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BELLY IN CONCERT:
'90s indie darlings Belly ended a two-decade hiatus in 2016 with an unexpected reunion tour that thrilled fans and proved the band has lost none of their fuzzed-out edge. In concert Belly hasn't missed a beat – the verve and energy they bring to the stage is a throwback to alternative rock's heyday, and fans are all too happy to relive the distortion-driven goodness of favorites like "Feed the Tree" and "Now They'll Sleep." Singer and guitarist Tanya Donelly sounds as good as ever, and the sweetness her inviting vocals bring to the mix remains the perfect foil to the band's hard-hitting tunes. With new material in the works and ticket buyers lining up to celebrate their reunion, Belly is back and ready to rock fans with a nostalgic blast from the alt-rock past.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Belly was formed in Boston in 1991 by former Throwing Muses and The Breeders member Tanya Donnelly. She teamed up with Fred Abong (bass) and brothers Tom and Chris Gorman (guitar and drums respectively), and in 1992 the foursome released their debut EP Slow Dust to a No. 1 spot on the UK Indie Chart. They followed up in 1993 with their full-length debut Star, a No. 2 hit on the UK Albums Chart that also found stateside success thanks to popular singles "Feed the Trees" and "Gepetto." The album firmly established Belly as indie rock royalty – they finished out 1993 touring with Radiohead and The Cranberries, and in 1994 they received Grammy nominations for Best Alternative Album and Best New Artist. Following the release of Star, bassist Fred Abong was replaced with former metal guitarist Gail Greenwood, and her aggressive style led the band to pursue a more rock and roll-oriented direction on their 1995 sophomore album King. The new sound didn't resonate as strongly with fans as their previous work, and in 1996 Donelly broke up the band to pursue a solo career. Since reuniting in 2016 Belly has been a whirlwind of activity, delivering powerhouse performances on tour and working hard on new material.
Been wanting to see Belly since 96, but never worked out. Band and opener were wonderful. The venue was nice, although the concrete floors reminded me my knees are closer to 50 than 40 these days.
Love Belly!!! Wish I could have gone both nights. Can't wait to see them again.
What an awesome show. I never thought I'd see them in concert...totally a lifetime dream come true. Waited 23 years and was not disappointed.
Tanya Donnelly is one of the great songwriters of her generation. Her Swansong series and the new Belly are among the best albums of this decade. The band has always been great live, but I was surprised by how great they still are, how strong her vocals are, and how much fun they looked like they were having. Hope a fourth Belly album will follow!
The way Tanya sings is hypnotic. Combined with the powerful energy of Gail and the rest of the band, this band is one of my favorites. There are many reasons to come to a show like this. Mine have always been about how Tanya has helped be a beacon to guide me through life. When times have been at the worst, her music was there to lift me up and help carry me on. In my eyes, such a brilliant Muse is a true one, this is one fan she will never lose. Even if I am playful and flirty, so is the music. Fact is, I only want the best for this band.
I had been waiting since the mid-90's to see this wonderful band when they released their second and last album before abruptly breaking up. Now that they have returned, they sound and look like they did back in the 90's!!! Tanya was as lovely as ever and the band was tight. They rocked the stage with many of their great songs from both albums. They even announced that they would be recording new material and performed a few for us. The crowd was filled with true fans and we all applauded and showed our love for them. The venue was rather new and totally crowded. The sound quality and lighting were great. Seeing Tanya perform her own songs apart from "Throwing Muses" is always a thrill! She did not disappoint! I totally recommend seeing "Belly" when they return!
I had been waiting for 21 years to see Belly again! Although they lasted only two albums before disintegrating, those two albums were great enough to ensure a following for decades! The show was excellent and long! The band played many songs from both albums and even some new material. They all still have it and Tanya's voice was still heavenly and sweet! It was great to see Tanya do her signature moves onstage like she has for over thirty years! The crowd was great and we all showed our love for them! They didn't perform all the songs I wanted to hear, but after so many years, I'm not complaining! The venue was not bad, being open for barely a year. I think the band played for around 2 hours. Having played with Throwing Muses, Belly and her long solo career, I always loved her in Belly the best. I totally recommend seeing the band whether you are a fan or not! It is money well spent!
Belly was incredible! I was right in front of Gail who is just so energetic, and nice, and lovely, great energy singing along with her. They played a great set list and was great to see them after so long on hiatus!
Belly sounds like they never broke up. Great 2-set show that touched on basically every major song from their (regrettably small) catalog. It's the same lineup that made King -- Tanya Donnelly, Gail Greenwood, and the Gorman brothers -- and they seemed happy to be together on stage and reconnecting with old fans. Gail in particular is a trip; she provides the comic relief while Tanya leads the band, and Chris Gorman keeps everyone on task, often asking "should we play some music now?" A highly welcome surprise: They presented several new songs within the set! Seems that this reunion could extend beyond a single tour, which is very exciting. Be sure to catch them if you're a fan. You're going to be impressed!
I couldn't have asked for a better show. The venue was just right albeit the alcohol a little expensive. The sound was excellent from my perspective, at stage front. The band engaged the audience and made you feel as if you were friends in their garage.
Band never missed a beat!!! Like time has stood still! Would see them again if they tour with new music!!!
great show, great set list, and a great crowd, it just doesn't get any greatter than this. Never imagined I'd have a chance to ses Belly live! Forget the iphone videos, they sound like crap - not Belly!
There's something magical about a reunion tour that doesn't have any hidden agenda. And it's a testament to the talent of Tanya and her band mates, who were essentially local musicians that she recruited more than 20 years ago, that they can sound flawless after not playing together for 20 years. And if there's one more thing that this show proved, it's that Belly deserves every single description of "underrated" that they were ever given. Run -- don't walk -- to any Belly show that you can find.
Belly was completely on the entire show!! The show was awesome, me and my friends had a great time.
Great show - the band was having a great time and it showed. Nice intimate venue was perfect.
I waited over 20 years to see Belly. Back during their first run, I never had the money or a car that could get me to the show. Now that I'm 40, and can afford it.....I feel like I'm 20 again. The band sounds great! Plus, they added two new songs. They changed the set list every show. This was as good a show as I've ever seen.
What can I say.... great show, great set & great band. Amazing how the music that gets played most on radio these days pales to talent like this. Still as strong as the '90's with new songs thrown into the mix.
Tonya Donnelly and company rocked! Brought chills down my spine to hear all the favorites and some great new ones!
It was amazing to get to see my all time favorite band (and favorite singer) perform live again. Great show, very long set, so much energy! Looking forward to seeing them a couple more times.
Although Tanya Donnelly has been prolific these past few years, sometimes even performing with Gail Greenwood, this is the first time in a couple of decades that there's been a proper reunion tour. It certainly brought back memories for this Gen X kid, and the new material blended seamlessly with their classic output. The crowd was very upbeat, kind of like seeing old friends again. If I had any sort of quibble, it would be that the setlist was all over the place, and having them take a ten minute break between sets made me feel old.
