Coming in clutch as the opening act for Hozier in Kansas City, Joy Oladokun showcased her soulful blend of folk, pop, and R&B. Her powerful lyrics embodied love, self-identity, and resilience. Oladokun’s emotional depth closely resembles that of Tracy Chapman or Lauryn Hill. Her energetic band jumped and ran throughout the stage, shared funny stories and intimate moments with the crowd, and brought each song to fruition. The connection between the band and audience grew close to the point that when she walked off stage, it felt like saying bye to a new friend.
After a 45-minute intermission, Hozier emerged from the shadows, walking straight to the mic with the sound of singular acoustic notes leading him along the way. As the lights slowly faded in, so did the silhouettes of his nine-person band, five members of which were atop a raised platform that was connected to a visual display.
The band’s indie blues-folk performance was gospel in nature, creating an intimate atmosphere. Hozier played the recently debuted “Nobody’s Soldier” ahead of its official release and joked with the sold-out crowd, sprinkling in anecdotes of historical relevance for context and funny stories about the songs. This helped create a sense of anticipation for what was to come next.
During “Like Real People Do”, Hozier directed the crowd to sing the backup vocals. His number one hit “Too Sweet” was 13th in the setlist, during which nothing could be heard but people screaming it at the top of their lungs as phones filled the air to record. He calmed it down by easing into “From Eden”. It wasn’t until the next song, “Almost”, that he introduced the audience to the amazing musicians joining him on stage.
After two more songs, “Eat Your Young” and “Movement”, he closed the set with “Take Me To Church” as tears flowed from the subconsciously connected crowd. It was obviously a moment of emotional release for many. After leaving fans in this emotional state, Hozier came back for a four-song aftercare encore, bringing Joy Oladokun back out to perform the last song, “Work Song”.
Click below to view photos from Hozier and Joy Oladokun at Azura Amphitheater. Hozier’s tour continues this week in Canada before returning stateside. For a full list of dates, visit his website.
Hozier – “Take Me To Church” – 8/9/24
(Video: janachildres)
