VHS or Beta

Melbourne may have the reputation of making welcome in large numbers just about every band that visits here, but something was amiss at VHS or Beta’s first ever performance here. OK it was a Wednesday night, nestled right in the middle of the working week, but given it was the Louisville, Kentucky’s debut Oz tour, on the back of their recent third release Bring On The Comets and their ability to do disco/rock is arguably better that any of their contemporaries, something more than a loosely filled Hi-Fi Bar was expected.

Nevertheless the indie cool kids present were treated to two much touted hip bands: VHS or Beta, who morphed from French House/dance on their debut to more accessible dance/pop/rock on recent releases, and Brisbane indie wunderkinds Yves Klein Blue. After a wait of approximately 90 minutes from opening time (whatever happened to a three-band line up??) the band with a very fashionable, very artsy name unleashed their jazzy, fuzzy pop in a short, sharp thirty minute set. Being unfamiliar with their music, save for the JJJ friendly Polka, I immediately likened them to a successful Arctic-Ferdinand combination. Recently signed to progressive indie label Dew Process, YKB performed tracks from new EP Draw Attention To Themselves with bits of angular pop, punchy songs and jagged guitars characterising their set. Vocalist Michael Tomlinson cut a skinny, tight jeaned, bow-legged, cardigan wearing true indie figure, a contrast to his remaining band members’ casual, loose clothing and floppy hair look.

VHS or Beta maintained a cool aura with minimal crowd interaction (a simple “good evening Melbourne” a few songs in was their greeting) and up front, Craig Pfunder cut a cool figure with his long, black swept fringe masking his face from total view. The electrifying instrumental opener at times bordered on being a blur of sounds, with overpowering drums forcing expressive guitars into the background. The big sounding, highly energetic Burn It All Down received a welcoming applause, as did other singles like Can’t Believe A Single Word which really shows the marked move to a heavier guitar sound on the new album.

It can’t be denied that VHS or Beta have hit on a perfect musical mix: gliding between rock, disco, dark electro and intelligent dance. The underlying groove in their songs is such an infectious trait that has made their music so undeniable great to listen to. On record this mix is really exciting to hear, clear and perfectly produced. Live, it tended to head into samesville toward the end. A few extended instrumentals had a hint of psychedelic, hypnotic trance but this also extended songs a little too long.

The band left their more popular singles, Bring on the Comets and Night On Fire for their encore, much to the pleasure of the crowd. They were called back for their brief encore with a collective call for “VHS”…”VHS”…”VHS” then a solitary but humorous “Bluetooth!” Magic.

In retrospect, it was a good bill of indie bands, but one can’t help feel there’s a sense of sameness within the growing number of same-styled bands with pretty good records that just don’t match up on the live circuit.

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