Photo Courtesy of Chris Kaufman VHS or Beta (pictured above) plays Solar Culture, 31 E. Toole Ave., Thursday night. I am the World Trade Center takes the stage at 9 p.m. The show is $5. Call 884-0874 for more information.

Hipster show-going elitist: Your days are numbered. No longer will fellow audience members admire your ability to curb your admiration for the band. No longer can you stand front-and-center before a group, arms folded, with a look of disenchantment that says, ãThis band is just OK, I guess.ä With more and more bands like VHS or Beta and I am the World Trade Center practically demanding dance moves from their audience, you may be the only one standing in a sea of sweaty dancing bodies in the 90-degree Tucson night air.

So dig back into your top closet shelf, past the Pavement and Nirvana records, pull out your booty, gently peel the MC Hammer sticker off it, dust it off, and strap it to your studded and/or white belt. Youâll have your perfect opportunity to shake it with VHS or Beta and I am the World Trade Center on Thursday night.

As for the bands, they are prepared for the somewhat difficult task of getting hipsters to dance at shows.

ãWe have some special rock moves up our sleeves,ä said VHS bassist Mark Palgy.

He also says show openers I am the World Trade Center also have something to do with getting the crowd moving.

ãThe band weâre touring with is great for that. By the time we play, the vibe is already set. I am the World Trade Center warm the crowd, people are going to want to dance.ä

While both bands play music you can dance to, VHS or Beta plays a mix of disco and house music, all with traditional rock band instrumentation. I am the World Trade Center, composed of Dan Geller and vocalist/lyricist Amy Dykes, plays electronic pop music that leans more towards the Blondie side of disco. Geller, who composed all the music on his laptop, says their live show is a bit more than just him, Amy and a computer.

ãThere is actually a little extra instrumentation. There is a lot more vocoder (synthesized voice) in the live show. People seem to love the robot voices live,ä he said. The duo also has its own philosophy on crowd participation.

ãSometimes it is hard. We are very encouraging as we ourselves dance our asses off,ä Geller said. ãIf that doesnât work, generally nothing does.ä

VHS or Betaâs name seems to reference the same era as their music. But their name actually preceded their sound, Palgy said.

ãI came up with the name five years ago. It was going to be used for a different side project, but it ended up being for the band weâre in now. We thought it kind of made more sense for the music we were doing,ä he said.

ãIt was a kitschy name, and at the time we were playing more noise. Over time we started listening to more electronic music and started becoming more straightforward dance. I guess you can say we kind of grew into the name.ä

Their non-serious name reflects the bandâs belief that people take themselves too seriously at shows.

ãWe just wanted people to have fun at shows. People were taking themselves way too seriously. Our band is like, Îif youâre out, have a good time,âä Palgy said.

I am the World Trade Centerâs name still represents for band what it did three years ago when they moved to New York City and came up with the name.

Though the band shortened its name for a while, to just,ä I am the · ,ä it has decided to keep the name and donate a portion of the royalties from their album, ãOut of the Loop,ä to a September 11th charity.

Geller and Dykes, who are dating and live together, donât usually give the impression that they are anything more than band mates.

ãOur chemistry is more that of siblings. We make fun of each other and laugh at each other and try to mess each other up,ä Geller said. ãIt is playful and pro, we try not to alienate people with our relationship. Most people donât even know we are a couple.ä

Geller says living with the same person he tours with does make long hours on the road a lot easier.

ãYou already know what is annoying about them, and how to deal with their BS.ä