Years from now music fans might be surprised to learn the London Souls once played a free show at Lake Tahoe.
Of course, it’s nearly impossible to predict the success of a band, but there is no denying the talent of New York City duo Tash Neal, guitar and vocals, and Chris St. Hilaire, drums and vocals. Its second album and summertime tour set the expectations high for the London Souls.
Neal and St. Hilaire share a love for 1960s British rock bands like Cream, the Hollies, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Its polished songs have catchy guitar hooks and vocal harmonies with a psychedelic bent.
According to the band’s website, contemporary influences are couple of American rock band from the South: Blackfoot Gypsies and John the Conqueror. Various critics have compared the London Souls to My Morning Jacket, Badfinger and the Byrds. Perhaps the most appropriate description came from Entertainment Weekly, which called the group a classic rock revival duo.
Neal and St. Hilaire started the group in 2008 and in 2011 released a self-titled album, from which a song was used on an episode of a television program, another for a basketball shoe commercial with Derrik Rose. The next year it recorded the album “Here Come the Girls,” which was to be released in January 2013. However, Neal was nearly killed in a hit-and-run accident and the band was inactive for two years. “Here Come the Girls” was finally released April 7, 2015. Here is a link to a single from that album, “When I’m With You”: LINK
The London Souls have a packed itinerary this summer, including a monthlong tour in Europe with half of those shows with Billy Idol. It also will play a number of festivals, including the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, Austin City Limits Festival, Landmark Music Festival in Washington D.C., and Bear Creek Music Festival in Live Oak Florida.
It is touring the West through June 6, including a Lake Tahoe show at 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 in the Crystal Bay Casino’s Red Room. There is no cover charge.
