Beyond the Binary: Wet Leg at Revolution Hall
Wet Leg turns Revolution Hall into a sweaty, fog-filled celebration of queer love and rock without boundaries. Words by Bren Swogger. Photos by Jenny Shackleton.
Things were already a cluster at Revolution Hall as I pulled up early Friday evening. My usual pre-show ritual is to duck into the downstairs Show Bar, but signs outside the door and a gathered crowd signaled a private rehearsal dinner. Making a quick pivot, I went up to the roof bar for a cocktail. The early September rain had cleared, leaving the perfect Portland evening: a cloudy 77 degrees, no scorching sun, the skyline rising in the background.
The rooftop wasn’t packed, but scanning the crowd it was obvious many were here for the same reason I was. One fan wore a shirt with two scissors (IYKYK). Buzz cuts, tattoos, cargo pants, camo, baggy jeans, crop tops. But then again… that’s just Portland. Which maybe proves the point: this city is tailor-made for Wet Leg, a band that resists easy definition.
As more fans filtered in, the demographic range widened: dads in tie-dye, trucker hats, a mom with her daughter, even a senior couple. Wet Leg is for everyone, a band beyond any binary. Frontwoman Rhian Teasdale openly identifies as queer and is now writing love songs for her non-binary partner. Their latest album, Moisturizer, reflects this shift, trading ironic detachment for emotional sincerity, with queer love driving the heart of the songs.
By the time the lights went down, Revolution Hall was packed tighter than I’ve ever seen it. Two sold-out nights, shoulder to shoulder, no room to breathe. A drunk man yelled in my ear about Daft Punk, unprompted. Boundaries dissolved with the alcohol, so I retreated to the back, where the fog, so thick you could taste it, had already transformed the ballroom into something between a haunted house and a rave.
From the back, I couldn’t see much beyond flashing lights as the band launched into “Catch These Fists,” but the sound hit like a wall. A couple drinks in, I found the courage to inch closer in time for “Wet Dream,” clapping along with the crowd right on cue. Still, the haze was no joke. Even with warning signs posted on the doors, I’ve never seen fog and strobe effects at this scale. At points it felt like a clown might lunge out of the mist. But when the band is this electric, you brave the haze and keep rocking.
The night peaked in collective catharsis with an ear-splitting scream on that part of “Ur Mum,” sweat dripping from the walls during “Chaise Lounge,” the audience shouting back every line.
By the end of the night, the room was sweltering, air thick with body heat, fog, and the collective musk of every gender, age, and creed packed into one space. Under the strobes, Wet Leg made rock feel both primal and expansive, and proved that music lives best beyond the binary.
Bren Swogger (they/them) is the founder and editor of Indie/Alt Magazine. Bren started Indie/Alt as a music blog during their sophomore year of high school, and after a long hiatus, relaunched it as an online entertainment magazine in 2021 for their capstone project at Pacific University. After 10 years in the music journalism industry, Bren has a long-standing passion for live music, but also loves to explore their passion for other artistic outlets. You can find Bren writing voraciously, adding to their never-ending stack of TBRs, and marathoning classic horror films.
Jenny Shackleton (she/her) is a photographer based in Portland, OR, originally hailing from Philadelphia, PA. Her love for live music started over 15 years ago after seeing the Jonas Brothers perform on their Burning Up tour in 2008 and the rest is history. As a naturally shy person, it’s surprising she feels so comfortable at concerts with hundreds of people attending, but has always believed that they are special, somewhat liminal, spaces. Everyone is there for the same reason: to have the best night and see artists pour their souls’ onto the stage. That is what Jenny likes to capture in her photos. Jenny enjoys spending time outside with her partner and their dog, watching movies, and owning way too many sneakers.