VHS or Beta, the Fever

Kentucky's VHS or Beta are perhaps the least likely of the new dance-rock scene's emergent stars: They're from Kentucky, for starters, a locale far outside the normal orbit of New York's hipster elite. They've also cultivated a devoted following among jam-band types attracted to their improvisational, noodle-happy live show. And, next to the Killers, they're probably the outfit least afraid of becoming their generation's Duran Duran--always an admirable trait. Night on Fire, VHS or Beta's Astralwerks debut, is tighter and less Daft Punk-on-patchouli than 2002's Le Funk, which may alienate those jam-band types. Openers the Fever live well within the orbit of New York's hipster elite.