Hype can be a difficult thing for new bands to manage. It’s an essential part of the come up for fresh artists but, in the age of social media, too much can work against them.
Nobody will be more aware of this fact than London-based up-and-comers the Last Dinner Party, who brought their first UK headline tour to Leeds’ Headrow House last Thursday. Features in the NME and the Guardian, support slots with Lana Del Rey and Hozier, and a combined seven million streams across just two singles released in the past year has brought a considerable amount of buzz around the operatic rock quintet.
But that buzz has brought with it a significant amount of scrutiny. Accused of being all sorts by faceless trolls on social media, from nepo babies to industry plants, the Last Dinner Party are the latest in a long line of artists to be victims of a TikTok-based witch hunt for young, female, up-and-coming musicians. But the Brixton-based quintet proved all the haters wrong with a show stopping set in Leeds last week, demonstrating to everyone present that they are entirely deserving of the excitement currently building around them.
From guitar-driven bangers like ‘Sinner’ that demonstrate the band’s signature musical theatre feel through quieter moments such as on ‘Beautiful Boy’, supported by lead singer Abigail Morris’ impressive vocals and the band’s instrumental ability, the Last Dinner Party held the audience in the palm of their hands and displayed impressive range in a relatively short set. The set came to an emphatic conclusion with a rendition of the band’s hit ‘Nothing Matters’.
The Last Dinner Party look like a band who are sure of themselves and of their ability. Their music has a unique and distinctly grandiose feel that stands out when compared to their peers in the British music scene. The band came on stage wearing corsets and ankle length dresses that perfectly fit the baroque-pop image they’ve crafted for themselves. Both musically and in their image, the Last Dinner Party feel polished where young bands often fall short.
A 45-minute set felt far too short for the band, who looked like they could go on for hours; especially impressive considering they have only officially released two songs. With the talent and nous on display in Leeds last week, the only way is up for the Last Dinner Party.
