The 100 Gecs hype machine pulled into Utah April 12. While I can recommend their 2023 release 10,000 Gecs without reservation, the 100 Gecs Salt Lake City Show was a total bore.

Here’s what you didn’t miss.

100 Gecs Salt Lake City show starts strong

It was a promising beginning for the 100 Gecs Salt Lake City Show. Like on the album open, Dylan Brady and Laura Les roll onto stage with the THX sound logo deep enough to make most of the teen boys in the audience sterile. It’s a kickin’ statement, though, and they launched immediately into album opener “Dumbest Girl in the World.” Dylan in his trademark yellow wizard cloak and hat and Laura in a her less-wizardly T-shirt and jeans.

Loud can’t hide dull Gecs performance

The Gecs rolled through several other anthemic crowd-favorites like “Hollywood Baby,” “Doritos & Fritos,” “One Million Dollars” and “I Got My Tooth Removed.” The band also dipped into debut 1,000 Gecs with “Stupid Horse,” “Hand Crushed by a Mallet” and “ringtone.” Here’s the studio version of “ringtone.”

Honestly hearing both albums side-by-side, the the nu metal dorkiness of 100 Gecs sophomore album is a real improvement from the endless autotune of their debut.

100 Gecs Salt Lake City show bores fast

Dylan and Les DJ nearly their entire show.

I guess that’s fine if the compositions are impractical to tour or the artist really wants to be in the moment. But if you’re going to DJ your show you better Beastie Boys the freaking stage. The 100 Gecs show was oddly static. They NEEDED instruments — anything — to occupy them. Dylan, in particular, was very nearly idle.

Unfortunately after a half hour when someone finally handed Laura Les a guitar, the crawling and self-absorbed solo brought the show to a crashing halt.

Laura intro’d most of the songs and a couple of these were cute: “This is a song about a frog. And a floor. The song is called ‘Frog on the Floor.'” Amusing enough.

However she was also responsible for most of the inane stage banter which consisted of at least three, “SLC, how are we doin’?!!?!!” It was real Spinal Tap energy, but not ironically.

Dreadful 100 Gecs Salt Lake City show: 4 words

Was I intensely self-aware of my age watching this all play out, behind at least three wizard-capped 14-year-olds? Yes, yes I was. But I usually am that self-conscious and I can compartmentalize with the best of them to enjoy a show.

I expected loud, dumb fun but not boredom. This night, the Gecs were dreck. I walked out after about 50 minutes.

Four words: Just buy the album.

Wet Leg played an abbreviated, at times joyous and thumping show at The Depot Tuesday night. When you have Wet Leg in Salt Lake City on a Tuesday night it means they’re not going to bring the house down for an hour. And they didn’t. But in the short time they played, the band showed the spark that will place their terrific, loopy post punk debut at the top of many Best Of lists this year.

Wet Leg starts slowly, quickly shift gears

To begin, forgive Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers if they’re still getting accustomed to stardom. The duo are famously from the Isle of Wight, which few of us could find on a map of the UK. It’s been less than a year since their American debut at the Mercury Lounge last December.

Wet Leg began their Salt Lake show a bit tentatively. Even with the crowd’s ceaseless bouncing on “Being in Love” and “Wet Dream,” it was a hesitant start from stage. It wasn’t until the second song that Rhian offered a shy wave to someone on the front row. Her conversation on stage was limited to feckless chit chat…less banter than a text thread (“How are things?” U good?”) One memorable line was her appreciation for escaping England, “a country that is fake mourning.”

When “Supermarket” kicked in with it’s brilliant hi-ee-ai-ee-ai-ee-ai-ee-igh’s, the band hit its stride and matched the Depot’s energy with their own. Nearly every Wet Leg song is pop gold and Rhian played the dynamic well. The set included audience sing-a-longs, indie handclaps and an extended mob yowl on “Ur Mum.” And I do mean extended. As in, cathartic and existential. Likewise, the show’s culminating moments came during the band’s Call and Response to the audience during “Supermarket” and “Oh no.”

Rhian was at times strong and confident, at other times quaint in her appreciation. It’s easy to miss what a lovely voice she has until she’s solo with a guitar. When she was crooning tonight on their unreleased “Obvious,” it was a real highlight.

Wet Leg in Salt Lake City, but only for a moment

Despite the slow start and the forced stage chatter, Wet Leg had the audience from the first pounding guitar lines of “Being in Love.” The sound was booming. I’ve been to a lot of venues, including once before at The Depot where I saw Elbow play The Seldom Seen Kid. Wet Leg was playing a small venue but believe me, it has a remarkable sound system. Despite the sound and growing energy, it was a perfunctory set even by “Tuesday night in Salt Lake City” standards. Wet Leg wrapped in scarcely 40 minutes.

Maybe we’ll be treated to lengthier performances for their completed second album.

Edit September 14: Just a few hours before taking the stage in Salt Lake City, Wet Leg posted an explanation to their Facebook page about cancelled tour dates in Denver and New Mexico. Perhaps it should be no surprise–a year of touring, interviews, TV and newfound world fame had driven band members to exhaustion.

When they stepped foot on stage at The Depot, it was their return to the limelight after a brief reprieve for their physical and mental health. A few hiccups and moments of trepidation make more sense in that light. I support 100% any person’s need to prioritize their wellbeing. Read more from the socials.

Here is the studio version of Tuesday’s highlight “Supermarket,” + a few photos to follow. I promise to work on my phone’s night mode.

Buy Wet Leg from Domino Recording Company.