Father John MistyPhoto: Lori Paulson

For a few years Josh Tillman as J Tillman built his mystique on mystery, novella songwriting, and generally relying on just that to speak for itself.  As Father John Misty, Tillman’s pendulum has swung toward the other extreme, now perpetually playing with a bombastic mystique and generally taking things too far. The thing is, Tillman doesn’t need all that. He’s composed some damn good songs with a uniquely mischievous bent. And Friday,  any personal demons the songs might’ve initially been helping him to exercise now seem to be tackled with  Tillman having settled into the role as entertainer, albiet with HarMar Superstar his Yoda as much as say, Neil Diamond.

“Feelin’ Misty” is saying on the shirt. It’s a magnificent summation of the existential angst combined with the irrational burning a need to undo oneself that Father John Misty seems to represent. Given how much I drank that night and suffered the next day, I was obviously feelin’ Misty. As I vaguely recall, last time Misty swung through was also the last time I woke up groaning. I guess maybe I’ve been drinking too deeply of the Father’s illicit brew.

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Father John MistyPhoto: Lori Paulson

Father John MistyPhoto: Lori Paulson