Father John Misty @ Guild of Students, 16 July

There are high expectations steeped upon Josh Tillman following the universal critical acclaim of I Love You, Honeybear, his second album under the Father John Misty moniker. For the sweltering mass gathered in the steamy-warm Guild, he delivers – though not always as expected. 

The set darts between the hushed and devastating Townes Van Zandt-esque Funtimes In Babylon, the hot soulful hit and Harrison guitars of When You’re Smiling and Astride Me, and the pure orchestration and unconventional lyrics of the likes of I Love You, Honeybear and Chateau Lobby #4 (which is carried well without the flourishes of brass that alight the recorded version).

With the strength of his voice, the literary lyrics and the extent of his showmanship, it’s a little like Scott Walker paying homage to Jacques Brel with an added Southern Gentleman pinch, a shake or two of Jagger circa 1972, and a good dose of 21st century hipsterism. But that being said, Tillman remains elusive, difficult to pigeonhole, and isn’t too interested in audience interaction.

Bored In The USA makes for an especially tender moment, with the crowd dutifully filling in for the recorded version's canned laughter, as Misty delivers his ironic punchlines in trademark honey-topped, bourbon-smooth voice. Two of the album's faster-paced numbers come in quick succession near the very end of the set: the metallic churnings of True Affection are extended in a longer breakdown where the former Fleet Fox takes the opportunity to fully freak out, dancing against different hues of pink, and the urgent, serrated chaos of Ideal Husband sees him adopt some elastic Iggy Pop posturings.

He closes with the quiet beauty and vulnerability of I Went To The Store One Day, which details the day he met his wife, and their imagined future. Navigating the trickiness of writing about something as deeply personal yet universal as love, he pirouettes perfectly while a room full of strangers sings along to his devotion.