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Let’s set the scene…

In the dim light of the venue, a tall shadowy figure walks over and takes centre stage. A single soft and heavenly beam of light shines onto him from above. The large screen behind him fills with a sky full of stars as he plucks his guitar. And then it begins…

He gently sings the opening lines of De Selby Part 1. He has the audience captivated as his voice seems to carry through the venue like a gentle breeze. Then the vocal and instrumental accompaniment joins in, adding another layer. The effect is further heightened when he begins to sing in Gaelige. The sky full of stars starts to spin into a whirlpool reminiscent of Gogh’s Starry Night. A distortion sound starts to crawl in, as the band transitions into De Selby Part 2.

This song has a groovy driving force that is accompanied by black-and-white visuals. These visuals depict a frantic man, in a desolate terrain, beating the ground with a shovel. As the song progresses, the visuals continue to jump and flash as you see him escalate to killing and burying a man (who looks to be himself). Upon first watch, this felt reminiscent of the biblical story of Cain and Abel – the first murder. It’s worth noting that the album Unreal Unearth is heavily influenced by Dante's Inferno (which I truthfully know very little about), and the circles of hell. Given this, I thought it was fitting to start the night’s journey through hell with a sin.

But first… an upbeat departure from the hell motif! Hozier gets the crowd going with the classic singles Jackie and Wilson and From Eden off of his self-titled debut album. Not much to report here but just good fun singing this loud in a large crowd.

Hozier then sets the scene for his next song Francesca by telling the audience that it was inspired by two characters from Dante's Inferno. These were in fact two real historical figures that Dante chose to immortalize in his story. These lovers were condemned to the second circle of hell (Lust) and destined to blow about in a violent storm for eternity. Hozier tells us that he chose to flip the perspective of the situation from punishment to gratitude. In specific, gratitude for being able to spend an eternity with the one you love.

“My life was a storm since I was born, how could I fear any hurricane?”

Following Francesca, the visuals shift to evoke the feeling of being underground by having roots dangling above Hozier and the band. So begins our descent into hell, I think in that moment. Hozier then shares his love for Toronto, and Kensington Market in particular. He follows this monologue with To Be Alone and Dinner & Diatribes. You wouldn't expect it, but we were dancing at a Hozier concert.

This is where things start to get crazy. HE CHANGES THE SETLIST!! Based on the setlist playlist we had been listening to leading up to the concert, he should have played Kaitlyn’s beloved Like Real People Do.

Instead, he plays I, Carrion (Icarian) which is my favourite off the new album. I am pleasantly surprised. I think this song is so beautifully written and combines the myths of Icarus and Atlas. The song paints the singer as Icarus, flying freely in the sky on the high of their love. Whereas their significant other is Atlas, “heavy as the world that [they] hold [their] hands beneath”. This song is even more ethereal live. It is accompanied by visuals of the sun and feathers floating in the sky, and from the crowd comes a glowing sea of phone camera lights.

“I do not have wings, love, I never will Soarin' over a world you are carryin' If these heights should bring my fall Let me be your own Icarian carrion”

It is about now that we start trying to half-stand/half-sit on our chairs for a bit of reprieve during a calmer song we don't know as well. This is is the first of many times that evening that we are fooled into thinking there will be a calm moment.

We leap up as the opening notes of Cherry Wine play. Naturally, as with all of the songs that are older and better known, the crowd sings loud for this one. It was at this time that it dawned on me how beautiful this moment was. To be in an open-air venue on a cool fall night, listening to poetic and tender music, and singing it aloud with thousands of other people. This moved me deeply and had me misty-eyed. Kaitlyn saw me wiping at my eyes and, like a good friend, took a moment to console me.

Hozier speaks to the inspiration of the next song by highlighting to us how some people out there have never experienced the feeling of jumping into a freezing cold bed. Additionally, he had learned that in Gaelige, there is a word that specifically defines the feeling of coldness that water brings. This is when I recognize that he is about to play To Someone From A Warm Climate (Uiscefhuarithe). I start losing my mind of excitement a little, as he is playing hit after hit. This man won't let us sit down. The song opens on a black background with the roots still dangling above the band, but glistening snowflakes start to fall on screen as the song builds.

”'Uiscefhuaraithe' The feel of coolness only water brings There are some things that no-one teaches you, love That God in his awful wisdom first programs in”

The man then hits us with the now TikTok viral Would That I. I'm surprised no one shouted “oh how I LOVE being a woman” as the song began to imitate the sound bite.

I extra lose my mind at this point when he starts playing Damage Gets Done. This song wasn't on the setlists I had seen and it was one of my early favourites when first listening to the new album.

“But I know bein' reckless and young, is not how the damage gets done”

He is then relentless – following it up with Almost (Sweet Music) and Angel of Small Death. Again, the crowd is thriving during the oldies. We finally do take a half-sit during Who We Are, but spring right back up for Eat Your Young.

He then closes the set with a powerful delivery of Take Me to Church. It's another one of those moments that make me almost emotional. I don't think there was a single person not singing at that point. Hozier also held up the pride flag as visuals of the iconic music video played behind him. I get chills as everyone in the venue sings the almost-hymnal Amens in the song.

He graciously thanks his band and many, many others involved in the tour, and walks off with the band. JUST KIDDING, THEY COME BACK FOR AN ENCORE!

They play Unknown/Nth, First Light, and last but definitely not least, Work Song. He graciously says thank you once again to everyone who supported the tour, congratulations to a couple in the crowd who got engaged during Work Song, and they all take their bows. The literal credits roll on the screen as the crowd packs up to leave what was a great night.

If you made it down here, thank you for reading this far! In summary, the concert far exceeded any expectations I could have had. Kaitlyn and I saw Hozier perform a small set many years ago (he even pointed finger guns at us as he walked toward the stage). However, there was something even more magical seeing him perform this time around. The amount of effort and attention to detail blew me away – from the visuals to the additional live instruments like a cello. Truly one of the best concerts I've seen in my life. The Hozi-ERAS tour, if you will.