Usually, I don’t go to gigs and festivals for the sensory experience. So, sorry not sorry, my Gen Z readers. I’m just not the fireworks/flying unicorns/acrobatics type of music fan.

Usually.

But seeing Empire Of The Sun is a whole different story – the elaborate production is an inherent part of the band’s show. So I was really looking forward to the audiovisual spectacle at their only UK appearance this year. And – spoiler alert – I was not disappointed.

PART 235 OF “AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN?” A RANDOM COLLECTION OF UNKNOWINGLY OBVIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE

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Even though they’re not necessarily classified as such, Empire Of The Sun are a supergroup, for several reasons.

Firstly, and most importantly, the two founding members and masterminds behind this intricately thought-out project have been involved in other, pretty successful bands, to say the least.

Luke Steele is a busy music man, for example.

His original alt-rock outfit, The Sleepy Jackson, might have been on hiatus since Empire Of The Sun launched in 2007. But his electronic DREAMS collab with Daniel Johns (yeah, that guy from Silverchair) was highly publicised in international music press in 2018 when the duo surprisingly performed at Coachella and then dropped an album. The New Zealand-born muso also unexpectedly released an introspective, folky solo record, Listen To The Water, in 2022.

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Nick Littlemore has had a pretty intense music journey to date as well.

You might have heard of the little dance music band, PNAU, he’s been a member of since 1996. Additionally, for the last 20 years, he’s been writing art-rock songs in the Teenager duo, with Phillipa “Pip” Brown (aka Ladyhawke) being the other half. The only album (so far) features Sonic Youth members and Kim Moyes (The Presets). If that wasn’t enough, since 2019, he’s been collaborating with Alister Wright (from Cloud Control) on the electronic/pop/psych-rock project, VLOSSOM.

So, as far as music CVs go, the two musos bring in a pretty impressive combination to their Empire Of The Sun project.

Other things make them a supergroup, too. Simply put, everything they do is “super, from the meticulously planned stage production to the elaborate, oriental world they’ve conjured up, the catchy tunes they keep dropping and the faithful, international fanbase they’ve won over the years.

Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore’s flamboyant personalities complete the recipe for global success. They seem to leverage all those genre influences from their other projects in Empire Of The Sun. In the end, we get a larger-than-life, mystical electro-pop/synth project that has been making waves since its inception. (I mean, if “We Are The People” and “Walking On A Dream” are not playing in your head alternately right now, then you’ve got some serious homework to do tonight.)

Consequently, I wouldn’t have missed the gig supporting their new record, the 2024 Ask That God, for the world. Neither did an entire army of London Empyreans. According to the organisers, the venue was prepared to host 10,000 punters, and the event sold out pretty quickly. That speaks volumes about the band’s popularity in the UK.

There was one thing that jumped out at me right away when the group opened with “Changes”, the first song from the new album. The music sounds soooooo much better live. This is where Empire Of The Sun’s signature sound really shines.

The studio production, obviously, sticks to the Empire Of The Sun signature synth-laden, 80s-inspired and pop/new wave-infused aesthetic. Because, since the very beginning, the Sydneysiders have repped electronic music and its derivatives. And given how popular the genre has been quite consistently over the last few decades, it has surely contributed to their global following and solid reputation in the music business.

But I’ve got news for you, Ladies and Gents. The band’s live show (at least in this particular case) amplifies a totally different element of this patchwork music puzzle. Empire Of The Sun are very much a loud and proud live rock band.

Man, can Luke Stelle shred on that axe! I was genuinely amazed by his solos and the fact that he doesn’t delegate that part of the performance to his touring bandmates. After all, he already has his hands full (literally) with his on-stage persona. So I guess I just didn’t expect that he’d give the guitar so much love on stage only to smash it towards he end of the show (but that’s a conversation for a different occasion).

On the other hand, he needs to release that energy in some way. And because Nick Littlemore doesn’t accompany the band on tour (which is my only complaint, really), all eyes are on the other founder.

I very much doubt he finds it a burden, though. Luke Steele seems to be a natural-born entertainer who craves attention. And why wouldn’t he? Empire Of The Sun’s underlying concept clearly puts him on the spot, starting with his stage attire.

So let’s discuss the group’s visual aspect for a moment. Because without it, the experience would be far less spectacular. And Empire Of The Sun would just be another electronic band, right? 

It’s hard to produce a deliberately over-the-top show in a non-pretentious way that will resonate across generations these days. That includes the visuals, costumes, choreography, and makeup. Gen Z wants to have it all in one package, while Boomers are there mostly for the music. How do you balance it out?

Well, Empire Of The Sun have mastered that craft to perfection.

And people just love it! You should see the fans (from all age groups) who rocked up to the gig fully dressed, perfectly replicating Luke Steele’s character. In fact, a simple online search for Empire Of The Sun-inspired makeup yields tons of video tutorials. So if you ever feel like partaking in the fun like a proper Empyrean at the Aussie’s next show in town, TikTok or ChatGPT will sort you out.

Still, I truly admire the band’s dedication to this realm they’ve created and consequently expand with each release. Honestly, respect to Luke Steele for the frequent, Kylie Minogue-worthy wardrobe changes, perfectly synced with re-programming the instruments and other technical aspects of the show. From a purely practical point of view, those robes he wears on stage must weigh a ton.

I also have the impression that, with this tour, the band has intentionally zoomed in on unusual venues to elevate the experience. Their shows are already made for stadiums or arenas. But a quick browse through their 2025 touring schedule tells me it’s more about special settings this time.

They played the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado at the end of April, for example. While in Madrid, Spain, they appeared as part of the “Noches del Botánico” (Nights at the Botanic Garden) summer concert series.

In London, they headlined one of the Labyrinth on the Thames dates, with the historic Old Royal Naval College’s grounds as the venue. The river and the modern skyline in the background further enhanced this epic arrangement. So I have to say it was a particularly fitting choice for an Empire Of The Sun gig.

Circling back to the music, though – it’s been a long time since I’d witnessed one constant sing-along. (Un)fortunately, I ended up in the crowd with a group of 20-something (!) superfans who belted out every single word to every single song.

Good on them! Because – apart from the songs from the new record, like “Music On The Radio”, “Television” or “Cherry Blossom” – there were also older tracks in that banger-filled setlist. “High and Low” repped the 2016 album, Two Vines. “DNA” was taken from the 2013 Ice On The Dune. And “Swordfish Hotkiss Night” and (surprise, surprise) “Walking On A Dream” were both released on the 2008 debut record.

Due to that excitement in the crowd, at times, I couldn’t even hear the band properly. And when “Alive” rang out to close out the concert, I was surrounded by a sea of ecstatic punters from all age groups, jumping around together and singing cheerfully, “Loving every minute ’cause you make me feel so alive, alive”. 

That’s what the band’s message is, after all. Luke Steele reinforced it a few times throughout the concert, mentioning that it’s “all about love and Empyreans sticking together.”  

Love and praise were the two things predominantly reflected in the comments on social media after the gig. From “This was a spiritual experience I’ll never forget”, and “Everyone should see Empire Of The Sun once in their life,” to “What an honour,” and “Bucket list dream, it was phenomenal.”

Overall, it was just a fun and comprehensive 17-track journey across the Empire Of The Sun world in 90 minutes.

So yeah, I don’t usually go to gigs for the sensory experience. But allow me to send you off with a quote from one of those rowdy superfans I mentioned earlier.

When Empire Of The Sun walked off the stage, he spontaneously let out four momentous words to summarise the gig: “F*ck, that was class.” And I couldn’t have expressed it better. 

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