Concert review: The Beths at The Orange Peel

During a bit of between-song banter at The Orange Peel on March 6, Elizabeth Stokes of The Beths mentioned that the quartet was from New Zealand. Then she asked excitedly, “Who here is from Asheville?!” A tepid response from the crowd followed. Taken a bit off guard, the frontwoman joked that it was a surprisingly small ratio, then prompted a much more enthusiastic applause with the question, “Who here is from somewhere else?”

On a Monday night, hundreds of fans came from out of town to see the young, buzzy power pop quartet that formed in 2014. Watching The Beths rip through recent gems like “Knees Deep” and “Best Left,” it was abundantly clear why the band has been on such a rapidly-rising trajectory since the release of last year’s Expert In A Dying Field. With a giant inflatable fish adding a bit of character to the stage, the group performed with great enthusiasm, injecting delightfully catchy hooks into an energetic brand of jangly power pop that recalls ’90s favorites Belly and Throwing Muses — or, more recently, Alvvays.

Nothing was more impressive than the quartet’s ability to execute perfectly timed four-part vocal harmonies. Throughout the set, the voices of Jonathan Pearce (lead guitar), Benjamin Sinclair (bass), and Tristan Deck (drums) would come in to join Stokes at ideal moments, sending the songs to euphoric highs. 

With a tight live show that elevates the hook-filled recordings, The Beths are totally worth driving out of town to catch before they move on to even bigger venues. 

(Photos by Jonny Leather)

Sidney Gish