Live Recap: Hozier Doubleheader at The Chicago Theatre
Earlier this summer, Hozier drew a massive crowd to his evening Lollapalooza set, so it’s no surprise when he announced his Fall tour around the US, he had two nights in Chicago on the schedule. Both nights of Hozier’s doubleheader took place at the historic Chicago Theatre downtown, bringing the songs from his second album Wasteland, Baby! to life in a beautiful and intimate setting.
The evening began with a solo set from Australian singer-songwriter Angie McMahon, who effortlessly captured the sold out room with her stunning vocal range and witty lyrics. Although she usually performs with a full band, McMahon’s stripped down performance allowed for the crowd to truly appreciate her talent both as a singer and lyricist, which led to a standing ovation from the seated audience.
Following a brief intermission, Hozier and his multi-talented bandmates filled the stage, accompanied by a flash of lights that complemented the mood of the songs. As Hozier played through a few of his new songs like “As It Was” and “Nina Cried Power,” customized visuals flickered across the screen that stretched across the background of the stage, creating a multifaceted production level for the show. Between Hozier’s storytelling that crafts an intricate picture, the buttery harmonies his bandmates stacked behind him, and the topnotch musicianship from everyone on the stage, Hozier’s show would have been great— but combining all of that with the visual production created an immersive experience that allowed the audience members to find sanctuary from the outside world the duration of the concert.
In addition to the new material from his second album, Hozier also performed more fleshed out arrangements of his earlier songs and tested out some brand new, unreleased songs that sounded flawless despite his disclaimer that the songs still had some kinks to be worked out. Naturally, when the time came for Hozier to play his final song of the evening—the single “Work Song”— it was hard to believe nearly two hours had passed because we’d all been in such a daze.
If you get the chance to see Hozier perform, don’t miss the magical experience— see his upcoming tour dates here, and check out photos from the first night in Chicago below.
