Wet Leg at the Electric Ballroom

Wet Leg

Electric Ballroom, 17 July 2025

I finally got to see the electrifying Wet Leg do a blistering 50 minute set at the Electric Ballroom and it was absolutely perfect!

The day before the gig, I got an email saying that the time had moved from 7pm to 8pm for this Rough Trade "out-store" performance, celebrating the release of the band's second album Moisturizer. It turns out the reason for this is because they were also doing a second earlier show and when I turned up, the few fans already queuing helpfully asked me what performance I was there for, as that earlier show was already underway! Apparently Wet Leg have been doing the two-shows-in-one-day thing a lot recently in the run-up to the album release, which is pretty cool especially given it's always at smaller venues, and feels a throwback to years past. I mean, I can imagine bands in the 60s doing something similar. Wet Leg are also playing a much bigger show at the Royal Albert Hall later this year, so I was thrilled I would be able to see them at a small venue for maybe the last time. 

I did turn up early to make sure I got a good spot and once I got in the venue, without a support act (which of course I don't mind at all), it was quite a long wait, as even though they were scheduled to take the stage at 9pm, they actually didn't come on until 9.30pm. I guess they were still recovering from the earlier show and to be fair, when we saw the first crowd leave the venue most had massive smiles on their faces, many telling us what an incredible show it was (and a few with tickets for both shows rejoining the queue), so I did feel it was probably worth the wait. 

The band finally emerged through a haze of dry ice, with the beardy male band members (Joshua Omead Mobaraki on guitar, Ellis Durand on bass and Henry Holmes on drums) all in white and founding member Hester Chambers hidden away almost at the back, with her big guitar covering most of her tiny body and her long hair hiding her face. Obviously she doesn't like the attention or taking any of the spotlight, despite being part of the duo that formed the band in the first place. Of course when frontwoman Rhian Teasdale strides onto the centre of the stage and makes her now signature flexing move, showing off her impressive arm muscles, before grabbing the microphone stand, it becomes clear that Rhian is the star of the show and Hester is more than happy with that.

Rhian has completely changed her look since the band's debut album. Before both Rhian and Hester were all flouncy long dresses and pretty covered up during their performances, but it seems inbetween the first and second record, Rhian has hit the gym and seems keen to show off her new toned body but, while it's telling that a lot of female pop stars eventually end up going for what I call the no-trousers-look, with Rhian it definitely doesn't feel like she is catering to the male gaze and is way more grimy, cool and punk rock than that. In fact, with her new blonde and pink hair, she looks like a mix of Courtney Love, KatieJane Garside from Daisy Chainsaw and Leeloo, Milla Jovovich's character from the sci-fi film The Fifth Element. She's dressed in thigh-high striped socks, a grey pleated micro-mini skirt, a cropped white lace-trimmed top and white trainers that have little angel wings on the back. It's an eccentric mix of styles but somehow she looks incredible.

They immediately launch into the first single from the new album, Catch These Fists, and the lights go absolutely crazy and it's a good thing I don't have epilepsy because it was almost impossible to watch. Even though the band sounded great and Rhian looked extremely cool silhouetted against the lights, with the photographers at front of the stage going crazy getting, no doubt, great shots, I had to look away for a lot of it because the strobe lighting was flashing so much and was so bright it actually hurt my eyes and my head. 

For a second, I did think, I don't actually know if I can take it if the whole concert is like this, but fortunately it was just for the first song. Still, I am very much of the mind that I can do without the strobe lighting, even if it's just for one song, it's not enjoyable to watch and it's obviously going to be triggering for a lot of people too.

The lights were far more normal for the second new song Liquidize, and it was amazing to finally see Rhian doing her thing, as she strutted and posed in front of the large fan at the front of the stage, her little mini skirt blowing up (don't worry, she had matching shorts on), as she coyly and amusingly pushed it back down Marilyn Monroe style.  

But the real fun started when she strapped on her acrylic green B.C. Rich Mockingbird guitar (something I've seen many gush over on social media after seeing her play it at Glastonbury), looking every bit the absolute rock star, as the band launched into a classic from their debut album, Oh No, following it with Yr Mum. Of course the crowd went wild at these more familiar songs and it was nice to see Rhian going over to Hester and the pair grinning at each other as they both played guitar. Hester, by the way, is an absolutely fantastic guitarist, so I can see why she enjoys just concentrating on playing and leaving the showmanship to Rhian, but it would have been nice to have been able to see her do her thing closer up, as often she was lost behind all the dry ice.

At one point, because it was such a hot and sweaty night, Rhian crouched down, her guitar still strapped on, and poured a bottle of water over her head, for a bit of a Flashdance-style moment. I managed to get a pretty amazing photo too, which is why I mention it. Rhian certainly was not adverse to striking a pose and she looked incredible all the while doing it.

The set of course showcased the new record, with seven out of the 12 songs performed tonight from it, and many of these Rhian sang without her guitar, simply dancing around her microphone and looking like an absolute queen. The highlights included a beautifully poppy Davinia McCall (she should be thrilled they have named a song after her but I have no clue if it's actually about her, it doesn't sound like it), the brilliantly New Wave-sounding Pillow Talk (she was playing guitar on this one), while Mangetout already had people singing along as Rhian lounged in front of the fan, with the air blowing her hair back in dramatic style before she herself threw her head back.

Hearing the older track Being In Love was an absolute thrill but I wasn't prepared for just how crazy everyone would go hearing Chaise Longue. Obviously this is the song that made their name, I mean even Harry Styles covered it, and it broke them in America and all over the world, so it is certainly beloved. But Rhian almost didn't need to sing this one, as the crowd knew every single word and sang each one as loud as they could, even the talking parts. It was so much fun and the band seemed just as happy to play it and get that kind of response. I suppose years from now they may get fed up with it but right now, it was still a highlight and it was nice to see they still get a kick out of how much people love that song.

For the final song, CPR, halfway through a roadie handed Rhian an old-fashioned red telephone, which acted as a microphone and she screamed the lyrics "I'm in love!" into it while throwing back her hair and then proceeded to jump around the stage in a crazed way, emerging through all the smoke singing.

And that was it! They walked off stage, no encore, the lights came up and it was over. They played 12 songs and the concert itself was less than an hour, maybe even only 50 minutes, but it was completely enough. The energy and joy was high throughout and by the time they had finished I felt completely on a high and utterly happy. It was nice to see them in such a small venue where I could feel that energy from the band and the crowd up close and feel so much a part of it. 

All of the band were great, there's no doubt about that, and as I've said, I would have loved to have been able to see Hester a little more because she is such an integral part of the band (in the past she did indeed perform at the front of the stage), but there's also no doubt that Rhian is a mesmerising, charismatic and unique frontwoman and it is hard to keep your eyes off her. She's a brilliant singer, has slinky and cool moves and also seems to radiate huge amounts of joy, which is completely contagious.

The new album is even better than the first and I'm so glad I got to see it performed live in such a great venue as the Electric Ballroom. What a treat for me and everyone there!