Of the many things that could be reasonably expected from a given Father John Misty show, a 10-minute disco-fied opener isn’t usually one of them. And yet, at last Wednesday’s Palace show, that’s exactly what fans got. With the aforementioned disco touches, lots of horns, and it’s extended run-time, “I guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us all” is a pretty unique track in the Father John Misty catalog, but it’s placement in Wednesday’s show felt appropriate. Not only because it sufficiently engaged and entertained the audience, but because it felt genuinely unexpected and fresh, something Father John Misty (Real name: Joshua Tillman) has been accomplishing throughout the project’s decade-plus run.
One of Tillman’s great strengths is his versatility-as a singer, writer and performer-and accordingly, the project has continued to evolve throughout that period. While this continued evolution is apparent on a listen through his discography, the live show is the area where it perhaps manifests the clearest.
During Wednesday’s show, Tillman Treated fans to every facet of the Father John Misty experience. From strumming through folkier Fear Fun cuts to going full-on rock frontman on 2026 singles “The Payoff” and “The Old Law,” Tillman covered a ton of ground stylistically. While there were many huge moments (“Mr. Tillman,” “Mahashmashana”) in the show, many of the best-received songs were slower or mid-tempo numbers. “Goodbye Mr. Blue” in particular, was an exceptional softer song, as was “Ballad of the dying man” which featured one of the better guitar solos of the set. The variation (subtle or not so subtle) from song to song, and the momentum-building trajectory of the show kept the audience highly engaged. To the audience’s delight, they were rewarded with a four-song encore, which culminated in inspired performances of “Mahashmashana” and “Holy Shit,” two of the best songs in the project’s deep catalog. Together, they proved to be a strong ending to a strong performance. Though Father John Misty is a project in constant evolution, the live show is as reliable as they come.
