Pom Pom Squad’s First Show in Connecticut

QUEER LOVE, CATHARTIC SCREAMS, AND CHEERLEADERS AT SPACE BALLROOM

Pom Pom Squad opens their encore with unreleased track “Montauk.”  Left to right: Alex Mercuri, Mia Berrin, Shelby Keller, Lauren Marquez (Photo by Kimba Wipfler)

Bathed in pink lights, Pom Pom Squad stepped back on stage at Space Ballroom to uproarious encore applause. Frontwoman Mia Berrin, dressed in black lace-up Miu Miu boots and a ruffled baby blue skirt, took a breath --- and a seat on the bass drum --- before launching into the dreamy, melancholic lines of the band’s first encore track, “Montauk.” 

“I thought I’d see more stars out in Montauk,” Berrin lullabied in the chorus. The once-lively crowd hushed for this track --- “Montauk” was one of a few unreleased songs that the band played off of their upcoming album, 𝑀𝒾𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓇 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝑀𝑜𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑀𝑒, scheduled to release on October 25th. 

This was the second night of Pom Pom Squad’s brief northeastern tour in anticipation of the album drop. Fans shouldered against each other at the familiar New Haven-adjacent venue (just down the road in Hamden) to get front-row glimpses of the show. 

As the crowd settled in, we caught up with some concertgoers to find out what brought them to the show and what songs they were most excited to hear. 

Maya (17) from New Hartford became a fan over a year ago after hearing “Head Cheerleader,” and she couldn’t wait to hear the song that sparked her love for the band. Joining her was lifelong friend Brynja (16), a newer fan who started listening just two months ago when Maya sent her the concert tickets. Brynja was most excited for the new single “Downhill.” 

A few steps away, Tiana (23) and Niko (24) from Bristol were giggling with excitement. A fan since 2022, Tiana named several songs she anticipated, with “Drunk Voicemail” at the top of the list. Her boyfriend Niko, however, admitted he was going in blind:

“This is the first concert I’ve ever been to where I don’t know the artist,” he said. “But I trust Tiana’s music opinion highly, so I’m sure I’m going to like it.”

Old fans & new. Tiana (left) and Niko. 

Pom Pom Squad opened their set with the explosive energy of “Head Cheerleader.” Fans danced and stood on tip-toes to catch a glimpse of Berrin playing her baby blue guitar (which matched her skirt). The track’s blend of indie rock aggression and cheerleader pop theatrics was the perfect introduction to the night’s mix of genres and moods. When Berrin sang, ‘I’m going to marry the scariest girl on the cheerleading team,’ the room lit up, a joyful celebration of queer girl love that felt both rebellious and personal.

Tracks like “Drunk Voicemail” and “Shame Reactions” highlighted Berrin’s knack for blending raw emotion with sharp songwriting, a signature of her style. With a mix of 90s alt-rock grunge and punk edge, these songs felt like an emotional release for both the band and the audience as they sang along, “Is there a way for me to kill the girl I wish I were?”

From the soft, ethereal mood of “Doll Song” to the raw scream at the end of “Heavy Heavy,” Pom Pom Squad guided the crowd through journeys of vulnerability and release. The night also had its playful moments— as Berrin danced with pom-poms during ‘Street Fighter,’ energizing the audience with a cheeky nod to their name.

After the show, fans waited in line to meet the band, including Tiana and Niko, who both gushed over the band’s coolness and cohesion. “Pom Pom Squad has a new fan for sure,” Niko said, while Tiana expressed she felt even more excited for the new album after hearing the unreleased songs. 

In an interview after the show, the band also expressed their anticipation for their new work to drop. Drummer Shelby Keller said she can’t wait for fans to hear “The Tower,” calling it the thesis of the album (and adding -- “The drums go hard.”) Berrin agreed, while expressing her own enthusiasm for “Running from Myself,” a track influenced by disco and electronic music. 

“It’s kind of a different vibe than what we’ve done. I don’t know how people are going to feel about it, but I like it,” Berrin said. 

It was Pom Pom Squad’s debut performance in Connecticut, and the band was clearly energized by the warm reception from the crowd.  “We didn’t get to explore much, but the views on the drive were beautiful,” Berrin said, with Keller noting the autumnal foliage. Guitarist Alex Mercuri and bassist Lauren Marquez were quick to shout out Route 15 specifically. With their new album 𝑀𝒾𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓇 𝒮𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝑀𝑜𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝑀𝑒 set to drop soon, many fans are already eager to see them again—looking toward a New York City show on the horizon in April.

As the crowd filtered out of Space Ballroom, it was clear that Pom Pom Squad had left a lasting impression on both longtime fans and new listeners alike. With their natural ability to blend raw emotion with playful theatrics, the band is poised to continue captivating more hearts on the road ahead.