FATHER JOHN MISTY CELEBRATES NEARLY 15 YEARS OF HITS AT FOX THEATER IN POMONA
The ever-enigmatic and charismatic Father John Misty, aka Josh Tillman, swung through the Inland Empire to stop by the Fox Theater in Pomona for a night of indie folk many won’t forget. In promotion of his sixth record, 2024’s Mahashmashana, Misty played a nearly two-hour, career-spanning set filled with laughter, tears, and unabashed dancing.
Misty’s opener – singer-songwriter and guitarist David Vandervelde – brought a comforting and familiar presence to the stage. Performing soft and soulful folk rock with an Americana edge, Vandervelde has been a member of Father John Misty’s touring band since 2014, and was a studio musician on FJM’s two most recent records. So, to say he occasionally sounded as if he was playing a lost FJM record would not be out of line. Vandervelde, accompanied by a guitarist, brought a wonderful intimacy to the evening, performing many songs from his 2026 album Celestial Body. Vandervelde explained that the record could only be purchased on vinyl at the show and was not available online, leaning into the music's grassroots feel. Highlights from his set included the track “The Scorpion,” which combined gritty guitar and soulful vocals with a bluesy, groovy melody and garage-band-like percussion courtesy of several effect pedals.
After Vandervelde, Father John Misty greeted the sold-out theater by immediately jumping into lead single from Mahashmashana, “I Guess Time Makes Fools of Us All,” warning the crowd it would be “the last chance to dance for the evening, so [they] ought to embrace it.” (Tillman, a unique combination of self-effacing and self-flagulating, was, of course, lying.) Classics “Mr. Tillman,” “Nancy From Now On,” and “Chateau Lobby #4” ushered the way for plenty of celebration and cheers from the crowd beneath the swirling stage lights – especially for fan-favorite “When You’re Smiling and Astride Me.”
Never afraid of shining a light on the gentle horrors of life, Tillman also slowed down the set with “Being You” and the heart-wrenching “Goodbye Mr. Blue,” a song about a couple who’s stayed together on behalf of a cat who dies midsong. Afterwards, Tillman joked people always show him pictures of their dead cats, but never show him photos of their ex. In a performance filled with undoubted career highlights, many standouts were recent tracks, including “Mental Health” and “Screamland” – which made the small theater feel like an arena bursting with singalong energy. Likewise, “God’s Trash” and “She Cleans Up” felt like new FJM staples with their dirty guitar riffs, invigorating melodies, and heart-pounding rhythm sections.
To open the encore, Tillman resurrected “Pure Comedy,” a nearly-decade-old political track more and more relevant and prescient with every passing year, sounding better than ever. The show closed out with three back-to-back-to-back punches: “Holy Shit,” “Mahashmashana,” and “Real Love Baby,” three tracks spanning Father John Misty’s career and somehow encapsulating the incredible range of his musicality. I couldn’t help but notice almost no one in the sold-out crowd had left at the encore – a common occurrence at LA-area shows – and I feel that speaks volumes to the artistry Father John Misty provides. His ability to perform and entertain at the highest standard for nearly 15 years has not gone unnoticed by his fans. We should be so lucky to see a master craftsman still performing at his peak, and I can’t wait to see what Tillman does next.
