Live review: Wet Leg prove hype is still necessary at Usher Hall

Rhian Teasdale, Hester Chambers and co create a frenzy in Edinburgh ahead of upcoming second album.

It’s not a comeback if you’ve never really been away.

Three years ago, Wet Leg arrived straddling a massive cannon etched with the word HYPE, soon filling the music scene with gloriously vibrant indie-themed confetti.

And, as is the way when we’ve got new heroes to worship, it felt like not long after being built up, they were getting unfairly knocked down.

Since then, they’ve remained ever-present—either on the radio or at gigs supporting acts such as Foo Fighters and Harry Styles.

But here they were, in Edinburgh. A couple of new tunes released into the wild, with a new album called Moisturiser set to land in the summer.

Speaking of support acts, they were expertly backed by Katy J Pearson. Think Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac and you’re on the right lines. The type of artist you catch before the main event and are glad you did. Perfectly warming you up for the act you’ve bought a ticket for, while leaving you wanting more.

Then came Wet Leg. Appearing in front of a backdrop like a scene from a fairy tale and to eerie music, the whole thing felt like it belonged in an A24 horror movie.

The first single they released this year, ‘Catch This Fist’, gets things off to a flying start. Teasdale stood flexing her muscles in a get-up like a wrestler before provocatively posing in front of the audience.

Other new songs found their way into the set. As with everybody and their dog, Wet Leg now have a country song. ‘Davina McCall’ could be the tune that flings them even further into the mainstream they already inhabit.

This wasn’t a show to show off their new album. There was enough from their debut to keep fans happy.

‘Oh No’ got an early airing, with fans jumping to keep up with the monster sound, while ‘Wet Dream’ hasn’t lost any of its charm since it first made its way into the public domain.

Much like how Young Fathers aren’t just three guys at the front of the stage, there’s a lot going on with Wet Leg.

Singer Rhian Teasdale might take centre stage, and her partner-in-crime and guitarist Hester Chambers isn’t far behind her. But fair play to every member of the group.

They’re an interesting band to watch. At times they’re static, poker-faced, rooted to the spot. Then, before you know it, they’ve exploded into life, pogoing around the stage.

One of the most thrilling sights is Teasdale and Chambers playing while facing each other. Think Pete and Carl sharing the mic at a Libertines concert and you’re on the right lines.

Thankfully, they didn’t partake in an encore and instead kept chainsawing their way through their music. The hallowed walls of the Usher Hall trembled under the mass shrieks of ‘Ur Mum’, while ‘Angelica’ whipped the crowd into a frenzy.

Then ‘Chaise Longue’—one of the finest indie anthems in recent years—set the whole place off again.

They had the bravado to finish with another new song, ‘CPR’, so fresh it was only released on the day of the concert. It didn’t matter. The crowd embraced it as lovingly as their more familiar stuff.

There’s a chance their new album could well be one of the best of the year. Let’s build them back up to where they belong.