Sacramento’s Ace of Spades vibrated Wednesday, Nov. 12 with the sounds of sharp, crunchy guitar riffs and bright, perfectly crafted melodies as New Zealand’s The Beths charmed hundreds of fans with their effervescent indie pop sound.
Delivering flawless renditions of tracks like the energetic “No Joy” and the punchy title track of their new album “Straight Line Was a Lie,” it was clear why their clever lyricism and catchy melodies have earned them a dedicated global following.
With every square foot of floor space filled, the eager audience bobbed shoulder-to-shoulder, belting along to new songs and fan favorites like 2022’s “Silence is Golden,” and “Future Me Hates Me” from the band’s 2018 studio debut. The packed house was full of intimate moments as lead singer and guitarist Elizabeth Stokes delivered vulnerable tracks like “Mother, Pray for Me” with ease and humility from center stage.
The heartfelt, emotional nature of the music and occasional banter from the band kept the mood light and fun. Guitarist Jonathan Pearce heckled the audience about the area’s rivers having uninspiring names, earning laughter and playful booing from the audience.
“Great river trails, bad river naming,” Pearce joked. Stokes chimed in on the bit, asking, “Is it the only American river?” and thanked the audience for their “boos.”
Keeping things interesting, Stokes brought out a tiny triangle and yellow banana-shaped shaker to the audience’s delight.
Never missing a beat, the two-hour show was packed with a seamless stream of jangly guitar and driving drums while Stokes’ bright voice filled the room. While palpable energy hung in the space, the band delivered a short, two-song encore, ending with “Take,” the chorus’s lyrics speaking to the pulsing energy of the night.
While palpable energy hung in the space, the Beths delivered a punchy two-song encore, ending with “Take.” The final, ringing lyric — “bouncing on and on and on” — an apt farewell for the night as The Beths walked off stage, taking their bright pop sounds and introspective lyrics with them to their next tour stop as they travel to major cities across the U.S. and Canada.
This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Hmong Daily News, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review and Sacramento Observer. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.
By Marie-Elena Schembri
