Photographer: Kili Goodrich
A Night of Soul, And Sweet Harmony at Arizona Financial Theatre
Three beautifully different shades of soul came to Phoenix. From The Womack Sisters’ shimmering harmonies to LA LOM’s mesmerizing instrumentals and Thee Sacred Souls turned the crowd into one warm communal. Behind the camera, I found myself photographing all the little moments of connection happening between the songs.
Thee Sacred Souls
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There is something special about photographing an artist for the third time. By then, the excitement of seeing them live has a familiarity to it, but somehow the camera still finds something new. That feeling followed me into Arizona Financial Theatre in Phoenix, where The Womack Sisters opened a night shared by LA LOM and Thee Sacred Souls. I had first photographed the sisters twice at Treefort Festival in Boise, Idaho back in March. Seeing them step onto a stage close to my home opened up a warm nostalgia for me. I was blistered with excitment.
The Womack Sisters walked out in matching black dresses, the fabric catching little flashes of light beneath the stage glow. Their sound carries the elegance of classic soul, with tight three-part harmonies that immediately brought The Supremes to mind. Yet, their sound comes with a freshness that makes it entirely bloom into their own.
“If You Want Me,” “Laughter and Tears,” and “I Just Don’t Want You (To Say Goodbye)” gave me plenty to chase through the viewfinder. There is a graceful confidence to the sisters when they sing together.
LA LOM’s combination of guitar, bass and drums created a soundtrack pulled from another decade. Their vintage button-up shirts, sleeves rolled casually at the forearms, only added to the illusion. At one point, the guitarist played with a toothpick hanging from his mouth, and I remember thinking how effortlessly cinematic the entire scene looked through my camera. Cool and insanely suave. LA LOM played a couple of new songs, but their fourth held the room still. A tribute to absolute legend, Dolly Parton, was the moment that stayed with me. Their instrumental interpretation of “I Will Always Love You” was delicate, tightening something in my chest as the final notes filled the theater.
The atmosphere had softened into a warm communal once Thee Sacred Souls took the stage. The band has a rare ability to make a large concert feel remarkably intimate. Their music removes the tension of being in a crowd and replaces it with the feeling of a neighborhood block party. Full of friends, strangers and loved ones gathered simply to enjoy being together and enjoying the music.
Couples held each other. Friends sang shoulder to shoulder. Some fans raised Palestinian flags in solidarity from within the crowd. The band moved through “Love Comes Easy” and “Lucid Girl,” keeping that gentle warmth intact. “Will I See You Again?” my personal favorite song of theirs. Lead singer Josh Lane stepped over the barricade and carried the song directly into the crowd. Lane took his time serenading fans from within their reach.
From behind my camera, I felt lucky to be there for a third time. This concert was about raw connection, harmony and the comfort of finding yourself surrounded by people who feel the music just as deeply.
Article by: Kili Goodrich
Plug In. Tune Out.
Thee Sacred Souls make music rooted in soul, R&B and the warmth of vintage records. Carried by a distinctly modern tenderness. Their songs move with an easy, unhurried rhythm. Giving space for stories about love, longing and connection to settle in. More than anything, their music doesn't demand attention so much as invite you to stay awhile.