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Beauty and Noise: Sleigh Bells Unleash Chaos in Chicago
- Ernesto Aguilar
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
On June 12, 2025, Sleigh Bells brought their signature sonic chaos to Metro Chicago. Well known for their explosive fusion of noise pop, punk, and electro, they delivered a set that had the crowd in a nonstop frenzy from start to finish.
The night opened with a playful jolt as The Ronettes’ Be My Baby rang through the venue, triggering cheers before the lights even went down. Keyboardist Kate Steinberg burst onto the stage with the energy of a fighter entering a boxing ring. The rest of the band followed suit, then launched straight into Badly, the lead track from their new album Bunky Becky Birthday Boy. Bunky Becky was the nickname of Alexis Krauss's late dog, Riz. From that instant, the night had a momentum all its own.
Frontwoman Alexis Krauss commanded the stage, her voice cutting cleanly through the maelstrom of distortion and bass. Guitarist Derek Miller matched her intensity with blistering riffs that transformed each song into a visceral experience. Krauss and Miller fed off each other in a way that made the entire performance feel spontaneous yet razor sharp.
The setlist smartly balanced fan favorites with newer material, while never straying far from their core sound. Classics like Rill Rill and Infinity Guitars had the audience shouting along, while fresh cuts from the new album added urgency and edge. Sleigh Bells’ bass-heavy, beat driven aesthetic ensured there wasn’t a dull moment as each track flowed into the next with ferocious momentum.
One of the night’s most electrifying moments came during Bitter Rivals. As the first chords rang out, the crowd erupted. Krauss’s soaring vocals rode the waves of guitar and percussion, creating a hypnotic tension between melody and aggression that’s become the band’s hallmark.
Opening act Sophie Hunter set the tone with a compelling set of her own. Her experimental blend of rap and electropop offered a sleek, stylish contrast to Sleigh Bells’ raw power. Even enlisting the crowd to sing along on her closing song CVNT. It was a smart pairing that gave the evening texture and range.
Visually, the show was a perfect storm. Strobe lights, and a minimalist but effective stage setup heightened the sense of organized chaos. Metro’s cozy, high-fidelity space amplified the energy tenfold; there wasn’t a corner of the room untouched by the sound, an ideal setting for a band like Sleigh Bells, whose music is meant to be felt as much as heard.
As the final notes faded, the audience was left buzzing, ears ringing, adrenaline still high. Sleigh Bells reaffirmed their status as one of the most thrilling, genre defying acts in alternative music. Their fearless mix of beauty and noise, polish and fury, continues to push boundaries. And on this night in Chicago, they didn’t just play a show, they detonated it.
For anyone drawn to music that doesn’t ask permission, that thrives on risk, this wasn’t just a concert. It was a gut punch in the best way, a high voltage release I’ll be chasing for a long time.