There is nothing purer than a healthy dose of unreconstructed garage blues rock, and The Bellrays are grand masters of the art.

Reading Indie Life haven’t seen The Bellrays live for about 23 years. I say about, because I can find no evidence on the Internet of the gig we went to at the Oxford Zodiac (now the 02 Academy) which is somewhat unusual. It was after a UK released compilation (Meet The Bellrays), with tracks from their previous couple of albums, briefly ignited the indie zeitgeist and got the NME hot under the collar. It definitely happened, as anyone who has experienced the powerhouse voice of Lisa Kekaula in person is never going to forget it. A voice of such pure blues-rock-soul energy it could pin you all the way back to the nearest wall. She is best known for featuring on a few Basement Jaxx tracks including the hit single ‘Good Luck.’

The thought of seeing larger than life superheroes like Bob Vennum and Lisa Kekaula in a small venue London was too much to resist. The New Cross Inn was a new venue to us, but it is another proper guitar loving establishment to enjoy coming back to if the right thing comes up.

Cold Caller

The two support acts were just right for tonight, each representing one side of The Bellrays style. Cold Caller were the garage punk side, with a healthy range of foot to the floor tracks.

Junkyard Choir

Where the previous band bought the rock, Junkyard Choir very much brought the blues. It was a decent set with a couple of tracks you could imagine Quentin Tarantino giving the eye to. Final track ‘Money’ started slowly, but the four-piece accelerated it to a crescendo at the end with some style.

The Bellrays

You can’t imagine The Bellrays are doing anything more than breaking even on this UK jaunt, but we will gratefully bite their arm off for coming and they have always enjoyed touring round Europe. Whilst this venue feels too small for them that is very much “c’est la vie” for great bands in 2025, and they are past masters of working these kind of rock loving bars in America and beyond.

This is less a gig and more of a live musical exorcism. In an alternative reality Lisa Kekaula is a southern fire and brimstone preacher generating a reaction so intense the whole audience would start speaking in tongues and screaming “Hallelujah!” She frequently both reminds us, implores us, commands us that “THIS IS A ROCK SHOW!” And wow, what a rock show it is!

They kick off with an absolutely rambunctious version of their 1998 fan favourite ‘Blues For Godzilla.’ The current rhythm section of Craig Waters on drums and Pablo Rodas on bass sound fantastic and bring both enough charisma and energy to not be overshadowed by Kekaula’s devastating voice and Vennum’s top notch guitar skills. We then get the first three tracks in a row from last year’s underrated album Heavy Steady Go! ‘Hard Drive’ is probably the pick, though live the sheer blues of ‘Snakes’ takes it up a notch from the album version.

They eschew some of the obvious picks from 2000’s Grand Fury like ‘Zero PM’ and ‘Fire on the Moon’ in favour of deeper cuts like ‘Monkey House’ and a ferocious version of ‘Stupid Fuckin’ People.’

As it progresses the stage is no longer enough to contain Kekaula and she is off out into the crowd to testify during ‘Power To Burn.’ She goes around touching each person on the shoulder, “You have the Power!” It is electric.

The Bellrays have never gone into straight up politics. Kekaula suggests that in the current climate it is important to find time to get together and generate positive energy. That when you have the positive energy from an event like tonight it is important to share that good positive energy with others. It is not the worst messaging to encourage.

Kekaula is 58 years old, Vennum has always seemed a few years older than her, though you wouldn’t believe it on stage as both bring incredible energy. Vennum is pogoing around at times like a guitarist half his age.

Whilst leaving out a few of their hits they are not going to finish anywhere else than with 2011’s ‘Black Lightning.’ It is an epic finale to an epic gig. Every track has been dialled up to 11 tonight. As they walk off a guy just over from me exclaims, “I’ve never heard a single song of theirs before tonight… and that was INSANE.” Yes it was my friend, yes it was.