue there are seedy touts offering to buy or sell, at extortionate rates no doubt, “tickets for The Hoosiers.” We decide not to correct them.
Inside the luxurious, multi-storey Koko though, Hozier is a superstar. Fans are packed into every facet of the building’s many nooks and crannies, and when he comes on stage, the volume and timbre of the screams is astonishing. It’s not a mantle that, on the surface, he wears particularly comfortably. Hozier’s presence onstage is both naturally charismatic and apologetic. When he talks between songs, he speaks softly and conversationally, as if any attempt to raise his voice, or tell a smoothly prepared story without stuttering, would be unforgivably insincere.
With his singing though, Hozier offers no apologies. His is a remarkably commanding voice, its tone rich and timeless. ‘Cherry Wine’ in particular is exponentially more powerful live, and its lyrics, inspired by the Goffin & King-penned Crystals song ‘He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)’, dance darkly through the venue. ‘Someone New’ is another highlight – so catchy even those who didn’t know it before this evening can sing along, but with the confidence to build to the chorus languidly and with great precision.
His guitar playing too is faultless, and ranges from celtic-tinged finger-picking to scuzzy, electric bar chords seamlessly. Forgivably, the only time the performance falters slightly is in ‘Take Me To Church’, which Hozier sings at a quicker tempo and with the ennui of someone who’s sang it a million times. He even changes the rhythm on the chorus to make it more evenly paced, as if his feelings of monotony have made their way into the cadence.
It’s a temporary weariness though, and if fans came just for that song, they’ll have left with at least five new favourites. Hozier is a soulful, ambitious musician, and where some whose records possess such a richness flounder live, he only flourishes. Plus, just when you think you’ve got him sussed, he covers Amerie’s ‘1 Thing’ and, well, you’re back to square one.
