On an especially cold and rainy Thursday in Portland, The queen of “pretty girl rock”, aka Pom Pom Squad, aka Mia Berrin, transformed McMennimans Mission theatre into something out of a dreamscape.
Following the release of their sophomore album “Mirror Starts Moving Without Me”, Pom Pom Squad set off on their second US headline tour. Alongside them travels Caroline Kingsbury who opened the show with an energy that was larger than life. Picture 70’s legend Stevie Nicks crossed with modern-day popstar Chappell Roan singing the bouncy sounds of the 80’s. that product would still compete to sound as catchy as the soulful sound of Alabama-rooted artist, Caroline Kingsbury.
After being indubitably blown away by the opening act, I was more than ready to hear one of my favorite artists of all time, Pom Pom Squad. Pom Pom Squad has two albums out, Death of a Cheerleader and Mirror Starts Moving Without Me. Their debut was made in 2019 with the release of EP, OW. Lead singer and “Head Cheerleader”, Mia Berrin, states that over time the band has gone from a 90’s grunge-inspired sound to a “for the girls” sound. Which translates to being joyful, celebrating each other, and getting lost in the whimsy.
With references to Alice and Wonderland, celebrations of girlhood, and moments of recognition for the oppression being faced by LGBTQ+ people right now, a common thread was found. In the words of Lead Singer, Mia Berrin, “We need levity”. And so as many artists do, the Pom Pom Squad quickly established a reason to create melodic togetherness that night; to have a moment of joy in the darkness. For about two hours, a crowd of people from all over were brought together on a journey of mesmerizing rhythms, hard-hitting baselines, and yearnful ballads. With every song, the audience was hypnotized with stories of young love and heartbreak. Songs like “Crimson+Clover” or “Crying”, which begins with the sounds of a harp and quickly develops into a hard-hitting track. In this, Berrin croons about being in your own head and feeling like everyone who has shown you love secretly hates you. Pom Pom Squad has a way of blending storytelling with a touch of grunge, fantasy, and punk.
Although the stage and venue are small in size, that did not stop Pom Pom Squad from putting on an imaginative visual experience. In fact, Berrin posts prior to her concerts to organize various themes for her fans to follow when attending her shows as well as representing the theme via her own outfit. In this case, the theme was “Mirror Silver”. As pictured in the cover photo, Berrin wears a silver dress which she says was crocheted for her by a friend. The second common thread found within Pom Pom Squad as a whole is the literal threads Berrin wears. Fashion is a major part of Berrins’ work and each album and EP so far has come with its own aesthetic. Her most recent album is no exception. Silvers, blues, and themes of Wonderland give the album a vintage storybook feeling. This was evident in the design of the set as an eclectic frame was projected onto the back of a backdrop and the band’s name was written in a loopy, cursive font. The instruments utilized throughout the show were also adorned with sparkles, gemstones, and bright colors to give the band a look that was cohesive with the theme. Overall, I was absolutely transported throughout this show to walk away feeling exhilarated and excited for what Pom Pom Squad will do next.
