We're huge fans of The Beths here, and I assume you are, too. The New Zealand band have this absolutely flawless mix of indie rock and indie pop. It reminds me a ton of some of my favorite mid 90's power pop, but amped up and bouncier, in the best possible way. They just released a new single, "A Real Thing," and it's exactly what we want from The Beths. It's filled with fuzzed out guitars and catchy hooks and is just a pure joy to listen to, despite its subject matter.
Liz Stokes explains the inspiration of her band's new song:
“‘A Real Thing’ is a kind of anxiety dream. It's a bit muddled, a bit frantic, a bit sinister. 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. 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."
You can watch the video for "A Real Thing" below. The song is currently available as a single here. For more on The Beths, check out the band's website. Current tour dates are below the video.
Thu. Feb. 10 - Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater (SOLD OUT)
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