Live Review: Sleigh Bells at Le Poisson Rouge [with video]

Sleigh Bell's Alexis Krauss in the spotlight.

By John Ruscher

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Last night we were at Le Poisson Rouge to see the heavy-hitting duo Sleigh Bells. We've been digging everything we've heard by them online, and it was great to finally feel the full impact of those tunes pounding out of LPR's PA.

Singer Alexis Krauss belted out the lyrics, swayed around the stage and convulsed to the massive beats that accompanied her. Derek Miller, the man behind those beats, as well as the group's guitarist, was less often in the spotlight, but just as crucial to the high-strung energy that Sleigh Bells sent spinning around the room. Going on around 2am, the duo provided a cathartic and triumphant end to the evening.

We shot video of "Ring Ring" and "Crown on the Ground" during Sleigh Bells' set. Check that out below.

Earlier in the night, Brooklyn-via-Brazil's Zuzuka Poderosa kicked things off with a solid set of baile funk beats and Portuguese rhymes. Following that, Philadelphia's POPO performed as a duo (as opposed to their normal trio lineup) and pulled off an enjoyable and impressive set for such sparse instrumentation.

Sleigh Bells - "Ring Ring" live at Le Poisson Rouge, November 19, 2009:

Sleigh Bells - "Crown on the Ground" live at Le Poisson Rouge, November 19, 2009: