OnTrak Winter 2018

Musicians
CENTER STAGE & UP 'N' COMING
Skating Polly
Tacoma band’s ’90s
sound fits right in
WRITTEN BY BEN SALMON
STEPSISTERS KELLI MAYO and Peyton Bighorse
were just 9 and 14 years old, respectively,
when they formed their rock band Skating
Polly in their hometown of Oklahoma City.
They were just 13 and 18 when they traveled to
Washington state to record their third album,
Fuzz Steilacoom, in 2013.
“Our parents came with us because … well,
they drove us,” Bighorse said with a laugh. “We
wanted to move out of Oklahoma, and we fell in
love with this place. We felt the magic in the air.”
Mayo and Bighorse had already romanticized
the Northwest, thanks to Nirvana and the
Riot Grrl movement and Beat Happening and
Kimya Dawson, among others. With Skating
Polly echoing the heavy and melodic alt-rock
sound of the early ’90s, Washington seemed
like the motherland.
The music-obsessed family—including mom
and dad and three other siblings (brother Kurtis
now drums in Skating Polly)—moved to Tacoma
in late 2015. It’s been full steam ahead ever
since, with an excellent fourth full-length album
out last year, another in the can, tour dates with
punk legends X and Babes in Toyland, and famous
friends like Veruca Salt’s Louise Post and
Nina Gordon.
Mayo believes the band’s rock ‘n’ roll forebearers
are drawn to Skating Polly not only for
its sound, but also the passion for the music.
“They can see that we’re inspired by them but
that we’re not just imitating them,” she said. “It’s
about taking cool sounds and putting your own
spin on it, and being inspired by a lot of different
things. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
Scan to listen
on Spotify
Train Tracks
| All available on Spotify
Album Review
“Nothing More Than a Body” from The Big Fit
Skating Polly’s fourth album was a big step forward from its previous work, and this
track—gnarled riffs, Riot Grrl yelps, cymbal crashes—captures the band’s evolving sound.
“Louder in Outer Space” from New Trick
When the quiet guitar strum explodes into a chorus that’s heavily distorted but crazy
catchy, you’ll swear you’ve been tossed into a time machine and transported back to 1994.
“Alabama Movies” from Fuzz Steilacoom
Recorded in Washington, this might be Skating Polly’s most Northwest-y track. It shudders
like the Melvins, slithers like Dead Moon and snarls like Bikini Kill. Glorious.
“Pretective Boy” from The Big Fit
All hail the perfect bass line! It’s restless and slinky and irresistible. Paired with minimal
guitars and flirty lyrics, this track is a sweet ‘n’ sour rumbler you won’t want to end.
“Black Sky” from New Trick
Restraint is the name of the game on this New Trick highlight, as Skating Polly builds
tension before layering on lush vocal harmonies and some rhythmic eccentricities.
Imagine a collaborative album featuring Sturgill Simpson and
Waylon Jennings. Or Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson.
Or Adele and Etta James. That’s more or less what New
Trick is: a trio of thrilling tunes hatched from the combined
minds of young alt-rock combo Skating Polly and two women—Louise
Post and Nina Gordon—who led one of Skating
Polly’s most obvious sonic ancestors, Veruca Salt. Short but
sweet, these songs spill over with crunchy riffs, stomping
rhythms, sugary vocal melodies and lots of ’90s-reminiscent
loud-quiet-loud dynamics. On New Trick, Skating Polly and
Veruca Salt go together like well-worn flannel and amps
cranked up to ten.
20 | WINTER 2018
ontrakmag.com