Donning personalized baseball jerseys and face paint, and celebrating the release of their highly anticipated second album, the San Diego-based band delivered a Toronto show generous with emotion, groove and unforgettable highlights.
But it wasn’t just their music that made the night stand out — frontman Josh Lane took a powerful stand mid-show, using the platform to speak out against global injustices, particularly the ongoing genocides in Palestine, Sudan and Congo. His words were both a plea for action and a call for solidarity. “We’re all one…free Palestine, free the people, free the human race,” he said.
With a little over two years under their belts and several viral hits, Thee Sacred Souls has already made an indelible mark on the music world. From collaborations with A-list celebrities to standout performances on NPR’s Tiny Desk, the band’s rapid rise has been nothing short of meteoric.
With Halloween in the air, there was an added sense of levity at History, as fans — some in costume, some in their finest 70s-inspired attire — brought an extra layer of excitement to the evening. The band was pumped too, Lane bolted through the crowd during “Running Away,” singing side-by-side with fans in the standing area.
Thee Sacred Souls’ setlist was an intoxicating blend of the best of Got A Story To Tell alongside cuts from their 2022 self-titled debut, showcasing the growth the band has undergone since their first tour. New songs like the aching “My Heart Is Drowning” were paired seamlessly with older favourites like “Easy Love” and “Promise.” A set of brass players and background vocalists supported the trio, consisting of Lane, drummer Alex Garcia and bassist Sal Samono.
Thee Sacred Souls’ blend of classic soul, rocksteady and 60s pop brought an undeniable warmth to the venue, as the crowd swayed to the rhythm of the music, singing along with Lane’s pure tenor. But it was in the quieter, more vulnerable moments — like the ballad “On My Mind”— where the emotional arc of the night truly came together. With its breezy rhythms and stirring lyrics, the song captured the complexity of life and love’s highs and lows, mirroring the themes of infatuation, loss and reconciliation that ran throughout the band’s set.
As the night came to a close, Thee Sacred Souls left Toronto with a lasting impression, not just through their music, but through the emotional depth of their performance. The blend of joy, reflection and advocacy transformed the show into something far beyond a typical concert or costume party and closer to a family gathering.
