After a long Saturday cooped up amidst ongoing thunderstorms in Nashville, I was thrilled that Soccer Mommy and her band decided to push forward with the last night of their North American tour on March 15. Ready to leave the safety of my blankets and hot tea, I — slowly and carefully — drove over to Brooklyn Bowl for the show. Upon entry, I was greeted by the indie stylings of Hana Vu, Soccer Mommy’s opener. Centered around classic indie pop and rock sounds, I found myself swaying to Vu’s calming voice and soft guitar playing. Though I only caught the back half of her set due to the weather, her mellow sound and humorous crowd interactions set the tone for a peaceful evening.
During a brief intermission, the stage Vu once stood on was transformed into a fairy’s fantasy, laced with faux flowers and a circular backdrop displaying pastel-colored videos of butterflies. As Soccer Mommy’s bandmates entered the stage, the portal-like backdrop illuminated the venue, transporting me into a flower-filled world.
Despite the array of flowers — the visionary behind Soccer Mommy and lead singer — Sophie Allison sported a fitted black t-shirt and black pants, with tattoos and blonde-dyed front pieces contrasting her black hair. The contrast between dark clothing and cascading florals signaled to me that something unique was coming, but it wasn’t until Allison began to sing that I could follow where their niche might come from.
(Claire Andrews)
Allison performed emotionally gutting lyrics in her first two songs that contrasted drastically with the band’s more traditional indie-rock sound created from drums, a keyboard and guitars. For her second song, Soccer Mommy continued to tear my emotions apart by playing fan favorite, “circle the drain.” There, she sings about the jarring details of mental health issues through a nostalgic, early 2000s-like indie song structure, creating an immense contrast of nostalgia and pain. Between each vulnerability-filled song, sounds of bubbles popping and spring-like tunes allowed me to float like thought bubbles inside Allison’s mind.
Allison’s bandmates — Julian Powell on guitar, Rodrigo Avendano on the keyboard, Nic Widener on Bass and Rollum Haas on the drums — allowed her intense lyrics to be digested easily. Their simple guitar and bass rhythms upheld a sense of whimsy amidst the energy created by drum beats and synthesizers.
Diversifying the show further, Soccer Mommy played songs from across her robust discography. Everything from a song about Allison’s old pickup truck to new tunes from her new album, “Evergreen,” were included in the mix, allowing me to hear the development of her musical vision over ten years of material.
Though audience members never found themselves jumping around in the venue’s pit, the crowd praised Soccer Mommy’s bandmates with plentiful cheers and requests between songs. Flamboyant physical movement wasn’t necessary to my enjoyment of the show’s calming nature.
(Claire Andrews)
Wrapping up a 90-minute set, Soccer Mommy ended with “Your Dog,” another fan favorite easily recognized by myself and those around me. The combination of blunt lyrics about not wanting to be viewed as a pet in a romantic relationship with a light indie sound and vocal tone was the perfect way to end the night.
While the storm continued to rage outside, most fans hung back at Brooklyn Bowl, patiently waiting for an encore. Soccer Mommy, of course, provided, allowing fans to transport back into their pixie dream world for two more songs. Ending with a more upbeat rock sound, I was sent back into the storm, leaving the calmness of the eye for a rainy drive home.
Stepping outside Brooklyn Bowl on Saturday night, I was grateful for the few hours I spent listening to Soccer Mommy from the crowd. Highlighting a blissful contrast between whimsy and vulnerability, Soccer Mommy’s unique sound allowed me to escape mother nature’s chaos with ease — leaving me feeling playful and tender at the same time.
