Sleigh Bells Gifts Me an Origin Story
Alexis Krauss and Sleigh Bells return to Chicago, fueling energies into the Metro and gratitude within me.
I shoot concerts because of Sleigh Bells. Every photo I’ve taken of an artist, every venue, and every post-show edit and upload I make is due to discovering their debut album Treats.
In a personal musical rut years ago, Sleigh Bells made me realize that though I came across new music, nothing stuck. Not the bands, not the songs, just one-off distractions to get me through the day and into my recyclable playlist. Until Sleigh Bells, so much music seemed ephemeral. Alexis Krauss’ dreamy vocals on ‘Rill Rill’ was the first track I heard and eventually followed her hard and noisy turn into a track guided by Derek Miller’s iconic guitar riff. An opening riff that heralded a song, unlike anything I’ve ever heard before or since, in Infinity Guitars. No music review here, just my appreciation of a sound and aesthetic so original and dynamic, I became an instant fan and sought to see them live. Better yet, photograph them at a show.
I wondered what it would take to photograph a band at a show. What are the rules? Literal barriers to entry? With an incredible amount of initial technical failure, I was able to shoot a few other artists early on, but always kept an eye open for Sleigh Bells’ arrival. I eventually shot them at a show in 2018, but for unexpected reasons couldn’t capture the show in its entirety. A bit crestfallen, I thought I’d catch them the next year. Or the year after that. Or.
Four years forward, their return to the Metro is more than a full circle that I need to close, but also a grateful reminder that Sleigh Bells is responsible for the musical renaissance in my life and what others eventually see on the other side of my lens.
Full gallery: Sleigh Bells ‘22
Ensuring the best behaviors, Alexis keeps the Metro crowd enraptured.
A four year span of change.