Hozier at Brixton Academy

Emerging in 2014 as one of the year’s breakthrough artists, Irish singer-songwriter Hozier looks set to continue his rise as a prominent and beloved new musician. Filling out Brixton Academy for three successive nights, his fans’ excitement was palpable throughout the room, with an undeniable buzz ricocheting through the air.

With his name emblazoned over the stage, the tall 25-year-old walked out to thunderous applause. Opening with album track Like Real People Do, the unfamiliar would be unable to figure out that this was not one of his biggest hits, as the eruption of voices in the crowd tore upwards and every syllable was reflected right back to the stage. His setlist moved from strength to strength as he played more of the hits. This was particularly noticeable with Jackie and Wilson and Someone New, two of his most up-tempo songs that saw the audience begin not just to sing, but also to dance.  The anthemic drive in these tracks captured the vibrancy to a tee and left no one without a smile on their face.

Unfortunately, the energy he whipped up with the opening few songs dissolved slightly when he covered The Beatles’s classic, Blackbird. Whilst an interesting rendition, using broken rhythmic patterns and full band arrangements, the detour from his own material drained some of the fervour that his fans were pouring out and it took him several songs to regain it. However, this dip was certainly made up for when he closed his set with Take Me to Church. From the front barrier to the bar at the back, barely any lips remained sealed as he stomped through his massive hit and each audience member undoubtedly had a moment of pure joy.

For an artist of his age, this performance showed a man confident in his abilities and comfortable on stage. The pounding gospel rhythms, expert blues guitar, wonderfully professional band and Hozier’s remarkable voice all expertly melded together to create an undeniably powerful sound. The Brixton Academy is not the easiest of places to dominate, but for the majority of his set Hozier managed to make it intimate. A truly impressive show.

Thomas Unsted
Photo: Dara Munnis Photography

For further information about Hozier and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Take Me to Church here: