Concert Review: The Beths Play To Desire At MHOW
Desire is the death of joy…..supposedly. This might be why so many artists sing to desire and depression as if the two are stuck in an eternal dance. At Music Hall of Williamsburg, The Beths played to desire, and the realization that most of us make, in our twenties, that it is not so easy to fulfill.
As they voraciously plucked their guitars, The Beth’s represented something I never realized about indie rock or garage pop, its melodies may quickstep but it’s lyrics always sing to feeling slow and stuck. It is as if a song’s arrangements were made to represent and heal our desires, while acknowledge,” You are right to feel like you are not getting what you want! You are not!” Yet, part of growing up is no longer crying about this truth. it is about learning to fight for new dreams while sweeping away the plans that didn’t happen, of which lead singer Elizabeth has the voice and personality to show us how.
Stokes is quirky and charmingly awkward. She keeps her notes simple; wearing her soundscapes like coats during versed winters. Songs such as,”Little Death,” “Great No One,” and “Happy/Unhappy” sounded as warm and witty as their personalities. This New Zealand group feels like a band of eccentrics that were destined for each other. Growing up, you always hear that you will find your best friends in your twenties, when you work, or in college. The point is you find the people that are most akin to you when you become independent and realize friends are for fun: not fakery. In some ways, The Beths represent this both literally and figuratively.
Life gives you too many issues, especially with yourself, to just let someone in your life that mistreats you. From “You Wouldn’t Like You” to “Future Me Hates Me,” The Beths music sang to figuring out who you need and who you are as you figure out what you want. It’s a simple message that had the packed room leaping in the air as if God had told them, “Life sucks. So let’s live!” It’s a mentality that fits well with concerts that have become like escape routes people align from their routined weeks. Moreover, anyone that promotes genuineness is one to watch, and The Beths do. For More Information On The Beths Click Here
