The Beths - Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 (2021)

In March 2020, a few months before the release of their second album, Jump Rope Gazers, the Beths were touring when the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly closed venues. The 13-song (plus three banter tracks) Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 captures a return to live performance with a one-off headlining show and livestream at the 1,500-capacity Auckland Town Hall on November 6, 2020. (Due to strict mandates and closed borders, New Zealand, unlike most of the world, had no new cases to begin the month.) The first live album from a band that built their reputation on the road, the 55-minute set of riffing indie rockers from their first two albums kicks off with the infectiously punky "I'm Not Getting Excited," a song about imposter syndrome. The energetic self-depreciation only occasionally lets up thereafter. The album's fifth song, the midtempo "Future Me Hates Me," serves to prove that even their more wistful tracks compel bouncing feet. By that time, the group's tight, four-part vocal harmonies have been well-established, particularly on "Whatever," a tune that features call-and-response-type group vocals alongside mid-'60s-style oohs and ahs. Another recurring highlight of the show is lead guitarist Jonathan Pearce's efficient solos, which spiritually align with the best of '70s and '80s hard rock. In contrast, songwriter Elizabeth Stokes' vulnerable, conversational vocal delivery keeps humanity at the forefront, a recipe that works equally as well in the studio. Mostly of interest to fans due to the selection depth, Auckland, New Zealand, 2020 also includes a one-minute band discussion about native birds ("bird talk") and plenty of atmosphere-setting crowd noise on the intros and outros. Of note to completists: the companion concert film swaps out "Don't Go Away" for "You Wouldn't Like Me," which doesn't appear here.