Father John Misty Comes to the Hudson Valley, Why Don’t Other Big Artists? — MARIST CIRCLE

Only two hours away from New York City, Marist University, nestled in the beautiful Hudson Valley, enjoys many luxuries. However, it is not particularly known as a concert haven for big artists. This is understandable due to its proximity to one of the planet’s music capitals; yet, late this February, an unexpectedly bigger artist rolled into town. 

On Feb. 23, Father John Misty’s newest tour stopped in Kingston, New York, only a 30-minute drive away from Marist. The venue was the Ulster Performing Arts Center, a neoclassical theater that felt properly intimate and presentable for Father John Misty’s music. 

Father John Misty, the stage name of musician Josh Tillman, has been one of the seminal voices in indie rock for the past decade. Beginning in 2003 with an unsuccessful solo career spanning eight albums under the J. Tillman name – which he dismissively labeled “sad bastard music” – he eventually found success drumming for Fleet Foxes from 2008 until 2012. 

Since his 2012 debut, “Fear Fun,” Father John Misty has been a critical darling, known for his swooningly romantic explorations, like his 2014 album “I Love You, Honeybear,” and his sardonic introspection seen in droves on 2017’s “Pure Comedy.” 

Explaining the man behind the moniker of Father John Misty is hard. Tillman is both wholeheartedly vulnerable yet strangely enigmatic – with his eloquent lyrical skill wrapping his artistry together. Tillman’s lyrics span from the strikingly political to the indescribably lush, while his songs range from chronicles of societal collapse to pained break-up ballads and drug-fueled Hollywood benders. 

In Nov. 2024, he released his sixth album, “Mahashmashana.” Following the jazzy, old-timey “Chloë and the Next 20th Century” in 2022, “Mahashmashana” is Tillman’s most grandiose, psychedelic and mature work to date. 

The album opens with its epic self-titled track, a staggering nine-minute piece that encapsulates mahashmashana, a Hindu term meaning “great cremation ground.” Tillman hasn’t avoided complex instrumentation in past albums, but “Mahashmashana” embraces more jazz and funk undertones. This influence is evident in the rip-roaring blast of “She Cleans Up” and the 70s-inspired cautionary tale of “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All.”

However, Tillman’s exemplary ballads are still present with songs “Being You” and “Summer’s Gone” – paired with an opulent, grand symphony of string instruments and woodwinds. 

With a phenomenal album of eight new songs, Father John Misty’s Hudson Valley stop was a rare opportunity for Marist students — and many jumped at the opportunity.

“I have been listening to him since 2017 and have been waiting forever to see him on tour, but I just could never make it,” said Kiersten Buckley ‘25 in an email. However, once she saw he was performing locally, she quickly got tickets. “I had been looking forward to this concert for a while, and it was so worth it.” 

Tillman’s strong physical appearance – sporting an impressive beard and flowing hair, essentially resembling a rugged Jim Morrison – enhanced his powerful stage presence. However, his humor between songs, for example, shouting out to all “29-year-old alcoholic men” in the crowd, shows that Tillman has an obvious sense of awareness.  

His humor extended to his merchandise, which was the most wonderfully stupid sight all attendees saw at the venue. Surprisingly, Tillman was selling collaborative “Neon Genesis Evangelion” themed merchandise. “I like how the musician, who is someone the complete opposite of any anime, would have an anime shirt,” said Ben Bucher ‘25. 

The performance was acclaimed by Marist students. “As a frequent concert-goer, I thought Father John Misty was an amazing performer. He sang ‘I Love You, Honeybear’ and ‘Mr. Tillman,’ two of my favorite songs which I have loved for years,” said Buckley. 

“I thought the performance was great, [Tillman’s] a very talented lyricist and musician,” explained Bucher. “I love his new album, he’s really energetic about it, there’s a lot of passion.”

Both Juliann Bianco ‘25 and Luke Walters ‘25 attended the show together, once again noting Tillman’s great musicianship. Though more casual listeners, they noted that the venue’s proximity piqued their interest in attending. “I’m a passive fan, I only know a few songs…[however] it was close, I love concerts and it was really fun,” explained Bianco. 

Compared to the long treks needed for New York City concerts, the experience was even better for Marist students because of the closeness of the show. “It’s a trip,” said Walters regarding going to concerts in the city, “…and a financial investment,” added Bianco.

“I loved going to a local concert. It was much more relaxed than concerts in New York City and much easier to get to,” said Buckley. “I was home and in bed before midnight, which is unheard of for concerts in the city.” 

So why are larger artists like Father John Misty rare in the Hudson Valley? Simply put, the proximity to New York City makes it less appealing for artists to deviate from the Boston-NYC-Philadelphia touring path.

However, that isn’t to say that the Hudson Valley isn’t home to worthy venues. There’s the Tarrytown Music Hall, the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, Tubby’s in Kingston, the Bardavon in Poughkeepsie and many more. Nevertheless, these venues are often home to smaller artists.

Marist students should support local theaters in the Hudson Valley, and artists like Father John Misty highlight the multitude — and fragility — of these venues.

The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, which once hosted legends like David Bowie and Bob Dylan, ceased operations in Oct. 2023. Fortunately, it has recently been announced that the building will reopen as an arts career academy. 

In a post-COVID world, there is an essentialness in supporting local theaters to ensure that they stay open for future generations. Meanwhile, larger artists should consider going off the beaten path of major city touring for less urban fans – or just curious locals – and to support a region’s music scene.

“I am very surprised that artists don’t often come to the Hudson Valley since this venue was so beautiful, and it was obvious everyone had a great time,” Buckley explained. “I would love it if artists stopped in the Hudson Valley more often, and I would surely go to more shows if that was the case.” 

Ultimately, this benefits both artists and local music fans — whether newcomers or devoted followers. Tillman had no trouble selling out the Ulster Performing Arts Center, so why don’t more artists give the Hudson Valley a chance?

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