The Last Dinner Party is currently touring the UK and Europe, performing songs from their debut album Prelude to Ecstasy.
MM went to see them in Manchester on Friday October 11 at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester and we were not disappointed.
The tour comes after the recent release of their album Prelude to Ecstasy: Acoustics & Covers – a follow on album from their Mercury Prize nominated debut released earlier this year.
Their performance, much like their music, is a passionate romantic production.
Everything from their stage design and their outfits to their pre-show playlist, is an extension of their theatrical performance.
A crescent moon presides over the stage in the backdrop, with two big drapes on either side of the stage displaying images of Cupid – the symbol of the band.
Before they come on stage, baroque-esque instrumental music plays, evoking the feel of a theatre, and as the band enter onto the stage for their encore, they walk one behind the other – marching up and down the stage.
For fans of the band who enjoy their more high energy songs, the show gets off to a relatively slow start.
The band plays songs from their album like Burn Alive and Beautiful Boy, before going into some acoustic numbers like Gjuha, sung in Albanian.
It is about half way through the show when the energy starts to pick up, and the band start doing what they do best as they break into their high energy number Sinner.
It is one of the band’s most popular tracks and features an infectious guitar riff and chorus – the whole crowd came alive singing and moving along to the song.
Shortly after, the band perform a cover of Call Me by Blondie – a song that suits them perfectly and got the whole crowd energised.
Abigail Morris, the groups lead singer, floats around the stage, and the whole band are confident and comfortable in their performance – inviting the audience into their dark romantic fantasy.
The show ends with their biggest song Nothing Matters, which has over 100 million streams online. The explosive hit and is a unifying moment for everyone in the crowd.
The tour has also been raising money for homeless charities and food banks, with Abigail announcing that they have raised £14,000 so far over the tour.
The Last Dinner Party are clear professionals. They are masters of their instruments, they know how to put on a show, and they know how to world build and lean into the image they have created.
However, in taking their album live, the band needs to make sure they build up energy in the show right from the beginning, and that they sustain it throughout the concert.
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