A week or so ago, I wrote about how awful a side project/duo could turn out, especially if it goes the mall-pop route that Pin Me Down did.  Sleigh Bells, hailing from Brooklyn, however, has an edge to their music that takes them to a whole new ballgame.

Sleigh Bells is composed of Alexis Kraus and Derek Miller (formerly of hardcore outfit Poison The Well) have a well diversified portfolio to say the least.  Miller creates a backdrop of razor sharp synth strikes and pounding bass lines and guitar fuzz while Kraus offers her vocal talent that can go from sugary sweet to punk rock in an instant.  Check out what I mean below by flipping from the Kinks-inspired “Infinity Guitars” to the doo-wop groove of “Ring Ring”.

The duo have reached critical mass at this point as, despite their lack of support on the internet, they have been signed up to open for Yeasayer and Major Lazer, and even have deals with MIA in the works.  The band’s insane live show hits Denver’s Bluebird Theater on April 24 in support of Yeasayer and their forthcoming LP, Treats, due out May 11.

MP3:  “Infinity Guitars” – Sleigh Bells
MP3:  “Ring Ring” – Sleigh Bells
MP3:  “Crown On The Ground” – Sleigh Bells
MP3:  “Beach Girls” – Sleigh Bells

Guaranteed to be an eardrum-shattering good time:

03/17-20 – Austin, TX (SXSW)
03/23 – London, UK @ White Heat at Madame Jo Jo’s
03/25 – London, UK @ Notting Hill Arts Club
03/26 – London, UK @ Koko
03/29 – Knoxville, TN @ The Valarium #
03/30 – Carborro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle #
03/31 – Baltimore, MD @ Bourbon Street #
04/02 – New Hyde Park, NY @ Starlite Ballroom #
04/04 – Boston, MA @ Middle East #
04/06 – Columbus, OH @ BoMa #
04/07 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Rangos Ballroom at Carnegie Mellon University
04/08 – Syracuse, NY @ Spark Art Space at Syracuse University
04/09 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
04/10 – Toronto, ON @ Wrong Bar
04/11 – South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
04/16 – Indio, CA (Coachella)
04/17 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore Auditorium &
04/19 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom &
04/20 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos &
04/21 – Vancouver, British Columbia @ Commodore Ballroom &
04/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In the Venue &
04/24 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre &
04/25 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room &
04/26 – St. Louis, MO @ Gargoyle Club &
04/27 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue &
04/28 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre &
04/29 – Chicago, IL @ Metro &
04/30 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop &
05/01 – Toronto, Ontario @ Lee’s Palace &
05/02 – Montreal, Quebec @ La Sala Rossa &
05/03 – Boston, MA @ Paradise &
05/04 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall &
05/05 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero &
07/18 – Chicago, IL (Pitchfork Music Festival)

# w/ Major Lazer
& w/ Yeasayer

• Sleigh Bells Official Site

While you're here, check out:

1. [Band to watch] We Have Band
2. [Band to Watch] Yet another tasty little gem from the U.K.: The Joy Formidable
3. Watch for: The Flashguns
4. Band of Horses announce 2010 album and tour (including Denver dates!)
5. A Mouse and his Sheriff: Why I won’t be supporting Broken Bells