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THE BELLRAYS - Kill Texas - VICE MAGAZINE PARTY EXCLUSIVLY AVAILABLE AT SONY CONNECT

SXSW 2006 REVIEW
The BellRays @ The Parish

I’ve gone on and on so often about the wonder that is the BellRays that it seems almost pointless to do it again. But I can’t sing this band’s praises loudly enough. This was an afternoon show for mostly music biz weasels, and the band hit the stage with the same fire and fury it would any other show. Playing a blazing mix of recent songs ("Revolution Get Down," "Remember," "We Are the Dead") and tunes from its forthcoming album Have a Little Faith, the California quartet has incorporated more funk, soul and jazz influences into its music than ever before, without ever coming off as "funk rock" or "jazz rock." The group’s use of dynamics grows ever more masterfulthis set was practically a class on how to use dynamics without ever falling into loud/soft clichs. The ’Rays’ energy level was burning hotter than a supernova sun’s, and singer Lisa Kekaula’s sheer sense of commitment dragged us on the bus whether we were prepared or not. The BellRays are the only band I know that literally get better every timelet me repeat that, every timeI see them. And there’s nothing quite like watching the BellRays completely win over a jaded SXSW crowd.

Americana UK Blog SXSW 2006 REVIEW
The BellRays @ The Parish

The Bellrays came out of the traps at full pelt with a storming &..39;Revolution, Get Down’. Singer Lisa Kekaula looks like she’s escaped from a 70s Shaft movie, but what a voice! The combination of loud fast riffing guitar and soul belter worked brilliantly. When some jazzier funk moments came in, things lapsed back to something more ordinary, but when they rocked they really rocked. A staggeringly good live band.

Mundane Sounds Blog SXSW Review
The BellRays @ The Vice Party (Victory Grill)

As the Thursday sun began to set, the BellRays walked on the Victory Grill stage and gave me my second truly mind-blowing SXSW 2006 experience.

I remember reading about how Tina Turner gradually grew bored of her then-husband Ikes songs during the early 70s, and wanted to pursue a more rock-based sound. Unfortunately, she went the MOR adult-contemporary route after leaving him. In a just world, her solo material wouldve sounded like the BellRays: loud guitars and drums mowing down the listeners ears like a train on a track, with Tinas soulful wail functioning as the conductors horn would, cutting through the racket to capture the passengers attention.

My only prior exposure to the BellRays was hearing their song Stupid F*ckin People (from their 2001 album Grand Fury) on the Splendid E-zine jukebox. I adopted that song as a personal anthem --- with a title like that, can you blame me? I never thought to pick up any of their albums, though. What a fool I was for neglecting them for so long!

It goes without saying that singer Lisa Kekaula has a voice thats as big as her Afro, and powerful enough to strip paint off of a car, and that her male comrades are all black belts on their respective instruments. What REALLY impressed me about their performance was the sincerity and passion behind it. This wasnt a United Colors of Benetton gimmick, a diluted neo-soul approximation of rock or an ironic post-R&B pastiche (Ill be polite and refrain from naming names). When they write the words soul is the teacher, punk is the preacher in their CD liner notes, they back it up with their music. When Lisa sings You are a star! to the audience, she sings it over and over again until she feels that everyone has gotten the message.

I danced so hard to their music that a screw popped out of the rims of my glasses. I had to run to a nearby convenience store to buy some black electrical tape to put them back together with. I dont think I missed more than two songs of their set. I bought their latest CD The Red, White and Black after their set, and Lisa thanked me for dancing up front. I apologized for leaving in the middle of their set, and showed her my taped-up glasses. Thats the best reason Ive ever heard for leaving a show! she said. It is rare to run into a band that exudes joy and conviction, both on and off the stage. The BellRays are one of them. by Sean Padilla @ 2:49 PM

And the BellRays couldn’t be more honest in their presentation: no slick marketing campaign or corporate image... just amped up, ass kicking, old school rocking and rolling.

Let the BellRays take you on a wild ride POPMATTERS 11/05