Sleigh Bells @ 9:30 Club - 2/14/2018
If there’s any band that has perfected the aural attack, it’s Sleigh Bells. Starting with their 2010 album Treats, they treated listeners with a sound that the mainstream had not experienced to that point - a mash-up of guitars turned up way past the point of distortion, hip-hop beats, and cheerleader-like vocals from Alexis Krauss. The niche they carved starting with their 2010 debut album Treats is still one that they can lay claim to, including with their most recent release, the 2017 mini-album Kid Kruschev. While it’s easier to discern Krauss’s vocals with their more recent releases, the band hasn’t lost the rage that made their debut album so irresistible and unforgettable. They turned that energetic rage into a spectacle at their sold-out show at 9:30 Club.
Sleigh Bells vocalist Alexis Krauss riding the wave at 9:30 Club (Photo by Mauricio Castro / @themauricio)
Picture this - a wall of Marshall guitar amp stacks, thunderous guitars, strobe lights, and a whole lot of headbanging. For those looking to let off some steam, a Sleigh Bells show is the place to do it. Krauss and guitarist/producer Derek Miller already create a big sound just as a duo, but by bringing along tourist guitarist Jason Boyer, their imposing presence was even more pronounced. Boyer and Miller furiously thrashed away at their guitars while Krauss riled up the crowd with her incendiary delivery. In an alternate universe, she would be a cheerleader for the revolution. For all the moments of unrest throughout the show, they found some time to mellow out, if only for one or two songs. New cut “Rainmaker” let the crowd headbang less and groove out more - and it let Krauss showcase her breathtaking vocal range that were at times completely obscured by the deafening one-two punch of guitars and beats. And to top it all off, she found some time to crowd surf during “A/B Machines” and continued to ride that wave as they transitioned into “Rill Rill,” their final song of the night. They’ve been doing this for almost a decade now, but the band’s passion for working up crowds into a frenzy hasn’t diminished one bit.
Kid Kruschev is available now through Torn Clean.
Opening for Sleigh Bells was NYC-based Sunflower Bean, a band that combined Deep Purple-like bass lines, Led Zeppelin-like guitar licks, and fast-paced punk rock energy to make for a formidable and fun set. Their latest release is the single “Crisis Fest” through Mom + Pop Music.
