September 21, 2024

The Beths with Great South – Hollywood Avondale: September 20, 2024

Earlier in the day I was asked what I was up to tonight. ‘Reviewing The Beths’. ‘Easy’ I was told ‘Just write ‘The Beths show was glorious, joyous and wonderful’. End of review, enjoy the rest of the show’. Tempting and accurate. But I had a hunch there’d be more to say. There was.

It seems only yesterday photocopied posters appeared for this band. Small venues, interesting name. And now it’s a decade and three albums on. Tonight the first of three sold out shows in their hometown after touring the US was destined to be a triumphant return. But we didn’t expect a triumph over aversity.

Great South

First up in the grand old Hollywood is Great South. New to me but clearly not the crowd. Instant rapport between those downstairs and the young man with the wide smile. He’s wearing an ‘1935’ T-shirt. A clue. Surrounded by four excellent musicians – drums, bass, laptop, congas. First song is a pastiche of lyrical images. I can’t quite join the dots, but its sure intriguing.

A shout out to Te Wiki o te Reo Māori and those who walked the whenua before. Another Day in Tamaki repeats the lines ‘When it rains it pours in Auckland’. Sure did today. ‘I’m from a little place called Pakakura. Anyone know it? Anyone can give me a ride home?’

The set ends with a song perhaps called ‘You’re not going to take what’s mine’. Allusions to Avantdale Bowling Club. A little more raw and edgy. But no less challenging at times, melodic in others. Like many other opening acts, I want to see these guys again.

The Beths

Its 9.55pm. Suddenly the stage seems wider. An background track offers a foretaste of their Future Me Hates Me before they walk on and launch into the band’s signature joy overlaid upon angsty lyrics. To rapturous response. This is a homecoming.

Beths Mid-song up pops a giant inflatable trout. Strange and strangely endearing, Jonathan Pearce on lead guitar is striding the stage in a splendid Hawai’ian shirt and sporting bleached locks. Elizabeth Stokes is up front and centre (the band is the Beths after all) smiling in baggy red track pants. The power pair of Tristan Deck and Ben Sinclair (drums and bass) and a little to the side

On through the set, Liz’s voice rising through registers. So tight and such precise and synchronous song endings. And its striking is how much the background harmonies of Jonathan, Tristan and Ben complement Liz’s voice.

Songs are punctuated by self-effacing banter. The US tour has likely indulged their deadpan kiwi humour. But then they are punctuated by something else. Ear-hurting high octane bangs. Like gunfire or thunder. Musicians and audience alike are confused and concerned. A stop. A start. A stop again. The jolting pops continue,

A huddle on stage. An announcement – a five minute break as they figure out a workaround. Would this be the end of the gig, rain on the homecoming parade? Lots of calls of love for The Beths. Some melodic improvisation.

Tristan comes out and riffs off Covid days, echoing the Ashley Bloomfield media stand-ups ‘This is a 1pm public service announcement’ he says. We have a solution.

15 min passes. Sound engineer Gabriel is thanked. He’s an archangel tonight. He and Jonathan have figured a fix. Its 10.57pm and sound check. Each band member offers a random narrative. Tristan’s the star, introducing each drum in his 1960s German kit. ‘That’s a great talk’, compliments Jonathan.

Beths

It’s an improvised variety show. ‘So how late is everyone’s bedtime? Can we try this again?’ Now they’re going again. Its miraculous, Bluetooth involved. A workaround. Its Little Death and the crowd leaps for joy. ‘Best gig ever’ says Liz. Ironic or a get-out of crisis cry of relief? Who knows. Everyone’s on their side and seen something special.

Beths A few more songs on the rejigged system . Liz offers a solo new song about nearby Oakley creek and its broken bridges from last years storm. Mosquitoes too. It adds a sense of place to the show. ‘Those bridges need fixing like this country right now” says Jonathan.

No encore (‘we’ve been off stage enough already’). Just a glorious rendition of Silence is Golden. No more silence from the sound system. Just golden harmonies and guitars with played with gusto.

They have triumphed. Others may have said sorry the systems buggered, we’ll play another day. But this is The Beths. No pretentions. Home grown commitment. Pure talent.

The next two nights will be sublime but not remembered like this one. As my workmate prophesied, it was indeed ‘glorious, joyous and wonderful’. And a triumph over giant-sized gremlins too.

Robin Kearns

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Azrie:

The Beths: