Pom Pom Squad

Last updated
Pom Pom Squad
PPS LOLLA-8626.jpg
Pom Pom Squad performing at Lollapalooza 2022 by Javi Perez
Background information
Origin Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres
Years active2015–present
Labels City Slang
Members
  • Mia Berrin
  • Shelby Keller
  • Alex Mercuri
  • Lauren Marquez
Website www.pompomsquadband.com

Pom Pom Squad is an American indie rock/grunge band from Brooklyn, New York. [2] It is the solo project of frontwoman Mia Berrin, and features permanent members Shelby Keller (drums) and Alex Mercuri (guitar). [3] They released the extended plays Hate It Here and Ow in 2018 and 2019 before releasing their debut studio album Death of a Cheerleader in 2021. They toured extensively in the years following, opening for musicians PVRIS and Bartees Strange before releasing their second album Mirror Starts Moving Without Me in 2024 to positive reviews.

Contents

History

Origins, Hate it Here and Ow EPs (2017)

Mia Berrin was born and raised on Long Island, New York, grew up in Detroit, Michigan and attended a private high school in Orlando, Florida. She began Pom Pom Squad when she was eighteen years old. She soon moved to New York City to attend New York University, where she performed solo under the name Pom Pom Squad and studied at the Clive Davis Institute. She also began performing with an early iteration of the band, with whom she released the EP Hate It Here in 2017. Berrin is of African-American and Puerto Rican descent, Jewish, and identifies as queer. She is outspoken about the influence her identity has on her music. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Berrin later met bassist Mari Alé Figeman and drummer Shelby Keller at club show and reformed the band. Alex Mercuri became the permanent fourth member. [7] Pom Pom Squad released their EP Ow in September 2019. [10] The band built critical buzz during this time and were booked for multiple SXSW showcases as well as supporting tour dates with The Front Bottoms and Disq; [11] these dates in 2020 were ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [12] During 2020, Pom Pom Squad released a series of covers and the original single "Red with Love." [13]

Death of a Cheerleader (2021-2023)

On March 2, 2021, it was announced that Pom Pom Squad had signed with the Berlin independent label City Slang. With the announcement, the band released the single "Lux." [14] They announced their first full-length album Death of a Cheerleader produced by Sarah Tudzin of Illuminati Hotties, and shared single "Head Cheerleader" in April, followed by third and final single "Crying". [15] [16] Death of a Cheerleader was released on June 25, 2021. [17] [18]

In 2022, Pom Pom Squad toured alongside Illuminati Hotties and Fenne Lily before embarking on the Death of a Cheerleader tour. [19] They played an NPR Tiny Desk Concert at SXSW [20] and performed as the opening act for PUP and Bartees Strange. [21] Their song "Shame Reactions" was featured on the soundtrack for the teen comedy film Do Revenge . [22] In 2023, Pom Pom Squad served as the opening act for the Godless/Goddess tour, which was co-headlined by PVRIS and Poppy. [23]

Mirror Starts Moving Without Me (2024-present)

In June 2024, Pom Pom Squad released their single "Downhill." It was the bands first release of new music since 2021. [24] On July 30, the single "Spinning" was released and the band's upcoming album Mirror Starts Moving Without Me was announced. [25] Mirror Starts Moving Without Me was recorded at Electric Lady Studios and inspired by "the endless feedback and expectations" Berrin experienced after releasing Death of a Cheerleader and a crisis of self. For the album Berrin adopted a darker aesthetic, influenced by video games, anime and Alice in Wonderland, and cited Disco and Prince as influencing the album's sound. [26] Mirror Starts Moving Without Me was released on October 25, 2024, to positive reviews. Josh Korngut of Exclaim! awarded the release an 8/10 rating for "deconstructing postmodern grunge pop and embracing nostalgia with a sharp, contemporary edge." [27] The band will embark on The Mirror Ball Tour in 2025. [28]

Members

Touring members

Former members

Discography

Adapted from Bandcamp. [30]

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Covers

In 2020, Pom Pom Squad released their version of "Crimson and Clover" and donated all of the proceeds to For the Gworls Medical Fund. [31] It was featured in episode 5 of the 2022 Willow . [32] The band released the single "Until It Stops" in November 2021 as part of Spotify's Fresh Finds program. In December 2021, the band released a cover of Nada Surf's hit "Popular," featuring their vocalist/guitarist Matthew Caws on backing vocals. The accompanying video replicated Nada Surf's 1996 video shot for shot, with Berrin playing each of the major characters. Pom Pom Squad's video was filmed at the same location as the original video. [33] The band has also covered "Cellophane" by FKA Twigs.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nada Surf</span> American rock band

Nada Surf is an American alternative rock band formed in New York City in 1992, consisting of Matthew Caws, Ira Elliot (drums), and Daniel Lorca.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozma (band)</span> American rock band

Ozma is an American rock band from Pasadena, California. The band's sound is a mix of nostalgic new wave–influenced power pop and contrapuntal Casiotone-driven melodies sustained by heavy guitar riffs. Since their formation in 1995, Ozma has released five studio albums and toured the U.S., Japan and Canada more than thirty times, including extensive touring with stylistically similar groups including Weezer, Nada Surf, Rilo Kiley, Superdrag, The Rentals, The Get Up Kids, Piebald, Saves The Day, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and Rooney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Me First and the Gimme Gimmes</span> American punk rock band

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are a punk rock supergroup and cover band that formed in San Francisco in 1995. The band's lineup consists of Spike Slawson, C. J. Ramone, Joey Cape, Pinch and John Reis. Dave Raun, Chris Shiflett, and Fat Mike are former members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unwritten Law</span> American punk rock band

Unwritten Law is an American punk rock band formed in 1990 in Poway, California by drummer Wade Youman. The band has undergone multiple line-up changes, with Youman the sole remaining original member – however, he has left the group twice in its three-decade history. They are best known for their singles "Seein' Red" and "Save Me ," both of which peaked in the top 5 in the US Modern Rock charts and the former topping it. The band have also toured extensively both nationally and internationally, most notably as part of the Warped Tour. The band has released seven full-length studio albums to date; their most recent, The Hum, was released in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diary of Dreams</span> German darkwave band

Diary of Dreams is a German darkwave band. The lead singer and founding member Adrian Hates has produced most of the albums by himself or with minimal help from others. He rarely uses a full band, except when on tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Day Without Me</span> 1980 single by U2

"A Day Without Me" is a song by Irish rock band U2, and the eighth track on their debut album Boy. It was released as the album's lead single in August 1980, and was their first release to be produced by Steve Lillywhite.

The Octopus Project is an American experimental band formed in Austin, TX in 1999 by Toto Miranda, Yvonne Lambert & Josh Lambert. Their first album, Identification Parade, came out in 2002, setting them off on a musical path that veers through blown-out rock’n’roll, vibrant electronics, surreal pop and expansive psych landscapes. Since then, the group of multi-instrumentalists has released six studio albums and scored six feature films. Touring venues and festivals worldwide both on their own and as handpicked support for artists as diverse as DEVO and Aesop Rock, they have earned a reputation for explosive live shows and immersive audio-visual experiments.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team is an American reality television series that aired on CMT from September 29, 2006, to November 27, 2021. The series follows the auditioning process and the forming of the Dallas Cowboys' annual Cheerleading squad. The series features director Kelli McGonagill Finglass and choreographer Judy Trammell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popular (Nada Surf song)</span> 1996 single by Nada Surf

"Popular" is the debut single by American alternative rock band Nada Surf, released in May 1996 from their debut album High/Low, released the following month. Each verse in "Popular" presents, in spoken-word format, sarcastic advice to teenagers taken from the book Penny's Guide to Teen-Age Charm and Popularity by American actress Gloria Winters.

The Stone Foxes is an American rock and roll band based in San Francisco, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfer Blood</span> American indie rock band

Surfer Blood is an American indie rock band from West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, currently signed to Kanine Records, formerly signed to Joyful Noise Recordings and Warner Bros. Records. The band currently consists of four members: John Paul Pitts, Tyler Schwarz (drums), Mike McCleary, and Lindsey Mills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radical cheerleading</span> Performative style of political activism

Radical cheerleading is a performative style of political activism, derived from mainstream cheerleading. Radical cheerleading combines elements of peaceful protest or non-violent direct action with theatrical elements including costuming, spectacle and choreographed dance. Radical cheerleading was created by sisters Cara Jennings, Aimee Jennings and Coleen Jennings in Miami, Florida, USA in 1996. It grew to become an international movement with squads in the United States, Canada and the European Union. Radical cheerleaders create and adapt cheers that promote feminism and left-wing ideals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pvris</span> American pop rock act

Pvris is an American pop rock band formed in Lowell, Massachusetts in 2012. Following several lineup changes, the band is now composed solely of frontwoman Lynn Gunn.

<i>White Noise</i> (Pvris album) 2014 studio album by Pvris

White Noise is the debut studio album by American rock band Pvris. Pvris formed as a five-piece metalcore band in Lowell, Massachusetts in 2012. Following the band becoming a four-piece of vocalist/guitarist Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, guitarist Alex Babinski, bassist Brian MacDonald and drummer Brad Griffin, the group's sound changed. Bringing pop and electronic elements into their music, the band released a self-titled EP. After winning a contest, the band played a week on Warped Tour; following this, Griffin left the band. The group signed with Rise and Velocity Records in June 2014. White Noise was recorded with producer Blake Harnage. Harnage would help co-write several songs on the album with Gunnulfsen; Sierra Kusterbeck helped co-write a few songs with Harnage and Gunnulfsen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheerleader (band)</span> American indie pop band

Cheerleader is an American indie pop band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Formed in 2012, the band signed in 2013 to Bright Antenna Records and have so far released a 7" single, "Perfect Vision"/"Waiting Waiting," in the United Kingdom, the On Your Side EP in the United States, an LP, The Sunshine of Your Youth, released May 19, 2015, and a single, "Bang, Bang," in the United States, on May 30, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynn Gunn</span> American musician

Lyndsey Gerd Gunnulfsen, usually known by her stage name Lynn Gunn, is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Gunn is best known for fronting the American rock band Pvris. She has also collaborated with artists such as Tonight Alive and A Loss for Words.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drinking Boys and Girls Choir</span> Three-piece punk band from Daegu, South Korea

Drinking Boys and Girls Choir is a punk rock band from Daegu, South Korea, made up of bassist/singer Meena Bae, drummer/singer Myeong-jin Kim, and guitarist/singer Megan Nisbet. The band's name reflects their love of drinking, their youth-oriented fashion style, and their gender inclusiveness. The band is active in the LGBT Pride community in their mostly conservative home city. They cite the Japanese bands Hi-Standard, Dustbox, and Judy and Mary as influences, as well as the Korean bands Crying Nut, and ...Whatever That Means.

<i>Use Me</i> (Pvris album) 2020 studio album by Pvris

Use Me is the third studio album by American rock band Pvris. It was released August 28, 2020, by Warner Records. The album features 11 songs, three of which are featured on the band's 2019 EP, Hallucinations. Use Me is the band's final album to feature lead guitarist Alex Babinski, who was fired from the band following allegations of sexual misconduct two days before the album's release. It is also their only album to be released on Warner before the band signed to Hopeless Records in 2023.

<i>Death of a Cheerleader</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Pom Pom Squad

Death of a Cheerleader is an album by Pom Pom Squad.

References

  1. ↑ "It's not just Olivia Rodrigo – the angry teenage girl is fueling popular music". NPR.org.
  2. ↑ Hu, Elli (2018-11-20). "Local Sounds Presents: Pom Pom Squad". Medium. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  3. ↑ Co, Truth & (2021-03-06). "Pom Pom Squad". City Slang. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  4. ↑ Espinoza, Katixa. "How Pom Pom Squad Shattered the Cheerleader Archetype". Them .
  5. ↑ "Pom Pom Squad's Teen Spirit". Rolling Stone .
  6. ↑ Sharples, Grant. "Indie Mixtape 20: Pom Pom Squad Crafts Her Own Wonderland On 'Mirror Starts Moving Without Me'". Uproxx .
  7. 1 2 3 "Pom Pom Squad Dig Deep Into Those Gut Feelings on 'Ow'". Highsnobiety. 2019-09-05. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  8. ↑ "HATE IT HERE, by Pom Pom Squad". Pom Pom Squad. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  9. ↑ "New York's Pom Pom Squad, Better Than Your High School Cheer Team". POND Magazine. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  10. ↑ "Ow, by Pom Pom Squad". Pom Pom Squad. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  11. ↑ "Pom Pom Squad Announces Tour w/ The Front Bottoms + SXSW Shows w/ AV Club, Neon Gold & More • WithGuitars". WithGuitars. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  12. ↑ "Bisa Butler, Elizabeth Turtle and more women on the pandemic impacting career milestones - Washington Post". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  13. ↑ "Pom Pom Squad - "Crimson And Clover" (Tommy James And The Shondells Cover)". Stereogum. 2020-06-19. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  14. ↑ Co, Truth & (2021-03-05). "We Signed Pom Pom Squad!". City Slang. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  15. ↑ Russell, Scott (April 20, 2021). "Pom Pom Squad announce Death of a Cheerleader, Share "Head Cheerleader" Video". Paste Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  16. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (June 8, 2021). "Pom Pom Squad-"Crying"". Stereogum. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Pom Pom Squad - Death of a Cheerleader - LP+". Rough Trade. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  18. ↑ "Band To Watch: Pom Pom Squad". Stereogum. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
  19. ↑ Moore, Em (November 12, 2021). "Pom Pom Squad announces 2022 tour". Punk News. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  20. ↑ Cruz, Reanna. "Tiny Desk Meets SXSW: Pom Pom Squad".
  21. ↑ Hussey, Allison (June 21, 2022). "Bartees Strange Announces 2022 Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  22. ↑ Starkey, Adam (September 16, 2022). "Here's every song on the "Do Revenge"soundtrack". NME. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  23. ↑ Duran, Anagricel (April 6, 2023). "Poppy and PVRIS announce co-headline North American tour". NME. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  24. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (26 June 2024). "Pom Pom Squad Return With Grunge-y Summer Stunner 'Downhill'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  25. ↑ Martoccio, Angie (30 July 2024). "Pom Pom Squad's New Album Title Was Inspired by a Horror Movie Trope". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  26. ↑ Pappis, Konstantinos (26 October 2024). "Pom Pom Squad on 'Alice in Wonderland', Disco, Tarot, and Other Inspirations Behind Her New Album 'Mirror Starts Moving Without Me'".
  27. ↑ Korngut, Josh. "Pom Pom Squad Step into Somewhere New on 'Mirror Starts Moving Without Me' │ Exclaim!". Pom Pom Squad Step into Somewhere New on 'Mirror Starts Moving Without Me' │ Exclaim!. Retrieved 2024-11-27.
  28. ↑ "The Mirror Ball Tour". Official band website. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  29. ↑ "Pom Pom Squad: Not Your Average Cheerleading Group". BLENDED. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  30. ↑ "Pom Pom Squad". Pom Pom Squad. Retrieved 2021-03-06.
  31. ↑ Retrieved July 11, 2023
  32. ↑ Retrieved July 11, 2023
  33. ↑ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (December 15, 2021). "Pom Pom Squad's Remake of Nada Surf's 'Popular' Is the High-School Satire of the Year". Rolling Stone . Retrieved December 16, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.