VHS or Beta
The Patio
Wednesday, Oct. 20

With two bands opening for them, the anticipation was high when VHS or Beta took the Patio’s stage Wednesday night. The band stepped into the lights and trotted out their signature rock-disco fusion songs, all of which had a danceable beat — yet no one was dancing. This was unfortunate, considering that the most impressive facet of the band’s music is a live, disco beat.

Another lead vocalist would have been preferable. Whiney, and slightly under pitch, this kind of vocal sound has worked for others, like Robert Smith — as in The Cure. There is no denying, however, that when everything else is not working 100 percent, that style is grating. Unfortunately, there was one major element missing — energy — both from the band and the audience. Assigning blame is difficult, a chicken and egg scenario. Was the band low-key because the audience was not participating, or vice versa? Either way, a band like VHS or Beta, so dependent upon its dance beat, could not pull out a win on this particular night.