Thievery Corporation brings their signature sounds back to Toronto
Thievery Corporation brings their signature sound back to Toronto
Thievery Corporation brings their signature sounds back to Toronto after three decades of electronic music, on their Spring tour. It was an homage to a career spent defining and redefining their tastes, and what music means to them. Though technically considered a duo, their touring band includes a number of musicians and vocalists that each play a pivotal role in expanding their eclectic discography.
Alex Unger kicks up the energy
Alex Unger started the night off right with a set that could only be described as the intersection where jazz meets electronic music. As a multi genre DJ, Alex takes time to combine the music that has inspired him with new beats that are entirely his own. As the crowd filled in, people moved to the beats he was mixing, from throwback hiphop tracks to R&B classics with a new and exciting twist.
In the dim light, with only the lasers to reflect the crowd, he played a set that you wouldn’t typically hear in a club, but as the beats continued to shift, the crowd continued to dance, the energy coming alive around us, as more space was taken up by people; some dressed for a night out, while others sported more paired back rave attire. As he spoke to the room between songs, he expressed his gratitude for everyone coming out early to see his set. He spoke about touring in Canada, and how the shows felt different than in the USA, which is where he’s from originally. As the lights came on, the crowd applauded, excited to keep the good times going as the show carried on,
Thievery Corporation brings resistance and power to Toronto
Their story started like many DJ’s do. Bonding over their shared passion for music and their desire to break the mold set in the late 90’s. This led to something that many artists aspire to achieve, a career spanning 30 years, with their sound evolving with them as they’ve changed, redefining what music means to others and themselves. They’ve seamlessly shifted their sound to include genres like dubstep, reggae, classical, Middle Eastern music, and hip hop over the years. This has helped them amass a following globally without losing sight of the things that made them who they were at their core. They spend a lot of time cultivating their live shows and trying to avoid the typical club show, putting emphasis on connecting with the crowd and the music, playing songs in languages aside from english, and bringing out a multitude of vocalists and band members that bring different skills to the table.
In Toronto, their set began with a flash of colours, reds and yellows that lit up the stage as various vocalists took the stage, some rapping, some singing to jazz and reggae, while a woman sung sweetly in french with somber blue lights filling the stage. Back inside the crowd, History was packed with people listening to the show with an energized stillness. While some people danced, most swayed, completely lost in the moment. It was something to behold, so many people connected not through life experiences but by a moment that many would relive for the days to come.
A crowed joined by a single thread
If you ever get the chance to see Thievery Corporation play, whether it be on this tour or another, it will be an opportunity lost to not do it. With their ever changing list of talent, it will be an experience above all else.
