The Key » Father John Misty

My Morning Download: “Now I’m Learning To Love The War” by Father John Misty (from a limited time only collection of World Cafe downloads)

Bruce Warren — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:38:51 +0000

Today’s free World Cafe download, “Now I’m Learning To Love The War,” comes from singer-songwriter Josh Tillman, AKA Father John Misty. He visited the World Cafe with David Dye last November; you can listen to the session here. Download the song below. This month (and this month only) World Cafe is offering free downloads of performances from bands including Calexico, Lord Huron, the Afghan Whigs, Alt-J, John Fullbright, Freelance Whales, Stars, Nick Waterhouse, Allen Stone, The Kopecky Family Band and others. Download the entire collection, while they last until March 1st, here.

Just Announced: Father John Misty returns to Union Transfer on 6/8

Julie Miller — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:33:06 +0000

Photo by Eric Ashleigh

Psych folk / rock bandleader Father John Misty has announced a new spring/summer tour, which will caravan him through Philadelphia on Saturday, June 8th for show at Union Transfer. The charismatic former Fleet Foxes drummer (off-stage Josh Tillman) revived his solo work under the new persona last year, releasing the much-loved Fear Fun on Sub Pop and trading in his drumsticks for dance moves during live shows. Check out a full recap of his October appearance at Union Transfer here; tickets and information for the 21+ show will be available over at the XPN Concert Calendar. Below, watch Father John Misty perform “Misty’s Nightmares 1 & 2″ at WXPN’s Non-COMMvention from May 2012.

Dancing in the spotlight with Father John Misty (photos, recap, setlist, video)

John Vettese — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:08:57 +0000

As much as Josh Tillman took a roundabout way to get there, he fits nicely in the role of rock and roll frontman. Formerly the drummer for indie-folk sensations Fleet Foxes and a solo artist before that, Tillman brought his Father John Misty persona / band to Union Transfer last night for an electrifying, hour-long set, performing almost all of his debut LP Fear Fun, as well two well-received covers.

An immediate observation as Tillman and his four-piece backing band stepped to the stage – he had no instruments with him, short of a tambourine. His job tonight was to sing, to dance, to be the charismatic guy in the front of the pack. So he opened the set strutting and swaying to album opener “Fun Times in Babylon,” closed it twisting and writhing Iggy Pop / Michael Stipe style to the single “Holllywood Forever Cemetry SIngs.” Things got a bit dramatic on “Nancy from Now On,” when Tillman brought his microphone stand cracking down on his head during the lyric “I’ll be breaking things like Howard Hughes.” Later he cracked jokes about Instagram and smart phones (“buy minerals from drug lords, do whatever it takes to get that device in my hand”), and remarked that it was a rimshot-heavy evening. But then there was the performance – occasionally ostentatious, but always expressive and impressive.

On “Well You Can Do It Without Me,” Tillman took the reserved So-Cal psych pop of the album rendition and drew it out, crooner-style, for the last refrain. During the eco-topical “Now I’m Learning To Love The War,” he switched out lyrics to make it more specifically about the working musician’s carbon footprint (“I’ll leave behind merch that won’t decompose”). And with the main set hitting on nearly every track on Fear Fun – only the underwhelming “O I Long To Feel Your Arms Around Me” was not performed – the band hit two quick covers for an encore. A suave and stripped-down rendition of the jazz standard (first popularized by Fred Astaire) “Nevertheless I’m In Love With You” was followed by a rollicking take on Canned Heat’s “On the Road Again” that left me hoping that Tillman / Misty remains in the spotlight for a while longer.

Setlist
Fun Times in Babylon
Only Son of the Ladiesman
Nancy From Now On
I’m Writing A Novel
Misty’s Nightmares 1 & 2
This Is Sally Hatchet
Well, You Can Do It Without Me [video]
Now I’m Learning To Love The War
Tee Pees 1-12
Every Man Needs A Companion
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings [video]

ENCORE
Nevertheless I’m In Love with You (Fred Astaire cover)
On the Road Again (Canned Heat cover) [video]

Tonight’s Concert Picks: XPN Welcomes Indigo Girls to Scottish Rite Auditorium, Father John Misty at Union Transfer, Kimbra at TLA, Sea Wolf at North Star Bar

Skye Leppo — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:59:09 +0000

XPN Welcomes the Indigo Girls to the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood tonight. The folk rock duo, whose career spans over two decades, are on tour playing old favorites like “Closer to Fine” and “Power of Two” in addition to tracks from their 2011 record Beauty Queen Sister. Tickets for the 7:30 show are available here. Below, check out the video for their “Making Promises” from Beauty Queen Sister.

Former Fleet Foxes member Josh Tillman, performing under the stage moniker Father John Misty, will be performing at Union Transfer tonight. His solo record, Fear Fun, came out in April. Tickets for the all-ages show, which begins at 8, can be found here. Watch the video for “Nancy From Now On” below.

After escalating to fame from her featured role in Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know,” New Zealand pop star Kimbra released her debut studio album Vows in the United States in May. Tonight Kimbra will be performing at Theatre of the Living Arts at 7; tickets for the all ages show are available here. Below watch her burlesque-inspired video for “Good Intent.”

Indie singer/songwriter Alex Brown Church, or Sea Wolf, will be playing at North Star Bar tonight, hot off the September release of his third studio album Old World Romance. Taking his stage name from the critically acclaimed Jack London novel, Sea Wolf started to gain recognition after the Twilight:New Moon soundtrack featured their track “The Violet Hour.” The 21+ show tonight begins at 8; ticket information can be found here. Below, watch Sea Wolf rehearsing “Old Friend.”

Father John Misty announces fall tour dates; playing Union Transfer in October

Rachel Barrish — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 20:32:43 +0000

Photo by Joe Del Tufo

The fantastical Father John Misty will once again grace us with his presence. Having played at SXSW this year, as well as our annual Non-Comm, we have grown fond of not just his debut album Fear Fun (which is spotlessly melodious, especially the master-crafted tune “Hollywood Cemetery Sings”) but also his live performances. The Father really knows how to get wrapped all up into his songs that discuss his pains and his pleasures, his sorrows and his irateness, and his feverish, wondrous dreams. He returns to Philadelphia on October 21st at Union Transfer with supporting acts including La Sera and Jefertitti’s Nile. Ticket sales TBA. Below, you can check out his live performance of “I’m Writing a Novel” from WXPN’s Non-Comm in May. You can listen to the entire performance here.

Listen to Father John Misty’s performance from WXPN’s Non-Commvention

Bruce Warren — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:15:30 +0000

Father John Misty performed at WXPN’s Non-Commvention last Thursday evening, May 17th. You can listen to the entire performance here.

My Morning Download: “Nancy From Now On” by Father John Misty (playing Thursday night Non-comm broadcast)

Bruce Warren — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:45:35 +0000

Father John Misty is the musical persona of Josh Tillman, who has been recording and releasing solo albums since 2003 (as J Tillman) and who recently departed the Fleet Foxes after playing drums since 2008. Tilmman’s debut as Father John Misty – Fear Fun – was recently released on Sub Pop Records. The record was produced by Jonathan Wilson (himself a singular singer-songwriter) and has musical touchstones on it that may bring to mind George Harrison’s classic All Things Must Pass and Harry Nilsson. Download the song “Nancy From Now On” from Tillman’s Fear Fun below. Father John Misty is playing this Thursday evening as part of WXPN’s Non-Commvention along with War On Drugs, Polica, and Beth Orton. The complete schedule of live broadcasts is here.

Father John Misty – Nancy From Now On by Bella Union

WXPN broadcasting Non-Commvention shows with Grace Potter, War On Drugs, Willie Nelson, Rufus Wainwright, Brandi Carlile, Polica, Norah Jones and more

Bruce Warren — Thu, 10 May 2012 01:06:04 +0000

Next Wednesday, May 16th through Saturday, May 17th WXPN’s annual music conference, the Non-Commvention, rolls in to World Cafe Live and WXPN. This is the 12th year for the industry conference started by WXPN’s Dan Reed when he worked at WFPK in Louisville, Kentucky. Hundreds of music industry personnel will be in town from various radio stations across the country alongside industry publicists, labels representatives, digital media folks, managers, and listeners and members of WXPN. The lineup for this year’s Non-Comm includes dozens of bands who will be performing at World Cafe Live Wednesday through Friday night, and a listener appreciation Free At Noon on Saturday at Penn Park. WXPN will be broadcasting and webcasting the following sets live:

Wednesday, May 16
8:00 PM – The Key Studio Sessions Live with Graham Alexander, Find Vienna
10:00 – Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

Thursday, May 17 Free At Noon
Noon – Joseph Arthur
12:30 – Citizen Cope

The NPR Music Stage
8:30-9 – Father John Misty
9:35-10:05 – Beth Orton
10:45-11:25 – The War On Drugs
12:05-12:45 – Polica

Friday, May 18 Free At Noon with Brandi Carlile, Norah Jones, Willie Nelson

The NPR Music Stage
8:30-9 – Diego Garcia
9:35-10 – Nada Surf
10:40-11:10 – Good Old War
11:50-12:30 – J.C. Brooks & the Uptown Sound

Saturday, May 19 – Listener Appreciation Free At Noon from Penn Park:
12-12:20 – Dex Romweber Duo
12:25-1:05 – Rufus Wainwright
1:15-1:45 – Sons of Fathers
1:55-2:25 – Elle King
2:30-3 – Nick Waterhouse

My Morning Download: “Nancy From Now On” by Father John Misty (playing WXPN’s Non-Commvention in May)

Bruce Warren — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:00:39 +0000

Father John Misty is the musical persona of Josh Tillman, who has been recording and releasing solo albums since 2003 (as J Tillman) and who recently departed the Fleet Foxes after playing drums since 2008. Tilmman’s debut as Father John Misty – Fear Fun – is being released on Sub Pop Records on May 1st. The record was produced by Jonathan Wilson (himself a singular singer-songwriter) and has musical touchstones on it that may bring to mind George Harrison’s classic All Things Must Pass and Harry Nilsson. Download the song “Nancy From Now On” from Tillman’s forthcoming album below.

Father John Misty – Nancy From Now On by Bella Union

SXSW photo recap: Heartbreaker Banquet at Willie Nelson’s ranch in Luck, Texas

Bruce Warren — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:53:53 +0000

Willie Nelson’s western town in Luck, TX, is about a 45 minute ride from downtown Austin. On Thursday, March 15th, at SXSW, the town was transformed into the Heartbreak Banquet, a performance space with two stages featuring over 20 musicians including Rhett Miller, Father John Misty, Blitzen Trapper, Daughter, Billy Joe Shaver, Phosphorescent, and Gary Clark, Jr.
Heartbreak Banquet was presented by Electric Lady Studios and Robot Fondue, in association with John Varvatos. For the attendees (including WXPN Station Manager Roger LaMay) it was a welcome break and musical retreat from the frenzied pace of SXSW.