Review and Photos | Empire of the Sun Lights Up Atlanta, GA

Empire of the Sun at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

The night started with a steady build of rhythm and movement. Midnight Generation brought an irresistible mix of funk, disco and electronic energy, followed by Polo & Pan, whose hypnotic beats turned the amphitheater into one big dance floor. The show may not have been sold out, but it never felt empty. From the opening set forward, the crowd was on its feet, grooving and bopping as the anticipation for Empire of the Sun continued to grow.

Then Empire of the Sun took the stage and transformed Ameris Bank Amphitheatre into another world. The staging, enormous video imagery, dramatic lighting, elaborate costumes and choreography worked together so beautifully that it was difficult to know where to look. Every song revealed another layer of the production, with Luke Steele commanding the center of it all. It was theatrical, imaginative and completely immersive.

The Ask That God: Afterlife Tour reached across the band’s catalog, blending newer songs with favorites including “We Are the People,” “High and Low,” “Walking on a Dream” and “Alive.” Each part of the set brought a change in mood, color or costume, making the night feel less like a traditional concert and more like one continuous visual splendor.

I have photographed hundreds and hundreds of sets of music across every genre during more than 16 years of concert photography, and I have never seen or photographed a show as visually stunning as this one. At times, the constantly changing light and haze made it technically challenging to capture, but that only made it more exciting. Empire of the Sun may not be the reason I fell in love with concert photography, but after a night like this, they just might be the reason I stay in love with it. It was an absolute dream.

Post and photos by Emily Butler Photography