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Helping Friendly Podcast
Brian Murray (Dogs in a Pile) + Music on the Mountain + The Phoenix Presents
00:23:44
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- [00:02]
A
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- [00:30]
B
Osiris. Hey, what's going on? This is hfpod. We have a special episode, as promised, a couple weeks ago. We're doing it now. And psyched to be here. This is rj. I'm here with Brian Murray from Dogs in a Pile. Hey, Brian.
- [00:55]
C
Hey. How's it going?
- [00:57]
B
I'm here. It's going great. It's going great. Thanks for joining us from. From the road. You're in Chicago, I think, at the moment.
- [01:03]
C
Yep.
- [01:04]
B
Awesome. Good to talk to you again. And Bill Taylor. Hey, Bill.
- [01:08]
D
What's up? Good to be with you, rj.
- [01:11]
B
It's really, really cool for you guys to join us. And we, we. Well, there's a few things we want to talk about. We also want to talk a little bit about fish, you know, which we will do as we do on this podcast, whether, whether we try to or not. It's just how it goes. But I guess we can start by saying that I think a lot of our listeners know about the Music on the Mountain event that happens every May or the past several Mays. Right. In Vermont. And Brian, I know you've played there maybe for all of them. How many have there been?
- [01:40]
D
There have been two. Okay. Yeah. Our third one coming up, and Dogs played the first one. Then Murray's Law played, played this year's event in May.
- [01:51]
B
In my mind, it's been going on for like five years, so I guess that's a good thing.
- [01:55]
D
It feels that way.
- [01:58]
B
But I know you guys have other stuff coming up, and I think we want to talk a little bit about the fundraising and what you guys are up to. But what for music fans who are listening, like, what do we have to look forward to, music wise?
- [02:09]
D
Well, I'll start with that one. So we do have our dates for Music on the Mountain, which will be May 15th and 16th in Ludlow, Vermont, which is where the Divided Sky Foundation's treatment center is located. Beautiful area. It's at a ski resort at the Okemo Ski resort in Ludlow. And I know we'd love to have dogs back. But, Brian, I believe you have a family graduation that weekend, so I've Been told under no circumstances are we allowed to poach Brian away from that family event. But we're putting the lineup together now and it's coming together really well. It's a great partnership with Divided sky and it's a substance free music festival. We had 3,000 people show up last year, doubled our numbers from the year before, and I expect hopefully that trend will continue this year. And it's been great to have. So Murray's Law did play our last one and we're doing another event coming up as a fundraiser so that we can do more music on the mountains in the future. Doing it in Brooklyn on Friday, 12 December with Murray's Law.
- [03:24]
B
Fantastic. And I know some of the stuff we have coming up. When is the December show?
- [03:31]
D
It's the 12th. December 12th.
- [03:33]
C
Okay.
- [03:34]
D
Yep.
- [03:35]
B
That's awesome. And Brian, how are you, like, how did you get connected to this and fitting all this music in with everything else you're doing with Dogs and with. With your other music as well?
- [03:46]
C
Dogs got asked to do the first music on the mountain, which I was really stoked about, and it was such a great first event. I actually did the run earlier in the day with my mom, which is awesome.
- [04:01]
B
Awesome.
- [04:02]
C
Showed up in the morning, did the run, which is really fun, and then got to play the show. And it was an interesting one because Sam, our bass player, was sick that day. And so we just did, you know, there are five of us in the band, so we did four of us. And we all kind of like switched instruments, you know, to cover the bass part.
- [04:24]
D
It's like rotating Dogs in the pile.
- [04:26]
B
Yeah, fantastic.
- [04:28]
C
But we still, you know, made it work. And it was such a beautiful grounds where the. Where the festival is, that field out there in the resort. And was just so it was such a beautiful event seeing all the people there celebrating recovery and getting a chance to have a music festival that is, you know, a place for people in recovery to be able to relax and be able to you know, kind of kind of focus on, you know, the. The mission of Divided sky and the Phoenix and things like that. Yeah, yeah, it was really beautiful. And so, you know, fast forward a year later, Dogs already had an event booked at a festival that same weekend. But I called Bill and I was like, is there some way that we can get involved again with this? Because it was such a great time the first time and we were able to get a, like a Sunday brunch gig with Murray's Law, the new duo that Jimmy Law and I from the band put together. Yeah, we both play guitar, as Bill was just saying, and we were able to do that, that set the next day. And people that were, you know, getting up for breakfast or brunch and, you know, walking out the door of the event were able to like all, you know, pass this show on the way out. And people kind of accumulated to watch, watch us play. And it was awesome. It was such a cool experience. And so, yeah, it was great.
- [06:18]
D
Yeah, I think having that commitment, like, just. Just to put a little context to that. Like those guys, Dogs did a gig in Long island that day, the Saturday of the festival. So Brian and Jimmy and some of their team, like, hauled it up to the middle. I mean, Ludlow is way up there, you know, and middle of the night came up, got in there like three in the morning or something like that and got up and did the show. So I think it's an independent event, it's a fundraiser. It's a substance free event. And the way these type of things can really thrive and succeed is through the commitment of artists like Brian and Jimmy, people like Anders Osborne that have. Have, you know, been to both of the events, who's very passionate about recovery. Like, this is how these things really can come to life. So, Brian, appreciate your commitment and your involvement in what we're. What we're creating.
- [07:11]
C
Thanks. Yeah. And really appreciate you getting us involved. It's really incredible.
- [07:17]
D
My pleasure. Yeah.
- [07:18]
B
And you know, Brian, when we were in Asbury park about a year and a half ago, we had a long conversation deep into the night about touring and bands, like, how bands evolve. I know we've talked a lot about that and I know that, Bill, you've been working for a long time on this kind of just the intersection of being a music fan and also being sober or being, I guess to me it's like all about the changing nature of live music in a way. And I think Brian and I, we've talked about different ways that that's changed in a lot of ways. And I know, Bill, you've been looking at it from your perspective for a long time. It does seem like, to me, at least, like the. For fans and for venues and, you know, for everyone, bands reprise. The band that I work with, they're all sober. You know, there's. It's a. It's a totally different thing. And, you know, I tell friends about it and they're like, whoa, sober band. Like, that's crazy, you know, because people just think that live music equals partying and everything else that comes along with it. But you guys have both, I think, looked at this from. From your own perspective. Just. I don't know, what do you think is. Has changed over the years and where do you think kind of that perspective lies right now?
- [08:28]
D
You know, I've been. I've seen it from both sides. I got sober 14 years ago. I've been in the industry now for multiple decades. I would say that it is definitely there's more awareness around it now. I. I think having lost so many musicians over the years, I do think there's the beginning, kind of a cultural shift both in the music world and beyond. I also look at this too, from the perspective of working with musicians for so long, how challenging the lifestyle is that these guys have to live. So it's about the music fan experience and feeling safe and comfortable if you're in recovery or you're exploring recovery. But it's also about the musician too. Like, these musicians have to be on the road now. The way the economics of the industry are working, they're on the road all the time. And that lifestyle of getting up and going to the next show and the whole thing is really hard. And I think if you're prone to, you know, to. To struggles with alcohol or drugs, it can really, really still very much take you down. So I think the more people, like, I've learned a lot from Anders in this, you know, because he's. He was the guy that helped me get sober. And just seeing how he navigates the industry now, you know, and puts up boundaries and has helped me kind of look at it through a new lens, you know, and I do think there's more people out there now that are being, you know, creating awareness around it, for sure.
- [10:07]
B
Brian, what about you? I mean, I know as a touring band and you have, you guys trying to just keep your. Stay focused on the music, right? And you have. You have fans and you have a business thing and you have music to focus on. Like how. I guess how does kind of what Bill said ring for you in your current point in your musical journey?
- [10:30]
C
I think I agree with what Bill was saying earlier about there kind of being a cultural shift, like within the scene. And I think it's not a matter of right and wrong on the whole with people choosing sobriety or not. I think it's just a matter of, like, there has been this trend for a long time, and I guess, you know, after some time, more and more people are finding that maybe they can't keep up with that certain pace of things with the involvement of drugs and alcohol And I think, you know, there are a lot of members of certain bands and artists in general that you know, kind of make it. Make people aware of the fact that there can be another way for people that have problems with that sort of thing. Maybe they went through those problems themselves. And so they're not preaching, saying like, you know, about sobriety. They're kind of just like making people aware of resources and the fact that it is possible for people to get through certain things. For myself, yeah. The pace of touring, I mean, the band started touring nationally in January of 2022. My band, so we've been playing an average of 130 shows a year since then, plus recording and working at home and working on the. You know, everything you could think of to get this thing off the ground. I found that I couldn't keep up with that lifestyle. And so I kind of put an end to that as well. And I found for me that it worked. But it was also really. Yeah, that's why, you know, seeing Music on the mountain was such a beautiful thing. The fact that there could be a place like that that is free from a party environment is cool because it so often is that environment, you know.
- [12:51]
B
Yeah, yeah.
- [12:52]
D
I think one of the goals with Music on the mountain, which I think we've achieved, was can we create an environment where you remove the alcohol and whatever else and you don't miss it? You know, it still feels like a great time. It's a great vibe. It has all the components, the healthy components of which there are many to going to see live music. Just removing those couple of things, like, what could that look like? And I realized in the first year we did, I was like, I don't. This is working. Like, I don't feel like there's some big gaping hole in this environment we've created. Like, we. Focusing on what matters really, which is the music and the spirit that everybody brings to it.
- [13:36]
C
That's the thing. Yeah, it's. It's still very much a party, you know.
- [13:39]
D
Yeah.
- [13:40]
B
Yeah, that's great. Yeah. And for those of you who weren't. Didn't do the calculations what Brian was describing, I think for dogs, that's a. That's one show every three days for the entire year, basically. What year? Which is like. Yeah, you think about that, like, even. Even as a music fan, going to a show once every three days for an entire year sounds really tiring, you know, not even involved with. With everything that you guys put into it. So just. Yeah, that lifestyle is, man, wild.
- [14:08]
C
And it's all the travel days in between those shows, too.
- [14:10]
D
Yeah. You add the travel to that, and you've just pretty much doubled that number. Yeah.
- [14:14]
C
So I don't know what the day is home comes out to in the end, but.
- [14:21]
B
You guys, it's. And by the way, I. I want to say I'm going to be. I'm going to see you guys in about a month at Ardmore Music Hall. I think you're playing four shows. Yeah, right.
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C
Yeah.
- [14:32]
B
Which is really cool in. In December. So folks around here in the Philly area definitely check out Dogs. You guys talked a little bit about, or you talked about Anders, Bill. He's been on the show before, and he's. He's awesome. I think, you know, a lot of people. I think a lot of people have seen Trey as a. As a kind of example of how to. How to be, you know, still be awesome and. And also be sober. And, you know, I think a lot of fans. Fish fans have. Have taken, you know, guidance from Trey indirectly and. And change their own lives. And I think that's really cool. And obviously, the Divided sky foundation is a huge, huge outcome of. Of his work, but just as a musician, you know, seeing him still go out there and, like, put together shows that are totally unique and. And interesting and different, and the fact that, you know, he's been kind of a. I guess, to me, he's sort of like a beacon of this kind of lifestyle. I don't know. What do you guys think? And what do you.
- [15:28]
C
I guess.
- [15:28]
B
What do you guys think Trey has kind of meant for. For people in. In our scene, in terms of the way you look at both sobriety and music?
- [15:39]
D
You want to take that one, Brian?
- [15:45]
C
Do you maybe want to say something first and then I'll.
- [15:47]
D
Yeah, no problem.
- [15:48]
B
Sorry. It's a big question.
- [15:50]
D
No, no, I'm happy to. I just want to give him the option. Yeah. So I think it's really important and helpful if a musician, I think. Well, let me start with this. I think, you know, a lot of people really look up to musicians, and I use it like. People go to see shows to have their cups filled up. You know what I mean? To feel, like, connected and spiritually oriented. It. It plays a vital role in a lot of people's lives. And when you have a musician of a certain stature, whether it's Anders or Trey, and there's plenty other examples. Who are these? And, you know, to your point earlier, Brian, it's not like a right or wrong thing. It's not a preachy Thing, it's like, this is my experience. I did a few things, I changed a few things in my life. My life is better now. I'm able to like, you know, play music at a level I, you know, that I never thought possible. Like, these are really positive messages that I think people pay attention to and I do think it does influence people's lives. I think music helps shape and shift culture and always has. So when you have these sort of cultural icons speaking openly about their experience, I do think it really translates into transforming people's lives.
- [17:13]
C
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I think he's one of those artists that, you know, when you're at a really good show, you almost feel like everybody there is on this one unified field, you know, feeling the same thing, feeling this gratitude, this celebration of music. And he's a guy that, that spearheads all that and he uses that platform now to promote something that's not divisive, like we're saying, but can help so many people. And he's kind of like, you know, for the people that need it, is making it hip, you know, And I think that's really admirable. And I've just always loved his, his passion for things, you know, now he's got such a, such a passion for this, which is awesome. This topic that we're talking about on top of his very like contagious passion for music, getting excited about music, getting people excited about music and inspiring people to, you know, get involved in something really cool.
- [18:28]
B
So, yeah, it's well said. What else? I guess, Bill, what else do we need to know about what you guys are up to and where people can go for more information and all that? Like how do we, how do people get involved and find out what's coming up?
- [18:42]
D
Yeah, well, we got two big events coming up. Well, they're intimate events, but big in the, in the musical sense. So we have on and I'll send you like the graphic that has all the info. But December 12, which is a Friday night Murray's Law at a place in Brooklyn called loft story, about 200 person venues, really, really cool spot. And that will be a benefit for the Phoenix Presents, which is our music arm at the Phoenix that does these substance free events like Music on the Mountain. So that's on the 12th of December. Then two days later, and I'm trying to see if I can get Brian and some of the guys from the band to come out to this, but we're doing, I do an annual trip to Havana, Cuba and this will be the fifth one coming up in 2026. And I've gotten to know an amazing Cuban musician named Pedrito Martinez who's actually based in New Jersey. So he's going to do an event for us at Danny Clinch's gallery in Asbury park on Sunday, December 14 in the early evening. So opportunity to see a master Cuban percussionist and his full band just gets super funky and awesome.
- [19:59]
B
That is fantastic. Well, yeah, please. We'll share all the information with our listeners and looking forward to hearing more. Is there anything else we want to talk about that we didn't cover yet?
- [20:11]
D
Anything from Dogs from your world, Brian, that you want people to know about of your multiple shows coming up?
- [20:20]
C
Shows? Yeah, well, we have an album coming out. Really excited for that. It's been a long time coming.
- [20:27]
B
Yeah, that's great.
- [20:29]
C
November 19th. Excited for that. And then, yeah, the one show that comes to mind that I'm really excited about is Valentine's Day at the Capitol Theater in Port Chester, New York. That's going to be awesome. That's one of my favorite, you know, everybody in the band loves that venue and we've been seeing shows there since we were, you know, a lot younger. So, yeah, really cool room. So much great history in that room and it's going to be cool.
- [20:58]
D
That's awesome.
- [20:59]
B
That is really cool. Yeah, like I mentioned, you guys are coming to Ardmore for I think four nights in December, right. The 18th through 21st of December. You're going to be in Boston before that and you're, you're still, you're in the middle of these, these Chicago shows. So people who are in the Chicago area, you can see Dogs in the next, next week or so, but obviously you can check them out on Social and see all the dates and yeah, we'll be sharing more info as it comes. And I appreciate Bill and Brian, you guys both taking the time to, to hang with us and, and talk about this stuff.
- [21:31]
C
Yeah.
- [21:31]
D
Thank you, rj.
- [21:34]
B
Yeah, thanks. And we will, like I said, we'll put some links in the show notes for more information about these shows, but otherwise we'll talk to you guys soon. Thank you.
- [21:43]
D
Cool, thanks for having us, man. I'm sorry, Jay, Steve, Brian.
- [21:46]
C
Thanks, Bill.
- [21:47]
D
All right, take it easy, Take it easy.
- [21:49]
C
Bye.
- [21:49]
D
Bye.
- [22:08]
C
S.A.
- [22:36]
B
Osiris.
- [22:42]
E
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A
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