Smallpools - Live in Salt Lake City
Another buzzing Saturday night in Salt Lake City means another night of incredible music for those of us lucky enough to know where to find it. On Saturday November 8th, us lucky people found ourselves at The Soundwell for the Smallpools Lovetap! 10 Anniversary Tour joined by The Romance and Kevian Kraemer.
Our first set of the night was a band called The Romance. The band seemed very comfortable on stage and did a very good job captivating the crowd. I really enjoyed the mix of original songs and covers in their set. The Romance performed a quick series of covers of popular songs that they knew the crowd would know the words to. I think it helped the audience ease into the show and get more excited about what was to come. Overall, The Romance was a great opener for this show, they did a spectacular job prepping the audience for what was to come.
Next up was the talented Kevian Kraemer. I’m sure that the name Kevian Kraemer has crossed your for you page at least once while you were scrolling on the internet, perhaps you’ve heard his viral song "Attention." Due to his internet virality, the crowd was surprisingly full of teenagers that came specifically to see him live. From what I had heard from his excited fans in the crowd, I had high hopes for the set, and I was not disappointed. Kraemer and his band were so talented and so in sync, you would think they had been doing this for their entire lives. The crowd knew the words to every single song that played and I don’t think they stopped moving for the entire set. I definitely think that I will be listening to more of Kevian Kraemer’s discography and keeping an eye out for future shows to attend for a chance to feel that energy again.
Finally, it was time for Smallpools. Let me tell you, there was an immediate shift in the level of performance as soon as Smallpools took the stage. You could tell by the way they captivated the crowd that this was something they’ve done for a long time and have become incredible at. I feel so fortunate to be in attendance for the 10th anniversary tour for their album Lovetap! as they played the entire album top to bottom. During the song “Killer Whales” a giant inflatable killer whale was thrown into the sea of excited concert goers and floated its way around the venue. There were moments when the band even joined us in the crowd to perform. The whole show felt like it was a personal performance, regardless of the tons of people around you. After gracing us with the entirety of Lovetap! the band came back out for an encore and played six more songs for us including “Million Bucks” and “Passenger Side.”
I believe my favorite part of the show was watching all the kids who had never heard of Smallpools become fans right there in front of my eyes. I saw people starting to pick up the lyrics, watched as the whole crowd began to move, dance and cheer throughout the entirety of the set, and listened as they told their friends that it was some of the most fun they’ve had at a show. It really pays a testament to the love and work Smallpools has put into music and careers. As a long time fan, I know that I am biased, but hearing it from all these people in the crowd who weren’t sure who they were seeing when they first arrived was really amazing.
The Lovetap! 10th Anniversary Tour is truly a very special performance. Every artist who plays on this tour and every member of the crew is genuinely so incredible and talented. I wish that this tour could go on forever and I could watch it again and again every night. With that, I urge you to go see the show if it stops near you.