The Last Dinner Party played a sold-out show on March 22 in Dallas, their third stop on their first North American tour for their debut album Prelude to Ecstasy, which premiered last month. The debut was received quite well, debuting at number 1 in the UK charts for the release week. The band has been recognized for their effort—in 2024 alone, they received both the Rising Star BRIT award as well as the more recent BBC’s Sound of 2024 Award.
Arriving at the sold-out venue, there was a line wrapped around the side of the building with friendly attendees, some dressed in theme with the band’s signature look, a modern, edgy take on 17th century style. The flowy skirts of people’s dresses poked out in the check in line, with corsets and ornate updo styles, often paired with bold accessories. One young gentleman wore a cape and a golden vine crown, dressed as Caesar in tribute to the band’s hit single, “Caesar on a TV Screen.”
Inside the venue was already packed, making it hard to believe the line outside still wound around the building. Making my way through the crowd, I noticed the diversity in the crowd, with people of all ages. They all waited anxiously as the crew switched the stage over from the opener.
As The Last Dinner Party took the stage, the crowd went wild, and you could feel the energy from even the corners of the packed venue. You could feel they had embraced the Texan way, with lead singer Abigail Morris wearing a baseball hat that aptly said “Cowboy Hat.” Guitarist Lizzie Mayland wore a star-studded cowboy hat, and bass player Georgia Davies wore a Buc-ee’s T-Shirt, commemorating a trip they took earlier that day on their way up from Austin. Members Aurora Neshevci and Emily Roberts both were dressed in the band’s usual style, Neshevci in a flowing lavender dress, and Roberts in a white corset and skirt with white lace tights. I felt their respective outfits, while not matching, coordinated so well and had the unique ability to show off their personal style, fit their stage presence, and still share a common tone. I find that this theme was seen throughout the show.
Morris went on to announce the band members early in the show, sandwiched between the first and second song. While the band has only been together for 4 years, meeting in university while they completed their degrees, it felt as though they had been playing together for much longer, which could be seen by how they interacted with one another as well as with the crowd. While they played through their set, it was hard to look elsewhere; their stage presence was magnetic as they worked from song to song, and they interacted with the crowd often, sharing charming anecdotes with the crowd. For a few songs, Morris went to the barrier and went up and down along the crowd, reaching out to fans while singing. During the show, Roberts switched from guitar, to flute, to mandolin, adding a new twist to their unique sound with each addition.
Between songs, Morris and the band lamented about Texan line dancing, and how the previous night in Austin, they’d spent the night in a Western bar hoping to learn to line dance. When a gentleman approached them and they danced, they learned he was also from England, in Aylesbury. They joked about finding the only English person in Texas. While speaking about enjoying their time in Texas, Morris told the crowd they feel Texan already. Hallmarks from their morning in Dallas included going to Buc-ee’s, horseback riding, and getting cowboy hats.
One particular thing that stood out to me during the show was something said by Morris: “You never think, ‘I’m going to write this record about my horrible ex-boyfriend, and someone in Texas will relate to it.’” I think that sentiment perfectly summed up why we were all there that night—every one of us in that sold out venue related to tracks on that album. I love music because it has the ability to bring that many people of different walks of life together.
During the show, it felt as if every song amplified the crowd’s excitement, and the synchronicity between the band members transferred to the crowd—everyone was on the same page. The shift from fast songs to slow songs, and back to fast songs but despite the shift the energy increased with every track.
After the show, I was able to talk to lead singer Abigail Morris and bassist Emily Roberts. When discussing their unique sound, Morris said that not every song has the same sound and that they’re not trying to make their songs fit a specific sound, but that every song has its own specific feel to it. When discussing their sound and the two unreleased songs played that night, Roberts told us that they’re trying new things and will probably make a metal album one day. They mentioned that they are definitely planning on coming back to Texas, and I wholeheartedly recommend going to see them the second time around
Speaking with them about school, music, and joking about Buc-ee’s, it’s easy to see why they became so successful. They have a strong, unique stage presence that captivated the audience, and a uniquely authentic sound—plus a truly undefinable personality. Personally, speaking with them was easy in a way that felt like speaking to old college friends. They spoke so highly of each other, and their passion for their music was obvious. I can see that they have tremendous ability and will go very far. I want to end this by sharing with you what Morris said before their final song “We will be back. I promise. In the meantime, look after each other, get back safe, and remember—‘Nothing Matters.’”
