On Aug. 18, 2023, Andrew John Hozier-Byrne, known professionally as Hozier, released his latest album “Unreal, Unearth.” Following the album’s highly anticipated debut, Hozier announced his U.S. tour with special guest Allison Russell. The duo performed on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at the Frost Bank Center.
The night opened with a performance from Allison Russell and the Rainbow Coalition. Russell, whose four-time Grammy-nominated solo album “The Returner” was released in September of 2023. The group opened with “Hy-brasil,” a ballad that draws from Russell’s Scottish-Canadian heritage. The group also performed “Superlover,” a song that decries the many instances of racial and ethnic violence occurring across the globe. “Superlover” was released in 2018 by Birds of Chicago, a band formed by Russell and her husband, JT Nero.
Following Russell’s performance, Hozier entered the venue, and the crowd fell silent. Basking in the spotlight, the Irishman opened, fittingly, with “De Selby (Part 1).” Hozier, known for his soaring vocals, entranced the audience with the ballad that draws from his Irish roots, filling the room with Gaelic chants.
Hozier had Russell return to the stage halfway through the set, and the duo performed “Wildflower and Barley,” a track from “Unreal, Unearth: Unheard.”
Hozier’s vocals never disappointed. The Irishman performed his entire set with ease, performing fan-favorite songs across multiple albums including “Jackie and Wilson” and “From Eden” from his debut album, or “Dinner & Diatribes,” and “Would that I” from “Wasteland, Baby!” The audience was entranced from the start, sitting on edge just waiting for the next track.
Hozier — who is no stranger to crowd interaction — laughed and joked with the audience, noting that he only found out who the Spurs were the morning of the performance. He even drew a fan’s next tattoo on a piece of paper off the back of bassist Alex Ryan. “Are you going to permanently mark your body with whatever I put on this piece of paper?” Hozier asked the fan. “That’s a lot of power to give to one person”
From start to finish, the Irishman left everything he had on stage, and the crowd knew it. Closing with one of his most iconic tracks, “Take Me to Church,” the crowd erupted in unison, chanting the lyrics that have been heard around the world since the song’s release in 2013.
However, Hozier came out for two encores, performing fan-favorites “Cherry Wine,” “Unknown/Nth,” “Nina Cried Power” and “Work Song.” This was a fitting closer to a performance infused with talent and passion. The “Unreal, Unearth” tour was a truly unforgettable experience.
