Thee Sacred Souls, La Lom, and The Womack Sisters played at The Union Event Center in Salt Lake City on August 18, 2026.
For my money, this concert was the strongest bill of the entire summer. While Thee Sacred Souls got top billing, both bands it had along for the ride could have easily headlined in their place. It also meant an exceptionally early start: many missed The Womack Sisters short thirtyish minute set because they started promptly at 6pm. As the granddaughters of soul legend Sam Cooke, daughters of R&B duo Womack & Womack (Cecil and Linda Womack), and nieces of Bobby Womack, they made more than good use of the family name, blending songs with choreography in a way that never felt like they were trying to recreate the past. Their “You Went Away Too Long” off the brand new debut record echoed in my mind days later, and I never got mad about it, not once. There’s been talk; people already want them back.
La Lom has been here before — thanks, State Room curators — but seeing the Latin instrumental trio again showcased a couple of things. For one, they’re every bit the capable performers now that they were then, able to aptly demand and keep their audience’s attention through a mix of dance, spinning a standup bass, even playing the drums with one hand and one drumstick. Those who claim music needs words to be appropriately compelling simply aren’t listening to the right bands. As a bonus, The Womack Sisters slipped back on for a faithful cover of Ray Charles’ “Hit The Road Jack.”
Also no strangers to showmanship: Thee Sacred Souls. It was a lot of straight-up soul music with a lot of fans eager to sing along with Josh Lane whenever he stepped off the stage to be close to the crowd. Favorites like “Lucid Girl,” “Lady Love,” and “Can I Call You Rose?” surfaced, prompting Lane to offer that love is what the world needs a lot more of, not war or threat of war. Everyone agreed, and emphatically. If they returned annually, they’d still pull a crowd. There would be nary a complaint. Manifestation in action, folks. Make us happy, 2027.
Gallery by Stephen Speckman. IG: @saspeckman
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