i miss the beta band

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I was devastated to learn that the Beta Band had broken up about two years ago, but I was pretty upset. For every agonizingly long, meandering, unfocused mishmash-sound-melange of a song they created, they made two gems. Well, maybe one and a half. But finding the gems was worth the sifting. Neither of the bands to emerge in their wake– The Aliens and King Biscuit Time– have really grabbed me the same way.

The Beta Band has the arcane distinction of being the only band that my two brothers and I have ever gone to see together live. We saw them at Higher Ground, back when that venue was in Winooski, VT. It was probably 2001 or 2002. My only real distinct memory from the show is laying down in the back seat of the car afterwards, probably suffering from a stomach ache, or maybe just drunk, and talking with big bro and little bro in the front seats about the show. I mumbled something about having loved it, but never feeling comfortable at concerts by bands I really like. I guess I just internalize music that affects me, I said, and it’s a weird thing to share music like that with other people.

Now this is a thought that is diametrically opposed to the live music ethos in general, and in different company I’m sure I would have gotten nothing but silent eye rolls from the front seat. But after a brief silence, lying on my back, staring up out the car windows at street lights and phone wires zipping by, I heard mumbled Yeahs and subdued Iknowwhatyoumeans. Ya gotta love family.

“Assessment” by the Beta Band (from Heroes To Zeros)*

“Brokenupadingdong” by the Beta Band (from The Beta Band)**

“Space Beatle” by the Beta Band (from Heroes To Zeros)

“Needles In My Eyes” by the Beta Band (from The 3 EPs)***

* This was on The O.C. once. On a side note, I just typed “The O.C.” without choking up. I suppose this means I am starting to work through my grief.

** This song, arguably one of the best man-on-a-mission, constant-movement songs ever, may sound familiar. It was on the fantastic soundtrack to Igby Goes Down, a movie I really like despite my best movie critic self. The Beta Band had Nic Harcourt to thank for that choice placement; the best damn DJ in America and Morning Becomes Eclectic host served as Music Supervisor on the movie.

*** One of the saddest songs ever, for my money. “Last night I dropped my heart and I never want to see it again”??? I mean, c’mon. (Lyrics) If that lyric was in “Dog’s Got A Bone”– off the same album, the song with one of the saddest bass lines ever– it could potentially drive someone to suicide. I am convinced the band consciously avoided this potentially devastating confluence of musical elements, and for this I am grateful.