On Saturday, March 8th, Oklahoma-based sibling trio Skating Polly and Minnesota-based power-pop rock quartet Gully Boys took over the Cobra Lounge as the third stop of their spring co-headlining tour. Different local bands open for the tour in their respective cities, and Chicago’s own indie punk-rockers Yada Yada kicked off the night with a bang.
Skating Polly consists of siblings Kelli Mayo (vocals, guitar, bass), Peyton Bighorse (vocals, guitar, bass), and Kurtis Mayo (drums), and the trio released their fifth album Chaos County Line in June of 2023. Skating Polly kicked off their set with the track “Singalong,” and within the first minute of the band taking the stage, the crowd was swept under a wave of distortion and fuzz.
A highlight in the set was the second track they played, “All the Choices,” a twangy bubblegum-noise track spearheaded by Peyton Bighorse’s powerhouse vocals. While the band showcased a lot of tracks off their latest album, they also sprinkled in older songs from their fifteen-year career such as “Carrots,” “Flyer,” and “Pretective Boy.”
Something that stood out during Skating Polly’s performance was Kelli Mayo’s ruthlessly bold stage presence. Throughout the set, she kicked her legs, made wild facial expressions, and moved constantly while she played. Her stage presence bore a captivating element of mercilessness. Skating Polly ended their set with the track “Camelot,” during which Mayo crowd-surfed through the room while playing guitar.
A truly special quality about Skating Polly is the way that Bighorse and Mayo’s voices constantly intertwine with one another, creating a dynamic where they effortlessly build off one another. Skating Polly’s set at the Cobra Lounge dominated the stage and captivated the audience with their self-proclaimed “ugly pop” sound.
Skating Polly’s jaw-dropping performance was a tough act to follow, but Gully Boys absolutely held their own with a performance full of infectious energy and raw musical power. Gully Boys consists of Nadi McGill (they/them, drums/vocals), Kathy Callahan (she/her, vocals/guitar), Natalie Klemond (she/her, bass), and Mariah Mercedes (they/them, lead guitar). The band took the stage and launched into their track “Russian Doll,” immediately mesmerizing the crowd with their infectious energy.
The band played their two newest singles, “Bad Day” and “Love Me 2,” showcasing a more pop-punk influenced sound. These tracks consist of impressive vocals, an upbeat tempo, and catchy hooks that the band seemed to be having fun with on stage. Throughout the show, the band was all smiles. Callahan bounced all over the stage, and the band won over the crowd with unbridled energy.
Gully Boys took some time to play three unreleased songs off their upcoming album, whose name and release date have not yet been announced. These tracks incorporated metal and hard rock riffs with melodic and passionate lyrics that got the crowd moving and hanging on to every beat.
Gully Boys’ live performances give off the energy that they are having the time of their lives and are just happy to be here. Callahan carries herself with a spunky and bubbly attitude that is fueled by raw emotion. Throughout the show, I was amazed by Mercedes’s skills as a lead guitarist, making some of the most wild and technically complex riffs look effortless, while musically building off of and interacting with Klemond’s killer basslines. McGill is the backbone of the band, balancing an epic punk rock scream with a vivacious personality that seems as if it radiates throughout the venue and can’t help but make you smile. Through live performance, the band collectively expresses their passion for the music they create.
Between Gully Boys’ upbeat, power-pop rock tracks and Skating Polly’s noisy “ugly pop,” the two bands gave energetic, powerful, and memorable performances to the Cobra Lounge stage.
