The beards of Cambridge were out in force on Tuesday night, as Father John Misty brought his sardonic but poignant act to the city. Father John Misty, (otherwise known as Josh Tillman) has arrived back in the UK, touring his latest accomplished album, I Love You Honeybear. It is an album about the erratic nature of being in love, with tales of both joy and tribulation, and Misty’s poignant work of romanticism and cynicism promises to enthuse the crowd in its live format.

Misty’s band fill the stage – they are all shrouded by a mass of beard and hair, fitting the Mumford-esque “folk-rock” stereotype that the self-deprecating Misty mocks in his own music. As the chords to his latest album’s title track begin, Father John Misty saunters out on stage, before running towards the microphone and throwing himself into the song. As a performer, he exudes energy, dropping to his knees in the throes of the song’s chorus. The members of the front row are immediately drawn close as he creates a deep level of intimacy with the audience, making you feel like he only has eyes for you. Father John Misty has reclaimed the dad-dance aesthetic and made it cool. Throughout his set he sashays across the stage, exuding an appeal that seemed to leave everyone at least a little confused about his or her sexuality.

Father John Misty’s material is often humorous, adopting a satirical interpretation of modern romance: the issues of the internet, long-distance relationships and (of course) capitalism. ‘Bored in the USA’ is accompanied by a laugh track, providing the ballad with an almost sadistic element that the audience relishes. At one point, Misty takes a phone from the hands of an audience member, taking the chance to introduce himself to the YouTube viewers who will inevitably watch the video. Father John Misty’s stage demeanour is often a little acerbic, but it all contributes to his power as an entertainer. You find yourself in awe of his effortless suavity, and even if the act can seem a little off-putting, he would definitely be good company on a night out.

Father John Misty’s 2012 debut album Fear Fun is filled with religious imagery, and his own stage name gently points towards the holy. It therefore seems fitting that, as Father John Misty performs, it is not unlike he is having some kind of religious experience. At moments it is as if he suffers through the passion of his own performance. As he performs the manic ‘The Ideal Husband’, he falls once again to his knees, screaming into the crowd. That said, his performance style adapts to his diverse repertoire. When he in turn performs the tender acoustic ballad ‘I Went To the Store One Day’, he sustains the same level of intensity, but this time through his sudden vulnerability.

Ending with ‘Everyman Needs A Companion’ (after truly ripping apart an unfortunate heckler who requested Johnny Cash), Misty seemed to create a real relationship with the audience, and they were all truly infatuated. He is a strikingly versatile and dynamic performer, and most impressively he is able to do both his brilliant albums justice. Father John Misty in concert is a spectacle, and he embraces the humour and passion of his music, creating an absolutely unmissable live performance.