Dressed in a white suit and boots carrying an ipod-white microphone stand Father John Misty (Josh Tillman’s alter ego) entertained the hipster-heavy crowd at Terminal 5 in NYC Wednesday night.


Brought by a musical-minded friend, I had no idea what to expect…other than his recommendation and the fact that he is played on WFUV radio.


The Father John Misty show was great.  Music, songs, stage antics…it easily could have sucked, but the songs (both words and music) were engaging.  

Erin Lebar’s story on CMJ is on the mark with the Thunderbird Ranch Ramble’s take and well written.  

He even has a Princess Leah lookalike (hopefully his girlfriend) wearing an all white dress outfit. 

As Levon says..

J Tillman doing his best Jim Morrison.

The most surprising and enjoyable developments of the night was the Burrito Brother-like desert hillbilly music they channelled on more than a few songs. The audio quality is not good, but you will catch my drift.

I also enjoyed the Roger Water-like storytelling about making the business side of making albums and music.


A few funny jokes (ie., calling his guitar a “G-chord machine”) and stage antics (struggling to jump back onstage from the photographer’s pit) and old fashioned rock and roll (his pre-encore comments of “we’re going to play a few more songs, then get drunk and roll around the floor.”).


The new song about the girl in the bathroom and choking was shocking and twisted. Kudos. See video below…he gets to the song after 3 minutes of banter.

Lastly, the cover of Beatles “Happiness is a Warm Gun” was dead on.  I felt like we were seeing John Lennon doing a guest appearance at a Harry Nielson show at The Roxy in late 70s.

NOTE TO J. TILLMAN:  You are terrific…but way too much “ooing” and “lalala-ing” in your songs.  You are too good a songwriter to go to that “pop-rock well” so many times.

 
Terminal 5 (56th St near West Side Hwy) has done a nice job making the sound better in their uniquely designed theatre.

BTW…If you have been to Terminal 5 then you will know exactly what I mean when I say…

I was waiting for Tina Turner to appear from the balcony yelling at Max Max in Thunderdome.