THE BETHS
The Beths, Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA 10/31/2025
Halloween may not be a major holiday in New Zealand, but The Beths and opener Phoebe Rings fully embraced the spirit of the season for their Atlanta show. Phoebe Rings, dressed as cats, opened the night with their dream-pop that floated between English and Korean lyrics. Their lush harmonies and celestial synths made for a perfect introduction to the evening.
The Beths took the stage dressed as the cast of Jurassic Park, launching into a high-energy set that kept the sold-out Variety Playhouse on its feet for nearly two hours. The crowd, many in costume themselves, erupted as the band tore through “A Real Thing,” “No Joy,” “Silence Is Golden,” “Future Me Hates Me,” and “Metal.”
After the early sprint of upbeat favorites, frontwoman Elizabeth Stokes took a quiet moment alone on stage, quipping, “This is a particularly difficult song to sing, especially as Jeff Goldblum,” before delivering the very tender “Mother, Pray for Me.” The pause in tempo only amplified the building momentum of “Your Side” that reignited the dance-floor energy that carried through the rest of the set.
Though The Beths have visited Atlanta several times since their first local show in 2019, they seemed genuinely taken aback by the crowd’s enthusiasm — a packed room singing every word back with pure affection. By the end of the night, it felt clear that both band and audience had fully embraced the chaos and joy of Halloween, Kiwi-style.
Shot and Written by Alexa Kravitz
