Thee Sacred Souls, the San Diego-based three-piece, performed their penultimate show on their European tour. Their blend of a timeless style of soul, full of warmth and sophisticated musicianship, was on full display at the Prospect Building last Thursday night.
The three-piece formed in 2021, gained attention quickly after their self-titled album, which transported listeners to soul music from the 60s. The bassist, Sal Samano, and drummer Alex Garcia began as an instrumental oldies band. After meeting Josh Lane, the vocalist, the group ventured into a nostalgic, retro soul group while retaining the oldies instrumentals.
The Polish pre-act Cinnamon Gum was a perfect precursor to Thee Sacred Souls, bringing a crisp, jukebox-like guitar sound. On a hot day, with the lovely beer garden at the Prospect Building and a very attractive Pizzarova pop-up truck, attracting a crowd was never going to be easy. However, by the final couple of ballads, the room was flowing with energy and dance. From ‘It’s Alright’ to ‘Simsalabim’, the pre-act started the journey back to the romantic soul of the 60s.
With an instrumental introduction and ambient red lighting, Lane entered the stage to an excited and diverse crowd. The band opened with the swinging ‘Love Comes Easy,’ already getting the crowd to sway their hands from side to side. People’s hands remained in the air for the following driving snare-hi-hat swing of ‘Lucid Girl,’ with his soft, controlled vocals reminiscent of Marvin Gaye.
After these two great opening numbers, Lane introduced himself to the crowd with a poetic anecdote about getting a second chance. There was then a collective realisation of the likely following track, which was materialised by the recognisable guitar chords of one of their hit numbers, ‘Will I See You Again?’ Lane, standing on the barriers with his microphone out, was accompanied by the crowd belting the single word-for-word, me included.
The enamoured crowd did not stop the energy there, with them singing the soft falsetto of ‘Easier Said Than Done’ through to them being up on their feet for the dance-hit ‘My Heart is Drowning.’ The band’s infectious rhythm and Lane’s relatable lyrics of love impressively delivered an authentic atmosphere of love throughout, without ever feeling gimmicky.
The performance also had meaningful and salient moments. Lane’s monologue before the moving ‘It’s Our Love’ poignantly referenced the growing amorality in global politics, pointing to the struggles in Gaza and the actions of ICE agents back home. He, however, mentioned that while there is a lot to feel melancholic about in the world, stated that our role is to use love as a “machete” for good. This theme of the power and appreciation that comes with love was infused into the whole performance, which not only felt deeply relevant but also resonated deeply with the tolerance and warmth that Bristol prides itself on.
In addition to his periodic, poetic anecdotes, Lane loved to move around within the crowd. During ‘Running away’, he left the crowd in disbelief when he jumped in and ran from side-to-side singing the tune. The euphoric joy of the dancing crowd showed how Lane could encapsulate the crowd through contagious melodies.
After a brief exit from the stage, the group returned for an awaited encore of the anthem ‘Can I Call You Rose?’ This conclusion left the crowd charmed, with a truly unforgettable moment where the crowd’s voice melted into Lanes. Overall, Thee Sacred Soul enchanted the audience with not only technical prowess but an all-encompassing type of love that left everyone either longing for or appreciating romance in our lives. Indeed, as Lane himself mentions, the band’s love was well and truly reciprocated by the 3,000 Bristolians.
Max Adams
