FIELD NOTES: Father John Misty, Royal Albert Hall, 15th April 2025
Father John Misty, Royal Albert Hall (image: Damien Wilkinson)
In town on business and fuelled by a bit of luck, I managed to snag a resale ticket just days before Father John Misty’s sold-out residency at the Royal Albert Hall. While I’ve long followed Josh Tillman’s studio output—most recently the sprawling, ambitious Mahashmashana—this was my first time seeing the man in the flesh. As it turned out, Tillman and I were both making our debut at the Hall, adding an extra layer of ceremony to the evening.
The Support: Butch Bastard
Taking my seat in the stalls, I was in time for Butch Bastard, the moniker of LA-based songwriter Ian Murray. Having spent some time with his latest record, Death Valley, I was curious to see how his sound would translate.
Performing without his usual full band, Murray held the cavernous room with just an acoustic guitar. His songwriting is cut from a similar cloth to Tillman’s—wry, melodic, and deeply referential—so it’s no surprise the two have a history, with Tillman previously drumming on Murray’s single "Magnolia."
The set peaked with the melancholic "Bobbie Gentry, Where Did You Go?" and the exquisite "Elegy for the Baby Boomer in D". For the latter, Murray was joined by members of Misty’s band, providing a graceful, swelling sonic backdrop that brought his ten-song set to a triumphant close. He is an artist well worth further exploration.
Butch Bastard (Ian Murray), Royal Albert Hall (image: Damien Wilkinson)
The Main Event: Father John Misty
Father John Misty took the stage backed by a powerhouse seven-piece band, immediately leaning into the lush, disco-tinted "I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All". Tillman sauntered across the stage with his signature blend of irony and earnestness, effortlessly whipping the crowd into a state of "tasteful splendour."
There is a specific alchemy between Tillman’s "folk-country-cabaret" aesthetic and the Victorian grandeur of the Royal Albert Hall. The venue seemed to amplify his persona, and his visible delight at playing such a historic room made the performance feel intimate despite the scale.
The setlist leaned heavily on Mahashmashana, played in its entirety, interspersed with essentials from his back catalogue. Two moments stood out as definitive:
"Screamland": The refrain "Stay young, get numb, keep dreaming" served as a hypnotic mantra, building into a shimmering, strobe-lit crescendo that felt like it might take the roof off the dome.
"Mahashmashana": The title track already feels like a classic. Its sweeping string introduction and surreal subject matter were delivered with a taut, cinematic precision.
The seven-piece band provided a muscular, confident backdrop for Tillman, who currently seems to be inhabiting a creative sweet spot. To see an artist this in control of his craft, in a venue this iconic, was an undoubted pleasure.
Father John Misty, Royal Albert Hall (Photo: Damien Wilkinson)
Seat: Stalls M, Row 2, Seat 93
Set list:
I Guess Time Just Makes Fools Of Us All
Josh Tillman And The Accidental Dose
Q4
Being You
The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apt
Mr Tillman
Goodbye Mr Blue
Nancy From Now On
Disappointed Diamonds Are The Rarest of Them All
God’s Favorite Customer
Nothing Good Ever Happens At The Goddamn Thirsty Crow
She Cleans Up
Screamland
Summer’s Gone
Mental Health
Mahashmashana
ENCORE
Chateau Lobby #4 (In C For Two Virgins)
So I’m Growing Old On Magic Mountain
Holy Shit
I Love You, Honeybear
