Snapshots: Dogs In A Pile @ 9:30 Club — 4/2/26

The New Jersey natives Dogs In A Pile had their faithful out last Thursday at the 9:30 Club and once again they showed why they are one of the best veteran acts in the psychedelia jam scene. Fresh off the release of their third studio album, Distroid, the Jersey quintet proved exactly why they’ve become a mandatory stop on this jam circuit, delivering a performance that balanced technical precision with the raw, communal energy.

The first set established a high bar early with a sprawling, 23-minute “Tillie.” It was a masterclass in patient improvisation, with Sam Lucid’s deep-pocket bass lines providing a steady foundation for Jeremy Kaplan’s swirling synth textures. The band showed off their range shortly after, diving into a playful, high-energy cover of The Kinks’ “Apeman” that had the crowd chanting along and the floor bouncing.

The second half of the night leaned heavily into the new material. Seeing the Distroid tracks converted to a live set is where the band’s expertise of their craft really shines. “Unfocused” and “The Bag” showcased a more refined, storytelling side of their songwriting, but they didn’t stay tethered there too long. A 16-minute “Little Things” featured some of the most intricate dual-guitar interplay between Jimmy Law and Brian Murray that leaned into its psychedelic peaks that filled every corner of the room.

A surprise, gritty cover of “Funky Bitch” served as a nod to the elders of the scene before the band brought the house down with a massive “Thomas Duncan Pt. 3” encore. It was a sprawling, 15-minute odyssey that felt like the perfect capstone to the night—weaving the band’s early motifs into their modern, more complex soundscapes.

The “Dog Pound” definitely left happy this night.

Watch the official music video for “The Bag” by Dogs In A Pile on YouTube:

Setlist

Set 1:

1. Dangers of Rah Rah
2. Apeman (The Kinks cover)
3. Tillie
4. Grease
5. Lucia’s Secret
6. Bubble

Set 2:

1. Unfocused
2. The Bag
3. Little Things
4. Postcard
5. Funky Bitch (Son Seals cover)
6. Way to Be

Encore:

• Thomas Duncan Pt. 3

Here are some photos of Dogs In a Pile performing live at 9:30 Club on April 2, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Sean Spannuth.