^{Cover image: Frontman Steve Mason of The Beta Band returns to Perth. Photo by De Williams.}

It doesn’t get much more cult than The Beta Band. In the late ’90s they were everyone’s favourite band. Radiohead took them on tour; Oasis championed them while trashing everyone else; even Pitchfork was lauding this UK band. 

But the distinctly Scottish mix of humour and experimentation went over most people’s heads, meaning they had split in under 10 years, reportedly due to financial pressure. Just three studio albums and a particularly famous set of three EPs became their legacy for much of the past 20 years. 

From the beginning of their phenomenal set on Saturday, a sense of occasion was evident, and it was refreshing that nothing about this reformation felt phoned in. Known for a multi-arts approach throughout their tenure, a 10-minute short film created by the band kicked off proceedings with perfectly kitsch stoner humour. Famous friends such as Mani (RIP) of The Stone Roses appeared in retro skits, while a particularly memorable one parodied their famous quote from High Fidelity, in which John Cusack says, “I will now sell five copies of The Three E.P.’s by The Beta Band,” before playing Dry the Rain. 

Even support Death in Vegas felt less like an opening act and more like a warm-up, with mainstay Richard Fearless playing old reggae vinyl instead of his own band’s music. And after the short film, with the band still not having emerged, early David Bowie single Memory of a Free Festival came chiming through the speakers. As its psychedelic finale lyrics — “The sun machine is coming down and we’re gonna have a party!” — crescendoed over and over in epic fashion, The Beta Band finally emerged onstage, cheering the crowd on in a welcome for the ages. 

The show hadn’t even started, and we were filled with joy. Inner Meet Me began and synth wizard John Maclean was immediately the star of the show. Like a teenager with ADHD, he swapped between trippy synth sounds, percussion and DJing — his scratching a particular highlight. 

She’s the One was the early standout, as its back half’s sped-up vocals evoked Beach Boys-on-acid vibes, and it was already evident we were in for something special. From there, the set just seemed to keep getting better and better. 

Push It Out scored some crowd appreciation in the form of a clap-along, while Dog’s Got a Bone was notable for being the first track played from debut EP Champion Versions (their only release to be played in full on the night), with frontman Steve Mason noting its importance in a charming intro beforehand. 

The build towards the night’s peak was an unforgettable experiment in psychedelia, as Dr Baker went full post-apocalyptic in its outro (with lighting and production to match), before Maclean took over the mic on B + A. The momentum was in full effect by the time their bona fide classic anthem Dry the Rain appeared in all its anthemic glory. Life was good. 

Dry the Rain was the one song everyone was excited about coming in; the one everyone agrees on. And it certainly didn’t disappoint, a moment many of us thought might never happen. But perhaps what was most remarkable was that The Beta Band’s performance as a whole ensured it was just one of so many highlights on the night. 

Like one enduring high across two hours, this was an unforgettable journey from a band clearly reinvigorated by its time apart.