"Without a doubt, Pom Pom Squad is a band that has substance to back up the buzz surrounding them. From grunge-driven narratives about expired relationships to gentle lovesick ballads and nostalgic pop-centric singles, Pom Pom Squad continues to push the envelope with both sound and live performances."
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Must See
Pom Pom Squad
Neumos // Seattle, Washington // March 11, 2022
Review by Rachael Dowd
On March 11, Pom Pom Squad brought Death of a Cheerleader to rainy Seattle during their run with illuminati hotties and Fenne Lily. In just ten songs, Pom Pom Squad introduced themselves to a new audience and proved why they are one of the most talked-about bands in the scene right now, who recently earned a famous new fan – Elton John.
Pom Pom Squad kicked off their set with “Lux,” an unruly single from their latest album Death of a Cheerleader, inspired by real-life events of vocalist Mia Berrin and the cult classic The Virgin Suicides. As one of Pom Pom Squad’s most distinct songs yet, “Lux” quickly woke the sleepy Seattle audience up and turned all eyes to the band on stage.
Following up “Lux” was “Drunk Voicemail,” my personal favorite Pom Pom Squad song. As a quintessential love-soaked tune, “Drunk Voicemail” has all of the elements that make Pom Pom Squad, well, Pom Pom Squad. Led by Berrin’s poetic yet intensely autobiographical lyrics about a blossoming yet complex relationship, the song displays Berrin’s raw emotion-laced words mixed with laidback poppy drums and fuzzy electric guitar, presenting listeners with a song that is Pom Pom Squad to its core.
Throughout their performance, Pom Pom Squad gave the audience a few more tastes of Death of a Cheerleader, including “Cake,” a grungy 90s-inspired tune full of anecdotes dripping with animosity, and “Head Cheerleader,” an ode to the lovesick adolescent experiences most of us can relate to. The latter tune seemed to be a popular one for the audience. Many erupted into cheers when Berrin started off the song with its distinct guitar riff and continued to sing alongside Berrin until the track came to a close.
Midway through the set, Pom Pom Squad shifted the mood with “Cherry Blossom,” a painfully nostalgic and sorrow-filled ballad composed of reflections of a relationship that has since ended. As a powerful song that likely made rounds on Tumblr following its release in 2019, Pom Pom Squad’s “Cherry Blossom” performance highlighted Berrin’s sheer artistry and sensitive lyrics that sometimes make you feel like you’re being, well, stabbed in the heart.
The performance showed the vulnerability Berrin weaves throughout her songs, showcasing a different side to Pom Pom Squad sans gritty guitar riffs and pop-infused melodies. Although it was an unexpected moment in the setlist, “Cherry Blossom” showed the Seattle crowd Pom Pom Squad’s range and versatility, qualities that every opening tour act should strive to exude.
Helping to close out their set, Pom Pom Squad threw in a cover of Weezer’s 1994 hit “Undone (The Sweater Song).” Once the opening notes rang through the speakers, it became clear that Weezer has a lot of fans in Seattle. As Pom Pom Squad put their own angsty twist on the classic, the crowd sang along to the simple lyrics as the familiar disgruntled guitars filled the venue.
Unexpectedly, Pom Pom Squad brought their set to a close with “Be Good,” a gentle and airy Death of a Cheerleader ballad. On social media, Berrin has openly expressed that this particular song means a lot to her, and it greatly showed onstage. Berrin seemed to become so captivated in the track’s personal lyrics about a relationship put on hold that it was as if not a single soul was in the room. As the final moment the crowd will remember from their set, the “Be Good” performance stood as a reminder of the emotional, sometimes painfully personal, lyrics that drive Pom Pom Squad’s music.
Without a doubt, Pom Pom Squad is a band that has substance to back up the buzz surrounding them. From grunge-driven narratives about expired relationships to gentle lovesick ballads and nostalgic pop-centric singles, Pom Pom Squad continues to push the envelope with both sound and live performances.
So, strike the iron while it’s hot and see Pom Pom Squad live before everyone catches on. Following their tour with illuminati hotties and Fenne Lily, Pom Pom Squad is back on tour in the U.S. this April along with a stint in the U.K. and Europe this summer. Check out all of the dates here and get tickets while you can.
