Wet Leg were back in Nottingham for an eagerly anticipated performance at Rock City, with support from Faux Real. It's the first time since 2022 that Wet Leg have performed at the venue, and since then, word has spread about the award-winning indie-rockers. They've gained some new band members too...
Joining Wet Leg's singer, songwriter and guitarists Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers are permanent members, Henry Holmes on drums, Ellis Durand on bass, and Josh Mobaraki, who plays rhythm guitar and synths. Rock City continues to be the standard-bearer for live music in Notts, and, again, the main floor, surrounding raised levels, and balcony areas were heaving.
I arrived just in time to see the end of Faux Real, the Franco-American, "Jacques of all trades" disco, electro, glam-rock Euro-dance duo, brothers Virgile and Elliott Arndt, whose fun, energetic set ended with them in the crowd for an immersive experience. They're based in Los Angeles and are cited by Teasdale as influencing Wet Leg. The boys have also collaborated with the band on Waking Away From My Demons.
The turnaround wasn't that long, and at around 9:00, Wet Leg burst onto the stage, now a fully formed, formidable, five-piece band.
Teasdale's resplendent with her much-talked-about athletic, sharper, chiselled look, with lanky pink hair, dressed all in white, in a crop top, lace garter suspenders, a pair of Adidas JS Wings trainers, and wielding a rare, heavy, lime-green BC Rich Mockingbird guitar.
You'd be forgiven for thinking Wet Leg is a solo act, given the attention garnered by their statuesque lead singer, whose look has dramatically changed since Chaise Lounge was released four years ago. But all the members have writing credits on Moisturizer; the fully collaborative effort is there to see, while Chambers is the only one with solo credits.
Chambers was standing just behind Teasdale; she's the band's "number 10," linking the different elements and supplying the star centre forward. She's very much Wet Leg's Ella Toone to Teasdale's Alessia Russo…
She's flanked by Mobaraki, who skillfully shifts between his roles in the band, including backing vocals, as does Durand, and neither would look out of place in Kings of Leon or The Brian Jonestown Massacre. And Holmes adds pounding drums and rhythm to an already raucous line-up, the band's new era is set to be an exciting one based on tonight's performance.
Wet Leg came out swinging, launching straight into the third track on Moisturizer, Catch These Fists, "I don't want your love, I just wanna fight," sneers Teasdale over jerking, clangy guitar riffs. The song is a take on predatory behaviour and delivered with their usual searing, unapologetic confidence. It's followed up by fan favourite, Wet Dream.
The band have always leaned into their quirks - Britishness and Millennial references - and all of these come to the fore in the gig, with tracks such as Supermarket, Jennifer's Body (after the 2009 cult-classic starring Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox), and the stripped-back, dreamy Davina McCall.
Just before then, it was the song title that was the gold standard, go-to comeback across every secondary school in the 90s and 00s - Ur Mum. The song, typically, mixes humour with the frustration of a draining, failing relationship. There was also a mass, cathartic scream the crowd joined in with, a screeching din which rang around Rock City as white lights flashed on stage.
Just over halfway through an exhilarating set, the spotlight was turned on Teasdale for the penultimate track on Mositurizer, 11:21, a slower, tender offering than what we'd seen previously, as the band flexed their versatility. It was also accompanied by foam and bubbles, which gently floated up and around the band, creating an ethereal image that matched the song's vibe and seemed to have a calming presence in the room.
The gig was coming to a close, and Wet Leg's decision to pair Angelica and debut single Chaise Lounge back-to-back was a good one, and the crowd responded to what already feel like seasoned classics in the band's armoury.
Teasdale sang through a red-landline telephone for the opening track on Moisturizer, CPR, where you'd be mistaken for not thinking back to Faux Real's performance from earlier and making a link.
Finally, the triumphant night ended with Mangetout, which was released in July this year and has been well received by fans and critics alike. The barnstorming gig came to an end, and it was an assault on the senses - in a good way. I knew long before it ended that I'd be on the lookout for another Wet Leg gig in the near future.
Wet Leg performed at Rock City on 17th November 2025.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
