Coming from the Isle of Wight, indie duo Wet Leg have been taking the world by storm recently. Forming only in 2019, with founding members Rhian Teasdale (vocals), and Hester Chambers (guitar); the band quickly achieved 35 million streams, just on their debut single ‘Chaise Longue’.
Completing the band now are Henry Holmes on drums, Joshua Omead Mobaraki on guitar, and Ellis Durand on bass.
Having only one album out, the Mercury Prize nominated ‘Wet Leg’, a self-titled album released in 2022, I was originally apprehensive to see the demonstration of the variety in their set. However, the set was exciting and versatile. The songs from the album were mixed up into an eclectic formation that perfectly carried the gig. The inevitable crowd favourites were placed appropriately and strategically, making this short, sweet set one to remember.
Supporting Wet Leg on this tour are four-piece London band, Malady. Although I had done some research into the band prior to the event, I deliberately didn’t listen to any of their music before, in order to fully immerse myself in the live music before me. As a result, I had no preconceptions about the band. From my research preceding the gig, I saw descriptive terms being thrown around the internet, describing Malady as ‘dubstep’, ‘electronica’, and ‘techno’. These terms informed my relative expectations to a certain degree; however, I was still pleasantly surprised by what I heard.
Malady’s set-up can be likened to that of a classic rock band, but with a twist. With the four members together playing 2 guitars, a drumkit and a bass, it would initially appear that they are a classic indie/rock band. However, the bassist also using a synth was what gave this band their electro, alienesque ambience.
Malady is a band like no other, sounding completely, entirely and authentically themselves throughout the entire set. They weren’t trying to be something they weren’t, nor were their influences so blatant that their originality was lost. It is safe to say that my lack of knowledge about this band before the gig in no way prevented me from leaving a huge fan of their art.
Wet Leg opened with ‘Being in Love’, quickly followed by ‘Wet Dream’, which triggered the audience’s instantaneous singing and dancing to be enacted. Their short, snappy songs kept the crowd engaged throughout, with ‘Supermarket’ also playing a great role in the show’s ambience. This was especially evident by the crowd’s response; I couldn’t see one person standing still when this tune was playing!
Although this wasn’t necessarily a ‘moshy’ gig, I felt that the unexpected psych-rock nature of the gig could have catered to this nicely, so for me, there was definitely wasted potential for pits. Nonetheless, the audience was continually engaged: singing, dancing and applauding throughout.
One of my personal favourites from the gig was ‘I Don’t Wanna Go Out’, within which the percussive and energetic drums enticed the entire room of people, whilst still giving way to and complementing the guitar and vocals perfectly.
‘Ur Mum’ was also a resounding success. The crowd’s energy levels built and built within the song until the screaming section was reached. Everyone in the room appeared to join in, as a huge wave of catharsis washed over us all.
Lastly, of course, was ‘Chaise Longue’, their multi-million-stream hit; which both the band and crowd ensured was sensational. Lead vocalist Rhian Teasdale portrayed a sense of coyness and naivety when singing this track, which contrasted greatly with the humour presented in the song, creating an extreme juxtaposition that held the song together tremendously.
If I were to describe how the band appear live, it would be along the lines of the short and snappy rock songs of the Ramones, with the spacey, psych-rock sound of Goat Girl.
The entire set was varied, energetic, passionate and fun; thanks to both the band and the crowd’s warm response. As with all good gigs, the interaction between the audience and the band was mutual throughout; the band loved the crowd and the crowd loved the band.
So, with Wet Leg now about halfway through their UK tour, head on down to your local remaining show, to catch this act at their very best, in live performance.
‘a huge wave of catharsis washed over us all’
Highlights: Wet Dream, I Don’t Wanna Go Out, Chaise Longue
‘Wet Leg’ is out from 8th April 2022 and can be purchased here.
For more on Wet leg, visit their Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Featured image by Julie Lister.
