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| Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016 photo by Evan Andrews |
When Alexis Kraus announced at Northside Festival in July 2015 that "next time they were on stage it'll be with new music," a fire of excitement was ignited inside me. The 3 year mark was approaching since Bitter Rivals, so we were well due for some new angsty, girl power driven, bass heavy, punk. The flame of my excitement was fanned this July with the announcement of their 4th studio album, Jessica Rabbit dropping November 11th and the Fall tour in support of it, which included a show at The Independent in SF! A few weeks later, a second show at the same small club was added due to popular demand! My excitement was triple fold! I had to be at one of those shows...I needed to cover one of those Sleigh Bells' shows!
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| Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016 photo by Evan Andrews |
I had my work cut out for me. Since Treats, their 2010 debut, the loud Brooklyn based duo have been a hot ticket: last time they were here was in 2013 when they closed out the Tunnel Stage at Treasure Island Music Festival and before that they played The Regency Ballroom in 2012. Now, there was only a few months until they'd be back at The Independent since their first show there back in 2011!
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| Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016 photo by Evan Andrews |
We got a taste of Jessica Rabbit thanks to the early releases of the album's opening track, "It's Just Us Now" along with "Hyper Dark" and "Rule Number One". These three premature tracks were a good intro, easing fans into the new direction the band is taking. In 2010, Treats slapped us with an unapologetic, abrasive approach to a new kind of industrial rock: what's come to be known as Noise-Pop or Noise-Punk. Layers of blown-out, screaming guitars and big stomping bass met with soft, raspy vocals delivering catchy lyrics drew fans to them fast, like moths to flame. Though they haven't hit that same hype since, they've maintained their distinctive, distorted, bratty hyper active sound: 2012's Reign of Terror was a little more grandiose, striving to be Arena Rock worthy in a sense while 2013's Bitter Rivals embraced a more varied instrumentation.
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| Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016 photo by Evan Andrews |
Like Bitter Rivals, Jessica Rabbit is more of a creative outlet for the knockout front woman, with Alexis Kraus writing more of the melodies and song lyrics. Rather than churning out a new album following the last as they've done, Sleigh Bells worked on Jessica Rabbit over a three year period. The new album is definitely the most melodic and harmonic in their catalog and it isn't nearly as edgy as we've heard in past but some of their OG sound does blare through on those early released tracks. Just the thought of seeing them preform new material within a week of the full album coming out was exciting in and of itself. Then, early Tuesday morning, the morning of the first of two SF shows, tragedy hit. Bad-ass Alexis had laryngitis and the show that night was canceled! Both shows at The Independent were canceled actually and condensed into one show Wednesday night at Mezzanine. Ticket holders would be honored the following night and I was left wondering if this would help or hinder my fate as two press lists were now also condensed to one.
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| Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016 photo by Evan Andrews |
Wednesday morning rolled around and alas I got the approval I had sought for so long! I was confirmed to cover Sleigh Bells less than 24 hours before the show and I could. Not. Wait!
Mezzanine was hot and stuffy by the time I got there, fighting my way as close to the stage as I could get through the sweaty, millennial crowd.
Red lights faded to black before the flashing of bright, white strobe lights welcomed Sleigh Bells to the stage! Hands went up and the place went wild at the sight of Alexis and the sound of a classic Treats anthem, "Tell Em'". The brunette, daisy duke, torn fishnet, halter top, bomber jacket wearing bombshell was very apologetic, thanking their SF fans for making it to the show that night after having to cancel the night before and change venues. She might not have been feeling 100% or hitting all of the notes the way she would have if she wasn't sick but she certainly gave it her all! While Derek stood his ground stage left, Alexis worked the stage, riling everyone up in the club: climbing on amps, reaching out to the crowd, asking fans to help her sing to which they fervently complied as they fed off her kinetic energy. Pumping up excitement even higher, pulsating lights made amplified Derek's shredding, thumping hooks and shrill riffs.
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| Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016 photo by Evan Andrews |
"Bitter Rivals" and "Riot Rhythm" stirred a frenzy of shove-filled moshing while new, slower tempo tracks and "Comeback Kid" gave the crowd a chance to regain some composure.
Busting out 13 songs in a 45 minute window, they played more fan favorites from their debut than any of their other albums! It was awesome but the end came so quick, too quick! After she did some crowd surfing during "Crown on the Ground", Alexis, Derek and their touring 2nd guitarist were brought back to the stage by the room full of roaring fans.
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| Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016 photo by Evan Andrews |
The two song en core delivered another newbie "Rule Number One" and one more classic Treats track, "A B Machines" to close out the show with driving force. Miss Kraus carried the show, solidifying what we already knew, that she is a fierce force to be reckoned with!
Both of the Sleigh Bells shows in SF could have been canceled and rescheduled but being sick couldn't stop this rockin' vixen!
Both of the Sleigh Bells shows in SF could have been canceled and rescheduled but being sick couldn't stop this rockin' vixen!
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| Sleigh Bells at Mezzanine 11/16/2016 photo by Evan Andrews |
