On Saturday, October 4, The Vortex in Catonsville, Md., served as the location for a seasonal Oktoberfest gathering. The occasion drew a range of jam-leaning entertainers, including the Asbury Park, N.J. band Dogs In A Pile, who brought out a member of fellow event participants, Neighbor, Rob Compa, who stepped in for Lyle Brewer earlier this year. Compa, who also plays with Dopopod, contributed to a vigorous 20-minute back-and-forth with his hosts. 

Before bringing out their guest, Dogs In A Pile took their time selecting original songs, which showcased the five-piece, Jimmy Law, Jeremy Kaplan, Brian Murray, Joey Babick and Sam Lucid’s collective prowess, by way of “Didn’t You Know?,” “ Little Things,” and “Four More Days.” For their next move, the group positioned “Nicolette” as the start of a two-piece sequence that resulted in the ensuing arrival of “Writing on the Wall.” 

The band submitted “Look Johnny” before Compa’s arrival on stage, which resulted in an extensive and jammed-out take on Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie on Reggae Woman.” The collaborative cover hit the 20-minute mark, representing a massive back-and-forth between Law and Compa, which spoke to both guitarists’ eagerness to explore and create instrumental tapestries on stage. 

Wonder’s original has been a part of Dogs In A Pile’s live repertoire since 2019, and has been played with regularity since its debut. After turning in the joint number, Dogs returned to form, covering Bob Nolan’s “Cool Water,” and capping the first frame after “Thomas Duncan, Pt. 3.” The band’s encore was represented by their own “Mr. Tooker.” 

Dogs In A Pile will take a break from the stage, resuming their live schedule ahead of Halloween, on October 30 at Visulite Theatre in Charlotte, N.C. They will perform in Roswell, Ga., the next night before taking part in Suwannee Hulaween. On the other side of the Florida gig, the band will commence their residency at the newly opened and intimate Garcia’s venue. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased here.

Watch a clip for this weekend’s collaborative cover of “Boogie on Reggae Woman,” below.

Dogs in a Pile 

The Vortex – Catonsville, Md. 

October 4, 2025 

Set 1: Didn’t You Know?, Little Things, Four More Days, Nicolette-> Writing on the Wall, Look Johnny, Boogie on Reggae Woman[1], Cool Water[2], Thomas Duncan, Pt. 3

Enc.: Mr. Tooker

Notes:

[1] Stevie Wonder, with Rob Compa

[2] Bob Nolan

This concert was played at Oktoberfest—setlist and notes via go-set.net.