By Robin Gibson
It's the kind of song that makes you want to road trip across the country in a beat-up van, wind in your hair, questionable life choices in your rear view — "Cracked Rear View," if you will. See what I did there?
Charleston's indie rock scene has a rising star, and they're called Congress. This dynamic five-piece band has just released their lead single,"Out the Door,"which premiered August 23rd courtesy of the tastemakers at Six Pack Coverage. Outside of this achievement, in their first year alone, the band has impressively booked and performed over 60 shows across the country developing a solid reputation and following, both locally and nationally, along the way.
And that's not all thanks to the millions of views their live clips are racking up on social media exposing them to an even wider base of indie rock fans around the globe.
Here at home, the band has already conquered the legendary Windjammer. Plus, they just wrapped a successful residency at Sharehouse, one of Charleston's busiest clubs, packing it week after week with eager fans.
Their sound blends creative freshness with nostalgic appeal, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of influences including South Carolina's own Hootie & The Blowfish. Now imagine if Hootie and Led Zeppelin had a baby who grew up listening to Hendrix and Mt. Joy while binge-watching Spacey Jane and there you have it. "Out the Door" is like the lovechild of Hootie's heartland rock and Zeppelin's face-melting riffs, with a splash of Mt. Joy's indie cool for good measure. It's the kind of song that makes you want to road trip across the country in a beat-up van, wind in your hair, questionable life choices in your rear view — "Cracked Rear View," if you will. See what I did there?
Don't sleep on this, y'all. Congress is rising faster than sea levels in the Lowcountry.
And get this — their lead singer, William Bennett, is moonlighting as a military cadet at The Citadel. Talk about work-life balance! In addition to Bennett on vocals, the band comsists of Daniel Guy on lead guitar, Thos Spratt on rhythm guitar, Jett Seawell on percussion and Robert Farmer on bass.
Don't sleep on this, y'all. Congress is rising faster than sea levels in the Lowcountry. As they gear up for a fall tour and more original music releases, they're proving to be one of the most exciting acts to watch and not just in the indie rock scene. So do yourself a favor: give "Out the Door" a listen, catch Congress on tour this fall, and stay tuned for more tunes dropping soon. These guys are on a rocket ship to stardom, and you're gonna want to say you knew them way back when.