I really hate the term 'girl power'. I really do. It's not the sentiment that bothers me, I want womankind everywhere to be empowered in sisterhood, but in terms of words in the feminist lexicon, 'girl power' has been so hijacked by corporate jargon that it's really only one step down from 'girl boss' in my eyes.But looking at The Workman's Club stage, there's something very girl power about seeing a group of 20 something year old women sashaying and stomping around like glam rock stars.

Queue The Last Dinner Party, an all female rock group ensemble (yes, I wish that wasn't noteworthy in of itself), who prance around on stage in flowing blouses, tight corsets and billowing skirts, evoking the look of the new romantic poets. They are perhaps the hottest band on the scene right now, having not released their debut album yet, but have already opened for the likes of Hozier, CMAT and Florence + the Machine, and The Rolling Stones. They've already bagged a Brit Rising Star Award, toured the UK and the US and their debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, is set for a a February 2024 release.  It would be an understatement to say everyone is excited about what this group is going to do next.

However, playing such big gigs and reaching such meteoric highs so early in your career does have its drawbacks, as sometimes you forget the simple pleasure of a small, and very keen crowd.

The Last Dinner Party at Workmans Club. Tuesday 19th of December 2023. Copyright Gary Ibbotson.

When The Last Dinner Party played 'On Your Side'-their most recent single released in October of this year, the Dublin crowd sang along- and in response lead singer Abigail Morris began sobbing so heavily that she physically could not finish singing. It simply was not the response they have gotten from the crowds for Florence or Hozier, but a response so entirely reserved for The Last Dinner Party.

Morris' emotional rollercoaster of a night did not stop her from taking the stage with complete gumption and charisma, with call and response questions like "has anyone here taken a few eccys?" and "Does anyone here have religious trauma?" (basically a pre-requisite of being Irish) and my personal favourite, when someone handed her a can of Guinness, Morris cried "We must decant it!".

The Last Dinner Party At Workman's Club December 19th 2023, Photo: Gary Ibbotson

The band most definitely have an Evelyn Waugh-esque sense of death, religion, sex and privilege; which Dubliners tapped into. These motifs in their songs were transparent in the likes of tracks like 'Sinner' and 'Lady of Mercy', which marked standout performances- especially from lead guitarist Emily Roberts. It was the kind of guitar playing that could be described as face-meltingly good.

There was also a healthy dose of crowd interaction, with the performers flinging themselves into the audience for reckless crowd surfring in doc marten boots and draped dresses, and a dance floor boogie.

The final track of the night, (which was not followed by any encore), was their breakout hit, the gothic 'Nothing Matters', although it was performed on the strict understanding that the crowd "would go absolutely feral". Indeed, the Workman's audience held up their end of the bargain, and their moshing, stomping and crowd surfing matched the high drama intensity of the band's hit.

With a delighted smirk Morris screamed "I'd kiss you all if I could get your consent but I am not Matty Healy!" which was met with laughter and shrieking, "Dublin you have been sensational. I'm never going to forget this show ever!" and indeed, maybe there is something to be said for that- they've supported so many big names on big stages that it must be refreshing to perform for the small crowd who know all your songs, and go absolutely feral when needed.

The Last Dinner Party At Workman's Club December 19th 2023, Photo: Gary Ibbotson