Pointfest has been an establishment for 105.7 The Point and the greater St. Louis area for decades. Most people in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois are familiar with the event and many have attended at least one in their lifetime. Several elements made Pointfest 2023 unique from past Pointfests.
Whether it was the mid-west weather actually behaving for a festival day and not causing delays or cancelations, a larger than normal attendance (or at least the largest I personally have seen in the three Pointfests I have attended), or possibly the lack of Neanderthal meatheads trying to start fights in between sets, the biggest feeling that I consistently had about Pointfest was that not only was it peaceful, but it was a different vibe altogether than normal rock station festivals.
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It’s possible this has to do with the lineup. Ending with Incubus who have been a part of Pointfest in previous years, the headlining band started their set with several mellow tracks in their long discography. It wasn’t meant to rile the crowd up, but rather to set a mood and enjoy the night peacefully. It was not what I was expecting, but it was also well-performed and the crowd was engaged. Singer Brandon Boyd was intent on living in the moment and experiencing the environment and the vibe from his performance and mannerisms flowed through Hollywood Casino Amphitheater.
Coheed & Cambria, off the heels of Vaxis II, returned to St. Louis and shredded their way through a set reliving 2000s classics and newer songs. This was my third time seeing Coheed live and this was in my view the best performance I’ve seen from the New York group. There was such a strong focus on the performance and keeping things tight that it made for a clockwork set of music revolving around Claudio Sanchez’s created futuristic world. Like Incubus, it wasn’t about riling a crowd up but rather setting a mood to enjoy the music.
And representing the home crowd was Greek Fire. A band where singer Moon Valjean has brought the St. Louis flag around the world to wave at concerts. This was part hometown welcome and part proof of tenacity for Moon who was battling voice issues. As a morning show host and vocalist, he’s a trooper for toughing it out. Along with Greek Fire came Mama Moon to support her son on stage, and a quick acknowledgment of Jeff Burton who is still a part of St. Louis in many ways.
Among many other sets including Bad Omens, Badflower, Band Maid, and Des Rocs, it adds further proof that 105.7 The Point and Pointfest try to give the most value for a radiostation festival. I have attended many of these radio shows through different states and while many can be fun and well run, it’s always impressive to see just how much The Point tries to make their show an event for the city. As many bands as possible in a venue that people can enjoy the entire day. This is not the norm in most cities.
I’m not going to shamelessly plug every lineup that Pointfest has ever had. As with every lineup for an event, some people prefer one group of bands or style of music to others. Sometimes lineups really speak to a person or don’t connect at all. Pointfest 2023 felt like a complete show. It had established acts as well as upcoming names that are gaining the right attention. There were no toxic or obnoxious acts that cause people to head for concessions or the bathroom. Pointfest 2023 was an event that was worth being at and remembering because it was peaceful, lively, and it felt good to be a part of. I hope this Pointfest is remembered for the many positives that were held this year.
