The BellRays
‘Maximum Rock & Soul’ is The BellRays describing The BellRays. And they’re right, too.
Deriving inspiration from the likes of Miles Davis, The Stooges, James Brown and The Who, the core of The BellRays is its four members: former jazz-singer Lisa Kekaula, Bob Vennum on bass (and focal originator of the group), the chiselled-cheeks, Tony Fate himself, on guitar, and the leather-jacket tightness of Vincent on drums.
Formed in the Riverside area, the band has been grafting and working relentlessly on its output for over a decade; yet, only recently has A&R interest really surfaced, the group being deemed the star-attraction at Texas music-conference, SxSW, in 1999. Attending the event that year was ex-Creation boss and owner of Hives’ UK label, Poptones – Alan McGee, and he liked what he saw.
... In fact, he enjoyed it so much that he repackaged a selection of the band’s tracks from their low-key records released thus far – ‘Grand Fury’ and ‘Let It Blast’ – forming a compilation for Britain on his label, entitled ‘Meet The BellRays’. Containing such head-grinding anthems as ‘Too Many Houses In Here’ and single ‘Fire On The Moon’, it’s the most energetic and frantic release of 2002. Naturally, the media has currently gone wild over them.
Yet, despite the late surge in popularity, the four-piece have always maintained confidence in their abilities and what they view as their ‘art’. Thus, the current press-furore surrounding them? They really don’t care – as long as their audiences and fans enjoy what the band are up to. Refreshing, eh?
OFFICIAL SITE: Contains a whole manner of info on the band, plus sounds, and a chance to email the group-members themselves.
POPTONES: Discover the wealth of other talent located on the BellRays\' UK label, Poptones.