"I aspire to match the quality of songwriting of XTC, The Beatles, 'Pet Sounds,' Elvis Costello, James Taylor and Peter Mulvey, though I don't claim to have done so yet," explains Matt Tiegler. His debut album, Gods and Heroes, is anything but an imitation. There's no feeble attempt to copy what's hailed as great and pass it off as his own. Instead, Tiegler's sound incorporates a range of musical genres fronted by lyrics solid enough to merit a second listen. The Des Plaines, Ill. native started on the piano and worked his way up, having recorded a handful of songs by his college years (a demo of which made its way into the hands of a college DJ in Sweet Briar, Virginia, leading to radio along the east coast). There was no instantaneous rockstar life, however. Tiegler instead chose to follow a more secure, parent friendly route - business at Arizona State - pursuing the theatrical stage more than the musical one.
He did record a full band 5-song demo produced by Michael Broening (known for his work with the Rippingtons and Glen Campbell). "I sent it out to about fifty stations," says Tiegler, "and not much happened except that a station in Nome called to asked how to pronounce my name."
He returned to Chicago to concentrate on his theatrical career, working with the Improv Institute, the Free Associates and, most recently, with the Noble Fool Theater Company, soon to have its own theater complex with three performing spaces in the Loop.
But back to the music. Tiegler is a self-taught guitarist, gleaning technique from hours spent listening to musicians from R.E.M. to James Taylor to the Police. Tiegler began studying with bluegrass musician Gus Friedlander, who advised him to take a songwriting class at the Old Town School of Folk Music. The teacher was Ralph Covert (the former leader of the Bad Examples).
The fruit of their union? The album that became Gods And Heroes was recorded at Chicago's Uberstudio featuring some of Tiegler's longtime musical compatriots and others from Covert's contacts. The disc, released in April 2000, contains twelve original songs by Tiegler.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.waterdogmusic.com
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