Josh Tillman, aka Father John Misty, former drummer of Fleet Foxes, played a brilliantly divisive set last night at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. Opener Har Mar Superstar, the alter ego of Ron Jeremy look-alike Sean Tillmann, definitely kept our attention with his half-serious, half-comedic take on R&B. While his set featured a complete strip down to his underwear, Har Mar Superstar actually proved to be a capable song-writer. Coupled with Josh Tillman’s live drums, the set was something I’d recommend checking out if you can.

After a short break, J. Tillman’s Father John Misty entered the stage with a backing band, carrying a smart phone and a bottle of Maker’s Mark bourbon. Between songs, Tillman mockingly tweeted from his phone, following up with sarcastic, yet philosophical, anecdotes concerning the superfluous nature of digital communications. He did so between each and every song, and even during songs, holding the mic with his chin and shoulder to tweet while he sang. One frustrated audience member shouted “You’re album’s not free!” Tillman quickly replied, “At least I believe in my music.”

Tillman’s spastic antics during several moments of set closer “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” found him on the stage floor in an out-of-body experience, and it was the stuff of legend. His “I don’t give a fuck” attitude beckoned the likes of Jim Morrison and Iggy Pop. Although he fucked with the audience frequently throughout the show with razor sharp sarcasm, it’s rare to find an artist lose himself in the set and quickly recover to a professional persona. Tillman even gave the audience a pseudo-apology, thanking them for letting him pull his antics but explaining that Brooklynites should have learned to expect such commentaries by now. Show highlights, of course, included the closing “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” performance, but “Only Son of a Ladiesman,” which Tillman player recently on Letterman, and “Nancy From Now On” were equally engaging. Tillman’s current persona is something to be witnessed live. Father John Misty will undoubtedly join our list of favorite shows of 2012.