Irish singer/songwriter Hozier made a stop in Santa Barbara as part of his Wasteland, Baby! tour, which will take him around the world and back — in fact, he plays the Bowl again this fall.
For this show, the evening got off to a rousing start thanks to Jade Bird, whose powerful vocals punched holes in the air as she stood onstage with just her acoustic guitar for accompaniment. Charming and gracious, the 21-year-old Brit wowed the audience with her dynamic musicianship, which earned her a standing ovation, adoration generally reserved for the main act. An enticing mixture of rock and folk, Bird’s raw, vigorous vocals mixed beautifully with her straightforward guitar playing. The next time Bird performs in Santa Barbara, it will no doubt be as headliner.
The sold-out crowd was in good form by the time Hozier took the stage. Backed by seven musicians, the singer got right to the business at hand, leading off with several tunes from his new album before greeting the audience with, “It’s very good to see you this evening.”