The Dip: Bringing “Love Direction” To Santa Cruz

Seattle-based R&B Powerhouse headlines at Catalyst Feb. 21st

February 14, 2025

“As you get further along in a relationship, sometimes you lose your way…the love is still there, but people and life are complicated.”

-Tom EddyOn The Dip's new album 'Love Direction' exploring the complexities of love and relationships.

Seattle-based R&B powerhouse The Dip is set to bring their signature blend of soul, funk, and jazz to The Catalyst in Santa Cruz on February 21st. With their latest album, Love Direction, the seven-piece band continues to evolve while staying true to the vintage-inspired sound that has earned them a loyal following.

At the heart of The Dip’s music is lead singer and guitarist Tom Eddy, backed by a powerful horn section featuring Brennan Carter (trumpet), Evan Smith (saxophone), and Levi Gillis (saxophone). The rhythm section—bassist Mark Hunter and drummer Jarred Katz—creates grooves that shift between tight, punchy rhythms and free-flowing beats, keeping each live performance fresh and unpredictable.

Known for their high-energy, deeply soulful live performances, The Dip has built a reputation for delivering unforgettable shows. They’ve sold out venues nationwide and played major festivals like Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. Now, with Love Direction, they’re hitting the road again, and Santa Cruz is one of the first stops. Expect a night of powerful horns, smooth vocals, and grooves that make it impossible to stand still. This is a must-see show if you’re in Santa Cruz on February 21st. Grab your tickets before they’re gone! Photos by Brynn Osborn

Their latest album, Love Direction, marks a big step forward. Following the success of their 2022 release, Sticking With It, which topped the Billboard Current R&B Albums Chart, this new record explores the complexities of love and relationships. “As you get further along in a relationship, sometimes you lose your way,” says Eddy. “The love is still there, but people and life are complicated.” Love Direction takes a deeper look at the middle stages of love—communication, growth, and understanding each other’s needs.

Check out the new album right here, and I’m betting you will see these dudes show up on your “2025 Wrapped” in December…

drummer Jarred Katz of the Dip just kind of shredding

The Dip Band curtain call after another great live performance

Photos: Jake Magraw

EXTRA DIP

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The VIBES Interview with Levi Gillis

Ahead of the Santa Cruz show, Vibes Magazine sat down with saxophonist Levi Gillis to talk about the band’s evolution, the new album, and what fans can expect from their live performances.

VIBES: I did a little homework, Levi. You’ve been vocal and active in the past about your passion for elevating culture and diversity in music. How does that influence your work with The Dip?

LG: It’s something I’ve always prioritized. Back in Seattle, I was involved with an organization called Table and Chairs, a record label and concert promoter. I helped curate a monthly series focused on diverse lineups, avoiding the usual all-white, all-male bands. Not that they weren’t great musicians, but there’s so much more to showcase. That same mindset carries over into The Dip—we’re intentional about who we bring on tour and book as openers.

Levi Gillis is a saxophonist/composer/curator and sometimes multi-instrumentalist working at the intersection of Jazz, contemporary classical music and folk traditions.
Photo by Seth Gillis in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

It’s surreal….I never thought we’d get here. I remember our first West Coast tour—we played a Monday night at Bocce’s Cellar in Santa Cruz. It was trivia night, and nobody showed up. At one point, the sound system caught on fire. It’s just us playing to the bartender. One of those moments where you’re like, “What are we doing”?

-Levi Gillis On the bands humble beginnings and now being booked to play at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in the fall.

VIBES: It sounds like that philosophy is also carried into your other projects.

LG: Definitely. It’s something we talk about within The Dip a lot. These conversations aren’t always easy, but they’re necessary. The more voices and perspectives in music, the stronger and more interesting everything becomes.

VIBES: Outside of The Dip, you have other musical projects. How do you balance everything?

LG: I split my time between free improvisation jazz, songwriting, and The Dip. I don’t think of it as juggling multiple bands anymore—it’s more of a collaborative community where we all support each other’s work. But The Dip remains a huge part of my life.

VIBES: The Dip live shows are electric, but I stumbled across a song called Knowing from your first solo EP, and it felt much more intimate. What was the inspiration behind that?

LG: The Dip is high-energy, almost party music, but I have a more introspective side. Some of my favorite musical experiences have been sitting in a room with a guitar, just messing around. I need that balance. Every member of The Dip has their creative world, and when we come together, we try to find a middle ground that brings out the best in all of us.

VIBES: That creative space must help keep the band fresh. Some groups burn out because members don’t get that freedom.

LG: Exactly. We encourage everyone to have their projects. It keeps things exciting and prevents burnout. The Dip is a massive part of our lives, but it doesn’t have to be the only part.

Every member of The Dip has their creative world, and when we come together, we try to find a middle ground that brings out the best in all of us.

-Levi Gillis

VIBES: Let’s talk about the saxophone. How did you first get into it?

LG: It wasn’t a big, planned thing. My parents encouraged me to play an instrument, so I picked the sax. At first, I didn’t care much, but I had a great teacher, Kevin Stewart, who encouraged me. He made me feel like a sax player, not just a kid with a saxophone. In high school, I started a band with friends, and we were all discovering music together. That’s when it clicked. I remember driving around, listening to Sonny Rollins’ Saxophone Colossus on repeat. That was a game-changer for me.

VIBES: Do you remember The Dip’s first-ever show?

LG: Yeah, it was sold out at Barbosa in Seattle—250 people. It felt huge for us at the time.

VIBES: And now you’re playing Red Rocks this fall. That’s quite the journey.

LG: It’s surreal. I never thought we’d get here. I remember our first West Coast tour—we played a Monday night at Bocce’s Cellar in Santa Cruz. It was trivia night, and nobody showed up. At one point, the sound system caught on fire. It’s just us playing to the bartender. One of those moments where you’re like, What are we doing?

VIBES: That’s an all-time excellent tour story. So, tell us about the new album.

LG: Love Direction is our most ambitious record yet. The production is bigger, but there are also many intimate moments and different arrangements that feel special.

VIBES: Any advice for young musicians?

LG: Believe in yourself. The commitment has to come from within—you have to be the one to go all in. No one else can do it for you.

The Dip paly live at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA on February 21, 2205

Tickets are limited! Snag the last few at catalystclub.com

Love Direction, the follow-up to 2022’s Sticking With It (which landed at #1 on the Billboard Current R&B Albums Chart) is the band’s fourth full-length studio album and second for Dualtone Records.

With Love Direction, The Dip continues to expand their sound while staying rooted in the classic influences that fans love. Santa Cruz is in for a night of unforgettable music if their February 21st show at The Catalyst is anything like their past performances.

🎟 Tickets are on sale now—don’t miss it!