Oh, the complicated history I have with Sleigh Bells. I’ll tell this story, and I’m sure I’ll get stuff wrong or exaggerate, but this is how it felt.
(so, please: read this as very tongue in cheek)
Back in 2014(?) I went and saw these guys when they came around. Their first record Treats had some solid songs (everyone knows “Rill Rill” from the iPhone commercial), and Reign of Terror was alright… I was generally looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it proceeded to be the worst show I have ever seen.
And I’ve seen Moby, so that’s really saying something.
It started with a logistical nightmare: the show sold out (I think?), so they opened up a second night. Then, two days before the first night, they canceled it, moved everyone to the second night, and changed the venue. And then the best part: on the day of the new show, they sent an email saying the singer has laryngitis, but the show must go on.
We went. It took a full hour and a half, at least after the opening bands finished and broke down before they got on stage, and this is on a Wednesday night (so it’s already 11-something PM). Anyway, she comes out, hoarsely apologizes, and then just begins to straight-up lip-sync. They didn’t have a band with them, so it was just the two of them… She’s up there lip-syncing, and dude is trying to be the hero on guitar. It sounded horrible. When Alexis did try to sing, it was like someone being wounded.
It became one of those performances that were so incredibly awful it tainted the source for me. Whenever they came on a playlist, it was an instant skip and thumbs down from me. “Ugh. No.”. It was a running punchline with Kirk: “well, it can never be as bad as sleigh bells…”
Fast-forward to 2021, when, for some reason, YouTube’s algorithm recommended a live set on KEXP. Out of sheer hatred, anger, spite, and nothing nice—really wanting to watch them fail—I clicked on it.
And oh, wait… oh, man.
Holupaminute.
This was good. Really good. And this was live. With great vocals and a killer drummer. Jeeze… these songs were tight. The album launched, and out of disbelief… I… I freakin’ loved it. It was one of my albums of the year.
2025’s sleigh bells was an absoutely killer show, with a ton of energy, and sounded great. Again, I’m saying this mostly for the story. As a touring band—especially early on—i know canceling a show is the kiss of death. It’s a job, they’re doing their best. Love a comeback kid though, and they absolutely delivered.
