By Ruvin Spivak
Daily Bruin ContributorÂ
Sometimes, studio music and live performance have a hard time
mixing. Friday’s sold-out Thievery Corporation show at the El
Rey should have been a memorable mind and body trip for everyone in
attendance. Unfortunately, the performance was simply lacking an
invigorating quality that could have taken it to the next
level.
To the group’s credit, it was able to create high quality
music outside of the studio. This made the best part of the show
watching the two sampling specialists create the same sound they do
on CD in front of a live audience, utilizing their Caribbean and
Middle Eastern influences.
The problem with the group’s live set was twofold.
First, the music itself didn’t support the energy of the
crowd. Every time the band threw down a beat, the crowd was ready
to react. Unfortunately, the crowd didn’t know how to react
to the band’s lack of stimulation and excessively long
songs.
The general feeling was that every song was something to chill
to or sway to, but hardly dance to. More songs with less repetition
would have made a little more sense. Also, some huge couches would
have been ideal if the atmosphere was to remain one for
lounging.
The second problem was Thievery Corporation’s reliance on
sensory stimulation rather than focusing on improvised music. The
group attempted to freshen up the show with live singers but was
unable to maintain the brief burst of excitement that they drew
from the crowd.
The first performers were female vocalists who charmed the
packed house with their jazzy vocals. This charming start was
ironically one reason why the show seemed too mellow.
There was promise for more energy when halfway into the set the
laid back female vocalists were replaced by two Rastafarians who
seemed like they’d really give the show new life. Thievery
Corporation threw on dub and reggae beats and the party was about
to take off with hints of onstage freestyles. However, the two
dreadlocked Rastas were unable to tap the potential energy of the
crowd, staying too passive and repetitive.
Overall, the music was incredible, but it was better for
listening than for dancing. There was a great emphasis on visual
media with bright, elaborate lighting, and a montage of video clips
starring Tibetan monks and contortionist Yoga masters. All this
sensory stimulation again took attention away from Thievery
Corporation’s sampling skills. The result was a dull
show.
True, Thievery Corporation should be one of the last groups to
promise a booty shaking dance party, but even chilled down acid
jazz should be sped up a few rpm every once in a while to check the
pulse of the crowd.
Nobody at the El Rey expected a house party, but they also
didn’t expect to be standing still for over an hour either.
Somehow though, fans remained loyal to Thievery Corporation by
stirring up enough yells and whistles to attract an encore.
The encore combined all the elements of the previous hour by
mixing dub beats with live conga drums and luring sitar riffs,
which seemed good enough for most to call it a satisfactory
show.
In a few months, Thievery Corporation will be releasing a new
album, followed by a full-fledged tour.
For their upcoming tour, the DJs of Thievery Corporation should
put a little more kick in their set.
Until then, their albums will continue to have a happy home in
disc-changers whenever people feel like cooling out.