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Gigs like this are pure frustration to review. Let's be straight here - the Bellrays are a good band and what stuff of theirs I've heard, I've liked. But tonight...
It's annoying. There's something missing but it's difficult to put your finger on what. It's not that the group do anything drastically wrong tonight - there's plenty of effort there and the songs are good enough (a rollicking "Fire On The Moon" and "They Glued Your Head On Upside Down" being the highlights). It's just that, somehow, their sound doesn't work in the live arena. The band stay disappointingly static on stage which doesn't make for a brilliantly captivating spectacle and even lead singer Lisa's impressive voice can't really hold your attention when there doesn't appear to be much happening. Okay, so when they're rocking full tilt that doesn't matter so much but when the tempo really drops on the slower jams such as "Blue Cirque" that the lack of stage presence really hits you - you know you shouldn't be losing interest but there's no denying that you are.
Okay so perhaps the Bellrays were never going to be the sort of band to put on a blistering live show - they perennially slate bands such as Green Day and the Offspring who use all the gimmicks they can to keep people interested. But really, on this evidence, my advice is stick to listening to 'em on record where they sound best. Sorry.
Reviewed by Andy James
