A Wet Leg to Stand On: Isle of Wight Post-Punks Continue a Good Run
Words by Mickey McCarter
Photos by Nalinee Darmrong
When Wet Leg released their debut self-titled album in 2022, it blew up quickly, in part because the band found its audience right away. Those folks recently packed 9:30 Club for a sold-out show, dancing and screaming and celebrating being alive and sassy.
In a moment typical of the organized chaos of a Wet Leg show, frontwoman Rhian Teasdale signaled for the audience to scream in the middle of the performance of 2022 single, “Ur Mom,” a typically acerbic and humorously biting putdown of an ex. And the audience screamed their hearts out.
Wet Leg filled the air with that kind of merry madness at 9:30 Club on Sept. 19 in support of their second full-length album, Moisturizer (released earlier this year via Domino Recording Co.). The songs are a bit less overtly funny but no less acerbic than the tracks from their first album — and they are chock full of catchy melodies and guitar-and-drum trades for which they have become known.
Watch the official music video for “Ur Mum” by Wet Leg on YouTube:
Back in 2022, when Wet Leg undertook their first US tour, their debut album blew up and the band quickly reshuffled into bigger venues in most cases. But they stuck to their original booking at DC9 for their first-ever DC gig, which lead to a super-packed room of roughly 150 people looking Teasdale and company right in the face — the night after they sold out Brooklyn Steel at 1,800. The indie rock darlings didn’t miss a beat, and they seemed to revel in the intimacy of the space.
Since then, Wet Leg have adopted almost a glam rock aesthetic, adding a layer to their DIY indie rock persona. Rhian and band co-founder Hester Chambers (guitar) also have elevated their touring band to full bandmate status, affirming the contributions of the astonishing good and hard-working drummer Henry Holmes as well as guitarist Josh Mobaraki and bassist Ellis Durand. The band members all log writing credits on Moisturizer. Holmes has a co-writing credit on “Jennifer’s Body,” a second album torch song that showcases his snappy post-punk persistence.
Wet Leg closed the show on “CPR,” a new track that was co-written by bassist Durand. The hypnotically rhythmic track that fits right next to the scuzzy boogie of T. Rex.
Watch the official music video for “CPR” by Wet Leg on YouTube:
As great as the band is, make no mistake: folks were there to watch Rhian vamp. And vamp she did in winged shoes and booty shorts. While her fellow Wet Leg original Hester Chambers stuck to the shadows, Rhian held the spotlight with a steely gaze that didn’t so much say “come hither” as it might “come wither” under her sardonic wit. Nowhere is Rhian more vampy and campy than on the band’s breakout single “Chaise Lounge,” which appeared with its lyrical double entendres near the end of the set to the glee of 9:30 Clubbers.
Moisturizer and the resulting “can’t get enough” frenzied reaction from Wet Leg admirers assures us the band indeed has legs, and we expect them to be around for the long haul!
Here are some photos of Wet Leg performing live at 9:30 Club on Sept. 19, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Nalinee Darmrong.
