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Skating Polly + Gully Boys

  • Factory Obscura Mix-Tape 25 Northwest 9th Street Oklahoma City, OK, 73102 United States (map)

Doors at 7:00 / Show at 7:30
$17 in Advance / $20 Day of Show
All ages.

Over the past decade, few artists have embodied the unbridled freedom of punk like Skating Polly. Formed when stepsisters Kelli Mayo and Peyton Bighorse were just 9 and 13, the Oklahoma-bred band have channeled their chameleonic musicality into a sound they call “ugly-pop,”unruly and subversive and wildly melodic. With Kelli’s brother Kurtis Mayo joining on drums in 2017, they’ve also built a close-knit community of fans while earning the admiration of their musical forebears, a feat that’s found them collaborating with icons like X’s Exene Cervenka and Beat Happening’s Calvin Johnson, touring with Babes In Toyland, and starring as the subject of a feature-length documentary. On their double album Chaos County Line, Skating Polly reach a whole new level of self-possession, ultimately sharing their most expansive and emotionally powerful work to date.

The Gully Boys origin story plays out like the perfect domino effect. While sorting vintage clothes in a Minneapolis-area thrift store in 2016, Kathy Callahan (she/her) shared her dream of becoming a vocalist with their co-worker, Nadirah McGill (they/them). After encouraging a friend from middle school, Natalie Klemond (she/her), to join the trio on bass, Nadi picked up a pair of drumsticks and counted off a cover of Best Coast’s “Girlfriend.” Gully Boys had officially been born. Having to master their instruments on the fly, the band's sound grew quickly - taking inspiration from 90's icons like No Doubt, Garbage, and Hole. After 2 years of relentless gigging, Gully Boys released a collection of demos, Not So Brave in 2018, earning Best New Band honors from their hometown City Pages and sharing the stage with everyone from The Hold Steady to Third Eye Blind. The band’s Phony EP arrived in late 2019 right as the live music industry came to a screeching halt. Inspired by this break in the action, the band started working with Zach Zurn at Carpet Booth Studio and added lead guitarist Mariah Mercedes. They released their first produced EP 'Favorite Son' (2021), followed by singles ‘See You See’ (2022) and ‘Optimist’ (2023). Throughout this aggressive release schedule, the band has continued gigging - appearing at official SXSW showcases and playing iconic stages across Minnesota including First Avenue’s main stage and across the nation, touring with artists Nova Twins, Motion City Soundtrack, Destroy Boys and Bad Bad Hats. With a recent trip to Audiotree, a debut LP in pre-production, Gully Boys have no plans to slow down.

Earlier Event: January 25
Future of Sound Sessions
Later Event: April 5
Lady Lamb