McKenzie Davis
Oct 23, 2026
Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy brought their joint tour to Iron City in Birmingham, Alabama, with
opener Scarlet Rae setting the tone for a night of incredible vocals, crowd favorites, and plenty of
energy.
It's not every day that two of your favorite indie rock artists end up on the same bill, especially in Birmingham. So having Snail Mail and Soccer Mommy come through Iron City together was already something to look forward to.
As fans slowly trickled into the venue, Scarlet Rae opened the night with a much quieter setup than what was to come. Sitting alone onstage with her soundboard and loop pedal, she built a moody, layered sound that had the crowd completely drawn in. It was a unique performance, and one that seemed to catch plenty of people by surprise. I have a feeling this won't be the last we're hearing of her, especially considering how many new fans she appeared to make that night.
Next up was Soccer Mommy, who wasted no time getting the crowd involved, opening with "circle the drain." Sophie's vocals sounded incredible live, and the crowd was more than happy to sing along. There's something about hearing songs you've listened to countless times performed right in front of you, especially when the artist sounds just as good, if not better, than the recordings.
The set stayed fun throughout, eventually closing with "Your Dog," which left the room cheering, singing, and more than ready for what was coming next.
Then it was time for Snail Mail. Lindsey brought plenty of energy to the stage, moving through a set full of fan favorites with vocals that were just as impressive live. Both Lindsey and Sophie have such distinct voices and stage presence, and seeing them back-to-back really highlighted just how talented they are.
One of the funnier moments of the night came toward the end of Snail Mail's set. Lindsey joked about how people kept thinking the show was over and leaving before the encore, questioning why nobody seems to know how encores work anymore. Rather than walking offstage just to come back out, she decided to skip the whole routine and finish the set right there. And honestly, fair enough.
She closed things out with "Ricochet" and "Pristine," giving the crowd two more favorites before calling it a night.
I've been a fan of both Soccer Mommy and Snail Mail for a while, but seeing them perform on the same stage made me appreciate their music even more. Both have grown so much over the years, yet it's still surprising they aren't even bigger than they are. Their vocals, songwriting, and the way they carry themselves onstage deserve so much more recognition.
Birmingham doesn't always get tour stops like this, so getting to spend a night with two artists who have helped shape modern indie rock, plus discovering Scarlet Rae along the way, felt pretty special.
Hopefully, we'll see all three back in Alabama sooner rather than later.