The DOGTAGS band is a distinctive nine-piece “art-soul” collective based in Denver, Colorado, known for blending musical genres with a strong emphasis on community and queer joy. Built around the real-life partnership of founders Regi Worles and Michael Merola, the project often describes itself as “your friendly neighborhood soul band.”
Musically, the group blends neo-soul, jazz, R&B, and post-pop elements. Their sound features lush arrangements, horns, layered vocals, and cello, creating a rich “wall of sound” experience. Lyrically, their songs are confessional and relationship-focused, centering themes of vulnerability, chosen family, and acceptance rather than traditional genre tropes.
The collective aims to create a “garden” where listeners can find refuge. At their shows, the band fosters an environment where no one is a stranger, and everyone feels like a friend.
While the group functions as a collective with a rotating cast of collaborators, the DOGTAGS band solidified its current nine-piece lineup in early 2025.
Formed in 2021, the band spent several years refining its sound before solidifying the roster with the additions of Ben Kane and Tyler Hamlin in 2025.
The band’s debut full-length project, ROSEWORLD, was self-released on June 17, 2025, serving as a proper introduction to the group’s evolved sound. Leading up to the album, they released singles including “Keepsake,” “Sumn Bout Roses,” “Sasori,” and “Wondering.”
Regionally, the DOGTAGS band has become known for high-energy, theatrical live shows that function as communal gatherings.
In recognition of their impact on the local scene, Westword named DOGTAGS the “Best Neo-Latin Soul Group” in 2025. Following their Bluebird Theater performance, the band plans to return to the studio to finish new material for 2026.
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