Father John Misty's St. Valentine's Day Massacre

 

Father John Misty played a few shows around NYC and Brooklyn in the last week, and I was lucky enough to catch his stellar Bowery Ballroom performance on Valentine's Day. Taking the stage just after 10, Josh Tillman and his support launched into the title track on I Love You, Honeybear, and right off the bat Tillman's trademark antics were on display with mic-stand swinging, knee drops, kick drum jumps, and dancing similar to Francis and the Lights' Francis Farewell Starlite. Backed by a 6 piece band, the hour and forty minute set was filled with face pounding guitar riffs, seated quiet serenades, and even a mariachi trumpeter for a song, upon whose departure from the stage Tillman joked "I've got him paid for six hours, so if you have a party or event you'd like to borrow him for.." The setlist had a wide selection of tracks from the just released Honeybear and 2012's Fear Fun, and an added bonus cover of Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your Man" during the encore. Between songs Tillman engaged with the audience, "Does anyone have any questions I could answer?" After brief moment of quiet, the crowd began shouting questions all at once, to which he replied, "You're going to have to elect a representative." Someone replied, "What's your favorite Beatles song??" to which Tillman chuckled, and said, "Freebird. No... I don't know. All of the ones I'm ripping off tonight."  -- Photos and show review by Chelsea Mae Hassman