RIBBONS, ECSTASY, AND THE PYRE: THE LAST DINNER PARTY LIVE IN DEL MAR
THE SOUND — DEL MAR, CA
Nearing the end of the U.S. leg of their FROM THE PYRE TOUR, The Last Dinner Party showed no signs of running low on fuel when they arrived at The Sound in Del Mar on May 31st.
Before the show even began, attendees were greeted by the band’s “Ribbons for Provisions” booth, where fans were able to purchase commemorative ribbons adorned with the band’s logo in support of hunger relief efforts. Ribbons for Provisions is something so incredibly impressive and creative. Not only does it raise money for a great cause, but it does so by offering fans a low-cost alternative to traditional merchandise. It also proved to be incredibly popular among those in attendance—everywhere I looked, there were ribbons tied around wrists and necks or woven into hair. Pairing perfectly with the unspoken dress code that seems to be in effect at every TLDP show, the ribbons were such a simple yet memorable part of the night.
As someone who has had the honor of seeing the band perform several times now, I’m continuously impressed by The Last Dinner Party’s ability to transform a concert into a theatrical experience. From the draped fabric backdrop and marble arches bookending the stage to the unfiltered joy and undying commitment to drama always displayed onstage, every aspect raises the bar just a little bit more.
The setlist blended material from the band’s debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, with tracks from their sophomore album, From The Pyre. Fan favorites like “The Feminine Urge” and “Sinner” were perfectly woven into the night alongside newer tracks like “Woman Is a Tree” and “The Scythe.” We were also treated earlier this May to the official release of “Big Dog,” a previously unreleased track that the band had been performing live as early as 2023. But of course, a Last Dinner Party set wouldn’t be complete without another treat to dangle above our snouts, and this tour’s unreleased gem is “Knocking at the Sky,” an infectious song intertwining Greek mythology with the severity of sunny Los Angeles. Safe to say, as an L.A. native, I am very impatiently awaiting its release.
At one point, keyboardist Aurora Nishevci performed “Gjuha,” a song written and sung in Albanian that touches on the struggle of not having a deeper understanding of her mother tongue after growing up in England. It’s always an incredibly tense moment during the show, and moments like this—where there’s nothing but pure emotion—are what The Last Dinner Party does best. Whether it’s Nishevci’s performance of “Gjuha” or lead vocalist Abigail Morris and guitarist Lizzie Mayland dramatically crossing the stage toward one another as they sing the French lyrics of “Rifle,” the band excels not only as musicians, but as entertainers.
One of my other favorite moments of the night came during “This Is the Killer Speaking,” one of the encore songs. Morris halted the music to teach us the choreography in a “three-part seminar,” assisted by Nishevci, who, after engaging in amusing banter with Morris, offered the intro back into the song. This moment is second only, perhaps, to “Nothing Matters,” during which everyone was instructed to put away their devices and simply be present. As we all danced to the band’s biggest hit, many fans could feel bassist Georgia Davies’ absence, though the band gave her a shoutout, explaining that she is still unable to join them on the road following a recent spinal injury. Hopefully she’ll be back on her feet and back on the road in no time.
While their show at The Sound had to end eventually, 2026 is far from winding down for The Last Dinner Party. In fact, they recently announced that they will be joining Olivia Rodrigo’s upcoming tour, opening for numerous dates in Los Angeles and Brooklyn. After wrapping up the FROM THE PYRE TOUR in mid-June, they have several festival dates to look forward to, along with additional shows scheduled through the beginning of 2027.
