Soccer Mommy Found a Sympathetic Audience at Tipitina's

Soccer Mommy’s Sophie Allison, by Victoria Conway

The band brought the flowers and the crowd came ready for “Evergreen,” its most emotionally demanding album.

Soccer Mommy walked out to face the Tipitina’s crowd promptly at 9:10, following Los Angeles-native Hana Vu’s opening set. The stage was adorned with an assortment of faux flower bouquets, their pinks and blues a complement to the soft lights that illuminated the nonchalant group. Frontwoman Sophie Allison sported a glittery pink Novo Serus guitar, eyes cast downward as she strummed. She was flanked on either side by guitarist Julian Powell and keyboardist/guitarist Rodrigo Avendano; upstage stood bassist Nickolas Widener and drummer Rollum Haas, rounding out the five-piece ensemble.

Sophie Allison at Tipitina’s, by Victoria Conway

The Nashville-based band kicked off the set with “Abigail,” from the group’s 2024 album Evergreen, before going straight into “circle the drain.” The band’s second-most played song on Spotify drew the audience in to echo the melancholy refrain. Soccer Mommy played with an compelling earnestness, fans watching intently as the band traversed the past seven years of their discography, the evening’s setlist dating back to their 2018 record Clean.

The crowd at the rail for Soccer Mommy, by Victoria Conway

The spirit of the room was sober, an unusual feeling for a city like New Orleans. It made sense, though, that the evening wasn’t outrightly joyous; Evergreen is arguably Allison’s most personal release to date, the 11-track record is a weary navigation of what it means to grieve loss, generally believed in her case to be that of a parent. The weight of the music was tangible, sitting heavy on the crowd like a blanket. Tonight, the audience readily carried the burden, embracing the load and sending it back lighter in their chorus.

Soccer Mommy’s Sophie Allison, by Victoria Conway