Skating Polly / Yes / Manchester

A trip up North and across the Pennines to Manchester, and the wonderful YES (and its delicious in house thin crust pizzas !) to catch Skating Polly on their UK tour. Full of pizza, I headed up to the aptly named pink room, where everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is pink.

First up in support is Bellzzz, an artist new to me, but a name that I will certainly remember and look out for again. Supported by a drummer and multi-instrumentalist (drum pads, Mac, keys and Theremin) we headed off on a intricate and delicate journey through a sonic wonderland.

One of those unique acts that simply defies categorisation and genre, with deep meaningful lyrics that sweep across fantasy and harsh reality of the world.

One of the highlight had to be Plastic Unicorns which introduces us to Elizabeth, and is a story of loneliness and searching for identity, and yearning for escape. It’s an emotional rollercoaster which delivers an emotional resonance, on a deep personal and well as universal level.

The tracks have an otherworldly feel to them, with their intricate rythyms and tones, overwhich Bellzzz vocals drape delicately.

I don’t know what it was called but for me the most powerful track reflected on growing up and parenting. A song with a chorus about watching children playing in the trees, and then the retort, but don’t tell them about the poison (in the roots)….. which you put there. A powerful metaphor for the impact and influence of parents on a child’s formative years.

Bellzzz was a wonderful discovery - A complex and intricately weaved trail around the workings of her mind, touching on human experience, and the search for connection.

Magical

A quick swap round and it’s time for Oklahoma City natives Skating Polly to hit the stage. Formed in 2009 when Peyton McKenna was 14 and her and step-sister Kelli Drew Mayo was only 9 ! Later joined by Kelli's brother Kurtis Lee Mayo in 2017. Known for their brand of ‘Ugly Pop’ a chaotic blend of grunge, indie, punk and pop with poetic lyrics, some stunning deep bass tones and a lively live show, renowned for their switching of instruments throughout the set. Throughout they have maintained their DIY band ethos and sense of unpredictability !

Skating Polly have released six albums so far from their 2010 debut “Taking Over the World” to 2023’s “Chaos County Line”. (El Camino Media, 2023)

Manchester and the Pink Room were in for a real treat tonight and it was clear right from the start that they were here to have fun and entertain. Skating Polly’s live reputation precedes them and they’re well known for their emotionally charged performances that skip effortlessly between hook-laden choruses and chaotic, cathartic outbursts, delivering poetic yet piercing lyrics, and balancing melodic intricacy with visceral punk aggression.

The set focused on their latest release “Chaos County Line) released in 2023, but also delved into their back catalogue and offered up some rarer live tracks too.

Payton is a whirlwind on stage, constantly on the move and pulling off high kicks, whilst delivering some delightful deep and fuzzy basslines. Little Girl Blue and the Battle Envy (from 2018’2 “The Make It All Show 2018”) is a perfect example of their craft. At times mellow and dreamy in style, before erupting into riotous grunge and punk filled chorus sections. A trip into the depths of their back catalogue, pulled out the riotous good fun that is Carrots (from 2013’s “Lost Wonderlands”). It’s infectious with its chant along chorus “Carrots – they’re green on the top…. And they’re orange…. On the bottom” Lovely stuff !

Other oldies included Stop Digging and Nothing More Than A Body which slotted in nicely alongside the newer material such as Hickey King (from 2023’s “Chaos County Line”). Perhaps the highlight of the main set was a stunning rendition of Send A Priest which had the Manchester crowd bouncing along.

As the set drew to a close, we ended on a trio of fan favourites starting with the hauntingly beautiful Hail Mary an emotionally charged song about domestic violence, followed by Camelot and They’[re Cheap (and I’m Free).

Skating Polly deserve a far wider audience with their grunge and punk fuelled style of ‘Ugly Pop’. Always an energetic performance, they didn’t disappoint !

Setlist

Singalong (Chaos County Line 2023)

Hickey King (Chaos County Line 2023)

Little Girl Blue and the Battle Envy (The Make It All Show 2018)

Free Will At Ease (The Make It all Show 2018)

Carrots (Lost Wonderlands 2013)

Stop Digging (The Big Fit 2016)

All The Choices (Chaos County Line 2023)

Nothing More Than A Body (The Big Fit 2016)

Flyer (Single 2019)

Man Out There (Chaos County Line 2023)
I’m Sorry for Always Apologizing (Chaos County Line 2023)

Oddie More (The Big Fit 2016)