The Beths and Phoebe Rings Bring Dream Pop and Jangle Rock to Philly
Show Review ★ Jenna Kaufman ★ @jennakaufmanphoto ★ 2 Minutes
New Zealand dream-pop band Phoebe Rings opened for The Beths' two-day show at Union Transfer on December 7th, filling the room with the surreal layered synths and harmonies that make up their unique sound. With disco and city-pop influences woven throughout, their debut album, Aseurai, released earlier this year, showcases the band's collaborative songwriting across all members.
Lead singer and songwriter Crystal Choi charmed the crowd with conversational remarks between songs and her angelic, soft voice that floated effortlessly over the atmospheric instrumentation. Alongside her, guitarist/synthesist Simeon Kavanagh-Vincent, bassist Benjamin Locke, and drummer/producer Alex Freer brought their distinct contributions together, their instruments and vocals harmonizing perfectly to create the vibrating, immersive sound that defines Phoebe Rings.
Phoebe Rings
Shortly after, The Beths rocked Union Transfer for their Straight Line Was a Lie Tour. The Auckland, New Zealand indie rock band's fourth album, released in August of 2025, is filled with gritty, relatable anthems about the struggles and beauty of life, alongside soft emotional ballads that every listener can connect with. Since their 2018 debut album, Future Me Hates Me, The Beths have steadily risen through the ranks, opening for household names like Pixies and Death Cab for Cutie, appearing at major festivals from Coachella to Bonnaroo, and earning praise from outlets like Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, along with millions of global streams.
The Beths
Lead singer and songwriter Elizabeth Stokes commanded the stage with her observant lyrics and raw vulnerability, backed by guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck. The songs push the narrative that linear progression is an illusion; that life and healing are cyclical, and finding meaning in the maintenance of it all is what truly matters. The band's perfectly blended sound filled the room with jangle-rock energy, accompanied by impromptu inter-band pranking and honest confessionals to said pranks between songs.
Moments like these, combined with a room full of people appreciating the same art, created that unavoidable restored faith in humanity that only live music can deliver.
