This new gig isn't Tillman's first time writing his own material. He was a big part of Seattle's acoustic troubadour scene long before getting swept up into the Fleet Foxes. But this Father John Misty deal is something completely different. It has a whole different swagger going on. The breakout hit off the debut record, "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings," has done some serious inception on my listening practices. I play that thing at least once a day – not to mention the rest of the new Sub Pop disc, Fear Fun. On record, the songs are a collection of punchy pop numbers and cosmic country ballads. They're so good, sweeping you up in arrangements that balloon with ebullient harmonies and melodies. But live, they're almost better, as Tillman sharpens the edges by exaggerating the sentiments in the songs, playfully mocking himself as he sings. 

Watching Tillman tussle his hair, cock his hips, throw up his bands, and otherwise become a serious indie boy drama queen, it was almost like seeing someone do karaoke versions of their favorite songs rather than deliver something they'd worked hard to perfect into great pop nuggets. The guy is no wilting flower. He knows how to work a crowd, that much was glaringly obvious. (I think even the straight guys around me were developing serious man crushes on Tillman's charisma).