[ATTENDED: September 22, 2017] Skating Polly
Skating Polly are now a trio (until recently a duo) with a great origin story.
The band was founded by multi-instrumentalist step-siblings Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse who were just 9 and 14 years old when the band formed. The band’s first setup consisted of Peyton on drums and Kelli playing a basitar (Kelli’s father made her a basitar after she complained that a traditional six-string guitar hurt her fingers.) Shortly before tehir debut album Taking Over the World was released on Nice People Records in November 2010, Kelli and Peyton met Exene Cervenka after a show in Oklahoma City. Exene was surprised by the girls’ extensive knowledge of punk and began corresponding with the girls and discussing them in numerous interviews. In 2017 the girls’ brother Kurtis Mayo joined the band.
So that’s all pretty interesting but how did the sound?
Well, after being cocky about not having any trouble getting to shows on time, I hit yet another snag on my way to Philly–a big section of 95 which is always under construction was particularly bad in one spot. I think I missed one or two songs.
But the rest were really good. Rocking and punky with great lead vocals from both singers and some really cool harmonies as well.
Kelli was energetic and fun, pogoing while she played bass. I also love that she was wearing a cute dress with knee-high socks while screaming her head off. Peyton was a bit more subdued in her behavior, but not in her singing or playing.
I really enjoyed the way their songs were more than simple three chord punk songs (although they were that at times, too). There were slow sections and fast sections. Melodic parts and all out screaming moments.
I loved the way “Stop Digging” started as one thing and then got really heavy (with great backing vocals) for a late verse before returning to a quieter sound at the every end.
I couldn’t see Peyton all that well (tall people), but occasionally I could see Kelli going to town on her bass–there was some heavy and busy work going on there. It was great to see.
And I really loved how intense Kelli’s lead vocals and Peyton’s secondary vocals were on “Perfume for Now.”
For the final song, Peyton moved to the drums and Kurtis switched to guitar. They ended the set with a cool noisy jam on Alabama Movies. I also love that I caught Kelli’s cool rock pose at the end of the song.
When the show was all over Kelli and Kurtis were signing autographs (not sure where Peyton was) and they were super nice and friendly. Which is always a good thing.
I realized that Kelli is about 17 right now. She could play music for 20 more years and THEN go on to an entirely new career–astrophysics, say–and have a long career doing that, too. Wild.
Setlist
Pretective Boy [Big Fit]
Nothing More Than a Body [Big Fit]
Ugly [Fuzz]
Louder in Outer Space [New Trick]
Stop Digging [Big Fit]
Ill at Ease [new song]
Perfume for Now [Big Fit]
Alabama Movies [Fuzz]
Leave a Reply