Dogs in a Pile (w/ Yam Yam)

The sandy shores of Asbury Park, New Jersey are hallowed ground in the northeast; the rolling waves have ushered generations of venerated musicians to worldwide acclaim. Dogs in a Pile, an eclectic quintet, has emerged as the heir apparent to the town’s rich musical legacy. Merging funk, jazz, and rock and roll with psychedelia, the quintet presents a completely original vibe built on kaleidoscopic soundscapes eerily reminiscent of the days of yesteryear.

The Dogs employ a unified approach to performance and songwriting, crafting aural mosaics through adept instrumentation and humble precocity. As avid storytellers, they draw inspiration from personal experiences, balancing life’s foibles with ever-present youthful sanguinity.

Dogs began when Philadelphia University of the Arts guitar gun-slinger Jimmy Law began playing with young Joe Babick (drums), a student at the Count Basie Theater program in Red Bank, NJ. Lightning struck when they were introduced to Berklee School of Music student and bass player Sam Lucid, who immediately suggested fellow Berklee student and keyboard player Jeremy Kaplan. The addition of fellow Berklee student Brian Murray (guitar) in 2019 made for the quintessential final piece in the Dogs’ puzzle.

A string of successful local shows drove the development of a massive northeast fan base, affectionately known as the Dog Pound. The band’s astronomical growth culminated in an epic, sold-out performance at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park during the summer of 2021. Armed with a fresh batch of new material, Dogs in a Pile is taking its perpetually evolving testament to the Great American Songbook on tour in 2022, visiting plenty of new cities and spreading good music and good energy to good people along the way.

Band Website: www.dogsinapileofficial.com

Yam Yam emerged in 2015 playing a vibrant, cross-pollinated blend of jazz, jam, funk, and soul. Yam Yam features keyboardist Mike Dempsey, guitarist Tom Fuller and drummer Tyler Fuller, bassist Xander Moppin, and saxophonist Jason Mescia. The members all met while playing in various bands in the Harrisburg music scene and bonded over a shared love of classic funk, jam, and soul music.

The band released their debut, self-titled album in late 2018 and upon its release, it charted on Billboard Jazz Albums section at No. 17. In 2020, the band released a live album titled “The Yam Yam Telethon (The Lingerie Room Sessions)” and in 2021, they released their second studio album” Double Dippin’,” which charted on Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums section at No. 9.

The band has opened for Lotus, Dopapod, Keller Williams, Aqueous, Big Something, Here Come The Mummies, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Andy Frasco & The U.N., and Taz among others and has been featured in NepaScene, LiveForLiveMusic, and TheBurg. In addition, the band made their Peach Fest and Summer Camp Music Festival debut in the summer of 2021.

Website: www.yamyamband.com