I gotta confess, it’s been way too long since I’ve been to The Church (i.e., the legendary DIY basement venue in Philly booked by R5 Productions) – 14 years, to be exact. If memory serves me right, the last time was in 2008 when I caught a little artist named St. Vincent. I shot that show on a roll of Tri-X using a Voigtlander rangefinder (proof here). If that statement means nothing to you, it means you’re not old. I’ve had some great times at The Church, but I guess I grew weary of the sweltering/poorly ventilated conditions that often reeked of dirty gym socks – an odor at least partially due to the gingko tree at the entrance to the venue. For ambience, you have brown walls, poor lighting, and don’t forget that crusty carpet. Good memories, indeed. But coming to this show, featuring Pom Pom Squad, Illuminati Hotties, and Fenne Lily, was a no-brainer. For the record, this was my 3rd time catching Pom Pom Squad in just as many months. I guess you could call me a fan. Speaking of fans, were these ceiling fans always here? These must be new. It was like genuinely comfortable up in here. Bravo!
Pom Pom Squad played nearly exactly the same set as previous shows, with 1 very notable exception. Toward the end of their set, frontperson Mia Berrin announced that they were about to play a cover. Which cover would it be? “Popular”? “Crimson + Clover”? “Cellophane”? No, they played freakin’ “Undone (The Sweater Song)” and I pretty much lost my sh*t right there. Berrin was even so kind to sing the harmonies to accompany the crowd’s melody during the choruses – it was so great.
Anyways, if you get a chance to see Pom Pom Squad live, I highly recommend it. They’ll be back in the tri-state again this May when they play the Bowery Ballroom. Keep scrolling to see more photos from the show, including Illuminati Hotties and Fenne Lily.
