For J. Tillman, who is Father John Misty, reinvention of his musical endeavors is a must. He first started out solo in the Seattle scene before joining the indie band Fleet Foxes on drums, but in 2012 he decided to go his own way again, performing under the mystical name Father John Misty, and releasing an album called Fear Fun in 2012, followed by I Love You, Honeybear in 2015. His latest release Pure Comedy was just released.
If there’s one thing that Tillman is known for it’s his intensity. His music is commanding, but so is his stage presence. There’s a hippie psychedelia to his persona, driven by his desire for life, and his to constant need to repel being stagnant, bored, and emotionally unconscious. That’s also why he moved to LA to continue that growth, both personally and musically. And he isn’t at all hesitant to indulge, which seems reasonable for anyone who references themselves in the third person as he does in the song title “The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt.”
With Pure Comedy (released on Sub Pop) Tillman continues his cool, indie-folk sound, but it’s still exemplary of his quirky personality–one that inspires him to see the world differently, in a colorful yet vulnerable way. (And yes, his song “Leaving LA” is thirteen minutes long.) But this album takes you on a journey, one that’s literal and figurative, dreamy and endearing. And with the stellar sound at the new Brooklyn Steel, this show will undoubtedly be an experience.
Brooklyn Steel
5/11
$45
8 p.m.
Tickets on sale 4/14 HERE