LIVE REVIEW // The London Files: The Misty @ Paper Dress Vintage
In search of London’s latest and happening band, my friends and I found ourselves back at Paper Dress Vintage –– vintage shop by day, bar and music venue by night, where we have spent many weekends dancing away to the best and the most obscure songs that the 1960s and 1970s had to offer.
On this particular Tuesday, Paper Dress Vintage was hosting a release show for The Misty’s new single “Atlas & the Pyramids”. Looking into the band prior to the show, all of their photos featured the member’s covering their faces, so the mystere had me intrigued.
Supporting band FEZ took the stage first, and if I learned anything that night it was to never underestimate a man in a sweater vest. Their performance did not disappoint the “Tuesday Nighters” crowd dubbed by FEZ’s frontman. Their set started with mellow jazzy tunes that had everyone swaying back and forth. Then in a shocking turn of events, they pumped out fast head-banging beats with sloshy drums and futuristic synths that made me feel like I was launching into space in an epic sci-fi film with an even more epic soundtrack. All accompanied by screaming vocals from said man in a sweater vest.
The band played off one another masterfully, each member's individual talents highlighted as they played in harmony, but the standout performances for me were those of the guitarist and keyboardist. Their hands flitted and flew up, down, and across their respective instruments and their blended sounds created a beautiful otherworldly and psychedelic concoction — and honestly, what more could a girl ask for?
As we waited for the main act, we entertained amongst ourselves the idea of how The Misty could possibly top FEZ’s eclectic and exciting opening.
I am happy to report that they successfully achieved such a feat. Gracing the stage in matching all-black ensembles, they were reminiscent of a modern take on the early Beatles in their leather teddy boy era. Their sound, though, evoked more of a garage rock feel, as if The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys had a baby. However, that’s not to compare and discredit The Misty at all, as the band has charms of their own.
In their live performance of their newest single “Atlas & the Pyramids,” they start with mesmerizing vocals interwoven with gentle guitar riffs that shifted dramatically to a fuller sound as the drum fill took us out of the intro and into the main section of the song. The Misty came to play loud, fast, and dirty, and they wanted everyone to know it. Message received.
As if they had read my mind about how their coordinated outfits reminded me of The Beatles, the next song on their setlist opens up with the familiar and haunting riff of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy).” With guitarist Steve Sherwood on lead vocals for this one, he and the rest of the band perfected the hypnotic sounds in this cover, all topped with a “Yeah!!” at the end that could easily rival Lennon’s guttural scream in the original song.
The Misty’s set ended with their song “Twenty-First Century Pox” in which the band ripped and roared in a display of pure rock and roll and psychedelia. As an avid listener of classic rock by ancient legends, it’s refreshing to see younger faces fronting the modern wave of rock. And if there’s another British Invasion coming in the near future, I want The Misty to be a part of it.
You can keep up with The Misty on Instagram and listen to their new single “Atlas & the Pyramids” on Spotify.