If your are not aware of The Bays then they are most certainly a band that need an introduction. They are unique in that they never record anything and they never rehearse. They simply go on-stage and rely on their musical guile to produce a show more akin to a DJ set than a live performance. On previous viewing, The Bays had a tendency to begin chilled and slowly build up but that was not the case tonight. With the crowd already hyped from classic tunes such as “Ed Rush & Optical’s Pacmaní” and Origin Unknown’s “Valley of the Shadows”, The Bays kept pace with some chilled drum & bass reminiscent of Good Looking Record’s early releases. Taking the pace down a notch, drummer Andy Gangadeen knocked out a stomping breaks beat while Simon Richmond layered in a plethora of vocal lines and samples. These gradually became more and more euphoric before segueing perfectly into the regular 4/4 beat of house. Well known for his innovation as a drummer, Gangadeen has modded his kit with multiple pads that allow him, at any time, to change the sounds coming from his kit. The two pads that create separate sounds with one movement (one pad is inverted above the other) is so simple it’s genius, considering the scope this gives him, it’s a wonder more drummers aren’t doing similar things.
Staying with house for a prolonged period, The Bays built their set towards the inevitable heavy drum & bass finale, it’s arrival being heralded by a few synth stabs before the band kicked back in with twice the force. Further testament to how much they push their instruments was the heavy, rolling bottom end that emanated from Chris Taylor’s bass rig, the sound having far more in common with an analog bass synth than a live guitar. The only regrettable part of the show was the finale being cut all too short as with one last huge crescendo the band abruptly stopped and disappeared off stage.
Having previously only caught The Bays at festivals, it was refreshing to see what they can do given their own time and damn what a show it is. Here’s to their next Concorde appearance for more of the same, but different of course.
Words by Chris Leggett
Photography by Fabrice Bourgelle Pyress
