Wet Leg at Brixton Academy
Wet Leg are late for their first of two shows at Brixton Academy, and the audience is getting antsy, staring at an empty stage. As with any act that’s experienced a meteoric rise, expectations are high – even more so with the hope of hearing new material. But as frontwoman Rhian Teasdale finally takes centre stage, flexing her biceps to the opening riff of Catch These Fists, all is forgiven. The first single from the hotly anticipated new album Moisturizer shakes up the room.
“This is a big room…” Teasdale grins, looking out over a crowd that varies wildly from teenagers to middle-aged men. The sound gods aren’t on Wet Leg’s side tonight – cries of “turn her mic up!” fill the gaps as the band barrels through Oh No, Being in Love and new song Liquidize.
Still not having fully shed the awkwardness that defined her and Hester Chambers during their breakout, Teasdale now channels it into an icy, otherworldly aloofness that’s utterly compelling. She does the heavy lifting, while the others – Chambers included – retreat from the spotlight and shred in the shadows.
Wet Leg are one of those acts whose popularity only fully makes sense live. Their catchy hooks and repetitive lyrics might seem formulaic on record, but it’s that exact formula that makes them such a fun watch. The crowd hits every cue – from the synchronised double clap in fan favourite Wet Dream to the cathartic scream in Ur Mum – during a set that covers nearly every track from the debut.
“I guess they’re called old ones now since we have a new album!” Teasdale quips – but the more nuanced, varied new material peppered throughout the set doesn’t land as strongly with a crowd mostly here for the hits. When Chaise Longue arrives, second-to-last, the room reignites briefly before the night closes with CPR, their upcoming single.
Having toured one album for so long, Wet Leg are clearly delighted to share new material. The addition of long-time touring musicians Ellis Durand, Henry Holmes and Josh Mobaraki to the official lineup has paid off – the fresh tracks are a treat: still catchy, but heavier and grungier. It’s only a matter of time before the crowd catches up.
Antigoni Pitta
Photos: Guifré de Peray
For further information and future events visit Wet Leg’s website here.
Watch the video for Catch These Fists here:
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