The Last Dinner Party at Rough Trade East: Review and setlist - 'World domination beckons'

Even before BBC Radio 1 named The Last Dinner Party the Sound of 2024, this was always going to be their year. 

On Friday debut album Prelude To Ecstasy finally dropped, following up a clutch of singles on heavy rotation. To celebrate, the band, which formed in London, took over Rough Trade East for two gigs and signings.

The fans who had managed to get tickets for the midday show are already more than familiar with the songs from a couple of years of gigs and 24 hours with the record on streaming. 

As a venue, Rough Trade is unique and London acts who play there are always overjoyed to see their record next to those of their heroes - including The Last Dinner Party, whose vinyl sits next to that of The Smile. 

While it will be rare that they play a stage this size again in the years to come, with arenas surely beckoning, singer Abigail Morris makes the most of the space there is, up close with the fans who are singing almost every word.

The setlist is based closely on the album, with a recorded, orchestral Prelude to Ecstasy leading into Burn Alive to open the show. 

While it will be the melodies and performance that make the band stars, the deft lyrics could help sustain them as such. 

Take the power-structure-challenging pop of Caesar on a TV Screen: “When I was a child, I never felt like a child, I felt like an emperor with a city to burn. I got down on my knees, begged the men in the trees to give me an answer. Je ne veux pas penser.”

After The Feminine Urge comes my favourite from the album, On Your Side, with a twinkle of Kate Bush Piano leading into a touching, toxic ballad (“When it's 4am and your heart is breaking I will hold your hands to stop them from shaking”). 

After the powerful Albanian-language song Gjuha, sung by keyboardist Aurora Nischevi, comes the radio-friendly indie banger celebration of Sinner. 

Mirror follows and then the band’s biggest tune so far, Nothing Matters, made for a jubilant singalong - the non-radio-friendly edit, obviously. 

The Last Dinner Party have an intense year of touring the world ahead, but these Caesars are ready.

The Last Dinner Party setlist

This was The Last Dinner Party’s setlist at Rough Trade East at 1pm on Saturday February 3. 

1. Burn Alive
2. Caesar on a TV Screen
3. The Feminine Urge
4. On Your Side
5. Gjuha 
6. Sinner
7. Mirror
8. Nothing Matters

The Last Dinner Party tour tickets

The Last Dinner Party head out on an international tour this month, taking in Europe and the US.

Festival dates seem likely in the summer but they have a UK tour booked for the autumn, including in London at the Eventim Apollo on October 16.

Go to the band's official website for details and tickets.