[Photos by: Jeslyn Wang]
If you could bottle up the better part of lazy Sunday afternoons, nostalgia, and the sickly-sweet feeling of being in love, it’d sound a lot like Thee Sacred Souls. Hailing from San Diego, the main trio is composed of drummer Alex Garcia, bassist Sal Samano, and singer-songwriter Josh Lane. The self-described retro-soul band consistently delivers a blend of smooth tracks accompanied by jazzy melodies reminiscent of ‘60s and ‘70s grooves. Despite their So-Cal origins, it’s their first time in L.A. and the “SOLD OUT” letters under the Wiltern’s lights prove just how eager Angelenos are to hear their latest album, Got a Story to Tell, live for the first time on tour.
The grandeur of the Wiltern is not limited to its outside, high ceilings, radiant tones, and gold molding decorate the inside of the venue. With a crescent of lights illuminating the trio, various musicians (the horn section specifically is made up of UCLA’s very own Channeltone Horns), and background vocalists, the band enamored me. The setlist is a mix of their newest album, songs from their 2020 self-titled debut, and two unreleased tracks brimming with rhythmic energy. Lane began the night with the first track off the band’s newest album, “Lucid Girl.” As lyrics of a girl who chooses to love herself over her lover when asked to pick spills from his lips, easy cheers erupted.
While phones were inevitably whipped out for fan favorites like “Will I See You Again?” and “Lady Love,” the majority of people swayed to the soul-soothingness of Lane’s voice, paired with cans of Modelo in hand. Immersed among a sea of dancing bodies, it was easy to observe the crowd. More specifically, the lack of teens and twenty-somethings who shove their way to the front by elbowing ribs, in it. This crowd was different – older, chiller, drunker, and so, so talkative. It felt less like a concert and more like a space for drinks, conversation, and groovy music, and I couldn’t love it more. As I stood among the not-quite-twenty-somethings, I was captivated by the intimate stories of heartache, family issues, and work-life balance shared between close friends and strangers alike. The ambiance is not a by-product of the venue – it’s the liveliness of the performance.
“Baby I don’t wanna play pretend / Either you want me or you don’t / You want me or we go back to being friends”
“Will I See You Again?” by Thee Sacred Souls
Live bands always put a sway in even the most stiff individuals, and Thee Sacred Souls is no exception. The upbeat instrumentals in “Love Comes Easy” and “Easier Said Than Done” as well as Lane’s soothing vocals are accompanied by dancing, not entirely unprompted by the alcohol.
It’s clear that Thee Sacred Souls loves more than just making music; they love performing it for fans. During “Running Away”, vocalist Lane asks for energy and, with a funky drum beat as his tune, he runs up and down the Wiltern’s aisles, allowing even the furthest ticket-purchaser a chance to see him up close. By the end of the song, he’s breathless – understandably so.
Beyond music, the night is a space for love above all else. Breaks between songs are for proclamations of the importance of peace, the necessity of community, and the power of love and advocacy. Within the intimate environment of the Wiltern, those ideals seem possible.
While vocalists are often the star of the show, it’s clear that’s not the case with Thee Sacred Souls: their backing vocals and instrumentals are in a category of their own. In tracks like “Future Lover” and “Stuck in the Mud,” the soft voices of Astyn Turrentine and Viane Escobar resonate throughout the theatre like whisperers of fate. Their simple choreography to “It’s Our Love” and “Waiting on the Right Time” adds character to their easy guitar strumming. Beyond the two singers, the trumpet, saxophone, and trombones are living creatures essential to Thee Sacred Souls’ sound. Their richness shines throughout songs with breaks in the vocals, captivating attention. Halfway through the night, a quartet even makes their way towards the stage. String instruments hold a special space in my heart (elementary school orchestra is inescapable) and their addition to “On My Mind” adds gentle strength to the lyrics “It’s the good and the bad that makes this man.” It’s the combination of all these musical elements that shape Thee Sacred Souls’ unique sound.
“I can’t live it for you / They can’t live it for you / You’ve got to live for yourself”
“Live For Yourself” by Thee Sacred Souls
“Live for You” is upbeat and retro and demands its listeners to change themselves. In the back of the floor, there’s enough space for dancing and two girls do just that. As their long skirts swish along to the tempo, I can taste inspiration in the air.
I think there’s something romantic about ending the night listening to the love song that made you fall in love with the band. As Lane bid “goodbye” to the audience before returning for a *shocking* encore, an unsurprisingly loud but surprisingly harmonious chorus of “Can I Call You Rose” rang from the pit to the mezzanine. Hearing our pleas, the stage dimmed again and flashing red and pink lights covered us in love-colored tones. Fittingly, the lyrics awakened the love-struck fool in all of us. Lovers held each other close, drunk strangers hugged, and the ensemble of musicians took their last bow. When I get home and rewatch the videos I took, I’ll hear strangers’ stories in the background, forever tied to the love-filled performance.
Listen to Got a Story to Tell here:
