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.
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
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.
New Zealand trio Die! Die! Die! announce their forthcoming new album This Is Not An Island Anymore, sharing the first single today via New Noise Magazine. Hear and share “Losing Sight, Keep On Kicking”HERE. (Direct Bandcamp and SmartURL.)
Since their debut in 2005, Die! Die! Die! has blended a powerful and infectious concoction of post-punk, noise pop, shoegaze, lo-fi, and punk rock into one massive sounding whole. Fresh for a global pandemic outbreak, the trio returns in its original lineup for their most urgent and well honed album to date, This Is Not An Island Anymore. Since recording their debut album with Steve Albini (Shellac, Nirvana, PJ Harvey) in Chicago in 2005, Die! Die! Die! have worked with producers including Shayne Carter, Nick Roughan (The Skeptics), Chris Townend (Violent Femmes), and have written and recorded albums in New York, Dunedin, London and rural France.
Their indispensable collection of records, and their intense and unflinching live show, continue to drive their connection with audiences across the globe. Both are a telling reminder of why Die! Die! Die! are one of the most enduring and unapologetic bands to ever emerge out of New Zealand.
The single is an explosive anthem and as the band describe it, ‘explores losing yourself and finding your Maori’. Die! Die! Die! have returned to their original lineup bringing original bassist Lachlan Anderson back to the fold to join band mates Andrew Wilson (guitar/vocals) and Michael Prain (drums).
Their forthcoming album This Is Not An Island Anymore – set for release in February 2022.
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
Coming in hot and heavy and all the way from New Zealand, The D4 are like a Down Under MC5 (who also are probably the inspiration for the band’s name). Their album, 6Twenty, is full of crunchy guitar riffs, thunderous drums, and horny, wailing vocals.
Take opening track, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Motherfucker,” for example. It bursts through the window like John Shaft swinging into the room with a machine gun and proceeds to lay waste to everything around it. Dion Palmer (AKA Dion Lunadon) and Jimmy Christmas unleash killer vocals and guitars throughout it – and every other track for that matter. “Get Loose” has Christmas craving for action while Daniel “Beaver” Pooley hammers out a snappy beat full of Keith Moon-like fills. He also gets the party started on “Party,” and soon Vaughn Williams is joining him with a wild bass line that inspires you to go nuts. The MC5 influence is clear here, especially in Christmas’ vocal styling.
“Come On!” yanks you out of your chair and tosses you into the crowd to either get sweaty or get the hell out of the way. Their cover of Guitar Wolf‘s “Invader Ace” is a lights-out rocker. Williams and Pooley barely give you time to breathe, and then the guitar solo comes in to clothesline you over the top rope. “Exit to the City” is the slowest track on the record, and I lightly use that term. It’s a swaggering bit of cock rock with cool phaser effects and another sizzling guitar solo.
“Heartbreaker” has Christmas yelling about losing a lover while the rest of the band gives him moral support by flattening any walls around him. “Running on Empty” isn’t a Jackson Browne cover (which would’ve been amazing), but rather a fun garage rock track that has a rock-solid rhythm from Williams and Pooley. “Ladies Man” has the confidence of the Tim Meadows‘ Saturday Night Live and film character, and great organ work from guest Cameron Rowe. Their cover of Johnny Thunders‘ “Pirate Love” is a great tribute to him (and The New York Dolls).
“Little Baby” screams right on by you like a runaway armored truck, “Rebekah” has an undeniable rock groove that catches your attention no matter what you’re doing, their cover of Scavengers‘ “Mysterex” is an ode to “nine to fivers” and “soul survivors.” The album closes with “Outta Blues,” in which Christmas sings, “I’m outta blues, but I’m okay,” making us wonder which part of that statement is correct (and all of the instruments are right-on throughout it).
It’s a great debut record of rock sizzlers beginning to end.
Keep your mind open.
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Earlier this summer, The Beths released their “lush, melodic” (New York Times) second album,Jump Rope Gazers, on Carpark Records. The new album has earned them nominations at the Aotearoa Music Awards for Best Group, Best Alternative Act, and Album of the Year. Previously in 2019, The Beths won Best Group and Best Alternative Act in addition to performing at the awards show.
Today, The Beths share the new video for “Mars, The God Of War.” Backed by buzzing guitar and crisp percussion, Elizabeth Stokes personifies the planet: “Mars, the god of war, is watching over me // So passively // From the twinkling scenery // Mars, the god of war // Pretending so serene // He’s keeping his hands clean.” As described by Stokes, the track is about communication and miscommunication through technological mediums, specifically while conveying anger. The accompanying video, directed by Callum Devlin and Annabel Kean of Sports Team, features The Beths comically attempting to pull off a heist. “The video has a really silly energy that everyone really embraced,” says Stokes. “With NZ being COVID-free, there’s a real palpable joy and euphoria in being able to get together and make something. We feel very lucky and Sports Team smashed it out of the park once again.“
Devlin and Kean add: “As well as being genius musicians, in our minds The Beths are defined by being a committed, intelligent and extremely efficient team, and have turned the collaborative inner workings of an indie rock band into an art in itself. We wanted to explore that side of the band in the ultimate team-up genre; a high stakes twist laden heist movie. Obviously. Also, we seem to find the idea of The Beths entering into a life of crime frankly hilarious. We love working with The Beths. No band is more committed to exhausting every possible gag out of a situation. We initially plotted out the entire film, but decided to abandon it in favour of making as gag-dense a video as possible, if that makes sense.”
The Beths will livestream a performance from Auckland Town Hall on Nov. 14th at 5PM Eastern Timevia Bandcamp. “Soon, here in Auckland, New Zealand, we get to take the stage of our home’s beautiful Town Hall, and we would love you to join us. We’re trying to make something to come together for, online, around the world. We’ve been saying it over and over, we are so lucky to be able to play live shows right now. So we’re going to try to share that. We’ll be there for a warm-up hang out, and we’ll be in the chat throughout the performance too. Come and hang xo.” Tickets are available here.
The Beths Tour Dates (tickets): Fri. Nov. 6 – Auckland, NZ @ Town Hall Sat. Nov. 7 – Gisborne, NZ @ Gisborne Beer Festival Sat. Nov. 28 – Wellington, NZ @ Beers at the Basin Sat. Dec. 19 – Hawkes Bay, NZ @ Black Barn Winery Sun. Dec. 27 – Taupo, NZ @ Le Currents Fri. Jan. 8 – Kerikeri, NZ @ Bay of Islands Festival Tue. March 30 – Southampton, UK @ The Loft Wed. March 31 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club Thu. April 1 – Manchester, UK @ Club Academy Fri. April 2 – Glasgow, UK @ Saint Luke’s Sat. April 3 – Dublin, IE @ The Workman’s Club Mon. April 5 – Bristol, UK @ SWX Tue. April 6 – Birmingham, UK @ Castle and Falcon Wed. April 7 – London, UK @ O2 Kentish Town Thu. April 8 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 Fri. April 9 – Paris, FR @ Point Éphémère Sat. April 10 – Lyon, FR @ Marché Gare – Hors les mursSun. April 11 – Milan, IT @ BIKO Tue. April. 13 – Düdingen, CH @ Bad Bonn Wed. April 14 – Lausanne, CH @ Le Romandie Thu. April 15 – Munich, DE @ Kranhalle Fri. April 16 – Vienna, AT @ B72 Sat. April 17 – Prague, CZ @ Underdogs’ Ballroom Sun. April 18 – Belin, DE @ Lido Tue. April 20 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega Ideal Bar Wed. April 21 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Thu. April 22 – Cologne, DE @ Artheater Fri. April 23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord Sun. April 25 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique Fri. Aug. 6 – Sun. Aug. 8 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands
Keep your mind open.
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The Beths share “Out of Sight,” a new single from their highly-anticipated sophomore album, Jump Rope Gazers, out July 10th on Carpark Records. The band performed the single on their “Live From House 3” live stream last night. It follows previously released singles “I’m Not Getting Excited” and “Dying to Believe.”
“Out of Sight” is tender and shoegazing. It reckons with the distance that drives people apart and how those who love each other inevitably fail each other. The best way to repair that failure, in The Beths’ view, is with abundant and unconditional love, no matter how far it has to travel.
Elizabeth Stokes says, “The band playing on ‘Out Of Sight’ is more fragile than we usually allow ourselves to be. We are trying to listen more deeply and be more open ended, it was confronting to do and sometimes even frustrating. But it came out great, Ben’s bass playing especially is beautifully melodic and gives the song a unique texture.”
The accompanying video directed by Ezra Simons was filmed on Super 8 film and shows the band birdwatching amongst the brush. Archival footage of birds native to New Zealand are woven throughout. Simons says, “The goal was to create a nostalgic and timeless roadtrip video where the band goes off in search of native birds, but instead finds each other.”
The Beths are Elizabeth Stokes (vocals/guitar), Jonathan Pearce (guitar), Benjamin Sinclair (bass), and Tristan Deck (drums). Jump Rope Gazers is the follow-up to Future Me Hates Me, “one of the most impressive indie-rock debuts of the year” (Pitchfork). The album received glowing praise and appeared on many year-end lists including Rolling Stone, NPR, Stereogum, and more.
Jump Rope Gazers tackles themes of anxiety and self-doubt with effervescent power pop choruses and rousing backup vocals, zeroing in on the communality and catharsis that can come from sharing stressful situations with some of your best friends. Touring far from home, The Beths committed to taking care of each other while simultaneously trying to take care of friends living thousands of miles away. That care and attention shines through on Jump Rope Gazers, where the quartet sounds more locked in than ever. Jump Rope Gazers stares down all the hard parts of living in communion with other people, even at a distance, while celebrating the ferocious joy that makes it all worth it. Watch “Out of Sight” Video
The Beths Tour Dates (tickets): Sat. July 11 – Auckland, NZ @ Power Station Sun. Nov 8 – Perth, WA @ HBF Park* Wed. Nov. 11 – Melbourne, VIC @ Marvel Stadium* Sat. Nov. 14 – Sydney, NSW @ Bankwest Stadium* Tue. Nov. 17 – Brisbane, QLD @ QSAC Stadium* Fri. Nov. 20 – Dunedin, NZ @ Forsyth Barr Stadium* Sun. Nov. 22 – Auckland, NZ @ Mt Smart Stadium* Tue. March 30 – Southampton, UK @ The Loft Wed. March 31 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club Thu. April 1 – Manchester, UK @ Club AcademyFri. April 2 – Glasgow, UK @ Saint Luke’s Sat. April 3 – Dublin, IE @ The Workman’s Club Mon. April 5 – Bristol, UK @ SWX Tue. April 6 – Birmingham, UK @ Castle and Falcon Wed. April 7 – London, UK @ O2 Kentish Town Thu. April 8 – Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2 Fri. April 9 – Paris, FR @ Point Éphémère Sat. April 10 – Lyon, FR @ Marché Gare – Hors les murs Sun. April 11 – Milan, IT @ BIKO Tue. April. 13 – Düdingen, CH @ Bad Bonn Wed. April 14 – Lausanne, CH @ Le Romandie Thu. April 15 – Munich, DE @ Kranhalle Fri. April 16 – Vienna, AT @ B72 Sat. April 17 – Prague, CZ @ Underdogs’ BallroomSun. April 18 – Belin, DE @ Lido Tue. April 20 – Copenhagen, DK @ Vega Ideal Bar Wed. April 21 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow Thu. April 22 – Cologne, DE @ Artheater Fri. April 23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso Noord Sun. April 25 – Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
The Beths will tour the U.S. in Spring 2020 to preview new music from their forthcoming album out next year on Carpark Records. After selling out shows at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg, Washington, DC’s Union Stage and Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on previous tours, the band will play more intimate venues on this run. They recently sat down with Paste while in the studio to discuss the forthcoming album and tour. Read the feature here.
The Beths earned praise from critics and fans alike for their debut full length, Future Me Hates Me. In addition to being ranked #42 in Paste’s “50 Best Indie Rock Albums of the 2010s,” the album received glowing reviews from NPR Music, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The A.V. Club, Stereogum, and more. The band recently won Best Alternative Artist and Best Group at the 2019 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards while also being nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year.
Tickets for the band’s Spring 2020 U.S. tour are on salenow. The Beths Tour Dates: Sat. March 7 – Auckland, NZ @ Villa Maria* Thu. March 12 – Marlborough, NZ @ Framingham Harvest Concert Wed. April 15 – Seattle, WA @ Laserdome Thu. April 16 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge (tickets) Fri. April 17 – Bend, OR @ Volcanic Theatre Pub (tickets) Sat. April 18 – Oakland, CA @ The New Parish (tickets) Sun. April 19 – Los Angeles, CA @ Zebulon (tickets) Mon. April 20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar (tickets) Wed. April 22 – Austin, TX @ The Parish (tickets) Thu. April 23 – Dallas, TX @ Three Links (tickets) Fri. April 24 – Houston, TX @ Satellite Bar (tickets) Sat. April 25 – New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa (tickets) Sun. April 26 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement (tickets) Tue. April 28 – Washington, DC @ Pearl Street Warehouse (tickets) Wed. April 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie (tickets) Thu. April 30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade NYC (tickets) Fri. May 1 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Smiling Moose (tickets) Tue. May 2 – Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop (tickets) Wed. May 3 – Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge (tickets)
