Dogs in a Pile Bring Electrifying Jams and Alligator Antics to Denver
Dogs in a Pile Bring Electrifying Jams and Alligator Antics to Denver
Dogs in a Pile took over Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver this past weekend, delivering two nights of genre-blurring jams that kept fans dancing, laughing, and fully immersed in the music. With an infectious energy and a knack for weaving together funk, rock, and psychedelia, the band lit up the venue with tight-knit grooves and sprawling improvisation, their sound building momentum with each song. Each set felt uniquely alive, a testament to their growing chemistry and talent for musical exploration. From the first note to the last, the audience was in the palm of their hand, proving once again why Dogs in a Pile is one of the most exciting names in the jam scene right now. The band features Jimmy Law on vocals and guitar, Sam Lucid on vocals and bass, Brian Murray on vocals and guitar, and Joey Babick on drums—each bringing their unique energy to the stage.
The night kicked off with a high-energy performance from Denver’s own Break Signals, a funky six-piece rock and roll outfit that set the tone for what was to come. The band effortlessly blended genres, moving from tight, funky grooves with electric keyboard crescendos to bluesy riffs before diving into expansive, transcendent jams. The set even took a moment to flirt with Spanish flair, adding an unexpected twist to their already diverse sound.
Next, Dogs in a Pile took the stage, and the crowd was buzzing with excitement. Their loyal pack of devoted fans, affectionately known as ‘The Dog Pound,’ was in full force, sprinkled with a handful of new recruits, myself included, who were in for the treat of their first-ever Dogs show.
Dogs in a Pile eased us in with ‘The Bag,’ which started off as a mellow opener before heavy guitar chords punched through. This smoothly transitioned into the catchy, jazzy ‘Nicolette,’ which quickly evolved into a funky, extended jam that got the crowd shuffling in their shoes.
David P. Tracer
The band dropped into ‘Ugly Song’ and then ‘Stranger,’ which moved from its smooth beginnings into an electric, extended jam led by a fiery guitar solo.
Next, they played ‘Chop Shop,’ a jazzy, newer number that seems to already be a smash hit, featuring saxophonist Nick Gerlach. Next, things took a cosmic turn with a spacey, slow jam, full of resonant notes that were smooth and bluesy, drawing the audience into a hypnotic, laid-back vibe.
Then came ‘Hey Johnny,’ which started velvety and slow, with suave vocals from keyboardist Jeremy Kaplan. The song morphed into an extended jam, driven by piercing electric guitar and pounding drums. The band then treated us to a funky cover of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Boogie on Reggae Woman,’ blending reggae, disco, and classic funk into a groove that had the whole room dancing.
The vibe softened next with a dreamy, slow jam that felt like sunlight pouring into a window—gentle, warm, and uplifting. They closed out set one with a jazzy, piano-driven ‘Linus and Lucy.’
Set two began with ‘Let U Go,’ followed by ‘Craig and Pat.’ They then launched into ‘Bent Strange,’ which seamlessly flowed into ‘Gumball’—a hit dance number that sped up so fast towards the end, it was almost impossible to keep up—before returning to ‘Bent Strange.’
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Next came ‘Talk About It,’ featuring Andy Frasco and Shawn Eckels of Andy Frasco & The U.N. Andy Frasco was on piano and vocals, Shawn Eckels on guitar along with Nick Gerlach on sax. The collaboration brought a fresh energy to the performance, with Frasco’s vibrant stage presence meshing perfectly with the band’s vibe.
Andy Frasco encouraged an impressive extended drum solo from the youngest member of Dogs in a Pile, Joey Babick. The solo was a masterclass in rhythm, building tension and excitement before the band dropped into an unforgettable rendition of ‘Break Stuff’ by Limp Bizkit. The crowd went wild, heads banging in unison as the band ripped through the aggressive, high-energy anthem that was completely unexpected. To close out the night, they delivered a jazzy encore of ‘Lazy Susan,’ a perfect way to wind things down before the crowd headed home.
Night 2 started off with an opening set from Atlas Radio Music, a band that brought some serious psychedelic jams to get the crowd warmed up and dancing. The dynamic performance moved through bluesy moments to compelling keyboard work and frantic guitar solos and featured Steely Dan’s “Back Jack Do It Again.”
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As the night continued, Dogs in a Pile took the stage, and the crowd erupted with excitement. They opened with ‘Stadium Rave,’ the funky bass line immediately drawing the audience in, while the ethereal, dreamy moments resonated through the room. Jimmy Law’s sharp guitar solo soared above the groove, and the thundering drums—almost metallic at times—pushed the song into a heavier, more intense place.
The energy shifted as the band blended seamlessly into ‘Look Johnny II,’ which had a strong Southern rock feel and featured Brian Murray on vocals. Jimmy Law’s southern-fried, Allman Brothers-esque guitar solo took the song to a whole new level, while a fantastic keyboard solo from Jeremy Kaplan added a layer of warmth.
Next up was ‘116 Days,’ sung by Brian Murray, a soft indie-groove number that brought the energy down a bit, allowing the audience to settle into a more introspective vibe. The smooth, flowing track melted into ‘Four More Days,’ which kicked off with a wailing southern rock guitar riff from Jimmy Law. Brian Murray took the lead on vocals, singing, “Those Colorado girls in the valley sure seem cool,” and the crowd, undoubtedly filled with Denver locals, ate it up. The song calmed into a smooth, mischievous jam before building into a climactic electric guitar solo.
Next, Jeremy Kaplan took over the vocals for ‘Appleseed,’ a track that began with an electronic, resonant hum before blossoming into a funky bass-driven groove. The song grew in energy, eventually lighting up with a climactic guitar solo from Jimmy Law that had the crowd cheering.
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Then came ‘Burning Daylight,’ another highlight of the night, with Brian Murray delivering the melancholic lyrics on this slow-burner. The highlight of this track was an impressive, funky piano solo from Jeremy Kaplan, which elevated the entire piece.
The band moved into ‘Battenkill Breakdown,’ a track that flowed effortlessly into ‘Spun,’ a dreamy, spacey slow jam where we saw some incredible drum work from Joey Babick. By the end, the song transformed into a southern jamboree, the energy rising once more.
To close the set, the band played ‘Trunk Rum,’ with Jeremy Kaplan on vocals, which quickly grew into an upbeat dance number. His lightning-fast drumming and tempo changes kept everyone on their toes, with a booming, erratic rhythm that led into a psychedelic jam. The tempo shifted again, before the song almost took on an underwater vibe, with wildly funky piano work and deep bass lines. There was a playful back-and-forth between bass and piano that felt like creeping along an alleyway at night—eerie but exciting. The band brought it all together with wobbly, funky vibes that had the crowd fully immersed in the music before they wrapped up the first set.
Set 2 kicked off with ‘Unfocused’ and then ‘G Song,’ a funky, melodic number with smooth keys and vibrant guitar that kept the energy high.
Next was ‘Amos Moses,’ a swampy blues tune that Brian Murray led. Donning a pseudo-southern hat for the occasion, Brian Murray was viciously attacked by a puppet alligator and lost an arm mid-song, drawing plenty of laughs and keeping the crowd bouncing and dancing.
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Following that, ‘Go Set’ flowed into ‘Dangers of Rah Rah.’ This slow-burn instrumental jam had a mysterious, noir feel, and the band played with atmosphere and tension.
Jimmy Law took the mic for a crowd-pleaser about drinking champagne with outlaws that got everyone riled up. The funky bassline really shined here and kept everyone moving in perfect rhythm.
A smooth, almost bossa nova-style jazz number, sung by keyboardist Jeremy Kaplan, followed suit.
Next came ‘Moon of Colorado,’ a dreamy, atmospheric tune that had the crowd swaying as it built in layers of smooth, ethereal sound.
‘Fenway,’ another track sung by Brian Murray, brought the funk back before the second set closed with ‘Bubble,’ a smooth, jazzy jam with hypnotic piano and bass work that left the crowd in a mellow, blissful state.
The band then launched into ‘EDM Song,’ which kicked off with a hard rock guitar intro spiced with Spanish flavor. It quickly morphed into an electric dance number, ramping up the energy and sending the crowd into overdrive as the song pulsed and shifted between electronic beats and fiery guitar.
For the encore, piano man Jeremy Kaplan took up a guitar. The band then delivered an angsty, head-banging version of ‘Bulls on Parade’ by Rage Against the Machine, with Sam Lucid on vocals, clearly mirroring the residual angst of the previous night’s closing number. Sam Lucid’s performance was right on the money with every beat and note, closing out the night with a bang. The high-energy anthem was the perfect way to end an amazing two-night run in Denver, leaving the crowd with the experience of a truly memorable show.
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I talked to vocalist and guitarist Brian Murray after the show, and he spoke of the band’s strong connection to Denver and the state of Colorado: “Denver is really special to us, we basically lived out here for a month of residency shows at Lost Lake Lounge, and we did a bunch of other Colorado cities in between. The connection that we have with the Dog Pound in Denver is really amazing. We love Colorado and we’re excited to be back in March.”
When asked what his favorite thing about Colorado is, he said, “The fly fishing!”
Overall, Dogs in a Pile brought a unique energy to the stage, effortlessly shifting between tight, structured riffs and sprawling, freeform jams. Their ability to balance both precision and improvisation makes them one of the most exciting up-and-coming acts in the jam scene.
Check out their website to see upcoming events.
Setlist (via go-set.net):
Fri Jan 31, 2025
Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom | Denver, CO
Set 1: The Bag-> Nicolette, Ugly Song, Stranger-> Around The World[1]-> Stranger, Chop Shop[2], Look Johnny, Boogie on Reggae Woman[3], Linus and Lucy
Set 2: Let U Go-> Craig and Pat, Bent Strange-> Gumball-> Bent Strange, Talk About It[4]-> Break Stuff[5], Bugle on the Shelf
Encore: Lazy Susan
Footnotes:
[1] Daft Punk
[2] with Nick Gerlach on saxophone
[3] Stevie Wonder
[4] Andy Frasco & The U.N., with Nick Gerlach on saxophone – Shawn Eckels on guitar – and Andy Frasco on vocals and keyboards
[5] Limp Bizkit, with Nick Gerlach on saxophone – Shawn Eckels on guitar – Andy Frasco on vocals and keyboards – Brian Murray on bass
Show Notes:
Craig and Pat contained a Jellyfish Jam.
Sat Feb 1, 2025
Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom | Denver, CO
Set 1: Stadium Rave > Look Johnny II, 116 Days, Four More Days, Appleseed-> Burning Daylight-> Battenkill Breakdown > Spun > Trunk Rum
Set 2: Unfocused, G Song, Amos Moses, Go Set-> Dangers of Rah Rah, Happy Song, Moon of Colorado, Fenway, Bubble > EDM Song.
Encore: Bulls on Parade
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