aaamusic | On 21, Jun 2011

“Speed-dusted, punk paced hard rock fronted by the belting, Aretha Franklin-worthy soul vocals of Lisa Kekaula” NME

“This is raucous, sleazy, emphatic and fun.” Classic Rock

“The BellRays remain reliably better than is necessary, Kekaula the eternal superstar in waiting.” The Sunday Times

Having toured the UK earlier this year with Jim Jones Revue, Californian garage rockers The BellRays have announced three UK headline shows. The brief jaunt that includes a headline show at The Borderline on 27th July follows on from their latest, pulsating album ‘Black Lighting’ that was released early this year. An irresistible fusion of crunching rock riffs, Stooges-go-Motown drumming, throbbing freight-train basslines, all soothed to retro perfection by the jaw droppingly assured voice of Lisa Kekaula.

Always a difficult band to define, The BellRays remain oddly out of time with their contemporaries, and yet this is their greatest asset; imagine Gladys Knight fronting The MC5 (Lisa Kekaula actually joined MC5 on their 2004 tour); Aretha Franklin jamming with Black Flag.

Here is a band who have been on the cusp of great things for many years, call it mainstream success if you will, but they have all the while maintained a solid and admirably independent stance, never buckling under the hype. This firm footing is also clear and present in their musical output over the last decade; a compelling mix of head back, fist punching garage rock, gospel tinged songwriting and the incredible soul voice of Lisa Kekaula.

UK Tour Dates

27th July – The Borderline – London – http://venues.meanfiddler.com/borderline/listings/featured/4157
28th July – Caberet Voltaire – Edinburgh – http://www.thecabaretvoltaire.com/view_event.php?id=1875
29th July – The Cluny – Newcastle – http://www.thecluny.com/listing/bellrays