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.