Wet Leg at Washington, DC’s 9:30 Club review

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When Wet Leg first played in Washington, DC, in March 2022, they were the band everyone was talking about. Their first single, “Chaise Longue,” was quickly becoming popular on alternative and indie music charts, and their show at the small DC9 venue (which holds about 250 people) sold out almost instantly.

Wet Leg’s first album, “Chaise Longue,” and their self-titled debut both won Grammy Awards for alternative music. The band, originally consisting of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, has since grown to include five members. This year, they released their second album, *Moisturizer*, with the lead single, “Catch These Fists,” reaching the top ten on three different Billboard charts in the U.S.

They’ve quickly outgrown smaller venues and recently played a sold-out show at Washington D.C.’s famous 9:30 Club, which holds 1,200 people. Tickets sold out almost immediately.

Wet Leg brings their unique brand of post power punk to Washington, DC

I invented the term “post power punk” on the spot – I doubt it’s an actual genre! It became clear this was a problem when a friend, unfamiliar with the band, asked me what their music sounded like, and I struggled to explain it. That’s not ideal when you’re about to write a review, so I came up with the clumsy abbreviation, “triple P.”

When I introduce this band to people, I usually say they have a hint of the B52s in their sound. But more than that, they capture the spirit of 1980s Athens bands – groups that were all about dancing, having a good time, and a playful, artistic energy. They’re not afraid to experiment with anything – melodies, rhythms, or lyrics – and it really comes through in their music.

Wet Leg creates a huge sound with driving guitars, synths, and a powerful rhythm section. They’re surprisingly both sweet and incredibly energetic. If there was a genre for deadpan delivery with tons of energy, Wet Leg would be its most famous band – like the Beatles of that style.

The concert kicked off Friday night at 9:30 with the song “Catch These Fists.” Teasdale, wearing a white halter top, shorts, and boots, performed with energetic poses throughout the song. The crowd knew all the words and sang along loudly, practically taking over the vocals. The energy continued with “Wet Dream,” a popular song from her first album, and once again, the audience sang every lyric.

That kicked off a short selection of songs from their first album. The nineteen-song performance covered almost everything the band has ever released. While the audience didn’t know all the lyrics to some of the newer songs from *Moisturizer*, we just wanted to show our enthusiasm, not seem overly fixated.

Teasdale has a natural presence as a lead singer, but she’s not very comfortable chatting with the audience. Chambers is quite shy on stage, often playing his drums tucked away at the back, facing away from the crowd.

Guitarist Josh Mobaraki and bassist Ellis Durand handled most of the talking during the show, occasionally interacting with the audience or letting them know how many songs were left. Around the middle of the set, before playing their energetic breakup song “Ur Mum,” Mobaraki got the crowd ready to scream along at the end.

Given that “Ur Mum” is one of Wet Leg’s catchiest songs, it’s strangely fitting that the band followed it with such an intense, energetic outburst. It shouldn’t be a surprise that the crowd knew all the words to the shouted section, too.

Wet Leg consistently surprises audiences with their diverse sound, ranging from the unexpected appearance of a ‘tambourine guru’ during ‘Don’t Speak’ to the dreamy vibes of songs like ‘Davina McCall’ and ’11:21′.

The band then launched into a high-energy finish with seven powerful songs. Starting with the raw and direct “Pillow Talk,” and ending with “CPR,” Wet Leg maintained an intense sound throughout, driven by their three guitars and two keyboards.

The song “Chaise Longue” appears near the end of the set, and by that point, the audience had joined in, responding to Teasdale’s “Excuse me” with a chorus of “What?” She playfully added a “C” to the lyric “I got the big D” as a nod to the city where they were performing.

Wet Leg delivered a high-energy performance. Rhian Teasdale danced across the stage while Hester Chambers switched between guitar and keyboard. Throughout the show, vocalist Chaise Mobaraki kept the crowd entertained with lively chatter, and drummer Henry Holmes powerfully played from the back. Though generally more reserved, guitarist Chaise Chambers occasionally joined Rhian for a dance and to play alongside her.

The stage is filled with a constantly changing atmosphere created by bubble machines, fans, and smoke, punctuated by flashing strobe lights. It’s a wonderfully unpredictable environment – you half expect something completely surprising, like Bigfoot playing an instrument, to suddenly appear.

I’m super jealous of Wet Leg right now – they’re absolutely crushing it on a huge North American tour! They’re going all over, starting in the northwest, hitting the east coast, and then wrapping things up in Southern California in mid-October. It sounds like a massive trek!

I recently checked out Mary in the Junkyard, a really cool band from London who are opening for the headliners. They’re at their strongest when Saya Barbaglia switches from guitar to viola – it really shines on songs like “Goop” and their latest single, “New Muscles.” Sometimes, though, I have a little trouble hearing the singer, Clari Freeman-Taylor, because her voice is quite delicate and gets a bit lost in the band’s overall sound.

Touring with Wet Leg and Rhian Teasdale for a couple of months would be a fantastic way to learn how to combine unique indie sensibilities with strong, energetic rock music.

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2025-09-20 22:31