Thievery Corporation mixes political message with sensual sounds

The excellent band Thievery Corporation makes supercool songs that can easily be called "sex music" (sensual "chill" electronica). That's why their vibes have been used in movies such as "Garden State" and "Duplicity."

But their lyrics are often very political. This creates a challenge for lovey-dovey couples to ignore the words while engaging in romantic interludes.

"You don't want to listen to some of the lyrics that might bring you down" during amorous moments, says Thievery's Rob Garza, who laughs and adds: "It might screw you up for sure."

This sex-music thing is real.

"Sometimes people come up and say, 'Our kid was born while we were listening to Thievery Corporation,' " he says.

On the other hand, many people talk to them about how political songs are, like "Warning Shots." It goes:

"They try their best just to mash up the resistance. Warning shots and sirens from a distance. Riot gear and barricade for an instance."

Garza says growing up and living in Washington, D.C., turned him into a rebel.

"People aren't really into life or the creative side of life" in the nation's capital, he says.

"In some ways, that creates a strong resistance within the artistic community within D.C. That's why you have all this D.C. hardcore that grew out of there. Henry Rollins is from there, Bad Brains, Fugazi, Minor Threat.

"So it's a rage-against-the-system kind of thing."

But if you go see Thievery Corporation at The Cosmopolitan pool on Saturday, expect to hear straight-up entertainment from a band with impeccable taste in tone and style.

Their music (harder than Ivy, softer than Portishead) mixes a soothing '60s lounge sinew with acid jazz, reggae and dub.

Officially, for 16 years and seven studio albums, they've been a duo -- Garza and Eric Hilton. They craft songs, then bring in guest singers for each track.

In concert, they re-create everything live with 13 people: themselves, five or six singers, a horn section, a drummer, percussionist, guitarist and bassist.

"It's still a big production, and it's a very energetic show," says the political sex-music rebel.

Doug Elfman's column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Contact him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.