Live music review: Soccer Mommy played Emo’s Austin last month
On October 26, Soccer Mommy visited Emo’s in Austin, Texas after the release of their sophomore album, Color Theory. During quarantine, Nashville native Sophie Allison aka Soccer Mommy, released a binder, EP version of the album. Additionally, Soccer Mommy joined forces with Jay Som, Beabadoobee, SASAMI, and several members of MGMT to create a Soccer Mommy & Friends Singles Series to raise money for National Bail Out & Oxfam’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. Clearly Allison has been busy making music and leveraging her newfound notariety.
Joining Soccer Mommy’s tour was Austin band Aexalone (Polyvinyl Records). Fronted by Alex Peterson, the group played their track, “Eavesdropper,” an entrancing, instrumental composition led by guitar slide harmonies with an unblinking snare drum that underlined those quiet harmonies. Alexalone adds undecipherable whispers throughout the track to lend a haunting effect to his music. The eerie slide guitar heightened that sensation for the Emo’s audience.
Next, Allison stepped on stage in a black crop top donning a purple electric guitar for the opening number. Fake cardboard televisions sat on the edge of the stage. Soccer Mommy opened with “Bloodstream.” Allison’s echoing, delay-effects, riffs balanced her soft vocal delivery perfectly.
Halfway through the set list, Allison was left alone on the stage to perform several down-tempo songs including an intimate cover of Slowdive’s “Dagger.” The song was an appropriate selection to supplement the 90’s alternative influence clearly present in Soccer Mommy’s music. That nostalgic feel to the new material the band creates is part of their mystique is you will.
Allison put a bow on the evening with an encore, performing the track, “Your Dog.” “I don’t wanna be your fucking dog!” lyrics matched the angst of an effortlessly cool, Emo’s audience. The theme of solidarity juxtaposed the crowd of romantics, who were previously swooning, were now wailing along with Soccer Mommy in a final, guttural release. The response is a common reaction these days as formerly shut-in music fans return to venues to catch their favorite acts. Soccer Mommy proved no exception to that post-COVID standard.
The mood returned back to whimsy, wrapping up the show with “Scorpio Rising.” Allison was helplessly pining for love as she sang the words,
“Now you want to start.
With someone not so far
Oh she’s bubbly and sweet like a Coca-Cola.”
