Live Review: The BellRays, The Boys, Some Jerks

It's time to rock'n'roll tonight with US mainstays The BellRays returning to the country after a lengthy absence. There's a decent audience already present as Some Jerks kick into gear – they're like little Rory Calhouns standing upright towards the front. The band control the large Hi-Fi stage and the sound really works, their blend of garage and pop coming through clear as day and everything sitting just perfect in the mix throughout the set.

Then we reach The Boys – the all-girl 'grunge' group that tries to do everything the label says. Firstly, the group's mix is good and the band have obviously spent a lot of time honing this sound, rarely missing a beat. But unfortunately what's on offer resembles a bland cliché at best, one that brings nothing original to the table apart from an in-between song hat change. The banter the group toss up between tracks is nearly as torturous as their 'rock' moves – which even Bon Jovi would use more sparingly – and when they bring out the acoustic guitar, the following track is as middle of the road as the set gets. This group are a bad choice for tonight, even though they have a solid fanbase; it just doesn't really fit and Smashing Pumpkins would be turning over in their Siamese Dream grave while Courtney Love is probably calling her lawyer.

Fortunately, we then reach tonight's headliners. Instantly The BellRays kick into gear and it's a high-octane trip throughout, with the group rarely stopping for a breather between tracks. It's hard not to immediately pick up that this group are seasoned performers, with powerhouse frontwoman Lisa Kekaula leading the charge with her bad-arse attitude and simply amazing vocals. The songs are quickfire in delivery and draw primarily from the latest record, Black Lightning, and the new material definitely holds its own within this already bubbling set. Over time, as a song breaks down and then works up to a peak – it's hard not to stand on the tip of your toes and go through the motions with the band. The track Black Lightning is quick, powerhouse blues and shows the group's wide variety of influence, but it's Sun Comes Down that steals the set and embodies everything that you want to see from this band, showcasing the class rhythm section underneath Kekaula's vocal gymnastics. When it all ends it feels like it's finished a little too soon – the encore is inevitable, but we're still left wanting more. Perhaps that's just the power of this great band, and as the lights come on it's not surprising at all to find the room full of smiling faces.