One month after dropping their highly anticipated debut album Unreal, art-rock quartet Legss took over Hackney’s Moth Club for their final headlining London show of the year. It’s Saturday night in one of the city’s most intimate venues, and the band has transformed the room into something electric. They delivered a raw showcase of technical guitar noodles and rhythmic spoken word, proving exactly why the hype around them has been building.
This was their biggest headline gig to date, and the sold-out crowd was buzzing with anticipation. Before launching into the set, Legss frontman Ned Green took a hefty swig of his pint. He then unleashed a feral scream that set the tone for everything to follow. What unfolded over the next hour was a setlist soaked in heartbreak and intensity, each song landing with the weight of a band fully in their element.
The sound of an organ took precedence before the group boisterously thrashed into “Sleepers, Awake.” Jagged guitar shreds, sultry saxophone notes, and monotonal spoken word signaled Legss had arrived. As far as intros go, “Sleepers, Awake” landed somewhere between chaotic despair and tangled hypnosis. The lyrics, “It seems some people only exist just to prang me the fuck out,” struck out as oddly satisfying and comically relatable. In fact, the words resonated louder than any other section of the song. It was an innocent moment of vulnerability through complete paranoia, something many of us can relate to.
The transition into “The Landlord” saw them uplift the energy slightly, a quick blast to the past of 2023’s EP, Fester. “Bit Rot” followed with a haunting, grungier edge and a slower pace. The daunting lyrics emphasized the “rot” in its title, while Max Oliver frantically threw the poetic thrusts of lead guitarist into every chord. It was clear that every part of him was present, his movements embodying a vulnerability that could only be captured in the moment.
Dedicated fans looked longingly into the eyes of their friends as they mouthed the words to one another and flung their arms in the air. It was a moment of complete catharsis, a bond of nothing but pure love. At this point, Legss had launched into “See No Evil,” a song that brought a deeply connecting moment for those who knew it and a dreamlike state of yearning for those who didn’t.
Green had taken it upon himself to give a shout-out to the audience, their supporting acts, and, of course, some self-promotion of their new album. He removed his suit jacket to reveal more of his silky burgundy shirt, which complemented the title of their next song, “Gloss.” The audience greeted him with fruitful cheers and a few wolf whistles.
It’s important to note that if you ever get the chance to see Legss live, their songs create an atmosphere that forces you to look a little closer at your own life. It’s a feeling that’s whimsical and downright revealing at times. And almost every song has an outro with a hook that transcends into some type of beautiful awakening—both euphoric and devastating. Somehow, they found that sweet spot on “Gloss.”
The venue was bursting with energy. Beer cups flew in the air in celebration of a solid run of tracks in their setlist. Meanwhile, chants, cheers, and untranslatable grunts broke loose from the crowd. Building on the room’s intensity, Legss took their set back to 2021, playing their new wave hit “Hollywood.” Drummer Louis Grace unleashed harrowing screams in the outro that resonated like something straight out of a horror movie. Naturally, the uproar of cheers continued, making this a pivotal moment in the show.
Even with the beautifully melancholic sounds of their debut album, no song came quite close to the masterpiece that is “Fester.” To listen to it on headphones is a journey, but live it became an experience. As the penultimate track of the evening, it saw Legss capture a brilliantly intimate moment before completing the show with the disorienting discord of “909.”
Legss is the type of band that exceeds itself with every project, but the release of Unreal has been an awakening of sorts. It’s given them the chance to perform on bigger stages and receive their flowers in real time. While they deserve much more recognition, their performance at Moth Club suggests it’s on the way. Only a few words can really capture the magic they’re making. To have seen them live on the verge of an even greater breakthrough will always be a memorable and sentimental experience.