Soccer Mommy Mesmerizes her Sold Out Chicago Crowd with Dreamy, Intimate Set

chicago, illinois - February 6th, 2025

There’s something special about a show that makes you forget where you are for a while, whether that means physically, or emotionally. Soccer Mommy’s set at Thalia Hall last Thursday did exactly that as she brought a set full of dreamy & melancholic indie rock that had the crowd dialed into the sounds created by her and her band from start to finish.

Soccer Mommy, the project of Nashville-based singer-songwriter Sophie Allison, has built a loyal following thanks to her ability to turn personal reflections into something that feels universally relatable. Through the blending of soft, introspective lyricism with distorted, nostalgia-soaked instrumentals, she’s definitely made an impact on me and so many others. Her latest 2024 album, Evergreen, now has her and her band on a world tour - here’s how her Chicago night 1 went:

Doors opened, and fans packed in early, some fitted with merch from past tours, others waiting in line to stock up on the new t-shirts at the merch table. When Allison finally took the stage, the crowd directed their undivided attention and energy toward her—an immediate cheer filled the room as she serenated the crowd with songs both old and new. Her voice, which sounded exactly as it did on the records, floated effortlessly over warm guitar and steady drum beats. From there, her discography was bounced through, from the hazy, slow-burners to the more high-energy, full-band moments. Songs like “Circle the Drain” set the mood by hyping the crowd, while “Henry” brought a hush over the venue, causing everyone to silently sway to the masterpiece of a song.

Apart from all the amazing things I can say about how lovely the musical aspect of the show was, the whole visual look of the show was stunning as well—muted purple and blue lighting bathed the stage, with occasional warm yellows piercing through the flower-filled set, giving the room a surreal and nostalgic glow. Allison stood calm within it all, switching through chords on her electric guitar and sang her iconic super lovely vocals. It was super impressive to me how she and the band were able to balance moments of vulnerability and slowness with heavier, thicker, and more intense moments to create the perfect setlist.

One of the highlights of the night was towards the end when I stopped taking photos and just enjoyed the art in front of me. I was with a few photographer friends who were on assignment from other Chicago publications, and we all stood together in the upstairs area of Thalia Hall, heads nodding to the music, as Soccer Mommy closed off her set and everyone cheered.

Soccer Mommy’s live performance genuinely was a blast to experience. If I had to choose one word to describe it, I’d choose the word “lovely”. The lighting, crowd energy, venue organization, and people I was with made my experience attending this concert incredibly lovely. If you ever get the chance to attend a Soccer Mommy concert, I say take it.

Check out Soccer Mommy’s latest album release, titled “Evergreen”, on Spotify here: Evergreen