The last time we saw Soccer Mommy in Montreal was during the sweltering heat during Osheaga 2023, and now she is playing Theatre Beanfield in the dead of winter. And to be completely honest, both sets are quite similar. Sophia Allison, aka Soccer Mommy, is nothing if not consistent with her dreamy indie rock. Her voice is smokey like velvet; her band is super tight and knows when to pick their moments in the limelight.
The biggest difference between this set and the Osheaga one is the stage setup; tonight’s has bunches of flowers and a visual backdrop in the form of a painted canvas and a flower wreath with some video playing between songs. Maybe that and the volume; the whole show isn’t as in the red as the Osheaga one, which is welcomed for this lazy Sunday set. The background video is quite abstract but usually focuses on different kinds of flowers, vibrant and monotone, as Soccer Mommy sings her songs of confession, lovesickness, and restless wanderlust.
This time, Soccer Mommy is supporting her latest album, Evergreen, which is, again, quite similar to the last one, Sometimes, Forever. And besides a few subtle nuances live, the songs sound almost identical, even down the the mix of the record. The show is good, but after four or five songs, you basically get the gist and vibe. We get a few reserved for live moments, like the drawn-out flute solo, which adds a baroque feeling to the song “Some Sunny Day,” and the triple guitarmony solo in “Thinking of You.” Allison is still quite shy with stage banter or even talking with the crowd, so if Soccer Mommy really wants to separate herself from the other sad-girl indie rock groups, she might want to completely shift sounds or work on her stage presence. That, or perhaps be lost in the shuffle. Right now, if you’ve seen her once, you’ve seen her.
photos by Julia Mela
