Poi Dog Pondering
Encyclopedia
Poi Dog Pondering is an American musical group, noted for its cross-pollination of diverse musical genre
s, including various forms of acoustic folk music
, and electronic music. Founded in Hawaii
in 1985, the band moved to Austin
, Texas
in 1987, where they recorded their first three albums. In 1992, the band relocated once again, this time to Chicago, Illinois, and began to incorporate elements of house music into their style.
Frank Orrall. 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. At this time, member Abra Moore
left to pursue a solo career, however a new member joined the band; violinist Susan Voelz
. The band released their self-titled album and an EP Circle around the Sun on the independent-label Texas Hotel Records
. The band signed to Columbia Records
, where their first album and EP were re-released as a single album. They released two more albums while in Austin, Wishing Like a Mountain and Thinking Like the Sea and Volo Volo.
Additionally, the records featured literally dozens of musicians credited as "Satellite Poi Members". Most prominent amongst these satellite members were vocalist Abra Moore, drummer Sean Coffey and (on their third album) turntable operator Andre "DJ Cassanova" Irons.
Beginning with that third album, 1992's Volo Volo, the band began to experiment with new musical styles, including fully incorporating DJ Cassanova into the line-up. 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 album
s on its own label.
The Poi Dog line-up fluctuates frequently, and Orrall, Voelz and Nelson are the only members of the band left from the Austin era. With the release of In Seed Comes Fruit' in 2003, Poi Dog Pondering consisted of:
n 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.
to "Postcard from a Dream") to:
In Orrall's lyrics, water imagery is prominent, with water as life-giving and cleansing, "Melting, reemerging and rising up clean in the pouring rain" (this theme is also found in "Sound of Water").
Orrall describes his view of the afterlife in the song, "And I know about heaven's gate...and I know that I'll be nothing there just food for fish and twisting worms". In "Bury me deep", he sings, "Only in death can one truly return. Return the carrots, the apples and potatoes, the chickens, the cows, the fish and tomatoes".
Two songs, "Fall upon me" ("Fall upon me like a hundred flowers") and "Pulling Touch" ("Are you the cup that I hold by the cheekbones, I pull you close and I drink you up") are about love, and in particular, sex. Jealousy (particularly of past loves) is addressed in "Thanksgiving" (written by guitarist Adam Sultan) and "Everybody's trying to figure it out", and the band comes out firmly against it. Their philosophy is further described in "U Li La Lu", "You should wear with pride the scars on your skin, they're a map of the adventures and the places you've been".
In spite of the number of songs about death and spirituality, a few songs venture into comedy, "The watermellon song" and "U Li La Lu" ("If I should die in a car wreck, may I have Van Morrison
on my tape deck").
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
s, including various forms of acoustic folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, and electronic music. Founded in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in 1985, the band moved to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1987, where they recorded their first three albums. In 1992, the band relocated once again, this time to Chicago, Illinois, and began to incorporate elements of house music into their style.
History
The band has always revolved around the music of lead singer-songwriterSinger-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Frank Orrall. Poi Dog Pondering began in 1985 in Orrall's native Hawaii. The band traveled throughout the continental United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and in 1987 settled in Austin. At this time, member Abra Moore
Abra Moore
Abra Moore is a folk-styled rock singer-songwriter. Her 1997 album Strangest Places included the hit "Four Leaf Clover", which received airplay in Midwest U.S. radio markets and VH1 and MTV2 rotation, and charted on the Billboard Hot 100.-Biography:Moore's parents named Abra after the heroine of...
left to pursue a solo career, however a new member joined the band; violinist Susan Voelz
Susan Voelz
Susan Voelz is an American musician. A Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, violinist, and composer. She is a member of the alternative rock band, Poi Dog Pondering. She has also worked with a long list of famous musicians....
. The band released their self-titled album and an EP Circle around the Sun on the independent-label Texas Hotel Records
Texas Hotel Records
Texas Hotel Records was an independent record label based in Santa Monica, California, which released records by singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt, Henry Rollins and the Rollins Band from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s...
. The band signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, where their first album and EP were re-released as a single album. They released two more albums while in Austin, Wishing Like a Mountain and Thinking Like the Sea and Volo Volo.
Austin years; members
During the Austin years (1987–1992), the band had the following lineup:- Ted Cho - electric guitar, mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Dave Max Crawford - organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, accordionAccordionThe accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist.... - Darren Hess - drum kit (1991–1992)
- Bruce Hughes - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Frank Orrall - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, tin flute, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, - John Nelson - congas, maracasMaracásMaracás is a town and municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil.-References:...
, tom-toms, background vocals (1989–1992) - Dick Ross - drum kitDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1987–1990) - Adam Sultan - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Susan VoelzSusan VoelzSusan Voelz is an American musician. A Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, violinist, and composer. She is a member of the alternative rock band, Poi Dog Pondering. She has also worked with a long list of famous musicians....
- violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals
Additionally, the records featured literally dozens of musicians credited as "Satellite Poi Members". Most prominent amongst these satellite members were vocalist Abra Moore, drummer Sean Coffey and (on their third album) turntable operator Andre "DJ Cassanova" Irons.
Beginning with that third album, 1992's Volo Volo, the band began to experiment with new musical styles, including fully incorporating DJ Cassanova into the line-up. Orrall's emerging interest in dance and house music
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
led the band to relocate to Chicago in 1992, where it developed a loyal local following and was named best band by Chicago
Chicago (magazine)
Chicago is a monthly magazine published by the Tribune Company. It concentrates on lifestyle and human interest stories, and on reviewing restaurants, travel, fashion, and theatre from or nearby Chicago. Its circulation in 2004 was 165,000, larger than People in its market...
magazine in 1997. Since moving to Chicago, Poi Dog Pondering has released two studio albums and two live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
s on its own label.
Chicago years; members
For the 1995 Pomegranate album, the band had the following lineup:- Frank Orrall - guitar, vocals
- Dag JuhlinThe SlugsThe Slugs are a rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Starting in 1983, the band plays power pop heavily influenced by bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Kinks.-Biography:...
- guitar - Brigid Murphy - Alto Saxophone
- Brent Olds - bass
- Steve Goulding - drums
- Leddie Garcia - Percussion
- Dave Max Crawford - keyboards, clavinet
- Jason More - Berimbau
- Lloyd Brodnax King - Alto Flute
- Katherine Pisaro - Oboe
- Paul Mertens - sax, clarinet, flute
- Susan VoelzSusan VoelzSusan Voelz is an American musician. A Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, violinist, and composer. She is a member of the alternative rock band, Poi Dog Pondering. She has also worked with a long list of famous musicians....
- violin - Arlene Newson - backing vocals
- Kornell Hargrove - backing vocals
- Robert Cornelius - backing vocals
The Poi Dog line-up fluctuates frequently, and Orrall, Voelz and Nelson are the only members of the band left from the Austin era. 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 VoelzSusan VoelzSusan Voelz is an American musician. A Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, violinist, and composer. She is a member of the alternative rock band, Poi Dog Pondering. She has also worked with a long list of famous musicians....
- violin, vocals - Paul Mertens - flute, sax, clarinet
- Leddie Garcia - congas, bongos, ganzas, bells, shakers, various percussion
- Kornell Hargrove - vocals
- Ron Hall - bass
- Rick Gehrenbeck - rhodes electric piano, clavinet, organ, synthesizers
- Charlette Wortham - vocals
- Alison Chesley - cello
- Carla Prather - vocals
- Tim Gant - piano, synthesizers
- John "El John" Nelson - drums
Music
Using a wide variety of instruments, Poi Dog Pondering alters 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 PolynesiaPolynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n 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.
Lyrics & Philosophy
Lyrically, many songs paint slice-of-life portraits of people and situations, without telling a story ("Living with the Dreaming Body", "Wood Guitar"). The song topics vary widely, from the joys of eating breakfast ("Toast and jelly", the codaCoda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
to "Postcard from a Dream") to:
- EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
("Ancient Egyptians") - GlobalismGlobalismGlobalism can have at least two different and opposing meanings. One meaning is the attitude or policy of placing the interests of the entire world above those of individual nations...
("Big Walk") - Death ("Fact of Life", "Circle Round the Sun", "Bury me Deep", "The me that was your son"), and
- Spirituality ("Praise the Lord").
In Orrall's lyrics, water imagery is prominent, with water as life-giving and cleansing, "Melting, reemerging and rising up clean in the pouring rain" (this theme is also found in "Sound of Water").
Orrall describes his view of the afterlife in the song, "And I know about heaven's gate...and I know that I'll be nothing there just food for fish and twisting worms". In "Bury me deep", he sings, "Only in death can one truly return. Return the carrots, the apples and potatoes, the chickens, the cows, the fish and tomatoes".
Two songs, "Fall upon me" ("Fall upon me like a hundred flowers") and "Pulling Touch" ("Are you the cup that I hold by the cheekbones, I pull you close and I drink you up") are about love, and in particular, sex. Jealousy (particularly of past loves) is addressed in "Thanksgiving" (written by guitarist Adam Sultan) and "Everybody's trying to figure it out", and the band comes out firmly against it. Their philosophy is further described in "U Li La Lu", "You should wear with pride the scars on your skin, they're a map of the adventures and the places you've been".
In spite of the number of songs about death and spirituality, a few songs venture into comedy, "The watermellon song" and "U Li La Lu" ("If I should die in a car wreck, may I have Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
on my tape deck").
Studio albums
- Poi Dog Pondering (1989)
- Wishing Like a Mountain and Thinking Like the Sea (1990)
- Volo Volo (1992)
- Pomegranate (1995)
- Natural Thing (1999)
- In Seed Comes Fruit (2003)
- 7 (2008)
- Audio Love Letter (2011)
Compilations
- Sweeping Up the Cutting Room Floor (2001)
- The Best of Poi Dog Pondering (The Austin Years) (2005)
External links
- Official site
- Fan site
- Complete discography
- [ Their page on] Allmusic