The BellRays Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 2nd 2010 3:15PM by Michele Stephens
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When you mix emotion, energy, emotion and raw talent with spirit, the outcome is the BellRays. The Riverside, Calif., quartet works on incorporating soul, jazz and funk into their rock in order to define themselves and set themselves apart from the crowd. This year will not be their first year attending SXSW, but they are ready to show off their high energy level and ensure a good time for all watching. Spinner recently spoke with guitarist Bob Vennum about the band and its plans for the coming year.

Describe your sound.

We are an original rock and soul band. Revved up soul/punk music without all the clichés.

How did your band form?

I had been doing original bands for a few years when I met [BellRays singer] Lisa [Kekaula]. We were both working as cooks in a restaurant on the college campus here in Riverside. We started antoher band that broken up in a few months, so we started the BellRays after that.

What are your musical influences?

Music. I grew up literally listening to everything we had in the house. The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson. Lightning Hopkins, the Who, hard rock, the Stones, Motown, Stax, Hank Williams, George Jones, Robert Johnson -- and then I started buying stuff like the Ramones, Fear, Black Flag, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, the Modern Jazz Quartet. I don't incorporate it all in my playing so much, but I try to keep it present all the time. You never know where inspiration is going to come from.

How did you come up with the name "The Bellrays" for the band?

It came from a page of band names that I wrote down. I sort of picked it because it had an ambiguous edge to it. We wouldn't be penned in by the name.

Any bands you are looking forward to seeing at SXSW?

I really haven't seen who's playing yet.

What's in your festival survival kit?

A plane ticket home.

What is in store for the BellRays in 2010?

We got a new record coming out and we'll be touring a bunch: South America, Japan, Europe, the US and Canada.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

I play Peavey amps.

What's the craziest thing you've seen or experience while on tour?

We seem to miss natural disasters by a day or two. The big hurricane in Paris in 1999, the torrential flooding in Italy last year, Katrina, we were suppose to fly to Europe a week before 9/11.

The Beatles or the Stones?

The Beatles.

Michele Stephens is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.