THE LAST DINNER PARTY // LIVEHOUSE, DUNDEE
The Last Dinner Party brought their second album to Dundee’s brand new LIVEHOUSE, which formed a perfect crucible for “From The Pyre”
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
There’s something rather fitting about The Last Dinner Party christening Dundee’s LIVEHOUSE with their unique brand of theatrical indie rock. The new venue, still finding its feet in Scotland’s sunshine city, proved an intimate setting for a band whose ambitions stretch far beyond the confines of any room they’ve played.
They were in Dundee as part of their record store tour to launch their second album, “From The Pyre”.
The young crowd was buzzing with excitement, and from the moment they launched into “Agnus Dei”, it was clear this was going to be an exciting night. Frontwoman Abigail Morris commanded the stage with an almost operatic presence, her voice soaring through the venue’s surprisingly decent acoustics. There’s a confidence to this band that feels earned rather than affected. They’ve done their time on the circuit, and it shows.
“Count the Ways” and “Second Best” followed in quick succession, demonstrating the group’s knack for marrying their musical sensibilities with proper rock muscle. The latter, in particular, benefited from the circular auditorium of LIVEHOUSE, its climactic moments hitting with genuine impact. This is a band that loves drama, and in this live setting, that theatrical impulse pulled the audience in and drove the tunes forward.
“Rifle” saw the energy shift up a gear, the crowd finally shaking off any initial reserve. There’s always been something slightly dangerous lurking beneath The Last Dinner Party’s ornate surface, and here it emerged fully formed. The interplay between Aurora Nishevci and Emily Roberts, driven by touring drummer Casper Miles, created a tension that had the sold-out room properly moving.
The middle section of the set, “Woman is a Tree”, “I Hold Your Anger”, and “The Scythe” – showcased the band’s range. There’s a genuine artistry and musicality at work here, even if it can occasionally feel a bit pretentious. But better that than boring, frankly, and boring is the one thing The Last Dinner Party absolutely are not.
“Sail Away” provided a moment of respite. A 50s-style ballad with Abigail and Aurora was the focus of a darkened stage, which held the crowd in silent admiration. “Inferno” reignited proceedings. It’s this song that best showcases what makes them compelling. It was equal parts Kate Bush theatricality and Siouxsie Siouxindie grit. Morris prowled the stage like she was performing at the Palladium rather than a 600-capacity venue in Dundee, and fair play to her for committing so fully for what was a record launch gig.
Closer “This Is the Killer Speaking” sent the crowd home buzzing, its dark narrative arc delivered with suitable menace. The band called for the crowd to join in with their dance moves, and the room went wild. The standing ovation was well-deserved. The Last Dinner Party had run through the entire “From The Pyre” album.
The band aren’t reinventing the wheel. You can spot the influences if you squint. Early Roxy Music, The Stranglers, and even a hint of Suede, but they’re doing something genuinely interesting with familiar ingredients. In LIVEHOUSE, they’ve found a venue that matches their scale perfectly, big enough to feel like an event, small enough to retain intimacy.
Scotland’s indie scene has always had room for the ambitious and the slightly odd. On this showing, The Last Dinner Party fit right in.
REVIEW BY: GRAEME WHITE