Pam is a Madison-based songwriter best known for fronting the Motor Primitives, the Sigourney Weavers and, most recently, Madison favorites, BingBong. All three notable rock band are known for their creative, diverse sounds and fan-friendly live performances. Pam’s throaty vibrato brings emotional immediacy to her melodic – at times portentous, at times rocking – songs. Her admiration for the “storyteller” tradition comes out in her songwriting. Listeners have described the songs as visually brilliant with characters who come alive. A close listener will discern a broad range of subject matter; her songs often subtly reflect her sense of social responsibility without being preachy. Others are character sketches with a poignancy reminiscent of a Knopfler, a Petty or even an Orbison. The vivid lyrical images are beautifully complemented by a variety of rhythms and melodies, some drawn from sources well-outside the rock genre.

As the driving force behind the Motor Primitives, she composed all but three songs on their four CDs released between 2006 and 2009 (see discography page). Her work with the Motor Primitives culminated in a performance in Austin, Texas during South by Southwest and winning the “Favorite Punk/Hard Rock” band award at the 2009 Madison Area Music Awards.

Pam continues to write lyrically sophisticated – but never stuffy – tunes. Her unique vocal warble(!) and her distinctive rhythm guitar style (ranging from rapid-fire counterpoint to jangly harmonizing to rumbly contentiousness) were quite effectively deployed with the Sigourney Weavers, a band known for their unpredictable live shows. Their double barreled lead vocal offerings (Sandy Kowal also sang lead and co-wrote their tunes) set them apart from, and above the crowd. Pam is expert at collaborating (in the true sense of the word) with band mates, coaxing out and highlighting their musical strengths. The Sigourney Weavers was a free spirited band that gained notoriety for pleasantly chaotic and loose rock arrangements – with just enough song structure to stay this side of jam band-land!

Now, as the front woman for BingBong, a band that features stunning musicianship, she brings a more disciplined approach, with songs crafted and arranged with precision and joy – in close collaboration with bandmates. They have garnered critical acclaim with the release of their debut album, Pop Restoration. It’s lead single, It’s Complicated, won the Madison Area Music Association Awards 2017 Rock Song Of The Year (and four more songs from Pop Restoration were final nominees for the 2018 MAMAs) .

In all instances, Pam uses her stage presence – a tough girl/guy persona – to engage fans. There is an incomparable death-defying swagger in her voice.