Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Seeing a set at Lollapalooza is always an event in and of itself, but getting a chance to catch one of its prominent players in a coveted aftershow is as exclusive and intimate as it gets.

Empire Of The Sun at The Salt Shed was amongst the hottest tickets in town, and though the sell out technically occurred on the eve of the actual festival, it will surely be a tough act to top.

That’s because the Australian duo, comprised of live leader Luke Steele from alternative rockers The Sleepy Jackson and studio mastermind Nick Littlemore of the dance band Pnau, continue to craft some of the catchiest electropop confections of the last two decades, supplemented by a stunning visual spectacle. 

“Ask That God” is these visionaries’ latest ambitious long-player, though the thrilling 90-minutes, supplemented by a three-piece band and a pair of dancers/performance artists, comprised a monstrous mixture of bangers reaching back to the very beginning.

They included “Desire” and “The Feeling You Get” to start, featuring a breathtaking array of choreography and costumes recalling the intergalactic imagery of their striking album covers. 

From there, “Half Mast” returned to its Empire Of The Sun origins after being sampled by late rapper Mac Miller in “The Spins,” artistically expanding with a delightfully darker glow. 

“We Are The People” was another from its cannon of modern classics, followed by the super-charged grooves “Music On The Radio,” “Swordfish Hotkiss Night” and the current title track.

However, the global anthem “Walking On A Dream” may have beat them all as a collective karaoke session, followed closely by encores “Standing On The Shore” and “Alive” as Lollapalooza soft launched in a state of absolute euphoria.  

For additional information on Empire Of The Sun, EmpireOfTheSun.co.

Upcoming shows at The Salt Shed include Slayyyter (Jul. 30); Beabadoobee (Jul. 31); 5 Seconds Of Summer (Aug. 1); Max McNown (Aug. 5); Jack Harlow (Aug. 8); Modest Mouse (Aug. 12); Big Thief (Aug. 13); American Football (Aug. 14); World’s Largest Karaoke (Aug. 15); Billy Currington and Kip Moore (Aug. 21); Galantis (Aug. 22); Needtobreathe (Aug. 27) and Goodwaves Festival (Aug. 30). For additional details, visit SaltShedChicago.com.

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