By: Therese Burgo
San Diego-based neo-soul group Thee Sacred Souls returned to New York City on January 28,
2023 to perform their debut self-titled album, at Brooklyn Steel. Members include vocalist Josh Lane, drummer Alex Garcia, and bassist Sal Samano. Arriving an hour before the show with my roommate, we were met with a line wrapped around the venue. We made it in quickly and soaked in the atmosphere, speckled with the reflections of a disco ball hanging in the lobby.
The 1,800-capacity venue holds the structure of a warehouse with an industrial feeling to it, as it was initially a steel factory. We were fortunate to get pretty close to the stage and immediately appreciated the gentle and pleasant attitudes of the concert attendees around us.
The stage was set simply with colorful lights and fog, creating the perfect backdrop to support the music. Two openers set the tone for the evening, the first being a solo performance by Jalen N’Gonda. Singing with the accompaniment of only an electric guitar, he effortlessly charmed the audience with fun, soulful songs.
The second opener was the musical trio Say She She. Behind them, many instrumentalists were brought onto the stage to accompany the singers. Their enchanting vocals and funky sounds excited the audience and encouraged movement. I was pleased to see how engaging both openers were with the crowd, and in turn how supportive the audience was.
These two openers were more than show warm-ups: they connected with the audience in a way that matched the thrill and anticipation of Thee Sacred Souls themselves. I can certainly say I am now a fan of N’Gonda and Say She She!
When the main act did finally take the stage, they were met with loud praise from the crowd. The three bandmates were accompanied by two backup singers, a guitarist, and a keyboardist. At this point, the floor of Brooklyn Steel was packed with concertgoers, including an overlooking balcony across the back of the venue. Had I not looked behind me at this moment, I probably would not have realized how full the venue really was. Fortunately, there was enough breathing room to sway and dance to the lovey-dovey songs this group so beautifully performed.
Starting the set with “Overflowing” was the perfect choice to set the mood: a light-hearted song with the ability to sedate an excited crowd. The summery “Love is the Way” came next, their most recent single, painting smiles across the faces of the crowd who sang the lyrics. “Trade of Hearts” was a personal favorite of mine, when Lane asked for all the lights on stage to turn red. This performance was, for lack of a better description, a love spell. “Happy and Well,” a duet featuring backup singer Astyn Turr, was a soft, lulling piece, which Lane admitted to the crowd is his favorite track off of the album. N’Gonda was brought back to the stage to perform a cover of Luther Ingram’s “Ain’t That Loving You” with Lane. The crowd, who had definitely not had enough of the talented opener, praised this performance loudly and excitedly.
After a performance of “Weak for Your Love,” and what might have seemed to be the end of the show, the group returned for an encore, featuring “Future Lover” and “It’s Our Love,” during which Lane joined the crowd on the floor, slowly walking deep into the audience to serenade his fans.
Finally, what better way to end this already lovely set than with their most popular and awaited song, “Can I Call You Rose?” which was met with great enthusiasm from the crowd. Thee Sacred Souls’ music filled the venue with an enchanting atmosphere and beautiful, passionate melodies.
Lane has a gift for charming the crowd on a personal level. He sang to the audience in such a deep, endearing way that kept the audience present and wrapped up each moment of the music. He enjoyed talking to the crowd between songs as well, and commented on the size of the audience, confessing he did not expect the venue to be as packed as it was.
Thanks to talented openers, a kind audience, and a dazzling performance by Thee Sacred Souls, January 28th was a truly romantic evening, from start to finish, at Brooklyn Steel.
