The last time L'Rain played in New York City, they were opening for TV on the Radio at Webster Hall. Prior to that, they'd played sets with Sons of Kemet and Animal Collective (amongst others). Getting to see them open for such an array of bands, now including Soccer Mommy, showcase the expansive and versatile range of sound this artist can cover and with each set, a slightly different side of the band can be revealed. For this show, L'Rain spun up a delectable haze of swirling guitars, cloudy synths, and dizzying drumming that made for a mystical, dream-like setting. Warping the minds of the crowd with delicate waves of her arms, L'Rain's wall of sound took eclectic jazzy drum fills and paired them with layered, distorted vocals that also made for their own distinct tone and part of the song. Shoegazey, blown-out guitars added to the mix as did the heavy blankets of synth work while other looping electronic melodies gave a bit more variance and helped to shake up the rhythm into something groovy and delightful. Towards the end of the set, the band slunk into the rhythmic drive of Portishead's epic "The Rip" and it was a brilliant and unexpected moment that put the group on a whole new playing field. Digging in deep to the electronic wonder, the pulsing groove was spot on and those difficult to impersonate vocals were treated with the utmost care all of which made for a stunning way to open the show.
After what felt like a long break between sets, Sophie Allison finally led her band to the stage, the additional musicians all dressed in matching suits sans ties and her in a floor-length dress, as they plugged in and eased in to their poppy alt-rock riffs with gusto and panache. From the start, the band was firmly polished, but still with an edge. The guitars buzzed and the triple six string attack allowed for things to get fuzzy as the drummer and bass player kept things perfectly in line without drawing attention or stealing the spotlight. With the rest of the band formed in a ring around Allison, the focus was clear and direct with her voice cutting through the gritty guitar. "Abigail" from last year's Evergreen started things off nicely and immediately kicked things up a notch with a strong follow-up in "Circle the Drain," an early highlight of the night that set the tone early on. Drawing strongly from her most recent album, half of the set was dedicated to older material and each one felt like a treat when sprinkled in amongst the newer tunes. Heating things up with "Shotgun" was a killer move and the crowd ate it up when the soaring chorus hit, the room singing it back with radiant joy and enthusiasm. Stripping away the rhythm section for a moment, Allison made things a bit more intimate with the gauzy and slow burning track "Lost," a cosmic tune that floated over the room with a weightless melody that made for a blissed-out, sensational experience. Revving the guitars back up for the night with a supreme sense of vigor and planning, the roars continued to bring the '90s vibes of raw, grungy songwriting that continued to wash over the crowd. Hitting everything right on cue, the band was a tight unit all throughout the night and Allison commanded the attention of everyone in the room with an understated confidence. At this point in her career, Soccer Mommy has built up the discography of solid records that fans can call out for songs that are no longer set list guarantees and it's clear Allison never wants to disappoint as she simply replies "oh no I can't hear you" to each of the requests, but her thank yous come across as entirely genuine. Hitting us with two more fan favorites, however, from Color Theory was a great way to help bring the night to a fitting end and the final punch of "Your Dog" was delivered with an effortless charm. Allison's live show unquestionably matches the sophistication of her songwriting talents and as each of her records as a new chapter to her steady sound, her stage renditions also help sharpen the fidelity and showcase her skills in additional and gratifying ways.
Set list:
02 "Circle the Drain"
03 "Driver"
04 "Bones"
05 "Shotgun"
06 "Dreaming of Falling"
07 "Cool"
08 "Thinking of You"
09 "Some Sunny Day"
10 "M"
11 "Lost"
12 "Crawling in My Skin"
13 "Royal Screw Up"
14 "Salt in Wound"
15 "Your Dog"
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16 "Changes"
17 "Don’t Ask Me"
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