The Drop-In 2025 is now halfway over 
BUT we’ve still got six stellar summer shows left! To celebrate the Drop-In’s halfway mark, we caught up with The Point. ahead of their headlining performance on the H-E-B Stage. Coming in hot off of a European tour, in this Mid-Week Intermission The Point. tells us about blending genres, appreciating different cultures, and playing iconic Austin venues.
Long Center: Welcome to Mid-Week Intermission! We usually like to ask folks for a song to go with their interview – anything come to mind?
The Point.: How about our song “401 Conejos”?!
LC: We’re stoked to have y’all play The Drop-In this year! Can you tell us a little about the band and how The Point. came to be?
The Point.: We are two childhood friends and mentor who have come together through the mutual love of blues and free improvisation. Nico helped to record our first EP in his studio and that began our relationship.
LC: From Ethiopian Jazz, Saharan guitar music, dub, psych, jam, and more, calling The Point. genre-blending would be putting it lightly. Where do you begin in experimenting with these wide-ranging areas of music, and how do you decide the direction you want to go in next?
The Point.: There is no conscious decision-making when we blend ideas from different genres of music or folk musics; we simply love to play what we hear, and we hear everything, or at least try to. Just as globalization afforded the world’s cultures to mix unconsciously, we are attempting to play whatever comes from the heart and what makes us feel. Whatever people get out of it, or however different kinds of people can connect to our music, leads to a beautiful outcome in our eyes. Our next direction is guided by our need to make others feel something and for us to have fun doing so, not so much an attempt to see what happens when you mix “this genre” with “the next.”
LC: Is there anything you’ve learned through your exploration of the music of so many different cultures?
The Point.: What I (Jack) have personally learned is that music from different cultures can be seen as different when you look at the elements of harmony and rhythm and so on, but by trying to learn how to play non-Western music and folk music in general, you learn that it all serves similar purposes and stems from the collective human experience. We all play the blues, because the blues is universal. Whether it sounds like what historians and record companies would traditionally call “the blues” is not important to us.
LC: Y’all just wrapped up a pretty impressive European tour. Any favorite moments you care to share?
The Point.: Connecting with the local people in small towns and hearing their struggles and love for art was the highlight. Breaking bread and trying the local favorite drinks and meals gives an insight into how people live and celebrate, or how people cope with their daily experiences.
LC: The Point. are regulars at some iconic Austin venues like Sahara Lounge and C-Boy’s. Do you think being part of the legacy of these historic spaces has influenced your sound, or your identity as a band?
The Point.: Of course it has. These places have a sound that caters to our needs, and the built-in crowds and local characters set a nice scene for improvisation. We will always love playing these rooms, and Eileen and Steve (respective owners of previously mentioned clubs) have been so kind and generous to our band.
LC: Are there any special upcoming projects you’re working on that you feel particularly excited about?
The Point.: We will be releasing some new songs later this summer and into the fall, with a special release in the works for September. Stay tuned!
LC: And lastly, what can folks look forward to at your Drop-In set? Any teasers you can leave with us?
The Point.: Honestly, we have no idea what are set will look like, but we have written some new sketches of music that we might incorporate into a jam or two on Thursday. We will see how the skyline and the audience inspires us that night. Can’t wait…
Keep your eyes on @longcenter on social media to find out when you can catch The Point. at The Drop-In.
Don’t forget, it’s FREE
RSVPs appreciated
Drop-ins always welcome
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
