The sound of screaming was nearly as loud as a jet engine. Women, as young as 8 and as old as 45, were screaming at the sight of Irish musician Hozier as he played to a sold-out crowd at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington.

Dressed in a mix of dark coats with his hair pulled into a bun, the guitarist, starting with a crooked smile, began to sing his opener, “The Angel of Small Death & the Codeine Scene.” The sound technician did a good job, bringing the volume louder to compensate for the screaming. The blues-y vibe filled the room. Heavy kicks and twangy finger-picking were balanced against acoustic guitars and the powerful voice that carries his songs.

Each song was delivered live as powerful as it was in recording. Backed by a full band, including a cellist, Hozier ensured the audience received a performance well worth staying out late on a Monday night.

Opening for Hozier was the British heartthrob George Ezra. The screams were still present early in the night, but not at nearly the ear-splitting levels they would reach later on.

George Ezra at the Lincoln Theater

Performing a rather boring set, Ezra seemed pleased to see the audience, but didn’t seem bothered enough to enjoy the performance himself. Standing rigid on the stage, Ezra’s smaller frame was overshadowed by the large thrust stage set up in the Lincoln.

Even standing in the lobby of the Lincoln Theater, I knew Hozier put on a stellar performance, and the crowd loved it. I stayed until he played the hit “Take Me to Church” and the already loud sound system was outperformed by the audience. While I couldn’t see it, I believe he was wearing that crooked grin of his as hundreds of screaming fans echoed his words back to him.