Photo by Emma Tillman
All this week, the Song of the Day highlights ACL Fest 2015 artists.
You have to take Father John Misty with a grain of salt. Former Fleet Fox-er Josh Tillman’s alter ego is brash, hilarious, and a complete troll–a walking meme who hates the idea of memes. But buried beneath the guise is a sincere songwriter. This year’s I Love You, Honeybear is all about love–complicated, messy, and sometimes ugly love. Tillman spares no one with his pen, least of all himself.
The venom and humor is balanced by gorgeous orchestral arrangements to match the oversized emotions. “My instinct to intellectualize stuff is just a big part of my writing process,” Tillman told KUTX’s Jody Denberg live in Studio 1A earlier this year, “and I think you hear that conflict in the lyrics.” “Chateau Lobby #4” is a beautiful song, and it’s enhanced by those very human conflicts. Like the best comedians, there’s a lot of truth in Tillman’s bravado. Download a Studio 1A version of the song below.
–Art Levy
Catch Father John Misty at ACL Fest 2015:
*Saturday, October 3, 2:20 p.m., Honda stage
*Saturday, October 10, 2:20 p.m., Honda stage
