Father John Misty – St James Theatre December 3, 2015

 

When Josh Tillman last performed in Auckland, he was keeping the beat for Fleet Foxes at the Town Hall. But that was almost four years ago. Since then, he has come out from behind the drum kit and taken on the alter-ego of Father John Misty, a complex songwriter and an explosive performer. Those traits were on display for all to see at the St James Theatre on this Thursday night.

Father John Misty’s second album, I Love You, Honeybear, is one of this year’s finest releases. If you haven’t got it yet, please do so. You’ll be rewarded with a fascinating collection of songs about the artist’s own life that are passionate, angry, sarcastic and ironic…often all at once. And the music is majestic…sweeping pop tunes that recall Brian Wilson, Phil Spector and Elton John.

Tillman brought that epic sound to the St James as soon as he and his 5-piece band hit the stage. It was only a few seconds into the show before he was on his knees, flailing his arms into the air, singing I Love You, Honeybear, as the band recreated Tillman’s wall of sound behind him.

Dressed in a three piece suit, with a full beard and long hair, one could almost imagine Tillman as a merger of Nick Cave and his fellow Bad Seed, Warren Ellis. And there were times when Tillman was stalking the stage like a possessed Pentecostal preacher, that he became even more Cave-like.

Father John Misty performed all of the songs on I Love You, Honeybear, though not in the order they appear on the album, and they were even more intense and powerful live. When You’re Smiling And Astride Me was an early highlight, the soulful ballad showing off Tillman’s beautiful falsetto.

That was followed by the warning, “This is less drenched in the milk of human kindness”, and the song, The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apartment, a caustic, bitter song dressed in jangly guitars and punctuated by stabs at the organ.

As he was singing I’m Writing A Novel, from his 2012 album, Fear Fun, it dawned on me that Tillman comes across as a modern day Warren Zevon.  Like Zevon, Tillman can crank out a wonderful country-rocker that you can get lost in the sheer joy of the music, yet the lyrics hold a deeper, darker sentiment.

Tillman didn’t speak much in-between songs, but when he did, they tended to be droll or sardonic comments. At one point, he called out, “let’s hear it for the people in the balcony”, noting the balconies in the St James were kept empty,  then introducing Bored In The USA by calling it a “sarcastic meta ballad about despair”. During that tune, he added his own commentary to his performance, muttering “good stuff” after one particularly pithy lyric, and whispering “nailed it” after a little vocal highlight.

The set ended with Tillman whipping his mic around in prime Roger Daltry fashion while singing The Ideal Husband as the band pounded away loudly and Tillman worked himself into a screaming frenzy.

For the encore, Tillman appeared on stage on his own and offered to field any questions or comments. Not surprisingly, no one in the audience had anything meaningful to offer, although we found out that it was someone named Mike’s birthday. Tillman started to sing Happy Birthday, but quickly thought better of it. Thank you.

He wrapped up with two more songs…I Went To The Store One Day, was a solo performance, while the band reclaimed the stage for a triumphant Everyman Needs A Companion.

It was a glorious night full of stirring music, riveting songs and wildly entertaining performances…what more could you ask for?

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Isaac Newcombe:

Father John Misty set list:

1. I Love You, Honeybear
2. Strange Encounter
3. True Affection
4. Only Son Of The Ladiesman
5. When You’re Smiling And Astride Me
6. The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apartment
7. I’m Writing A Novel
8. Chateau Lobby #4 (In C For Two Virgins)
9. Nancy From Now On
10. Bored In The USA
11. Nothing Good Ever Happens At The Goddamn Thirsty Crow
12. This Is Sally Hatchet
13. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
14. Funtimes In Babylon
15. Holy Shit
16. The Ideal Husband
17. I Went To The Store One Day
18. Everyman Needs A Companion