STIFLE

Into A Void | more...

Never Feels | more...

The Talent: Andrew “Hatch” Gorsh (lead vocals), Zac Cahill (lead/harmonic vocals), Greg DeGood (lead/rhythm guitar), Dustin Turkington (lead/rhythm guitar), Joe Hilgendorf (bass/acoustic guitar), Mark Warner (drums)
The Sound: modern hard rock

A self-described covers/originals band, STIFLE has been rocking out venues all over the Corridor.

Connections through karaoke and roommates and a mutual love of 80s and 90s rock brought this group of Eastern Iowans together. Small or large venues, good or little pay, the guys say the best part of performing is simply showing people a good time.

“Our originals are kind of like Alice in Chains meets Black Sabbath with a twist of Korn,” says guitarist Joe Hilgendorf, who has also performed with the Emmy-nominated jazz band Either Orchestra.

When working on a new song, Greg DeGood, guitar, says he and Dustin Turkington, guitar, usually come up with a cool guitar riff, and then turn it over to Joe for some added pizazz.

“Then we just play the song over and over until Hatch and Zac (Cahill) come up with lyrics,” Greg says.

The guys are currently working on their first record, which they hope to begin in late October. Until then, they are focusing their live shows on unique performances of classic covers.

“We like to add our own flair,” says Zac.

They’ll take a song you’d hear on the radio and give it a twist by playing it harder or faster, adding a breakdown or even removing a section of the song.
With influences that range from classic 60s rock and blues to heavy metal bands like Metallica and Pantera, their sound is a mix of 80s and 90s rock/metal/grunge.

“We are all diversely unique in our collective musical backgrounds,” Andrew says. “But we can make it all fit together.”

The most important thing to know about STIFLE? How to pronounce it, says Joe.

“It isn’t Stiff-el or Sniffle,” he says.