> The Last Dinner Party – O2 Academy, Glasgow – 10th of October 2024 (live review) - SNACK: Music, film, arts and culture magazine for Scotland

The Last Dinner Party – O2 Academy, Glasgow – 10th of October 2024 (live review)

Five women wearing vintage clothes stand in a line. Three of them stare down the lens whilst the other two look into the distance.

From the release of their debut album Prelude To Ecstasy this past February (which entered the UK album charts at number one), there has been little to no rest for The Last Dinner Party. Album launch in-stores were followed by a jam-packed festival season, which included appearances at TRNSMT and Glastonbury, amongst many others. I was lucky enough to see both of those aforementioned performances, to which the six-piece gave every last grain of enthusiasm and energy, engaging with their audience between each song and giving us verbose introductions to new unreleased tracks. 

Record speed

Tonight’s performance was the band’s second in Glasgow’s O2 Academy this month (the first taking place a few weeks ago), and whether it was due to diminishing novelty or sheer exhaustion, a certain presence and spontaneity was lacking in comparison to those earlier shows, replaced with a more automated efficiency. Crowd work was ripped out and the setlist was run through at record speed, packing in most of the record plus some extras in just over an hour.

Corsets and puffed sleeves worthy of a dinner party

That being said, as has been the case every time I’ve seen this band, the musical execution tonight was flawless. Guitars were shredded, tempo changes were handled with precision and ease and group harmonies tingled spines up and down the tiered theatre. A more intricate stage backdrop and a live classical pre-show playlist added a signature TLDP atmosphere that mirrored the many fan-worn corsets, puffed sleeves and flowing skirts bobbing around the venue. 

Masters of dramatics

Opening with the album’s introductory string instrumental leading into the song ‘Burn Alive’, TLDP prove they are masters of dramatics, withholding frontwoman Abigail’s entrance until just before the first verse kicks in. A manually operated spotlight illuminated her as if she was about to deliver a Shakespearean soliloquy before bursting into coloured strobes that changed hues multiple times throughout the show. 

A change of melody and pace

A few new songs, including ‘Second Best’, ‘The Killer’ and an Albanian song written and sung by keys player Aurora Nishevci, fill gaps between the rest of Prelude To Ecstasy and seem to spark a new excitement in the band.  Perhaps the end of this album cycle is firmly on the horizon now and a change of melody and pace is much needed. A brilliant cover of Chris Issak’s ‘Wicked Game’ remains firmly in the setlist and sounded particularly sultry under the O2 Academy’s ceiling features and proscenium arches, while ‘Sinner’ and ‘Lady of Mercy’ brought the energy levels back up.

Tonight’s encore, complete with group choreography, fittingly ends with the climactic lead single ‘Nothing Matters’, the song that shot them onto this ridiculous success-headed rocketship. As The Last Dinner Party continues to navigate the trials and tribulations of increased demand and fame, their energy levels may be running low but their talent and professionalism certainly aren’t. 

Reviewed at O2 Academy Glasgow on Thursday 10th October.

Featured Photo Credit: Cal McIntyre

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