Wet Leg anticipated return to Edinburgh

★★★★☆ (4/5)

WET LEG PERFORMING AT EDINBURGH’S USHER HALL
PHOTOCREDIT: WILFRED MAGNUSSEN

“We’re so back” proclaimed Wet Leg on the 17 March, and tonight, after exactly two years, they make their anticipated return to Scotland’s capital. Hot on the heels of a performance at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, they’re riding a wave of momentum into a new era of shows and an upcoming album, moisturizer.

But first, the growing crowd welcomes Bristolian, Katy J Pearson who brings a vibey set blending folk and country stylings with pop-rock. Pearson’s stellar voice grabs the attention of the room instantly and her clever songwriting is brought to life by her ridiculously tight live band. There’s a breezy selfassurance to the whole set and I get the distinct sense she’s gained a lot of new fans tonight.

By the closing notes of Pearson’s set, the grand Usher Hall is well and truly at its capacity. Ambient nature sounds waft from the PA as smoke floods the stage. I wonder what Wet Leg’s return to Scotland will look like–but as the punchy opening riff of “catch these fists” (a cut from the new album) blasts out, the only answer is: confidence.

The early run of songs blends the familiar (“Oh No”) with the fresh (“liquidize”), and by the time “Wet Dream” hits, everyone around me is dancing and singing along–it really sets the tone for the rest of the set.

On stage is a band that blew up with two songs and went on to write a 12-song album of bangers that cemented their status. Fans are rightfully here to enjoy these hits. During one of the new songs I spot a few folk making a break for the bar, but they’re sprinting back as soon as “Ur Mum” starts. At this point, it’s a crucial live staple and we’re all part of a cathartic, scream therapy session. We’ve certainly been practising our “longest and loudest scream”. The band’s original duo, Rhian and Hester are face-to-face at the drum riser, locked in and shredding through the outro–it’s a highlight.

f there were doubts about new material, the band brushes that to the side. They’re on form, clearly confident in their new tunes (the set is almost split down the middle with old and new). “We have another new tune,” Rhian announces, playing a song called “mangetout” (ID’d after some digging on Genius). I like this one.

The hits keep coming: “Piece of Shit”, “Angelica” and the unreleased but already massive-sounding “pillow talk”. Before the breakdown in “Too Late Note”, Rhian stumbles over her lines, styling it out with a charming laugh (“Now everything is going wrong…”). It’s a lovely, authentic moment and we’re all on board. I can tell they’re enjoying being back on stage and the energy is infectious.

As I check my watch, I’m surprised we’re already nearing the end. It’s been back-to-back tunes but I know (or hope) there are a few more big ones to come… but we’re running out of time! Encore? Nope! “We have a couple more songs to play” announces Teasdale as the rhythm section plays the driving opening of the iconic “Chaise Longue”. There’s something to be said for bands not mucking about and just cramming the full set with music. Understandably, “Chaise Longue” is the most “documented” moment of the night but it doesn’t detract from the energy, everyone’s bouncing.

The closer is “CPR”, a track that dropped today and will open the new album. It’s a dark, chugging, grungy number with Rhian declaring her love over an onstage telephone (telephone pictured)–“I’m in love and you’re to blame” is the closing sentiment and I sense that the whole room is feeling the love as the house lights come up.

I find that pre-album tours can sometimes be a bit tricky–unreleased songs sucking energy from the room–but Wet Leg played this one spot on. There was enough anticipation to sell out the Usher Hall, treat fans to familiar songs whilst leaning on their confident songwriting to play unreleased tracks to great reception. It’s a perfectly executed teaser of what’s to come and I can’t wait to hear the new record. I’m already itching for a UK tour after launch but with a summer of festival sets it seems unlikely (however the album launches the day they play TRNSMT in July).

I leave the Usher Hall in a haze of witty, poppy, indie euphoria and I think, if this is Wet Leg “so back”, what a return it is and I hope they’re back for a while

“moisturizer”, Wet Leg’s sophomore album, drops 11 July via Domino.