6th November 2023
Listen
Listen
When tickets for The Last Dinner Party’s UK and Eire Tour went on sale, I didn’t want to tempt fate. I had an offer from The University of Liverpool, but not the grades. I feared purchasing a ticket to see them at Mountford Hall might put a hex on my A-Level results. So, reluctantly, I watched as tickets sold out.
Fast-forward to October, and The Last Dinner Party became my first solo concert. I was grateful to be in a familiar venue with a respectful and diverse crowd, who helped to quell my nerves. As ever, the Guild staff and security were effective and ensured the event ran without any noticeable problems. After the security at The Shed in Lincoln made headlines earlier in the tour, I was glad to see no such issues arose in Liverpool.
Both support acts did a good job at wetting the audience’s appetite and setting the scene. The first act, Kaeto, started promptly after doors and brought a calming but innovative trip-hop sound to Mountford Hall. The Scottish Singer-Song writer performed songs from her debut album ‘INTRO’ which came out in September. Indie and electronic sounds fused to make a great opener, albeit a brief performance.
Another upcoming Scottish talent are band Lucia & The Best Boys. They were the evening’s second support. The Indie-Rock quartet are led by singer Lucia Fairfull, who brought an incredible presence to the stage. Her strong vocals and enigmatic performance anchored the band through a setlist from their debut album ‘Burning Castles’ and EPs. The energy in the crowd was palpable, and there was a definite sense we were watching a band on the up.
Seeing The Last Dinner Party myself confirmed that their ascendency over the last year has been thoroughly deserved. The band was recommended to me last year, and I immediately became infatuated with their sound and style. It came as little surprise to me when they were announced as BBC Music’s Sound of 2024 and won the BRIT Rising Star award. With a successful season of Festivals and Tour of Australia under their belt, I was excited to discover what the UK and Eire Tour had to offer.
My last two concerts, Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Dreamworld’ and Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ have been by acts with behemoth back catalogues. It felt slightly unusual to see a band without a large discography to build a setlist from. However, the sheer force of ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’, the band’s Mercury-nominated debut, formed a strong setlist. Some unreleased tracks like ‘Big Dog’ and a cover of Catherine Howe’s ‘Up North’ helped to flesh it out. Hearing the album live confirmed its brilliance, with no weak link to be found. My only disappointment was the exclusion of ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us’. I have had their cover of Sparks 1974 classic on heavy rotation since its release.
One of the most striking aspects of the concert was its raw emotion. The magnetic pull of lead singer Abigail Morris is undeniable. Her stage presence and persona have a wisdom and authority which typically takes years of experience to craft. The rest of the band provides an anchor to Morris’s energy, resulting in a cohesive and emotional performance. Standout moments for me included the haunting ‘Gjuha’, and the enchanting harmonies of ‘Beautiful Boy’. The Last Dinner Party transformed Mountford Hall from ‘some kind of school gymnasium’, according to Morris, to a sensational palace of sound.
I was very impressed by the band’s ‘Ribbons for Provisions’ initiative, which ran for the duration of the tour. They partnered with Bankuet, a charity that takes monetary donations to purchase food for food banks, depending on their individual demands. This helps to prevent waste and divert resources where they are most needed. Anyone who made a donation at the gigs received a ribbon, and the crowd in Liverpool got behind them in force. By the end of the tour, fans raised £29,069. The band matched this, meaning a total of £58,138 was donated. This is the equivalent of 24,531 kg of food.
Such a successful initiative from a relatively small tour leads me to wonder how much impact gig-goers could make. As Taylor Swift winds up her Eras Tour, which has grossed well over $1 Billion and broken numerous attendance records, I’m tempted to speculate just how much money could have been raised if a similar model had been adopted. Swift herself has made a habit of donating to local food banks in the cities where she plays, but we should never underestimate the power of fans. The price of attending concerts may be soaring, but The Last Dinner Party have shown how gig-goers can come together to make a huge difference while donating what they can. I am happy to see the band using their platform to help such a good cause and hope more acts can follow suit.
The Last Dinner Party at Mountford Hall was a delight. The excellent venue organisation and hugely talented support created the ideal environment for The Last Dinner Party to thrive in. The band has an exciting energy. With their impeccable music alongside their desire to use their new platform for good, the future looks bright for them.
For More Music click here
To follow all things Student Media click here
All images belong to Ellie Patamia.
