Skating Polly, the self described “Ugly Pop” group from Oklahoma, were a band I always anticipated seeing live. Having heard the amount of energy, charisma and raw ‘Riot grrrl’ spirit they had to offer in their recordings, I knew I was in for a good show. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed.
Arriving at the Zanzibar Club at around 8pm, I had just enough time to grab a drink before the brazen, lively Mancunian support act The Empty Page struck their first chord. Their restless energy combined with thought provoking lyrics (often prefaced by frontwoman Kel Page) really set the scene for the night to come, and encouraged some swaying and movement from the growing crowd.
The explosive ‘Cock of the Fifth Year’ from their recently released and very aptly titled album ‘Imploding’ was offensive, unapologetic and packed with noise; whilst ‘I’m a White Hot Blade (Witches are Wicked)’ took a more liberating and introspective turn. Even Skating Polly’s own, Kelli Mayo, seemed impressed as she was spotted making her way through the crowd to watch the final song of the set.
Following a rapid interval and soundcheck, the main act began. An explosive rupture of bass and drums kicked off their opening song, ‘Hail Mary’; the chorus’ booming and fuzzy riffs had an entrancing effect on the crowd, with a vast majority banging their heads in unison.
After an equally enthralling ‘Camelot’, with a sound very reminiscent of 90’s grunge pioneers Babes in Toyland, the band made sure to introduce themselves. “We’re Skating Polly”, Kelli’s momentary switch from roaring frontwoman to shy and courteous words of thanks conveyed the trio’s genuinity. She even went on to thank the venue’s crew for their supply of hummus- “that hummus you made was badass!”- which gained some laughs from the audience, and left me wanting the recipe.
Then the guitar kicked in again for an uproarious and melodic selection of songs from their most recent album, ‘Chaos Country Line’. ‘Hickey King’ was a particular standout, allowing guitarist Peyton’s vocals to take centre stage.
My most anticipated song of the night was ‘Little Girl Blue’; people around me seemed to share a similar sense of excitement as the whoops and cheers grew louder once they launched into the infectious bass line. The band exceeded expectations during this song; the timid isolation of bass and vocals for the opening verse and slow incorporation of instruments really allowed each member to shine. A cathartic build up to its booming chorus was well appreciated by the crowd, whose energy seemed to be at an all time high. I, of course, joined in.
A striking attribute of the band is how much angst and nervous energy they’re able to pack into their live music, whilst simultaneously taking ownership of the stage. One song that embodied this in the set was ‘All the Choices’. Peyton’s anguished, cracking vocals combined with a pounding and insistent drum beat made for a deliciously defiant performance. The lyrics felt like taking Sylvia Plath’s fig tree analogy and transforming it into a punkish ballad: “Now I feel like I’m losing / from all the choices to choose from”.
During their set and despite some technical difficulties surrounding the keyboard, the trio even had time to tap into their softer side. An older track, ‘A Little Late’ was heartfelt and moving. It really illustrated the band’s capabilities to dip their toes into the soft and sombre, which I can only hope will emerge more often in their future recordings.
The stripped back number allowed for a momentary recovery and a quick swap of instruments between members Kurtis and Peyton before the final uproar of 90’s-grunge-revival goodness. ‘They’re Cheap (I’m Free)’ is popular for a reason, and their live version was strengthened by Kelli’s unmatched stage presence. Her manic glances around the audience and echoed screeches of “Fine, you know I’m not fine!” combined with a healthy dosage of headbanging, swaying and jumping (impressively so in platform red boots) was captivating to watch.
The energy bouncing off of the trio and the intended rage that lingered behind every word sung, every bang of the drum, and every strum of the iconic ‘Ugly Pop’ inscribed bass made for the perfect ending for an unmissable night.
I left the venue clad with merchandise and buzzing with adrenaline.
Skating Polly’s live show is ‘ugly’ in the best way possible, and their following across the UK is only on the rise. I can never recommend seeing them enough.
Review by: Amelie Griffiths
Images credit: Amelie Griffiths
Follow Amelie on Instagram: ameliemaya_21
