Indie rock band Momma hand delivered an incredible performance to The Fonda Theatre on May 9th, playing to a packed house at the Los Angeles stop on their ‘Welcome to My Blue Sky’ tour. Fans filled the historic venue from floor to balcony. For those who aren’t familiar, Momma is an alternative indie rock band that feels like stepping into a 90s time machine filled with moody sentimentality, introspection, and grunge pop.

The band was in the good company of Wishy, a fellow indie band that seems to have mastered the shoegaze/indie rock blend - an opening set pairing perfectly with the headliner. If you had been there and been at just the right angle, you might have caught a glimpse of the dimmed silhouettes of Momma’s members side-stage, dancing, singing, and cheering on their opener.

At 10 o’clock, Momma took the stage, immediately diving straight into “Sincerely,” the opening track of their new album, “Welcome to My Blue Sky,” which dropped just last month. But of course with all good things, there’s a balance to be had, and Momma is not immune to the quirks and fumbles of live music. Early in the set, drummer Preston Fulks ran into trouble with a broken hi-hat, sparking an on-stage scramble between the band and crew. As everyone rushed to get things back on track, vocalist and guitarist Etta Friedman stood at the front of the stage watching on with hands anxiously clasped atop their head, guitar hanging in front of them. Just when things seemed sorted, the hi-hat collapsed entirely in a charmingly chaotic fashion.

Luckily, the interruption was brief and the show was back in full swing in no time. The setlist was made mostly of the latest releases, but long-time fans were not forgotten. I first discovered Momma via a Spotify discovery playlist in 2022 and instantly fell in love with the band thanks to what is now one of the band’s biggest hits, “Speeding 72” off of their 2022 album “Household Name.” 

Another favorite moment of the night came towards the end as the band asked if anyone in the venue was a fan of Elliott Smith. Cue the resounding yes, myself very much included. The band then launched into a surprise cover of “Christian Brothers,” a track off of Smith’s 1995 self titled album. This selection and performance was a perfect example of the sound Momma has established over the years as a band that is so well crafted that you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a dusty gem in a record store.

The band's latest album, “Welcome to My Blue Sky,” is testament to the band’s unwavering identity but fearlessness to progress. It’s a record that welcomes new listeners, much like “Household Name” welcomed me, and honors long-time fans. If you haven’t listened yet, this is your sign to drop everything and hit play. And for those feeling the live show FOMO, Momma still has plenty of dates coming your way on the North American tour. However you decide to explore this band, you surely will not regret it.