LAST NIGHT: Father John Misty At Varsity Theater

Father John Misty, also known in a past life as J. Tillman of the Fleet Foxes, is one of the most carefree and charismatic performers I have seen in quite some time. In a sold out night at Varsity Theater Tillman wowed a crowd that was, in all honesty, out on a Sunday evening for his set and not necessarily headliner Youth Lagoon. Disclaimer: Youth Lagoon is awesome, and there were plenty of YL fans in the house.

FJM opened up with “Funtimes In Babylon,” the leading track from his recent LP, Fear Fun. His steady and awkwardly sexy dancing completed the package of crisp vocals and a killer band at his side. The banter was also incredibly eloquent; witty comments about France, the (very… um, interesting) opening act, and a story of staying up all through the previous night doing acid and singing karaoke.

The highlight for me was Tillman and Co. in their rendition of “I’m Writing A Novel.” For a moment I felt I was in a psychedelic warp of Beach Boys meets American Bandstand. Does it get much better than that?

In a brilliant and cohesive sweep the set closed with the recent hit “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings,” Though I can only speak for myself, I highly doubt anyone was ready for it to be over. Go see Father John Misty perform, it is fucking great.

A few FJM quotes-

About Varsity Theater:
“This place… combined with sleep deprivation, general confusion, and mushrooms. I think this is exactly what that would look like.”

About the hype girls in the opening act (France):
“Compared to that shit, I’m pretty inferior. but I’m going to give you every little bit of my weird dancing tonight.”

About Har Mar Superstar:
“I love that man, but I can’t tell him to his face. What do I do guys?”

Walking off stage:
“I love you all, or something.”

By Laura Yurich
Sunday, July 15 2012
Varsity Theater
w/Youth Lagoon

Posted 10 months ago