It’s hard to believe that only two years ago, the members of Tim Be Told, a local band based in Virginia, recorded their first album, Getting By, in their University of Virginia college apartment. Today, their weeks are packed with one concert after another and little time to rest in between. This is what rising fame must feel like. Tim Be Told has amassed a huge fan base among the college crowd. This past Friday, on Nov. 13, TBT made their first appearance on Georgetown’s campus, transforming Bulldog Alley into a contagious energetic atmosphere fused with their pop, rock and gospel beats. The concert, with plenty of audience participation, kept attendees on their toes and doing more than just the usual head-bobbing.

Bringing Tim Be Told to campus has been a long but rewarding process for the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). When the idea was conceived at the end of spring semester 2009, it was only a dream and nothing more. The GU Vietnamese community, with a population of less than 20 students, is tiny in comparison to other mid-Atlantic universities like George Mason that have over 300 Vietnamese students. After finally becoming an official organization in December 2008, VSA has worked tirelessly to establish a presence on campus and among the other mid-Atlantic VSAs. The TBT Concert has been VSA’s biggest event thus far — its existence made possible by the fearless determination and unbroken spirit of the VSA members. The concert was co-sponsored by the Asian American Students Association (AASA) as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) and funded by What’s After Dark and SAC.

APAHM serves to honor and promote the education of the diverse Asian cultures. One aspect is the celebration of current Asian-American artists who have been able to pursue their passions and dreams despite obstacles in the current entertainment industry due to social constraints. Tim Be Told is a multi-ethnic band (primarily made up of Asian-Americans) whose members have been able to do just that. The five members of TBT are incredibly humble and talented individuals who, despite their escalating popularity, remain personable. Their songs are full of hope and their achievements are an inspiration for the next generation of aspiring individuals willing to take that leap of faith.