Last Friday, October 25, 2024, was a difficult day for Grateful Dead fans, as jam rock bassist and patriarch Phil Lesh peacefully left this earth. The news began circulating around 5 p.m. EST, giving many bands, including Dogs in a Pile, enough time to prepare a tribute. The band was gearing up for a two-night run at the ever-welcoming Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA, and seized the opportunity to honor Lesh's legacy. They also delivered a raucous show, supported by openers Reality Check Experiment.
The first set began with a bubbly 'Westward' and quickly transitioned into 'Nicolette.' The song started out smooth and mellow but soon transformed into a disco-funk dance party. Keyboardist Jeremy Kaplan was on fire as the groove built beneath him.
The band launched into a non-stop jam sequence that began with Billy Preston's 'Will It Go Round in Circles?' Guitarist Brian Murray led an epic blues-rock jam as the band transitioned into a fifteen-minute 'Blues for Brian.' This song opened with a melodic jam that intensified as it progressed, driven by drummer Joey Babick. A powerful segue followed into the high-energy '4th of July.' This momentum carried into the jazzy rock tune 'Snow Day,' which featured more fiery solos from guitarist Jimmy Law.
The chill 'Happy Song' followed, marking only the third time it had been played by Dogs in a Pile. This transitioned seamlessly into a twelve-minute 'Thomas Duncan, Pt 2,' packed with synth and percussion effects. All five members joined forces for another stellar funk jam, with bassist Sam Lucid dropping those tasty bass bombs. The funk theme continued into 'Trunk Rum,' this time at a slow-burn tempo. The band wasn't finished yet and unleashed a face-melting cover of Jimi Hendrix's 'Fire.' Murray nailed the vocals while he and Law took turns showcasing the classic rock melody. And with that, set one came to an end.
The band returned for round two and kicked off the festivities with a breezy 'You Didn't Hear It From Me.' This led into the jazzy, prog-rock-inspired tune 'Samba for Sam,' where Babbick dominated on the drums during the heated jam. The band skillfully segued into the guitar-fueled 'Por Que Pedro.' This edgy, almost hard-rock tune flowed into one of Dogs' best original pieces, 'Let U Go.' The quintet impressively wove in and out of genres with remarkable adeptness, a trend that continued throughout the night.
The non-stop music continued with 'EDM Song,' which once again ventured into a different genre: blues-rock and EDM-inspired. Kaplan lit up the keys during 'Spun,' accompanied by more tasty guitar chords. The melody transitioned into the uptempo 'Shenanigans,' which concluded this ripping sequence. Dogs wrapped up this fiery second set with 'Bent Strange.'
The band returned for an encore that proved to be a memorable tribute to Lesh. Fans anticipated a Dead tune, but no one expected 'Brokedown Palace.' This song was played by Dogs for only the second time ever. The heartfelt opening was sung by Law, as the band followed with this special rendition. They then took a turn down funky lane and launched into a delightful 'Dancing in the Street,' a song frequently covered by the Grateful Dead. The quintet, originally from Asbury Park, NJ, wrapped up the music with a quick segue into their original, 'Go Set.'
The tribute to Mr. Lesh was not yet complete, as Law stepped up to the mic to remind the audience about the importance of organ donation. Lesh often did this at shows following his liver transplant in the late '90s, and it was noted in the setlist as the 'Donor Rap.' This brief speech by Law brought many of us back to countless memorable Phil Lesh and Friends shows from the past.
Dogs in a Pile crushed their first night in Philadelphia, and delivered a touching tribute to Phil Lesh. They are taking the jam scene by storm, and heading to a venue near you. They are up next in Buena Vista, CO on November 6, 2024. Tickets are available via this link. Head on over to their tour page for more details on shows near you.
Check out more photos from the show!
Dogs in a Pile
Venue: Brooklyn Bowl Philly
Date: October 25, 2024
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Set One: Westward, Nicolette, Will It Go 'Round In Circles?1 > Blues for Brian-> 4th of July > Snow Day, Happy Song > Thomas Duncan, Pt. 2-> Trunk Rum, Fire2
Set Two: You Didn’t Hear It From Me, Samba for Sam > Por Que Pedro > Let U Go > EDM Song > Spun-> Gumball > Shenanigans, Bent Strange
Encore: Brokedown Palace3, Dancing in the Street4-> Go Set56
Footnotes:
[1] Billy Preston
[2] The Jimi Hendrix Experience
[3] Grateful Dead
[4] Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
[5] Ending only
[6] Donor Rap by Jimmy Law
