Father John Misty balances confidence with vulnerability at sold-out New York concert
BROOKLYN, NY — Chamber pop singer-songwriter Joshua Tillman is best known by his mystical stage name Father John Misty, but along the barricade at a concert, his die-hard fans speak like they know him personally.
Father John Misty performed at Flatbush’s historic Kings Theatre Tuesday for the first of two sold-out New York tour stops in support of his sixth and latest album, “Mahashmashana.” The Maryland-born musician is set to perform through September, with shows across North America and Europe.
Excitement raced through the expansive theatre, with most fans sharing that it was not their first time seeing him live.
After an opening set by the indie rock band Destroyer, Father John Misty took the stage with a full band, including a saxophonist — a necessary addition for jazz songs off his new album, such as “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All.”
With decades of touring experience under his belt, Father John Misty, 43, can own an entrance, stage and audience. He started with a slow ballad “Funtimes in Babylon" off his 2012 album “Fear Fun” before introducing newer tracks. By the third song, “Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose,” he began dancing toward the audience. He stepped down to the barricade to solemnly serenade swooning fans before returning to the stage and swinging his microphone around haphazardly. But even through his theatrics, the earnestness of his lush lyricism managed to shine through.
Before performing “Being You” off “Mahashmashana,” he quipped, “Anybody bite off more than they could chew and get into a room with thousands of people?” His piece of advice for anyone in his shoes? “Disassociate.”
Fans gush over Father John Misty: 'I never understood why people joined cults then I saw him live'
Inside the venue, the crowd represented a nostalgic blend of the early-2010s Brooklyn hipster and the Americana, babydoll aesthetic of Father John Misty’s longtime collaborator Lana Del Rey. Fans' outfits varied from corduroy slacks and everyday jeans to flowy red mini dresses, and it would take too many pencil strokes to tally the number of brunettes with twee-esque bangs (myself included) and men with trendy mustaches among the concert-goers.
Ahead of his set, fans along the barricade shared their excitement.
One adorned handmade, heart-shaped earrings with Father John Misty lyrics written on them, and told me she had seen him perform live 20 times. When I asked why she kept returning, she pointed a question towards me instead, “Have you seen him live?”
I’d missed his last few shows in the area — I’d actually been in this venue seeing Arctic Monkeys in 2022, the last time he headlined in New York City. So this was a long-awaited first time for me.
“You’ll answer that question yourself after tonight,” she promised. Another fan chimed in: “Watch and find out.”
They went on to point out just how tall the microphone was set — he’s 6’2”, but in person, his stature and confidence gave him an overwhelming presence. More barricade riders entered the conversation, with another telling me it was only her second time seeing him live, but the first was “life-changing.”
“I never understood why people joined cults and then I saw him live and understood,” she attested.
After the show, I ran into two of the girls again. They both gushed about his performance, excitement still flowing between them, and asked me if it was worth coming — of course, it was.
Father John Misty balances confidence with mockery: It’s ‘increasingly unattractive to perform live’
Father John Misty seldom spoke as he glided throughout his setlist. When he did, it was often to mock himself, such as calling one of his songs the musings of an “alcoholic 28-year-old man.”
“I wrote this next one as a super precocious 30-year-old young man … As time goes on, it becomes increasingly unattractive to perform live,” he said as he introduced "Nothing Good Ever Happens at the G--damn Thirsty Crow”.
But for a man of few words in front of an audience, his music is ripe with satire and vulnerability, and his live performance is riddled with excessive performances of emotion, from his pained facial expressions, hand gestures and smooth dance moves.
The song was a true highlight of the night, featuring expansive instrumentals and a ripping sax. Tillman was feeling himself onstage — his demeanor reflected an intensified confidence, and fans in the audience bumped their heads with ever so slightly more emphasis than before.
Towards the end of the set, he performed “Mental Health,” a standout track from his latest album which he described as “a beautiful ballad about getting gaslit by capitalism.”
He saved the best for last, and fans knew what was coming for his final song. Ahead of “I Love You, Honeybear,” he told the crowd, “Well, I love you guys. You guys are the best. Thank you.”
Father John Misty setlist for the 'Mahashmashana' tour
- Funtimes in Babylon
- I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All
- Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose
- Q4
- Being You
- Mr. Tillman
- Buddy's Rendezvous
- Nancy From Now On
- The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt.
- God's Favorite Customer
- Nothing Good Ever Happens at the G--damn Thirsty Crow
- She Cleans Up
- Screamland
- Summer’s Gone
- Mental Health
- Mahashmashana
- I Went to the Store One Day (solo acoustic)
Encore:
- Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)
- Holy S---
- I Love You, Honeybear