Father John Misty: “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In a few short years, Josh Tillman has gone through some radical transformations. He first started out as a singer-songwriter recording under the name J. Tillman, the clipped moniker hinting at his sparse folk songs. In 2008, he was tapped as the drummer for a then-new Seattle outfit called Fleet Foxes–and you probably know the rest of the story. The group is one of the most critically-acclaimed acts on the planet, and their two albums have featured Tillman’s steady groove as well as his rich harmonies.
But earlier this year, Tillman announced his exit from the band to focus on his own music. He’s remade himself once again, this time adopting the name Father John Misty. It’s hard to imagine why he’d leave such a popular ac–that is, until you take one listen to today’s song of the day.
“Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” is the first taste from Misty’s upcoming debut album, Fear Fun, due out May 1st on Sub Pop Records. It’s a folk-rock song that keeps in touch with Tillman’s past, but there’s a dark tension underlying the big chords and drums. Changing horses midstream can be troublesome, but bold moves like these are ultimately rewarding.
You can also catch Father John Misty at South By Southwest:
Thursday, March 15, Radio Day Stage, Austin Convention Center, 5pm
Thursday, March 15, Hype Hotel (504 Trinity–RSVP here), 4pm
Friday, March 16, Waterloo Records (inside), 4:30pm
Friday, March 16, Official SXSW Showcase, Red 7, 12am
Podcast: Download (3.6MB)
