Wet Leg bring 2nd album ‘moisturizer’ to Rock City
They’re back… and wetter than ever.
Photo: Alice Backham
After plodding through the cold winter chill in Nottingham on a Monday evening, my ears were warmed by the sensational sounds of Wet Leg from their self-titled debut album alongside tracks from follow-up moisturizer.
The evening kicked off with the incredible support act Faux Real, who brought the energy alongside some unbelievable dance moves both on stage and amongst the crowd. Highlights included Full Circle and Walking Away from My Demons, both of which got the crowd warmed up. In terms of starters in a gig, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Through a cloud of thick smoke with an orange hue, five shadows appeared on the stage, followed by the electrifying intro to catch these fists, with lead vocalist Rhian Teasdale emerging from the smog. This took the energy of the crowd into overdrive, and the incredibly catchy Wet Dream followed – the track that took the music world by storm (just ask Harry Styles).
Wet Leg managed to change the tempo throughout the evening flawlessly but threw in some more slow melodic tunes, such as Supermarket, after the heavy hitter Oh No, showing the range in their performances. There aren’t many bands that can have you emotional singing along to the heartfelt lyrics of davina mccall in the same hour as screaming a minute straight during Ur Mum.
The new songs from second album moisturizer do have a different feel to the first album, but are still able to have the same catchy choruses and wicked guitar licks that feel so powerful when performed live. A perfect example of this was u and me at home, a track I found myself singing out loud as well as in my head all the way back home after the gig.
Hester Chambers’ incredible lead guitar through Wet Leg’s discography, accompanied by the rest of the band’s perfect additions, have created two albums where I truly believe there is something for everyone.
Later in the evening, the show was closed by the triple threat of Chaise Lounge, CPR and topped off with mangetout to finish. Firstly, Chaise Lounge had the entire room cheering from the first set of notes from its addictive, moreish bassline. CPR’s strong lyrics, alongside another incredible bassline (shocker, I know), reminded the crowd that the show was almost over, but there was still plenty of power left. Finally, mangetout – accurately named after the snap pea – is equally as delicious and has a satisfying sound.
Although I was expecting Chaise Lounge to be the closing track of the show, I believe Wet Leg choosing mangetout as a finisher shows they are trying to move forward to express their new sound, and not centring their new shows around a track from their debut.
Wet Leg is a machine that churns out catchy lyrics, licks and basslines that will be enjoyed by many for years to come. Thanks to moisturizer, I believe this machine is showing no signs of stopping.