The BellRays

Originating from Riverside, California, the BellRays have been mixing punk, rock and soul with the unique authenticity that has made them who they are today. “We created a band and music based on what we love.” – explain Lisa Kekaula and Robert Vennum, the founding members of The BellRays. The tradition that the band continued over the last thirty years inspired them to infuse their influences. It’s in their DNA. The sound can be described by one simple formula: Emotion + energy = excitement. Their latest album, Heavy Steady Go! strictly follows this rule but also, provides new coloring and shades to the well-beloved formula. “We’ve heard ourselves described by some variation as ‘Tina Turner fronting AC/DC’ or ‘Motorhead meets Aretha Franklin’ which comes with an expectation to be that every time.” – explains Robert Vennum. “We are expected to be something that does not exist.”

 

According to Lisa Kekaula: “We stand apart and reactions like ‘not punk enough’, ‘not rock enough’, and ‘THAT’S not soul’ only fuel us more. We revel in our fearlessness to share what’s in our heads and hearts whether it’s understood or not. The most important thing is that we believe what we write and what we play. Our songwriting comes from a place that’s really deep and wide and in Heavy Steady Go! We realized that what we had created came from the impact point of this crater.” 

 

This recording is split by two cities, two years and two amazing rhythm sections. Mark Cisneros (bass) and Ron Miller (drums) both from Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds were the first and did the Tucson, AZ  session. The return of past drummer Craig Waters (Cody Chestnut, Andre Williams, the Countdowns) and newest arrival, Nico Miles on bass helped rearrange and add additional songs at the band’s own Sweet Gee Studios in Riverside, CA this past summer. Robert and Lisa seamlessly produced both sessions into the final product. Heavy Steady Go! is described by the two as ‘a festival in album form’. It’s contrasting style mashups and musical collaborations between each quartet is powerfully concentrated rock and roll.” Robert and Lisa explain that with these songs “we pay homage to Tom Petty, Bon Scott, Fleetwood Mac, Howlin’ Wolf, Cheap Trick, Betty Davis, and dozens of others that inspired this album. We wrote and crafted these songs looking at ourselves through the lens of the iconic sounds we heard growing up.”

 

Coming out August 30, 2024, “Heavy Steady Go!” will be released ahead of the upcoming U.S. and Canadian tour-dates with Social Distortion. Pre-order the LP from here now.

 

BIO:

 

The BellRays from Riverside, California have always been anchored by the team of Robert Vennum and Lisa Kekaula.  They continually surround themselves with top notch cohorts to bring their vision of punk, funk, rock and soul to the world. 

Since forming in 1990, The BellRays have been strictly following the DIY-ethos, not only the consistent part of punk-rock element of their creativity, but also, an important and integral element of band’s ethos. 

The band have played for us three times before in Middlesbrough.  This is their first time at the Georgian Theatre.