Sophie Allison, more commonly known as Soccer Mommy, brought an intimate and audience-captivating performance at Denver’s Ogden Theatre on March 10, showcasing material from her critically acclaimed new album alongside other fan favorites. 

As the venue gradually filled, Allison and her band quietly took the stage, backdropped by a striking flowery circular display that would change imagery and lighting throughout the set. 

The set began with a contemplative rendition of “Abigail” before transitioning into a crowd-favorite, “circle the drain,” which immediately sparked a strong audience reaction. Soccer Mommy’s gaze seemed to cut through the audience as she sang deeply personal lyrics backed up by mesmerizing sound produced by the band. 

Throughout the set, Allison would casually address the crowd with moments of gratitude between songs along with some humor, such as clarifying that, to some fans’ surprise, her “first name is not soccer.” The conversational and funny tone is something she maintained with her audience during the evening, creating an intimate and playful environment that was felt throughout the venue. 

The variety of songs chosen for the set list alternated between slower, delicate numbers and upbeat, intense tracks. “Driver,” which she recently performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, was introduced as the third song from her most recent album “Evergreen.” The fourth song in the set, “Bones,” highlighted her impressive vocal range and featured a guitar solo that noticeably elevated the crowd’s energy.

At one point, Allison acknowledged Colorado’s altitude by saying to the crowd, “I have a question, how do you guys breathe up here?”The show took an especially poignant turn during “Lost,” the 13th song of the night, when most of the band temporarily exited the stage. The remaining musicians, Rodrigo Avendano on keys and Julian Powell on guitar, created an ethereal and beautiful atmosphere that seemed to take over the audience.

This was followed by a solo performance from Allison that was slow and solemn, showcasing the raw emotional honesty that has become her trademark.

When the full band returned, Allison joked, “They came back for me,” before launching into more upbeat numbers with psychedelic lighting that matched the songs’ pace. The technical proficiency of the band was on full display during an extended instrumental jam session, with Allison proving herself just as talented with the guitar as with her vocals and songwriting.

For the finale, Allison saved her arguably most widely recognized track, “Your Dog,” which was released in 2018. She encouraged the audience to sing along, saying that it “makes it more fun.” 

The crowd obliged, dancing and singing to close out the night. 

Allison’s new album, “Evergreen,” represents a return to Soccer Mommy’s roots, created in the wake of personal loss and featuring acoustic guitars, strings and flutes rather than the typical synthesizers and experimental production of her other recent work. This more organic approach translated beautifully to the live setting at the Ogden Theater, proving that sometimes less truly is more.