Father John Misty (aka Josh Tillman) was in New York last week to play multiple shows in celebration of the release of his much-anticipated second record I Love You, Honeybear. Out now via Sub Pop, Tillman had been teasing the album for months. In November, the night before the mid-term general elections, he performed Bored in the USA on Letterman with a 22-piece string orchestra (see video below). The timing was definitely premeditated, as the song is a craftily constructed ballad critiquing American middle-class life. After Letterman, Misty released his diatribe “Back in the Gaping Maw of Promotional Correspondence,” which he followed up a couple weeks later with the video for Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins). Then last month came the announcement that he was launching a new digital music streaming service called Streamline Audio Protocol or SAP. If you clicked on through, you found Tillman’s pitch to buy the new record and were treated to a muzaked-version of the songs.

All this pomp certainly kept us wanting more the last few months, and thankfully the record delivers in spades. Produced by Tillman and Jonathan Wilson, mixed by Phil Ek, and mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, I Love You, Honeybear is an autobiographical concept album that was heavily influenced by his recent marriage to Emma. The orchestration is masterful and Tillman’s lyrics are genius. And while the record was just released, Tillman seems quite at home performing many of the new songs live. Bored in the USA and Ideal Husband were definite stand outs during his recent shows. His off-the-cut witticisms may sometimes not hit their mark, but Tillman’s improvised dance moves are always on point. His showmanship seems to take a page out of Jarvis Cocker’s book.

Above and below you can see a photo recap of his shows at The Greene Space (February 11), Rough Trade (February 12) and Bowery Ballroom (February 14). Also below, you can find videos from his appearance at the Greene Space, as well as a list of his upcoming tour dates, which include a show at SummerStage in Central Park in August. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Tour Dates
Feb. 21 – Dublin, IE – Whelans [Sold Out] Feb. 22 – Glasgow, UK – King Tuts [Sold Out] Feb. 23 – Manchester, UK – Gorilla [Sold Out] Feb. 26 – London, UK – Village Underground [Sold Out] Feb. 27 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club [Sold Out] Feb. 28 – Bristol, UK – Thekla [Sold Out] Mar. 03 – Paris, FR – La Maroquinerie
Mar. 04 – Brussels, BE – Botanique – Orangerie
Mar. 05 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
Mar. 07 – Berlin, DE – Heimathafen
Mar. 08 – Hamburg, DE – Nochtspelcher
Mar. 25 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works**
Mar. 26 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse** [Sold Out] Mar. 27 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel** [Sold Out] Mar. 28 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club** [Sold Out] Mar. 31 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club** [Sold Out] Apr. 01 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer** [Sold Out] Apr. 03 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theater** [Sold Out] Apr. 04 – Minneapolis, MN – First Ave** [Sold Out] Apr. 05 – Iowa City, IA – Mission Creek Festival @ The Englert
Apr. 07 – Lawrence, KS – Granada**
Apr. 08 – Omaha, NE – Sokol Auditorium**
Apr. 09 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theater
Apr. 11 – Indio, CA – Coachella [Sold Out] Apr. 13 – Pomona, CA – The Glasshouse [Sold Out] Apr.14 – San Diego, CA – North Park Theatre [Sold Out] Apr. 16 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore [Sold Out] Apr. 17 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore [Sold Out] Apr. 18 – Indio, CA – Coachella [Sold Out] Apr. 22 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater^
Apr. 23 – Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s^
Apr. 24 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s^
Apr. 25 – New Orleans, LA – Civic Theater^
May 16 – Gulf Shores, AL – Hangout Music Festival
May 22 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
May 23- George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
May 24 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom [Sold Out] Jun. 04 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavillion ^^
Jun. 07 – Toronto, ON – Field Trip Festival
Jun. 27 – Killarney, IE – Killarney Food & Music Festival
Aug. 5 – New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage #
Aug. 11 – Oslo, NO – Oya Festival
Aug. 13 – Gothenburg, SE – Way Out West
Aug. 20 – Paredes de Coura, PT – Pauredes de Coura Festival
Aug. 21-23 – Beacon, UK – Green Man Festival
Oct. 24 – Dublin, IE – Vicar Street
Oct. 29 – London, UK – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
* w/ Guy Blakeslee
** w/ King Tuff
^ w/ Luluc
^^ w/ The Decemberists
# w/ Angel Olsen