The Friday song (on a Sunday): ‘Metal’ by The Beths

Last week, Australia. This week, a short hop to New Zealand. I saw The Beths in concert on Monday night, far from their Auckland home and happy to be on the road. They were fabulous, jerky and punkily indie, releasing wave after wave of pent-up energy, kept tight by drummer Tristan Deck and taut by bass player Benjamin Sinclair.

On stage, guitarist Jonathan Pearce chopped about with his low-slung Les Paul in post-punk mode and rang optimistically on a beautiful 12-string electric. And while they were all well drilled, energised and accomplished, the star of the night was Ms Beth herself, Elizabeth Stokes.

Stokes writes great songs, plays a mean rhythm guitar whether with a jittery right hand or stroking time, and has an utterly beautiful voice. She can summon up flat tones like Courtney Barnett or soar like K.T. Tunstall, and whether delivering indie rock, solo ballads or power pop, Stokes is a commanding leader, charming from the front.

The Beths have a widely varied set of songs over their four albums, and I listened to some choice tracks and their latest, 2025 album, Straight Line Was a Lie, this week. The Friday Song today is Metal, from that new album. Metal is playful power pop: verse, chorus and bridge best characterised by a retro jangle that is strongly reminiscent melodically and sonically of The Cure, and stylistically of early R.E.M. It rings with much joy, as does so much of The Beths’ output. This is a band whose songs and delivery make me feel utterly jubilant, a great place to be. Happy weekend!

I started a music WhatsApp group in 2023. I send one song a week on a Friday, with links to both Apple and Spotify, and an accompanying narrative/capsule piece. You’ll read it here on a Sunday. If you want to engage about a song, get a playlist or just get in touch, email me on markgrosin@gmail.com.

Listen to Metal on Spotify here and Apple Music here.

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