LIVE REVIEW: The Beths lead the way @ Badlands Bar
New Zealand indie rockers The Beths have been a well-anticipated act to hit Australia ever since their cancellation earlier in the year, where they were initially set to support The Smith Street Band on tour. After a busy year showcasing their debut album ‘Future Me Hates Me’ across the UK, Europe and North America alongside acts such as Death Cab For Cutie and Bad Bad Hats, they finally reached Perth on the last leg of their Australian tour to play a show at Badlands Bar.
For those who haven’t listened to The Beths, their sound is somewhat comparable to dream-pop band Alvvays, particularly due to their similar sugary vocals, whilst being melodically and instrumentally reminiscent of indie bands such as Vampire Weekend. Additionally, they possess a slight surf-rock edge that altogether makes them difficult to categorise into any one genre in particular.
In the words of The Beths’ singer-songwriter Elizabeth, “It’s Saturday night… time to cut loose.”
Arriving at Badlands, the venue was surprisingly packed given the competing attentions of Oktoberfest wrapping up around the same time as the show. The tour was supported by two alt-pop bands, the first of which being electronic-infused all-female group Tether. The band showcased their recent singles ‘Heartless’ and ‘Empty Spaces’ in a tightly rehearsed and coherent performance whilst remaining friendly and laid-back with the crowd, having a laugh and conversing with one another and the crowd in-between songs.
Following Tether was sad girl pop group Teen Angst. What I found most charming about Teen Angst was the way in which their songs conceptually tapped into the very relatable feelings of nostalgia, angst and despondency that often come alongside growing out of your teenage years and realising that you are adult; themes in which The Beths also sometimes touch on lyrically. A highlight song for me from their set was ‘90’s TV’; a reflection on the feeling of being left by everyone and just wanting to stay home and watch TV. This song also contains some awesome references to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gilmore Girls.
By the time, The Beths came out on stage the area was fully packed in anticipation and the curiosity of what their first song would be. Immediately recognisable by its bright, upbeat opening riff was title track ‘Future Me Hates Me’; arguably their most well-recognised song. It was clear to see that is was ‘that song’ that everyone was there to see. It isn’t hard to understand why, between its catchy melody and relatively universal theme of falling for someone new whilst knowing the inevitability that your future self will hate you for it somewhere down the track.
As well as playing through the majority of their debut album, fans were also given a preview into how their next album is shaping up with the inclusion of a couple of brand new songs in the setlist including drum-heavy track ‘I’m Not Getting Excited’. Throughout the show, we were also given plenty of great solo moments from Jonathan on guitar and several pauses between songs whilst the band checked in and conversed with the audience. Elizabeth discussed how she felt at home in Perth as she lived here for a couple of years as a baby, and the band were quite surprised by the interior design of Badlands, often pointing out the stalactites hanging from the ceiling.
The unanticipated curveball of the night came around halfway through the set with the announcement of an impending Crowded House cover. So here is the twist enough for you to choke on the deluge in your paper cup; if you were gearing up for a round of ‘Hey now, hey now’s’, you would have been sorely disappointed. Instead of taking the expected path and beating out yet another version of ‘Don’t Dream it’s Over’, the band performed a fantastic cover of ‘Fall at Your Feet’ instead.
Although the show was very fluid and consistently enjoyable throughout, the stand out songs for me overall were ‘Future Me Hates Me’, ‘Whatever’, ‘You Wouldn’t Like Me’, and the well-chosen encore of ‘Little Death’. It was clear through the palpable energy in the room that these were crowd favourites, and it was a pleasure to be amongst the excitable crowd singing along.
Overall, the tour was well worth its wait and it was fantastic to experience such a strongly female-powered rock gig. Each band made a big effort to thoroughly engage with the crowd and make sure it was an enjoyable night all round. The choice of support bands was very coherent with the overall theme of ‘Future Me Hates Me’, and I know that I for one have a lot to add to my playlists after the show!
