Farewell The Beta Band
Manchester Academy, 19th November 2004
When The Beta Band first emerged onto the British music scene with The Three EPs, it appeared that their particular style of slightly off-the-wall indie might just save us from ‘brit-pop’ , which by then was rapidly disappearing up its own arse.
Their innovative mixture of beats and samples with some of the more traditional elements of indie rock, was a genuine breath of fresh air. This, combined with Steve Mason’s vocals – arguably the mellowest voice in pop – was just what was required for post-pub enjoyment. However, they followed this up by publicly denouncing their own first album to such an extent that nobody bothered to buy it. This anarchic streak may explain why, as rumour has it, they are massively in debt to their record company. The Beta Band were never about fame and money though.
This, their farewell tour, gave us all a final opportunity to revel in their greatness, and a sell out Manchester Academy was treated to a journey through the best highlights from their back catalogue. Tracks from their most recent album, Heroes to Zeros, sat snugly next to established greats such as Push It Out, She’s The One, Inner Meet Me and Dogs Got A Bone from The Three EPs; and Squares, Human Being, Dragon and Broke from Hot Shots II. But it will come as no surprise though that the track that marked the highpoint of the evening was Dry The Rain, enthusiastically received and bellowed along to by the vast majority of the crowd. This track, probably the closest they’ve ever come to commercial success through its inclusion in the film version of High Fidelity, epitomises what The Beta Band do best. A gently strolling rhythm, strumming guitars building up to a bass-line that bumps along, one or two random instruments, and a set of a lyrics leading to a triumphant crescendo with which we can all join in.
Unsurprisingly, The Beta Band did not choose to conform to the established routine of playing their best song as a finale. No, Dry The Rain came a long way before the band finally left the stage two rapturously received encores later. Instead they chose to part with a mentalist drumming wig-out with all four members rattling the two drum-kits. This completed an evening that included, a bit of scratching and mixing, a fair few bongos and a spot of rapping, all conducted in shirts and ties. A top class gig, from a top class band who, though they failed to make it on to the radar of many, will leave a massive hole for those who embraced their unconventional view of the world. They claimed at one point that we would all be going to see them at Butlins in five years time – if only that were true.