Pom Pom Squad live at the Atlantis in Washington, DC review

by

Partway through an energetic 21-track performance at the Atlantis on Wednesday evening, Pom Pom Squad’s Mia Berrin informed the audience, “We’re about to play some sad songs.” The band then performed the heartbreakingly poignant tracks “Everybody’s Moving On” and “Montauk,” both from their 2024 album titled “Mirror Starts Moving Without Me.

If you only listened to the last two songs from Berrin’s performance, you might think they specialize in slow, melodious ballads filled with longing and sadness. You’d be right, but if you had been present for the entire set instead of being in the restroom during the first eight songs, you would have realized that Pom Pom Squad is equally skilled at delivering fast and loud tunes as well.

In the end, right before changing her mood from melancholic, Berrin invited her mother onto the stage to share some words of wisdom with the captivated audience…

Pom Pom Squad entertain and more

If someone else isn’t taking care of your expenses, then don’t give them your attention. And so, Berrin, along with guitarist Alex Mercuri, bassist Lauren Marquez, and drummer Shelby Keller, began a powerful rendition of “Street Fighter.”

Here’s another option: If others aren’t contributing to your financial needs, then disregard them. With that, Berrin, accompanied by guitarist Alex Mercuri, bassist Lauren Marquez, and drummer Shelby Keller, kicked off an energetic performance of “Street Fighter.”

Lastly: If you’re not being supported financially, then forget about them. In turn, Berrin, along with guitarist Alex Mercuri, bassist Lauren Marquez, and drummer Shelby Keller, started a lively version of “Street Fighter.

“Call your therapist if you want to talk – You make petty remarks, I make pretty girl rock.”

Listening to the diverse sounds and melodies that Pom Pom Squad has created across several EPs and full-length albums, it’s clear that Berrin demonstrates remarkable skill in crafting “pretty girl rock” without any trace of derision or disrespect.

It’s fascinating to observe that a significant amount of exceptional rock music is being created by women, transgender performers, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and artists of color these days. However, let me clarify, heterosexual white men (and women) are undeniably capable of creating remarkable music as well.

They’ve been speaking for quite some time, so it will certainly be invigorating to listen to fresh perspectives now.

A Pom Pom Squad concert is undeniably invigorating, as they manage to cram a total of 21 songs into just around 75 minutes. However, unlike many fast-paced punk or pop shows that can become repetitive due to their speed, Berrin’s music is rich in subtlety and depth. Her music maintains the spirit of punk or pop, but manages to avoid sounding like ’90s pop punk.

In this setting, Marquez, our sound engineer with additional keyboard skills, frequently contributes atmospheric elements to the music. However, she predominantly focuses on a persistent bassline. Meanwhile, Keller and Mercuri primarily play straightforward drum beats and brief guitar solos, which rarely extend beyond a few seconds.

Berrin showcases the strength of the songs as she performs the entirety of “Mirror Starts Moving Without Me”, starting with the powerful double shot that initiates the album, “Downhill” and “Spinning”. Despite some initial apprehension about how fans would react to a fresh set of songs deviating from her punkier origins, these new tracks hold their own alongside much of 2021’s hit album “Death of a Cheerleader”.

Eventually, she delves into a hearty portion of the genre known as Cheerleader, starting off with an impactful “Shame Reactions” and moving on to her rendition of “Crimson and Clover,” which she dedicates to the women who are attracted to other women. Later, the band performs “Drunk Voicemail” and a tribute to Smokey Robinson in a more flexible style, titled “Second That.

Following the tranquility of “Second That,” Berrin delves deeper into her past, specifically the 2019 EP “Ow” for the track “Heavy Heavy.” She prefaces this song by saying, “Now we’re going to let it all out.” Indeed, “Heavy Heavy” does just that. This might lead one to assume that Pom Pom Squad was once punk and has since transitioned into pop. However, this oversimplifies the fact that Berrin, in a short span of time, has evolved significantly as a songwriter.

After “Heavy Heavy,” another tune titled “Honeysuckle” emerges from the album Ow. This isn’t a song they’ve performed live before this tour, as Berrin points out. Listening to “Honeysuckle,” it becomes evident that she has been skillfully blending intense punk with softer pop melodies since the beginning of her career.

At the end of her primary performance, she plays the last three songs from her album “Mirror”. She demonstrates her growth by delivering an unapologetic rock track titled “Messages”, followed by a hauntingly beautiful song, “The Tower”, which concludes that segment of her concert.

She initiates the closing set trio with an impressive rendition of “Doll Song,” which seems to have been crafted from fragments of “Sound of Music‘s” “My Favorite Things.” Admittedly, in her catalog that boasts more robust rock numbers, “Doll Song” stands out as my favorite Berrin composition thus far. During the live performance, it receives a powerful interpretation.

When they play their last song as an encore, Berrin and Pom Pom Squad end with what is likely their most famous tune, the grungy “Head Cheerleader,” complete with its iconic line “I’m gonna marry the scariest girl on the cheerleading team.” The majority of the audience, some even carrying pom poms for the performance, appeared to fully endorse this aspiration.

Caroline Kingsbury, much like Berrin, who hails from Florida and sought bigger musical opportunities, kicked off the performance with a swift seven-song sequence. Unlike Berrin, who chose New York as her new home, Kingsbury moved to LA (with a brief stay in Nashville) and has a penchant for Chappel Roan-esque dramatic pop. She performed tracks from her latest EP, “I Really Don’t Care!“, showcasing her impressive vocal prowess.

The new EP largely honors the synthesizer and drum-driven pop of the ’80s, yet Kingsbury possesses a contemporary blend of energy that harmoniously complements Pom Pom Squad. In a live performance, “Alabama” transforms into a rock anthem, a more robust version of which is subtly suggested in the studio recording.

On their six-week tour, Atlantis’ performance at the show marked but one stop short of its final destination. With anticipation, Pom Pom Squad seems to be eagerly awaiting a respite. However, if they were feeling weary from travel, the crowd of approximately 450 onlookers Wednesday night failed to notice any signs of exhaustion.

Whether you label it punk, pop, or something fresh like Pom Pom Rock, Pom Pom Squad delivers an array of stunning, energetic tunes that soften with wise, heartfelt ballads. Regardless of the category, Pom Pom Squad excels at delivering powerful performances.

Read More

2025-04-06 13:00