Charismatic crooner, delightful performer and entertaining gent Josh Tillman will renew his Father John Misty moniker with a brand new album this February. I Love You, Honeybear will follow-up 2012’s Fear Fun via Sub Pop records on February 10. Father John Misty tour dates have also been announced, beginning in mid January. Lastly, you can stream Father John Misty “Bored in the USA”, the album’s first single below. Josh’s own description of I Love You, Honeybear is undeniably more entertaining and thoughtful than whatever three sentences I would cough up here, so take it from him:
“I Love You, Honeybear” was recorded all through 2013 to 2014 in Los Angeles with producerJonathan Wilson , who I also recorded and produced 2012’s Fairly Fun with. There’s a case to be made that it sounds and acts a bit like solo-era John Lennon, Scott Walker, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, and Dory Previn, while taking more than a few cues from Woody Allen, Kurt Vonnegut, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Muhammad Ali. Blammo. It has a decidedly more soulful presence than Fear Fun , due in no small part to the fact that I am truly singing my ass off all over this motherfucker. The album is really characterized by the scope and ambition of the arrangements. Nearly every tune is augmented by something special, be it orchestral strings, a mariachi band, questionable electronic drum solos, ragtime jazz combos, soul singers, or what have you. I’m pretty sure there’s a sitar in there somewhere. Blammo.
“I Love You, Honeybear” is a concept album about a guy named Josh Tillman who spends quite a bit of time banging his head against walls, cultivating weak ties with strangers and generally avoiding intimacy at all costs. This all serves to fuel a version of himself that his self-loathing narcissism can deal with. We see him engaging in all manner of regrettable behavior .
In a parking lot somewhere he meets Emma , who inspires in him a vision of a life wherein being truly seen is not synonymous with shame, but possibly true liberation and sublime, unfettered creativity . These ambitions are initially thwarted as jealousy, self-destruction and other charming human character traits emerge. Josh Tillman confesses as much all throughout.
The album progresses, sometimes chronologically, sometimes not, between two polarities: the first of which is the belief that the best love can be is finding someone who is miserable in the same way you are and the end point being that love isn’t for anyone who isn’t interested in finding a companion to undertake total transformation with . I won’t give away the ending, but sex, violence, profanity and excavations of the male psyche abound.
Father John Misty Tour Dates:
Jan. 16 – Felton, CA @ Bret Harte Hall – Tix | Info
Jan. 17 – Sonoma, CA @ Vet’s Hall Ballroom – Tix | Info
Jan. 18 – Chico, CA @ El Rey Theatre – Tix | Info
Feb. 09 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy w/ Guy Blakeslee – Tix | Info
Feb. 12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade NYC w/ Guy Blakeslee – Tix | Info
Feb. 14 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Guy Blakeslee – Tix | Info
Feb. 16 – Montreal, QC @ Virgin Mobile Corona Theater w/ Guy Blakeslee – Tix | Info
Feb. 18 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall w/ Guy Blakeslee – Tix | Info
Feb. 22 – Dublin, IE @ Whelans – Tix | Info
Feb. 23 – Glasgow, UK @ King Tuts – Tix | Info
Feb. 24 – Manchester, UK @ Gorilla – Tix | Info
Feb. 26 – London, UK @ Village Underground – **SOLD OUT**
Feb. 27 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club – Tix | Info
Feb. 28 – Bristol, UK @ Thekla – Tix | Info
Mar. 03 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie – Tix | Info
Mar. 04 – Brussels, BE – Botanique @ Orangerie – Tix | Info
Mar. 05 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso – Tix | Info
Mar. 07 – Berlin, DE – Privatclub – Tix | Info
Mar. 08 – Hamburg, DE – Nochtspelcher – Tix | Info
Mar. 25 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Mar. 26 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse – Tix | Info
Mar. 27 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Mar. 28 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Mar. 31 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Apr. 01 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Apr. 03 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theater w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Apr. 04 – Minneapolis, MN – First Ave w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Apr. 07 – Lawrence, KS – Granada w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Apr. 08 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Apr. 09 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theater w/ King Tuff – Tix | Info
Apr. 22 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater w/ LULUC – Tix | Info
Apr. 23 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s w/ LULUC – Tix | Info
Apr. 24 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s w/ LULUC – Tix | Info
Apr. 25 – New Orleans, LA – Civic Theater w/ LULUC – Tix | Info