The Bell Rays

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I saw them live last night. The Shakedowns opened up, which is why I went, having not heard the Bell Rays before - of course they blew my mind. I was extraordinarily impressed and went and purchased both albums on the spot. The singer, Lisa, grabbed my face during the last song. I bought her a Newcastle and would've bought beers for the rest of the band but they stopped selling booze before Tony(g), Eric(d) & Bob(b) got done tearing down and packing up. The crowd was v. small because of weather but it was kind of nice since there wasn't a parking issue and the wait at the bar was nonexistent.

Tell your stories about getting your face grabbed by Lisa from the Bell Rays.

― Millar (Millar), Friday, 14 March 2003 23:30 (twenty-three years ago)

I've seen Lisa from the BellRays leap off the stage at CBGB's, invade the crowd, and leap back up onto the stage from a standing start... WHILE WEARING SIX-INCH HEELS.

― Douglas (Douglas), Friday, 14 March 2003 23:43 (twenty-three years ago)

if you like the bellrays check out her other band the now time delegation

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Friday, 14 March 2003 23:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Saw them open for the JSBX two years ago and it was something akin to premature ejaculation. Those B'rays were exponentially more exciting and made Spencer and his exploding blues players seem like a 50-minute yawn. All I remember about Lisa was her legs and her grit.

― Famous Athlete, Saturday, 15 March 2003 06:08 (twenty-three years ago)

I liked them a lot, but the last time I saw them, every song sounded like the grand ending of some arena rock set. Not too many actual songs. Hopefully, that was just a one-off fluke meant to spite me.

― donut bitch (donut), Saturday, 15 March 2003 08:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, they are kinda PEAK PEAK PEAK PEAK with the setlist and the stylings. It was a bit intense, I had to retreat for a little while to regroup and chat with the bassist from the Shakedowns. But damn, what peaks.

― Millar (Millar), Saturday, 15 March 2003 08:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Definitely check out the Now Time Delegation. Other members include Tim Kerr and half of the Gospel Swingers. Excellent record.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Monday, 17 March 2003 03:30 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

i saw lisa k from the bellrays w/ the remnants of the mc5 last night and oh man was she really truly something - i'd heard abt the bellrays before, and was worried she might be some kind of half-assed indie apologia for a soul-rock diva but oh no, she was the real sweet deal - there was something super-compelling abt seeing brother wayne kramer, lookin' supertrim dressed all in white, and lisa k, in big white boots and kinky afro, rockin' out together, stage-flrting, white panther black panther grey panther

― sister ann, Saturday, 26 February 2005 22:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Good to see this thread. I've just gotten the anthology Rip It Up:The Black Experience in Rock 'N' Roll, and Lisa's on the cover.

― don, Sunday, 27 February 2005 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Lisa was the d.j. that came after my Monday afternoon slot on college radio -- kucr, good old motherkucr. Of course, our playlists always featured the Bellrays. I was pleasantly surprised (but not really that surprised to see them succeed) to see them finally get signed to a major and have their stuff flogged in a tiny store in Chiba, Japan.

She never grabbed my face. She was always pleasant. Sometimes she was late to her shift, but she always called well in advance and wasn't more than 10 minutes late.

Her radio shows sounded like you'd expect them to -- loud, joyous soul rock'n'roll.

Yay for the Bellrays!

― Melinda Mess-injure, Sunday, 27 February 2005 14:55 (twenty-one years ago)

I had the Bellrays play on my radio show and I was almost embarrassed to have them do their set in the confines of a studio - it was so amazing. She didn't grab my face either. I've heard Lisa's radio show online too, it's great....

― Brian Turner (btwfmu), Sunday, 27 February 2005 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

this band and now time delegation are so overrated. about as "soul-punk" as the black crowes. though more soul-punk than the gossip i guess.

― henrod eldrix, Sunday, 27 February 2005 21:05 (twenty-one years ago)

I wish they had more songs like "Blue Cirque" and less soul-punk (or maybe they do, I've barely heard anything after Let It Blast)

― milozauckerman (miloaukerman), Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Where do they sell? England? Big in Spain? They have great press but I tossed all their CDs in trade. My Humble Pie records are better and the Bell Rays did a not too shabby cover of a cover from "Rockin' the Fillmore." Maybe they just need a Dee Anthony or Glyn Johns to produce them. Unfortunately, those types of people are dead or retired.

― George Smith, Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I saw Lisa with the MC5 as well...

it was totally amazing..

like aretha backed by the stooges.

If I buy a bellrays album will it be a total dissapointment?

― danny boy, Sunday, 27 February 2005 22:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Fuck no. I love this band. They're in my neck of the woods in April and I'm very glad of this.

What's that book like Don? Sounds good.

― DJ Mencap0))), Monday, 28 February 2005 10:42 (twenty-one years ago)

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