Father John Misty Delivers Folk-Rock In Disciple-Like Fashion To Boston Crowd (SHOW REVIEW)

Father John Misty takes the stage in the dark. The room reeks of weed and fans are practically hanging from the rafters, the three floors of the House of Blues Boston are so packed. Without word, Misty and band launch into his gin mill ballad, “Everyman Needs A Companion.” His hips shimmy and his eyes are vacant. He stays this way for the next 90 minutes.

Like interpreting the meaning of  a piece of art, which is subjective, personal and elusive, so is sorting out a live performance by Misty. With scant banter, the folk-rocker (formerly the drummer for Fleet Foxes) delivered a 19-song set to a crowd that worships him in a disciple-like fashion. Misty, whose given name is Josh Tillman, has a reputation for being a wild man and a narcissist. This image is difficult to reconcile with his lyrics, which range from unapologetically intimate and tender to macabre and raw to the bone. They address the fear and vulnerability of love (“I Love You, Honeybear”), greed and apathy in America, and offer satirical commentary on worship – both real and false (“Funtimes in Babylon” and “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings”) all of which he played Friday night.
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The crowd is very young, with the median age being 20, and they sing along to every word. Ironically, Misty often talks about how his strict evangelical Christian upbringing oppressed him yet he performs with pious theatrics that are at times off-putting. The audience meets this showmanship of dropping to his knees repeatedly and sparkle fingers with a downright frenzy during “True Affection,” an electronica tale of building a relationship in the age of texting (allegedly written for his now wife Emma while they were courting.)

Yet oddly, the only visible connections in the room that night between Misty and his audience are his lyrics and celestial voice.

While it may be difficult to figure out the mystery surrounding Misty, or perhaps that is part of his shtick, it is undeniable that he is capable of delivering impressing gems. Everyone was swooning as he encouraged a sing-along to the love song, “I Went to the Store One Day.” “Bored in the U.S.A.,” a Dylan-esque anthem about apathetic America, felt charged and significant, particularly in the midst of our current elections.

During the encore, the crowd was also treated to his much buzzed about cover of Nine Inch Nails “Closer” and while it was well received, missed the mark with the flat sounding synth and the forced angst by an otherwise gentle Misty.

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Father John Misty Setlist House of Blues, Boston, MA, USA 2016

 

Cover photo by Rich Gastwirt from Boston Calling 2015 

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