Birmingham, England-based Bentley Rhythm Ace is currently touring the United States to promote their eponymous debut on Astralwerks/Caroline Records.|
Bentley Rhythm Ace, a.k.a. Mike Stokes and Richard March (formerly of Pop Will Eat Itself), introduced their quirky, techno pop sound to the world earlier this year. The fun they had making BRA comes across especially strong in their light-infused live show.
The pair is joined on this tour by a bassist and a drummer. But what really gets the crowd moving are all the props the band pulls out onstage -- especially the cutout of a Bentley automobile, behind which is a mixing table. To add more effects, BRA uses all sorts of horns -- foghorns with police sirens, plastic toy horns and most impressive, an air-raid siren signaling the start of the show.
Bentley Rhythm Ace will be in the States for two more shows: El Flamingo in New York (Nov. 21) and Axis in Boston (Nov. 22). (Ari Bendersky)