The Beths Bring Their New Zealand Charm to St. Paul
November 22, 2025 - St. Paul, Minnesota
The first time I saw The Beths was in 2023 at Thalia Hall in Chicago. For that tour, they brought a giant, inflatable fish, and from then on, I was sold. I knew the next opportunity I had to see them, I would be there. Now on November 22, about two years later, in St. Paul, Minnesota, The Beths brought their show to the historic Palace Theatre.
Even though it was an 18+ show, the crowd spanned generations, and the line outside was littered with parents accompanying their children who were under 18. It’s not hard to be impressed with The Beths. There’s something to be said about the time and effort the band puts into their music and the thoughtfulness behind each song. Even just the briefest of listens to their discography, and you can tell there’s so much more beneath the surface of every song waiting to be discovered.
Opening the show was fellow New Zealand band Phoebe Rings. The four-piece band has a self-described dream-pop sound and carried influences of disco and city-pop throughout their set. Originally started as a solo project, lead singer/songwriter Crystal Choi expanded into a band with their debut album, Aseurai.
The band captured the crowd’s attention with Choi’s gentle vocals and the warm energy radiating from the stage. Choi’s voice floated through Palace Theatre, taking the crowd along with her through the journey of each song. Rounding out her set with “Cheshire,” the band left that stage better than they found it.
The Beths came out quietly with their smiles on their faces and ambled up to their instruments. The New Zealand indie-rock band has somewhat of an understated vibe for a “typical” rock band. That is, it’s just them, their instruments, and their music up onstage. Their lyricism and sound don’t require the extra pomp and circumstance.
The first three songs of the show, “Straight Line Was a Lie,” “No Joy,” and “Silence is Golden,” brought the high energy to kickstart the crowd and catapult them into the night. During “No Joy,” bassist Benjamin Sinclair and guitarist Jonathan Pearce whipped out recorders, which triggered a loud cheer from the crowd. Making recorders sound good showed true artistry.
Their diverse set had the potential to cause whiplash, but they brilliantly included musical interludes, sounds, and conversation before shifting vibes. The middle of their set saw most of their slow songs. “Mother, Pray For Me” was the most memorable moment of the night for me. It was such a quiet moment of contemplation with just lead singer Liz Stokes and her guitar while the rest of her band watched from the side.
They joked about the city's bridges and visited the river since it was their first time in St. Paul. The Beths brought an air of familiarity to their show as if they were hanging around with their friends and jamming out.
Ending their set with “Expert in a Dying Field” and “Take” as the encore song, The Beths had the crowd singing loudly and dancing around the GA floor. Smiles erupted on the faces of the band and were mirrored by the fans who had enjoyed every moment of the night.
Although there was no inflatable giant fish on this tour, The Beths didn’t need it. Their charming selves and impressive setlist were enough to impress their fans and all those who went along with their friends.
