You Are Cordially Invited to The Last Dinner Party
- Madison Cozzens
- 16 hours ago
- 7 min read
The Last Dinner Party brings their “From the Pyre Tour” to Cleveland with a joyful and unforgettable performance.
Article and Photography contributed by Madison Cozzens.
It was a cold Monday night in Cleveland, but that didn’t stop fans from turning out for The Last Dinner Party. The Agora Theater was packed to the brim with people ready for a magical and joyful evening. The venue looked like a Renaissance fair filled with lace, long skirts, corsets, and flowing sleeves. The stage design matched the Renaissance aura with large arches, a bell tower, and flowing curtains. The mood was set, the crowd was excited, and it was time for the show to begin.
Take the Florence Road
The Irish rock band Florence Road took the stage at 8 pm. The group was the perfect opener for the show, matching the rock themes that continued through the evening. The group consists of lead singer and guitarist Lily Aron, guitarist Emma Brandon, bassist Ailbhe Barry, and drummer Hannah Kelly. Their sound is grounded and grungey, ranging anywhere from a 90’s alternative rock feel to Olivia Rodrigo and Paramore. Their second song of the night Miss made the Agora feel more like an intense rock show, with a deep bass line and beat drops. The crowd was connecting to the thoughtful lyrics and headbanging to Brandon’s riffs. The group has a large presence on social media and has opened for headliners Olivia Rodrigo and Sombr. The group already has a strong fanbase that will only continue to grow after their opening run on the “From the Pyre Tour”.
It’s Time for Dinner
The show kicked off with Agnes Dei, the opening track off of “From the Pyre”. The opening instrumental section of the song played as lead singer Abigail Morris sauntered onto the stage. One of the lyrics from the song stuck out that evening, ”Twas on the banks, the Ohio”. Fans were excited about the shoutout to their home state and screamed it alongside Morris. The energy and passion from the crowd continued all night, whether feeding off Abigail’s energy or soaking in every slow moment on stage. The Last Dinner Party has a sound all their own that blends breathtaking harmonies with orchestral instrumentals, theatrical elements, sweeping melodies, and poetic lyrics. Their songs explore the human experience through a theatrical lens that blends violence, passion, light, darkness, and love perfectly. The Last Dinner Party is the epitome of what live music is all about. The band elevates their own material through stage presence and energy, but Morris was quick to give the fans their flowers as well. The lead singer stated that every time they play in a new city, the fans make it a new experience. It gives the songs a new life and a new meaning to not only the fans but the band, and was highlighted during their performance of The Scythe. Before the song began, Abigail told the fans that this song was missing something in the studio, that it was made to be performed live with the audience. The song explores dealing with loss and death and despite the somber topics, it truly did come alive in the Agora. The chorus is filled with hope and love, bringing everyone in that theater together, even if only for that night.
The Last Dinner Party consists of Abigail Morris (vocals), Lizzie Mayland (vocals, guitar), Emily Roberts (lead guitar, mandolin, flute, backing vocals), Georgia Davies (bass), and Aurora Nishevci (keyboards, vocals). Unfortunately, Georgia suffered a back injury that required surgery and was not able to join the band on the tour. Soundcheck is wishing her a quick and easy recovery! The British group came together in 2018 but didn’t release their first debut single “Nothing Matters” until 2023. When the song was released in the US, it reached the top 10 on the Billboard Adult Alternative Airplay in September. The song celebrates the unashamed passion and desire of loving another person; it fills you with a joy that makes you want to run through a field or cruise with the windows down. It also showcases the band's openness in expressing their power, sexuality, and femininity, which can be seen across their discography. Morris stated it best when discussing the non-explicit versions released on TV and radio: "There's no good word to fit in there ... because there's something so powerful about a woman saying 'I will fuck you', about being active rather than passive in sex. I didn't really think about how confident and secure that sounds as a sexual person. So it’s really interesting to think about that line in retrospect. It’s important to hear women in that position.”
Definitely Not Second Best
Every member of The Last Dinner Party got a chance to shine on Monday night. Mayland acts as the main vocalist during Rifle, the fifth song off the album. The intense build up and group chorus contrasted against the haunting solo vocals from Mayland make for a James Bond-esque experience. The song is an expression of Mayland’s anger regarding war and death. The crowd took that energy and ran with it, headbanging to the powerful bass line. Pianist Aurora Nishevci is a featured vocalist in two songs, I Hold Your Anger and Gjuha. The latter is off the band’s first album, “Prelude to Ecstasy," and is sung in Nishevci’s mother tongue, Albanian. She stated the song is about being ashamed about not knowing Albanian very well, and still being proud of her heritage and immigrant family. The song had the venue silent as the mandolin paired with Nishevci’s vocals transported the crowd. While Roberts does get plenty of solo guitar riff moments, her unique voice is highlighted in I Hold your Anger. She gets a solo moment in the chorus, a high-pitched hum that could be mistaken for Kate Bush. The whole band gets to shine during Woman is a Tree, they quietly formed a circle and began to sing. The dissonant yet harmonious vocalizations make for an eerie and beautiful entrance to the witchy song. The crowd was silent yet again, mesmerized by the ethereal sounds coming from the stage.
Their 2025 album “From the Pyre” is one of those records that needs to be listened to in its entirety, being a journey through hardships, loves, death, and life itself. The band states that the album itself is a collection of stories that weave together modern topics, myth, religion, kings and queens, and other imagery to create a new experience. The band’s styling is a perfect reflection of these themes, and fans are always excited to see what the band will be wearing for their show. They are often styled in a range of items from punk platform boots to frilly dresses, chainmail, ruffled garments, suits, and corsets. Their unique look meshes wholly with their music, making The Last Dinner Party the whole package.
Your Final Course
Towards the end of the show, The Last Dinner Party played a new song and teased a third record. “The cool thing about being in a rock and roll band is…. You can make one album…. and you can make a second album,” Someone in the audience then screams “Make a third!!”, Morris responded, “right you are, my friend”, and a sea of applause followed. Fans are eager for more music and were already loving the new song, singing along by the second chorus. At the end of the show, the group came out for their encore with the song This is the Killer Speaking, the first single off the album. Morris, Mayland, and Roberts stepped out in line, marching to the slowly drawn beat. The beginning of the song feels like an atmospheric western, ready to draw guns in a duel. The song then bursts into the chorus with such a fun vibe that the crowd couldn’t help but jump. Abigail brought the show to a halt to teach everyone the dance to the song, which consists of running in place and moving your arms up and down to the beat. The end result was one of the most joyful experiences, where everyone in the venue was releasing their worries and having fun. The evening came full circle with a reprise of the opening song, Agnes Dei. It felt like watching the end of a theatrical performance, a bombastic finisher for an energetic show. It was the perfect way to a show with such a character and story driven energy.
The Last Dinner Party is using this North American tour to help fundraise for WhyHunger with Ribbons for Provisions. Fans can donate online (just keep your receipt) or at the show to get a The Last Dinner Party ribbon. Fans get a unique keepsake or accessory while helping to make a difference in their state. The band has been partnering with food banks since their first tour and will continue the current partnership until their US tour ends in June. With the playing of the unreleased song and the teasing of new music, we will patiently await the single to drop. Cleveland was left with an experience they will not forget, and The Last Dinner Party will most definitely be welcomed back to Ohio with open arms.
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