VHS or Beta

For the videotape war between VHS and Betamax, see Videotape format war.

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 Dance-punk 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

VHS or Beta is a band originally from Louisville, Kentucky, now based in Brooklyn, NY, that combines elements of rock, house and disco . 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. Recent 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 "Diamond and Death" is scheduled for September 2011 release.

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. Guitarist Mike McGill and keyboardists Chea Beckley and Jerome Miller have all toured with the band.

Palgy and Pfunder were in early '90s 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.

Discography

Albums

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

EPs and Singles

• Le Funk EP (2002, ON!)
• On and On EP (1998, ON!)
• "Solid Gold" (Astralwerks, 2003)
• "Night on Fire" (Astralwerks, 2004) - 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
• "The Melting Moon" (Astralwerks, 2005)
• "You Got Me" (Astralwerks, 2006)
• "Can't Believe a Single Word" (Astralwerks, 2007)
• "Burn It All Down" (Astralwerks, 2007) - Featured in the videogame Grand Theft Auto IV and on the soundtrack for 2009 documentary The September Issue
• "Feel It When You Know" (Chromosome Records, 2009)
• "All Summer in a Day" (Chromosome Records, 2010)
• "Breaking Bones" (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

External links

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