Skating Polly

Formed in 2009 in Edmond, in the Oklahoma City area, Skating Polly initially revolved around half-sisters Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse and became a trio with the arrival of drummer Kurtis Mayo in 2017. The American band moves between alternative rock, punk rock, grunge, indie pop and the riot grrrl tradition, with songwriting that blends immediate melodies, abrasive guitars and frequent role changes among vocals, bass, guitar, drums or keyboards depending on the track. Skating Polly emerged at a very young age on Oklahoma’s independent scene before expanding its reach through tours in the United States and Europe and by opening for acts such as X, Babes in Toyland, L7, Deerhoof and The Flaming Lips. Their trajectory also includes notable collaborations and support from Exene Cervenka and Calvin Johnson, and later from Louise Post and Nina Gordon on the New Trick EP (2017). Their discography includes Taking Over The World (2010), Lost Wonderfuls (2013), Fuzz Steilacoom (2014), The Big Fit (2016), The Make It All Show (2018) and Chaos County Line (2023), records that show an evolution toward a denser sound while retaining Skating Polly’s mix of punk tension, off-kilter pop and raw spontaneity.