Loufest 2013 has come to an end. In its fourth year, the festival certainly did not disappoint. The attendance was the biggest it has ever been with more than 15,000 concertgoers on Saturday alone, and the lineup featured a nice variety of up-and-comers and seasoned festival performers — thanks to Loufest's partnership with to C3 Presents (the producers of Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits).
Another addition to the festival this year was a larger third stage (in previous years, it was a tiny stage off in the corner), which hosted lesser known, yet still impressive, acts.
Despite the intense heat, Sunday's parking fiasco and reports of car break-ins, the festival seemed to go off without a hitch (at least from the audience's perspective). Loufest is starting to come into its own, and 2013 proved how much the festival has grown since 2010.
From Space Capone's groovy afternoon set Saturday to The Killer's closing Sunday night, we give you our highlights of Loufest 2013.
1. Alabama Shakes
Alabama Shakes couldn't have put on a more perfect Sunday afternoon performance. They slowed down a few of their more up-tempo songs, giving a relaxed, almost-spiritual vibe to the set. With a gorgeous sunset off to the left of the stage and a nice breeze to offset the humidity of the day, the band set the night off right. They played a handful of tracks from their debut album, "Boy & Girls," as well as a few of their latest singles. Among the best performances were "Heavy Chevy," "You Ain't Alone," and "Rise to the Sun."
2. The National
This one took us by surprise. We expected The National to play a poignant-yet-laid-back set, but what we got was a high-energy, mesmerizing show, fit for a headliner. This performance gave audiences something you can't really get through listening to their records alone. They started off the set with "I Should Live in Salt," which got the audience in a blissful sing-along-frenzy, and the set kept going with spot-on song choices. Lead singer Matt Berninger really brought his A game Saturday. From chugging solo-cups of (we assume) wine and throwing it into the audience, to surfing -microphone in hand- through the crowd, he made their set the highlight of the night.
3. Jim James
Fresh off the intensity of The National's Saturday set, Jim James kept the night alive with a groovy, moving performance. He started off with the transcendent "State of the Art." His legendary voice took over Forest Park, and the whole crowd was dancing. What made the set even more magical was the light rain that began halfway through (almost on cue with the music), cooling down the revved-up crowed. He proved that with or without My Morning Jacket, the man is a master performer.
4. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
ESMZ are one of those bands that always seem to elicit a musical-cult-revival vibe at their shows. Alex Ebert and his vocal partner Jade Castrinos make the experience intimate for their fans. They opened with "Man on Fire," and you could see concertgoers flocking to the stage from all parts of the venue and dancing like hippie children. They played a funky, bongo-infused version of "Home" and initiated a quick story time (as they usually do during this song). The crowd was instructed to hug the person next to them; happy couples kissed, friends wrapped their arms around one another, and strangers embraced out of mutual love of the music. They ended the set with "Om Nashi Me," and the audience started to disperse toward the Killer's set.
5. The Killers
The Killers were the perfect end to Loufest. These rock stars put on a supercharged show. The band has been around for close to a decade, and it's easy to forget how many hits they really have. The set began with an energetic "Mr. Brightside." Lead singer Brandon Flowers greeted the audience saying, "The Killers are closing out Loufest, and the Rams are undefeated." When it comes to St. Louis, Flowers would have gotten a better reaction had he mentioned the Cardinals. But at least he tried. Crowd pleasers included, "Smile Like You Mean It," "Human," "Somebody Told Me," All These Things That I've Done," and the finale, "When You Were Young." They also played a cover of "I Think We're Alone Now," which Flowers said the band was "stealing back." Overall, the set was just what you'd expect from the Killers: Nothing outrageous but everything you want to hear.
6. Fitz and the Tantrums
The Los Angeles neo-soul/pop group is known for putting on a high-energy performance. Noelle Scaggs and Michael Fitzpatrick electrified the audience and got everyone dancing during a sweaty afternoon. The set included songs off their latest album, "More Than Just a Dream," as well as favorites from "Pickin' Up the Pieces." They even played a cover of "Sweet Dreams," which got the whole crowd singing along (especially audience members who weren't familiar with the band). Although it wasn't one of the band's most memorable performances, it was a great addition to Loufest, and it set the mood for the rest of the evening.
7. Space Capone
Hailing from Nashville, this retro-pop group rocked the BMI Stage Saturday afternoon. Their mix of jazz, funk and R&B was a nice surprise for festivalgoers who just happened upon them while chowing down at the Chipotle tent or grabbing some Schlafly beer. Space Capone sounds like a mix of Michael Jackson, Daft Punk, Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars with a little something that is all their own. They were a great addition to the lineup and could easily have worked a bigger stage. Maybe next time they will be given a more prominent set time.
8. Wilco
It could've been that they had to follow two incredible sets (The National and Jim James) that Saturday night's show didn't seem like Wilco's best performance; however, that isn't to say they didn't perform. With roots on the other side of the Mississippi in Bellville, Ill., the band isn't new to St. Louis or Loufest - Jeff Tweedy played the inaugural festival in 2010. They opened with "Misunderstood," and the set included favorites such as "Give Back the Key to My Heart," "Art of Almost," "Impossible Germany," and "Casino Queen." Thunder started to roll in, and the crowd got a bit distracted, but you could tell the band was playing a comfortable set that was pleasing to their die-hard fans. Their performance a delightful, cool end to a hot day.
Were you at Loufest 2013? Let us know what you thought. What were some of your favorite moments of the festival?
