The Bays

"Performance is the Product"

That is the motto of The Bays, a UK improvisational dance music outfit who have neither a record label or commercially released music. It basically means that they are defined solely by the music they present on stage each night and nothing else. The Bays do not rehearse before shows nor do they even have "songs" much less a set-list. What comes from this group on a nightly basis is always new and purely a result of their interaction with the crowd and each other.

You could argue that this is a dangerous way to approach a live performance where a paying audience is expecting success. Even bands that only "jam" for parts of their shows can disappoint listeners who are expecting more from their improvisation. To do so for an entire set is asking for trouble. But that's the way The Bays like it. For them, every show is a challenge to be met and they do it well.

Former member Simon Smugg explains The Bays' performance strategy best when he says “If you do like 70 gigs of a set that you’re just doing every night, I would imagine that you were not actually giving value for money near the end. You’d just be sort of pissed off and know it back to front. But every gig, we’re basically shitting ourselves a lot of the time because we have no idea what’s gonna happen. Not only do I not know what they’re gonna do, I don’t know what I’m gonna do, and that applies for all of us, so it’s very edgy all the time. That tension comes across and that’s why people get into it.”

This attitude was taken to the extreme in 2008 when The Bays decided to perform a live improvised set with The Heritage Orchestra during Liverpool's Fresh Festival. Not only were they taking the usual risks of an off the cuff performance but they were also adding to that mix an entire orchestra that was wholly unfamiliar with their style. The results, however, were outstanding and reaction from the band, orchestra and audience were overwhelmingly positive.

Check out a short video about the performance here:



The Bays are Andy Gangadeen (drums), Chris Taylor (bass), Jamie Odell (keyboards), and Simon Richmond (effects and samples). Their style is influenced by many different forms of electronica (a term that is as frustrating to me as it is to Steve P) which manifest themselves in a different way each set. Some nights will showcase their grasp of washy, synthed out ambience while others will be a straight up drum and bass throwdown. Their sets are seamless and sections blend in and out of each other on the whims of the members.

Though there isn't much quality video of their sets online, there are plenty of places to get live audio. Here are a few links to get you started on listening to The Bays:

TheBays.com (featuring mp3 downloads and videos)
Spoida's Web: Set a Day (download links seem to be broken, I'll re-upload and link these sets later tonight)

EDIT: Here is the audio I promised. 6 different recordings, 2 per download.
Part One
2001.06.09 - Drum Rhythm - Amsterdam, 2002.08.24 - Hotaka Festival - Japan
Part Two
2002.10.30 - Boat Club - Nottingham, 2005.01.08 - Jazz Cafe - London
Part Three
2006.03.04 - Rhythm Factory - London, Jockeyslut Presents

The Bays gained some notoriety amongst American jamband fans after their performance prior to the 2006 Jam in the Dam festival in Amsterdam. After befriending the members of Umphrey's McGee and The Disco Biscuits, The Bays were invited to Camp Bisco 6 in the summer of 2007. This was their first performance on American soil and, as far as I can tell, their last. They don't make their way accross the pond very often but keep an eye out just in case.