Jams on the Sand Interview Series 2019: Dogs in a Pile

It’s no secret that the expansive “jam” genre has become of the hottest trends in music right now. Whether it’s the driving force of multi-day festivals like Peach and LOCKN, to headlining arenas and amphitheatres  — jam right now is undeniable.

The jam scene in Asbury Park right now is exploding. Whether it’s national touring acts coming through, weekly gigs at venues throughout out the city, or you know, Jams on the Sand — jam is thriving in Asbury Park.

One of the most exciting, on-the-rise bands in the scene right now is Dogs in a Pile. The band has recently been making a name for itself doing a number of indoor, pre-show events prior to big Stone Pony Summer Stage gigs (most recently for moe.), as well as hitting the road and playing Brooklyn Bowl, Garcia’s at the Capitol Theater, and venues throughout the North East.

Recently, we caught up with the band to talk about their coming together, new music, the rise of jam, and so much more as they get set to open up for teen prodigy Brandon “Taz” Niederauer tonight at Jams on the Sand.

***Please Note: This Show Has Been Moved Indoors to The Stone Pony***

Dogs in a Pile are (Band Members & Instruments They Play): Sam Lucid – bass guitar, vocals; Jimmy Law – guitar, vocals; Brian Murray – guitar, vocals; Jeremy Kaplan – keys, vocals; Joe Babick – drums 

Year We Formed In: 2018 

We’re Based Out Of: Asbury Park, NJ 

The Story Behind Our Name: From the song ‘He’s Gone’ by the Grateful Dead, we are also all lovers of dogs. 

You’ve Seen us Before in Other Bands Such As: Though we’ve all played in other formats, Dogs in a Pile is the first truly dedicated lineup for us all. 

Our Sound Has Been Likened To: Phish, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, and The Grateful Dead.

Famous/Awesome Bands We’ve Shared the Stage With: We’ve done pre-show events for Dark Star Orchestra, The String Cheese Incident, moe., Blues Traveler, and we will be performing after Umphrey’s McGee in August. We’ve also shared the stage with The Englishtown Project, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, and God Street Wine, and have been blessed to play such venues as The Brooklyn Bowl, Garcia’s @ The Capitol Theater, and The Stone Pony. 

In your bio it says the band’s union was a “serendipitous convergence” — can you explain how you guys came together, and why it was so serendipitous?

Jimmy and Joey have been long time family friends and have always had a shared passion for improvisational music. Two years ago, a good friend and former bandmate invited Sam over for a casual jam. He shared a very similar interest in improvisational music and jazz. Shortly thereafter, Sam brought in Jeremy, his fellow student at the Berklee College of Music. Finally, from their many successful collaborations at Berklee, Sam and Jeremy brought in Brian, which solidified the current lineup of Dogs in A Pile. 

You’ve had a pretty eventful summer — what’s been the coolest moment so far?

Some of the best moments have been playing festivals across the East Coast, playing sets of our own original music and our favorite covers. Two particularly exciting experiences were playing at the Rye Bread and In and Out of the Garden festivals to a crowd full of welcoming music lovers who enjoyed our music just as much as we enjoyed playing it. 

You’ve got some pretty awesome original songs — when can we expect a new record from you guys?

As soon as we have some time off from touring, we will be working on releasing our first record with all the new material we’ve been playing. 

“Jam” music and all the sounds that fall under that umbrella seems to have exploded in popularity not just locally in Asbury, but throughout the entire country. What do you attribute to this boom?

To us, the popularity of jam music may have to do with how eclectic the music can be. Jam music encompasses a vast abundance of styles including but not limited to: jazz, funk, reggae, country, bluegrass, progressive rock, and more. With this vast of a definition, it seems that nearly everyone is able to find one of their favorite styles or at least an influence from that style when listening to their favorite jam band. 

You’re performing in front of the Atlantic Ocean at Jams on the Sand, a pretty unique venue. What’s the coolest/most unique venue you guys have played at?

Perhaps the most unique venue we’ve ever played at was a beautiful farm in New Hampshire called Page Farm. The beauty of the area was staggering and our hosts were some of the friendliest people we’ve ever met. Page Farm has been the host to many, many musicians on a wide level of genres. In fact, the New Riders of the Purple Sage performed at Page Farm over 20 years ago. 

Say someone’s coming to JOTS on Thursday and have never heard the band before. What song would you recommend they check out to fully understand the sound and soul of the band, and why?

I would most likely recommend our song “Look Johnny” because it is a great amalgamation of all of our influences together. The jazzy chords and tongue-in-cheek lyrics invite comparisons to Steely Dan, while the funky and silly vibe of the song rings truer of Phish or Frank Zappa. Finally, the jam in the middle is reminiscent of some of our favorite fusion acts. In fact, at one point in the jam Sam and Joey play a groove heavily inspired by Jaco Pastorius’ song “Opus Pocus.” 

What are you most excited for this year?

This year we are all most excited to develop our musicianship further and work towards our goal of producing fresh and exciting music. 

What’s a definitive goal you have for the band in 2019?

To continue to pursue our dream of playing with each other as much as we can despite returning back to school, and to continue to write original music that challenges and interests us and our listeners. 

Dogs in a Pile perform at Jams on the Sand with Brandon “Taz” Nierdaurer at The Anchor’s Bend on the Beach in Asbury Park, NJ. This show will be moved indoors if there is inclement weather. The after-party features Midnight North, which takes place at The Stone Pony.