mtvU's Best Music on Campus

Hello All - Hope you enjoy the tunes....

be our friend at www.myspace.com/tglrock

we are always just a message away!

Video can be seen here -http://youtube.com/watch?v=p4dVarMGkGA

Bio

*Released most recent album "Sweeter As Fiction" on Lobster/Oort Records on September 23rd, 2008.
*MTVU Artist of the Week
*Top 5 in The Artist of the Year Competition by MTVu and Epic Records
*Finalists in the mtvU Six Flags Battle of the Bands.
*Crowdrules.com Most promising unsigned artist
*Performed With Acts Such As: Jack's Mannequin, Finger Eleven, Hit the Lights, June, The Junior Varsity

more info @ www.sonicbids.com/tgl
Check us out @ www.myspace.com/tglrock

-TGL PRESS-
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"TGL? takes another shot at mtvU award"

Banner Graphic, Sunday, October 21, 2007
By MICHAEL ZENNIE, Staff Writer

TGL bandmates (from left) Zach Stewart, Quinn Fenlon, John Sibbitt and Will Cath competing for award.
[Click to enlarge]
Greencastle’s own aspiring pop rock band, TGL, is in the spotlight of the college-centered cable music channel mtvU. And band members are hoping the third time’s the charm for their shot at fame and maybe a little fortune.
The four musicians from Greencastle are among the top 25 bands, picked from thousands, competing for the title of “Best Music on Campus” at mtvU’s 2007 Woody Awards.

The five bands that gather the most votes by Sunday afternoon will move on the next round of the contest.

Of those acts, the two most popular will win a trip to the 2007 Woody Awards in New York to compete for a Woody and $5,000 cash and prizes, said TGL’s bassist Zach Stewart.

Fans can vote by clicking the mtvU link on the band’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/tglrock or by visiting the contest’s Web site at http://www.bestmusiconcampus.com/contests/woodies1....

The guys should know whether they’ve made it past the second elimination by Monday afternoon, Stewart said.

The publicity the band would get if they even made it into the final round would be enough to kick start their careers, he added.

TGL has taken second place in the last two mtvU competitions, including a contest for a $1.5 million recording contract, but they’re hoping the Wood Award will be lucky number three.

“We’re thinking this could be the one,” Stewart said.

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"Fairfax musician’s band vying for award online"

By Carly Weber
The Gazette 10/20/07

Fairfax resident Zach Stewart and his band TGL have made it to the semifinal round of competition for mtvU’s Best Music on Campus Woodie Award.
The Woodie Award, mtvU’s equivalent of the MTV Video Music Awards, will be given to the college artist most likely to break through this year. Voting to decide which five bands from the top 25 will move on ends Sunday.
To listen and vote, go to www.myspace/tglrock and click on the band’s photo that says “vote here” or go to www.bestmusic oncampus.com
The winning band will be announced on-air at the Woodie Awards in New York City on Nov. 8 and will get $5,000 cash and name recognition.
If the name TGL already rings a bell, that’s because the band made it to the final round of mtvU and Epic Record’s Artist of the Year contest in May.
The band, which includes DePauw University students John Sibbitt and Will Cath and Brown University student Quinn Fenlon, also made it into the final round of another mtvU competition and opened for Finger Eleven at the U.S. Cellular Center for the Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival this summer.
“Maybe this will be third time’s a charm,” said Stewart, 20.
Judges told the band it’s just as important for voters to listen to the their music as it is for them to vote.
¦ Contact the writer (319) 398-5853 or carly.weber@gazettecommunications.com
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TGL named a finalist in mtvU music Contest
The DePauw
By: Andy Bruner

A journey that began in March when TGL was named mtvU's Artist of the Week has now brought the band one step away from a $1.5 million contract with Epic Records.

TGL, which includes DePauw junior John Sibbitt and sophomore Will Cath, was named one of the five finalists Tuesday in the "Best Music on Campus Artist of the Year" contest co-sponsored by Epic Records and MTVu, MTV's college network. In addition to the Epic contrac, which includes the making of an album and music video, the winning artist will perform on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on May 14 and star in an mtvU reality series.

Although the winner will ultimately be determined by Epic and mtvU, votin is also considered. Votes can be cast at bestmusiconcampus.com or through a link at www.myspace.com/tglrock from now until Saturday at 5 p.m.

Cath, the band's drummer, said the results of the contest have surpassed member's expectations. "Its's kind of surreal to be honest," Cath said. "We obviously didn't expect to make it this far." Sibbitt, TGL's lead singer, said he has been pleased with the feedback the band has received during the contest. "I reallly don't know who's voting anymore. It's definitely taken off", he said. "Lately it's been a lot of DePauw support, which has been really nice."

Sibbitt and Cath both said they don't know what style of music Epic is looking for, as the the contest has taken many twists. There were a lot of hip hop artists and rap artists in the final 15, and now theres only one. Now four out of the five ar bands, so I'm done speculating on what they want."

Cath said if they win, music would take precedence over school. But if the contest doesn't got their way, they already have summer plans for the band."If we win, all four of us are 100 percent going to take a semester or a year off of school," he said. "If we don't win the contest and nothing happens,...were going to make another E.P. in June."

Sibbitt said the band, with members at three different colleges, got together during spring break to write songs for their upcoming recording and summer tour. But school has interfered since. "It hasn't really progresssed any since spring break, because we just haven't had any time together," Sibbitt said. "After school we can't wait to get together."

Sibbitt said, win or lose, the contest has been positive for TGL. "We're just out there to garner as much support as we can, and we'll just let the results take care of themselves," he said. "It's helped get our name out regardless."
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Band Featuring Two DePauw Students Reaches Finals of mtvU Contest

May 4, 2007, Depauw.edu

TGL, a four-member band that includes DePauw University students Will Cath (drums) and John Sibbitt (guitar and vocals), has reached the finals of mtvU's "Artist of the Year" competition. The winner, determined by online voting, receives a recording deal from Epic Records worth up to $1.5 million. TGL is one of five survivors remaining in a contest that began with 50 competitors.

"Voting for the winning band continues this week until 5 p.m. Saturday," reports Greencastle's Banner Graphic. Cast a vote for TGL and hear clips of the band by clicking here.

"It's kind of surreal, to be honest," Cath tells The DePauw. "We obviously didn't expect to make it this far."

"I really don't know who's voting anymore," adds Sibbitt, the band's lead singer. "It's definitely taken off. Lately it's been a lot of DePauw support, which has been really nice."

TGL plans to tour once the school year ends and "will take part in the Hype Energy 2007 Tour through July, which will include artists Asteria and Bear Hug Jersey, among other bands," writes the Banner Graphic's Jason Moon.

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TGL band makes it to final round
The Gazette, Central Iowa News. 4/3/07

Fairfax resident Zach Stewart and his band TGL have made it the final round of mtvU and Epic Record’s Artist of the Year contest.
The band was featured in March as an Artist of the Week on ‘‘The Freshman’’ show on mtvU, MTV’s college spin-off.
From there, the band made a group of 50 finalists for Artist of the Year and then 15 and now five.
The other band members are Depauw University students John Sibbitt and Will Cath and Brown University student Quinn Fenlon.
Epic Records will sign the winning band or artist, and the winner will perform on ‘‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien.’’
Online voting continues through Saturday. To vote for TGL, click on the ‘‘Vote Now’’ banner on the band’s Web site at www.myspace.com/tglrock or go to mtvU’s Web site at
www.bestmusicon campus.com

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TGL advances to Epic’s top 5
JASON MOON, Assistant Editor
Posted: Thursday, May 3, 2007 10:34 AM CDT

TGL, the four-piece band made up of former Greencastle High School students, has advanced to the top five in Epic Record’s Artist of the Year contest.

Voting for the winning band continues this week until 5 p.m. Saturday. TGL, composed of Zach Stewart on bass, John Sibbitt on guitar, Will Cath on drums and Quinn Fenlon on guitar is up against Rudy and the Rhetoric, Otto Vector, Madelyn and Bamboo Shoots.

“We have to push it as hard as we can until Saturday,” Stewart said via e-mail.

Rudy and the Rhetoric are based out of the University of Washington while Madelyn is based out of Florida Atlantic University. Otto Vector is based out of Bowling Green State University and Bamboo Shoots is based out of Middlesex County College.

The artist with the most votes will win a recording deal with Epic Records in addition to making an appearance on the mtvU Tour and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Stewart informed the BannerGraphic that the band learned it made the top five in the contest Tuesday afternoon.

Those wishing to vote for the band may go to its myspace.com website and click on the banner which reads “We made the top five,” to be directed to the contest.

TGL’s contest website features “Entourage,” “My Routine Failed,” “Blue Star Highway,” and “Starbucks,” all songs from the band’s 2006 EP. In addition, they have an interview featured on the website from Z 102.9-FM, based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

TGL — formerly known as The Good Life — has been together for nearly six years in one incarnation or another. They have released a couple of albums on the local level and plan on releasing a new album — their first with Fenlon — this summer.

The band will tour in support of the new album beginning with a show at the Attic in Plainfield on May 31. The tour will last through July and will cover stops in Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Massaschusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri and Canada.

The band will take part in the Hype Energy 2007 Tour through July, which will include artists Asteria and Bear Hug Jersey, among other bands.

Both Sibbitt and Cath are students at DePauw University while Fenlon attends school at Brown University. Stewart is a student at Capri College in Iowa.

Upon entering the contest, the band was selected as an Artist of the Week in March on “The Freshman” show on mtvU, MTV’s college spinoff.

After being selected as an Artist of the Week, TGL moved into one of 50 finalists spots in the competition.

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Future brightens for locally-based band
By JASON MOON, Assistant Editor
Posted: Tuesday, May 1, 2007 11:17 AM CDT

The future keeps getting brighter and brighter for TGL.

But for now, the band will just have to wait.

The local band, composed of four Greencastle High School graduates recently entered Epic Record’s Artist of the Year contest.

The band was selected as an Artist of the Week in March on “The Freshman” show on mtvU, MTV’s college spinoff.

TGL entered the contest with a bit of hestitation but after being selected as an Artist of the Week, the band moved into one of 50 finalists in the competition.

TGL managed to stay alive in the contest as artists were dropped from the contest. The artists were chosen through online voting, which ended Friday.

The top five picks advanced to a final round and the winner will sign a record deal with Epic, which includes promotion and video. The winning artist will also perform on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”

The band is composed of GHS graduates Zach Stewart (bass), John Sibbitt (guitar), Will Cath (drums) and Quinn Fenlon (guitar).

Sibbitt and Cath are both students at DePauw University and Fenlon attends school at Brown University. Stewart is a student at Capri College in Iowa.

Despite online voting ending already, the top five have not been announced yet. Still, Stewart said being in the contest has made things easier for the group.

“The publicity we’ve gotten from all of this has just been amazing,” Stewart said. “Our summer tour has been a lot easier to book since it’s all happened. Bands want to play with us, venues want to book us, and it’s working out fairly smoothly.

“Believe it or not, we want this more than anything. I don’t think a lot of people understand the magnitude of this whole contest, and the exposure we’ve received.”

The band has been together for nearly six years although Fenlon is a recent addition. TGL was recently known as The Good Life and has released a couple of albums.

“After six year, we’ve finally made a real name for ourselves and people are quickly starting to hear what we’ve been working hard on,” Stewart said.

Since entering the contest, Stewart said the band has received more than 40,000 hits on the contest website.

“That’s more hits than our myspace page has had in five years,” he said.

Stewart said several of the contestants are in the rap genre and that two of the top 15 artists were bands, the other of which was a rap group.

“We’re the second most viewed band in the top 15,” Stewart said.

Stewart said the band’s sound has changed significantly with the addition of Fenlon and that fans will be able to hear that change on record soon as TGL plans to release another album this summer before taking off on a tour.

“It will be our first CD with (Fenlon) as lead guitarist,” Stewart said. “He’s brought a whole new aspect to the band. Our songs are far more complex, yet still catchy and poppy. The songs are darker.

“We’re older and have been through some hard times regarding the band and relationships. I think everything that has happened to TGL in the past year is reflected in the new music.”

TGL will tour with the new album beginning with a show at the Attic in Plainfield on May 31. The tour will last through July and will cover stops in Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Massaschusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri and Canada.

The band will take part in the Hype Energy 2007 Tour through July, which will include artists Asteria and Bear Hug Jersey, among other bands.

“I think we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Stewart said.

Stewart said the band would hopefully find out the results of the contest within a few days.

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Fairfax man, bandmates compete for a big break
By Carly Weber
The Cedar Rapids Gazette 4/26/07

Six years after they got together as high school freshmen, four Midwest boys and their band, TGL, could get that dream break into the big time.
The road to would-be fame started when the group — made up of Zach Stewart of Fairfax, Depauw University students John Sibbitt and Will Cath, and Brown University student Quinn Fenlon — was featured in March as an Artist of the Week on ‘‘The Freshman’’ show on mtvU, MTV’s college spin-off.
That opportunity earned the group a spot as one of 50 finalists in mtvU and Epic Record’s Artist of the Year contest. They then made it into a whittleddown pool of 15 artists a couple of weeks ago.
‘‘It’s been a dream come true,’’ said Stewart, a student at Capri College in Cedar Rapids. ‘‘It’s the reason we started the band, but we never really thought it would happen.’’
Online voting for the 15 artists continues through Friday.
Voting results will be announced Monday.
Five artists will go on to the final round. Epic Records will sign the winning band or artist to a promotion, video and record deal. The winning band also will perform on ‘‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien.’’
Since TGL was named as one of the 15 finalists, band members have been publicity hounds, plugging the band and encouraging votes.
‘‘I know we want it more than any band that’s in the top 15,’’ said Stewart, 20.
‘‘We just like playing in front of people. We like playing live. This is the greatest opportunity for millions of people to hear our music.’’
Win or lose, they’ll continue to chase the dream. The band toured the Midwest and East Coast last summer and has plans to hit the road again, starting May 31.
‘‘It’s what we’ve been working for so long,’’ Stewart said. ‘‘It’s our passion. It’s what we love to do.’’
• Contact the writer: (319) 398-5853 or carly.weber@gazettecommunications.com
To vote

• To vote for TGL, click on the ‘‘Vote Now’’ banner on the band’s Web site at www.my space.com/ tglrock or go to mtvU’s Web site at www.best musicon campus.com

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TGL advances to final 15 in mtvU competition
By: Andy Bruner
TGL has made it to the second round of mtvU's "Best Music on Campus" competition, bringing the band one step closer to a contract with Epic Records and being featured in an mtvU series.

Thanks to online votes and consideration from mtvU and Epic, TGL is now one of 15 artists remaining in the competition. Voting to decide the five finalists began Friday and continues until April 27 at bestmusiconcampus.com.

MtvU, MTV's 24-hour college network, has sponsored "Best Music on Campus" competitions for the past two years, but this one is the first to name an artist of the year, said mtvU Communications Manager Jason Rzepka.

"We know that there is a ton of outstanding talent out there on college campuses," Rzepka said. "We've been blown away by the caliber - the quantity and the quality - of music we've received."

TGL's two members from DePauw, lead singer/guitarist John Sibbitt, a junior, and drummer Will Cath, a sophomore, both said being selected for the final 15 was surprising. Because voting for the first round took place while DePauw was on spring break, Sibbitt said he thought TGL's chances would be hurt by students not voting while they were off campus.

"It's exciting and it's also stressful to be honest," Sibbitt said.

"It feels like I don't want to do homework anymore," Cath said. "After looking at the top 15 now, there's no reason we can't make the top five."

Sibbitt said the members of TGL, all college students, have been encouraged to pursue music full-time because of their showing in the competition.

"It's looking more and more realistic," he said. "It's been more of a dream. Now it's more of a reality."

Cath said one factor he thinks helped the band win over Epic and mtvU is TGL's extensive touring schedule.

"The tour, I think, helps with the contest because it shows the judges we're actually trying to do something and not just sitting on a couch trying to win," he said.

Rzepka said TGL's participation in the mtvU contest will help them find more success.
"They have a sound that's really connecting with the college scene right now," he said. "Regardless where this competition leads to and whoever quote-unquote wins, they've been exposed."

Sibbitt said he has been encouraging people to vote for TGL in the competition through Facebook and Myspace. He and Cath both asked DePauw students to make a concerted effort to support the band by voting.

"Being at DePauw, everyone's supposed to be so close, but in the past it hasn't seemed to be that way," Sibbitt said.

Sibbitt said the band spent spring break writing new material to record in June and to play during its summer tour. Whether the sessions will be with Epic Records or done independently is still up in the air.

After the five finalists in the competition are decided, Epic and mtvU will select the winner. In addition to receiving a contract with the record company and starring in an mtvU series, the winner will perform live on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

"Even if we don't win, it's been great stuff to put on a press release or a resume," Sibbitt said.

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TGL: Provocative, Authentic, and Just a Little Bit Raw
By Music Emissions and Maddison Hamli
April 21 2007

“In 6,000 miles we were only flashed once,” Will Cath says. “But I did discover you can lie in the back of a truck bed and not get wet when it rains. We would be driving down the highway at 75 miles per hour and it would be pouring down rain and I wouldn’t feel a drop.”

“Yeah, 6,000 miles…in a truck,” says John Sibbitt, conjuring up a mental image of the small quarters. “It was a four-door. We brought five guys on tour. Our guys and a merch man.”
“Merchandise man,” Cath clarifies, tilting his brown curly haired head to the side. “He was worthless and didn’t sell anything, but we love him anyway.”

In June and July of 2006, with Cher’s “Life After Love” as their theme song, Cath and Sibbitt, together with fellow TGL band members Quinn Fenlon and Zach Stewart, crammed in Sibbitt’s dad’s truck and traveled 6,000 all over the Midwest and parts of the upper East coast. Although three of the four Greencastle, Indiana, natives have been together as a band for five years—Quinn joined the group last summer before the tour replacing one of their guitarists—last summer marked their first tour and major national exposure.

“It’s the most unhealthy thing you can do—to go on tour,” Cath says as he rubs a hand across his chin, his palm grazing a few days of stubble and sounding like sandpaper as he does.
“McDonald’s dollar menu is essential,” Sibbitt adds.

“Essentially, you are a skeleton with a beer belly,” says Stewart, “And tan. Will mostly worked on his tan and laid out in the back of the truck. He was pretty bronzed up by the end of summer.”

Cath, TGL’s drummer, smiles and shrugs at this comment, not denying his fondness for absorbing rays from the back of the metal truck bed while speeding down the highway. The three friends (Fenlon, who plays guitar, was not able to make the interview) interact with the kind of ease that comes with having spent many hours together on the road.

“The world’s largest frying pan was the highlight of the trip. It was big enough to park a car in it,” jokes Stewart, TGL’s bassist. “Oh, but there’s this dude in the toll booth near Chicago. He’s famous for his boils.”

“You didn’t even see him,” Sibbitt, guitarist and the lead singer of the group, shakes his head at Stewart and takes over the telling the story. “I look over and this guy scares the s**t out of me. I’m not talking little warts, but boils. All over his body. He probably gets the same look every time, I felt bad.”

Cath, Sibbitt and Stewart first met in high school, but, as they were only beginning their musical careers, the initial results were rocky.

“Back then, it was just Will and I playing “music” together. It’s still really funny to even think about how s***** we were,” Stewart recollects.

“Zach and I have been friends a long time. John was a biker [in high school], we were skaters—that was a problem,” Cath says, explaining Sibbitt’s absence from the genesis of the band.

“John was magic. He was big,” Stewart says referring to John’s biking skills as he raises his eyebrows and shakes his head with exaggerated reminiscence.
“Was,” Sibbitt emphasizes, “past tense.”

The letters T, G, and L, which originally stood for “The Good Life,” don’t have real significance anymore.

“Three Gay Llamas, Two Good Lookers, Theta Girls Lie,” Sibbitt lists some of the names fans have assigned to the band.

“Saddle Creek Records has the other band “The Goodlife.” Our name had three words, theirs only has two. But they said if we didn’t change it we would be in legal trouble. So, now we just go by TGL. It’s easier than trying to come up with a new name altogether,” Stewart explains.

While the 2006 TGL tour was highlighted by quirky tourist attractions and long overnight drives, TGL exponentially increased their name recognition and fan base by playing at a variety of venues during their two months on the road. The band admits their first tour was poorly mapped out—Mapquest took them on some winding and inefficient routes—but this upcoming July they will go a second tour, “The Hype Invasion Tour,” which will cover much of the same area only in a more economical manner. Sponsored by Hype, a European based energy drink, TGL will tour with Asteria, a band signed by Broken English Records. Cath, Fenlon, Sibbitt, and Stewart, who think Hype is “the best energy drink ever,” are the first American band to be sponsored by the company.

In the weeks and months ahead, TGL plans to do some serious writing and recording to prepare for the Hype tour.

“We’re not going to Acapulco this year,” Cath says with mock disappointment. “We’ll be doing a lot of work over spring break and hope to shoot one or more videos still this spring.”
With all four band members still in college—Cath and Sibbitt attend DePauw University, Stewart attends Capri College and Fenlon, sometimes referred to as “Ivy” by the group, attends Brown University—recording new material can be a challenge. Aside from the times when the three different school’s breaks coincide and the four can come home and work together, the guys stay in touch via email and cell phones, visiting one another when they can.

“A lot people don’t think about the consequences after the band. Every record label gets rid of its bands at some point. That’s what’s keeping us in school,” Stewart says. Cath and Sibbitt nod in agreement, revealing the unexpected wisdom and foresight the TGL guys share.
Although they exchange ideas while they’re away at their respective schools, TGL prefers to write as a cohesive group. Back when they were in high school in Greencastle, Indiana, Cath’s basement was considered “home court,” functioning as both a place to rehearse and compose new songs.

“We've practiced in Will's basement since we started playing music,” says Stewart, “His parents have always been amazing about letting us practice and making their walls shake until the wee hours of the morning. I can't really see us successfully writing music in any other atmosphere other than the basement...unless we were on the beach, surrounded by women and beer,” he adds, smirking as he readjusts the sunglasses still perched atop his head even though it’s nearly ten o’clock at night. He sits with one skinny jeaned leg over the edge of the arm of his chair. The twenty-year old bassist has messy dark hair which points wildly in all directions. He answers questions with a chill kind of effortlessness, his tone nonchalant but confident. Although the four TGL guys talk about their band and their music with eagerness, Stewart seems to be the unofficial spokesman.

“We’re always brainstorming lyrical concepts—all day, every day. Even when we’re not around each other,” Stewart says.

“Usually, we all try to collaborate and add our own style. We don't write as individuals,” adds Sibbitt, the only one of the group who sports close cropped blonde hair.

Perhaps that’s why TGL’s songs resonate with such genuineness: they aren’t about one band member’s individual experiences, but are a patchwork of emotions and stories shared by the entire group. They don’t sing about sappy young love gone wrong or crazy college parties. Instead, they bring to life experiences they’ve had in a way that’s real and sometimes a little raw.

In one of the verses of their song, “My Routine Failed,” the band sings: “It’s not that simple, it’s
not that we haven’t had our problems/A dream so true has become mine, mine and your enlightenment/A time to reflect on our past mistakes, sufficient enough to ruin our latest trends in love is getting louder and louder, louder and louder…”

“We typically write about women, love, friendship. And just being in a band. We write about whatever feels right. We've never written about an experience we've never actually had. I think that plays a huge role in how we carry ourselves on stage because we're singing our hearts out about what we've felt and what we’ve been through. That makes the whole experience m ore humble,” says Stewart. “The four of us are so alike, but at the same time we're not. We all have our own separate battles that none of the other guys will have to experience. I go to school six hours away from home at a cosmetology school with 300 girls, and no guys. It's absolute hell. John, Will, and Quinn will never have to experience that battle. But, we all have similar struggles like women and social life. It makes each of us more and more unique. You see a lot of bands with guys in it that seem like they're all the same person—they act the same, dress the same, and complain about the same things. And the four of us are so different from each other in that sense.”

With such a distinct blend of personalities fueling their lyrics, it’s not surprising that TGL’s sound is somewhat difficult to label.

“Even on iTunes there are about a hundred choices you can call music. We’re probably pop rock,” Sibbitt says.

“Our music is getting more complex,” Cath says.

“We’re older and wiser,” Stewart counters.
“Sandal core. We’re adding a new genre because we always wear sandals,” Sibbitt says looking down at his sandaled feet. Stewart and Cath laugh and roll their eyes before Stewart gets back to giving a serious answer to the question.

“We’ve sucked in all this music going around—whatever is popular or whatever we’re listening to at the time. I don’t think our music is something new that is going to take the world by storm. We know what we're doing has, in a sense, “been done before.” And that’s fine. It's almost impossible not to associate the music you listen to, to what you’re playing. If people hear our music they might say, “They sound like Fall Out Boy.” But to us, we're just the four kids that have been stuck in Will's basement for six years, writing what comes from the heart,” Stewart says, his vocal inflection exposing his sincerity. “We're not out trying to write the next big hit, or write something that fits into the genre that is popular at the time. Whatever you hear on disc is what came out when we wrote it. There's really no bull s**t behind it,” he finishes his explanation and leaves no doubt as to how much he has invested in TGL and the guys sitting beside him.

TGL, as Stewart points out, incorporates the sounds of old bands they’ve grown up with—Blink182, The Get Up Kids, Saves The Day—with the sounds of newer bands they’re into now—Asteria, The Marquette Weekend, Lupe Fiasco, Young Love and Sufjan Stevens. Some might agree with Sibbitt and say they’re pop rock, others might hear more of a punk quality in their guitar dominated melodies and edgy choruses. Regardless, TGL has found a niche among fans and is enjoying ever increasing popularity on a larger, national scale.

After opening for Jack’s Mannequin in early April of 2006, both a huge honor and great opportunity for the band, TGL produced a video for “Blue Star Highway,” the first single off their summer 2006 EP. “Blue Star Highway” was filmed on DePauw University’s campus and later in November of that same year received Honorable Mention in a YouTube.com music-video contest.
“It was a long two sweaty days,” Sibbitt says recalling the making of the video.
“We had already shot one video, but it was low budget equipment wise. So, we re-shot the first one using the same concept only—” Cath is interrupted by Stewart.

“Different chicks, different camera. And a bigger elevator in that one scene,” Stewart finishes.
“Most of the awards we’ve won have been because of the video. We wouldn’t have had nearly the exposure otherwise. It gives people a visual concept which you can’t get from just listening to a song,” Cath explains.

TGL was named Artist of the Week in mtvU’s “Best Music on Campus” competition earlier in the fall of this year. A 24-hour college network available at most larger universities, mtvU features college bands and artists and runs on both mtvu.com and bestmusiconcampus.com. The head of programming at mtvU, Ross Martin, gave TGL enthusiastic reviews saying, “TGL’s sound is unique and feels authentic and compelling. Their music is really fun to listen to, and they have a great energy. Though I’ve never seen them live, I’m dying to.” Maybe Martin will be lucky enough to catch TGL as they tour this summer. Most recently, TGL moved up to the top fifteen in the MTVu contest which puts them in the semi-finals. The semi-final round ends April 27th when the top five bands are picked.

“The winner gets a 1.5 million dollar contract, will appear on Conan O’Brian, gets a reality show on MTV, and gets to tour with MTV. It’s a big ass prize package,” Stewart says, looking hopeful. “There are some bigger unsigned bands in the top 15, and there's a band that has played on the Warped Tour two years in a row in the top 15. The only thing we have going for ourselves is our fans who vote and the fact that we're for sure top 5 when it comes to the most marketable bands.”

With two EP's, a live CD, a handful of random recordings, and another EP and video due this spring, TGL is well on their way to becoming the band they always wanted to become.
“We're four college guys tryin’ to live the dream. Everyone is trying to live some dream. Sometimes it takes people their whole lives to figure out what they are passionate about and what they aspire to be. We have answers to all of those questions. TGL is our dream. We've come a long way. Now we're just on a mission to prove everyone wrong. We have the heart. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't sit in our classes at school wondering when we are going to get our chance,” Stewart says.

“I heard “Life After Love” yesterday. I sang the whole thing,” Cath says breaking into a very Cher-sounding falsetto.

“It makes me want to throw up. I hate that song,” Sibbitt wrinkles his eyebrows in disgust.

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TGL grabs mtvU Artist of the Week award
By: Adam McClean
TGL, a band featuring two DePauw students, has been named this week's Artist of the Week in mtvU's "Best Music on Campus" competition.

MtvU is MTV's 24-hour college network available at many larger Universities. As a result of being named Artist of the Week, TGL is featured on mtvU's "The Freshmen," a weekly showcase of college-based artists and can be seen on both mtvu.com and bestmusiconcampus.com.

TGL's lead vocalist and guitar player John Sibbitt, a junior, said the band found out it had won the title about three weeks ago and has been finalizing everything since then. Sibbitt said that the band heard of the contest through a friend and took advantage of the opportunity to compete on mtvU.

"We weren't ever open to mtvU contests before because we weren't an mtvU-accredited school. So with this [contest], only one member had to be a college student, and all four of us are, so it worked out. So we signed up and it just happened," Sibbitt said.

Ross Martin, head of programming at mtvU, spoke highly of the band and its potential. He said the interaction between the band and its fans during the past weeks helped launch them to Artist of the Week.

"TGL's sound is unique and feels authentic and compelling. Their music is really fun to listen to, and they have a great energy. Though I've never seen them live, I'm dying to," Martin said.

Martin had heard of TGL's tour during summer 2006 and was struck by the band's initiative.

"It's really impressive to see them out with some big artists, and they're clearly ready to take the next step in their career. They're not waiting for their fans to come to them; they're taking their music to the fans," Martin said.

Junior Elyse Fisher was featured in TGL's "Blue Star Highway" music video and is confident this award will only propel them further.

"I know they've been looking forward to something like this. I think this is just what they need to get to that next level to keep them going and motivated," Fisher.

Winning the Artist of the Week automatically enters TGL into the quarterfinals of mtvU's Artist of the Year competition.

"We're really excited to be in this contest. It has huge rewards, including a $1.5 million record deal," Sibbitt said.

In addition to the record deal, the Artist of the Year winner will "premiere nationally on 'Conan O'Brien,' make a record, make two music videos, go on tour with mtvU and will be featured in a short-form series on mtvU featuring the 'Best Music on Campus' Artist of the Year," Martin said.

The competition for Artist of the Year will begin March 27, and the first round will end April 2. The winner premieres on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" Saturday, May 19.

Sibbitt said the next step for TGL is to promote around campus and utilize networking resources. Last November, TGL was given an Honorable Mention in a YouTube.com music-video contest for "Blue Star Highway." Sibbitt said promotion helped them to attain that award, and he planned on using a similar strategy this time.

"Last time, I just exhausted all of my resources through DePauw, and I e-mailed alums," Sibbitt said. "Hopefully people around campus will get the buzz and hopefully help us out."

Voting for the Artist of the Year begins on March 27. Votes can be cast by going to TGL's profile on www.bestmusiconcampus.com. Additional music and videos by the band can be heard at www.myspace.com/tglrock.

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TGL snags honorable mention on YouTube
By: Jon Brubeck
he results are in from an underground band contest hosted on YouTube.com, and Greencastle's own TGL was among the 10 to receive honorable mention out of the nearly 3,000 videos entered.

The competition was opened to the voters Oct. 25, after which the band posted its music video, "Blue Star Highway," for YouTube Inc. fans to critique. The polls closed Nov. 17 when the four grand prize winners and 10 honorable mentions were named. TGL, also known as The Good Life, is made up of junior John Sibbett, sophomore Will Cath and Greencastle natives Jake Berry and Zach Stewart.

The grand prizes were not determined by number of votes.

"After the votes, there were judges for the finalists who would decide on best song, best video, best performance and most creative group," Sibbett said. "The results were supposed to come out on the 17th. When the day came and we didn't receive anything, it was a bit of a disappointment."

The group, having been together for about five years, tried to get the campus behind the contest.

"John and I went around campus, asking individual people if they had voted, [but] the majority said they hadn't heard about it," Cath said.

"I don't think DePauw is very conducive to music," Sibbitt added.

Despite the difficulties, TGL was still able to garner support through alumni networks and friends. Sibbitt sent out e-mails through DePauw's network, asking alumni for support in voting.

"We received several responses from as far as San Francisco," Sibbitt said.

Cath said, however, that the experience was definitely worthwhile.

"Hearing your own music professionally recorded and shot in a professional video shoot is an experience I won't be able to see again," Cath said.

The band plans to continue playing; Sibbitt said the group will try to tour in the coming summer. The "Blue Star Highway" video, along with other music selections, can be found online at www.myspace.com/tglrock.

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The Good Life
By: Sentari Minor
Issue date: 4/14/06

Four young men, all under the legal age for drinking, take the stage and the crowd of teenagers and go wild. Screaming, yelling, jumping up and down and wailing, the audience in front of the make-shift stage clearly knows the band, and what's even clearer, is that the audience likes them. The band, who looks like they could have easily been placed in an American Eagle ad, is TGL: The Good Life. The band opened for last weekend's Jack's Mannequin concert. A power-pop band with an infusion of punk and rock, these guys are rapidly climbing the ladder to mainstream success from humble beginnings.

TGL consists of four Greencastle locals, two of which are DePauw students. Will Cath, 19, a freshman at DePauw plays drums for the band while John Sibbitt, 20, a sophomore here, plays guitar and is the lead vocalist. Jake Berry, 18, of Greencastle High School plays guitar and lends his vocals, and Zack Stewart, 19, plays bass. The band has played together for about four years.

"3 of the 4 of us were in a band previously… We broke up and [got back together] and John joined," Cath said. A fifth member, another vocalist was a part of the band but was only with them for a short time. Starting off small, the band played small shows in a variety of places. Cath said they spent many of their early days playing in, "houses, high schools, basements and at The Emerson, a small, underground, all-ages venue."

The band had a lot of great memories from shows and gained a lot of experience from playing in very random places.

"We used to pay a lot of student council type of things. [There were] always 30-400 kids that just go crazy," Cath said.

"We skipped school and they put us up in a hotel, fed us, the works," Berry added. These small shows would eventually pay off, leading to a discovery by James McQuiston '05. He saw them play in the auditorium at Greencastle High School and started to put together shows for them. TGL eventually ended up playing shows at DePauw.

The most important show before Jack's Mannequin, was their performance at Dance Marathon, which caught the eye of DePauw senior Brandon Dawson. From there, it was only up for TGL.

Through Dawson, the band booked shows all around Indiana, shot a music video featuring DePauw students and, of course, got to open for Jack's Mannequin.

"[Dawson] got us the Jack's Mannequin show and a couple of big shows around DePauw, like Rock Against Rape, which will have lots of big bands," Sibbitt said. Besides more DePauw performance opportunities, the band pulled a lot of exposure and got many connections from the Jack's Mannequin concert.

"We got some connections. Some guy from a Chicago production company [saw us] and now we're shooting a video for one of our songs," Sibbitt said. In addition, Indianapolis radio station 99.5 has featured the group on "Homegrown Buzz," which plays music by up and coming artist on Saturday and Sunday nights.

But the band isn't above being star struck. They were completely blown over when they got to meet Andrew McMahon, lead singer of Jack's Mannequin.

"We grew up listening to Something Corporate," Sibbitt said, "so it was really cool to get up there and share the stage with him."

With all the good things happening for the band, it is only natural that there are some drawbacks and concerns. For one, all of the band members are students or have jobs, making practices hard to schedule. In addition, Cath juggles track meets and performances, some of which are scheduled at the same time.

Plus, the band is uncertain about their future as a group.

"It's kind of up in the air... kind of scary. Zach plans on moving to Iowa [for school] and Jake is going to Purdue, so we're not totally sure," Sibbitt said. The group feels that it would be hard to work out any type schedule, let alone touring, with members in different states.

For now, they are living in the moment, saying they are in denial about what will happen in the fall. Currently they are booking shows around the Midwest through the summer, making music videos and of course, remember fun times they have together (like when Cath was eating almonds and then he looked down to find one he dropped and rear ended a car).

Whatever happens, the boys still know what keeps them belting out their favorite songs, banging on drums and strumming their fingers against guitar strings: the fans.

"Talking to the kids before shows is the coolest thing. Even though we're not that big of a band…they kinds look up to you," Sibbitt said. "It's just really cool."

But even more than their enthusiastic fans, their camaraderie keeps them moving forward.

"Being Friends for six years amplifies the fun. Plus, we [all] have the same personality," Cath said with a grin on his face, and they all laughed.

TGL plays next week at Rock Against Rape.

Discography

"Never On Time" EP 2005
"TGL" EP 2006
"Just So You Know" LP 2007
"Sweeter As Fiction" LP Oort Records/2008

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LIVING THE DREAM

Zach - 5/4/07 1:21 AM

just so everyone knows, we can't thank you all enough for everything you've done for us in the past 3 months. i can't say any of us have gotten a good night's sleep in weeks. we're so close to doing what we feel like we were sent here to do.

this IS and always will be our dream. regardless of what happens when this contest is over, it has been the greatest accomplishment of ours lives. we want this more than anyone will ever know.

we've been a band for over 6 years and since day one, all we ever wanted was for everyone to hear our music. we love every single one of you. thank for giving us a chance.

no matter what happens, we'll still chase the same dream we've had since we were little kids and we'll see you on tour this summer.

until then, we love you all. this success if because of you.

sleep well everyone, here's to you, here's to honors, and here's to TGL.

-love zach.

Honored

John - 3/11/07 11:19 PM

Thank you to MTVu and Epic Records with helping 4 college guys get one step closer to living their dreams!

love life. love hype.

www.myspace.com/tglrock - come say hello

TGL

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Zach - 5/4/07 1:21 AM

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John - 3/11/07 11:19 PM

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Zach - 5/4/07 1:21 AM

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