With all of the unique places there are to play music these days, it’s a bold statement to say that any one venue would be the perfect place for an artist to play. that being said, Forest Hills Stadium comes pretty close to doing just that for Hozier.
The multi-functional tennis court has been standing since 1923, having celebrated its momentous 100th birthday just last year, and it’s hardly updated nature brings a whimsical, summer-camp-like appeal to its Queens home.
Similarly, one of the many beauties of Hozier’s music is that each song tells an intricate story, one that brings viewers on a journey, often one involving trees and sweet melodies of a distant place. But this weekend, said place was just a quick commute for many New Yorkers, in the aforementioned one-hundred-and-one-year-old tennis court.
The artist made history with a sold-out, four show run. A Forest Hills spokesman says the string of shows represents the first time in the venue’s 101 years that a single artist has sold out a run of that length.
Hozier opens up his show in the same ethereal way that he opens up his third studio album, Unreal Unearth, with the breathtaking duology De Shelby, parts one and two. The multi-lingual song tells a vivid story of the relationships that appear within the concept of darkness. Somehow, the artist’s voice is even stronger in person, with the sharp pronunciation of the already beautiful string of words contributing to the world within the music. The atmosphere of the show was completed with the visuals projected behind the band, including visions of starry skies and fields. The combination gifted viewers with a truly immersive concert experience.
The gentle vocals of De Shelby quickly bled into a different sound entirely with Hozier’s next installment to the setlist, with the indie rock sensation Jackie and Wilson. The song is a standout love song that has been my favorite of the artists for many years, and seeing it live for the first time completely blew me away. Hozier’s passion for performing is evident on this tour, which is a treat for the audience.
I applaud anyone who has the ability to maintain a dry eye during Like Real People Do, and it appears that I’m not the only one. Two people in the audience likely had a preexisting connection to the song, and if they didn’t, they surely do now. “Is everything okay over there?” Hozier called out. “Did you guys just get engaged? Congratulations […] thank you for sharing that moment with us.” He went on to playfully joke about the stadium’s “engagement fee” that the couple could pay on their way out, which was met with a sea of laughter and support for the newly engaged pair.
Evidently, the artist was no stranger to showcasing his personality in addition to his brilliant performances. In the same way that Forrest Hills Stadium was the perfect backdrop to Hozier’s storytelling, the early June evening was also a perfect time, mostly. “It’s warm, isn’t it? Is anyone else warm?” Hozier called out. “What’s this, Queens? Who turned up the thermostat?”
The first set of the evening concluded with the iconic Take Me To Church, a staple for over a decade. Upon returning, Hozier took to the arena’s B stage to perform one of the first songs he’d ever put out, the beloved Cherry Wine. The stadium lit up with waving flash lights in a truly surreal moment in time.
While performing Nina Cried Power, a duet her originally created with Mavis Staples, Hozier launched into a powerful speech about the importance of protest and standing up for what’s right. He explained how so much progress that has been made in the world has come as a direct result of people coming together, and he encouraged the audience to do just that. He then invited his brilliant opener, Allison Russell, who he described as “one of the great freedom singers of our time” to join him on stage for a stunning duet of Work Song to conclude the miraculous evening.
If you’re in the market for an evening of pure emotion and music that takes you to another world, I could not possibly recommend getting tickets to Hozier Unreal Unearth Tour, more. It is the perfect reminder of the music, emotion, and experiences, that bind us as humans.
