Live Review: Father John Misty - The Glasshouse, Gateshead 25/06/2025
This was a show I had long looked forward to, and my expectations were absolutely blown out of the water by artist and showman Josh Tillman, better known as Father John Misty. As impressive was the performance of incredible support artist Loren Kramar, both captivated from the very first notes they played.
Gateshead’s The Glasshouse International Centre for Music very slowly filled up ahead of Californian artist Loren Kramar’s set, but as soon as he played his first notes, the audience fell silent. Completely mesmerised by his immense vocal range and talent to command the stage, I for one shifted towards the edge of my seat, making sure I heard and experienced every note he sang and every move he made. Gliding across the stage like a theatrical pop artist dressed in extravagant roses and with boots that amplified the beat, Kramar convinced me the stage was his. For someone who performed in stripped back form with a guitarist, he created an impressive sound, warm guitar riffs supporting his incredible voice.
Loren Kramar delivered an eccentric, energetic, and passionate performance that was made memorable by his unique and personable way of telling his stories through, at times, poetic lyricism. He’d lost me for a moment when he performed a number of Lana Del Rey covers, but since I’m not a connoisseur of her repertoire, they could’ve just as well have been his. With impressive control Loren Kramar performed his soulful cinematic pop songs and warmed up Gateshead for what would become one of my highlights of the year.
With a big band which soon became known to me as a well-oiled musical machine, Josh Tillman entered the stage, and had us in the palm of his hand from the very start of his show. There could not have been a better venue than The Glasshouse for the rich and cinematic sound of his captivating repertoire, with its incredible sound and elegant set up, the venue enhanced the musical experience Father John Misty gave away. He performed his songs as if we were let in on a little secret, as if we were observing something intimate and fragile while at the same time being grandiose and filling every single corner of the space with its sound. The entire ensemble that graced the stage performed songs old and new, ‘Mr. Tillman’, ‘Nancy From Now On’, ‘Mental Health’, ‘God’s Favourite Customer’, and latest album title track ‘Mahashmashana’, with heart and soul. All musicians had earned their time to shine and play their equal parts, making them sound equally magnificent and every song on the setlist a fantastic harmony.
Tillman’s true showman came out as he stole the spotlight and serenaded us like we’d never been serenaded before. Bringing several genres into the spotlight; soft and wandering pop, indie folk, and loud, unapologetic rock, his show kept me on the edge of my seat the entire evening, not wanting to miss a second of this heartfelt musical theatre. His performance was charming, nonchalant, confident, finetuned, and deliciously theatrical, Tillman is truly a man of theatre. Nearing the end of his show he apologised for giving us the silent treatment, however to me that was one of the night’s strong points, Father John Misty won me through his music, not through rehearsed jokes and or anecdotes. He simply wins by creating pockets of enchanting musical theatre, bringing his soul to the stage and laying it bare for those that are emotionally mature enough to cope with such emotive depth.
Words by Laura Rosierse
Photos by Celia Medina
