It’s been a long damn time since The Beta Band toured. Like over twenty years, to be more precise. Now, the planets have aligned and the cult Scottish band has returned to the road to give eager fans a taste of their music and the live chemistry that made them such an intriguing act all those decades ago. For their return to the stage, the eclectic folk-rock unit is leaning heavily into The Three EPs, the collection of their first three albums that includes some of their most beloved tunes. On Wednesday, The Beta Band took the stage at Portland, Oregon’s Crystal Ballroom in front of an audience all too eager to reconnect with their music.
Following an opening DJ set and a long video montage featuring Monty Pythonesque footage of the band in their younger days, The Beta Band took the stage and dropped into the expansive tune “Inner Meet Me” with John Maclean inserting record scratching and a feisty cowbell solo. This signature swirling mix of acoustic instrumentation, rotating percussion, and electronic effects propelled each song forward and made for an impressive live presentation. There was little elaborate production other than a simple background screen playing video, and no crazy stage antics other than near-constant instrument swapping. There didn’t need to be because the music spoke for itself. “She’s the One” was an early highlight with Maclean’s mouth harp intro, Steve Mason’s meditative vocals and slide guitar giving way to a dazzling array of sampled ambulance sounds. “It’s Not Too Beautiful” followed in a similar fashion as the band layered in rich musical textures and showcased their talent for switching from the sonically potent folk-rock of acts like Wilco to the psychedelic indie pop of the Flaming Lips.
Throughout the set, band members frequently rearranged themselves and shared instruments, giving the stage a communal spirit that almost felt experimental despite many of these songs being nearly three decades old. Donning the kind of windbreaker that would make the Gallagher brothers smile, Mason led the audience in a clapped into of “Push It Out” that was choir-like and one of the moodier compositions of the night in the way it weaved its way into spaced out territory. “Dog’s Got a Bone” was another standout with its primitive folk sound that saw the band messing with three-part harmonies, whistling, and harmonica, while “B+A” transformed into an extended funk-psych jam before becoming a full-on group percussion throwdown. All of this felt like the band was building anticipation and suspense before a version of “Dry The Rain” – arguably their best-known tune – that started mellow with Mason blending in shoegazey guitar touches before inviting the audience to ultimately sing along to the chorus.
For many in attendance, Portland’s show was likely the first and perhaps the last time they will ever catch The Beta Band. In watching the band live during the drum-heavy set-closer “Broke,” it was clear how much the audience appreciated this moment. The band returned to the stage for three encore tunes, including the trip-hop-leaning favorites “Squares” and “The House Song.” Coming in at nearly two hours, the performance offered fans the chance to see The Beta Band construct their strangely cool music in the flesh. Listening to the band all these years later raised the question of how well this music has aged. It certainly hasn’t enjoyed the algorithmic success of a lot of other ’90s acts, which was evident by the lack of young people in attendance. But there was a certain bucket list, you-had-to-be-there quality to the band’s performance that made it truly memorable.
One Response
It’s Steve, not Dave, Mason!