I had been trying to see The Beths for a couple years, but either I was always working when they were playing or their tour dates were nowhere near where I live, but lo and behold, they scheduled a date in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a mere one-and-half-hour drive from my house, at Bell’s Eccentric Café.
It turned out not only to be my first time seeing The Beths, but also the first show I saw at Bell’s beer garden stage. I’d been to multiple shows at Bell’s, but had never been in the garden and had no idea it was so spacious. I also didn’t realize that the town’s Metro train tracks ran behind the stage area, and neither did the band and a lot of other people, until two trains went past during The Beths’ set.
Not only was the size of the garden a delightful surprise, but so was the age range of the crowd. It was an all-ages show, and I saw people ranging from a boy who was barely thirteen to a man in his seventies there. A lot of people were sporting Beths t-shirts from previous tours, and the crowd clearly loved them and were happy they’d come all the way from New Zealand.
First up, however were Disq from Madison, Wisconsin. They played an energetic mix of noise rock, post punk, and no-wave and were having a great time. I didn’t get to see their whole set, thanks to road construction delaying me a bit, but what I saw and heard was loud and frantic.
Disq
The Beths came out in the dark, complete with a giant inflatable fish, and opened with the title track of their debut album Future Me Hates Me, and the crowd was instantly happy. The Beths are a fun band. Their love of playing, and their camaraderie, is immediately apparent, and that energy races through the audience.
They played a fun set, including fun hits like “Whatever” and “Dying to Believe,” secretly sad songs like “Expert in a Dying Field” and “Best Left,” and lovely love songs like “Your Side” and “When You Know You Know.”
“Whatever, yeah, whatever.”
“We love you!” was a common shout from the crowd, and The Beths returned the love for the whole set, and did a lot of shredding. It’s easy to focus on Elizabeth Stokes‘ lyrics and miss how well the whole band plays. They could easily cut a shoegaze album if they wanted – and I hope they do.
It was a fun night with nice late summer weather and good vibes all around thanks to The Beths bringing the love.
The Beths — “one of the greatest indie-rock bands of their time” (Rolling Stone) — announce Expert In A Dying Field (Deluxe), out September 15th on Carpark Records, and present the new single, “I Told You That I Was Afraid (Acoustic).” Expert In A Dying Field (Deluxe) expands upon the brilliance of The Beths’ acclaimed 2022 album, “another collection of tunes that cements their status as one of the great guitar-pop bands of this present moment” (Stereogum), with three demos, two acoustic renditions, and the inclusion of previously shared standalone singles “A Real Thing” and “Watching The Credits.” The latter has already been deemed one of 2023’s best songs by Rolling Stone and Paste, who praised “Watching The Credits” as “a terrific, heat-seeking missile of glittering guitars and steadfast percussion work” that “speaks to how they endure as one of the most exciting rock bands in the world right now.”
Later this week, The Beths (and their beloved inflatable fish) will take to the U.K.for a string of select festivals and headline dates. Shortly after, they will return to North America for a full, almost entirely sold out tour including dates supporting The National, Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service. The Beths will also headline three nights at Los Angeles’ Lodge Room (surrounding their sold out show at the Hollywood Bowl supporting Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service), plus three nights at New York’s Music Hall of Williamsburg. Full dates are listed below and tickets are on sale now.
Expert In A Dying Field, the third studio album from The Beths, was released to a wealth of critical praise, and was named one of 2022’s best releases by the likes of Pitchfork, The Ringer, Stereogum and more. Surrounding its release, The Beths were profiled by Rolling Stone, Document Journal, The Big Takeoverand more, and made their U.S. television debuton CBS Saturday Morning. The Beths are undeniably one of the most exciting indie rock bands to emerge in recent memory.
Today, The Beths present their new single, “Watching The Credits,” and unveil their incredible Tiny Desk Concert, proving once again that they are “one of the greatest indie-rock bands of their time” (Rolling Stone). “Watching The Credits” is a terrific power pop anthem recorded during the sessions of Expert In A Dying Field, the New Zealand quartet’s acclaimed 2022 album. Born out of songwriter Elizabeth Stokes’ habit of learning everything about movies without actually watching them, “Watching The Credits” is Stokes’ imaginary view from the director’s seat. Their accompanying NPR Tiny Desk performance downsizes their beloved live performance while maintaining their signature thrilling energy.
The Beths also announce more US dates around their Bonnaroo and Newport Folk Festival appearances, bringing their incredible set (and beloved inflatable fish) to many cities for the first time. The Beths’ summer and fall dates include two nights at Denver’s Mission Ballroom, three nights at Los Angeles’ Lodge Room (surrounding their sold out show at the Hollywood Bowl supporting Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service), plus three nights at New York’s Music Hall of Williamsburg. Full dates are listed below and general on-sale for new dates begins Friday, March 31st at 10am local time.
Expert In A Dying Field, the third studio album from The Beths, was released to a wealth of critical praise, and was named one of 2022’s best releases by the likes of Pitchfork, The Ringer, and Stereogum, who praised it as “another collection of tunes that cements their status as one of the great guitar-pop bands of this present moment.” Surrounding its release, The Beths were profiled by Rolling Stone, Document Journal, The Big Takeover and more, and made their US television debut on CBS Saturday Morning. With a full, almost entirely sold out North American tour already under their belt, and supporting slots for The National, Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service on the horizon, The Beths are undeniably one of the most exciting indie rock bands to emerge in recent memory.
The Beths Tour Dates (New Dates In Bold) Wed. May 24 – Bristol, UK @ SWX Thu. May 25 – London, UK @ Electric Brixton Fri. May 26 – Walton-on-Trent, UK @ Bearded Theory Festival Sat. May 27 – Leeds, UK @ Live at Leeds in the Park Sun. May 28 – Manchester, UK @ New Century Tue. May 30 – Glasgow, UK @ The Garage Wed. May 31 – Dublin, IE @ Whelan’s Fri. June 2 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound Festival Sat. June 3 – Ellerdorf, DE @ Wilwarin Festival Sun. June 4 – Berlin, DE @ Frannz Club Mon. June 5 – Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefählrich Tue. June 6 – Cologne, DE @ Gebäude 9 Thu. June 8 – Porto, PT @ Primavera Sound Festival Fri. June 9 – Madrid, ES @ Primavera Sound Festival Sat. June 10 – Dijon, FR @ VYV Festival Mon. June 12 – Nantes, FR @ Stereolux Tue. June 13 – Paris, FR @ Petit Bain Wed. June 14 – Lille, FR @ Aéronef Fri. June 16 – Kansas City, MO @ Boulevardia Festival Sat. June 17 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival Sun. June 18 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn Tue. June 20 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham Wed. June 21 – Tampa, FL @ Crowbar Thu. June 22 – Gainesville, FL @ High Dive Fri. July 14 – Utrecht, NL @ Ekko Sat. July 15 – Rotterdam, NL @ Rotown Sun. July 16 – Nijmegen, NL @ Valkhof Festival Tue. July 18 – Liverpool, UK @ Hangar 34 Wed. July 19 – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK @ Boiler Shop Fri. July 21 – Southwold, UK @ Latitude Festival Sat. July 22 – Steventon, UK @ Truck Festival Sun. July 23 – Sheffield, UK @ Tramlines Festival Fri. July 28 – Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival Sat. July 29 – Omaha, NE @ Maha Festival Tue. Aug. 1 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia * [SOLD OUT] Wed. Aug. 2 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met Philadelphia * Thu. Aug. 3 – New Haven, CT @ Westville Music Bowl * Fri. Aug. 4 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr Smalls Theatre Sat. Aug. 5 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom & Tavern Mon. Aug. 7 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore * Tue. Aug. 8 – Madison, WI @ The Sylvee * Wed. Aug. 9 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Armory * Fri. Aug. 11 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom * [SOLD OUT] Sat. Aug. 12 – Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom * Tue. Aug. 15 – Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater * Wed. Aug. 16 – Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park Thu. Aug. 17 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle Fri. Aug. 18 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage Sat. Aug. 19 – Quincy, MA @ In Between Days Festival Mon. Aug. 21 – Cincinnati, OH @ Woodward Theater Tue. Aug. 22 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Cafe Sun. Aug. 27 – Seattle, WA @ THING Sat. Sep. 30 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater ^ Sun. Oct. 1 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Texas Trust CU Theatre ^ Tue. Oct. 3 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre ^ [SOLD OUT] Wed. Oct. 4 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas ^ [SOLD OUT] Fri. Oct. 6 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena ^ [SOLD OUT] Sat. Oct. 7 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena ^ [SOLD OUT] Mon. Oct. 9 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre ^ [SOLD OUT] Tue. Oct. 10 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre ^ [SOLD OUT] Wed. Oct. 11 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre ^ [SOLD OUT] Thu. Oct. 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Fri. Oct. 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl ^ [SOLD OUT] Sat. Oct. 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Sun. Oct. 15 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room Tue. Oct. 17 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg Wed. Oct. 18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg Thu. Oct. 19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* w/ The National ^ w/ Death Cab For Cutie & The Postal Service
According to the liner notes of The Beths‘ new album, Expert in a Dying Field, the theme of the album can be summed up in one question: “What do you do with how intimately versed you’ve become in a person, once they’re gone from your life?”
As a widower of nearly a year, I can relate to that. We all can at some point or another, be it a spouse, a lover, a friend, a child who leaves for college, a pet, a coworker, or even a trusted neighbor. The album is a lovely, and rocking, story crafted lyrically by Elizabeth Stokes (guitar and lead vocals) and her bandmates, Tristan Deck (drums), Jonathan Pierce (lead guitar and keyboards), and Benjamin Sinclair (bass).
“Can we erase our history? It isn’t as easy as this,” Stokes sings on the opening title track. It’s not. Letting go of that history is hard, but the risk of holding onto it is being dragged to death. The song has a slight melancholy to it, but also a lot of hope. “Knees Deep” is, after all, about jumping into something new with both feet and braving the risks of adventure (and love). Pierce’s guitar fuzzes out on “Silence Is Golden” – a nice, ironic touch.
“Don’t cry. I’m driving all night to be by your side,” Stokes sings on the lovely “Your Side.” To feel this kind of love, where you’re willing to drive cross-state or even cross-country for even just a few hours with someone, is a gift to be treasured. “It’s been quite a year,” The Beths sing on “I Want to Listen.” That’s a mild way of putting it for certain, but they encourage us to reach out to each other to help us all heal.
“Head in the Clouds” is a great rocker, with Deck’s drums hitting hard for the seats in the back of the auditorium. “Best Left” continues the rocking, even as Stokes sings about her being miserable and feeling she’s “best left to rot.” “Change in the Weather” has her feeling better, and “When You Know You Know” has her thinking that love might still be in the cards for her, and for all of us.
Stokes and the rest of the band have a bit of an angry edge on “A Passing Rain” – in which Stokes calls out someone for sticking around to seemingly just make her like worse. I love the way they jump back and forth between silence and breakneck rhythms on “I Told You That I Was Afraid.” “2am” has Stokes wondering if she could return to a simpler time with a lover, but knowing that moment, like all moments in time, is already gone…and yet it still exists in the present.
The whole album is like this – a look back at the past through the lens of the present, which is truly the only way to see it since the past took place in the present. Expert in a Dying Field is a bit of a Zen koan, a lesson on letting go or being dragged.
The Beths present the new single, “Knees Deep,” from their forthcoming album, Expert In A Dying Field, out September 16th on Carpark Records, and announce a 2023 North American headline tour. Expert In A Dying Field is a capsule of The Beths’ most electrifying and exciting output, a full spectrum of their sonic capabilities. “Knees Deep” was a last minute addition to the record and features one of Expert In A Dying Field’s best guitar lines, courtesy of guitarist Jonathan Pearce.
Liz Stokes adds: “I’m the kind of person who wants to go swimming, but takes like ten minutes to get all the way into the cold water, slowly and painfully. I hate this about myself, and am kind of envious of people who can just jump straight in the deep end. In a shocking twist, this is also a metaphor?! For how I wish I was the kind of person who was brave and decisive instead of cautious and scared.”
Expert In A Dying Field, the third LP from the New Zealand quartet The Beths, houses 12 jewels of tight, guitar-heavy songs that worm their way into your head, an incandescent collision of power-pop and skuzz. With Expert, The Beths wanted to make an album meant to be experienced live, for both the listeners and themselves. They wanted it to be fun – to hear, to play – in spite of the prickling anxiety throughout the lyrics, the fear of change and struggle to cope. Expert is an extension of the same sonic palette the band has built across their catalog, pop hooks embedded in incisive indie rock.
The Beths Tour Dates (Tickets available atthebeths.com) (new dates in bold) Sat. Aug. 20 – Covington, KY (Cincinnati) @ Madison Live Mon. Aug. 22 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall Tue. Aug. 23 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry Thu. Aug. 25 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar Fri. Aug. 26 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes Sat. Aug. 27 – Portland, ME @ Portland House of Music Sun. Aug. 28 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB Wed. Aug. 31 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall Thu. Sep. 1 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar Thu. Sep. 15 – Melbourne, AU @ 170 Russell Fri. Sep. 16 – Sydney, AU @ Metro Theatre Sat. Sep. 17 – Brisbane, AU @ The Triffid Tue. Sep. 20 – Adelaide, AU @ The Gov Wed. Sep. 21 – Perth, AU @ Magnet House Fri. Sep. 23 – Wellington, NZ @ Opera House Sat. Sep. 24 – Nelson, NZ @ Theatre Royal Fri. Sep. 30 – Christchurch, NZ @ James Hay Theatre Sat. Oct. 1 – Dunedin, NZ @ The Glenroy Fri. Oct. 7 – Auckland, NZ @ Auckland Town Hall Thu. Feb. 16 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom Fri. Feb. 17 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos Wed. Feb. 22 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue Fri. Feb. 24 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall Sun. Feb. 26 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre Tue. Feb. 28 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair Thu. Mar. 2 – New York, NY @ Brooklyn Steel Fri. Mar. 3 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer Sat. Mar. 4 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club Mon. Mar. 6 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel Tue. Mar. 7 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade – Heaven Wed. Mar. 8 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl Fri. Mar. 10 – Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn Sat. Mar. 11 – Dallas, TX @ Tulips Tue. Mar. 14 – Denver, CO @ Summit Thu. Mar. 16 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom Fri. Mar. 17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Sat. Mar. 18 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
The Beths share the new single/video, “Expert In A Dying Field,” from their new album, Expert In A Dying Field, out September 16th on Carpark Records. “Expert In A Dying Field” introduces the thesis for the record: “How does it feel to be an expert in a dying field? How do you know it’s over when you can’t let go?” Elizabeth Stokes sings. The question hangs in the air: what do you do with how intimately versed you’ve become in a person, once they’re gone from your life? “Love is learned over time ‘till you’re an expert in a dying field.”
“I really do believe that love is learned over time,” explains Stokes. “In the course of knowing a person you accumulate so much information: their favorite movies, how they take their tea, how to make them laugh, how that makes you feel. And when relationships between people change, or end, all that knowledge doesn’t just disappear. The phrase ‘Expert in a Dying Field’ had been floating around my head for a few years, I was glad to finally capture it when writing this tune.”
Densely littered with melodic hooks and the incisive phrasing that Stokes has become known for, the driving verses of “Expert In A Dying Field” intentionally contrast with a restrained, delicate chorus. Here, the stripped-back instrumentation acutely hones in on Stokes’ emotive vocals. The accompanying video, directed by Frances Carter, honors this intimacy and vulnerability. Carefully placed relics and symbolic totems strewn about a charming, white-washed home evoke a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality. While Stokes sings directly to the camera, her bandmates play their instruments and sing backing vocals in various parts of the home, surrounded by treasures laden with meaning and memory. It’s an evocative series of vignettes that perfectly match the song’s bittersweet themes and culminates in a joyful, heart-stirring full band performance that shows off The Beths’ unparallelled four-part vocal harmonies.
On Expert In A Dying Field, Stokes’ songwriting positions her somewhere between novelist and documentarian. Across 12 tight, guitar-heavy jewels, Stokes traverses the autobiographical, but also presents character sketches of relationships – platonic, familial, romantic – and more importantly, their aftermaths.
Expert In A Dying Field is an incandescent collision of power-pop and skuzz, filled with songs that worm their way into your head. With Expert, The Beths wanted to make an album meant to be experienced live, for both the listeners and themselves. They wanted it to be fun — to hear, to play — in spite of the prickling anxiety throughout the lyrics, the fear of change and struggle to cope. Expert is an extension of the same sonic palette the band has built across their catalog, pop hooks embedded in incisive indie rock.
Tickets available from thebeths.com Sun. Jul. 24 – Seattle, WA @ Capitol Hill Block Party Mon. Jul. 25 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret Fri. Jul. 29 – Brooklyn, NY @ BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival Sun. Jul. 31 – Denver, CO @ UMS – The Underground Music Showcase Tue. Aug. 2 – San Diego, CA @ Belly Up Tavern Wed. Aug. 3 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory Thu. Aug. 4 – Santa Barbara, CA @ SoHo Restaurant & Music Club Fri. Aug. 5 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Music Festival Sun. Aug. 7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge Wed. Aug. 10 – Davenport, IA @ Raccoon Motel Thu. Aug. 11 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop Sat. Aug. 13 – North Adams, MA @ Here and There Festival, Mass MoCA Sun. Aug. 14 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
Mon. Aug. 15 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag Tue. Aug. 16 – Chicago, IL @ Here and There Festival, Salt Shed Thu. Aug. 18 – St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill Fri. Aug. 19 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi Sat. Aug. 20 – Covington, KY (Cincinnati) @ Madison Live Mon. Aug. 22 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall Tue. Aug. 23 – Richmond, VA @ The Broadberry Thu. Aug. 25 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar Fri. Aug. 26 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes Sat. Aug. 27 – Portland, ME @ Portland House of Music & Events Sun. Aug. 28 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz PDB Wed. Aug. 31 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall Thu. Sep. 1 – Columbus, OH @ A&R Music Bar Thu. Sep. 15 – Melbourne, AU @ 170 Russell Fri. Sep. 16 – Sydney, AU @ Metro Theatre Sat. Sep. 17 – Brisbane, AU @ The Triffid Tue. Sep. 20 – Adelaide, AU @ The Gov Wed. Sep. 21 – Perth, AU @ Magnet House
Fri. Sep. 23 – Wellington, NZ @ Opera House Sat. Sep. 24 – Nelson, NZ @ Theatre Royal Fri. Sep. 30 – Christchurch, NZ @ James Hay Theatre Sat. Oct. 1 – Dunedin, NZ @ The Glenroy Fri. Oct. 7 – Auckland, NZ @ Auckland Town Hall
The Beths return with “A Real Thing,” their first new song since the release of 2020’s Jump Rope Gazers. “A Real Thing” comes as The Beths begin their long-awaited North American headline tour, which has been rescheduled twice due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Last year, the band released Auckland, New Zealand, 2020, a live concert recording that showcased the infectious energy The Beths bring to every performance, and what audiences have been so dearly missing.
“‘A Real Thing’ is a kind of anxiety dream. It’s a bit muddled, a bit frantic, a bit sinister,” says lead singer Liz Stokes. “It’s what came out of my guitar in late 2020, post NZ election (and U.S. election). I was limply reaching for optimism about the future, but was really just marinating in dread.” Ultimately playing more apocalyptic scenarios of climate change in her head, Stokes’ lyrics include specific references to how New Zealand has dealt with sea level rise in the past: “In NZ people sometimes use tyres and cement to build retaining walls by the water, to try to stop the land being eroded away as the sea encroaches. It doesn’t really work.” It’s a poignant image for a band that has had to navigate the constant changes in our present moment.
The deep bond between Stokes, lead guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck, has allowed them to overcome challenging circumstances and that’s present in the upbeat urgency of “A Real Thing.” It’s palpable from the very start and paired with the band’s signature bright, raucous guitar hooks and cooing harmonies; the song races and soars, much like an increasing heart rate. The Beths’ infectious and insightful songwriting on “A Real Thing” is an exciting marker of more excellent work to come, and the perfect way to mark the beginning of tour.
This delightful live album from The Beths is full of joy. The band was over the moon, the crowd was ecstatic, and daring to open with “I’m Not Getting Excited” was a gutsy move when everyone in the place was bursting with energy.
Acid Dad were a band I’d heard a lot about, yet didn’t know much about them. I caught them live about an hour from my house and was sold within two songs. Take It from the Dead is a fine psych-rock record with touches of surf that make it a standout.
Ty Segall added a bunch of synths and electronic beats to his already heavy fuzz rock, and the result, Harmonizer, was impressive. He showed his love for krautrock and even dance rock, and that he could pull off both genres as easily as psych jams.
Easily one of the loveliest and sexiest albums of 2022, Till I Start Speaking is a great mix of Morly’s vocals, electro-beats, and synths. I hadn’t heard of Morly until this record was sent to me, and it was a pleasant discovery.
Speaking of lovely records, here’s another one. Bossa nova, disco, ambient, and house all merge together for an album as pretty and trippy as its cover.
Matching with an accompanying concert film, The Beths‘ Auckland, New Zealand, 2020captures the band’s performance at Auckland Town Hall during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in one of the few countries that took the pandemic seriously at the time and was still able to hold live music events. The band’s joy at performing in front of a home crowd, and after so long of not being able to do so, is heard in every note – as is the bliss of the crowd.
The cheers before the opener of “I’m Not Getting Excited” are infectious, as is the opening guitar riff from Jonathan Pearce as Elizabeth Stokes actually encourages the audience to get so excited that their heads might explode. “Great No One” rocks and rolls straight into “Whatever” – with the whole crowd yelling / singing the title (and pretty much everything else) along with the band. “It’s not just the dawn that breaks,” Stokes sings on the sizzling “Mars (The God of War)” – a song about wishing she could move beyond a bad break-up.
The live version of “Future Me Hates Me” is as bouncy and loud as you’d hope it would be. “Jump Rope Gazers” is just as lovely live as on the album of the same name, if not more so. “Uptown Girl” blasts by you with some of Tristan Deck‘s fiercest drumming. His beats on “Happy Unhappy” get you dancing.
“Out of Sight” makes the turn toward the final act of the show, with Stokes thanking everyone behind the scenes at the show afterwards. You can hear the emotion in Stokes’ voice as she thanks the crowd before the band launches into “Don’t Go Away.” Benjamin Sinclair‘s bass line on “Little Death” is like a hummingbird zipping around the room. “Dying to Believe” closes the show, with the entire crowd singing along, before the band comes back for an encore of “River Run” that fades into a blissful state.
Not only is this a joyful recording, it’s also a good-sounding one. Stokes points out at one point that the sound crew has to work in a large, echoing chamber – and they do it quite well.
Playing a home show still feels special for The Beths, who began playing shows in 2015 and quickly won over local audiences with a low-key approach that disguised their drive for excellence. Today, the band announces its first live recording and film, Auckland, New Zealand, 2020, out September 17th on Carpark Records. The announcement also comes on the three-year anniversary of the release of their debut album, Future Me Hates Me. Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 showcases the infectious energy The Beths bring to every performance. Native birds, wonkily crafted by the band from tissue paper and wire, festoon the venue’s cavernous ceiling while house plants soften and disguise the imposing pipes of an organ. The presence of the film crew isn’t disguised: much of the camerawork is handheld; full of fast zooms and pans. “Watching the film for the first time brought back all the emotions of 2020 for us. Sports Team have done such an amazing job of capturing the mix of anxiety and simple joy that was touring music in NZ at the time. We are so grateful that it happened and grateful to have it documented with so much love and care,” says lead vocalist/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes.
“Future Me Hates Me” is a fan favorite, as both band and audience feed off the mutual energy in the room.
After building a loyal following through live performances and their 2016 EP Warm Blood, The Beths signed to Carpark Records and released the debut album, Future Me Hates Me, in 2018. Jump Rope Gazers, released in July 2020, was a slower, yearning follow-up that still fizzes and sparks with pop-punk sensibilities. Immediately seized on by both fans and music critics as a bright spot during an otherwise dark year, Jump Rope Gazers was named Album of the Year at New Zealand’s national Aotearoa Music Awards in 2020, and secured the band awards for Best Group and Best Alternative Artist for the second year running. The releases catapulted the band straight into lengthy international tours that saw them support legends like The Pixies and Death Cab For Cutie as well as headlining increasingly large shows of their own.
Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 has its genesis in an urge to share the now-rare experience of a live show as widely as possible. The accompanying film makes the deep bond Stokes, lead guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck clearer than ever: capturing the in-jokes they share with audiences during on-stage banter, and foregrounding their mutual preoccupations with the game of cricket and New Zealand’s native birds. It’s a collective exhalation, in one of the few countries where live music is still possible. They deliberately include the date and location, because “That’s the sensational part of what we actually did,” says Pearce. In a mid-pandemic world, playing to a heaving, enraptured home crowd feels miraculous.
The band will follow up the release of Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 with a North American headline tour in 2022. “Our last North American tour was in summer of 2019, which feels like a century ago. There is no way to describe how much we have wanted to be over there playing music. Finally it is happening?! See you soon. xo,” says Liz. An artist pre-sale will begin on Wednesday, August 11 at 10am local time, with a Brooklyn Vegan pre-sale running on Thursday, August 12 at 10am local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 13 at 10am local time. Tickets are available at thebeths.com. Fans can join the band’s new Patreon in the meantime.
Live Album Tracklist: 1. I’m Not Getting Excited 2. Great No One 3. Whatever 4. Mars, the God of War 5. Future Me Hates Me 6. introduction 7. Jump Rope Gazers 8. Uptown Girl
9. bird talk 10. Happy Unhappy 11. Out of Sight 12. thank you 13. Don’t Go Away 14. Little Death 15. Dying to Believe 16. River Run
Film Setlist: 1. I’m Not Getting Excited 2. Great No One 3. Whatever 4. Mars, the God of War
5. Future Me Hates Me 6. Jump Rope Gazers 7. Uptown Girl 8. Happy Unhappy 9. Out of Sight 10. Little Death 11. Dying To Believe 12. You Wouldn’t Like Me 13. River Run
Tour Dates: Fri. Sept. 17, 2021 – Auckland, NZ @ The Others Way Tue. Sept. 28, 2021 – Auckland, NZ @ Whammy Bar Wed. Sept. 29, 2021 – Auckland, NZ @ Whammy Bar Thu. Sept. 30, 2021 – Auckland, NZ @ Whammy Bar Fri. Oct. 1, 2021 – Auckland, NZ @ Whammy Bar Sat. Oct. 2, 2021 – Auckland, NZ @ Whammy Bar Fri. Oct. 22, 2021 – Tauranga, NZ @ Tauranga Arts Festival Sat. Oct. 23, 2021 – Hawke’s Bay, NZ @ Labour of Love Fri. Oct. 29, 2021 – Wellington, NZ @ San Fran Sat. Oct. 30, 2021 – Wellington, NZ @ College of Creative Arts, Massey University (AA show) Sun. Oct. 31, 2021 – Nelson, NZ @ Nelson Arts Festival Thu. Nov. 4 – Sydney, NSW @ Factory Theatre Fri. Nov. 5 – Brisbane, QLD @ The Zoo Sat. Nov. 6 – Melbourne, VIC @ The Night Cat Sat. Dec. 4 – Auckland, NZ @ The Outerfields
Thu. Jan. 20, 2022 – Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat Fri. Jan. 21, 2022 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts Sat. Jan. 22, 2022 – New York, NY @ Rough Trade (in-store signing) Sat. Jan. 22, 2022 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall Sun. Jan. 23, 2022 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair Tue. Jan. 25, 2022 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz Wed. Jan. 26, 2022 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace Fri. Jan. 28, 2022 – Chicago, IL @ Metro Wed. Feb. 2, 2022 – Calgary, AB @ Commonwealth Fri. Feb. 4, 2022 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret Sat. Feb. 5, 2022 – Seattle, WA @ NeumosSun. Feb. 6, 2022 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom Tue. Feb. 8, 2022 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent Thu. Feb. 10, 2022 – Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater Sat. Feb. 12, 2022 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar Tue. Feb. 15, 2022 – Austin, TX @ Parish Wed. Feb. 16, 2022 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada Fri. Feb. 18, 2022 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hall) Sat. Feb. 19, 2022 – Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge Sun. Mar. 27, 2022 – Southampton, UK @ The Loft Mon. Mar. 28, 2022 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club Tue. Mar. 29, 2022 – Glasgow, UK @ St Luke’s Thu. Mar. 31, 2022 – Manchester, UK @ Club Academy Fri. Apr. 1, 2022 – Bristol, UK @ SWX Sat. Apr. 2, 2022 – Birmingham, UK @ The Castle and Falcon Mon. Apr. 4, 2022 – London, UK @ O2 Forum Kentish TownTue. Apr. 5, 2022 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde II Thu. Apr. 7, 2022 – Paris, FR @ Point Ephémère Fri. Apr. 8, 2022 – Lyon, FR @ Le Marché Gare Sat. Apr. 9, 2022 – Dudingen, CH @ Bad Bonn Sun. Apr. 10, 2022 – Lausanne, CH @ Le Romandie Tue. Apr. 12, 2022 – Milan, IT @ Biko Wed. Apr. 13, 2022 – Munich, DE @ Feierwerk Fri. Apr. 15, 2022 – Vienna, AT @ B72 Sat. Apr. 16, 2022 – Prague, CZ @ Underdogs’ Mon. Apr. 18, 2022 – Berlin, DE @ LidoTue. Apr. 19, 2022 – Copenhagen, DK @ VEGA Ideal Bar Wed. Apr. 20, 2022 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Thu. Apr. 21, 2022 – Cologne, DE @ Bumann & Sohn Fri. Apr. 22, 2022 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique Sat. Apr. 23, 2022 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Sun. Apr. 24, 2022 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU @ Kulturfabrik
