On Monday, December 30, 2024, the eve of New Year’s Eve, Putnam Place in Saratoga Springs absolutely exploded with musical talent. If you were there, you know. This wasn’t just a show—it was a moment. On night three of Dogs in a Pile’s four-night New Year’s run, these guys were operating at full throttle.
Every song felt like a perfect wave, building and crashing toward something huge. The whole night had this electric tension, like you were waiting for the next thing to make your brain go overboard—and it kept happening.
Often compared to their contemporaries, Phish, New Jersey-based Dogs in a Pile are also known for epic jams that emerge from fusing jazz, funk, rock, and psychedelia. Brian Murray (guitar/vocals), Jimmy Law (guitar/vocals), Sam Lucid (bass guitar), Jeremy Kaplan (keyboards), and Joey Babick (drums) joined us in the Spa City from the Jersey shore town of Asbury Park.
Hilltop, Albany locals, kicked things off and got the room right where it needed to be. They came out swinging with that perfect mix of swagger and groove. From the first bass lick to the synced-up kicks, you could tell these guys were ready to rock. The energy was contagious, the crowd was already hooked, and they still had another band to bring it home. Hilltop absolutely laid down the foundation for the madness that was about to unfold…