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Coachella Artists of the Day: Jan. 30, 2026

  • Writer: Justin Recio
    Justin Recio
  • 2 days ago
  • 2 min read

Wet Leg

Origin: Isle of Wight, England
Genre / Subgenres: Rock / Indie Rock, Indie pop


Hailing from a tiny island off the coast of England, Wet Leg actually started as a duo before expanding to a full five-piece band, which seemed risky, but ultimately worked out in their favor. The self-titled debut album of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers was beloved by critics and earned them two Grammys. One would think that changing it up by adding three more members would lead to an inevitable sophomore slump, but that was quite the contrary. Moisturizer was met with widespread critical acclaim, and some would even argue it's better than their first. It's also nominated for three Grammys this year, including the inaugural Best Album Cover award.

When it comes to their sound, you could call it catchy, upbeat indie pop, but minus the pretentiousness that comes with being "indie." They don't take themselves too seriously and have a sardonic wit about them. What's most appealing about Wet Leg is that the band's chemistry can be felt throughout each track, especially from the original duo, and that makes me want to listen again and again.

Performing: Sunday
Stage Prediction: Outdoor Theatre
For Fans of: The White Stripes, PJ Harvey, Wolf Alice
Rating: ★★★★★

David Byrne

Origin: Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland & Arbutus, MD, USA
Genre / Subgenres: Rock / Art Rock, Art Pop, Worldbeat


The heavily influential Talking Heads haven't performed together in over 25 years, but the frontman has been active as a solo artist since the early '90s. In fact, when the band dispersed, Byrne became even bigger as he expanded his sound into Afro-Latin, art pop, global, and gospel-inspired electronic pop. His live shows have also evolved beyond music and have turned into a showcase of pop experimentalism, immersive staging, and performance art. This ensures that his work remains culturally relevant across all generations. It's all so cerebral, and his music has been described as "dance first and think later," which keeps it quirky and playful. He might not be for everybody, but there's no denying that what he's creating is actual art, and that what he's doing cannot be done by anyone else.

Performing: Saturday
Stage Prediction: Mojave
For Fans of: Brian Eno, Laurie Anderson, David Sylvian
Rating: ★★★½
Ratings are on a 5-star scale

 
 
 

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