Dave Chamberlain

Band for band, pound for pound, tonight's concert marks one of the best gritty rock `n' roll shows of the young year. The Bellrays, a self-knighted "rock `n' soul" outfit from LaLa land, have been lobbing shots of loud, underground rock for the better part of a decade now. Though the band only has two real full-length records to show for its troubles, they just released "Raw Collection" (Upper Cut/Vital Gesture), a compilation of fifteen singles and outtakes released since 1995. It reveals a remarkable lack of growth, but fortunately we're talking about abusive, seedy and spitefully angry rock here, so there's no harm in the band staying right where they are. What'll no doubt pack this show, however, are the openers. The Electric Six, who combine roughshod metal with trashy disco flavor (you'd never guess the former, based on their Euro hit "Danger! High Voltage"), are up and down. Three weeks ago at the Double Door, they played one of this year's most entertaining rock shows--five days later at South by Southwest, they were much less impressive throughout a much shorter set. If the E6 are on, every successive band faces an uphill task. And the D4, a crew of Kiwis who play big, dumb and thoroughly addictive guitar rock, have amassed a bit of a following themselves since playing this same venue to a very small crowd a couple months ago. On stage, the band creatively reproduces its debut record, "6Twenty," adding just enough sandpaper to the edges to roughen up the smooth production lines of the studio. Expect a big crowd tonight, so come early and stay late.

The Bellrays, Electric Six and D4 play March 28 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)276-3600.

(2003-03-26)

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