Ready or not, 2024 is an election year. But before we all get caught up in partisan attacks and identity politics, Dogs In A Pile decided to brush up on the fundamentals of our democracy by covering Schoolhouse Rock! classic “I’m Just A Bill” in our nation’s capital.
The men of Dogs In A Pile, mostly in their mid-20s, weren’t around for the initial debut of “I’m Just A Bill” in honor of the United States’ bicentennial in 1976. Still, like many products of the American educational system, they likely remember the thrill of seeing a VHS cart wheeled into their elementary classroom on a day when their teacher just didn’t have it in them. It’s this shared cross-generational experience that makes “I’m Just A Bill” so universally nostalgic, and also what makes the band’s cover so fun.
Guitarist Brian Murray introduced the song by playing the part of the young boy learning how a bill becomes a law, but it was keyboardist Jeremy Kaplan‘s performance as the titular bill that brought the song to life. From the Union Stage, less than a mile and a half from Capitol Hill, Kaplan schooled the crowd on the legislative process as a bill goes through Congress, the Senate, and—barring a presidential veto—becomes a law.
“Doesn’t hurt to learn something,” Kaplan quipped at the end of the song.
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Watch Dogs In A Pile debut a cover of “I’m Just A Bill” at the Union Stage in Washington, D.C. below starting at 59:35. Here’s hoping for a debut of “The Shot Heard ‘Round The World” the next time the band plays Middlesex County in Massachusets.
Dogs In A Pile – Union Stage – Washington, D.C. – 1/19/24 – Full Show
For more information on how government functions, consult this Simpsons parody of Schoolhouse Rock!, “I’m An Amendment To Be”.
The Simpsons – “I’m An Amendment To Be”
[Video: omgbaby123]
For a full list of upcoming Dogs In A Pile tour dates, head here.
Setlist: Dogs In A Pile | Union Stage | Washington, D.C. | 1/19/24
Set 1: Look Johnny, Snow Day, Didn’t Ya Know, My Disguise, Applesauce, Nicolette > 4th of July, I’m Just a Bill (Schoolhouse Rock!) [1], Mr. Tooker
Set 2: You Didn’t Hear It From Me, Thomas Duncan, Pt. 2 > Green Earrings (Steely Dan) > Craig and Pat > Hot Dog > Craig and Pat, Samba for Sam > Por Que Pedro > Samba for Sam, The Bag, No Quarter (Led Zeppelin)
Encore: Good Lovin’ (The Rascals)
Footnotes:
[1] FTP
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