Father John Misty is the voice of our generation

This weekend I saw Destroyer and Father John Misty at Massey Hall, along with a couple other thousand rabid fans in Toronto.

His new album, Mahashmashana, is magnificent. While it may be somewhat less sexually self-indulgent and drug-laden than previous albums like Fear Fun and I Love You, Honeybear, the same themes weave their way through its overarching narrative. And yet, Mahashmashana is even more witty and socially observant than all of its predecessors.

Father John Misty is the voice of our generation, the eldest millennial whose eloquent and insightful point of view is staring into the abyss of middle age, parenthood and failing liberal democracies alongside us, talking us through the trip.

In an era when people have a hard time putting their phones down, Josh Tillman can hold a whole theatre at attention and translate universal life experiences in a way that has escaped most artists.

He is the Springsteen of the 80's babies, after the wall of our illusions about life and love fell, reflecting back the absurdity of modernity and American life with a permissive wink.

Mahashashana is the ultimate ego death and burial ground for our illusions of self. She is patient, the act of creation. The ashes keep us warm as we remake ourselves in a new image.

Of all of the concerts I have dragged (or gently asked) my husband to over the past fifteen years, he said this was his favourite. Even though I have been playing Father John Misty in the background of our lives for years, he needed to witness the greatness in the flesh to truly understand.

He's now a convert. How could he not be?

Thank you Josh Tillman. You are a God among men, a self-deprecating lyrical genius, and the rockstar we needed.

You're welcome back anytime. And if you ever got a residency in Vegas, we'd probably pay for that too.

Father John Misty has released additional tour dates this summer with Lucinda Williams and Hamilton Leithauser, ending in Vancouver.

If you missed the show, or you want to relive it, check out the playlist below.