Bluesfest Day 2: Hozier demonstrates his musicianship and calls for peace
It's easy to dismiss Hozier as a sweet-voiced balladeer who's had a few meme-friendly riffs in his career, and managed to ride them to superstardom.
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Well, his main-stage concert at Bluesfest on Friday proved otherwise.
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The Irish baritone with the mutli-octave range appeared to be some sort of orchestral pop genius who surrounded himself with top-notch musicians (on strings, keyboards, backing vocals, percussion and more), and made sure that each one played a part in building the song to a muscular peak. No wimpy folk songs from this crew of pros.
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What's more, Hozier got political at one point, a risky move at any event these days. He first emphasized the importance of voting, then took a stand for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East and a path to self-determination for Palestine. As the band maintained a loose jam behind him, Hozier's impassioned monologue drew a parallel with the Irish experience.
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'Self-determination and statehood (are things) my country asked for 100 years ago in Northern Ireland,' he declared, urging people to reach out to each other with compassion. He praised what he'd seen in Canada.
'Everyone here is coming together for a good time, and looking out for each other,' he said. 'That's what I'm talking about.'
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Along with the ever-changing video images and dazzling lighting design, it was a near-religious experience for the vast crowd of all ages, from babes to elders, packed on the front lawn of the Canadian War Museum. Arms in the air, cell phones alight, thousands of voices rose in unison to the infectious melodies.
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'I take my whiskey nee-eee-eat,' the entire crowd sang, gleefully echoing the oh-so-familiar motif of Too Sweet.
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Of course, Hozier's voice is a remarkable instrument on its own, too, as we were reminded during an acoustic segment that included a tender Cherry Wine, one of his first hits, and Unknown, a more recent, equally passionate.song. Even without the lush accompaniment of the band, his soaring voice radiated an emotional warmth that truly stirred the soul.
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The 35-year-old (born Andrew John Hozier-Byrne) was no slouch in the crowd-engagement part of the show either. He worked up a sweat doing a lap of the vast plaza, then dashed up the middle aisle to the opening strains of Work Song, leaving a ripple of excitement among fans behind him.
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