A Night with Thievery Corporation | A Journey Through Time and Sound at MTELUS
The Enduring Legacy of Thievery Corporation
Thievery Corporation epitomizes the millennium era aesthetic. Their world music vibe has been the soundtrack to the chillout scene for almost 30 years. From a martini birdbath in Washington, to swanky lockdowns in Notting Hill, to Udvar speakeasies in Budapest, to after parties across the globe, their cinematic grooves have set the tempo.
DC Lounges to Global Stages
Founders Rob Garza and Eric Hilton came together in the late 90s spinning bossa nova and dub tracks to the DC lounge scene. Decades later they are selling out their world tour with an eclectic body of downtempo classics. Their slick and timeless brand of chill is a loving curation of saucy jazz, Latin beats, and straight up dub.
More Than Just DJs
But anyone going to Friday’s show at MTELUS thinking it was going to be a couple of DJs spinning old vinyl, was in for a surprise. Admittedly, my clubbing days being mostly behind me, and I haven’t written a review in over 20 years. The last time I was at Metropolis it was still called Metropolis. But when I heard about this show, I jumped at the chance to write a piece for Best Kept.
The Venue’s Tale: MTELUS’s Rich Musical History
MTELUS (which I stubbornly refer to as Metropolis) is the perfect venue. Not too big not too small, it locks in the acoustics and nurtures an eternal vibe. The early modern opulence is dripping in history: from its days as a cinema and erotic film venue, to becoming the go-to showroom for a who’s who of live music throughout the 90s and 2000s.
The Concert Experience: A Blend of Classics and Energy
Friday night was no exception. The streets, swimming with Nuit Blanche, creating a seamless transition into a vibe in full swing by opening act City of the Sun. Their vampy jazz-manouche style set the tone for what was to come. By the time Thievery Corporation came on, the crowd was ready.
Highlighting Talent: Guest Performers Take the Stage
They came in strong with a medley of old classics, opening with “Sleeper Car” from 1997s album Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi. But don’t let the sitar fool you, this was high energy. Followed by “Mandala” and the crowd pleaser “Lebanese Blonde”, the whole place was on their feet. In the spirit of the thing, Garza and Hilton let the guests shine. While they stayed in the background, one extraordinary singer after another graced the show. Dominating every stage she sets foot on, the stunning Racquel Jones came in hard with “Letter to the Editor”, tagging out to legends Mr. Lif and Puma Ptah belting out “Culture of Fear”. Then bringing it down to a cool reggae vibe, all culminating in a medley for “Warning Shots”.
The Unforgettable Night: Audience and Atmosphere
The audience on Friday night at Metropolis AKA MTELUS did not know what hit them. An evening well spent hearing old classics for the first time like never before. And they gave it back. Bring up the room, lapping in the grooves, and loving every minute of it. Thievery Corporation have proved themselves timeless and magical as ever.
Written by: Tristan Verboven
On the Road: Thievery Corporation’s Upcoming Tour
After Montreal, they tour down the east coast to Florida by May, hitting Europe by summer, and ending up in the Balkans by July.
Discover more captivating music tales on our website: Dive into “Harmony + Heart | The Blue Stones & The Glorious Suns Ignite Le Théâtre Beanfield” for an unforgettable journey through sound and emotion.
