The Head and the Heart in Madison 2023

21 Aug, 2023 Mosie Hillis Concert Reviews, Folk, Indie, Rock

THATH - Photo credit: Mosie Hillis

Every Shade of Blue Tour 2023

On August 21st, The Head and the Heart returned to The Sylvee in Madison, Wisconsin. It was the first of their two-night residency with Father John Misty and Miya Folick. The indie folk group has commented in the past that Madison holds a special place in their hearts. Looking around at the sold-out show as the lights dimmed, it could also be said that The Head and the Heart holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Madison.

Miya Folick

American singer-songwriter Miya Folick started out the evening. Hailing from California, Folick has been making music since 2015. With a voice that is reminiscent of Jewel, Miya Folick is definitely a rising icon in the eyes of the zillenial. She opened the night and mesmerized the audience with a vulnerable performance, only her guitar and keyboardist on stage with her. To keep up with her music and tour news, check out: www.miyafolick.com

Father John Misty

Joshua Tillman, known by his stage name Father John Misty, is an American singer-songwriter from Maryland. Prior to beginning to create music under the Father John Misty moniker, Tillman put out more serious music under his first initial and last name. After a stint as a drummer with Fleet Foxes while continuing his solo career, Tillman decided to focus entirely on the Father John Misty project. He signed with Sup Pop Records in 2012 and put out his first studio album, Fear Fun. Since that time, Father John Misty has released four additional studio albums, being nominated for and winning numerous awards.

Coming out onto a stage with moody, dark lighting, Father John Misty captivated the audience from start to finish with his eccentric performance style and satirical lyrics. Together with his nine-piece band, he did a fabulous job of getting the audience excited for The Head and the Heart. To keep up with the latest Father John Misty news and catch him on tour, check out: www.fatherjohnmisty.com

The Head and the Heart

Entering the stage to deafening cheers, the six-piece indie folk band The Head and the Heart started their set energetically, playing a variety of songs from their discography, intermixed with a few brief stories about the origins of some songs.

The band spoke about Jonathan Russell at the time of writing hit song “Lost In My Mind” when he was twenty-four in Seattle, remarking that he had bought the (besequined Bulls) pants he was wearing on stage around the same time. Guitarist and singer Matt Gervais engaged with the crowd exuberantly all night long, running into the pit with his microphone (stand and all) encouraging the audience to sing along and clap with the beat. At one point, the group even referenced their shows at The Sylvee last year, mentioning that they had been in Madison pretty recently and getting buffeted by cheers when they asked who from the crowd had been at those shows too.

For me, with their heartfelt lyrics and beautifully intricate harmonies, The Head and the Heart will always be a don’t-miss experience. They are one of the best groups that I have ever seen perform and if they are headed to a city near you soon, you should absolutely not miss out.