Seattle Soul Revivalists the Dip are a Band Forged in Barbecue

With so much happening in Seattle’s bustling music scene these days, how do you even know where to start? Allow the highly trained culture curators of Seattlemag.com to help with Band of the Week. This week, meet local soul revivalists the Dip. The hot sauce-loving septet plays Neumos on Saturday with the True Loves and Whitney Mongé.

Before the gig, we caught up with the band to talk recording plans, their barbecue game and smoky U District nights.

In three sentences or more, tell us the story of your band. We (Jarred Katz, Mark Hunter and Tom Eddy) lived in a big house in the University District during college, and a pastime of that place was “The Backyard Cookout.” Think full-on slow cookers, smokers and charcoal barbecues; pork ribs, brisket, what have you. There was lots of healthy competition as to whose brisket was the zestiest.

When the vibe was right and everyone had tossed a few back, the three of us would get out our axes and jam Taj Mahal and Bill Withers covers till all hours of the night. One night, we had invited Jacob, who we heard was a foosball prodigy, and wanted to see what all the hype was about. Well, we started playing and Jacob asked if he could sit in on guitar. After one groove, we knew we had found it. The Honeynut Horns (Brennan Carter, Evan Smith and Levi Gillis) lived across the alley and were known to practice jazz tunes on their balcony on those summer evenings. When they came down and joined, adding those crunchy and sweet hits, the Dip was born.

Tell us about the new project and what you’ve been working on these days. We just moved into a new studio space in town. We’ve been spending this winter and spring rehearsing and recording a lot, dialing in the sounds to get that perfect gritty soul. Just like it was back in the day. We’re excited to get other bands in there to record, too!

What does being an artist/musician/band in Seattle mean to you? It means showing up to your favorite local bands’ shows in town, hanging out, buying their records and supporting them as they grow. It’s about creating a diverse and inclusive community where everyone’s voices can be heard. And it’s about bringing people together to enjoy that community, because we wouldn’t exist without the welcoming vibes on those early summer night jams.

What big question should we ask and what’s the answer? The big question is “How many bottles of hot sauce have we made to sell at our shows over the years?” The answer is 187—187 bottles of the Dip’s Dip.

What’s next, besides the Neumos gig? We’re doing some summer festivals, too, so be on the lookout!