Live Review: Hozier – Unreal Unearth Tour in Perth 2024 is Unreal
6 of November 2024 at the RAC Arena in Perth Western Australia
Review by Sheldon Ang
Photography by Sheldon Ang Photography
Darkness engulfs the evening chaos, as the sonic solace forms a barrier between the realms of fantasy and reality. Standing center stage is a lone figure with eight guardians, illuminated by a spotlight above, sparking a halo and carving a saint-like silhouette. The crowd remain mostly silent, with the occasional screams punctuating the silence, as the dream-weaving resonance elevates our senses to the ethereal realms of imagination. Hidden under twilight hues in darkness, the metaphorical representation of part lunatic, part genius, finds solitude and freedom. The falsetto and calming vocals sip into our minds, taking control of our senses and evoking the thought that peace can be found in darkness, as everyone is called to equality. Each hymn rings seduction, enshrouded by the vibration of the sonic trickle. The romanticism is undeniable, despite the mythical undertones. Darkness becomes an escape.
With a flick of rhythm, the fans are taken on an assertive ride. The acoustic vibrations turn electric, twilight gives way to daylight, and the soothing voice transforms into a sonic boom, personifying the state of being a rockstar for his followers. The assertive tone projects an outward imagination of wild things.
The stories of De Selby 1 and 2 have been personified.
Welcome to Hozier’s Unreal Unearth tour, a night of vocal gymnastic, imaginative poetry and stellar musicianship. We embark on a journey of literature and classic dictation, woven into a poetic journey of propagation through the booming vocals over rhythm and blues, indie rock, and folk.
Hozier kicks off the Australian tour in Perth tonight before a capacity crowd of 15,000, with another sold-out show tomorrow night. “Is anyone from Ireland?” The crowd serve a patriotic roar.
The rock-esque theme and a mix of powerful indie rock continue with tracks like “Jackie and Wilson” and “Eat Your Young,” featuring a high falsetto that sits beautifully above the percussion, followed by “Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene” – a song with metaphors exploring the purgatory of pleasure and pain. The mood of the sonic beat and the feet-tapping elements of gospel vibe seem incongruous with the theme, but that’s the beauty of a typical Hozier track.
At first sight, the crowd is mainly subdued, or tranced to be exact, with heads swaying gently like a worshipping scene. Each crescendo is met with screams, fulfilled by the nine musicians – a cellist, a bassist, two guitarists, percussionists, a drummer, a keyboardist, and two backup vocalists, forming a wall of sound of epic proportions. The completion of every track is followed by a roar.
The mood of the night dives further into classical literature with “Francesca” – a track inspired by the story of Francesca de Rimini from Dante’s Inferno. The dynamic guitar and ever-ballooning vibe reach an infinite peak, merging literature with emotion into a powerful vocal delivery that’s simply booming. The performance is fitting, given the track dwells on love in the face of tragedy.
There are moments of reflection, like in “Like Real People Do,” as we ponder life after love. The haunting melody and Hozier’s soulful vocals elevate us to a place of return, landing us in solitude and equanimity. The calming residue of his performance resonates with the poetic lyrics, only to be compounded by “Would That I” through the booming kicks.
It’s not just the audio – the visual has been a seductive tease. The lighting dances with the music, as the rays of spotlight sweep across the floor, waltzing with the instruments, hypnotising minds towards the gateway to another dimension of consciousness to point of no return.
The moment arrives with “Take Me To Church” – undoubtedly the biggest song in Hozier’s discography. The booming vocals are intricate. Hozier encourages the crowd to sing along, holding his mic for the audience, and from there on, the Irishman garners an army of 15,000 of the loudest singers. The religious imagery is met by the digital fiery background, propagating the oxymoronic entwinement gospel and haunting sounds. The deep bass lines and the rawness of the performance are simply epic.
The night calms again as Hozier disappears into the background. He climbs on the “B Stage” – located towards the end of the RAC Arena. “Cherry Wine” and “Unknown” are spectacular, a perfect cool-off for one of the biggest nights in Perth, before returning to the main stage. He expresses his gratitude to the musicians individually, the support crew – also individually, the manager, the security, the stage manager, and the photographer – all named to the capacity crowd. This is Hozier, a man of humility and class.
“We would like our representatives to respect international law, and to support the end to the violence over at Gaza…to support the political solution and to end the genocidal end that we have seen over the last year…to stand up for international law, and support peace and safety and security for everybody in that region…which is, of course, seeking peace and safety and security for Palestinians – and that’s free from occupation and free from occupational violence and free to pursue statehood and self-determination…and I want to thank you for letting me speak from my heart. Let us see the kind of goodwill, everyday compassion and empathy that I witnessed here in Perth”
Tonight, we’ve just witnessed a performance of epic proportions by a person of humanity.
Hozier continues his tour across Australia. Tickets are available from Live Nation Australia
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Mad Dog Publicity, Live Nation Australia and Hozier for the media accreditation.
About the Writer/Photographer: The founder of Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) has been accredited to more than 120 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), Backstreet Boys, KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK and Robbie Williams with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, UB40, Delta Goodrem, The Wiggles and Toni Childs on social media. He has interviewed rockers Ian Moss, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 60 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Radio as a music journalist.
