The Beths Thrive Live in New Jersey with their On Request Tour

By Ava Bandelli and Spencer Van Goor

The Beths’ “On Request” Tour transforms the typical formula of concerts entirely. At the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, the New Zealand indie rock band handed over nearly every song choice to the crowd, turning a typical show into an interactive game.

The collaborative efforts began even before the opener, Chelsea Jade, took the stage. Near the entrance, a ballot box offered two song choices, “No Joy” and “Knees Deep.” Fans voted using crushed bottle caps, including some brought over from New Zealand. “Knees Deep” won, opening the night with the bright, frantic energy that makes The Beths so much fun live. From there, the set unfolded through three increasingly exciting rounds of audience requests. The first round of requests arrived via pastel sheets found near the entrance. Fans wrote their requests on paper airplanes and crumpled balls, which were then thrown in a hectic manner onto the stage. Songs like “Little Death,” “Metal,” and “Jumprope Gazers” emerged from the pile, making the setlist feel genuinely unpredictable.

Then came fishing! A stuffed, microphone-equipped fish was tossed around the crowd, and whoever caught it got to request a song. Luckily, it landed in my hands, and I chose “Best Laid Plans,” an all-time favorite Beth’s track and one of the first songs I ever played during my first WRSU show.

The final round of requests was essentially musical bingo, with a bingo cage full of balls with prompts like “has a Beth’s tattoo” or “is actually named Beth” which helped find audience members to pick some of the final songs, which led to “Expert in a Dying Field” and “You Are a Beam of Light,” which hadn’t been played since 2023. One of the fans was selected to go on stage, bringing their own game for the band to play, as their guitarist, Jonathan Pierce, selected “Less Than Thou.”  Even the encore was chosen by fans who looked most excited, during which we heard “Lying in the Sun” and “Whatever.”

What made this whole concept work was how fun and interactive the band remained throughout. The Beths took an ordinary concert and turned it into a messy, spontaneous, and exciting party among friends in Sayreville, a unique experience to say the least.

For more information on The Beths, visit here.