Qulture Magazine

Words and Photos: Anni Cameron

The English five-piece open with catch these fists, an indie-rock anthem which sets the tone for the following energetic hour. Rhian Teasdale is a vision in a white tank top, polka-dot hot pants, and slouchy black boots, in the moments she can be seen amidst the strobe and the smoke.

Teasdale’s cheeky, spoken vocal stylings cut through the white flashing lights. It’s sensory overload, but the crowd don’t seem to mind, as they bop along excitedly. The band immediately follow with Wet Dream and Oh No, and crunchy guitar riffs emerge. Warm orange light fills the venue matching the heat of the busy room, which is filled with Wet Leg’s multi-generational fan base.

Teasdale is incredibly engaging and all 2500 attendees’ eyes remain fixed on her, her “follow me, I’m a cult leader” tank top only partially ironic as onlookers hang on her every word. The crowd follow her when they engage in a communal scream that lasts a good twenty seconds mid Ur Mum. It’s a much needed moment of catharsis on a Monday night, one that will energise the crowd as they head back to the reality of the working week.

The band has great chemistry, and Teasdale takes multiple opportunities to engage directly with her bandmates. In one particularly charming moment, she stands shoulder to shoulder with guitarist Hester Chambers, as they rotate multiple times in sync. Friends similarly twirl each other around at the back of the room – the only available space in the packed, sold out room. The mood is upbeat, flirty, and carefree, until the brief intermission of 11:21 where Teasdale, in a moment of vulnerability, sits on the floor and gazes into space, surrounded by bubbles and the band’s signature atmospheric smoke.

Wet Leg is building a solid foundation that will lends towards a future of filling arenas. The set list is flawless – u and me at home and Too Late Now follow each other seamlessly, each with a retro flair that could soundtrack a coming of age movie. They end with favourites like Chaise Longue and CPR, and by the time mangetout rings out to close, the entire venue is alight with glee. It’s a solid ending for a band on the verge of a meteoric rise.