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, 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, some of which will be debuted at the South Side Summer Fest, July 19, 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;
– Performed on the David Letterman Show, and the Jay Leno show.
– Recorded for Columbia Records, Tommy Boy Records, Barnone Records, and Texas Hotel Records (and now records for Platetectonic Records.
– 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.
– 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.

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.

Founded in Hawai’i in 1984, Frank Orrall is honoring Poi Dog Pondering’s 40th year mark with a book about the band’s history, as well as a cookbook, both will be available at the show, and at the band
website: poidogpondering.com