Ann Arbor-based band Pajamas is set to help Marquette shake off the winter chill as they headline the mainstage for the return of the Festival of the Angry Bear at Ore Dock Brewing Company on April 11th. Keyboardist Owen Kellenberger expressed the band’s excitement to participate in the event, coming back after a year-long hiatus following the venue's expansion. While April in the Upper Peninsula often brings unpredictable weather, the group is well-versed in the demands of outdoor spring performances, relying on years of experience playing beer gardens and residencies to bring their high-energy "exploratory rock" to the streets of Marquette regardless of the temperature.
The band’s signature sound is a collaborative tapestry that blends the improvisational spirit of the Grateful Dead and Phish with a diverse array of personal influences ranging from Motown soul and jazz fusion to bluegrass. Since expanding from a trio to a quartet with Kellenberger’s addition on keys, Pajamas has seen its musical boundaries continuously shift. This evolution allows the ensemble to maintain a "conversational" style on stage where songwriting and improvisation meet, often resulting in songs that grow and mature through live performance for years before they are officially recorded in the studio.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Kellenberger about the band and upcoming performance at Angry Bear:
In an era of polished, algorithmic playlists, Pajamas prioritizes the raw and unpredictable nature of the live experience, documenting their journey for fans through an extensive archive of recordings on Bandcamp and YouTube. Kellenberger, who also handles the band’s audio production, emphasizes the importance of workshopping new material in front of a live audience to let the music find its own path spontaneously. Beyond their mainstage set at the festival (where, just maybe, one or more band members may break costumes) the band will return to Marquette for a two-night stand at Blackrocks Brewery on May 1st and 2nd.
Find out more information at the Pajamas band website.
