English indie rock duo turned five-piece band Wet Leg rocked a sold-out Roadrunner in support of their second studio album, moisturizer, on September 14th. Founding members Rhian Teasdale (vocals, guitar) and Hester Chambers (guitar), joined by Josh Mobaraki (guitar, keyboards), Ellis Durand (bass), and Henry Holmes (drums), returned to Boston for the first time since 2023 to deliver a high-energy show. At doors, fans flooded into the venue and proceeded straight to the merchandise tables, extending the line up a few flights of stairs. Designs included a t-shirt with a swamp angel creature in the same pose as Teasdale on the moisturizer album cover and a precious cartoon guinea pig tote bag. The preshow playlist energized the crowd with artists like Tame Impala and M.I.A getting people dancing.
At 8:00 pm, Mary in the Junkyard kicked off the show. Lead singer Clari Freeman-Taylor strutted out in a plaid dress with her short blonde hair in two pigtails. She captivated the crowd with her smooth, light vocals that contrasted with the gritty instrumentals. The group seamlessly blended a bedroom pop sound with eerie rock. During the third song, bassist Saya Barbaglia opted for a haunting viola, shredding a tremolo playing style. Dark yellow, green, and purple lights backlit the band, adding drama to their set. Freeman-Taylor sang with her native English accent, charming the crowd. Introspective and vulnerable tracks like “tuesday” and “this is my california” formed a connection with the audience. Their set clearly resonated with fans, who cheered not only when it ended but just as loudly when the band tried to sneak back on the stage to help break down their equipment during changeover.
Between sets, an audio message from Wet Leg came across the speakers alerting fans that they had the chance to win a signed setlist by supporting The Ally Coalition, a group that supports the LGBTQ+ community. Soon after, members of the band’s team handed out eye dilation glasses to the front row to protect them from the bright strobing lights, foreshadowing the deliciously intense night ahead.
The lights flashed red, and the members of Wet Leg strutted on stage. Teasdale emerged silhouetted, walking toward the mic while flexing her toned arms at the crowd. She has been wearing different cheeky tank tops each night, with Boston’s reading “Happiest girl in the world” printed in baby pink on a dainty floral pattern. The band was greeted with thunderous applause as they dove into the electric track “catch these fists.” They had an instant command of the crowd, radiating confidence and a contagious freeing energy, enabling fans to relax and dance. They performed their viral hit, “Wet Dream,” next, with Teasdale grabbing a transparent green guitar that resembled a Jolly Rancher. Bandmates Chambers and Holmes bounced energy off each other toward the back of the stage, shredding their signature sharp and hard-hitting instrumentals just outside of the spotlight on Teasdale.
The song “Ur Mum” was a particularly cathartic moment of the show, with the band pausing to have the entire venue scream for at least one minute, the longest scream Roadrunner has witnessed in its three-year history. During the tender track “davina mccall,” couples slow-danced in the back of the pit, displaying the spirit of a Wet Leg live show and how it can effortlessly showcase the dichotomy of the human experience. They held the energy high the entire night, closing out the show with the same level of passion. Toward the end of the night, during “Chaise Longue,” Teasdale changed the lyrics to reference some fans in the audience. She sang, “Hey you, in the front row / Are you coming backstage with your worm after the show?” to some fans holding a giant crochet worm and wearing “We <3 Worms” shirts on the barricade, a special moment that displayed their connection with their fans.
Wet Leg crafted a killer show with a setlist that spanned fan favorites, hits, and deep cuts. The punchy lighting production matched their charged performance styles, creating an unforgettable show. Make sure to catch Wet Leg before north american moisturizer 2025 ends in December. Buy tickets here.
Check out all of Samantha’s photos from the show below.
