Even if it’s partially true, California’s BellRays – the core of which is the married duo of singer Lisa Kekaula and guitarist Bob Vennum – hate, hate, hate it when you say they’re “like the MC5 fronted by Tina Turner.” Fair enough, since their furious and delectable garage-rock ’n soul is infused with the grit, hooks, and passion of so many other classic acts from the annals of punk, Motown, and ’70s arena-rock. Too many to name here, but what’s important is: 1. That the quartet has distilled those influences into a sound and vibe they can rightfully call their own; and 2. They’re one of the most blazing, swaggering, soulful live acts you’ll ever experience, as Kekaula’s enormous ’fro and even bigger voice tangles with Vennum’s explosive riffs and the rhythm section’s righteous wallop to kick out the jams in a way that’s simply the best.

Sun., May 3, 8 p.m., 2009