As the lights of the rectangular box flashed and Air members Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benôit Dunckel began their play-through of their 1998 album “Moon Safari,” the air felt brisk yet heavy.

Dressed in all white, the French Electronic duo Air delivered an enchanting performance on September 24, 2025 at Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater. Not only did they take the audience on an adventure through time and space, but they also perfected every song from their critically acclaimed “Moon Safari” as well as other hits from various albums, including two songs from Sofia Coppola’s “The Virgin Suicides.”

Air playing earnestly for their Cal Coast Credit Union Amphitheater audience. (Image / Andrea Mejia)

I was fortunate enough to witness it firsthand. I also had the opportunity to take photos of the respected duo as they performed songs I adore, such as “Sexy Boy” and “Le Femme De Argent,” which kicked off the show and had people cheering. 

When it came to stage design, it was both simple and particular, as the colors that flashed and the visuals that appeared matched the songs perfectly. During the electric performance of “Cherry Blossom Girl,” the stage notably lit up pink and white, and for “Le Voyage de Pénélope,” it became a flashing display of polka dots. 

Influence from past acts like Kraftwerk and Brian Eno are evident in their on-stage performance, as well as their instrumentals. In 1999, the duo conducted the score for Sofia Coppola’s, “The Virgin Suicides,” and as somebody who adored that movie in my teen years, seeing “High School Lover” and “Dirty Trip” live took me back to those days and was nothing short of life changing.

Nicolas Godin on the keyboard while simultaneously playing guitar under a purple and blue ambience. (Image / Andrea Mejia)

As you are hypnotized by the guitars and the synth of the keyboard, so are Godin and Dunckel as they are in the zone, and you are experiencing it. Air’s music feels as if you are always in tune with a motion picture — close your eyes, and there’s a scene laid out and a dialogue yet to be spoken.

Jean-Benôit Dunckel playing keyboard and singing to the crowd as the stage warmly lights up. (Image / Andrea Mejia)