On Jan. 15, Dogs in a Pile commenced its Winter Tour in Tucson, Ariz. The concert represented the group’s first live appearance since the death of Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist and cowboy of the cosmos, Bobby Weir, who passed away on Saturday, Jan. 10. The band paid tribute to Weir by opening with his Robert Hunter co-write, “Jack Straw.” The move kicked off a motif that has persisted during each live engagement, including their latest in Portland, Ore.

After submitting the first night of Winter Tour, Dogs in a Pile followed up on Friday, Jan. 16, with a live performance at the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix. There, they stuck a Dead cover into the latter half of set one, integrating the traditionally Weir-led “Feels Like a Stranger” into the night’s seventh slot. The New Jersey outfit also sought assistance from former Spafford keyboardist Andrew “Red” Johnson on the cover. 

During the group’s next slate of live dates, they followed up with two nights on the Belly Up stage in Solana Beach, Calif. Night one of the Southern California appearances began with the Dead’s “The Music Never Stopped.” Ultimately, their final night at the aforementioned venue featured a second set display of “Truckin’.” 

Sticking with two night stands, Dogs in a Pile headed up the coast, for concerts at Seattle’s Neptune Lounge on Thursday, Jan. 22, and Friday, Jan. 23. Maintaining their appeal for Weir-related tributes, the group delivered “Let it Grow” on night one, and “Cassidy” during their ensuing closeout. 

The band’s Portland, Ore. arrival summoned their latest musical homage, and subsequent “One More Saturday Night” finale. After their latest concert in the Rose City, Dogs in a Pile will play at Shrine Social Club in Boise, Idaho, on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tickets are available here. 

View Dogs in a Pile’s setlists at www.go-set.net/setlists.