Empire of the Sun brought an electrifying night to the Hollywood Bowl on October 8th, 2026. This show marked the second-to-last night of their Ask That God: Afterlife Tour in North America, with engaging supporting acts Midnight Generation and Polo & Pan joining them. 

Empire Of The Sun

The duo brought a fusion of rave-like visuals and their thrilling sound throughout the course of the night. The show’s setlist blended their classic hits with selections from their most recent album “Ask That God.” They commanded the stage with their unique vocals and instrumentals. 

The show kicked off with a dreamy intro, leading into their first song, “Changes.” This pulled the audience in, with fans dancing and recording the intense lights and stage visuals. They proceeded with “Half Mast,” “Old Flavours,” and “Cherry Blossom.” They alternated colors, light patterns, and stage actions throughout the songs for a visually pleasing experience. 

Then, the audience continued to cheer as they played their classic hit “We Are The People.” Everyone swayed and danced with their friends while the song’s iconic hook played. Following this song, singer Luke Steele connected with fans by celebrating playing the Hollywood Bowl, stating it is his favorite venue. He thanked God and shouted out Los Angeles, fostering spirit among LA fans. It was a heartfelt moment connecting the artist, city, venue, and fans altogether. 

This transitioned into their next songs “Television,” “Awakening,” and “High and Low.” Luke used the Bowl’s walkway around the Pool section, walking past fans for a fun, engaging visual in certain songs. They also continued using psychedelic visuals on the monitors behind them to match each song. 

The energy carried into “Music on the Radio,” one of the strongest examples of the duo’s ability to blend electronic production with the excitement of a live rock performance. “Revolve” and “Swordfish Hotkiss Night” continued the momentum, while “Two Vines” offered a more atmospheric moment within the set. Rather than relying on the same effects throughout the performance, the production shifted alongside the mood of each song, making the concert feel like a carefully constructed visual journey.

Another heartfelt moment came during a stripped-down cover of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land.” Steele stated that he’s felt that performing it at every show is important. It marked a community-building moment in the show and a more raw, connecting moment between Empire of the Sun and their fans. From there, “Celebrate” restored the show’s upbeat energy before an interlude transitioned into “Ask That God,” the title track from their latest album. There was a beautiful visual of a sun and moon meeting, with members in sun and moon costumes, then taking the stage during the song. 

The final portion of the main set featured “I’ll Be Around” and “Walking on a Dream.” As the opening notes of “Walking on a Dream” played, the audience immediately erupted. The group’s most recognizable song became a communal moment, with fans throughout the Bowl singing along. Its nostalgic sound, combined with the scale of the venue and the production surrounding the band, made it feel like a natural conclusion to the main performance.

Then, Empire of the Sun came back and concluded with an encore of “Tiger By My Side” and “Alive.” “Alive” brought the true climax of the night, bringing fans right back into their energetic nature and ending on a celebratory note. The performance brought together the duo’s eccentric costumes, live instrumentation, and electronic sound one final time for the audience to appreciate. 

Although the production was a major part of the concert, it did not completely overpower the music. Instead, the lighting, costumes, choreography, and psychedelic imagery emphasized the futuristic world that Empire of the Sun has built around its songs. At times, the visual spectacle drew more attention than the individual performances, but that extravagance is also central to the duo’s appeal, creating an artistic balance that makes them one of a kind. 

Overall, Empire of the Sun transformed the Hollywood Bowl into a colorful, dreamlike environment that felt equally like a concert, rave, and theatrical production. By balancing newer material from “Ask That God” with recognizable songs such as “We Are the People,” “Walking on a Dream,” and “Alive,” the duo created a show that appealed to both longtime listeners and newer fans. Their performance demonstrated that, even nearly two decades into their career, Empire of the Sun remains capable of making its music feel imaginative, immersive, and alive.

Setlist:

1. Changes
2. Half Mast
3. Old Flavours
4. Cherry Blossom
5. We Are the People
6. Television
7. Awakening
8. High and Low
9. Music on the Radio
10. Revolve
11. Swordfish Hotkiss Night
12. Two Vines
13. This Land is Your Land (Woody Guthrie cover)
14. Celebrate
15. Interlude / Ask That God
16. I’ll Be Around
17. Walking on a Dream
18. Tiger By My Side
19. Alive