From the dream of playing on grand stages to the excitement of lighting up late-night TV, New York-based rock band Momma is set to bring their energy to Philadelphia as they wrap up the first leg of their summer tour.
Following the recent release of their fourth studio album, Welcome To My Blue Sky, just over a month ago, co-founders Allegra Weingarten and Etta Friedman reflect on the themes that resonate through the album.
According to the duo, the new work captures the experience of feeling caught between two worlds— the comfort of home and the fervor of life on the road— along with the challenges of growing up.
“We’ve like found our sound because I think we’re just a lot more confident now and I think that this record, we truly wrote for ourselves,” Weingarten shared.
Having moved from California to New York to pursue their musical aspirations, Weingarten and Friedman quickly adapted to their new environment, appreciating the straightforwardness prevalent among East Coast residents.
Friedman remarked, “I feel like people are really direct on the East Coast in a way that I really appreciate and it’s not mean. It’s literally just getting to the point like, ‘I’ll help you out, but I’m also going about my day.’”
In terms of their music, Momma has built on the fuzzy guitar tones established in their previous album, Household Name.
Released last year, Household Name was hailed as one of the best albums of 2022 by outlets such as Consequence and Paste Magazine and helped the band reach a wider audience.
Weingarten expressed the weight of expectation that came with their growing recognition, noting, “There was a sense of like, ‘OK, this is the first time we know a lot of people are going to hear about us,’ and that was definitely looming in the writing process.”
However, for this latest album, the approach shifted.
“This time around, I really don’t think we were thinking about how people were going to receive it. We literally were just writing songs that we liked and we wanted to listen to,” she added.
The journey of Momma began ten years ago when Weingarten and Friedman started crafting songs as kids in California.
They released their first EP in 2016, showcasing their talents by playing every instrument, and since then, the lineup has expanded to include drummer Preston Fulks and bassist/producer Aron Kobayashi Ritch.
Earlier this summer, the band made their late-night television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live, a moment that Weingarten described as surreal.
“We’ve just had the coolest experiences in the world that we never thought we would have and people that we really respect and admire respect and admire us,” she noted.
The upswing in their success has not come without challenges, particularly during their headlining performance at Johnny Brenda’s in 2022, which Weingarten described as a “nightmare night” after nearly two months of continuous touring.
“There was just a lot going on at one time, like so many different things were happening and there was like a lot of heightened emotions,” she said.
Despite these challenges, the band’s work ethic and dedication have remained strong.
Friedman reassured fans of their commitment, saying, “There were difficulties, but it felt like we were just always going to be doing this.”
The bond between the two leading ladies is poignantly illustrated by the pinky promise that appears on the cover of their new album.
Reflecting on their progress, Friedman expressed gratitude for their journey, stating, “It’s really awesome to see where we are now. We never expected to be here, but also we were just always going to be working to get here regardless.”
As they prepare for their larger venue in Philadelphia, the band hopes to earn some respect from the locals.
Friedman remarked, “All of the people I know who are from Philly or the surrounding area, they ride for that shit like it’s nobody’s business.”
With anticipation building, all eyes will be on Momma to see what they bring to the City of Brotherly Love this Friday night.
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