Due to the magic that is cast by the benevolent puppet-masters at Uber HQ, I was lucky enough to be given the chance to review a band I'd often heard mentioned but quite had frankly never heard. That band was The BellRays, and the album was their recently released 'Black Lightning'. Considering they have been around for 20 years, it is not only shameful that I had never taken time out of my comparatively dull life to give these lot a go, but it is also stupid. The new album has barely left my CD player since I received it due to the fact that is one of the best albums I have ever heard. Believe me, I do not say that lightly.

When it was announced that the Californian quartet would be rocking up to this metropolis I call home, I jumped on one of those piss-taking, money-robbing websites and ordered what used to be called tickets but are now just colourful A4 sheets of paper that you print out yourself at work so as not to waste your own ink. By some stroke of a godly miracle these tickets were in fact only 10 pounds! Regardless of my whining about ticket costs, I'd willingly pay double that to see a band of this quality; and I often do! Although we'll forget about the fees for now...

Surprisingly, I'd never been to the Borderline before, but had heard good things about it. Sure enough, the venue didn't disappoint and the floor space downstairs accented by two bars was a perfect setting for a show such as this. I wandered in early as the doors were at 7, it was mid-week, and I didn't want to miss anything. It wasn't scheduled to start as early as the recent Guitar Wolf show I went to though, and so the place was fairly empty as the support band Black Moth were setting up. The crowd slowly grew throughout a decent set that comprised of heavy riffs ploughing industrially along at a stoner rock pace. They definitely have the components of a good band, and at times really hit the mark, but they perhaps didn't always have the presence to light up the stage and some songs were a lot better than others. I dug the riffs though, and the singer's voice was strong. I hope to catch them again soon.

Presence is one thing the BellRays certainly don't lack, and tonight they burst on to the stage with 'Buried Alive', cruising into it as if they were already in full flight. From the off it was clear that they were on form and meant business. The marriage between garage rock 'n' roll and Lisa Kekaula's soulful voice is what makes the group so uniquely brilliant. It is done with such honest ease that it works without trying to tap in to each different influence. Live, it loses none of that sharp flavour; particularly as this set is loaded with songs from the new album, which (although I realise it is the first one I heard - I have been doing some retrospective research!) is excellent in terms of accenting all of their mixed styles. A particular highlight was 'Anymore', sounding even more soulful and full of depth than on the record.

Songs such as 'Black Lightning' and 'On Top' ensured that the set was full of energy, with barely a break in-between songs, and although the sound in the venue was perhaps the only slightly negative point about it, Kekaula's voice boomed through with a powerful delivery which was quite honestly superb. After playing out their encore to the swelling, delighted crowd, the band left the stage with an air of emotion still simmering over it. The BellRays are a cocktail with only the best ingredients, and as their motto quite eloquently expresses; "Blues is the teacher. Punk is the preacher."

[Photo kudos to Nicki Newton]