New Haven, Conn. – On August 3, 2023, I excitedly went to Westville Music Bowl to see The Beths and The Nationals perform. Since this was my first time at the venue, I wasn’t sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by the layout of the venue and the view from the accessible section.

Westville provides a nice outdoor setting that also feels very easy to navigate with kind staff to assist you, not to mention oddly incredible popcorn with about seven seasonings. I was eager for the show to begin as I have become a huge fan of The Beths in particular. 

The band is an indie rock act from New Zealand that was formed in 2015. The members consist of lead Elizabeth Stokes, Benjamin Sinclair on bass, Jonathan Pearce on guitar, and Tristan Deck on drums.

In 2022, the group released their third studio album, Expert In A Dying Field, with the deluxe edition coming out on September 15th. Not only has the band found great success with high acclaim from magazines like Rolling Stone, but they’re also on tour with major bands like The Nationals and Death Cab for Cutie.

The catalyst for me being a fan was randomly finding their t-shirt in a Goodwill near my house and wondering who the band was. I found myself immediately drawn in by the illustration of a bird listening to music. After listening to tracks from their newest album that day, I was captivated. When the opportunity arose to go see them, I took it.

The crowd was very laid back but clearly excited to see the band with multiple people next to where I was sitting telling me that they were there for The Beths as well. Many people bought t-shirts and vinyls that they proudly carried or wore. 

The Beths took the stage with “Future Me Hates Me,” the title track from their 2018 album. You could hear the progression of their artistry through the set, and the way that it transitioned through the different albums was very well done.

While the setlist was only seven songs long, they clearly captured an audience with their stage presence. It is possible that the setlist was also shortened due to travel issues. The lead mentioned between songs that they had to get to a show in Philadelphia the next night, but they still put their all into every track they performed.

They had an incredible vocal performance, closing out the set with a killer performance of the title track off the most recent album. The aesthetics on stage also perfectly matched with a blow up fish reminiscent of the one on the third studio album cover as well as concert visuals on screen.

I was able to leave that concert performance with even more appreciation for their music as the vocals in my opinion sounded even better live. Many people around me talked about the performance as well and were pleased to see them even with the short runtime.

However, the night wasn’t over yet as The Nationals took the stage. Not only did the crowd erupt with excitement at the mere image of concert visuals related to the band, but the pit began to fill up incredibly fast. 

The Nationals, having formed in Ohio in 1999, cultivated a groove throughout the 2000s that proved to allow magic on stage. The band consists of Matt Berninger on lead vocals, Bryce and Aaron Dessner on piano and guitar, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf on bass and drums.

My knowledge of the band prior to getting tickets only went as far as features with Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, two artists that I absolutely love. However, it was songs like “Green Gloves,” which Berninger would joke is “creepy,” or “Cherry Tree” that captured my interest. 

When going into the concert and looking at the crowd, I immediately noticed the dedication. Many of the audience members were already eagerly trying to make their way to the front of the pit or quickly get to their seats as “Once Upon a Poolside” began.

The band was bathed in colorful light; the lead got lost in the lyrics as he belted out his notes in a dark color. The band gave it their all as guitars blended together, and the crowd could only be described as mesmerized as they sang along.

When the song finished, what became apparent was the banter provided to the crowd by Berninger through crowd interaction. They even took a sign from the audience to put in front of the drums onstage.

Throughout the 24 songs performed, I found myself growing a deeper appreciation for the band that clearly has a close bond. When the night came to a close with the track “About Today,” I knew that the concert was unforgettable.