Leather and Fairy Wings – Bella Clava plays Love Stinks at Rok Boutique

Live Pic of Bella Clava Band By: Erin Fahy
March 02, 2009

In a leather and torn t-shirt world, Bella Clava wore bras, red tank tops and fairy wings – and that’s just the fellas.

“The costumes were just for fun, we thought we would just rock out. It was also an excuse to get the guys into lingerie style tops,” said lead singer, Caitlin Dacey, who rocked a pink wig, boa and heart-shaped sunglasses at the Valentine’s Day show.

Bella Clava’s rise to fame has had a lot of luck involved. They were a last minute addition to last year’s Indie Week and wound up taking second place.  Now they are going to tour Ireland with other Indie Week acts.

Valentines Day Bella Clava BandHowever, luck wasn’t so much on Bella Clava’s side during their Love Stinks gig. There  were some technical problems and the breaking in of a new bass player, not to mention the tough crowd (a Slash look-alike and other equally scary rocker dudes). But they managed to do the show in style, emphasizing their musical balls for taking on a tricky gig.

“A lot of places aren’t set up for keyboards, so it’s tricky,” Dacey said after the show. It was interesting to hear a different sound that you wouldn’t usually find at Rok. Bella Clava is a rock band, but there are distinct jazz and funk tones to their music.

“My favourite band is Queens of the Stone Age, but I’m not just one sided, I love all kinds of music, like the Kinks, anything with keys or organs. Our guitarist plays in another band and he brings a different style to our group, like a funky jazzy style,” she said.

Dacey has been playing the keys for years, “but I’m not the type to just sit and take lessons, I like to just learn a song from ear, so I can play all the stuff I love.”

Toronot Bella Clava BandDespite the goofy costumes, Dacey really felt the theme of the evening.  “Everyone knows that love isn’t perfect, it isn’t a peachy-keen time and it’s hard to find a guy who understands [that for me] music comes first.”

Single status aside, Bella Clava is a hardworking rock band.  With some polish they’ll sure to take Ireland – and Canada – by storm.

Check Bella Clava out when they return to Rok Boutique for Canadian Music Week on March 14.  Until then, check them out at www.myspace.com/bellaclavaband .

 

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