Thee Sacred Souls captivated fans at the 3Olympia Theatre last night, supported by opening act LA LOM.

Casual and effortlessly cool, LA LOM brought their Los Angeles charm all the way to Dublin. With inspiration from Mexican Boleros and Cumbia Sonidera, the three-piece band created a world of sound with just a guitar, bass and drumset.

Guitarist Zac Sokolow made his intricate, finger-picking melodies appear simple, leaning confidently back and forth with his instrument. Often, he’d lift his guitar into the air as he played, tilting closer into the microphone.

“We are so happy to be back here in Dublin, this is our second time,” said Sokolow.

Nicholas Baker’s performance on the drums was electric, switching between maracas, the palm of his hand and a drum stick to create a fresh, dynamic sound. Entirely instrumental, LA LOM gave the audience a stellar performance.

“Thank you so much for having us, it’s been so much fun playing for you guys,” Sokolow said before leaving the stage.

LA LOM supporting Thee Sacred Souls at 3Olympia Theatre on February 19th, 2025. Copyright Abigail Ring/ hotpress.com

After their set, Thee Sacred Souls brought out a full band of performers. Instruments on stage ranged from the trumpet, saxophone, trombone, bass, guitar, drums and tambourine. Strobing blue lights flashed the crowd, as two supporting vocalists walked up to their microphones.

Jazzy instrumentals served to uplift the rich, velvety voice of frontman Josh Lane. Shifting between high and low notes with ease, Lane commanded the excited crowd with his vocal prowess. During his performance of ‘Will I See You Again?’, the singer jumped onto the barricade, tossing a bouquet of flowers he received on stage. Walking the entire length of the divider, Lane danced and sang with fans.

Introducing his next song ‘Easier Said Than Done,’ Lane addressed the audience directly.

“Okay, I have a question for you guys. How many of you got some kind of romantic energy with somebody or some people right now? Show of hands,” he said. “Do you believe it’s easier said than done?”

The crowd roared in anticipation of the song. Nuanced and dreamy, the track spoke to the intricacies of love, shedding light on the challenges that come with being in a relationship.

Their fast-paced performance of ‘Running Away’ livened the already excited crowd. With the brass instruments and supporting vocals dancing in the background, Lane once again jumped onto the barricade. Motioning for the crowd to make space, he climbed over the divider and into the pit with the audience.

Dancing and singing with fans, I expected him to stop there. Moving deeper and deeper into the crowd, Lane actually hopped the fence dividing the pit from the back bar area. Completely out of view but still singing, the audience looked around trying to find the performer.

To my surprise, the door to my box seat swung open. Lane hopped the seat divider, climbing into the neighboring box and sitting on the edge of the railing, feet swinging. Although he was perched high in the air, Lane was relaxed and joyous. He continued to sing, providing me with an up-close view of his spectacular performance of ‘It’s Our Love.’

After making his way back on stage, Lane addressed the crowd once more.

“It's safe to say it's hard to want to go on day by day, seeing our humanity broken to pieces like this, if you know what I'm talking about," he said. "And I think what helps me get through these tough times is the idea that it's the good and the bad that happens to you, for you, and against you that ultimately make you who you are. Now that doesn't necessarily make it much easier to do, I think it just puts it into a perspective that helps for growth. This song is called ‘On My Mind.’”

Singing of hope and resilience, the track comes off their 2024 album Got a Story to Tell.

“'Cause if I've got my breath, then I've got evеrything,” sang Lane.

Full of power and energy, Thee Sacred Souls delivered a spellbinding performance.