Tash Sultana captivates San Diego’s Rady Shell

I’ve been a fan of Tash Sultana’s music for years and regretted missing their last nationwide tour! For that reason, attending their live show this year at The Rady Shell in San Diego was a truly special experience.

Tash Sultana is not just a musician; they are a vibrant ecosystem of sound all on their own. Tash seamlessly transitioned between guitar, drums, a looper, a saxophone, keys, a trumpet, and probably several other instruments that I missed while I was blinking this night. It was as if each instrument was a natural extension of their body, with each switch intentional, fluid, and genuinely mind-bending — especially in real-time.

The set took the audience through a range of emotional states, from gritty and hypnotic to defiant and tender.

In a live setting, songs like “Mystik”, “Greed”, “Notion”, “Coma”, and “Blackbird” feel different, seemingly rearranged, expanded, and reinterpreted on the spot. You could feel how raw and deeply personal each track was.

About halfway through the performance, a few bandmates joined although the energy never dissipated; if anything, it expanded the already elevated atmosphere. The sound grew louder, yet it remained firmly rooted in Tash’s world. Tash held everything together without flinching.

When someone is truly in their element, a sense of stillness envelops them. It’s not silence but a focus of energy. That’s how this show made me feel. Everyone in the crowd was entirely focused on Tash Sultana. There were very few distractions and barely any phones were raised. Thousands of people quietly watched as one artist built something remarkable out of timing, texture, and instinct.

This was not just a concert; it was a breathtaking showcase of what is possible when an artist boldly refuses to be confined to a single genre or instrument. They are on tour now, so if you get the chance to see Tash live, do it!

Photography by Olivia Valdes

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