Australian Electropop icon Empire of the Sun brought the “Ask That God” tour to Washington, D.C. and turned the sold out Anthem into a euphoric fever dream.
Kicking off the evening was the electronic dance-rock duo Roi Turbo. Brothers Benjamin and Connor McCarthy immediately had the crowd dancing to their unique blend of disco, funk, African drum and dance music. I even heard some cowbell in their tracks. Will Ferrell would be proud. There’s a lot of layers and influences in their sound, so I’m probably missing some genres that are infused into their music. One thing I am absolutely certain of though is that the crowd was loving Roi Turbo. Their rhythms are made to make people move, and the floor was a singular pulsating entity bouncing and swaying to their beats.
Although I have never seen an Empire of the Sun show live, I’ve been an Empyrean long enough to know we were in for an experience like no other. Every album and every music video has a world built around it that pulls you into the Empire’s world. Their live shows are no different, and that world building is taken to heights I didn’t think were possible.
Luke Steele made his entrance looking like a futuristic Japanese samurai emperor. This review is going to be full of adjective salads, so buckle up. You could feel the anticipation growing as the massive screen behind Steele and his faceless dancers built up to an explosion of light. The Anthem erupted into a sea of voices singing along with Steele as the opening lines of “Changes” hit. “The Feeling You Get” was up next, and by some act of whatever god you want to believe in, the Anthem got even louder. By the time “Half Mast” started, the crowd was louder than the music coming out of the speakers and the tinnitus that was caused by me forgetting my earplugs. Steele put a nice twist to the end of “Half Mast” by throwing down some sweet guitar solos. Steele’s talents as a vocalist, guitarist and songwriter put off some heavy Prince vibes.
From there, it was a nonstop wave of colorful visuals that sent us traveling through whatever world the music placed us in. Adding to the visuals and music were the countless costume changes and choreography that added another level to the immersive experience. Supa Chai led us into a dance party for “Music On The Radio.” Songs like “High and Low” and “DNA” hit especially hard live, with booming bass and soaring choruses that had the whole crowd moving in sync.
The night was filled with unforgettable moments, but the one that stood out to me the most was “Ask That God.” This was one of the less energetic songs in the setlist, but to make up for its lack of danceability the crowd was gifted with a mesmerizing moment between an angelic version of futuristic Japanese samurai Steele and the hand of a god. Which god? Whatever god you want. That’s the theme of this album. We all may have different beliefs, but we can all be connected through the power of music, and love is stronger than anything. I’m paraphrasing from an interview I watched with Steele and Nick. It sounds better coming from them.
By the time you read this, the “Ask That God” tour will have come to an end. I can honestly say that this show was one of the best concerts I have ever seen live. No detail was missed, even the smallest points added to the immersion (did you notice the guitars even matched the outfits?). I really hope Empire of the Sun ramps up the touring because more people need to witness this magic.