Thee Sacred Souls Deliver a Soulful, Triumphant Homecoming at Gallagher Square

Walking up to Gallagher Square on Saturday, August 29th, the sheer energy of thousands of fans arriving hours early to claim prime viewing spots set the tone immediately. Presented by Live Nation, this sold-out bill carried an electric anticipation in the air, bringing together the powerhouse harmonies of The Womack Sisters, the irresistible cumbia-soul grooves of LA LOM, and a massive, triumphant headlining set from San Diego’s own Thee Sacred Souls. From the moment doors opened, the venue buzzed with excitement for an evening dedicated to world-class musicianship, rich heritage, and artistic diversity, all unfolding right beside our downtown skyline.

The evening opened with The Womack Sisters backed by a powerhouse full band. Music royalty runs straight through their veins: BG, Zeimani, and Kucha are the daughters of Cecil and Linda Womack (Womack & Womack) and the granddaughters of Sam Cooke. That pedigree showed in every second of their performance. Each sister commands a distinct, astonishing vocal range, trading lead harmonies that cut through the open air with raw, vintage gospel-soul strength. The early crowd didn’t just casually watch; they stood in locked attention, cheering every run and soaring high note.

Next came Los Angeles trio LA LOM (The Los Angeles League of Musicians), featuring guitarist Zac Sokolow, bassist Jake Faulkner, and percussionist Nicholas Baker. Having watched this trio tear up an intimate, sweaty sold-out night at Soda Bar, seeing their hypnotic instrumental sound fill a massive open-air venue felt deeply rewarding. Blending classic cumbia, Afro-Cuban percussion, 1960s soul, and reverb-drenched twang, their sound proved completely infectious. Within minutes, pockets of the crowd broke into fluid dance steps across the grass and along the concrete, completely locked into the groove.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: Thee Sacred Souls.

Formed in Chula Vista back in 2019 after drummer Alex Garcia and bassist Sal Samano connected over a shared love of vintage R&B and recruited singer Josh Lane, the group built its foundation brick by brick in our local scene. Before signing to Daptone, hitting global festival stages, and gaining international acclaim, they were cutting their teeth right here in San Diego, packing rooms like Soda Bar, The Casbah and SOMA.

Watching an independent band from our own community steadily and organically build a following until they sell out an open-air venue as massive as Gallagher Square fills us with immense local pride. From the second Josh Lane floated onto the stage with his effortless falsetto, the venue transformed into a warm, deeply romantic haven.

Walking around the venue, couples held hands, friends embraced, and thousands swayed together in collective unison, singing every lyric to staples like “Can I Call You Rose?” and “Weak for Your Love.” The atmosphere radiated genuine affection—everyone seemed completely in love, enveloped in a rare, heartfelt warmth.

This homecoming served as a stunning reminder of the world-class talent bred right here in San Diego. Seeing a homegrown group return as headliners to conquer a venue this big, surrounded by the community that believed in them from day one, made for an unforgettable night.