A Conversation with Lisa Kekaula (Vocals) and Bob Vennum (Guitar) of The Bellrays
For over three decades, The Bellrays -- Riverside, California’s powerhouse duo of Lisa Kekaula and Bob Vennum -- have blurred the lines between punk, soul, garage rock, and rock ’n’ roll fury. Their music has always been raw, electrifying, and cleansing.
I sat down with them both to discuss life on the road, the direction the band was heading and, of course, rock ’n’ roll itself. The Kool-Aid has been drunk, and I have been baptized in all its glory. The Bellrays are now purveyors of this infectious substance, ready to roll out the punches one note at a time -- real rock ’n’ roll for anti-Ikea people.
Their latest studio album, Heavy Steady Go! (2024) showcases everything fans have come to love: high-voltage performances, Kekaula’s scorching vocals, Vennum’s fiery guitar, and songs that push boundaries while staying deeply soulful. Their energy and independence remain undiminished.
Scene Point Blank: As a hardworking band, how has touring been overall for you?
Lisa Kekaula: It’s been amazing. Honestly, we’re just grateful it’s happening. There was a moment when we didn’t think it would. After a postponed run, we weren’t sure if the shows would actually happen. But being out there, playing, connecting with people face‑to‑face again, it feels incredible.
Scene Point Blank: Are you referring to post-COVID?
Lisa: Absolutely. Would people come out? Would it feel safe? Would it be worth it financially? Touring is always tough, and costs have skyrocketed -- hotels, gas, food. Being back out there reminds you why you do it.
Scene Point Blank: Rising costs have hit many bands hard. How has it affected you?
Bob Vennum: Oh yeah. When a major tour gets postponed, you can’t just fill that time with something else. You’re investing money in records, logistics, everything -- and the margins are thin. We hit the road feeling pretty broke.
Lisa: It’s one of those things where you’re technically "working," but until you’re actually out there playing -- it doesn’t feel real. The costs are real, and the margins are slim, but the payoff is being on stage and seeing people again.
Scene Point Blank: Live Nation’s “On the Road Again” program has been mentioned as helping offset touring costs. Did you experience that?
Lisa: Yes -- and I almost cried. The program provides financial support to local or opening bands at certain Live Nation venues, supplementing gas, hotels, and other expenses. They recognize that costs have gone up while performance pay hasn’t. That kind of support matters.
Scene Point Blank: Ticket prices are another hot topic. Fans are seeing dynamic pricing spike costs.
Lisa: It’s wild. Systems adjust ticket prices based on demand, sometimes charging hundreds of dollars for a show. Who can afford that?
Bob: And then sometimes tickets are far cheaper the night of the show. It’s inconsistent and frustrating. It creates a weird disconnect between fans and the experience.
Scene Point Blank: With streaming paying so little, is touring and merch really the only income source now?
Lisa: Streaming pays, but it doesn’t pay well.
Bob: The difference, for us, is we own our catalog. A lot of artists don’t. We started our own label and now own every record we’ve ever made. So revenue goes directly to us.
Lisa: That was a big move -- building infrastructure instead of waiting for someone else to take care of it. It gives us independence.
It’s about attitude, not labels.
Scene Point Blank: Are you signing other bands to your label?
Bob: No interest. [Laughs.]
Lisa: We do side projects -- Lisa and the Lips, or Bob and Lisa acoustically -- but that’s still just us. Our focus is our own creative output.
Scene Point Blank: You’ve often been labelled “punk rock soul.” How do you feel about that description?
Lisa: “It works -- we had an LP called Punk, Funk, Rock, Soul", but everything we do is rock ’n’ roll. People like to categorize things, but rock ’n’ roll is a mindset: pushing boundaries, energy, risk. Thelonious Monk? Rock ’n’ roll. Jazz musicians pushing limits? Rock ’n’ roll. It’s about attitude, not labels.
Scene Point Blank: What shaped your musical upbringing?
Lisa: Radio. The Top 40 back then was integrated. You’d hear The Beatles, Parliament‑Funkadelic, Linda Ronstadt, and Sam Cooke -- all on the same station. Hits were hits. Genre didn’t matter. That kind of exposure changes how you think about music.
Bob: It was just good songs. That’s what we absorbed.
Scene Point Blank: Did that openness influence The Bellrays’ sound?
Bob: Definitely. We never saw walls between styles.
Lisa: If it moves you, it moves you. We didn’t sit down and decide to combine punk and soul -- that’s just what came out.
Scene Point Blank: Touring internationally has gotten more complicated. Have you run into challenges?
Lisa: Canada’s been relatively easy for us. The U.S. can be trickier for bands -- food rules, customs, visa costs. Costs have gone up a lot. Smaller bands can’t afford to tour internationally the way they used to. It’s heartbreaking.
Scene Point Blank: With all these changes in the industry, what keeps you motivated?
Bob: The songs. There are always songs brewing.
Lisa: Even in the middle of a tour cycle, ideas are forming. We want people to hear the new record because we’re proud of it. And honestly, the connection with the audience -- that’s something streaming can’t replicate.
Scene Point Blank: After more than three decades, what keeps the band intact?
Lisa: We’re the core. When we’re not here, it’s gone.
Bob: We were here before the beginning.
Lisa: It’s commitment. It’s not glamorous. It’s work. But it’s ours.
Scene Point Blank: Does it ever get easier?
Lisa: No. [Llaughs.] It gets different. You get smarter, avoid mistakes, but it’s still physical, emotional, and financial. Perspective changes -- you start appreciating small wins like a good night’s sleep, or a check that covers gas.
Scene Point Blank: What does success look like now?
Bob: Ownership.
Lisa: Freedom. Making the music we want. Playing it for people who care. That’s it. We’ve never chased trends; we’ve chased energy.
Scene Point Blank: If you had to define The Bellrays in one sentence?
Lisa: Rock ’n’ roll -- not as a genre, but as a way of life.
Official website & tour info: https://thebellrays.com
