[ATTENDED: December 6, 2025] The Beta Band
When The Beta Band’s 3 EPs came out, I was totally on board. It was weird–electronic but folky, tape manipulation and craziness but also catchy melodies. And then it got a huge boost on the movie High Fidelity and I felt strangely vindicated. I bought their second album too.
And then I pretty much forgot about them. They put out another album in 2004 but I didn’t get it and then they broke up.
When this tour was announced–20 years(ish) since they broke up and 23 years since they played Philadelphia, I immediately grabbed a ticket, assuming it would sell out in a second.
When the date rolled around, I wasn’t entirely sure I still wanted to go. I mean, how much did I really like that album? But since there was no opening act and it promised to be a fun show, I went. And I’m really glad I did.
When I arrived there was a hooded and face-covered DJ playing songs. I don’t know who he was–maybe he was in the band? And around 15 or 20 minutes later, the show opened with a short film they made (presumably a long time ago or maybe it was a recent film using old footage) and it was hilarious. Very Terry Gilliam in its cheap-lookingness and absurdity but a really fun look at the guys doing silly things twenty some years ago.
And then the band came out. The four original Betas were present and were wearing color coded jumpsuits: Robin Jones (yellow; drums), John Maclean (pink; keys), Richard Greentree (green I think; bass), Steve Mason (gray, I think; vocals and guitar). Of course, unexpectedly to me, they switched instruments a bunch. There was even a secondary drumset for Steve to play which said Jack’s Away on the drum head. They were immediately fun and kind of silly but very serious about the music. And they immediately did not play The Three EPs in order. (more…)
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