Blue Shirt Charlie “Misty”
“Misty” is the kind of song that sink you into a moment at the same time taking you on a journey. In its slow brewing of rippling guitar soundscapes, outside noises and turmoils are stripped away. You feel your heartbeat slow down, and your thoughts become clear, your heart begins to really feel and breathe. In this intimate, almost personal setting, Blue Shirt Charlie takes you to a state between bleak and sultry, between on the road and gazing into the campfire.
The Eagles lives in “Misty,” and so is the era of classics. The phantoms of so many iconic songs flash through your ears, but it’s not really them that makes you tear up, it’s the weight of powerful, life-soaked lyrics that stir something inside you. A truth and a perspective. It tells the story of a cynical person, who has given up on love stumble upon a kindred spirit. It’s about gratitude with the unescapable undertone of life’s harshness and tender blessing.
“Misty” gives you goosebumps. Blue Shirt Charlie makes the kind of music that still echos in your ears even when it ends. The state it invites you to, and the conversations it sparks doesn’t end when the song ends. It lives on, and you know, you can always come back to this moment when you need a little grounding or soul-searching. Somehow there are answers in Blue Shirt Charlie’s music even though the questions are not always visible.
Punk Head: I love the genuineness in the sound and storytelling of "Misty." Tell us more about the track. Did the story find you or the other way around?
Blue Shirt Charlie: The narrator in “Misty” is somebody who quit—gave up on finding a meaningful relationship connection. When we catch up with them, they’re grateful—stunned—to wander into a kindred spirit. Maybe love is indifferent to whether or not you think you deserve it. One of Richie’s lyrical strengths is conveying a lot of narrative information in a few words—“You were shy and strong like you had nothing to prove.” I love that line—it’s about the partner, but shines a light on the narrator’s insecurities and maybe disillusionment with our photoshopped, auto-tuned world.
PH: What do you like the best about this track?
Blue Shirt Charlie: We love its slow burn. Our early, discarded takes kept escalating the music into a big, bold ending. It took a lot of restraint to keep it linear, but that kept the mood intact. Because the song’s about gratitude—that’s a pretty level emotional state—so maybe keep the amps at 5 and most of the cymbals in the van.
PH: What is your creative vision as a band?
Blue Shirt Charlie: We let the songs do the driving. I mean…we’d prefer to write “Hotel California,” but if all we can come up with is like “Mambo Number 5,” we’ll still try and make you listen to it.
PH: Who are your biggest inspirations?
Blue Shirt Charlie: First, U2’s classic The Joshua Tree. The outro of “With or Without You” captures the beauty, sadness, glory, grit and speechless longing that this album is soaked in. The soaring chorus and The Edge’s jubilant digital delay on "Where the Streets Have No Name.” The pulsing bass and desperate kick of “Exit." All this and more is why this album kept me on the planet as a teen. Also—dang—The Old 97’s…turn the lights off and listen to “Bel Air.” Then tell me I’m wrong.
PH: What is the one thing that you’d like your fans to know about you?
Blue Shirt Charlie: There are 100 million songs on Spotify. The fact you spend a couple of minutes connecting with things that rattled around in our brains feels amazing.
