Rah Bras is a brutal, slightly gothic three-piece of Richmond, VA-based new wave/industrial enthusiasts ready to put on a spectacle at any time. All former members of the collective spaz troupe Men's Recovery Project, the band consists of Isabellarah Rubella (Damn Near Red) on keys, Boo Rah (aka Dave Nesmith) (Sleepytime Trio, Maximillian Colby) on bass, and Jean Rah (Hose.Got.Cable) on drums. More engaging live than recorded, the band's modus operandi is that of over-the-top performance, booming rhythms, and overtly suggestive vocal delivery by Rubella. All three sing and Jean Rah has a tendency to use his drums as a jungle gym as much as a musical device. In 1998, they put out two short EPs, Wear the Beat Spectacular on Veriform and Concentrate to Listen to the Rondo That We Christen King Speed on Lovitt Records. Tracks like Concentrate's "Bus Stop" are indicative of their early material with screaming traffic jam samples, explosive drumming, and tumults of shouting. "The Fifth Allen," also from Concentrate, shows the band cutting through some of the experiments for layered keys and simple, hummable melodies. After these EPs, the band began to tour extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe. They also contributed a track, "Fungry," to the post-punk/no wave scene capturing Troubleman Mix-Tape compilation and a track on the Skyscraper fanzine release Technology CD. Two tracks are also featured on the Vermiform Records comps Fruited Other Surfaces and False Object Sensor. Ruy Blas! on Lovitt Records followed in 2001 with carnival-saturated, Brainiac-inspired college rock doled out quick in 12 songs in about 30 minutes. Tracks like "Arty O the Irst Art" betray the band's increasing preoccupation with dancy, dark-tinged pop. ~ Daphne G.A. Carr