Bledsoe: Bellfield looks for a knockout with live recording at the Bijou

Members of the band Bellfield, from left, Jason Gostkowski, Robert Paulmorrow and Van Gallik rehearse on Thursday, September 10, 2009. Bellfield will play at the Bijou Theatre on September 26 to make a live recording.

Members of the band Bellfield, from left, Jason Gostkowski, Robert Paulmorrow and Van Gallik rehearse on Thursday, September 10, 2009. Bellfield will play at the Bijou Theatre on September 26 to make a live recording.

KNOXVILLE — For those unfamiliar with rock bands, the condition of the West Knoxville subdivision home might be slightly unnerving. In what might have one time served as a dining room, carpet is nailed to the walls and mattresses are propped against the walls under that. Large chunks of foam are glued to the ceiling and any windows are blocked with pillows. It's dark. It's cramped and electrical equipment is strewn around the floor.

Were it not that a four-piece band was cranking out rock 'n' roll, you might suspect the owner of this house kidnaps electronics engineers and holds them captive.

However, the rock 'n' roll coming out of the room gives the room's true purpose away. This is the lair of Bellfield - a Knoxville band that is nothing if not ambitious.

Saturday, the three-year-old group will record a live album of new songs at the 750-seat Bijou Theatre.

"We booked the Bijou in January or early February," says Bellfield vocalist/guitarist Van Gallick. "We've been preparing to play this show for half a year. At some point after playing in bars we determined that we had the most success at places where people really came to see music. And there's no better-sounding room in Knoxville than the Bijou."

"And it's cheaper than doing an album in the studio," adds Jason Gostkowski, the band's fifth and, according to all concerned, final bass player.

Guitarist/vocalist Rob Morrow, who co-founded the group with Gallik, says the group has made a sort Three (or four) Musketeers commitment:

"We just sat down one day and said, 'We're all in this together.' Break or bust this is the last band I'm going to be in. If I can't make it with these guys, I ain't gonna make it. We decided each of us would have ownership in everything we do. We're all vested in it. Bands that do that are the ones that last."

The group used to rely on one band member writing a song and teaching it to the rest of the band, but now all songs are written as a team, with members sharing equal credit. That is the way the band operates in all respects and all seem completely committed to the group.

"You're looking at four college drop-outs," says Powell. "Van was ridiculously close to graduating and Jimi (who had planned on going to law school) had his whole career mapped out."

The band has enlisted Memphis-based producer Jeff Powell, a veteran producer/engineer/producer who has worked with Big Star, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many others, to produce the live album.

The group's plan is that the concert will raise money to press the album and ticket stubs can be saved to receive half off the album when it is released. Most of the songs performed at the show will be new, and, says Gallik, older songs may sound so different that fans won't recognize them.

The band has been on a promotional blitzkrieg, visiting radio stations, distributing flyers and cards. You get the feeling the band would drive by your house and pick you up if it meant another seat filled at the Bijou.

"We'll do whatever it takes," says Morrow.

"Weren't you going to wrestle a bear?" Gallick asks Morrow.

"(Expletive) yeah!" says Morrow. "I'll wrestle a bear! I'll show up and say 'I'm here, but the bear backed out!'"

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!

© 2009 Knoxville.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.