Welcome back to Shecky's Jam Bands, the podcast
that digs deep into the stories, sounds, and
souls of bands redefining live music today. I'm
your host Rob Sheckman, and today we're sniffing
around one of the fastest rising acts in the
jam band scene. They're called Dogs in a Pile.
Yep, you heard that right. Dogs in a Pile. Quirky
name, killer chops, and a whole lot of vibe.
Let's get into it. Dogs in a Pile hails from
the East Coast, specifically the Jersey Shore,
and they formed in 2019. But don't let their
relatively recent origin fool you. These guys
play with the chemistry and depth of a band that's
been touring for decades. The lineup features
five core members. Jimmy Law on guitar and vocals,
Brian Murray on guitar and vocals, Jeremy Kaplan
on keyboards, Sam Lucid on bass and vocals, and
Joe Babich holding down on drums. Each member
is classically trained musician, and that's what
sets them apart. While their vibe leans into
the jam scene, Think Fish meets The Dead with
a splash of Zappa. They mix in everything from
jazz and reggae to surf rock, bluegrass, and
straight -up funk. So... What's with the name
Dogs in a Pile? Turns out it's a nod to the Grateful
Dead lyrics. The phase, Dogs in a Pile, pops
up in the Dead's song, He's Gone. And considering
how heavily the Dead's improvisational legacy
looms over today's jam scene, it's a fitting
tribute. But also, let's be real. What image
does Dogs in a Pile give you? Pure chaos, joy,
and energy. Which is exactly what you get in
one of their live shows Now here's a fun fact
dogs in a pile built their fan base the old -school
way relentless touring and face -melting live
shows they cut their teeth at clubs festivals
and Jam friendly venues up and down the East
Coast What began as a regional buzz exploded
into a national following? They also embrace
a deadhead style taping policy that means fans
are free to record all shows and share them,
something rare in today's tight -lipped music
industry. But it builds community, and dogs get
it. Musically, their compositions are tight,
structured, and often genre -defining. You've
got polished vocal harmonies, complex jazz chord
progressions, and moments where the whole set
just dissolves into a swirling psychedelica before
snapping back into a crisp funk groove. It's
the kind of music that rewards both a headphone
listen and a three beers deep dance floor experience.
Their debut album, Not Your Average Beagle, came
out in 2021 and it lives up to the title. It
shows the band's range from the introspective
to the absurd, always with musical dexterity.
and they're not slowing down. With new singles
dropping, a relentless tour schedule, and support
from jam scene royalty like Goose and pigeons
playing ping pong, the dogs are marking. So what's
the takeaway? Dogs in a Pile are part of the
next wave of jam bands, who aren't just emulating
their forebearers, but they're innovating. They're
young, they're fearless, and they're clearly
having a blast. And that energy, it's contagious.
If you're into improvisational music, groove
-driven jams, and a band that generally loves
to ride, go see Dogs Live. Just be ready. You'll
leave sweaty smiling and telling your friends
about the 12 -minute Tilly Jam. That's it for
today's episode of Shecky's Jam Bands. Until
next time. Keep listening, keep dancing, and
remember, sometimes the best bands are the ones
with the weirdest names. This is Shecky's Jam
Band signing off.