previous experience performing and touring

The two members of Sleigh Bells—Derek Miller and Alexis Krauss—had previous experience performing and touring in a musical ensemble. From age 17 to 22, Miller was a guitarist in the post-hardcore band Poison the Well . He played on the band’s first three albums, but left in 2004, citing creative differences with the other band members as a key factor for his departure. Krauss meanwhile has a background in theater and television. As a child she appeared in a Nickelodeon Magazine commercial, and starred in a community production of the musical Annie . From age 12 to 16, Krauss performed in the teen pop group RubyBlue. After RubyBlue broke up, Krauss went to college (majoring in political science ), taught Spanish at an elementary school in The Bronx , and performed at weddings on the side for fun.