Tulsa emo act CLIFFDIVER has had a whirlwind 2024. The group just released their 12-track album birdwatching in September and toured across the States with Prince Daddy & The Hyena. Though, like all great eras, this one is coming to a bittersweet close. CLIFFDIVER took to social media to share that guitarist/vocalist Gil Erickson and saxophonist Dony Nickles will be departing.
On Instagram, the band shared, “Sadly, today marks the end of an era for CLIFFDIVER. Both Dony and Gil will be stepping away from the band to focus on their family & personal lives. We as a band fully support them in their decision and understand how much time and energy being in a touring band can take from you, and we just don’t have plans of slowing down.”
Read more: The Maine Announces Support Lineup For 8123 Fest
The statement continues, “Dony was one of the first people I asked to be part of this band and since then, he’s been one of the most dependable, hard-working dudes you could ever share the stage with & should be considered a founding father of Cliffy. Gil stepped in a few years ago and made a massive impact to not only our live performance & sound, but our whole writing process. Bro is an insanely talented songwriter & vocalist and he really helped bridge a gap in our music.”
Check out the band’s and members’ full statements below.
Dony shares, “To my Cliffdiver family and everyone who has helped us become the band we are today, I am so blessed and grateful for every single one of you! You will always have a special place in my heart, thank you.”
Additionally, Gil notes, “The love I’ve felt as a member of this band will stay with me forever. As sad as I am to be putting this band behind me, I know it’s best for myself. While this might be goodbye, I will always be on the sidelines supporting the family I’ve made in Cliffy. So I’ll be there in spirit no matter where they go.”
CLIFFDIVER is about to head out on their Birdwatching: Migration Tour, which begins on Novemeber 29 in Denton, Texas, and ends on December 9 in Columbus. Then, their final show as a full band with Dony and Gil will happen in their home city of Tulsa at Cain’s. The December 27 show will have support from The Tokyo Smash, Sincere Engineer, and SUNFO. Grab your tickets for upcoming shows here.
While two members are leaving, this is definitely not the end of CLIFFDIVER. The band shares, “It won’t be the same without these two, but I’m excited to tackle the challenge of moving forward as a five piece.”
