A figure in a dark suit steps into dim light with a gigantic bunny head on. The rabbit walks to the middle of the stage, uncorks a bottle, and pours a healthy glassful of red wine. As the bunny head is removed to reveal Josh Tillman, the crowd applauds wildly. Surreal and comical, but darkly serious, this is Father John Misty.
I’ve seen Father John Misty four times now since the release of his excellent album Fear Fun dropped last year. I’ve said several times in writing, and far more times in personal conversation, that he’s one of my favorite performers and songwriters at the moment. Although Tillman has a slew of solo albums to his name, he has only one as Father John Misty. Performing four times in one city with only a handful of songs can prove a difficult task if one’s goal is keep fans interested. And yet, each Father John Misty show I’ve seen has afforded a distinctly enjoyable experience. Tuesday night at Emo’s was no exception.
Father John Misty always includes a new cover or two in his sets, and possesses impeccable taste in music. The first time I saw him, he performed an amazing cover of John Lennon’s “Mind Games” flowing into The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??” His set Tuesday included a song by songwriter Dory Previn. But the allure of this show came in a different form. First, Tillman performed solo, provided a different take on these songs by exhibiting them in their most raw form. And second, Tillman performed three brand new songs. “Honey Bear” has been part of the live set for a while and was the first new music to emerge. Tuesday’s set included others: a dark, raucous song called “Awful Things,” a swanky song called “Chateau Lobby #9,” and a lyrically jaded song called “This Atom Bomb and Me.”
Since the songs were performed without added instrumentation, the minimal arrangement allowed for a close look at Tillman’s songwriting and lyrical abilities. The new songs include the same kind of cynical bite that we’ve come to expect from Father John Misty and feature everything from being choked during sex to putting babies in the oven to nuclear imagery. Tillman has his finger on the faintly throbbing pulse of world weary America, and does an amazing job of channeling that wry commentary into remarkably melodic songs. In light of Tillman’s already prolific solo career, his stint with Fleet Foxes, and his recent solo tour, I have always allowed for the possibility that Father John Misty is a temporary incarnation. My only hope has been that if I’m right, Tillman remains active in some form. These new songs are at least a promise that more is to come.
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