1,235 SOCCER MOMMY, Bristol Rough Trade Records, Sunday 26th June 2022

 

Another Rough Trade in-store gig and CD signing session, but this time with daughter Jami! I’d enjoyed “Color Theory”, 2020’s sophomore effort from Nashville’s Soccer Mommy, effectively a band vehicle for talented newcomer Sophie Allison to sprinkle a flurry of hazy lazy Belly/ Blake Babies college pop/dreampop stardust over her self-exploring confessional lyrics, then deliver them in a pure, delicate voice recalling Madder Rose’s Mary Lorson. So her impending new album “Sometimes, Forever” was already on my shopping list before I heard about this in-store show. Tix were duly snapped up, then, not only for myself but also for Jami, who enjoyed the repeated car CD plays. So, another daddy/ daughter gig!

 Rach was off early for a sea swim event so I still had to do the grocery shop first, but I did that in double-quick time so Jami and I could leave just after 11 for a swift drive and annoying queue into Cabot Circus car park, then a soggy tramp through a drizzly Bristol. Hit the venue about 20 past 12, picking up our new album CDs then taking a spot near the front, house right, and admiring the plethora of guitars onstage – no other equipment, so this was definitely a Sophie solo show! She joined us at 1 p.m., greeting her quietly attentive audience with, “hi guys… what is it you say; are you alright?... Now I’ve warmed you up with my humour, I’ll play some songs” and easing into the Madder Rose-esque sombre slow-burn opener “With You” off the new album. In fact, after then making reference to her guitar line-up (“an arsenal of guitars for a 30 minute set! And they’re all in [the key of] “A”!”), she announced that the set would consist solely of new album tracks – her prerogative, sure, but as an audience member, it was also my prerogative to feel a little disappointed by that, as I was looking forward to at least a couple of “Color Theory” tracks (“Circle The Drain” and/or Jami’s favourite “Royal Screw Up” would have been nice). Oh well…

 

Anyway, “Bones”, next up, had more of a slightly countrified Lemonheads slacker vibe, and “Shotgun” was more immediate, with a hooker chorus juxtaposing its’ melancholy verse. Following that, Sophie (who was open and charming throughout) asked for early favourites from the new album, a couple of punters calling for “Darkness Forever”, much to her chagrin… apparently this one was “too dark” and featured a really loud scream that the producer coaxed out of her during recording. So that was out too! Instead, she reached for the best-looking guitar, a sky blue asymmetric model which drew gasps from the crowd and a comment of, “it’s not mine, it’s [Soccer Mommy guitarist] Julian’s!” “Don’t Ask Me”, which received the benefit of this instrument, was my favourite of the set, again giving off strong Dandoesque laid-back college pop vibes. We made our way to the back during final number, the understated melancholy of “Still” (which also featured a descending choral chord structure recalling Buffalo Tom’s classic “Taillights Fade”), so we could be early in the queue for CD signing, greeting Sophie for a few quick words, signed CDs and a photo before heading off, back home just before 4 via shopping and Slim Chickens lunch in Cabot Circus.

 So, overall, a pleasant and diverting way to spend a Sunday, but one not likely to threaten my “Best Of” gig list for the year… disappointed about the lack of familiar material in her set, but a couple of promising new numbers, especially “Don’t Ask Me” which I’m looking forward to hearing in full band form. But of course, the track I’m looking forward to hearing the most (forbidden fruit and all that..) is the dark and screaming “Darkness Forever”…!