Irish soul-folkie Andrew Hozier-Byrne bolted into public consciousness about five-and-a-half years ago with the release of his hit single “Take Me to Church.” Born out of Hozier’s frustration with the Catholic Church, the song achieved ubiquity not for its content, but rather its gut-twisting chorus that sounds as much like coital release as it does gospel fervor. Grammy nominations, sold-out tours, 2 billion Spotify streams and a billion YouTube views followed, placing him in the company of The Lumineers, Ed Sheeran and Dawes as a postmodern, socially conscious romantic. Hozier then took his time crafting Wasteland, Baby! — a sophomore album that doesn’t veer too far from his debut. It’s got gospel choirs, atmospheric ballads that drift, athletic vocals that wring the songs’ intentions dry and the kind of dramatic arrangements that build and lift. The material lands right in the Venn-diagram overlap of church, alternative and Americana, and Hozier’s show at the Mother Church ought to give fans a set list to fire them up and a vocalist who leaves it all — not just vocal prowess, but truths he believes in — on the stage. Singer-songwriter Jade Bird will open. HOLLY GLEASON
Hozier
