Pom Poms took the stage at The Bowery Ballroom Saturday night for their final CMJ performance. For the sharply-dressed band, a new collaboration between vocalist/songwriter Marlene Gold and Grammy-nominated producer, Billy Mohler, it was the last in a string of shows that lands prior to the release of their first single, “Betty,” which was released on October 23.
Their music is a fusion of blues, rock and roll, and California surf. It goes over a lot like an ice-cold lemonade on a summer day – smooth and sweet, but not too sweet, with just the right amount of bite. There’s something about it that feels refreshingly different from else out today, yet at the same time, echoes back to 1950s American cinema.
Pom Poms
Pom Poms
Pom Poms
Gold fit the part perfectly, looking up at the crowd from beneath a set of jet black bangs, as she swayed back and forth in a shimmering gold dress. She makes you feel what she’s feeling. Her velvet-smooth added a glamourous, yet gritty vibe to each song as she flirtatiously smiled back at her audience. During parts of the set, she slipped on a red Fender and chimed in on guitar, further perpetuating an onstage character that’s the perfect combo of glam and edge.
Pom Poms
Pom Poms
Pom Poms
Pom Poms was the final performance I watched for CMJ 2015 and for me, was also one of the most intriguing. Their retro rock sound has me hooked and I can’t wait for them to either release a full-album or come back to New York ASAP (preferably both), so that I don’t have to wait long to hear more of their stuff.
Pom Poms
Pom Poms
Article: Nicole Shyti
