We Caught Those Fists in Nashville

September 26, 2025 Jason Shrum

Wet Leg came to Marathon Music Works with a Thunderous Roar

Long after the openers, Mary in the Junkyard and Hana Vu, left the stage at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, the fog machines were in full effect, billowing a blanket of smoke across the platform. Then the Wet Leg lead singer Rhian Teasdale burst into ‘Catch These Fists,’ the band’s opening number Tuesday, September 23rd, in front of a sold-out crowd. That’s right, they opened with their current hit. Instead of waiting until later in the set, they immediately struck us with “I don’t want your love, I just wanna fight!”, and we were off to the races. The lights burst around the performers and into our eyes with big white punches of illumination. The audience thrust forward with that opening note and the wave of bodies were swirling to the agreeable riffs.

As the strobes flickered and the audience swayed, Wet Leg pumped them full of life. There was also a bubble machine that made an appearance a few times during the set. The band was not leaving without giving the crowd everything they dearly wanted.

The world has certainly changed most recently here in America and the band from the Isle of Wright seemingly recognizes that. The now five-piece group with guitarist Josh Mobaraki, bassist Ellis Durand, and drummer Henry Holmes officially joining Teasdale and co-founder guitarist Hester Chambers wanted us to put aside our differences and congregate in a soundscape that resonates with the times.

The show was sonically stunning. Rhian captivates with both dance moves and playability that strokes our hair and lets us know things with be okay, but we need to stay vigilant. She whispers in our ears with electric screams. The band played 10 of the 12 tracks from their newest summer release Mosturizer. During the performance of ‘UR Mom’ there is a spot reserved for a scream, and in this moment, Rhian hyped up the onlookers and brought them to a frenzy as this primal shout lasted for at least a full minute as those lights cascaded into our souls.

This was the third cultivated show by Rolling Stone Magazine monikered as the Gather No Moss Tour. Fans knew exactly when to clap and clamor back with audio responses provoked by the group. It was as if we were watching a classic rock band we had seen for years, yet this is fresh and new and certainly exciting. If you are not listening to Wet Leg, then you are doing yourself a disservice. With just the two records out in only a few years as a collective the band has a ceiling that currently is way above the peer of human eyes.

They have been blasting through all the late-night television shows (while we still have them) with incredible performances and appeared on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” this July with a raucous 4 song set. They have built an incredible fanbase and it was no wonder while they sold out the ex-autobody shop on a Tuesday evening. The whole show was like a tornado ripping through the center of town, except instead of total devastation this storm left behind filled hearts.

Teasdale led the charge, standing way out in front of the group, in her golden-metallic shorts, midriff-showing tee and green, yet translucid guitar. Her counterpart, Chambers, loomed in the shadowy background of the stage donned with a big white cowboy hat. The performance aspect of the show was never lacking. Rhian grabbed a red rotary phone to accent her in the staging of the song ‘CPR’ and dazzled with spins, kicks and an engagement with her onlookers that was totally appreciated.

The show was certainly loud, as it should be, and Wet Leg gave us a 19-song set list that was perfectly manifested. By the time the group got around to their 2022 debut album hit ‘Chaise Longue’ my 51-year-old knees had nearly bounced themselves into submission, but I found a way to push through. Hands were punctuated into the air to create silhouettes of hearts as that background of fog and brightness clashed to form a wonderful spectacle.

I have no doubt that Wet Leg will continue growing in popularity, in musicality and certainly in venue size. I am glad I got to see them here and now, at this moment in their career. After Nashville, and this special one-off show, the mates are off to finish the rest of their North American tour.

Those Dates Are:

09/28 – Dana Point, CA @ Ohana Music Festival
09/30 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
10/03 – Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre
10/07 – Oklahoma City, OK @ The Criterion
10/14 – El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace
10/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Greek Theatre