Irish troubadour Hozier takes Huntington Bank Pavilion to the church of “Unreal Unearth”

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Look up any listing to catch Hozier live, and no matter the city or country, it’s sold out well in advance, including Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island for the lakefront venue’s fitting season finale.

It certainly went out with a bang thanks to the Irish singer/songwriter/guitarist/piano player, who for about a decade, has regularly reinvented himself throughout a palette of rootsy arrangements, soul-baring lyrics and an immediately recognizable voice.

The new “Unreal Unearth” marks the next natural progression in an intermittent stream of releases, following 2019’s “Wasteland, Baby!” and 2014’s self-titled breakthrough, yet each was amply on display, alongside an eight-piece band, atmospheric projections and even a few upside down trees hanging from the roof of the stage.

Hozier began the captivating and ultimately cathartic two-hour night on the understated note of “De Shelby (Part 1),” gradually building towards the aggression of the second part and the alternative pop-minded “Eat Your Young.”

The headliner tapped into a soulful side come “Jackie And Wilson,” while he also rotated around the rocker “Francesca,” the bluesy rumble of “Dinner & Diatribes,” the folksy “Like Real People Do,” plus the call and response of “Would That I.”

It didn’t matter how long his material had to marinate beforehand since the audience was always on its feet and appeared equally engaged, especially during current standouts such as “Unknown/Nth” and “First Light.”

Naturally, Hozier saved the communal “Take Me To Church” until the end, complete with a striking video statement seeming to take a bold stand against homophobia and hypocrisy, and despite being performed thousands of times, never shortchanged the passion.

That continued to be the case as he raptly held everyone’s attention for encores of “Cherry Wine,” “Nina Cried Power” and “Work Song,” which were similarly pivotal in laying the groundwork for one this generation’s most gifted troubadours, who as Northerly Island now knows, is well on the way towards achieving total timelessness.

For additional information on Hozier, visit Hozier.com.

For upcoming Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island announcements, visit LiveNation.com.