Culture Cabinet

It’s been an incredible year for rising stars The Last Dinner Party, from opening for Florence and the Machine and Hozier on tour, to their debut single “Nothing Matters” skyrocketing to over 26 million streams and counting on Spotify, and finally culminating in the release of their debut album Prelude to Ecstasy.

To celebrate the release of the album, the five-piece group performed a sold-out concert at London’s iconic Roundhouse, a Victorian railway shed-turned-performing arts venue. Flanked by gauzy curtains and glittering chandeliers, the venue was the perfect choice for the baroque infused art-pop. The lighting design often utilised the curiosities of the architecture, lighting up the support columns in the audience in an immersive move that made the venue feel all the more intimate. The band were joined by regular live drummer Rebekah Rayner, as well as a live orchestra for the encore.

Opening with a haunting rendition of “Beautiful Boy,” you could hear a pin drop in the crowd as the harmonies soared into the rafters. Despite their sudden explosion on social media last spring which led to accusations of being industry plants, the band have clearly cut their teeth on the touring circuit since making their live debut in 2021; they immediately had the audience in the palm of their hand. Abigail Morris is a charismatic front-woman, effortlessly switching from bashful excitement whilst addressing the audience (“You pay me to sing, not fucking count” after realising that the audience participation line in “Portrait of a Dead Girl” was four words and not three as she had announced) to dancing and strutting around during the numbers with the confidence and charm of a seasoned veteran of the stage. Rounding up the band are Lizzie Mayland (vocals and rhythm guitar), Emily Roberts (lead guitar, mandolin, and flute), Georgia Davies (bass), and Aurora Nishevci (keys and vocals).

Only five songs had been released on streaming platforms at the time of the concert, so naturally these were the numbers that generated the most enthusiastic responses from the crowd, particularly “Sinner” and “Nothing Matters.” Whilst there were members of the audience who have followed the band on the live circuit and so were already familiar with many of the songs, there were just as many hearing them for the first time. “Burn Alive” is a particularly vibrant track and was one of the highlights of the evening, with lyrics like ‘There is candle wax in my veins/So I keep myself standing in your flames’ being standouts in a catalogue full of rich poetry. There was a particularly touching moment halfway through the set in which Nishevci took the lead for track “Gjuha,” an ode to her relationship with her Albanian heritage.

The encore opened with a live debut of title track “Prelude to Ecstasy,” a gorgeous orchestral piece that perfectly sets the tone of the album and was conducted onstage by Nishevci. Unreleased fan favourite “Godzilla” was the second song in the encore, a jazzy rock and roll number with an infectious chorus. Lead guitarist Emily Roberts deserves plenty of credit for her skill, nailing each solo with ease throughout the set.

In an era in which concert etiquette is a hot button issue in online discussion spaces, the concert was a wonderful experience. None of the horror stories you hear online were present here; fans were respectful, their noise never overpowering the band to the point you can’t hear the music. A fan-organised project led to a special moment of the night, in which red roses were thrown on stage during closing number “Nothing Matters,” accompanied with a disco ball and confetti drop. It was impossible not to feel joy in that moment. Despite the track’s irreverent nihilism, it’s clear to see how much the band matter to their fans. Bombastic and indulgent, The Last Dinner Party’s concert was full of excess, and it is easy to see how they have generated a die-hard following from their music; their lyrics ranging from abstract imagery to the heartfelt.

The spiritual successors to artists such as David Bowie, Kate Bush, and Sparks, The Last Dinner Party are one of the most exciting artists to debut over the last few years, with infectious melodies and cleverly crafted lyrics. It’s easy to see how they have won BBC Sound of 2024 and Brit Awards Rising Star 2024 — there are few artists putting out music like theirs in the mainstream. It’ll be interesting to see how they’ll evolve and grow in their career in future.

The Last Dinner Party are touring Canada, Europe, the United States, and the UK throughout 2024. Prelude to Ecstasy is out now on Island Records, available on vinyl, cassette, cd, and on streaming below.