As a massive RÜFÜS DU SOL fan (I’m in their top 2% of listeners worldwide according to my Spotify Wrapped), I’d been counting down to this show since its premature announcement well over a year ago. On Saturday night, with 25,000 people packed into the Western Springs Outer Fields for the first big outdoor gig of summer, the wait finally paid off.

The vibes were immaculate. Just days out from the official beginning of summer, Tāmaki Makaurau put on one of those warm, golden evenings that made the setting for an outdoor show perfect.

Warming things up was SG Lewis, a UK producer/DJ who is a headliner in his own right with a long list of massive collaborations. He wrapped his set with his collaboration with Tove Lo, 'Heat'.

RÜFÜS DU SOL’s first track lit up the stage, lighting up both the stage and the 25,000-strong crowd. Unfortunately, I was stuck in the drinks line when those first synths hit - which I quickly abandoned to join the crowd.

At one point, Jon from the band shouted out his brother living in Nelson, who was in the crowd, a small moment that made us feel connected to the Aussie lads. But it was the opening notes of one of the band's most recognisable tunes, 'You Were Right,' that saw one of the first noticeable crowd reactions of the night.

The extra three-minute intro/transition between 'Make It Happen' and 'On My Knees' — a slow, acid-y sounding build with glitchy vocals and a steadily rising tempo — almost felt like a Prodigy-esc moment.

It felt like stepping inside the iconic Joshua Tree set, which I’ve played at far too many pre-drinks over the years. One of those shows you forget to take photos or videos because you’re just so in the moment.

The band seamlessly weaved tracks from their five studio albums together almost as if they were one song.

I can't forget to mention hearing one of the greatest songs of our generation, 'Innerbloom.' It's a must-see live for any electronic music fan, people were on shoulders, hands, and lights in the air. For a moment, the crowd felt like one, all mesmerised and in the moment.

But the absolute MVP of the night? The camerawoman. The band even shouted her out onstage—it was her birthday—but her commitment to capturing footage for the live visuals was unmatched. She was everywhere, spinning around each member of the band continuously throughout the show. Hopefully, she whacked those steps on Strava.

RÜFÜS DU SOL delivered the perfect start to summer, pure euphoria, and it absolutely exceeded expectations.