Thievery Corporation at Belly Up Tavern

DJ Z Trip

DJ Z Trip

DJ Z Trip

Around Belly Up Tavern

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation, standing as one of the most successful world-reggae fusion band to date, naturally needs more than one night to entertain any big city. Wednesday, October 17th marked night one of two for the TC clan to hit San Diego's Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach and, boy, did they hit their mark. The sold out crowd packed in close for DJ Z Trip's set to start the night, shouting out to members of Thievery for their longstanding relationship and reminiscing on past touring shenanigans. There is something about the intimate setting of the Belly Up that brings out natural camaraderie. After several trancy tracks, Z Trip adjourned and the audience took advantage of the intermission to hit the bar before the big show.

Every Thievery show is different (just from their immense discography alone)…

Starting with instrumentals only, Rob Garza and his Thievery Corporation took the stage to uproarious applause. Every Thievery show is different (just from their immense discography alone) and, depending if you're catching the band at a festival or at a concerthouse, you're going to experience a whole new side of the band. This time, the smaller venue of the Belly Up brought out a playful energy for TC members to play off of – laughing as they traded mics back and forth. From their well-known classics to fresh new jams, Thievery Corporation got everyone in the dancehall moving despite being sardined together. One notable moment was when percussionist Frank Orrall left his familiar downstage domain to be front and center not only singing his own song, but twirling around a lightbulb attached to a rope over his head helicopter-style producing a strobe light effect in the dark!

Overwhelmed with hysteria, the crowd cheered on Orrall as he passed the mic off, this time to two singers – a duet! For those that have only caught Thievery at fests, it's a rare occassion to witness two singers onstage simultaneously; this once-in-a-blue-moon chance happening several times before night's end, even ending on a collaborative hip hop jam featuring four frontmen and women. Of course, the crowd demanded an encore and the band obliged. Thievery Corporation gives the people what they want. With the second show last week, Thievery Corporation has now left southern California to continue to spread their good nature around the globe. Make sure to look for when the band hits a city near you!

Photography by Kristy Rose

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