Dogs in a Pile Open Garcia’s Residency in Chicago with Grateful Dead and Steely Dan Covers

Photo: Ken Spielman

Last night, Nov. 5, Dogs in a Pile blew into the Windy City to perform at the newly opened Garcia’s venue. The Wednesday evening appearance represented the first in a series of six performances scheduled to take place at the intimate 350-capacity room this month, Nov. 6, 12-13, and 19-20. During the first night of the New Jersey band’s residency, they performed apt covers, including a take on the Grateful Dead’s early ‘70s fan favorite and another from the era, Steely Dan’s “Green Earrings.” 

The lineup—Jimmy Law, Jeremy Kaplan, Brian Murray, Joey Babick, and Sam Lucid—began the night with a breakup song, pushing through the emotions of heartbreak on “Westward.” As opposed to stopping and receiving applause, they pivoted into the Grateful Dead’s “Mr. Charlie,” delivering the Robert Hunter and Pigpen co-write with regard for the venue’s namesake, and the instrumental impression he made on the Europe ‘72 staple. 

Reaching into their own bag of tricks, the ensemble ran with “You Didn’t Hear It From Me,” which merged into time stamps, “Four More Days,” and “116 Days.” They inserted “G Song” into the final slot of the concert’s first half, while simultaneously creating pockets for improvisation, including a key-heavy segment at the hands of Kaplan. 

During Dogs in a Pile’s return to the stage for the concert’s second half, they positioned “Little Things” in spot one, before following up with a nonstop press through songs, including “Blues for Brian” and “Hesitate.” The ensemble created a performance high point with their siege of Steely Dan’s The Royal Scam feature, “Green Earrings.” The track entered the band’s bank of covers back in 2019 and has been played annually since. 

Rather than abandoning the cover upon completion, Dogs added flair like a calligrapher’s overachievement while looping the tail of a Y, by way of a return to “Hesitate.” They kept up a medley of songs, pairing “Power Trip” with their Not Your Average Beagle cut, “Thomas Duncan Pt. 2.” Ultimately, the band turned out one final song, which functioned as the concert encore, “Mr. Tooker.”

After turning in their first in a series of six residency performances at Garcia’s, the band will return tonight for their second evening on stage. Tickets remain on sale and can be purchased here.

Dogs in a Pile 

Garcia’s – Chicago 

Nov. 5, 2025 

Set I: Westward > Mr. Charlie[1], You Didn’t Hear It From Me-> Four More Days, 116 Days > G Song

Set II: Little Things, Blues for Brian-> Hesitate, Green Earrings[2]-> Hesitate, Power Trip > Thomas Duncan, Pt. 2

Enc.: Mr. Tooker

Notes:

[1] Grateful Dead

[2] Steely Dan

Setlist via go-set.net