The New Congress

Every once in a good while, a band comes along that simply has it. Just such a find, thoroughbred funksters The New Congress throw down with their debut album Everybody Gets Up! The CD is nasty silk at its absolute finest. And, live, these guys have to be seen to be believed. Accordingly, the chance to catch them breaking it down live to promote Everybody Gets Up!¹s April 18 release is not to be missed. Can you say, Off the hook? Frontman singer-guitarist Aaron Cosgrove¹s makes you glad for a songwriter who actually gives a damn about what he or she is saying. And is not only good, to boot, but downright innovative. At times it¹s about sex on the science-fiction tip. At times, existential social commentary. And, at times, it¹s just regular, old man to woman crooning. The music, to which ace keyboardist Russ King occasionally contributes, is some of the best stuff you¹ve heard since 80s groove merchants like Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder and Tower of Power. You think TNT explodes? Feel some TNC. With their chops and material, if anybody has big-time stamped all over them in block letters, it¹s The New Congress. Release gig at Bunkers, where they pretty much started out. 761 Washington Ave in Minneapolis¹ Warehouse District. 9:30 $5.



- Dwight Hobbes

Long the proving ground for up-and-coming musicians, Bunker's hosts a CD-release party Thursday night for one of the newest hip-hop/R & B groups to hit the Twin Cities scene. The New Congress (Aaron Cosgrove, Russ King, Jbiz, DJ Dudley D, Sean Smitty, and Manny Fresh) offers up its sweet sound in Everybody Gets Up!, with help from NPG's Morris Hayes (http://www.thenewcongress.net, http://www.bunkersmusic.com, 612-338-8188).

- Claire Joubert

CITY PAGES - BEST R&B GROUP: Winner: The New Congress - 2008
As genres are getting harder and harder to peg, we're left with the question: What are the signs of a great R&B group? Take a cue from the New Congress, who combine mixing and scratching with great bass lines, solid guitar work, and a super-tight percussion section in their blend of jazzy, homegrown R&B, and you've got your answer. They tend to cross over into rock and hip hop from time to time, always showcasing the soulful vocal style of frontman Aaron Cosgrove, in their regular Thursday night gig at Bunker's. In two cities where R&B and funk once reigned, these six incredibly talented musicians bring their A-game every time they step onstage. Rumor has it that this year should bring a new album from this unique group, so don't say you weren't warned. It's time to stand up and shake what your mama gave you with the smooth grooves of the New Congress.

- City Pages, Minneapolis

The New Congress are in a league of their own with their combination of funk, rock, jazz, and baby-making music. As this six-piece, complete with two new backup singers, prepares to go into the studio to put the finishing touches on their follow-up to 2006's Everybody Gets Up, they continue to hold down a steady gig as the Thursday-night headliner at Bunker's, where they've been holding court since November. Expect a few surprises from these guys, as their sound has evolved in a way that can only be experienced live—at least until they wrap up their next album. Whether or not opener 2 Wurds are in possession of one of the worst band names ever is debatable, but in all fairness, the solid group of musicians behind the name is one to keep an eye on. 21+. 
Sat., April 26, 9:30 p.m., 2008. By: Jen Paulson Published on April 24, 2008.

- City Pages

June 30, 2009
The Sugarhill Gang performed last Wednesday night at the Fine Line Music Café. The tour falls on the 30th anniversary of “Rapper’s Delight,” the first rap single to crack the Top 40. Although nostalgia seems to be all the rage, the show didn’t draw the crowd it deserved. (Minnesotans must like their homegrown rappers too much to show up and pay homage to living legends.) But the Sugarhill Gang are just out touring for the love of music, and still know how to get the party started—covering the classics and introducing new material to an adoring crowd.

The upstairs of the club was blocked off as the VIP section, but even so, the first floor didn’t begin to fill until late into the first set, which may have been due to the 10 p.m. doors (or perhaps that the show was under-promoted and/or landed on a Wednesday night).



Local R&B band the New Congress warmed the late-arriving crowd with a sound that bridges old school R&B with an instrumental power similar to the Roots. The eight-piece band performed material from their forthcoming album, including “Anguish Love and Romance,” which will feature Talib Kweli on the recorded version. They later did a cover of Sublime’s “Summertime,” a welcome throwback during this week’s heat wave. All members of the New Congress can hold their own, but lead vocalist and guitarist A.C. “Orange” Cosgrove’s crooning definitely stood out.

The Sugarhill Gang’s performance was all about dancing and partying. All three emcees—Wonder Mike, Master Gee, and Big Bank Hank—worked hard to pump up a somewhat nervous crowd. It’s a little intense to be in the presence of greatness like the Sugarhill Gang, but the band gave a down-to-earth performance. They tested the crowd’s energy by constantly demanding crowd participation, and by welcoming ladies to dance onstage on a few occasions.

The band performed a number of songs said to be on a new record. They paid homage to other groups’ classics from the “Rapper’s Delight” era, such as Parliament’s “Flashlight.” They joked with the crowd during performing such hits, saying things like, “Did we do that one?” At the end of their brief set, they did the “1-2-3, Peace,” quickly and abruptly before performing “Rapper’s Delight.”

Despite the modest attendance, the Sugarhill Gang stirred the crowd like very few of their successors can.Support people-powered non-profit journalism! Volunteer, contribute news, or become a member to keep the Daily Planet in orbit.

- TC Daily Planet, Crystal Erickson

by Dwight Hobbes

If you have a sweet tooth for lush major 7 chords, a jones for rockin’ funk and always wished some band could bring it like that all night long, take heart. There is justice in the world and its name is The New Congress. These guys grab hold of a silky groove and fire it full of stank-ass funk. ‘Til the cows come home. They’re pretty damned good in the studio, too (and are finishing up work on their debut CD, mastering it in Nashville for late February release).

For R&B lovers thirsting after sweet funk, The New Congress are water in the desert. Their signature song, “Sex in the Lightyear,” is jazz-tinged, upbeat and air-tight; tailor-made to put somethin’ on ya. Infectious as hell, it’s locked in the pocket and charged with a streamlined, hit-it-from-the-hip refrain, “Sex without gravity/ sex in the lightyears/ doin’ it in the lightyears, baby.” On the CD, it’s one of those hypnotic cuts you immediately like and love to play again as soon as it’s over. Definitely suggested listening in the car, especially when you’re stuck in traffic. Fair warning: you’re liable to wind up still nodding your head and tapping your fingers on the steering wheel, horns blaring at your back, when it’s finally time to step on the gas. Performed live, it’s guaranteed to get a nightclub crowd swarming to the dance floor. Especially when the boys break things wide open, taking off on a stratospheric instrumental break. Similarly, the pumping “Without Reason” and “Only Human,” neither of which loses a thing with the studio version, are bona fide booty-thumpers.

You can hear, clear as day, that the feel and quality hark to an era of Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power and such. You can also tell, just as clearly, that The New Congress own a solid, original sound. And that The New Congress’ brand of funk struts some tough stuff. Point in case, their rendition of the Stones’ “Miss You,” which I caught live. It takes cojones to cover that song in the first place, but they outright take it over, creating their own, distinct version.

At the nucleus are two ace songsmiths: singer-guitarist Orange AC and keyboard man Russ King, both of the popular, now-defunct Duluth outfit Crazy Betty. In March 2004, they packed their bags to try things out in a bigger market, namely the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolis, where they're presently based. After backing up Kip Blackshire for a few months, Orange recalls, “We decided to start doin’ our own thing.” Part and parcel of that “thing” was a group of musicians with chops as strong as theirs. King, after all, had worked with Prince, Blackshire, Ipso Facto and a laundry list of other hot names. And Orange had been a dyed-in-the-wool soul singer pretty much from his youth, growing up with a dad who played reggae and cutting his teeth on the gospel music he heard at a neighborhood church. So, they went looking for a band to put together: JBiz (bass), Sean “Smitty” Smith (drums), Manny Fresh (percussion and occasional bass) and DJ Dudley D (turntables). Seeing as how Orange AC, Russ King, Jbiz and DJ Dudley D had all gigged with Blackshire, Orange jokes, “Kip had introduced us to a ton of guys. And, basically, we stole his band.” King notes, “It takes a special kind of [combination] to start a new project. Every musician, especially if they're good, is skeptical about starting something new. When you approach people, ya know, it’s like, well, everybody’s always putting a band together. It took the right cats who were willing to put up with unpaid rehearsals, sometime unpaid gigs, when you’re tryin’ to get out there. It’s tough. It’s definitely hard. You gotta keep ‘em motivated.”

In January of 2005, once the roster was set, they started the requisite wood-shedding and hustling up a following. Fortune smiled. They swung a gig at Bunker’s this past February and have since been ensconced as the Thursday night house-draw. With Bunker’s as their base of live operations, The New Congress have worked up a major rep in an incredibly short time—due in no small part to pure word-of-mouth, the best advertising money can’t buy. In addition to headlining at First Avenue and Fine Line, they’ve opened for Mint Condition and for Faith Evans, did a national TV stint on the WB’s “Strictly Original” and were on the bill for Prince’s Musicology tour. Their rapid ascent is attributable to, yes, having behind-the-scenes hook-ups (not the least being Morris Hayes of Prince and the New Power Generation's renown, who produced a pair of tracks for the CD). Still, no matter who you know, if you ain’t got the goods, you just ain’t got what it takes. Accordingly, their Dec. 2005 and Jan. 2006 dance cards are chock full. Gigs include trips to Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa as well as the old stomping grounds, Duluth. “We can go into a new city and play,” says King, “and people are gettin’ it and dancin’. The first time they hear it, they just like it.” Not hard to believe. Not hard, at all. See for yourself. At Bunker’s. Or when they throw down at Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Minneapolis for New Year’s Eve. The New Congress, indeed, are in session, hellbent on burnin’ down the house. ||

The New Congress perform on New Years's Eve at the Hyatt Regency Hotel with Tim Mahoney, Catch Penny, Leroy Smokes and the Hopefuls. 8 p.m. $28/$40. 21+. 1300 Nicollet Mall, Mpls. 612-370-1234.

For more information on the New Congress, check out their MySpace page at MySpace.com/TheNewCongress.

- Pulse of the Twin Cities