At 12 and 17 years old, it’s kind of impossible not to notice the ages of Skating Polly members Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse. With this duo, however, it is vital to note that it isn’t their ages that define what makes them one of the most unique bands on the local circuit.
What sets them apart is a wonderfully punk, riot-girl enthusiasm infused with a genuine appreciation and grasp of what makes the art of music so incredible at its core.
That, and they just flat-out rock.
“I remember being 6 and singing the White Stripes. I’d always try to talk to my friends at school about all of this music that I loved and they wouldn’t know what I was talking about,” Mayo says.
“We never thought we’d get to start playing shows. We were happy just playing for our parents in the backyard.”
With a mentor like Exene Cervenka, of the iconic punk band X, in their corner, Skating Polly is fast accumulating an impressive professional network and an artillery of shows opening for headlining bands such as indie favorite Band of Horses and noise enigma Deerhoof.
The duo recently signed with SQE records to release its first LP, Lost Wonderfuls, in March, and are anticipating adding South by Southwest (SXSW) to a repertoire that already includes two Norman Music Festival appearances.
Mayo and Bighorse admit that they get a lot of attention because of their young ages, but don’t mistake them for adorable.
Girls who reference Kurt Cobain, Bikini Kill and Sid Vicious are not to be confused with their Justin Bieber and Katy Perry-loving counterparts.
As thoughtful in lyrics as they are aggressive in performance and delivery, Skating Polly’s music continues to evolve through practice and experience – and that’s what is going to keep them on the map.
“Hopefully, people like our music and they don’t just think we’re cutesy, because we’re not trying to be cutesy. We try to be real and stay true to our hearts,” Mayo explains.
“Our biggest inspirations are musicians who have been around for forever. They got in the business when they were young, and they never stopped. It doesn’t matter if they’re making $5,000 a year or $5 million a year. They keep making art, they keep writing and they never give up. That’s what we’re going to do. We want to be like them.”
