Empire of the Sun Delivers a Feast for New York City’s Senses
FOREST HILLS STADIUM - NEW YORK, NY
In an age of stage minimalism, Australian electronic duo Empire Of The Sun are maximalists. Performing for well over 10,000 adoring fans at a packed out Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York, this past weekend, their show is an audiovisual spectacle from start to finish with a shocking amount of wardrobe changes (including two wig jackets).
A few songs into the set, lead singer Luke Steel promised to take New York City on a journey, and boy did he deliver. The set masterfully builds tension through storytelling, with each song being its own planet to visit in the larger universe of their discography. The megahits perfectly compliment the deeper cuts, and the dancers have different costumes for each number they perform to fit the narrative. The costumes ranged from space creatures to geishas, to a corset that was literally a set of jaws.
Two dancers pose on-stage
The highlights of the show were definitely the band’s biggest classics, as they had the most changes and extensions to the songs. The spark of energy that ran through the stadium when an extended live version of “Half Mast” began was palpable, and the instrumental solo they added might actually make your soul ascend from your body. Hearing “We Are The People"live is an experience that should definitely be on your bucket list, while their 2016 track “High and Low” was by far the danciest song of the evening that made it hard to wipe the smile off your face.
Their cover of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” sparked phone lights to fill the stadium. It was the only moment in the show with any restraint, making it that much more powerful. The set wrapped up with the debut that originally launched the duo to fame, “Walking On A Dream,” followed by “Tiger By My Side”and finally “Alive.”
Empire Of The Sun is a must see show, and this was an absolute standout performance. The showmanship was top tier, the costuming was impeccable, the world building was mind bending, and the energy continually increased but never became fatiguing. It’s very obvious that every detail you see and hear was intentionally placed, and it comes together seamlessly for a show you’ll never forget. If you’re not a fan already, I promise you will be by the end of the night.
