SLEIGH BELLS
w/ Sophie Hunter
Majestic Theater – 6/15/25 – Madison, WI
©Justin Nuoffer/NuofferMedia.com
The capital of Wisconsin, Madison, was the place to be. The warm air temperatures and cool lake breeze engulfing the isthmus created a reason to hit the streets on a Sunday. The gold flaking of Lady Wisconsin gleamed brightly on top of the capital dome. Just down King Street, the Majestic Theater sits in the middle of a classic arcade-style city block. Its marquee reads “Sleigh Bells.” Wedged between a bar and an ice cream shop, the historic and repurposed vaudeville venue had a line that stretched up towards the capital early. Fans, dressed in their brightest colors, were ready to get their pop fix.
Once opened, the line moved very quickly, and patrons could proceed upstairs to the balcony seating or directly into the main room. To the right, the tour merchandise had folks lined up from the very start. Moving further into the room, a ramp leading down to the main floor lined the right side, and on the left, a bar wrapped around the back corner, offering standing room spots, and a set of stairs led down. Up the middle were three tiers of standing room that also led down to the main floor. The stage stands roughly a few feet off the main floor, and there is no security barricade. The fans are up close and personal. The stage itself is a hardwood and holds the history of the building. The moving and career-altering performances that have graced the stage are kept within the scratches, digs, and stains within those boards. This night did nothing but add to the venue’s legacy.
The lone opener on the billing was Sophie Hunter. Hunter, who is out on her second US tour of the year, was recently in Madison, WI, on the Prof tour. Her name was fresh on the minds of plenty in the crowd tonight. If there is any takeaway from what Hunter does live, it is answered within the very first few bars. She owns it with attitude, lyricism, and honesty.
Check out the Sophie Hunter concert photo gallery below:
Knowing that she is a future headliner in the works, fans were able to catch her on stage with a guitarist and pre-recorded beats. The purest and simplest form. She maneuvered her way through songs like “Cha Cha,” “Mic Check,” and “2 Shots of Patron.” The crowd ate it up, and quite a few went word for word with her. Once she tore into “Tenfold” and the crowd started bouncing with every movement of hers, it was obvious she held full control of the Majestic crowd. Overall, Hunter dominated her opening spot.
With the Madison crowd filling every corner and nook the venue had to offer, the noise was already at an elevated level. Somehow, Sleigh Bells gathered in that excitement from the very first step onto the historic stage. The energy maintained the highest level possible from start to finish. With blue and purple lighting dominating the color scheme from the venue lights, they matched it with strobes along the back line. The brain trust that is Sleigh Bells, vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist Derek Miller, received heaps of love from the audience over and over. With this being the final stop of the Bunky Becky Birthday Tour, everything the band had left in the tank was dispersed into the ether.
Dressed in bright, fun colors reminiscent of the early 90s fashion, the good vibes poured from the stage. With six full-length albums, one of which was just released this past April, Sleigh Bells were loaded full of material. Bunky Becky Birthday and Treats were the primary focus. Opening with “Badly” and “Infinity Guitars,” the tone was set early. You will have fun! The poppy punk riffs and refreshing vocals were a perfect mixture. They also managed to add in a few lone tracks along the way. The likes of “Comeback Kid,” “I Can Only Stare,” and “Bitter Rivals” were instant hits with the raucous Majestic Theater.
The tempo and upbeat nature never waned. As soon as “Bunky Pop” kicked in, the uber pop rock single that felt like a mix of 80s new wave vocal patterns with that signature Sleigh Bells guitar riff was a fantastic addition to the set list. Its over-the-top enjoyable nature had the lower level bouncing around while the upper levels were shaking and bopping around. The attitude and aura were electric. The participation with the fans along the front lip of the stage was plentiful, whether it was a high five or singing into the microphone. This was simply carefree and loose. The band dished out songs that made them a fan favorite for years. This wasn’t pre-planned or performative. It was a natural expression of the art they’ve created and of the audience’s admiration.
With “Rill Rill” being the song before a brief encore break, the band invited Sophie Hunter back on stage to join in singing, and the crowd went nuts. Sharing the middle verse and playing off of each other, Krauss had Hunter in perfect harmony with her. At one point, Hunter crowd surfed around the main floor before being returned to the stage and finishing out the song. The eager audience’s arms remained in the air, waving back and forth. The delight was addictive and extended into the final two songs of the evening.
The interpretations of “Pulse Drips Quiet” and “Crown On The Ground” were more rock n roll than one could have ever expected, and it worked to perfection. The anthemic nature of “Crown On The Ground” was arguably the best way to end a wonderful evening. The floorboards of the Majestic Theater shook from all of the dancing and jumping around, especially when Kraus decided to jump into the crowd and sing with the fans. She bounced around as she made her way around and back to the stage as the final notes rang out.
As the fans began to line up at the merchandise stand or made their way out into the Madison night, the spirited performance was all the talk. Sleigh Bells were everything one could’ve wanted to experience. They were simply fun and highly positive. A stark difference from a lot of the hellscape that the world was providing in this moment. This reprieve and break to simply enjoy everything good and wholesome was a major reason people still flock to shows when they come around. Exiting the venue and continuing with the night was just a little bit easier and positive. With fans hanging out in front of the building, it was obvious that this observation was shared by many. What a masterful performance!
Check out the Sleigh Bells concert photo gallery below:
