Who Are Skating Polly?
Every music fan in Merseyside knows only too well that a lot of touring bands bypass Liverpool meaning we have to face the perils of travelling by train to Manchester or even Birmingham if we want to catch their show. But in a refreshing break from this unfortunate tradition, Skating Polly who usually sell out shows in both Manchester and Birmingham are playing neither city on their upcoming tour, but they ARE playing in Liverpool.
Whilst no official explanation has been given, we’d like to think that it’s because their debut Liverpool show in March 2022 proved what we already know – Liverpool is a globally famous music city and scouse audiences know and appreciate a great band when they hear one.
But who the hell are Skating Polly?
In the world of music, it sometimes feels like everything has been done 100 times or more and there is nothing new to discover – and yet Skating Polly manages to be absolutely unique. Kelli Mayo, Peyton Bighorse and Kurtis Mayo are siblings/step-siblings based just-outside Seattle in Tacoma USA. Currently, all aged in their 20s, with all the energy and creativity of a young band, incredibly they have the polish, professionalism and ability that comes from having 13 years of experience writing, recording and performing live! Kelli was just 9 and Peyton 14 when they started the band – but this was no cheesy cringe kid’s playing at being a band, they were full of punk attitude from the start, with people who saw their early shows commenting that they weren’t just good for a kid’s band, they were just good regardless of age, but all the more remarkable with them being so young. They grew up in a family of music obsessives, and the drive all came from the band themselves with their parents merely giving them support to do what they wanted to do. Kelli and Peyton being step-sisters, means they have an unmistakable telepathic-like bond having grown up together, whilst being different enough to mix things up, with Kelli fronted songs being very different from Peyton fronted songs, and yet always recognisably Skating Polly.
(Skating Polly)
Not feeling they really fitted into existing genres, aged 13 Kelli defined her own genre ‘Ugly Pop’: We’ve been asked what genre of music we consider ourselves to be many times now, and I feel like we never quite know how to answer it. I don’t like to say pop because even when it makes me think of Regina Spektor, Elliott Smith, Kate Nash, and so on, I feel like most people think of ‘radio pop’ when they hear that term. And I’ve never liked saying indie or alternative because it doesn’t even really mean anything. I feel like you could call anything indie or alternative. I don’t think the term rock is very good for us. And I don’t like punk because not all of our music is punk. We have lots of quieter, prettier songs, so I feel like punk gives people the wrong impression. Ugly has been one of my favourite words this year. I’ve written a song with that title, written it on my face, painted it on my nails, and referred to myself as ugly several times. And I was sitting on my floor thinking “That’s it!” our music is ‘Ugly Pop’ and I ran it by Peyton and she agreed. So here’s what ‘Ugly Pop’ means. Ugly Pop is pop music that doesn’t fit into radio standards of pop music. It’s pop music that goes wherever the hell it wants to go. Pop music that gets sloppy and loud, pop music that’s rough around the edges, pop music that is just ugly but in a great way! Remarkably insightful for a 13-year-old!
Of their 5 albums to date: (Taking Over the World (2011), Lost Wonderfuls (2013), Fuzz Steilacoom (2014), The Big Fit (2016) and The Make it All Show (2018)) with the as-yet-untitled 6th album due in 2023. Whilst each album shows a clear progression over its predecessors, every one of them still stands up on their own.
As you can see, they are not a band who do things by halves. For example, they made a music video for every single song on their 3rd album ‘The Big Fit’ and all but 3 on ‘The Make it All Show’ (no doubt they would have done them all if not for the pandemic). And they are all proper full-blown music videos – not just a lyrics video over a still frame. Every song on their albums is strong enough to be a single.
Whilst the band’s recorded music wins them many fans of all ages, particularly people into Punk, Grunge, Alternative or just great music, it’s their legendary live performances that reel in the real devotees, aka Pollyholics. On their 2022 EU/UK tour they played shows 30 nights out of 34, travelling long distances each day, and then upon their return to the USA, went straight into an 18-date tour, taking it all in their stride, whilst leaving a trail of stunned audiences in their wake everywhere they go. One stunned audience member at their Liverpool show which took place at Jimmy’s in March 2022 commented “Why are they not playing stadiums? It’s like seeing Bon Jovi in your local pub”.
Whilst their music is very different to Bon Jovi, it speaks volumes that a Bon Jovi fan rates them so highly. Undoubtedly if Skating Polly’s aim was to play stadiums they would be doing so by now, and also if bands played stadiums based purely on merit, then they would without a doubt. But they are simply focused on pushing the envelope to create great music that their fans appreciate than playing the industry game to become big stars. Noted celebrity fans of the band include Shirley Manson (Garbage), Exene Cervenka (LA Punk Band – X), David Yow (Scratch Acid), Toyah and Kate Nash.
A documentary movie Skating Polly: Ugly Pop was made about the band in 2021 by Henry Mortensen (son of Viggo Mortensen who played Aragon in Lord of the Rings) and won Best Feature at deadCenter film festival.
Their music has appeared in the movie Falling (2020) and the US remake of Shameless.
Catch Skating Polly at O2 Academy2 Liverpool on Friday 10th March 2023.
Standard Academy Age restrictions: 8+ (Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult), Under 25 require ID to purchase alcohol.
Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster, See Tickets, Eventbrite, and O2 Academy Box Office.
The Liverpool Indie/Alternative Music Meetup will once again be going to the show – the idea is that if you don’t have someone to go with (single, partner doesn’t like your music, new in town etc etc) you go as a group. At the previous show around 20 people joined the group and had a great time by all accounts. https://pollyholics.co.uk/meetup for more info.
For more info about the band:
