The Maryland indie-rock/folk-rock singer-songwriter played to a capacity crowd at GLC Live at 20 Monroe on Tuesday, part of his tour with Butch Bastard. The photos and set list at Local Spins.
Father John Misty; ‘Like watching a trickster god in a mythological movie.’ (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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When Father John Misty, aka Joshua Tillman, commenced his Grand Rapids tour stop at GLC Live at 20 Monroe with “The Next 20th Century” from his latest studio album, it portended a compelling Tuesday evening of lyrical darkness balanced with slivers of light.
“Now things keep getting worse while staying so eerily the same,” the Maryland indie-rock/folk-rock artist sang. “I don’t know ’bout you, but I’ll take the love songs if this century’s here to stay.”
And 22 songs later, there was his encore-ending message: “Love is just an institution based on human frailty . … Maybe love is just an economy based on resource scarcity, but what I fail to see is what that’s gotta do with you and me.”
Banter, Seduction and Pleading Vulnerability: Father John Misty (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
On the night before his 42nd birthday, Father John Misty “fully seduced” the crowd of 1,200-plus on hand with his music, words and banter, according to Grand Rapids singer-songwriter and concertgoer Brie Stoner.
“In today’s digitized, low-attention-span, Spotified-sanctioned, three-minute singles, it’s rare to have the chance to be fully seduced live by the lush lyricism of one of the greatest songwriters of our generation who’s utter disregard for what the fast-consumption music industry has become is a rooted reminder of why music matters,” Stoner declared.
“Watching Josh’s raw feline stage presence — vaccilating moment by moment between banter, seduction and a pleading vulnerability before his audience — supported by a super-band of absolutely brilliant, thoughtful and sensitive musicians was a master class I’ll be referencing for the rest of my life.
“It was like watching a trickster god in a mythological movie — the kind of thing that rocks you and roots you at all once.”
Photo galleries and a set list below.
PHOTO GALLERY: Father John Misty, Butch Bastard at GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Photos by Anthony Norkus
Setlist.fm
PHOTO GALLERY: Father John Misty, Butch Bastard at GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
