Andrew Hozier-Byrne and his band rolled into Leeds on Thursday, May 28th for the latest date on their current U.K. tour. Judging by the long line of fans that snaked all the way around O2 Academy, the gig was much needed. Indeed as we made our way past the queue, we were asked several times by the ticket touts for any spare ticket. Not once did they offer to sell, such was the demand. If you had a ticket this night then it seemed you hold onto it and never let it out of your sight until you were in!
Normally you turn up for a gig and can easily get to the first few rows for the support, but this night was a different story, as we found ourselves half way back in the already large crowd. This was really unusual, particularly as there was still another thirty minutes to go before support band Wyvern Lingo were due on stage. By the time the three girls from County Wicklow came out, the crowd was pretty much three quarters full. While some new bands would become even more nervous than usual confronted by this many people, Wyvern Lingo just took it in their stride. Indeed throughout the set, which was filled with folk, blues and soulful sounds, they even managed to have a conversation with a person in the audience, before cutting it short and realizing that they had a gig to play to over a thousand people! The band introduced songs from the recent EP The Widow Knows, and they must have had a few new sales from the Leeds area judging by the crowd’s reaction.
In contrast to this as Hozier walked out on stage, he looked slightly nervous, or maybe even taken aback at the crowd’s reception for him. It seemed it took him a few songs to get into his own gig, even though the crowd were encouraging from the off with the loud cheers and sing-along’s. It wasn’t until the fourth song of the set, “Someone New”, that he seemed to relax and get into the gig.
From then on Hozier interacted with the crowd and told them that this was his “first proper gig in Leeds.” You got the felling that this wouldn’t be the last, although maybe the last in a venue this size, as his popularity will continue grow. Throughout the gig Hozier’s collective group of musician’s impressed greatly. You could see that they were obviously competent, but seemed to have their own individuality instead of seeping away into the shadows like most backing bands do. One of the highlights of the show was the duet between Hozier and cellist Alana Henderson. They made for a beautiful version of “In a Week”.
Throughout the gig the biggest disappointment was lots of the crowd talking through songs or even having their backs to the stage. It was clear most people just wanted to hear “Take Me To Church” and that’s all they bought the ticket for. Don’t get me wrong, if you pay your money you are entitled to do see and hear what you want and this thing happens at most gigs. But this gig wasn’t most gigs, as the songs demanded attention and should have been appreciated in the way the songwriter must have intended. It can easily be ignored at a loud ‘rock show’, but this wasn’t that and made it all more apparent. That and selfie stick’s which are the ‘in’ thing to take everywhere at the moment!
For the majority of the crowd, though, who had come to see Hozier and sing-along to all his songs and listen respectfully in silence when needed, this night was a gig that will stick with them for a long time. The music world needs songwriters who have meaning behind the lyrics and you get the sense that Hozier has bag full of these songs waiting to be heard. Hopefully Leeds will hear them again soon.
