The Australian duo were preceded by up-and-coming Kiwi indie-rockers Balu Brigada. Playing breakout hits like ‘Backseat’ and ‘So Cold’, they injected their infectious energy into the room, getting heads bopping and arms up to prepare us for the night’s main act - allowing us to shake off any heat-induced weariness from the thirty-degree pilgrimage to the venue. 

As Empire of the Sun’s set time drew closer, you could feel the excitement grow amongst the crowd. Props were unveiled to “Ooohs” and enthusiastic chatter - and when lead vocalist Luke Steele appeared in full, fantastical costume, the screams shook the ceiling.

The band began with ‘Desire’, an unreleased track. In spite of not knowing the words, we danced and cheered as we simply basked in their signature dream-pop sound and the whimsical visual display ahead of us, looking forward to what was to come.

They continued into their latest album, ‘Ask That God’ - their music elevated by intricate staging - graphics, backup dancers in fancy dress and multicoloured strobe lighting making for a multi-dimensional, truly ascendent experience. When water sprayed out of the front of the stage, there was audible commotion for the band’s ad hoc air-con.

While the audience was lively throughout the set, it peaked with their most popular songs. As the first few notes of ‘We Are The People’ chimed out, there were grins and bounces all around me as the nostalgic 10s hit unified ten thousand strangers. The chorus was accompanied by a shower of confetti, the joy in the room palpable as it rained all over us and to the ground.

Between songs, we were entertained by a surreal, pantomime-like display, as costumed characters took to the stage - a sun, a moon, and a squad of alien creatures that appeared in front of us as some sort of octopus-ghost hybrid. Steele narrated as they performed - by running across the stage or swaying in routine - a nod to the band’s ‘Empyrean’ universe, their invented otherworldly setting for their music. 

The band and the crowd fed off each other’s energy to keep spirits high right until the encore, with the floor threatening to give way when they finally broke into fan favourite ‘Alive’. It was a euphoric conclusion to the night, as mosh pits opened and crowd-surfers launched their voyages to the barrier, pyrotechnics lighting their path. 

The band exited with a wave and a bow, ending on an explosive high. Even after the overhead lighting came on, the liveliness remained as confetti-clad crowdgoers spilled out of Ally Pally into the humid June night, flipping between belting the chorus of ‘Alive’ and football chants as fans caught up on the England vs Panama score.