Friday night’s sold-out show at Stubb’s saw rain, dim stage lighting, and an annoying audience. In short, it was the perfect atmosphere for a Father John Misty show. Everything seemed to reflect the satire and sarcasm of Josh Tillman’s brand of folk-rock, who is currently touring on his sophomore release, I Love You Honeybear, proclaimed as a concept album about love and relationships in the modern times.
As the lights went down and band came to the stage, a large fluorescent neon sign lit up in the background. The words “No Photography” were framed inside of a heart. This, of course, did nothing to discourage concert-goers to put their phones away. The sign, ironically if not predictably, made everyone want to snap a picture. In fact, after opening with a heartfelt rendition of “I Love You Honeybear,” the title track off the new album, Tillman bellowed, “Get out those cell phones!” The use of dark stage lights for most of the show silhouetted the band and the occasional use of bright lights would reveal the band for a bit. This further illustrated the nature of Tillman’s songwriting. They are songs that give an outline of personal experiences with brief glimpses of his true self. As the band launched into “Only Son of the Ladies’ Man,” a light rain started to fall. The weather never brought enough to get anyone soaked, just enough to wet the audiences’ hair and shirts. The teasing weather seemed to reflect the nature of the audience as well. No matter where you stood in the crowd, it seemed that everyone was having their own conversations and barely paying attention to what was happening on stage. One could be forgiven for wondering if this parody of an audience was planted by Father John Misty as part of a commentary on modern day concert-goers.
Throughout the course of the night almost every song from Fear Fun and I Love You Honeybear was played, along with a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “I’m Your Man.” Those that went to actually watch the show may have been a bit annoyed at the weather and disenchanted with other audience members, but no one left disappointed by Tillman & Co.’s performance.
