If cooking and music can both feed the soul, then Lisa Kekuala and husband Bob Vennum have stirred up their own exacting blend.
Both musicians met while working as cooks at a popular college hangout, the Bull N’ Mouth (now the Getaway), near the UC Riverside campus. In the early 1990s they decided to mix marriage and music to form the band The BellRays, and they have been satisfying fans with their fresh sounds ever since.
“We call what we do punk, rock and soul with a little edge and a bit of softness,” says Kekuala. “We don’t fit into a quick description. We evoke different responses from different people. Some people say we are a hard band to forget…we just sound refreshing. We have a good time and people really seem to dig what we do…they feel fulfilled.”
VIDEO: Check out On Top by The Bellrays
The BellRays plan to steam up the stage at this year's Rhythm Wine and Brews Experience at the Empire Polo Fields the second night (March 5) of the two-night event. The music, food, and wine fete is a feast for the senses kicking off with a VIP Brewery Bottle Share on March 4.
Here's what else to expect:
• An eclectic musical lineup includes Matisyahu, Dream Club, Insecure Alex, The BellRays, and Long Duk Dong.
• Food trucks and favorite local restaurant eats fuel the famished with such treats as sausage, sandwiches, lobster, chicken and chocolates.
• Approximately 25 wineries and 40 craft beer vendors will be pouring samples of their tasty beverages.
• A visually stunning scene illuminates the open air venue with art work, lighting displays, and fun activities to engage revelers.
The BellRays have cultivated a healthy career by releasing a series of independent albums, including The Bell Rays (1990), The Red, White and Black (2004), Hard Sweet and Sticky (2008) , and Black Lighting (2010).
“We get out there to slay,” says Kekuala. “When we get up there, we want to have a good time, have a rockin’ set and try to make sure that everyone watching us says, ‘Oh My God…they make me feel like Superman.’”
Rhythm, Wine and Brews, March 4-5, Empire Polo Grounds, 81800 Avenue 51, Indio, www.rwbexp.com
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