Concert Review: The Beths, Powerstation, July 11, 2020

Finally!! Back at The Powerstation for a good old-fashioned rock show with one of New Zealand’s finest bands. A day after releasing their hotly-anticipated second album, Jump Rope Gazers, The Beths did what pretty much every music fan in Auckland had been waiting for… they rocked The Powerstation.

As the song says, “you don’t know what you’ve got til its gone”, and with Kings Arms and Golden Dawn now history, we can’t afford to lose The Powerstation.

And last night proved why. A sold out show where everyone feels comfortable, the sound is just right and one can see from anywhere in the room.

I arrived just as opening act Phoebe Rings were winding down, and I liked what I heard. I shall endeavour to see them again…hopefully soon.

The excitement and anticipation of the crowd was palpable as it came closer to show time.

When The Beths hit the stage one could feel the energy bouncing off the walls of the venue, generated both by the band and the audience.

They opened with I’m Not Getting Excited (I was) from the new record, then launched into Whatever from Future Me Hates Me, the crowd singing along at volume to the tune.

Then they dipped back to an oldie from their 2016 EP, Warm Blood. Idea/Intent simmered with aggression we don’t normally associate with the band.

Despite claiming to be nervous and out of practice, singer/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes sounded confident and powerful. Meanwhile guitarist Jonathan Pearce blasted out sharp guitar solos that really got the crown pumping.

For the record, the other band members are bassist Ben Sinclair and new guy, drummer Tristan Deck. The band sounded tight with just one minor false start leading into Uptown Girl.

Most of the set alternated between songs  from the band’s two albums, singalongs breaking out during most of the tunes from the first album. With Jump Rope Gazers only released the day before, I’m sure the audience will be singing along to those tunes just as enthusiastically when they return to play the Auckland Town Hall in November.

One last highlight…comedian Rose Matafeo came on stage before Dying To Believe to introduce Green Party candidate Chloe Swarbrick. I know some folks are not keen to mix music and politics, but I’m all for it. We need to make our voices heard and I urge everyone to get out and vote in September…it really makes a difference.

So, there you go…a perfect coming together of band, fans and venue. Let’s hope it’s not another three months until it happens again.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to see a full-screen gallery of photos by Veronica McLaughlin Photography.

The Beths setlist:

1. I’m Not Getting Excited
2. Whatever
3. Idea/Intent
4. Future Me Hates Me
5. Great No One
6. Just Shy Of Sure
7. Jump Rope Gazers
8. Uptown Girl
9. Don’t Go Away
10. Happy Unhappy
11. Out Of Sight
12. Little Death
13. Dying To Believe
14. You Wouldn’t Like Me