Moving Units, VHS or BETA: A Low Investment with Good Payoff

A 2-block walk, 12 bucks, and 2 recommendations got me out to Chop Suey Tuesday night for 2 bands I hadn't listened to prior to a quick MySpace search hours beforehand.

Los Angeles-based Moving Units opened and I liked their pop-y, dance-y sound well enough to pick up their new CD "Hexes for Exes" at the merch table. Solid beats, firm control of guitars, and melodic, if not sharp, vocals. Mix up The Cure and Nada Surf, then throw in some buzz and bleep and you'd get close to their sound. That buzzy, bleepy goodness shines through clearly on the CD, less so live. Interestingly, about a quarter of the audience were apparently there just to see Moving Units: the crowd thinned out before VHS or Beta hit the stage.
Demographics: 2/3 boys, 1/3 girls. Avg age: 24. Attire: jeans, t-shirts, sweaters. Boys in hats, girls with knitted scarves.

VHS or BETA played a groovy mix of pop, rock, and funk in their set. I particularly enjoyed the instrumental funk rock piece, which Craig Pfuder (guitarist, vocalist) said they hadn't played together in quite a long time. I didn't stay until the very end (it was a school night after all, kiddies), but when I left shortly after midnight the dance floor was still 1/2 full with VorB enthusiasts.
Demographics: 3/4 boys, 1/4 girls. Avg age: 30. Attire: jeans, t-shirts, sweaters. Fewer hats and scarves.