It’s only mid-April, but The Last Dinner Party may have already delivered the show of the summer. Fans packed into Philadelphia’s Franklin Music Hall on an unseasonably warm evening—so warm, in fact, that the performance was paused multiple times in order to ensure that overheated concertgoers received care (think of it as Coachella East, but indoors). The band handled each interruption with patience and genuine concern, making sure everyone in the crowd was safe before continuing.
The night marked the group’s first Philly stop in three years. They’re currently touring in support of their second album, From the Pyre, leading to a major step-up from their last visit to the much smaller Johnny Brenda’s. One of the most compelling frontwomen working right now, Abigail Morris thanked returning fans for “bringing backup.” On stage, she’s magnetic, bursting with charisma and theatrical flair; whether she’s strutting around, dancing with her bandmates, or jumping down to the barricade to connect with fans, she performs with a sense of joy that’s contagious. Her grin rarely left her face, and her between-song banter was as entertaining as the set itself.
The band is currently without bassist and co-founding member Georgia Davies, who was recently hospitalized with a back injury sustained on tour (filling in was Max Lilley). While Morris took a moment to update the crowd on Davies’ condition, she was interrupted by a fan presenting a card signed by a large portion of the audience, a touching moment that underscored LDP’s devoted fan base and their communal energy.
“This is our first show back after a week off and this is such a great crowd to return to,” Morris shared, inciting a deafening roar from the notoriously tough Philly crowd. People began shouting, and uncertain whether it was a request, praise, or a classic bit of Philadelphian heckling, Morris finally repeated back the message—“Go Birds”—once she caught on. “Is there a game tonight?” she asked, clearly unfamiliar with the NFL’s schedule, drawing laughter from the crowd. “Well, I hope they win the next one they play.”
While Morris is the undeniable focal point, the rest of the band proved equally dynamic. Vocal duties were shared throughout the night, with keyboardist Aurora Nishevci delivering a standout moment while introducing “I Hold Your Anger,” speaking proudly about her Albanian heritage and the immigrant experience. Emily Roberts rotated between guitar, mandolin, and flute, while Lizzie Mayland also stepped into the spotlight on vocals. By the end of the set, nearly every member had swapped instruments, taken a turn at lead, and contributed to the band’s carefree chaos.
Irish rockers Florence Road kicked off the evening with a similarly raucous set, quickly winning over the crowd. While their sound overlaps with The Last Dinner Party’s theatrical indie rock, they lean heavier into soaring solos, crunching guitars, and a sense of scale that was surprising from this incredibly young-looking band. They might be someone to watch in the near future.
Check out more shots from both sets below.
THE LAST DINNER PARTY
FLORENCE ROAD
