VHS or Beta

VHS or Beta
VHS or Beta performing live at Rock al parque in Bogotá, Colombia, 2005.
Background information
Origin	Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Genres	Alternative rock Indie rock Post-punk revival
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Astralwerks
Website	www.vhsorbeta.com
Members	Craig Pfunder (guitar, vocals) Mark Palgy (bass)
Past members	Zeke Buck (guitar) Jerome Miller (keyboards) Mark Guidry (drums) Mike McGill (guitar, vocals) Chea Beckley (keyboards, tech) Jason Clark Jim Orso (drums)

VHS or Beta is a band originally from Louisville, Kentucky, later based in Brooklyn, New York, that combines elements of rock, house and disco.^[1] Their self-released debut EP Le Funk found some success on the charts, but the band became better known in the wake of the 2004 album Night on Fire. After two and half years of touring, VHS or Beta recorded 2007's Bring on the Comets in Asheville, NC, marking a slight change in direction towards a more straightforward pop sound, achieved without sacrificing their trademark dance sensibility. Later singles "Feel It When You Know" (2009) and "All Summer in a Day" (2010) were issued on their own Chromosome Records label. The band's third album Diamonds and Death was released in September 2011.

The band's core members are guitarist/vocalist Craig Pfunder and bassist Mark Palgy. Guitarist Zeke Buck and drummer Mark Guidry, both founding members, left the band in 2006 and 2010, respectively. Guitarists Mike McGill and Eric Rodgers, keyboardists Chea Beckley and Jerome Miller, and drummers Jim Orso and Chris Berry have all toured and/or recorded with the band.

Palgy and Pfunder were in early 1990s band Raze with former Elliott and current Wax Fang drummer Kevin Ratterman.

In 2005, VHS or Beta opened for Duran Duran on a leg of the latter's 2005 North American tour.

In popular culture

The band's song "Night on Fire" was featured in Grandma's Boy and on The OC, in addition to Mack Dawg Production's 2006 "Follow Me Around." It was also used as part of the soundtrack for the videogame MLB 06: The Show. "Burn It All Down" was featured on the soundtrack for 2009 documentary The September Issue.

Discography

Studio albums

• Night on Fire (Astralwerks, 2004)
• Bring on the Comets (Astralwerks, 2007)
• Diamonds and Death (Chromosome/Krian, 2011)

Singles and EPs

• On and On EP (1998, ON!)
• Le Funk EP (2002, ON!)
• "Solid Gold" (Astralwerks, 2003)
• "Night on Fire" (Astralwerks, 2004)
• "The Melting Moon" (Astralwerks, 2005)
• "You Got Me" (Astralwerks, 2006)
• "Can't Believe a Single Word" (Astralwerks, 2007)
• "Burn It All Down" (Astralwerks, 2007)
• "Feel It When You Know" (Chromosome Records, 2009)
• "All Summer in a Day" (Chromosome Records, 2010)
• "Breaking Bones" (Chromosome/Krian 2011)
• "I Found a Reason" (Chromosome/Krian 2011)

Videography

• "Messages" (1999)
• "You Got Me" (2005) - Directed by Ryan Rickett; Giant Drag's Annie Hardy and Ima Robot's Alex Ebert both appear in the video
• "Night on Fire" (2005) - Directed by Ben Dickinson
• "Can't Believe a Single Word" (2007) - Directed by Greg Foley
• "Breaking Bones" (2011) - Directed by Graham Hill

References

1. Hopkin, Kenyon. "VHS or Beta -Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 September 2014.

External links

• VHS or Beta official website
• Discogs
• Interview with VHS or Beta
• Lazy-i Interview: December 2004
• vhs or beta at Rolling Stone