Father John Misty
CL RECOMMENDS
CRITIC’S PICK
Thurs. Feb. 13
Father John Misty, Destroyer, The Eastern—Joshua Michael Tillman’s (aka Father John Misty) swirling, often orchestral, cinematic songs along with his alternately sweeping and laconic vocals have made him a star in the contemporary indie music genre. Call it progressive folk-rock, but that doesn’t quite capture the music’s often majestic grace. Still, little else sounds like his combination of My Morning Jacket-influenced roots and reflective, acoustic musings. He’ll feature selections from last year’s critically acclaimed and quite dense Mahashmashana. Athens’ veteran Destroyer, led by the New Pornographers’ Dan Bejar, is a perfect opener. This rare live show will likely preview new music from the band’s upcoming Dan’s Boogie release.— Hal Horowitz
From the venue:
Father John Misty’s Pure Comedy is the highly anticipated follow-up to his internationally acclaimed album, I Love You, Honeybear. The album was released April 7th on Deluxe 2xLP / 2xLP / CD / DL / CS in Europe through Bella Union and the rest of the world from Sub Pop. Pure Comedy highlights include the title track alongside standouts “Leaving LA,” “Total Entertainment Forever,” “Ballad of the Dying Man,” “When The God Of Love Returns There’ll Be Hell To Pay” and “Things It Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before The Revolution”.
Tillman wrote the majority of Pure Comedy throughout 2015 and recorded all the basic tracking and vocals live to tape (in no more than two takes each) at United Studios (fka the legendary Ocean Way Studios, favored by Frank Sinatra and The Beach Boys) in Los Angeles March 2016.
Pure Comedy was co-produced once again by Josh Tillman and long-time producer Jonathan Wilson; mixed by Tillman, Wilson and Trevor Spencer, and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering Studios. The album features string, horn and choral arrangements from classical iconoclast Gavin Bryars (Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet, Sinking Of The Titanic), with additional contributions from Nico Muhly and Thomas Bartlett.
Since 2012, Father John Misty aka Josh Tillman has unexpectedly emerged as a singular (if not undeniably, um, idiosyncratic) voice. Whether by virtue of his lyrics, which routinely defy the presumed polarities of wit and empathy; his live performances which may perhaps be described best as “intimately berzerk,” or the infuriating line he seems to occupy between canny and total fraud online or in interviews, Father John Misty has cultivated a rare space for himself in the musical landscape – that of a real enigma. Pure Comedy sees Tillman at the height of these powers: as a lyricist, and equally so a cultural observer – at times bordering on freakishly prescient. Tillman’s bent critiques, bared humanity and gently warped classic songwriting are all here in equal measure and – at 75 minutes – there’s a veritable fuck ton of it. The album navigates themes of progress, technology, fame, the environment, politics, aging, social media, human nature, human connection and his own role in it all with his usual candor, and in terms as timely as they are timeless.
Father John Misty | 02/13/2025 8:00 PM