Overnight success is almost always a misnomer in the music industry, but Wet Leg really did blow up fast. Thankfully, instead of burning out, they’ve used it to fuel themselves.
The indie rock band founded by Rian Teasdale and Hester Chambers had an instant hit in 2021 with Chaise Longue, a hyper catchy Mean-Girls-quoting droll earworm. Their eponymous debut album, Wet Leg, was a 2023 chart topper. They’re a hit in America and Japan, are already touring arenas, and have a trophy cabinet stuffed with a brace of shiny Brits and Grammy Awards.
That’s a lot of pressure, and their sophomore album, Moisturizer (yes, with an American Z) isn’t even out until July 11. But fans at their sold-out O2 Brixton Academy show on Friday, who had clearly been brushing up on the new lyrics, were treated to a confident night packed with riffs, new material and some of their catchiest hits.
As co-founders, Teasdale and Chambers have made smart decisions. Drummer Henry Holmes, bassist Ellis Durand and Josh Mobaraki on rhythm guitar and synth are now fully signed up members of the band. And while Teasdale took centre stage, Chambers, who has been forthcoming about her anxiety, rocked out happily in the background, leaving their signature laconic crowd work to her friend.
It’s a good choice. Teasdale is resplendent as the frontwoman, appearing on Friday as an Anime-style Magical Girl with pink hair and a cropped blouse, miniskirt and knee socks combo that showed off her impressive muscles. As she opened on their new single Catch These Fists, she flexed her biceps at the crowd, and I made a mental note to reactivate my gym membership. She’s gloriously buff, a welcome relief when every other celebrity woman is winnowing themselves down to waifishness.
The others have also settled into a groove – and an aesthetic – that suits them, all white flowy outfits with tousled long hair that’s all the better to headbang with. It’s a little bit Manson Family (which suits their oeuvre of love songs with teeth) but with better personal hygiene. Wet Leg is the millennial cult you want to join.
As the crowd whooped and chanted along they cracked through 17 songs, including seven from the unreleased album with a lot of guitar-switching choreography to match the hair-ography.
It was a smartly paced set that alternated their biggest songs with new material. As such, we got Liquidize, Pillow Talk, Davina McCall (Wet Leg loves her, and the feeling is mutual), Jennifer’s Body, and Mangetout sandwiched between OG favourites Wet Dream, Angelica and Ur Mum.
Having saved Chaise Longue for the penultimate tune, the crowd disappointingly began to thin for the final hurrah. To be fair, indie-rockers in 2025 are a crowd that probably need to be gunning for the last train home to relieve the babysitter.
But those who stayed were rewarded with a preview of CPR, Moisturizer’s opening track, which debuts tonight. It’s yet another banger that’s smoothing the way for Moisturizer.
Touring. Moisturizer is out July 11 2025, wetlegband.com
