Posts by Phoenixx Staff

Hozier delighted Caesars Windsor Coliseum with a night of incredible musicality on Tuesday August 6th. Starting off the evening was local duo, The Oh Chays.
When the husband and wife pair took to the stage, singer and keyboardist Kay said, “We are Hozier”. The audience laughed as she continued, “I’m just joking. We are so lucky to be here. This is so much better than playing in a bar.”

Right from the start, the audience applauded and cheered for each note. The Oh Chays were clearly grateful for the stage and opportunity to shine. After wrapping up their first song Kay told the crowd, “I think I’m about to cry. This is so amazing”. She explained that they had just received the email from Hozier’s team yesterday asking them to open the show. “Dreams do come true!”
A highlight of the set was when the band presented an original track entitled, “Never Too Old”. “Even though we look amazing, we’re like 1,000 years old. This is about not giving up on your dreams.” The Oh Chays encouraged the crowd to wave along, side to side. Kay asked, “Did my mom put you up to this? This is crazy!” Their set was packed with great lyrics, keys, some guitar, rounded out percussion, and even “a sexy song about a donut”.
Before wrapping up, Kay asked, “Can you guys come with us on the road?”
The band concluded their night with an exceptional cover of Michael Jackson’s empowering 1987 track, “Man In The Mirror”. The pair was a perfect start to the night.

Just after 9 PM, Hozier and his band appeared through smoke-filled dim light from stage left. The excited crowd absolutely roared to greet them. A steady beat started off the wondrous track, “Would That I”. The audience sang back the chorus’ “Oh”s appropriately.

To the delight of the crowd, Hozier immediately jammed into “Dinner & Diatribes”.
Keeping the theme of playing tracks from his latest incredible album, “Wasteland, Baby”, the band presented the remarkable, “Nina Cried Power”. The album track includes counterpart Mavis Staples (who recently celebrated her 80th birthday!), but Hozier sang each chorus and verse through himself. He also shouted out different musicians who have rallied for change.
After the song concluded, Hozier greeted the crowd. “How are you doing Windsor?” He remarked that this was the band’s first time playing in this part of the world. “Thank you so so much for coming out to the show and checking it out. It is an absolute pleasure”. A steady guitar rhythm began and Hozier continued, “If you wouldn’t mind lending your voices for one second, I just wanna see what voices you’re hiding. I’d ask you not to hide them from me because I will seek them out and I will find them.” The notes began of “To Be Alone”, and the crowd echoed back the song’s chant.
Early in the set, Hozier stopped to tie his shoe and chimed, “Safety first” as the crowd cheered for the deed.
Hozier’s thoughtful lyrics filled the packed Colosseum, as he kept an endearing dialogue open with the audience the whole night through.
After his first album’s terrific track, “Angel Of Small Death And The Codeine Scene”, Hozier presented more songs from his latest record.
Hozier kept a balance of subtlety and full musicality going with “Nobody”. He started the cleverly-rhymed song with a more acoustic feel, then brought in the full band sound.
After “Talk”, Hozier addressed the crowd with, “Since you’ve already shown me those voices, I know they’re there and if you know this one, don’t be afraid to let us hear you. You can’t hide them.” With beautiful instrumentation while backlit by spotlights, the band began “From Eden”. The gorgeous violin sound perfectly presented a lower tempo version of the jam.
After the song completed, Hozier told the crowd, “You sound beautiful!” He continued his conversation with the crowd by saying, “You’ll notice up here much of the band has deserted me, leaving so much room for activities, etc.” He shouted out Cormac Curran and Thandii, the two musicians remaining on stage to assist in instrumentation. “This next song was written mid to late 2016. I was writing a few love songs for the end of the world. This next one kind of falls into that category, and I suppose it tries to imagine the last human act on earth, sooner or later, hopefully will be some sort of act of kindness. It’s called ‘Wasteland, Baby!'” He started into his latest album’s title track.
When the song concluded, he thanked the audience, and encouraged them to welcome the missing band members back to stage. He gripped his guitar and said, “I just want to hold this for one second, just say hi to it.” A spirited gentleman in the audience yelled, “You can hold me for one second!” Hozier laughed and responded, “The feeling is mutual. I promise you that. Thank you very much.”
He proceeded, “This is a song named after a very vicious little bird of prey which is known to live near very very sharp objects… it’s kind of a Vlad the Impaler of the natural world. It tends to hang its prey over these things. It’s a horrible, gruesome thing to behold. I thought it was a fun theme for a love song. It’s a song called ‘Shrike'”. This was the precise moment I had the wondrous thought that with each Hozier show I’ve attended, I’ve learned something new and personal about each song. Accompanying violin beautifully rounded out the gorgeous song.
After “Shrike” concluded, Hozier encouraged, “Once again, Miss Emily Kohavi on violin!”
After “No Plan”, Hozier continued into “Jackie and Wilson”, which was greeted with a cheer. Hozier lifted up his hand during each chorus to correspond with the lyric, “raise ’em on rhythm and blues”.
During “Almost (Sweet Music)”, the band included solos for bass, violin, and organ, allowing each musician their own moment to shine.
When the song finished, Hozier shouted out each musician that had contributed. “This band is outrageous!”
Next, they jived into “Moment’s Silence”, an amazing track from the “Nina Cried Power” EP. The band jammed out thoroughly during each chorus under dancing lights, while the crowd happily clapped along to the rhythm of the verses.
The band then presented the powerful, “Movement” under a beautiful display of lights. Hozier passionately sang most of the song with just a microphone, but picked up a tambourine to belt out the final chorus.
The crowd positively roared when Hozier began the smash, “Take Me To Church”. The audience immediately started singing along, and Hozier held out his microphone to hear. Toward the end of the song he welcomed, “Let me hear you, Windsor!” Fans sang along, “Amen, amen, amen.” Hozier stepped down into the pit and reached out into the crowd. With a bow and a wave, the band exited the stage.
The crowd instantly began clapping, cheering, and stomping, with many holding up lighters. Finally, after a brief time away, Hozier reappeared with a smile and an acoustic guitar to greet excited fans once more.
“It has been an absolute joy tonight…. Thank you for making our first time in Windsor very very special. Again, don’t be afraid to help me out with this one.” Under appropriately red lights, Hozier solitary began the emotional, “Cherry Wine”. The audience sang along to the chorus and Hozier complimented, “You sound gorgeous.”

Upon the song’s completion, Hozier encouraged the crowd to welcome the band back on stage. He introduced each musician, and shouted out everyone who helped make the show possible from the light rigger to the instrument technicians. “As the song goes, it takes more than a hammer and nails to make a house a home.” He also thanked the Oh Chays for opening the show, and began into the beautiful “Work Song”. Fans clapped along to the slow and steady beat. The band closed out with breathtaking notes of harmony. While the audience cheered and clapped their way to a standing ovation, the band waved and bowed in a line of unison. Hozier left the crowd with, “Thank you so much Windsor, we’ll see you again.”

Hozier’s incredible tour continue through November, while making several more stops in the United States and Canada.

Words and photos by : Tiffany Cuthrell