There’s something magical to be said about experiencing the outdoors, and everything it has to offer, through great live music that can’t be replicated through an indoor venue. Although it is late September, the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Maryland Heights played host to one more incredible concert before wrapping up for the season. This concert featured bands such as San Fermin, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Matt and Kim, Walk the Moon, and alt-J. Even though I didn’t arrive until after the first two bands, I heard from others that they both had solid sets, but were very restricted by short set times and the crowd not being overly into them.

The lack of crowd participation ended as soon as Matt and Kim took the stage. The first song of the set, “Overexposed”, started a 40 minute adrenaline rush that only went higher and higher in intensity as the show went on. Interludes of east coast hip hop, Kim twerking multiple times throughout the set and a barrage of balloons being sent around during “Now” were some of the many high points throughout the set.

For having not much time, the duo did a stellar job of playing songs from their entire discography–touching on everything from their 2009 major label debut “Grand” to this year’s release “New Glow.” Sometimes bands aren’t able to command an audience well at venues this large, especially as an opener, but Matt and Kim did so with ease.

Matt and Kim’s high-energy set made it very difficult for Walk the Moon to follow up. Walk the Moon is not a bad live band by any means, but they also weren’t particularly impressive. It seemed as if they were trying entirely too hard on entertaining the crowd, and it just didn’t translate well. It didn’t translate well. It didn’t  help that the majority of the crowd seemed to be waiting or “Shut Up and Dance” and could’ve taken or left the rest of their set. When the time came around to shut up and dance, the crowd gladly obliged and came alive with an energy that, had it been present the rest of the set, might’ve made Walk the Moon’s set a tad bit better.

  The last band on the lineup was the beautifully peculiar alt-J, a four piece from England whose sound is recognizable from a mile away. Their heavy use of vocal effects, loops, and other eclectic noises made me skeptical as to how they would translate live. Luckily, all fears were quickly diminished, as the band sounded just as good as on their records.

  It was a treat to see singer Joe Newman manipulate his voice, while drummer Thom Green thumped away on a drumkit that doesn’t even feature crash cymbals. Accompanied by an absolutely stellar light show that heightened the entire experience, alt-J knows how to perform live. They feel no need to run around the stage and try to put on a show as Walk the Moon did. Instead, they let their incredible musicianship do the talking.

This bill was incredibly diverse and touched on every type of alternative act one could ask for. With memorable performances from Matt and Kim and alt-J, 105.7 The Point’s concert–the last major outdoor concert of the year–was one that will radiate memories of warmth until next spring rolls around.