“Thee Sacred Souls,” a band native to San Diego, has come far since their humble beginnings in 2019. Fans were excited to see them on the North American leg of their sophomore album tour, “Got a Story to Tell.” Last Friday, a packed Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater welcomed the band as they walked on to the stage. Josh Lane, the lead vocalist, walked up to the mic shouting, “What’s up, San Diego!”
In a music world dominated by pop music, “Thee Sacred Souls” sticks to their roots by incorporating the warm, jazzy vocals of R&B, most highlighted in performances of their popular song, “Lucid Girl.” It is a mix of retro and soul music that brought the audience to their feet as they soaked up the smooth jazz.
The next song on their setlist, “Let Me Feel Your Charm,” kept the crowd captivated with tambourines and Alex Garcia’s drums. Towards the end of the song, Lane plays the drums alongside Garcia and red lights flash up above before suddenly going out, resulting in a standing ovation from the crowd.
One song I thought captured the mood of the concert perfectly was “Will I See You Again?” Lane sat on the edge of the middle stage, hand to his heart as he sang the iconic chorus, “Will I see you again?” as the voices of the full arena reverberated with it. What followed next was an enthralling harmonization by vocalists Astyn Turrentine and Viane Escobar. Their fluctuating pitch made the song feel as if it would last forever in one of the most compelling performances of the night.
Whether someone got a ticket in the very front or up in the nosebleed sections, there was a heavy presence of crowd interaction. During the performance of “Running Away,” when Lane got to the chorus, he jumped down from the stage and sprinted towards the upper section of the amphitheater. As he made his way through the crowd, he would find an empty seat and sing a line or two. The audience cheered and clapped as he ran from one side of the amphitheater to the next, occasionally taking his time to sing to a fan or high-five a row. Transitioning towards his next song, “Weak for Your Love”, the interactions didn’t come to an end. Fans were shocked and totally captivated by the singer running around, eagerly waiting for him to get to their section. With security actively following behind, Lane didn’t seem to care as he made it a priority to interact with his fan base. Lane’s passion and care for his audience were made apparent, and each concertgoer left only a couple of feet away from the lead singer at one point.
Lane paused the crowd, saying, “I want to do something that artists have done before, that really grounded me and felt really good. I didn’t invent the wheel, but we’re going to take a breath together.” He brought his hands up and down, motioning for the crowd to take 3 deep breaths. He continued on to say, “We do this without thinking, but when we think, we can use that as a little prayer to be grateful for that breath.” The simple act of grounding oneself and the importance of mindfulness seeped through the crowd for the rest of the show.
The interaction between the band members was captivating, as the chemistry and synchronization were obvious and reciprocated by concertgoers. Throughout the show, Lane could be spotted bringing his mic towards the drummers and lowering it to the drumsticks, or singing right alongside the other vocalists, creating a sense of unity among his bandmates. In the last song, “I’m So Glad I Found You, Baby,” Lane walked towards the other vocalists, giving them their own time to shine. The crowd turned on their flashlights, bringing a peaceful but joyful “end” to the night.
Band members began to walk off stage, and the lights turned off, but the crowd stayed put. Some concertgoers were confused. Within a matter of minutes, Lane walked back on stage — causing the crowd to erupt in a standing ovation — and performed an encore featuring a duet between Lane and Turrentine. The open harmony created a soul-like melody, and percussionists provided a contrast between R&B and soul. Soon after, Lane sang the songs “Future Lover” and “Can I Call You Rose?” with passion shown through his body movements.
Modern takes on R&B and Soul music were reflected throughout their performances, and their energy in interactions with fans created a concert of a lifetime. The encore was exhilarating, memorable and unexpected by many fans. Lane made a great effort to connect with the audience, truly one of the best parts of the concert. Overall, “Thee Sacred Souls” are a must-see band, especially for people who enjoy modern takes on old-soul tunes.
Rating: 5/5
