Washington’s Thievery Corporation hit the outdoor stage at Malkin Bowl in Vancouver on a muggy overcast night, and brought their particular brand of nice-sounding, antiseptic and mellow electro lounge to the happy masses. Highlights included the more dubby stuffs off of Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi, the sofa-sitting Rob Myers doing double-duty on sitar and guitar and their frankly awesome extra percussionist. There were multiple vocalists, MCs and pretty lights. And lots of yelling of “What’s up Vancoooooooover?”. Fans swayed their hips and the stoners swirled their arms. It was nice.

But still – and this is the third time I’ve seen TC since 2001, and I enjoy their music – I can’t ever escape the fact that Thievery Corporation live are just that…NICE….

…to have on in the background. And maybe at dinner parties. With couples of equal social standing. Suppose there’s a market for that…but when I got to see a live show, I dunno…nice just isn’t good enough. \m/