I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: July 7, 2023] Skating Polly

I saw Skating Polly six years ago when they opened for X.  Unfortunately, I arrived really late and caught only a couple songs from them.

I’d been intrigued by them for a while–two sisters, both teenagers (technically Kelli was NINE when they formed), started a band as a duo and played some kick ass punk.  Six years ago primary singer Kelli was only 19, older sister Peyton was 24 and their brother Kurtis (no age given) was playing drums with them.

So here it was several years later and Kelli can legally be in Kung Fu Necktie.

They put on a fierce show with Kelli doing impressive high kicks in her platform shoes.

The lighting in KFT was weirdly over-red, so Peyton and Kurtis had a red glow the whole night while the one spotlight was on Kelli.

We also found out that they had a strict curfew of… 9:30!  Apparently there was some kind of event at 10, so they had to be off stage in plenty of time.

I don’t know if they usually banter more, but they did say they were trying to be quick.  I know they skipped one song off the setlist and it may have actually been two.

They opened quickly with two new songs and big kicks from Kelli.  I love how the two sisters are so different in both appearance and attitude, with Kelli bouncing all over the place in a frilly skirt and ripped tights with dyed hair.  While Peyton holds things down on the other side (even though she’s lead guitar).

It was a great set with some older songs thrown in.  Although they didn’t play anything from before 2016 [Their debut album (Kelli was 10) doesn’t seem to be available, although their second album from 2013 is on Spotify.  They do apparently play stuff from Fuzz Steliacoom (2014), but not at our show.  And, honestly, their growth as songwriters is really apparent starting with The Big Fit.

I was a little bummed that “Perfume for Now” was on the setlist but it wasn’t played, it’s one of the first songs I’d heard by them and the screams are goosebump inducing.  But I was really psyched that they played “Louder in Outer Space” a super catchy song and “Hail Mary” a great song with a cool singalong component.  For this song, Kelli switched to guitar and Peyton played bass, so it was nice to see her without the eerie red glow on her.

For the final song, Kurtis came out from behind the kit to play guitar (mostly making some excellent, wild guitar noises, including using his drum stick).  Peyton played drums.  In the early days they both switched off from drums, so it was probably fun to play back there once in a while.

Sure it was crummy that the show was cut a little short, but only by a song or two and really, the set was cathartic and fun. And I was glad to see that waiting six years didn’t dampen my enjoyment of them.  Plus I was home REALLY early!