Live Review | Wet Leg @ O2 Academy, Brixton

Wet Leg

O2 Academy, Brixton

23rd May 2025

Photography by Zosia Kibalo (@zeesscope)

Wet Leg’s powerful performance in London shows off their new era, marked by exciting changes to their image and group dynamics

Palace-like features adorn the stage, making you believe a princess might run down the stairs at any moment. However, during their two night residency Wet Leg brandished the stage with a less royal and more swampy-looking fixture bearing its slimy teeth. In place of a tongue: a drum kit, with the letters W and L “scratched” into the kick – less of an acronym, more a warning sign.

Instead of a princess, from the swamp emerges a dragoness – head held high, flexing her biceps as she slowly approaches the microphone. The menacing aura Rhian Teasdale displays from the very first seconds on stage turns the band’s image into a punchier, more aggressive one. It’s an enticing switch that cements Wet Leg’s entry into a new era after finding their feet in the big leagues.

This new energy really shines through during performances of newer singles like the opener ‘Catch These Fists‘, when Teasdale takes hold of the crowd in a masterful display of controlled female rage—something we should all collectively fear.

Among the changes is a shift in the band’s power dynamic. With Hester Chambers settling at the back with the rest of the band, Teasdale emerges as more of the frontwoman in this new chapter of Wet Leg, putting down the guitar in favour of a more striking presence as lead singer. The way she owns the stage, confidence oozing from her every move, proves this choice was the right one.

Despite Wet Leg putting on an impressive showcase of their new direction, the crowd didn’t fully return the band’s energy. It was strikingly apparent that many in the audience were simply waiting for one of their most popular singles like ‘Chaise Longue.‘ As a result, the atmosphere for most of the gig was that of appreciation but not absolute devotion to what was happening on stage.

In the midst of the show, Teasdale did not address the crowd too much, but did take a moment to share a sweet nod to her long-standing friendship with Katy J Pearson, who opened the show. It turns out that some of Wet Leg’s melodies stem from their long-time creative connection – a detail that added a layer of warmth to the band’s sharp new edge.

My personal highlight of the night came in the middle of ‘Ur Mum‘ when Rhian asked everyone to release “the longest and loudest scream”. The euphoric shriek that erupted felt strangely cathartic, as if every single person in the room had been waiting for permission to let go.

They say don’t play with fire – but Wet Leg’s flame isn’t one to fear. It’s raw, it’s radiant, and only growing stronger. There’s something thrilling about watching a band evolve in real time, especially one that’s clearly taking control of its identity rather than letting early success define its limits. What I saw at Brixton wasn’t just a solid live set—it was a declaration of intent. I am very intrigued by what I saw and will be keeping a close eye on how these changes shape their trajectory.