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Poi Dog Pondering

Poi Dog Pondering is a band based in Chicago, Illinois. It was formed in the mid-1980s and revolves around the music of lead singer-songwriter Frank Orrall.

History

Poi Dog Pondering began in 1985 in Orrall's native Hawaii. The band traveled throughout the continental United States and in 1987 settled in Austin, Texas. At this time, member Abra Moore left to pursue a successful solo career. After some initial independent-label releases, including on the label Texas Motel Records, the band signed to Columbia Records and released three albums while in Austin. During the Austin years, the band had the following lineup:

Frank Orrall - acoustic guitar, tin flute, drums, vocals
Susan Voelz - violin, vocals
Ted Cho - electric guitar, mandolin, bass
Adam Sultan - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
Dave Max Crawford - organ, trumpet, accordion
El John Nelson - drums, vocals
Bruce Hughes - bass, electric guitar, vocals

Following the release of its third album, the band began to experiment with new musical styles, including performing with a DJ (DJ Casanova). Orrall's emerging interest in dance and house music led the band to relocate to Chicago in 1992, where it developed a loyal local following and was named best band by Chicago magazine in 1997. Since moving to Chicago, Poi Dog Pondering has released two studio albums and two live albums on its own label.

With the release of 'In seed comes fruit' in 2003, Poi Dog Pondering consisted of:

Frank Orrall - vocals, guitar, piano, synth. vibes, drums, samples, sequencing
Susan Voelz - violin, vocals
Paul Mertens - flute, sax, clarinet
Leddie Garcia - congas, bongos, ganza's, bells, shakers, various percussion
Kornell Hargrove - vocals
Ron Hall - bass
Rick Gehrenbeck - rhodes, clavinet, organ, synth
Charlette Wortham - vocals
Alison Chesley - cello
Carla Prather - vocals
Tim Gant - piano, synth
El John - drums

Music

Using a wide variety of instruments, Poi Dog Pondering altered the traditional verse-chorus-bridge structure of modern popular music. In some songs, melodic interludes entirely replace choruses, featuring lengthy, intricate solos blending the tin whistle, violin, trumpet, or other instruments in the Poi Dog menagerie (e.g. "Living with the Dreaming Body", "Bury me Deep"). Some Polynesian influences are evident ("Aloha Honolulu", written by bass player Bruce Hughes, and the introduction to "Circle round the sun"). Following the move to Chicago, the influence of house music became more apparent.