Hozier at Jiffy Lube Live last night.
Awesome show. Eleven musicians including Hozier on stage. His voice is just stellar. The songs are so good and his guitars and the tones were top notch. Bigsby loaded ES-330, Gratsch bari (also w/ Bigsby), modern black strat w/ roasted maple neck & board, red vintage spec strat with RW board, a red National solidbody, black Dano resonator, and we thought two Takamine acoustics.
Awkward looking picking and playing technique, but the riffs and arrangements sound so good.
While this is generally not something I care about, the lighting and screen rigs were really cool too. Definitely designed for maximum effect from a more centered view, so being on the outside edge of section 101 lessened the effect a bit.
For the encore he was escorted by his security team to the mixing board where he played a couple of tune solo to the 200s and lawn. It was very cool. He had a lot to say about things that had me worried about how unwelcomed he might be if certain folks here about his criticisms of issues in the U.S.. He did temper them in pointing out these issues aren't exclusive to the U.S., but I don't think certain folks in leadership in this country would hesitate to make an example of him.
But I, like it seemed the rest of crowd were 100% supportive of and on board with everything he said. The focus of the fans on his performance is something missing from the many DMB shows I've seen. No casual conversations, drunken screaming during mellow tunes, etc. Just everyone being zoned in on the music...with of course a clear ton of folks zoned in on him (not they don't love the music, but they clearly also love the delivery system).
I recommend you go see him if you get the chance. I will definitely go see him again. I'd even consider going back tonight if it weren't for the weather and the location. We were stuck in JLL's shittily managed lots for an hour or more before we could get out. Got home at 1:15am...I frigging exhausted.
