THE VEDA RAYS

Gamma Rays Galaxy Rays Veda Rays
Alleged [09/20/2011]

They don't make bands like the Veda Rays anymore! Which is great news for these lean, mean, dexterous, dangerous lads: Jim Stark(vocals/guitar/keyboards); bassist Tyson Reed Frawley (bass); Jimmy Jenkins (guitar/keys) and Jason Gates (drums). Akin to numerous legendary ensembles of yore - ranging from the Stones to Aerosmith to the Dolls to the Pistols to Guns 'n' Roses etc. the Rays were borne in a swaggering haze of sex, drugs (metaphorically speaking) and of course, rock 'n' roll. Yet unlike a bazillion indie rockers, contemporary and otherwise, the Rays know how to write songs that stick in your memory banks! And dig this, they can play live too - just check out a few of their gonzo gig videos on YouTube - no Pro Tools trickery for this lot - what you hear is what you get!

The music: a muscular mélange of glam, punk, and classic rock with no song exceeding the four minute mark. Every track could qualify as a single - but we'll pick out two: "Honey Pot" which affords Stark ample opportunity to flex his expansive vocal chops (whatta range!) as his mates bash behind him, tempering their dynamics from verse to chorus. And "All Your Pretty Faces" - an anthem for all eras wherein the Rays start off seductive and understated before they bust into an arena rock chorus that would scare Bono into retirement.

If the Veda Rays don't catch on to the masses, we might as well fold our rock 'n' roll tent and go home to watch….the X Factor? Never!
--Tom Semioli

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