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Hozier brings beautiful, soulful voice to Stage AE

By Megan Miller for The 2 min read
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Hozier performed recently at Stage AE in Pittsburgh.

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Megan Miller|Calkins Media

Hozier performed recently at Stage AE in Pittsburgh.

Hozier made his night in Pittsburgh strictly about the music.

But who needs showmanship or over-the-top sets when you have compelling lyrics and beautiful songs? Pair those melodies with a striking, soulful voice and you’ll get an enjoyable summer evening you hope to recreate again and again.

Dressed in casual wear with his hair combed into a fabulous man bun, the 25-year-old Irish singer, who made headlines with his Grammy Awards performance earlier this year, performed more than a dozen songs for a split audience of teens and middle aged adults.

Always at center stage, Hozier kept it short and sweet, keeping his focus on the music rather than his surroundings.

He seemed humble during his 75-minute headlining debut at Stage AE, chatting between songs, telling the audience the titles of most before continuing on. Those songs were “Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene,” “Someone New,” “It Will Come Back,” “Sedated,” and “To Be Alone,” on which Hozier belted out the “it feels good, girl, it feels good” chorus so beautifully that you wished the song went on longer.

Hozier ended his set with the popular “Take Me to Church” before returning for a three-song encore that included “Cherry Wine” and the show-closing “Work Song,” which Hozier quipped, “I saved the best for last.”

Hozier is just getting started, and hopefully this won’t be Hozier’s last trip to Pittsburgh. His personality and vocals are calling for “An Evening With”-style show at a cozy theater, but judging by fans’ admiration, he’ll need a bigger venue to headline next time.

Indie rock band Dawes opened the concert with a nearly 45-minute set. The majority of fans were already packed into Stage AE’s quarters long before the band played “Somewhere Along the Way,” “A Little Bit of Everything,” a three-part song about suicide, over eating and getting married, and set closer “All of Your Favorite Bands.”

“This song is about us. This song is about you. This song is about Hozier, and this song is about everyone in this band,” lead singer Taylor Goldsmith said.

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