The Last Dinner Party Take Over London’s Eventim Apollo
london, england – october 16, 2024
@thelastdinnerparty on Instagram
After exploding onto the scene last year, The Last Dinner Party has returned to London for their debut album tour. A Prelude To Ecstasy is the best way to describe this show.
The Last Dinner Party is comprised of 5 friends: Abigail Morris (vocals), Lizzie Mayland (vocals, guitar), Emily Roberts (lead guitar, mandolin, flute), Georgia Davies (bass) and Aurora Nishevci (keyboards, vocals). The Last Dinner Party feels like a band that has been transported from a medieval court.
As soon as you enter the venue, you are sent into the mystical world of The Last Dinner Party. Royal flags displaying the band’s logo are draped from the ceiling to the floor, and a massive hand-painted backdrop of the night sky adorns the stage. You feel like you have been accepted into their coven.
Although the band took a week off touring due to illness, that break is not evident in their performance. Full of high energy, the whole band dances around the stage. But Abigail takes it one step further, she frolics and throws herself across the stage as if she has been possessed by some unearthly being.
A true spiritual moment was the transition between “Gjuha” and “Sinner”. Gjuha, performed by Aurora, is a love letter to her Turkish roots and the shame of not knowing your mother tongue. It is a beautifully raw moment full of stunning harmonies and dramatic instrumentals; it transforms into something else when put with Sinner. Both are strong songs but are made stronger when performed in this order.
@thelastdinnerparty on Instagram
The band took a moment to thank the fans for their support and dedication as Abigail marvelled at the size of the venue “There is a lot of you.” She then talks about their work with a food bank called Bankuet and how it didn’t feel right to tour the country without giving back. So far, the fans have raised £16,000 by purchasing a special ribbon in the queue. That night, the band announced they would be matching this donation.
The band leans into a rock sound live, which is something exciting about their future releases. They played three unreleased songs, including a rock song, “Big Dog”. We need more true rock bands, and as Brian May said best, The Last Dinner Party are “new British Rock Royalty.” However, that does not mean the band doesn’t lean into calmer, quieter moments. “Beautiful Boy” was one of the most stunning performances and showed Abigail’s vocal capability. The fact she can hold the attention of five thousand people with just her voice is insanity.
@thelastdinnerparty on Instagram
Being welcomed into the regal world of The Last Dinner Party feels magical. The audience wears a uniform of white skirts and corsets to match the members. This has become a joke within the band as Abigail welcomes new fans and listeners into their world, stating, “Even if you’re not wearing a corset – but do better next time.”
They treated the audience to another unreleased song ‘The Killer’ before finishing with their viral hit “Nothing Matters.” It is evident that they are a group of friends who love music and performing. They are having the time of their lives on stage, which makes the audience match their energy perfectly.
A Prelude To Ecstasy was a pretty perfect album before hearing it live. After this experience, the band is destined for greatness. They have a certain aura around them that has not been seen in music since Kate Bush and Florence And The Machine.
The Last Dinner Party are just starting; they have bigger things awaiting them, and all we can do is buckle in and enjoy the ride.
