Fans formed a line in below-zero temperature hours before the Royal Oak Music Theatre doors opened on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. Among these devotees was Community High student Gloria Fall, who arrived four hours early covered in thick blankets and winter clothes. “People walking by gave me crazy looks,” Fall said. “But the concert was absolutely incredible … It was 100% worth it to be so close to Hozier.”

The Irish-born singer-songwriter Andrew Hozier-Byrne put on a show of non-stop entertainment, displaying why his rise to fame was so rapid and prominent.

With his laid-back style — rocking a messy bun, black jean jacket, and black laced up Doc Martens — Hozier kept the audience engaged song after song and singing along from the opener, “Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene,” to the closing Grammy-nominated song, “Take Me To Church,” and the encore finale, “Work Song.” The 90-minute set featured his debut self-titled album comprised of a diverse range of bluesy, Celtic-folk songs that attest to why his surging success has appealed to the masses.

Other favorites were knocked out in the first three songs including, “From Eden,” and “Jackie and Wilson,” but Hozier had plenty more variety on his roster of songs to keep up the energy level of a phenomenal concert.

On top of his musical talent, Hozier knows how to charm an audience with his sweet Irish accent and smooth talk of love, which makes sense considering the emotional depth in his lyrics. At one point during the concert Hozier announced that he would be “doing something a little different tonight,” and turned the spotlight over to a man in the crowd who, right then and there, proposed to his girlfriend (and she said yes!). The crowd went wild and the show continued in an even more eminent euphoria than it had before.

He also weaved in some unexpected covers including a folky twist to hip-hop artist Amerie’s “1 thing” and Skip James’ “Illinois Blues,” showcasing his creative ability to poke into different genres, speaking to his versatility as a musician. And this variety is like nothing you’ve heard before. Hozier’s sound is a combination of alternative rock and folk mixed with gospel that when blended together, somehow emerges into a heavenly mixture of songs that captivates all ages in the crowd, and that only such a voice as soulful as his could pull off.

And unlike many modern musicians today with autotune (that disguises their true ability to perform for an audience) Hozier’s sound quality live — from vocals and guitar to his band of six — exceeded that of his album.

Based on his hard hitting performance at Royal Oak Music Theatre, there is no doubt as to why Hozier is a top chart artist with gigs on “Saturday Night Live” and “The Grammy Awards.” It is fair to say that wherever Hozier performs — because of the power he puts into his shows with his conspicuous talent  — passionate fans will follow his future shows in the area.