Father John Misty
Apollo, Manchester
13th April 2025
The post-modern troubadour brings his fabulously varied new record to Manchester.
Tonight, Josh Tillman opens his set with that might be the outstanding track from his latest album, the low-key disco groove of I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All. In fact, that might not actually be true of the man better known as Father John Misty; he’s been drily chronicling love, loss, sex, death and the state of society for over a decade now and only seems to become a more prescient essayist as the world becomes more absurd with each passing year. He was here at the Apollo only as recently as two years ago, in support of his conceptual 2022 record Chloë And The Next 20th Century but, in a world that lends itself ever more readily to post-modern skewering, Tillman is never likely to struggle to find audiences eager for more of his dispatches from the cultural frontline; this sold-out show will be followed by more UK dates in both June and August.
There is a sense of refinement about last November’s Mahashmashana, of the kind that met with career-best reviews; musically, he is increasingly ambitious and brings a ten-piece band with him tonight to do the record’s epic sweep full justice. He saunters across both the stage and the genre spectrum with insouciant cool, whether that’s on the storming glam-rocker She Cleans Up, the slinky bad-trip lament Josh Tillman And The Accidental Dose, or the sprawling ten-minute title track, which plays like All Things Must Pass-era George Harrison delivering a state-of-the-nation address that critiques modern life as “a scheme to enrich assholes.”
As a live presence, and perhaps as a man, Tillman remains as inscrutable as ever; he cuts a stately figure, spending much of his time perched at the lip of the stage, and his penchant for self-mythology means that it always feels as if we’re watching him play a character tonight, something reinforced by tracks that refer to him in the third person (Mr. Tillman, The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt). Still, there are insights into is personal life laid bare for those who know where to look; on God’s Favourite Customer, which reflects on his strict religious upbringing, and on Mental Health, on which he grapples with the difficult balance between his own psychological wellbeing and the unshakable sense that it’s something that’s being commodified.
Perhaps the more casual element among the crowd won’t quite peel that many layers away; perhaps, instead, they just want to hear the swooning likes of Nancy From Now On, I Love You, Honeybear and Chateau Lobby #4 relayed handsomely – in which case, they’re in luck. But to catch Tillman in concert is increasingly to enjoy an audience with a genuine high priest of post-modernism – a show where the wit and wisdom is as crucial as the hooks and melodies.
~
Father John Misty can be found at his website | Facebook | Instagram
Words by Joe Goggins: find him on X here
Photos by Adam Edwards: find him at his website, Instagram and Facebook
A Plea From Louder Than War
Louder Than War is run by a small but dedicated independent team, and we rely on the small amount of money we generate to keep the site running smoothly. Any money we do get is not lining the pockets of oligarchs or mad-cap billionaires dictating what our journalists are allowed to think and write, or hungry shareholders. We know times are tough, and we want to continue bringing you news on the most interesting releases, the latest gigs and anything else that tickles our fancy. We are not driven by profit, just pure enthusiasm for a scene that each and every one of us is passionate about.
To us, music and culture are eveything, without them, our very souls shrivel and die. We do not charge artists for the exposure we give them and to many, what we do is absolutely vital. Subscribing to one of our paid tiers takes just a minute, and each sign-up makes a huge impact, helping to keep the flame of independent music burning! Please click the button below to help.
John Robb – Editor in Chief
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
