About
Deception Bay
Lots of water has passed under the bridge since 1985, when Jay Dunn and Carl Boland, as Deception Bay, sent their first mix tape to WZBC-FM, Boston College's pioneering underground station. At Fisk Place, in Cambridge, MA, WZBC's "No Commercial Potential " radio program was in the background every night, subverting everybody's idea of what music should be with experiments in ambience, full-on scratching and wailing, plus the exquisite inventions of Zoviet France, Cocteau Twins, Skinny Puppy, and Joy Division. At Fisk, Deception Bay's first sounds were made with whatever was available - loaner guitars, drums played by hand, Radio Shack mics, and a borrowed cassette 4-track.
"Live on Metrowave" was only the group's third time playing with drummer Michael Evans, but it was meant to be, cementing Deception Bay as a force to be reckoned with. Behind the glass at WERS-FM during the broadcast was producer Carl Plaster, keeping everything under control as digital maestro Douglas Vargas sent Jay Dunn's guitar feedback into the stratosphere. With the band for the finale was singer Louise Milne, whose uncanny ability to find the right notes anchored the performance of "For The Season" to reality.
Deception Bay is indebted to the many people who helped them in their journey, especially Bruce Licher of LA's Independent Project Records.
Of special note are the supremely talented drummers the group was able to attract. In Los Angeles, rocker Rich D'Albis of October Days powered the band to new levels for California fans. With a tape and just one practice, drummer Jim Arhelger stepped up to deliver a show-stopping performance in 1987 at the group's critical "Boston Now" Institute of Contemporary Art exhibition. Terry Donahue is well-known as a gifted multi-instrumentalist who performed with the group often. Donahue is the relentless drummer driving Deception Bay's landmark 1991 album "My Color Flag." Engineered at Fort Apache by Lou Giordano and Douglas Vargas, the record remains "a spiral of dark dance rhythms." With these 2025 videos, guitarist and filmmaker Jay Dunn and bassist Carl Boland have returned full circle to their minimalist musical roots - quiet, undeniably powerful, and fired by a lifetime of perspective.
Of special note are the supremely talented drummers the group was able to attract. In Los Angeles, rocker Rich D'Albis of October Days powered the band to new levels for California fans. With a tape and just one practice, drummer Jim Arhelger stepped up to deliver a show-stopping performance in 1987 at the group's critical "Boston Now" Institute of Contemporary Art exhibition. Terry Donahue is well-known as a gifted multi-instrumentalist who performed with the group often. Donahue is the relentless drummer driving Deception Bay's landmark 1991 album "My Color Flag." Engineered at Fort Apache by Lou Giordano and Douglas Vargas, the record remains "a spiral of dark dance rhythms." With these 2025 videos, guitarist and filmmaker Jay Dunn and bassist Carl Boland have returned full circle to their minimalist musical roots - quiet, undeniably powerful, and fired by a lifetime of perspective.
Explore Deception Bay's Artistry
Discover haunting new music videos and original poetry by Deception Bay.
Pictured in 1985, from left, bassist Carl Boland, guitarist and filmmaker Jay Dunn, and drummer Michael Evans in the dressing room of the Rathskellar, arguably Boston's best-sounding club. Photograph by Paul Fay.