Rock Four - Babylon, Ottawa, 19/10/2005
by Andrew Carver
published: 22 / 10 / 2005

intro
The Bellrays have always attracted good crowds in Ottawa. Andrew Carver finds their blistering combination of soul and punk-flavoured rock after a two hour set leaving most their audience highly satisfied
The Bellrays’ ferocious musical attack is well known to Ottawa audiences and a good-sized crowd ventured into Babylon on a Wednesday night to hear their rock and soul testimonial. The opening act was to have been Montreal trash rock combo the Sunday Sinners, but they failed to make it – due to an excess of sinning, no doubt – so local trio Four’n’Giv’r appeared in their stead. A new band of experienced local punk and garage rockers influenced by bands like the Velvet Underground, Wire, and garage rock oddballs like Nobody’s Children, the Monks and the Hombres, they put on a powerful set of extra-rhythmic garage punk. Of course, no one can upstage the Bellrays – Lisa Kekeula is one of the most powerful vocalists in rock, and is able to handle the band’s shifts between rock, soul and jazz with aplomb. Her three bandmates are as capable, if not as singular as Kekeula : Bassist Bob Vennum’s already punishing attack is abetted by the hard-hitting style of drummer Craig Waters, while Tony Fate can dish out anything from R&B to Detroit-style rock. The band was very focused at this show. Sometimes the group lets its occasional jazzy interpolations get away from them, or spends a little too much time on between-songs testifying. There was a mini-lecture or two about the vital importance of change and the like (well, it wouldn’t be a Bellrays show without them), but for the most part the group launched a relentless blast of soul and punk-flavoured rock, including such classics as 'Blues for Godzilla' with songs from their new album. Even though the show stretched on for what seemed like two hours the band kept up a blistering pace, leaving their many local fans more than satisfied.
Picture Gallery:-





live reviews |
Exeter University Great Hall, Exeter, 26/10/2005 |
![]() |
Bloc Party have as many detractors as they do admirers, but in Exeter University's Great Hall Ben Howarth watches them defy their critics and pitch a perfect set appealing to all levels of fans from casual Top 40 listeners to indie geeks |
most viewed articles
current edition
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every SongArmory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Colin Blunstone - Thalia Hall, Chicago, 16/7/2025
Bathers - Photoscapes 1
Visor Fest - Valencia, Spain, 26/9/2025...27/9/2025
John McKay - Interview
Billie Eilish - O2 Arena, London, 10/7/2025
Robert Forster - Interview
Sir Tim Rice - Interview
Loft - Interview
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPManic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Paul Clerehugh - Interview
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Prolapse - Interview
Doris Brendel - Interview
Peter Perrett - In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Interview Part One
most viewed reviews
current edition
Phew, Erika Kobayashi,, Dieter Moebius - Radium GirlsAmy Macdonald - Is This What You've Been Waiting For?
Sick Man of Europe - The Sick Man of Europe
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the Jumbo
Alice Cooper - The Revenge of Alice Cooper
Lucy Spraggan - Other Sides of the Moon
Blueboy - 2
Cynthia Erivo - I Forgive You
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Bush - I Beat Loneliness
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart