The Beths – gig Review
We’re in an old church-turned-music-venue, you can feel the lingering evangelical spirit whipping up the crowd into a holy fervour, worshiping the divine power that is The Beths. It’s hot as hell, packed to bursting with students and mid-30s day-one fans alike.
My friends and I manage to push almost to the front, linking arms to make sure none of us get left behind. The energy in the room is electric, there’s not a person in sight who isn’t belting out the lyrics word for word, when their highest energy song “Little Death” comes on just before the final song, the crowd (and I) just about lose it. I’m drenched in sweat from dancing and heavenly vehemence, and when the customary “one more song” chant comes around, we’re met with their song “Take” which was so good it just about put me in a coma. I honestly wouldn’t mind if that was it for me.
The Beths bring an energy to their live performances that is infectious and honest; they are wonderfully awkward and sincere. Between songs they sip on mugs of tea and comment on how nice the wellington waterfront and library are. These are practiced musicians, a contrast to the beer chugging and yelling messiness you get in the student bands I’m used to. Their set was like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I even got 3 of them (sorry Mr drummer) to sign my Hamilton City Library card. Safe to say I’m a fan.
Song review Living room
Wet Denim’s newly released Song “Living Room” immediately pulls you in with a ripping guitar riff laced with reverb and distortion, with a baseline that hides nicely behind the Lead guitar; carrying the rhythm in the droning and murmuring way we’ve come to expect from Wet Denim. With complex lyrics that dance around the way it feels to have a space left tainted with memories and the aftermath of a broken heart, lead vocalist Nick Goodwin opens his heart to the audience in a song that is raw and human. He paints a heartfelt picture of the purgatory we are left in when we can’t move on, sitting waiting for something to change, waiting for some sort of sign. Before you know it you’ll be nodding along and mumbling the lyrics, belting out the choros.
With the band heading in a heavier direction (see last week’s interview…), they’ve captured the spirit of the genre with the rolling drums, crisp snares, and guitar solos so good they make you squeeze your eyes shut real tight and pump your fist in the air to the beat.
