SMALLPOOLS LIVE!! | DPAC

Coverage by Chris Sturk

Smallpools — Live at DPAC, Durham NC

Smallpools brought a burst of energy and color to the Durham Performing Arts Center on November 12, 2019, delivering a passionate performance while opening for Third Eye Blind. DPAC is a stunning venue with incredible acoustics, but its fully seated layout can make fan interaction a challenge — no standing room, no open floor, no pit. Even so, Smallpools made the most of every inch of the stage and every voice in the room.

DPAC’s sound system is one of the best in the region, and Smallpools benefited from it immediately. Their vocals were crisp, the guitars rang out clean, and every synth line cut through with clarity. The band sounded fantastic — polished, tight, and fully in control of their set.

But the venue’s seated design meant fans couldn’t crowd the stage or jump around the way they might at a traditional rock venue. Despite that limitation, people still stood up at their seats, clapped along, and sang the familiar songs back to the band. You could feel the enthusiasm even without the usual physical movement.

Smallpools leaned into the moment. They played with heart, moved around the stage, and did everything they could to connect with the audience. Their performance felt sincere — not just a warm‑up act, but a band genuinely excited to be there and determined to make an impression. They smiled, gestured to the crowd, and kept the energy high even when the venue’s layout made interaction tricky. The passion was obvious, and the audience responded in kind.