Father John Misty’s Epic Return to Leeds - O2 Academy

Live Reviews

29 Jun

Following on from playing sold-out shows at the likes of The Refectory at The University of Leeds, Father John Misty returned to the city on Sunday backed by his incredible 7-piece band.

The back of the academy stage, draped in Mr Tillman’s signature red curtain and host to 6 old Hollywood spotlights, created the perfect intimate atmosphere for his not-so-low-key set.

Opening with ‘I Guess Time Just Makes A Fool Of Us All’, FJM seemed more like a rock ‘n’ roll philosopher than a traditional frontman. His voice resonated perfectly throughout the venue, while his performance was both intensely theatrical and intimately raw. It’s the sort of paradox that defines his artistry.

Almost instantly, he formed a bond with the audience; dancing in time with the fans on the barricade and offering some hilarious banter between his songs.

The setlist was a near-perfect blend of crowd favourites and deep cuts, from the eerie melodic tones of ‘Nothing Good Ever Happens at the Goddamn Thirsty Cow’ to the hits of his most recent 2024 album ‘Mahashmashana’.

Although it was hard to ignore the disappointment of long-time-favourite ‘Real Love Baby’ not being included in the setlist, Tillman’s captivating stage presence completely made up for it.

By the time the band came to play ‘Chateau Lobby #4‘, the audience erupted and quickly flowed into some of the loudest singing I’ve heard in such a small venue.

There was a certain charm in the way he interacted with his band - an air of unspoken camaraderie that made the whole evening feel like a private performance just for us, even in a room filled with a couple of thousand concert-goers. The crowd was fully in the palm of Tillman’s hand. It was clear he knew the power of his own performance and wasn’t afraid to use it. In fact, he relished it.

Honestly, Father John Misty brought a night of brilliant contradictions: a performance stacked with both heart-wrenching and hilarious lyrics and stories, a performance that was close yet grand, light-hearted yet profoundly self-examining.

If you missed it… you missed a beautiful experience.

If Sunday’s show was anything to go by, I have no doubt Josh Tillman will return with the same level of chaotic brilliance only he can deliver.