LIVE REVIEW: The Last Dinner Party @ Aviva Studios

Over the last two years The Last Dinner Party have sky rocketed from exciting newcomers to one of the most acclaimed bands in the UK. Having broken through with the hit ‘Nothing Matters’ which blew up online, they quickly proved that they’re far more than a one hit wonder. Their debut album ‘Prelude To Ecstasy’ was one of the standout albums of 2024, filled with a shimmering expressionist singles, giving graceful Baroque Pop ballads a maximalist twist to wonderful effect. 

Now, they have returned with their sophomore album ‘From The Pyre’ And we were lucky enough to get down to see the new album in action in a huge Manchester show at Aviva Studios this week.

Photo Credit: Paul Lang // @paullangphotographer

Despite only having two albums worth of material to their name, The Last Dinner Party still managed to make the set for like a musical odyssey. Every member of the band commanded the stage with an elegant yet forceful presence, mustering all the grandeur and maximalism that their music demands.

The new record feels more raw and gritty than their debut, filled with some pretty angsty instrumentals at times, and this came through in the performance. They maintained their graceful precession that they had when we last saw them but they seemed to have gained a bitter punch too. The finale of ‘This Is The Killer Speaking’ arrived with full force as both the vocals and instrumentals were pushed to new heights, finishing with a soaring crescendo. 

‘Rifle’ however, is perhaps the best example of their sonic development. It contains all the hallmarks of their debut but more extreme. The low moments are angelic and cinematic, while the bigger moments are truly anthemic. This back and forth between the soft and heavy, combined with the clever instrumental flows were reminiscent of Wolf Alice and was our highlight of the night. The thick riff especially had pure Wolf Alice tones and gave the track a powerful underbelly that Abigail Morris could play off beautifully. 

Their artistic flair was visible throughout too. The new record continues their love for creating the musical equivalent of classic literature read through a modern gaze. Not only their stunning outfits and the stylised stage backdrop, but also the manner of their performance made it feel like a modern rock act had stepped back in time to perform at an ancient Greek symposium. 

Photo Credit: Paul Lang // @paullangphotographer

What makes their live shows so engrossing is the unified nature of the band. Although Abigail leads the band with a forceful charge, she acts like a shimmering Trojan horse, allowing the rest of the band to all come together as one and pour out their collective hearts as they burn down the walls of the venue around you. 

A sensationally captivating performance that has got us thinking ‘From The Pyre’ could be an album of the year contender!