Live Review: Refused and Sleigh Bells at Showbox SoDo

Refused live at Showbox SoDo (All photos and video by Robert Hanna)

Guitarist Jon Brännström of Refused

Over 20 years since their inception in 1991, Umeå, Sweden’s most well-known export Refused returned to the US for a highly anticipated reunion tour this year to headline this year’s Coachella Festival, among other destinations on both coasts. Tearing right into “Worms of the Senses/Faculties of the Skull,” the group blazed through an energetic and visceral set in between frenetic riffing and vocalist Dennis Lyxzén’s unstoppable (and at times James Brown-evoking) stage moves. While most of their set consisted of their seminal 1997 release The Shape of Punk to Come: A Chimerical Bombination in 12 Bursts, the group also played a couple songs off their first LP, 1995′s Songs to Fan the Flame of Discontent.

Refused live at Showbox SoDo

Dennis Lyxzén of Refused

Dennis Lyxzén of Refused

Guitarist Kristofer Steen and Bassist Magnus Flagge of Refused

Infamous for their left-leaning politics and explosive live sets, Refused disbanded in late 1998 on the heels of The Shape of Punk to Come, never fully able to reap the benefits of being what may cite as one of the most influential bands in hardcore music.  While Refused took much inspiration from the hardcore-meets-free-jazz style of D.C. punk pioneers Nation of Ulysses, they elaborated on NOU’s confrontational methods and made them bizarrely approachable and accessible.  The group closed with two epic encores, “New Noise” and “Tannhäuser / Derivè.”

Sleigh Bells live at Showbox SoDo

Vocalist Alexis Krauss of Sleigh Bells

Opening the evening was Sleigh Bells, who through a hail of seizure-inducing strobe lights played material off their recent release Reign of Terror.  Comprised of former Poison the Well guitarist Derek Edward Miller and vocalist Alexis Krauss, Sleigh Bells performed as a three piece with touring guitarist and fellow Poison the Well alumni Jason Boyer. Playing a unique hybrid of pop, glitch, and hardcore electronic rock, the group made waves with their debut full-length Treats in 2010.  Surging through at times ear-piercing high frequencies, Krauss puts on an intense live show and there is something inescapable about their presence on stage.