The Last Dinner Party, an all-female band based in the UK, came to Pittsburgh for the first time and delivered a great concert Wednesday night at Stage AE.
The band mentioned that it was the debut in the city multiple times throughout the show, playing with the audience and calling them “Pittsburgians” and then later “Yinzers” after getting booed by fans.
The Last Dinner Party did a great job connecting with the crowd. Between the songs, the lead singer, Abigail Morris, told a story of how she had an obsession with Andy Warhol interviews and kept an image of him in her wallet.
During the encore, they paused a song in the middle and hosted a “dance class” for one of their newer songs, “This is the Killer Speaking,” engaging the crowd and keeping the energy going.
The setlist was great, mixing their most recent album, From the Pyre, with their first and only other album, Prelude to Ecstasy. The songs “Count The Ways,” “My Lady of Mercy,” and “On Your Side” stood out.
The band’s most popular song, “Nothing Matters,” was by far the most energetic and fun. Lots of people in the crowd were singing along, and it was clear that the artists themselves enjoyed what they were doing.
The vocals were great throughout the show, but they were especially fantastic in songs where singer and guitarist Lizzie Mayland was more heavily featured. Mayland has incredible talent, and this concert was a great way to show it. Each member of the band was able to show off their skills when they came together to harmonize.
The set and lighting built an atmosphere that perfectly mixed with the band’s aesthetic. Large arches covered the back of the stage, decked with marble, vines, and opaque curtains. A chandelier made of bird silhouettes hung center stage.
When the lights dimmed, it became clear how well the set pieces would work. The minimal lighting across the stage made it look like a graveyard, with the bird chandelier casting shadows along the walls that brought the stage to life.
Morris was hardly ever standing in one place, constantly dancing around the stage and interacting with fans in the front. Even when she was stationary, she was moving her arms along with the music.
Morris is a natural dancer, matching the vibes of each song perfectly with her movement.
Overall, The Last Dinner Party’s passion for music is shown through every second of their performance. Hopefully, they continue to grow and expand their music so that they can reach more audiences in the United States in the future.
