Empire of the Sun's Ask That God: Afterlife Tour Sep. 13th performance was an upbeat and vibrant expression of gratitude. Through a mirage of color, mythology, science fiction and sound, the band transformed the stage into a world where nostalgic fan favorites existed alongside the strange and unexpected.
You may know Empire of the Sun from the coming-of-age anthems that have followed a generation, or even through the artists who later sampled their work. Mac Miller's “The Spins” famously samples “Half Mast,” while Wiz Khalifa reimagined “Walking on a Dream” in “The Thrill.” Hearing these songs live, however, revealed the larger world building that ran deep through Empire of the Sun.
The concert began with a rush of bright colors and sounds, immediately lifting the crowd to its feet. From the first moments of the performance, the stage seemed to exist somewhere outside of this world. Rising suns, futuristic costumes and psychedelic graphics surrounded the band; each song came with its own visual presentation.
Their elaborate costumes have also taken heavy inspiration from mythology and the imagery of ancient sun-worshipping civilizations. Onstage, those influences came together to create a world that felt simultaneously ancient and futuristic.
The symbolism continued throughout the night. At one point, two hands reached toward one another across the screens in imagery reminiscent of Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam. Rising suns and symbolic figures appeared throughout the performance, while a “countdown to the afterlife” pushed the concert further into its alternate reality. The graphics were not simply a backdrop to the music; they became part of the mythology unfolding around it.
Midway through the set, the already bizarre world of the concert became even stranger when alien-like mascots emerged onto the stage. The characters moved alongside the band and lifted the energy of the crowd while their voices became instrumentals played live by the musicians. The performance blurred the lines between concert and theater, which created a sense of playful humor.
One of the night's most unexpected moments, however, came when the spectacle briefly disappeared. Following a monologue about his daughter, Luke Steele broke into a surprise rendition of “This Land Is Your Land.” The performance was plucky and subtle compared with the massive electronic production surrounding the rest of the show. For a few minutes, a concert filled with aliens, rising suns and futuristic imagery became unexpectedly intimate.
That contrast between spectacle and simplicity made Empire of the Sun's return to its larger-than-life sound even more effective. “Cherry Blossom” became one of the highlights of the night, capturing the free-spirited energy that ran throughout the show. “We Are the People” brought another shift as one of the band's most recognizable songs washed over the crowd. Thousands of people sang along to a song that has existed in car rides, playlists and memories for years, now brought into the strange world Empire of the Sun had created onstage.
The setlist blended the band's newest era with the songs that made Empire of the Sun recognizable around the world. “Desire” opened the main set before “Changes” and “Half Mast,” followed later by tracks including “Cherry Blossom,” “We Are the People,” “Television,” “Awakening,” “High and Low,” “Music on the Radio,” “Revolve” and “Swordfish Hotkiss Night.”
But the culmination of the night came with “Walking on a Dream.”
The song already carries the nostalgic, otherworldly quality that defines Empire of the Sun, but hearing it live made it feel entirely new. In the middle of the performance, an incredible guitar solo broke through the familiar electronic sound. Surrounded by the lights, costumes and surreal imagery of the Afterlife Tour, one of the band's most recognizable songs became one of the night's most powerful live moments.
The encore continued that feeling with “Tiger by My Side” and “Alive,” leaving the audience with the euphoric, hopeful energy that has followed Empire of the Sun throughout its career.
What stood out to me most was Empire of the Sun's ability to make music that has existed for years feel like it belonged somewhere completely new. Their music has always centered around ideas of dreaming, freedom and escape, but experiencing those songs within the mythology of the Afterlife Tour gave them another dimension. Every costume, character, guitar riff and graphic felt like another piece of the universe they had created.
Empire of the Sun's concert created a mirage of free-spirited fan favorites and unexpected choices. It was nostalgic without being stuck in the past, theatrical without losing the music beneath it, and strange enough that you never quite knew what would appear onstage next.
For a band that has spent nearly two decades asking listeners to walk on a dream, the Afterlife Tour finally gave us somewhere to walk into.
Upcoming Tour Dates
Following the Ask That God: Afterlife Tour performances in Alabama and Georgia, Empire of the Sun will continue its North American tour with the following dates:
9/16 Miami, FL @ FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park
9/17 Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
9/20 Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
9/21 Austin, TX @ Moody Center ATX
9/24 The Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
9/26 Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP
9/29 Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
10/1 West Valley City, UT @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
10/3 Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater
10/7 San Diego, CA @ Petco Park
10/8 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
10/9 Las Vegas, NV @ PH Live at Planet Hollywood
