By Steve Carlson //
Smallpools with Grizfolk, Hunter Hunted //
The Independent – San Francisco
May 25th, 2015 //
Los Angeles-based pop quartet Smallpools brought their high-energy “LOVETAP!” tour to a sold-out Independent on Monday, demonstrating that their hook-laden debut album of the same name was an accurate reflection of what this band is capable of doing live.
Lead vocalist and keyboardist Sean Scanlon led the group through most of the tracks off their debut, many of which sound as though they are destined for heavy radio play, as well as an eerily accurate tease of the New Radical’s mega-hit “You Get What You Give” where Scanlon’s voice could have easily been confused for the New Radicals’ Gregg Alexander. Highlights of the evening included set-closer “Killer Whales” and the one-two punch of “Karaoke” and “Dreaming” during the encore, which were preceded by the oddly low-key choice of the instrumental album-closer “Submarine”.
Hunter Hunted
Opening the show was Hunter Hunted, who originated in the Bay Area but now call LA home. Their impressive six-song set included their first single “Blindside”, which was well-received by an audience that seemed largely unaware of their music going in. They return to the Bay Area on July 15th at Slim’s in a double-headlining show with Young Rising Sons and are expected to release their debut LP sometime in the near future.
Next up was no stranger to Bay Area music fans in indie-rock quintet Grizfolk. The band rollicked through their set of crowd-pleasing tracks from the 2014 EP From the Spark, including highlights Vagabonds and The Struggle, as well as two cover songs. Grizfolk returns to play BottleRock on May 30th.
Setlist:
Over & Over
Street Fight
No Story Time
What’s That a Picture Of?
A Real Hero (College cover)
Drum Solo
American Love
Mason Jar
Lovetap
9 to 5
Admission to Your Party
Killer Whales
(Submarine)
Karaoke
Dreaming
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