Thievery Corporation Takes Fans Around the World at the Greek Theatre

Emily Manthei

Assessing the 15-member collective, currently making the circuit as the Thievery Corporation, it’s hard to believe that they’re basically just a sophisticated jam band. Blending the sounds of world music from regions all over the world – Indian spiritualism turns to Brazilian Bossa Nova, which melds into European trip-hop and comes back around to African rhythm in a set typical of the group. Thievery Corporation builds a multi-cultural, atmospheric sound for an audience who wants to please both their feet and their discerning ears. The work of an expert DJ is to keep the audience moving as well, changing the sound-scene just before the audience gets bored senselessly pulling the rug out from under the listeners. It’s a delicate balance that requires more musical aptitude than most DJs are credited.

Founding members Rob Garza and Eric Hilton are equal to the challenge. They preside over the group on elevated DJ and synthesizer booths while a collection of talented instrumentalists takes center stage and a revolving door of singers engage the audience. The lack of a “central focus” – whether a frontman or a lead instrumentalist – gives the audience the sense of sitting in Hilton’s or Garza’s living room for a small party, as they curate a selection of songs evolving with the moods of their guests. The master DJs are at work, curating a playlist specially suited to their audience.

The evening began with a set from reggae’s first son, Stephen Marley, as he mostly covered father Bob Marley’s greatest hits. The low-key, lulling effect of thirty minutes of reggae was exacerbated by the proliferation of ‘Mary Jane’ throughout the hollow bowl (no pun intended) of the Greek. So it should have come as no surprise that after an intro to Thievery’s new album via vocalist LouLou Ghelichkhani, the first set was a continuation of Marley’s reggae vibe with Sleepy Wonder and Notch – both veteran Thievery guest-vocalists – leading the charge. An interesting choice, considering the group’s new album, devoted entirely to exploring Garza’s and Hilton’s Bossa Nova roots, features only female vocalists.

Almost a half hour into the set, after a brief sitar-led interlude (with Frank Orrall on the strings) the Jamaican vibe turned Eastern and finally traveled back around the globe to reach South America, Argentine vocalist Natalia Clavier kicked off a set of the group’s new tunes from “Saudade” with “Claridad,” a sultry rhythm under the singer’s breathy vocals, dripping with atmosphere. After a few more singer switch-outs with LouLou Ghelichkhani and Notch, local guest vocalist Shana Halligan (of Bitter: SWEET) made her way to the stage to perform “Saudade’s” closing number, “Depth of My Soul,” a stringy tune swirling with ivory accents and world-ending romance was the song of the evening. In typical Thievery fashion, the set choices continued to surprise and delight, with Frank Orrall returning to the stage to sing David Byrne’s “Welcome to My Spaceship.” In the final number, Notch reprised his most famous Thievery performance with “The Richest Man in Babylon,” the title track from the group’s 2002 album, on which he also sang, and the crowd joined in.

Thievery Corporation Played the Greek Theatre on Sept. 27.