“Would things be easier if there was a right way? / Honey there is no right way”

Unreal Unearth tour, Sept. 19 at Hershey Stadium. Amble, Gigi Perez and, first and foremost, Hozier. This was truly one of the most incredible nights of my life; for my second concert and my first “big” one at that, it was life changing.

The evening began with a crowd full of white maxi skirts and ren-faire-esque outfits, as any Hozier concert should. Having never been to a concert of this sheer magnitude–30,000 people!–I was amazed not only at how kind and considerate everyone was, but also at how the atmosphere swallows you up and makes everything else in the world fall away for just a bit. The excited whispers before it started up through the passionate scream-singing of “Sailor Song” and “Eat Your Young” made me realize that I was a part of some 30,000 people who could relate to each other in an incredibly visceral way without even knowing one another. The ability to feel immediately recognized by and at home with so many people all at once was something I had never experienced before, and cannot appreciate enough in a world that can feel so inherently divided.

As people began ambling (haha, get it?) back from the merch line and food trucks, Amble began playing. They are an Irish folk band that has grown enormously in popularity in just a few years. Before that night, I had never listened to them, but my God am I glad I saw them live. They match Hozier’s vibe in a more mellow way, with poetic lyricism, incredible instrumentals and music that feels, for lack of a better word, very human.

Next up was the remarkable Gigi Perez. Now her music, I have both listened and cried to more times than I can count, and I can still say that I was astounded by her performance. Not only is she one of the most impressive singers I have ever heard, but her ability to take up space on the stage and just perform was an immeasurable treat to witness. Among other songs, a couple of my favorite performances of hers from that night were “Please Be Rude” and “Fable”. With stark purple lighting and ethereal intros, all leading up to a passionate and intense ending – her opening was unforgettable.

At this point, I had already felt like I’d experienced the most amazing and exciting event I had ever been to, and Hozier hadn’t even stepped on stage. Even so, the inevitable moment came that the man himself walked out and the entire arena came alive in a way that I never could have imagined. Throngs of people cheering, dancing and hugging one another to some of my favorite music in the world was such a beautiful thing to witness. To hear music that has been so important to who you are, the way you experience the world and how you connect with others with the creator of all of it right there, singing it live, made me just genuinely happy in a way that is hard to express with words. It all really felt like a little corner of the world in which, even for a moment, everything and everyone was okay.

Now, I think it’s time we get into the actual performance aspects. First of all, the mixed media combined with the changing colors and visual effects on the screens around and behind Hozier left me speechless. The way they represented what the inside of my head looks like when I listen to his music was so incredible to see physically in front of me. I’ve never been the biggest “Take Me to Church” fan, but it was one of my favorite performances of the whole night. I am, however, a huge fan of “Would That I,” “Like Real People Do” and “From Eden,” and hearing those live was akin to having a little piece of my soul spread out in front of me. The quips between songs and slight changes in the music when hearing it live were also some of my favorite aspects.

One final thing that made the entire evening so wonderful was the way in which Hozier made time to call out the importance of peace, safety and security in the world we live in right now. He made sure to point out the necessity of loving and respecting one another, supporting those whose rights are under attack and doing our best to support movements that aim to aid those who desperately need safety and community help.

It felt incredible to be part of such a like-minded and passionate community, to witness one of my favorite artists give the most incredible performance I’ve ever seen and to experience it all with my loved ones. So, all of this to say…

“And so I fall in love just a little ol’ little bit / Every day with someone new.”