BY María José Torre
TUESDAY, OCT. 28, at The Sinclar, The Beths visit the city of Boston on their 2023 North American tour. The band is set to perform in nineteen cities across the United States, taking on two dates at The Sinclair in Cambridge, MA.
Joining the North American tour is Sydney Gish. The singer-songwriter is no stranger to Boston’s music scene as she spent five years studying at Northeastern University. Sydney opens the show with a cover of “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second” by the band STRFKR. The guitar, as always, is her instrument of choice. She builds her music right in front of our eyes with a loop station.
The Beths released their latest album, Expert in a Dying Field, in September of last year. This album, like its predecessors, presents the same clever lyricism and beautiful harmonies. The live show brings to live this new era of the band. The Beths open their set with the song “Future Me Hates Me”. The indie/rock sound that characterizes the group’s work in this case contrasts with the heartbreak theme and lyrics portrayed in this song. The upbeat sound in their music has the tendency to gift the listener with a sense of lightness and ease, even when one is going through a rough patch.
Right in between the first couple of songs, a big inflatable Kingfish pops up on the back of the stage. Lead singer, Elizabeth Stokes, after a chaotic interaction/discussion with the crowd, names the fish “Sydney Fish”, referring to the night’s opener act.
This show is the opportunity to experience the new album live for the first time, and it gives us a preview of what we can expect from the band this coming year. This performance also takes us back to the songs that made us fall in love with the band in the first place. Fan favorites like “I’m Not Getting Excited” and “Jump Rope Gazers” are part of the night’s repertoire. As the band evolves and new work is released, one thing is for sure. Despite the success the band has acquired in the past years, The Beths seem to remain the same down-to-earth group of friends, driven by the music they love.
Through the night, the band members interact with the crowd, sharing their unique sense of humor and witty bits. Ben Sinclair, the bass player of the group, even took some time during the show to promote his blog, Breakfast and Travel Updates. I recommend this blog to anyone who is a fan of the band. Ben Sinclair does a terrific job describing the day-to-day activities of the group, as well as his encounters with great food in the cities they visit. Felipe’s taqueria and sandwich shop Cardullo’s are featured in the Cambridge blogs.
As the show comes to an end, The Beths perform “Expert in a Dying Field” and then leave the stage. The crowd immediately starts to chant “One more bit”. The group comes back to close the night with “You are a Beam of Light” and “Little Death”. The Beths from Auckland, as always, deliver a great performance full of joy and high energy. We are all looking forward the band’s next visit.
Listen to The Beths here!
Catch The Beths on tour here!
Read Ben Sinclair’s “Breakfast and Travel Updates” blog here!
PHOTO GALLERY BY María José Torre
