"Pom Pom Squad’s Barboza performance was an indie rock masterclass. Blending punk aggression with emotional depth, Pom Pom Squad has the ability to deliver a powerful and personal performance no matter what venue they play."
-
Must See
Pom Pom Squad
Barboza // Seattle, WA // March 14, 2025
Review by Rachael Dowd
On March 14, Seattle’s Barboza hosted a captivating performance from Pom Pom Squad, an indie rock outfit that continues to redefine the genre. The small, jam-packed venue provided an intimate setting for the evening, which allowed frontwoman Mia Berrin and her bandmates Mari Alé Figeman, Shelby Keller, and Alex Mercuri to fully connect with the audience in a raw, personal, and cathartic way.
Launching into “Downhill,” the performance immediately set the tone for the night – urgent, unfiltered, and full of the band’s signature controlled chaos. The fast-paced opener had the crowd singing along loudly, foreshadowing an evening of intense audience participation.
From there, the band segued into “Spinning,” which increased the energy in the room with swirling guitars and confessional lyricism. Berrin’s emotive delivery had fans hanging onto every word, her mesmerizing stage presence captivating every single person in the room. By the time the opening notes to “Villain” filled Barboza, it was clear the setlist was crafted for both catharsis and exhilaration. The track’s haunting melodies and biting lyrics made it one of night’s most powerful moments.
A standout performance came with “Crimson & Clover,” Pom Pom Squad’s sultry cover of the Tommy James and the Shondells classic, which appears on Death of a Cheerleader. Berrin, who dedicated the performance to “all of the gays in the room,” led the band as they slowed things down, allowing her vocals to soar into a dreamy haze. Her vocals captured the crowd’s attention and added a delicate swirl of emotions that could be felt from the stage to the very back of the room.
Throwing an expected cover of Metric’s “Black Sheep” into the set, a song that embodies the band’s outsider ethos, Pom Pom Squad got the energy back up with this performance as the audience members echoed the rebellious lyrics back to them onstage.
Another truly memorable moment of the night came with “Montauk,” a haunting ballad off of Mirror Starts Moving Without Me that allowed Berrin’s vocals to shine. Her soft, delicate voice rang through the speakers as the room stood so silent, a pin drop could be heard, everyone infatuated with the performers onstage.
Throughout the night, the chemistry among the band members was palpable, with tight musicianship that kept the energy high and the transitions seamless. One key moment where this was inevitably clear was during Pom Pom Squad’s performance of “Drunk Voicemail,” one of their most popular songs to date. A fan favorite no less, the song has all of the elements for the perfect Pom Pom Squad song – gritty guitars, foot-tapping drum beats, rhythmically catchy bass lines, and love-soaked lyrics of relationships that have long since passed.
Pom Pom Squad’s Barboza performance was an indie rock masterclass. Blending punk aggression with emotional depth, Pom Pom Squad has the ability to deliver a powerful and personal performance no matter what venue they play. As the final notes to “Head Cheerleader” rang, though, Seattle was left wanting more. And if the chants as the band left the stage were any indication, Pom Pom Squad will be welcomed back with open arms whenever they return.
