By Tilly Walder
As sweet smoke plumed across the stage and lights cut through the haze, eyes were fixed firmly on Portsmouth Guildhall last week in anticipation of the arrival of the Isle of Wight’s homegrown talent, Wet Leg. For a band whose rise has been as rapid as it has been distinctive, this felt like more than just another tour date. It was a moment of affirmation, both for the band and for the many Islanders dotted throughout the crowd.
From the opening notes, Rhian Teasdale commanded the stage with an ease that belied the scale of the venue. Her calm confidence never tipped into arrogance, instead grounding the performance and drawing the audience in with a quiet authority that many far more seasoned performers never quite master. Alongside her, Hester Chambers delivered her guitar parts with trademark understatement, her cool presence providing the perfect counterbalance. Together, they anchored a band that felt tightly connected and entirely at ease.
Behind them, Henry Holmes on drums, Josh Mobaraki on keys, and Ellis Durand on bass formed an energetic backbone that drove the set forward. Rhythmic sections brought weight and momentum without overwhelming the songs, allowing Wet Leg’s sharp hooks and distinctive vocal delivery to shine through. Every beat landed cleanly, and the chemistry between the band members was clear throughout.
The setlist struck a balance between familiar favourites and newer material from the band’s latest album, Moisturiser. Early hits such as ‘Chaise Longue’ and ‘Too Late Now’ ignited instant recognition, prompting a surge of movement and voices from the floor. These tracks, already well-embedded in the indie-rock landscape, lost none of their bite live, instead gaining a fresh urgency through the band’s confident delivery.
Newer songs including ‘mangetout’ and ‘davina mccall’ slotted seamlessly into the set, their richer textures and expanded sound embraced enthusiastically by the crowd. There was no sense of impatience or comparison; instead, the audience met the new material with the same warmth as the older songs, a clear sign that Moisturiser is already resonating well beyond recorded form.
Each song arrived with crisp precision, the lyrics tumbling effortlessly from stage to audience. Time and again, choruses were met with mass chanting, the words ricocheting back towards the band in a shared release of energy. It was a reminder not only of Wet Leg’s devoted following, but of how deeply their music has embedded itself into listeners’ lives.
Midway through the set, Teasdale paused and glanced out over the packed hall. “Anyone here from the Isle of Wight?” she asked. The roar that followed was immediate and unmistakable, prompting a wide grin from the frontwoman. It was a grounding moment, briefly collapsing the distance between local beginnings and sold-out venues, and highlighting just how far the band has travelled in a short space of time.
Visually, the show remained deliberately restrained. Soft lighting, shifting colours and ever-present smoke created an atmosphere without distraction. There were no elaborate backdrops or theatrical flourishes, because none were needed. Wet Leg relied instead on sharp songwriting, strong musicianship and a magnetic stage presence to carry the night.
From start to finish, the audience remained fully engaged, feeding off the band’s playful charm and infectious rhythms. The performance confirmed that Wet Leg are no longer simply an exciting new act, but a band confidently carving out a lasting place within the indie-rock scene.
With every date on the tour sold out, it was thanks to Simon at Black Arts PR, the band’s Island-based public relations company, that this live performance was experienced first-hand — a fitting connection back to home for a band that continues to carry the Island with them wherever they play.
Isle of Wight Observer