Don’t Walk Out The Door on Congress The Band

Lead singer of Congress The Band, William Bennett on stage at AMB September 29, 2026. This concert was well attended and emphasized the community formed by live music. “I love live music,” said Harper Costin, an attendee of Congress’s concert. “Concerts are actually a really big part of my life and I've grown up seeing lots of different bands at lots of cool venues. Live music puts me in such a great mood and is such a fun way to spend time with your friends and hear great music.” Photo Creds: Roz Rabinowitz

Roz Rabinowitz, Editor-In-Chief of The Powderhorn

Strings of fairy lights illuminate faces of community members bundled into AMB, chatters of anticipation grow, the crowd awaits the newly popular Congress The Band.

On Tuesday, September 30, 2026 William Bennett the lead singer and heart throb of Congress The Band sauntered onto stage followed by his fellow band members Daniel Guy, lead guitarist; Lukas Mishustin, guitarist; Robert Framer, bass player; and Jett Seawell, drummer. This rick rack group of guys left audience members awe struck by their infectious energy, stage presence, incredible vocals, and luscious hair. 

While Congress is becoming increasingly popular for their new album “Wasted While I’m Young,” they originally gained fame from their variety of covers that delicately reinvented songs while simultaneously giving homage to the original artist. Congress began their concert with a cover of “Don’t Let Me Down” by The Beatles. The raspy voice of William Bennet elevated by the strong bass line and hard hitting drums transformed “Don’t Let Me Down” into an indie rock classic. This cover electrified the crowd, presenting them with a well-known tune in a different key.

While Congress began their show with “Don’t Let Me Down,” they played a multitude of covers throughout this show including “Valerie,” a well-known song popularized by Amy Winehouse but written by Dave McCabe, lead singer of the indie rock band The Zutons, and “Midnight In Harlem" by the Tedeschi Trucks. 

Every cover Congress played was well-executed, but “Midnight In Harlem” stood out among the others. William Bennet impressed the crowd with his respectful homage to Susan Tedeski through his vocals, while the remainder of the band upheld the bar set by the Tedeschi Trucks. These covers hyped up the already buzzing crowd by providing well-known lyrics and nostalgic tunes, but audiences flocked to AMB for the heartfelt jivey singles for which Congress is known. 

Congress played their popular upbeat singles such as “I’m Alright” and “Bay Street” which both highlight the indie rock style the band adopts, but their single “Colorado” stood out because of the acoustic lowkey vibe that was accompanied by heartbreaking nostalgic lyrics. “Colorado” also stands out in Congress's discography with it being one of the only songs that took over a year for the band to produce. The time taken to produce this song is apparent by the depth of the writing and chord progressions. 

Another standout single played by Congress was “Modern Lady” which adopts a jazzy tune with contradicting soft abrasive vocals that urge audience members to sing along. These upbeat singles emphasize the inspiration Congress got from popular bands like Hootie & The Blowfish, Led Zeppelin, and Mt. Joy, most notably being one of the last singles played of the night. 

As the bass thumped and hands clapped, Congress stroked the chord to the beginning of their most popular single “Out The Door.” This song went viral on social media, bringing Congress increased traffic. Known for its upbeat rock and hard hitting lyrics, it stands out from their other singles because of the energy and atmosphere created in the audience. From singing at the top of the lungs to dancing like no one was watching, the crowd was electrified by “Out The Door”. 

For Harper Costin, a junior at Watauga High School who attended Congress's concert on September 29, 2026 this atmosphere is what drew her to the band.

“I have always thought Congress was cool because they remind me of a backyard college band, something you would see on an SEC campus,” Costin said. “Their music is upbeat, catchy, and they just create a really fun environment.” 

The beautiful blend of guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and screaming audience members created by Congress’s set is partly because of their catchy songs, but mainly due to the stage presence Congress possesses. From friendly crowd interactions to jumping off the stage, Congress draws audience members in by putting on more than just a concert but a full blown show.

The elevated concert Congress put on in the nook of downtown Boone brought together people of all ages forming a community of music lovers. No matter the life experiences of audience members, they are all bonded together by their experience at Congress The Band, drawn together by the music, laughter, dancing, and singing. This shared experience is what makes live music addicting, and the experience Congress The Band gave on September 29 was memorable to say the least.