The final night of CMJ at the Music Hall of Williamsburg opened with the comedy of Kate Berlant – whose reasonable clever shtick involved making a series of confessions and observations in lieu of ever playing a song, while a guitar was draped around her shoulders – ultimately unused. An odd choice for an opening act, but managed to get the crowd in the mood all the same, and was indeed pretty hilarious!
The night belonged to Father John Misty, who performed solo and acoustic – though was accompanied by a women in a bra and stockings, wearing a rabbit head. Make of that what you will! Having seen him previously with a full band, I have to say that this is a man whose music, lyrics and voice speaks for itself – and with things stripped back, I found the solo experience to be superior. Raw, honest and beautiful music – with the signature tongue and cheek humour that Josh Tillman is known for both in his lyrics and on stage banter making for a truly enjoyable night.
The set opened with “I’m Writing a Novel” ahead of “Only Son of the Ladiesman”, both showing off his goosebump inducing voice and phenomenal lyrics. The popular “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” came surprisingly early and was followed by “I Love You, Honeybear”. He then put himself into a faux iPhone frame to perform some new songs, a move which suited his humour well. He is a hilarious storyteller and performer to say the least.
Songs in the rest of the set included “Nancy From Now On”, “Funtimes In Babylon”, “Well, You Can Do It Without Me”, alongside unnamed new material and tracks that premiered earlier in the year like “We Met At The Store” and “Bored in the USA”, which will no doubt appear on Tillman’s next record.
“Now I’m Learning to Love the War” also went down a treat, though it was “Everyman Needs a Companion”, which ended the main set, that got the biggest singalong of the night, ahead of a three song encore.
A phenomenal night of music that rounded out CMJ very nicely indeed. Can’t wait for the new FJM record, that’s for sure!
