Trish Toledo takes Orange County on old-school soul journey

On a warm Orange County night, The Observatory in Santa Ana turned into a listening party of soul and lowrider oldies. Fans from across southern California got to see the queen of modern soul herself, Trish Toledo, in a show that was like a Friday night cruise.

SoCal group The Charities opened up the night. Picture this: a ’45 on the turntable, candles lit, and having a cozy night at home… that’s what their Motown set felt like. Next was 3LH (acronym for Three Legged Horse), another Cali-based Latinx band that turned The Observatory up a few notches with their more upbeat take on surf rock and old-school R&B. Their set loosened up the crowd; people went from singing their hearts out during The Charities to a garage-like show with 3LH. Although the two bands’ styles are on two completely opposite sides of the spectrum, they had one thing in common — their ability to take everyone back to a different era of music.

For those who don’t know, Trish Toledo’s music repurposes the golden era of ‘60s soul and Doo wop for modern audiences.

A Guatemalan-Ecuadorian American singer from Carson, California, Toledo has become the heart of today’s soul revival scene, known for bringing together new musicians from across the movement. That was evident at this show: familiar faces from Thee Sinseers and The Altons rooted her band, giving the performance authenticity only OG musicians can provide.

The stage itself was styled with two palm-like plants flanked on both sides, giving her performance a West Coast feel, with a bouquet of roses spiraled around Toledo’s microphone stand. Into her show, a fan from the crowd handed her a fresh bouquet, which she graciously accepted with a smile; it was one of those unplanned moments that made the show feel even more chivalrously old-school.

Trish’s voice is rich and full, and the audience was as much a part of the show as the artists themselves. This was a real cross-generational gathering: silver-haired couples (who’d clearly been on the oldies trip for decades) stood shoulder-to-shoulder with younger fans in cuffed Dickies and winged eyeliner. Married women were out with friends or next to their smiling spouses. The vibe of the whole place was obviously ‘Chicano soul’, with fedoras, sharp creases, and slicked hair everywhere.

It was amazing to see so many generations standing in one room, connected through music.

For any SoCal resident that’s never attended a Latino-centric event, check one out at least once. Because, for a few hours in Santa Ana, Trish Toledo and her supporting acts put on a stunning show of Latin celebration, community, and heritage, mixed the enduring power of oldies music.

Photography by Celeste Basich

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