I’ve been a fan of Soccer Mommy since her 2020 album, Color Theory. So naturally, when her newest album Evergreen released, I knew I had to give it a listen. Though Color Theory had cemented a special place in my heart for its poignant themes with a pained iteration of indie-pop sound, Evergreen’s sound overall gave the impression of someone who was more at peace with their own grief, even finding happiness despite it all, which was a message I resonated more with now.
Having the opportunity to see her live for the first time was a dream come true, now not just for the 16-year-old version of me, but for who I am now. I had high expectations for her performance and I was not disappointed in the slightest.
The venue was The Studio at the Factory in Dallas, a perfect in-between from the two venues I had been to before this concert: the almost homely Tulips venue in Fort Worth, and the much larger Factory in Deep Ellum. Bailey, my plus-one, and I arrived on time, but were held up in the line to get my press pass—a setback I did not need given that it was roughly twenty degrees outside. Nevertheless, The Studio at the Factory eventually greeted me with open arms and much warmer temperature, and I caught most of the opener’s set.
The opener, DIY singer-songwriter Hana Vu, brought a grungier sound in comparison to Soccer Mommy’s more indie-pop-sounding discography. I found this juxtaposition incredibly compelling, as most artists I’ve heard tend to bring on openers that sound like them. Even the lighting for both acts were stark in their differences, with Vu’s set being lit in deep reds and blues. Vu played music off of her new album Romanticism, with a sound with an electric intensity that I savored immensely, so much so that I looked up the album after I got home. For those who love a good Caravaggio painting and have always wondered what his work would ‘sound like’, consider looking into Hana Vu’s “Romanticism.”
After roughly forty-five minutes, including a brief fifteen minute intermission—enough time to let me and Bailey buy water as the venue began to fill with people who apparently don’t believe in opening acts, Soccer Mommy went on stage. The crowd lit up with an even more fervent enthusiasm for the headliner, including one man who was incredibly keen on letting Soccer Mommy know that he loved her. After making small talk with the crowd about how cold it was and giving her thanks to her Dallas-based secret admirer, she began the concert with a crowd favorite: “Circle the Drain.”
“Circle the Drain” is one of Soccer Mommy’s most popular songs, and for good reason. With an irresistible string-based instrumental tied alongside Soccer Mommy’s trademark soft yet powerful voice, there’s absolutely nothing to complain about. I try to be as professional as I can when it comes to event coverage and yet, I found myself singing along. It’s the true ‘coming-of-age’ song and a gem in Color Theory.
However, I found myself more drawn to hearing the live versions of Evergreen. One song I enjoyed in particular was “Abigail,” which to the average person, is a love song about some alleged woman in Soccer Mommy’s life named Abigail. But in this case, I am not in the demographic of ‘average person.’ I’ve played too much Stardew Valley to deserve the title. On hearing the song and hearing about this Abigail character’s purple hair and her proclivities for the occult, I had the sneaking suspicion this was about one of the NPCs in Stardew Valley. Even the instrumental sounded familiar. On a foray to the Genius site for the song, my suspicions were proven correct and I was ecstatic. Hearing the song live with this understanding heightened my appreciation for it, as the ‘2000s’-type indie-rock sound this song opts for fits the aesthetic of the Stardew Valley character impeccably.
Most of the songs Soccer Mommy played either came from Color Theory or Evergreen, which painted this incredible picture of the struggles and moments of bliss that the artist went through. The selection seemed meticulous, and with the enchanting visuals of bushels of flowers to crystalline lakes, I truly felt enchanted by Soccer Mommy’s show in Dallas.
