Poi-Dog-Pondering_lead-singer-founder_Frank-Orrall_photo_by_alex-Cohen

ABOUT POI DOG PONDERING / Biography 2025

Poi Dog Pondering is the ever exploring musical collective, lead by band founder, and principle visionary, Frank Orrall.

Raised in the Pacific Ocean, and in the rain forests of Hawai’i, and matured on the streets of Chicago, Frank’s song writing is rooted in nature, stream of consciousness writing, and the sensual world. PDP has called Chicago home for the last 30 years. Frank and his band are evolving once again towards a new album, to be released in winter 2025

Poi Dog Pondering keep thriving because the ethic has always been about following the musical heart. Poi’s steadfast independence has allowed the music to perennially bloom. From post-punk bohemian street buskers to impossible to market major label sacrificial lambs, and on to hard won autonomy with PDP’s own record label; Platetectonic Music, Poi dog pondering have ripened into staunchly independent musical voyagers. They have let every sound that inspires flow through the music and flood it with ever changing colors: Acoustic, Orchestral and Electronic textures. Rock Band Soul & Disco, & their unique acous- tronic “Soul Sonic Orchestra” Sound. (Threaded all along the way with ‘heart on the sleeve’ lyrics that embrace the beauty and pain of everyday life).

Poi Dog Pondering has;

- Recorded for Columbia Records, Tommy Boy Records, Barnone Records, Texas Hotel Records, Premonition Records, and now records for Platetectonic Music.

- Performed on the David Letterman Show, and the Jay Leno show.

- Orchestrated & performed the PDP album Pomegranate with the Garant Park Orchestra.

- Orchestrated and performed 2 classical crossover works with the The Chicago Sinfonietta,

- Wrote and performed the soundtrack for the Brazilian surrealist film “LIMITE”, at Sonotheque.

- Sang the National anthem for the Chicago Bulls,

- Rallied the “7th inning stretch” for the Chicago Cubs.

- Performed live at the Even Furthur Rave Wisconsin (the same night Daft Punk Debut in US there as well) Poi Energy set July 1996

- Poi Dog Pondering holds the lifetime record attendance for Ravinia Festival,

- Toured with, or opened for, a wide array of acts such as; David Byrne, Lou Reed, Thievery Corporation, King Sunny Ade, Robyn Hitchcock, Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, Los Lobos, Camper Van Beethoven,

40+ years down the line there is a bolstered sense of history within PDP now. A swagger that comes from having steadfastly carved its own path. It is quite apparent that PDP has always been, and ever will be, in- it-for- the- love-of-it; creating and performing. Line up changes are par for the course, Frank Orrall is the sole constant member of Poi Dog Pondering since it’s inception in 1984, however all the members have a 25 to 35 year history as memberes in the band. PDP is an organic entity, it changes like life does. But there is a core with strong roots & deep personal history, open to new ears and ready to experiment and collaborate. That’s what keeps it vibrant.

Frank Orrall is honoring Poi Dog Pondering’s 40th year mark with a book about the band's history, as well as a poetry book, and a cookbook, all 3 are available now at the band website: poidogpondering.com

ABOUT POI DOG PONDERING / Biography 2025

Poi Dog Pondering is the ever exploring musical collective, lead by band founder, and principle visionary, Frank Orrall.

Raised in the Pacific Ocean, and in the rain forests of Hawai’i, and matured on the streets of Chicago, Frank’s song writing is rooted in nature, stream of consciousness writing, and the sensual world. PDP has called Chicago home for the last 30 years. Frank and his band are evolving once again towards a new album, to be released in winter 2025

Poi Dog Pondering keep thriving because the ethic has always been about following the musical heart. Poi’s steadfast independence has allowed the music to perennially bloom. From post-punk bohemian street buskers to impossible to market major label sacrificial lambs, and on to hard won autonomy with PDP’s own record label; Platetectonic Music, Poi dog pondering have ripened into staunchly independent musical voyagers. They have let every sound that inspires flow through the music and flood it with ever changing colors: Acoustic, Orchestral and Electronic textures. Rock Band Soul & Disco, & their unique acous- tronic “Soul Sonic Orchestra” Sound. (Threaded all along the way with ‘heart on the sleeve’ lyrics that embrace the beauty and pain of everyday life).

Poi Dog Pondering has;

- Recorded for Columbia Records, Tommy Boy Records, Barnone Records, Texas Hotel Records, Premonition Records, and now records for Platetectonic Music.

- Performed on the David Letterman Show, and the Jay Leno show.

- Orchestrated & performed the PDP album Pomegranate with the Garant Park Orchestra.

- Orchestrated and performed 2 classical crossover works with the The Chicago Sinfonietta,

- Wrote and performed the soundtrack for the Brazilian surrealist film “LIMITE”, at Sonotheque.

- Sang the National anthem for the Chicago Bulls,

- Rallied the “7th inning stretch” for the Chicago Cubs.

- Performed live at the Even Furthur Rave Wisconsin (the same night Daft Punk Debut in US there as well) Poi Energy set July 1996

- Poi Dog Pondering holds the lifetime record attendance for Ravinia Festival,

- Toured with, or opened for, a wide array of acts such as; David Byrne, Lou Reed, Thievery Corporation, King Sunny Ade, Robyn Hitchcock, Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, Los Lobos, Camper Van Beethoven,

40+ years down the line there is a bolstered sense of history within PDP now. A swagger that comes from having steadfastly carved its own path. It is quite apparent that PDP has always been, and ever will be, in- it-for- the- love-of-it; creating and performing. Line up changes are par for the course, Frank Orrall is the sole constant member of Poi Dog Pondering since it’s inception in 1984, however all the members have a 25 to 35 year history as memberes in the band. PDP is an organic entity, it changes like life does. But there is a core with strong roots & deep personal history, open to new ears and ready to experiment and collaborate. That’s what keeps it vibrant.

Frank Orrall is honoring Poi Dog Pondering’s 40th year mark with a book about the band's history, as well as a poetry book, and a cookbook, all 3 are available now at the band website: poidogpondering.com

ABOUT POI DOG PONDERING / Biography 2025

Poi Dog Pondering is the ever exploring musical collective, lead by band founder, and principle visionary, Frank Orrall.

Raised in the Pacific Ocean, and in the rain forests of Hawai’i, and matured on the streets of Chicago, Frank’s song writing is rooted in nature, stream of consciousness writing, and the sensual world. PDP has called Chicago home for the last 30 years. Frank and his band are evolving once again towards a new album, to be released in winter 2025

Poi Dog Pondering keep thriving because the ethic has always been about following the musical heart. Poi’s steadfast independence has allowed the music to perennially bloom. From post-punk bohemian street buskers to impossible to market major label sacrificial lambs, and on to hard won autonomy with PDP’s own record label; Platetectonic Music, Poi dog pondering have ripened into staunchly independent musical voyagers. They have let every sound that inspires flow through the music and flood it with ever changing colors: Acoustic, Orchestral and Electronic textures. Rock Band Soul & Disco, & their unique acous- tronic “Soul Sonic Orchestra” Sound. (Threaded all along the way with ‘heart on the sleeve’ lyrics that embrace the beauty and pain of everyday life).

Poi Dog Pondering has;

- Recorded for Columbia Records, Tommy Boy Records, Barnone Records, Texas Hotel Records, Premonition Records, and now records for Platetectonic Music.

- Performed on the David Letterman Show, and the Jay Leno show.

- Orchestrated & performed the PDP album Pomegranate with the Garant Park Orchestra.

- Orchestrated and performed 2 classical crossover works with the The Chicago Sinfonietta,

- Wrote and performed the soundtrack for the Brazilian surrealist film “LIMITE”, at Sonotheque.

- Sang the National anthem for the Chicago Bulls,

- Rallied the “7th inning stretch” for the Chicago Cubs.

- Performed live at the Even Furthur Rave Wisconsin (the same night Daft Punk Debut in US there as well) Poi Energy set July 1996

- Poi Dog Pondering holds the lifetime record attendance for Ravinia Festival,

- Toured with, or opened for, a wide array of acts such as; David Byrne, Lou Reed, Thievery Corporation, King Sunny Ade, Robyn Hitchcock, Willie Nelson, The Flaming Lips, Los Lobos, Camper Van Beethoven,

40+ years down the line there is a bolstered sense of history within PDP now. A swagger that comes from having steadfastly carved its own path. It is quite apparent that PDP has always been, and ever will be, in- it-for- the- love-of-it; creating and performing. Line up changes are par for the course, Frank Orrall is the sole constant member of Poi Dog Pondering since it’s inception in 1984, however all the members have a 25 to 35 year history as memberes in the band. PDP is an organic entity, it changes like life does. But there is a core with strong roots & deep personal history, open to new ears and ready to experiment and collaborate. That’s what keeps it vibrant.

Frank Orrall is honoring Poi Dog Pondering’s 40th year mark with a book about the band's history, as well as a poetry book, and a cookbook, all 3 are available now at the band website: poidogpondering.com