They’ve done it again. But you expected as much, right?
RUFUS DU SOL is ending a breathless world tour in Australia, and right now they’ve landed at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena for the first of three sold-out shows.
After that, it’s on to their hometown of Sydney for another string of instant sell-outs.
For those who remember when these three Sydney boys would play one of the smaller stages at Laneway Festival, their evolution to genuine superstardom has been nothing short of spectacular to watch.
Their growth is woven into this greatest-hits set, which is louder, larger, and more impressive than anything they’ve toured before. The sharp, sci-fi setting envelops Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt with skittish lasers that are at times messy and chaotic, and at others steady and intentional. They’ve got this down to a tee.
Most importantly, the production perfectly matches the emotive highs and lows of these songs. The rough, determined edges of “Pressure” are all built up, collapsed into a wall of colossal synths and then given the most gorgeously polished release. They’ve really, really mastered their craft here.
And so it continues, a smart, generous set list plucked from their entire discography, from early-starter “You Were Right” to the euphoric “Surrender.”
What’s so goddamn endearing about RUFUS DU SOL’s work is not just the hard, slick and stadium-sized production, but the emotional texture of Lindqvist’s devastatingly emotional voice. Sometimes, you can swear this guy is from Iceland, with his airy, haunting vocal work bleeding on songs like “Next to Me” and “Edge of the Earth”.
Another high point of this current show is how seamlessly they work each song into each other, like a perfectly threaded pathwork of hit after hit. The slinky “Fire/Desire”, moves into the cinematic “Underwater” which then tips into “Eyes” and “Alive”. These boys know how to put together a set list, as well.
And, of course, “Innerbloom” hits harder than it ever had, with wider, chunkier synth lines to really heighten that build-up before that drop, a purely religious moment that sent the crowd as wild as you’d expect.
It’s hard to fault what RUFUS DU SOL have put together here. It’s always interesting to see such a beloved and successful Aussie export return home after a big world tour.
I remember seeing them in 2024 in Las Vegas, where they were playing a string of club shows in a smaller format of their wider tour. This was back when “Music Is Better” was still fresh. In just over a year, these guys are taking on arenas, even when they could easily pack a stadium at this point.
Their production could go toe-to-toe with any big EDM act right now. There are all the stadium dance standards like confetti cannons and a confounding amount of lasers, but RUFUS DU SOL use them to great effect, along with a colour scheme that helps visualise each song, from the deep red of the brooding “On My Knees” to the warmer tones of “Treat You Better”.
If you’re lucky enough to have tickets to see them over the next few weeks, while they wrap up their current world tour, then you’re in for a very great show.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
RUFUS DU SOL play two more shows in Melbourne before moving to Sydney, Brisbane and then over the ditch to Auckland. Head on over to Untitled for the full details.
Feature photo supplied and credited to Mitch Lowe.
