The musical connection between up-and-coming jam band Dogs In A Pile and the Grateful Dead runs deep, embodied not just in their name (which is derived from a lyric in the song “He’s Gone”) but also in their performance choices. This bond was front and center during the band’s sold-out debut at Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, CA, when they covered “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot” while playing on iconic instruments once owned by Grateful Dead legends Jerry Garcia and Phil Lesh.
Guitarists Jimmy Law and Brian Murray each took turns playing the white Travis Bean guitar, famously used by Jerry Garcia during what is widely regarded as the Grateful Dead’s greatest show—5/8/77 at Cornell University. Garcia debuted the TB500 #11 guitar on December 31, 1976, at the Cow Palace in Daly City, CA, and played it at over 90 shows during the late ’70s, including the Dead’s three-night stint at Winterland Ballroom in 1977. Garcia also used this guitar during the recording of Terrapin Station. The TB500, which was sold at auction in 2013, was the third-most-played guitar by Garcia, following “Tiger” and “Wolf,” according to a letter of authenticity written by longtime Grateful Dead roadie Steve Parish.
Meanwhile, bassist Sam Lucid wielded another piece of Grateful Dead history: Phil Lesh’s renowned “Mission Control” bass, also known as Osiris. This custom Alembic bass, crafted by luthier Rick Turner, was played by Lesh from June 16, 1974, until July 1, 1979, including during the iconic Cornell show. The bass featured ten push-button switches that allowed Lesh to direct the sound of each string to different speaker stacks in the Dead’s Wall of Sound PA system, helping define the sound of the band during this era.
Both of these legendary instruments now belong to Jason Scheuner, who, through the Grateful Guitars Foundation, has made it his mission to share iconic instruments with the community, letting talented musicians like Dogs In A Pile play them on stage. Scheuner generously lent both guitars to the band once again during their San Diego show, which they relocated to become a relief benefit for victims of the recent wildfires near L.A.
The band’s West Coast tour continues with upcoming stops in California and Seattle before wrapping up with two nights in Portland, OR. They have also recently announced spring tour dates.
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