Alone Together

LEAGUES is infectious. The ten tracks that make up their forthcoming January debut, You Belong Here, encourage both dancing and introspection, and show a group of men leaving behind any preconceived notions or expectations but never their innate musicianship or love for the craft of songwriting. "I'm not inspired by artists," says Thad. "As much as I'm inspired by songs." Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." "Wanna be Startin' Somethin'" by Michael Jackson. "Songs that stop the room for a quick second," adds Jeremy. One listen to the swirling, rock-pop anthem "Mind Games," the electric thump of "Magic" or the locomotive doo-wop of "Spotlight" and it's clear that LEAGUES' music does the same. Just try and keep your toes from tapping.But it wasn't a straight and simple road. Before the chain of events that united LEAGUES, the members all had careers in their own right - Thad as a critically-lauded singer-songwriter, Tyler as an acclaimed guitarist and songwriter and Jeremy as a self-described "hired gun" drummer. Those pasts certainly aren't washed away, but any one of them will tell you that they now exist as a band, a cohesive unit. "I don't want this to be a side project," Thad says. "LEAGUES is what I am, we are, now." And at the core is the idea of making music that is built expressly for enjoying with - not just in front of - the audience. "We have a saying," Thad continues. "Not for me, not for you, but for us." LEAGUES is a group effort: among Thad, Jeremy and Tyler, but also those listening and humming along.