Empire of the Sun’s vibrant visuals and sonic soundscapes came bursting out of the Hollywood Bowl, unearthing the band’s vision of the afterlife for the audience.

The Australian synth-pop band sold out the second-to-last night of its “Ask That God: Afterlife” tour in Los Angeles on Thursday. Empire of the Sun arrived off a whirlwind summer tour that kicked off in August and ended in Las Vegas on Oct. 9. Throughout the 90-minute set, lead singer and guitarist Luke Steele masterfully treated fans to classic hits and new releases accompanied by otherworldly visuals and expressive dancers.

With each song, Empire of the Sun transported the audience to another realm through abstract scenery and lighting, clever storytelling and thoughtful audience interaction.

Mexican disco-electronic pop band Midnight Generation opened the show and was followed by French house-electronic duo Polo & Pan before the headliner’s set began. Polo & Pan covered the crowd in a sea of tropical techno and colorful lights. Donning all-white outfits, which added to the night’s overall ethereal experience, the pair got the crowd on its feet.

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At 9:20 p.m., Empire of the Sun arrived on stage. Out of the darkness, two dancers, who wore red robes and large headpieces affixed with eyeballs, emerged alongside the artists. The dancers walked across the stage as Steele appeared atop a raised pile of rubble. He kicked off the night with unreleased song “Desire.” Despite the eye-catching aesthetic, the performance itself was unmemorable and received a dull audience reaction for an opening number. Although the group’s superfans seemed to pick out the unreleased track, for the rest of the audience, the track felt like a missed opportunity to start the set with a showstopping hit as crowd energy seemed a bit low. That said, the intricate visuals more than made up for the debatable song choice.

During “Desire,” the impressively large set, which depicted the rubble of a toppled statue, stood out. In an interview with VICE, Steele said the scenery drew on a vision he had of returning to the “Empire” after the band paused during the pandemic. The statue rubble symbolized the fall of that empire, and each of the production’s three acts represented a portion of his return journey. The thoughtful set design strengthened the narrative of the emperor’s return to his empire and played into the larger-than-life personas Empire of the Sun is known for.

For its second song, the band played “Changes,” a new release from its latest album, “Ask That God.” The group kept transitions quick, abruptly cutting vibrant lighting displays to black at the end of each song, only to illuminate again as the next performance began. The quick, cinematic transitions gave the Hollywood Bowl a movie-like atmosphere, which added to the wow factor and were a strong point of the show.

Later, Steele picked up a red rotary phone to deliver a fictional advertisement for “Afterlife Insurance,” with an ominous voice stating, “Protect your forever.” The production’s storytelling component contributed to the feeling of being transported to the band’s fictional empire where Steele was emperor. Though the pause in song was brief, it successfully embedded a narrative element to the show, keeping the audience engaged.

Energy continued to rise throughout the evening as the band played another track from “Ask That God,” “Cherry Blossom,” which was followed by the duo’s iconic hit “We Are the People.” The crowd was propelled to sing and dance along from the song’s opening notes.

“Los Angeles! This is so beautiful!” Steele said. “So grateful to be here at my favorite venue on the whole planet Earth – the Hollywood Bowl!”

A full band that included bass, keys and drums accompanied Steele, who was on lead vocals and guitar. Standing atop a raised platform behind the emperor, two sparkly dancers shifted between outfits ranging from mirror ball suits to iridescent robes and neon wigs, adding to the show’s eclectic vibe.

For the band’s most iconic hits, such as “High And Low,” vibrant multi-colored lasers splayed across the audience, cascading all the way to the back of the bowl. Framing the stage were two large beams of white light, making an arch of light in the sky. If attendees thought the Hollywood Bowl looked intergalactic already, Empire of the Sun launched the Bowl into outer space, illuminating the sky above with color. While the vocal performances themselves were noteworthy, it was those in combination with the evening’s sweeping visuals that explain the band’s viral hype and the sold-out show.

At one point, Steele walked along the outer ring of the stage, greeting fans. He also interacted with two of the bands’ mascots he referred to as Supa Chai, which looked like octopus-inspired creatures with tentacles in white robes.

“You ready to do some dancing or what?” Steele asked the two creatures. “Let’s do some dancing!”

The fog surrounding the stage grew thicker throughout the evening, illuminating streams of light from every direction. The band hit its peak energy in the final act with “Swordfish Hotkiss Night.”

Towards the end of the set, Steele took a moment to cleanse the chaotic space created with a solo rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” The stripped-down performance – Steele, his guitar, and a single white light – was a vulnerable moment in the otherwise high-energy show. The break in momentum was well-received by the LA crowd and showcased the band’s distinct command of the audience.

At 10:38 p.m., the band finished its set with the group’s most famous hit, “Walking On A Dream.” As a choir of cheers for an encore came pouring in during the final blackout, Steele returned alongside the band to play two final songs to end the evening on a high.

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To top off the night, the band played “Tiger By My Side,” and Steele ended the song by throwing his white electric guitar across the stage and slamming it against the ground in a dramatic fashion. Finally, the crowd got what many came for – the hit “Alive.”

“20 years ago, I sat right at the very back there with my fiancee and spoke to my heart, I said to myself – I didn’t say it out loud, but I just said, ‘One day, you’re gonna be on that stage,’” Steele said.

With impressive lighting and visuals and an energetic setlist, Empire of the Sun gave the audience an unforgettable night and solidified its place as a cultural mainstay with synth-pop hits.

Empire of the Sun conveyed the power of sharing a moment of transportation – in this case, to a realm of neon lights.