This is The Last Dinner Party Speaking: Live in Montreal
PHOTOS + DESIGN BY EUGÉNIE DUROCHER
It was to a crowd adorned in bows, long skirts and dresses that The Last Dinner Party performed on Tuesday, April 21. Just over two years before, they stood on this same MTELUS stage, wide-eyed before a sold-out crowd. From their first album Prelude To Ecstasy to their latest, From The Pyre, the five-piece band continually captivates its fans.
Before The Last Dinner Party took the stage, the evening was set in motion by Irish rock band Florence Road, whose sound complemented its headliner’s English rock style.
Following this energetic opening act, The Last Dinner Party’s setlist featured a mix of their biggest hits, deeper cuts and an unreleased, rockier song, “Big Dog” (out May 8). Starting the night with the sophomore album’s opener, “Agnus Dei,” singer Abigail Morris’ stage presence was undeniably captivating, reminiscent of a theatre performance unfolding before our eyes.
Standout moments included keyboardist Aurora Nishevci talking about her mother tongue, Albanian, before performing “Gjuha”. She shared how it reminded her of how proud she is to be a child of immigrants and to reconnect with this language. She also expressed pride in being around people from different cultures and how it’s what makes this country truly spectacular.
“How do I say, I love you?” Morris asked, to which the audience answered with a loud “Je t’aime!” A Quebec flag then made its usual appearance from somewhere in the crowd—a staple of a real Québécois concert. While the singer complimented its design, the flag was draped over Nishevci’s piano. Between guitarist Lizzie Mayland’s and Morris’ emotional French duo in “Rifle”, and the little French speeches here and there, you could clearly feel the connection between The Last Dinner Party and its crowd. It was refreshing to see an international band speak so often to their fans in one night and use the city’s official language.
PHOTOS + DESIGN BY EUGÉNIE DUROCHER
Vocally, every band member delivered powerful performances, effortlessly shifting from the darker “Rifle” to the emotional “I Hold Your Anger” performed by Nishevci. The instrumentalists were equally impressive, particularly Emily Roberts on guitar and even mandolin during “Gjuha”. She captivated us throughout the entire night with her most impressive guitar riffs, leaving the crowd in awe. Unfortunately, bassist Georgia Davies will be absent for the rest of the tour due to an injury, while bass technician Max Lilley is stepping into the whimsy of her ribbon-decorated bass instead.
Before ending the night with their classics, Morris explained that performing each song to different crowds each night truly brings them to life. The energy each night makes these songs the spectators’ own, and the band can experience that very feeling with them. The Last Dinner Party gave their all to a no-phone audience with the single from their first album, “Nothing Matters”, while the crowd rocked the whole venue; it was a freeing experience. They ended the night with their newest single “This Is The Killer Speaking” while Morris gave a dance class to their fans.
The Last Dinner Party are truly multitalented and captivating artists. You can still catch their mesmerizing performance on their From The Pyre Tour until June 2026. Don’t forget to donate to their Ribbons For Provisions project, in partnership with Why Hunger, in exchange for a ribbon.
