Review: Wet Leg make big splash at First Avenue debut
March 04, 2022
Not many artists get to headline and sell out First Avenue’s Mainroom event before releasing an album. But on March 3, Wet Leg did so with the talent and wisdom of a seasoned group. This was the second stop on their U.S. tour, and their Twin Cities debut. First scheduled to perform at Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St. Paul, the show was moved to the larger First Avenue after quickly selling out.
Last night, I took a small survey of the attendees in my vicinity, asking where they first heard of Wet Leg. All four respondents had the same answer: “The Current.” While the crowd couldn’t be defined by an age group, one consistent statement I overheard was, “This is my first show in a while.”
When entering the stage, Wet Leg immediately blasted energy with the song, “Being in Love.” With only a handful of tracks officially released, and a set list of 16, this was the first of 10 they unveiled from their upcoming album. While it may be more difficult to keep a crowd engaged with music they’ve never heard, the chorus of “Being in Love” was so catchy that by the end of the song, people were singing along. The duo of Rhian Teasdale, on guitar and lead vocals, and Hester Chambers, on guitar and backing vocals, came to captivate us.
Wet Leg are known for their often comical lyrics that make the mundane become clever. This is exemplified in “Oh No” when Teasdale sings, “You’re so woke / Diet Coke / I feel gross / Oh no.” It feels daring when the duo presents such silly declarations in such a carefree state.
Including “Oh No,” so many Wet Leg songs are packed with references to our all-consuming digital age: “I’m scrolling / I’m scrolling / ah” and “I checked my phone / And now I’m inside it.” (That’s how I felt when rapidly typing on my Notes app during the show.) We could analyze the deeper meaning of the words behind such words, which Teasdale and Chambers would probably find hilarious.
Two other previously released songs were highlights. Appearing third in the setlist, “Wet Dream” ignited verve and some feet lightly leaving the ground. As “Too Late Now” began, Teasdale and Hester simultaneously spun around with every strum. After twirling, laughing, and locking eyes, they dove into the song. When the bridge hit, the music stopped and Teasdale rapidly talk-singed the universally relatable lyrics, “Everything is going wrong / I think I changed my mind again / I'm not sure if this is the kinda life / That I saw myself living.”
The unreleased music produced memorable moments too. “It’s Not Fun” prompted shoulder rides in the crowd. “Ur Mom” had Teasdale whipping her hair, bouncing around the stage, and stepping back from the mic to scream. “Loving You” presented more catchy lyrics and yodel-like sounds in the chorus.
The artists' stage presence was a slight surprise. Picturing their music videos, one might expect to see ambivalent, stoic expressions, but instead, joy filled Teasdale and Chambers’ faces. During “Angelica” their bent-over-backward poses had an indie rock star quality. The two effused charisma and had clear sonic attraction. While transitions between tracks were smooth and quick, it felt like they breezed through the 50-minute set a bit abruptly. Before one song mentally sank in, another began.
By the end of the set, the audience was primed to hear Teasdale ask, “Is your muffin buttered / Would you like us to assign someone to butter your muffin?” And when those words left her mouth on the final track of the night, “Chaise Longue,” vocal excitement ensued. She asked, “Excuse me?” and the crowd screamed, “What?!” I predicted the energy would climax during the group’s most well-known song, but I didn’t expect the gratifying experience of being launched into a mini-mosh pit created by older men.
The First Avenue Mainroom floor felt like an enchantingly exclusive place last night because we heard pieces of creative foresight not yet available on the radio or streaming platforms. While most artists’ tours are meant to present their recent album releases, it seems that Wet Leg is touring their optimism and celebrating their quick ascent in a humble way. The purpose of their Minneapolis performance was not only to present the work they’ve done, but also to foreshadow the work they will do. With all respect to the Amsterdam, the band needed the larger space to contain their audience’s curiosity and enthusiasm.
The night began with the Atlanta band Lowertown, fronted by Olivia Osby and Avshalom Weinberg, who quickly got heads nodding by mixing folk and lo-fi electronica. In 6-inch platforms, fishnets and an oversized blazer, lead vocalist Osby dropped to her hands and knees while punching the ground. When playing “My Dog,” they emotively uttered a sentiment that defined the rest of the evening: “When words have no meaning / Right there on my feet / It’s ok.”
Setlist:
Being in Love
Convincing
Wet Dream
Supermarket
Red Eggs
Too Late Now
Obvious
Oh No
Life is Rollercoaster (Ronan Keating Cover)
Piece of S**t
Loving You
Ur Mom
It’s a Shame?
It’s Not Fun
Angelica
Chaise Longue