In a world where all the young kids suffer severely from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), is there a better set closer to help pacify that then the song Alive from Empire of the Song?
Take a look at the chorus (which by the way, everyone was singing to):
Loving every minute ’cause you make me feel so alive, alive
Loving every minute ’cause you make me feel so alive, alive
Alive, alive
Who doesn’t want to dance and sing about being “alive” while confetti drops from the ceiling in front of a band that looks like they are tribe from Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future?
The answer is obvious: nobody.
Monday night’s Empire of the Sun show was not packed by any means, but those who went had a hell of a time. At this point, it is fair to say that Empire of the Sun doesn’t stray far from their electro-pop formula – icy beats, acoustic arrangements and a falsetto chorus drenched in synthesizers, however this formula works really well for them live. You forget how much you love singing along with people until you hit an Empire of the Song concert and you are singing out songs like Half Mast or new hit Concert Pitch in your most outrageous falsetto. It makes for a very engaging experience overall.
As one would expect from a band whose style overwhelms their substance, the show was a visual delight. Aside from Luke Steele wearing his trademark headpiece, there was a drummer and a multi-instrumentalist wearing what appears to be spartan-esque outfits. Just like last time, there were four mesmerizing dancers whose outfits ranged from what can be described as space metallic pelicans to some creature that you would see in Pans Labyrinth. Each song had a set piece associated with it, along with backing videos, lights, elevating stages and smoke. Every little touch just added to the Empire of the Sun experience and makes for a bit of a ‘whoa’ factor for people. It’s nice to see a band put that much effort into their live show when they aren’t at the stadium level of success.
In the end, the people who went to the show came for the hits. Walking on a Dream, Standing on the Shore, We Are the People and the previously mentioned Alive had the entire crowd buzzing and there were among other things – a crowd invasion, a smashed guitar and in one of the funnier moments, Luke Steele shoving a microphone into an old man during Walking on a Dream and telling him to “sing it!” to which he complied. That guy must have been the coolest father ever.