Previous Story
HOZIER Wants To Take You To Church – A Special Evening At Los Angeles’ Immanuel Presbyterian Cathedral.
Posted On 31 Oct 2014
Comment: 0
Tag: Alana Henderson, All Access, All Access Music, All Access Music Group, Andrew Hozier-Byrne, Bray, Cherry Wine, Concert Review, County WIcklow, From Eden, Hozier, Illinois Blues, Immanuel Presbyterian Cathedral, Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, In A Week, Ireland, Irish musician, It Will Come Back, James Bay, John Newman, Kodaline, Like Real People Do, Nicole DeRosa, Take Me To Church, The Dark of The Morning, To Be Alone, Tom Odell, Wicklow
Hozier‘s show at the incredible Immanuel Presbyterian Cathedral in Los Angeles brought new meaning to going to church.
I cannot think of a better way to hear Hozier‘s haunting song, “Take Me To Church,’ then in a…well, a church and or cathedral. Can you?
It was a spectacular setting and a ticket that I was lucky enough to get at the last moment and damn, what an incredible show it was.
James Bay backstage during his meet + greet. Photo by: Nicole DeRosa
Opening for Hozier was 23 year old up and coming singer-songwriter, James Bay, who possesses that untarnished strain of talent that many newcomers lose as they develop over time. As his website suggests, “his raw expressions and graveled voice work in a magical unison that captivates audiences and strips pop melodies back to a skeletal efficiency.”
Hailing from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, James has already gained a great reputation thanks to a hugely successful run of support slots with Tom Odell, John Newman and Kodaline. Even though to date James has only released one acoustic EP, his debut, ‘The Dark of The Morning‘ (Republic Records) in July last year, he is fast building a loyal fan base both in the UK and the US. James is a star definitely on the rise and already selling out gigs left and right on his current tour.
James Bay was a perfect complimentary opener for Andrew Hozier-Byrne known simply as Hozier. In 2013 Hozier released his debut EP Take Me to Church and his second EP From Eden in 2014, with his debut studio album Hozier (Sony Music) released in Ireland in September 2014 and globally in October 2014.
Photo by: Nicole DeRosa
Andrew aka Hozier is an Irish musician from Bray, County Wicklow. The singer mentioned his homeland often throughout the evening, explaining how many songs have been influenced by its geography. This was most evident in the song, “In A Week,” which he was accompanied by fellow Irish musician, singer, Alana Henderson.
The singer was remarkably laid back but also visibly touched for such an incredible turn out. He opened the evening with the beautiful track, “Like Real People Do,” and continued with favorites such as “To Be Alone,” “It Will Come Back,” and the Skip James cover, “Illinois Blues,” which quite literally rocked the church. He then played one of my absolute favorites, the quiet and sweet, “Cherry Wine.”
Once the beginning guitar strums could be heard for the intro to “Take Me To Church,” it was cell phones (and iPads) up in the air …like you just don’t care for the singers’ SMASH hit.
I do love the song but the video itself is quite intense. You can watch it below.
The singer closed out the evenings musical procession with the Amerie cover, “One Thing,” and the beautiful, “From Eden. “
To learn more about HOZIER, visit his website here .
To learn more about JAMES BAY, visit his website here .
