In Session

Twin Cities–based R & B powerhouse The New Congress may hold the record for overnight success. The group played its first gig in February 2005 at the Annex in Minneapolis, released its first album in April 2006, and on November 9, performs at the L.A. Music Awards—where TNC’s song “Make You Move” will be named best R & B/soul single of the year. This red-carpet event is an important springboard for independent artists and has put the likes of No Doubt, System of a Down, and Korn in the national spotlight.

TNC has successfully toured the Midwest and, at home, delivered knock-out performances to packed houses at First Avenue, the Fine Line, and The Cabooze. Its CD, Everybody Gets Up!, has aired on local outlets KMOJ, The Current, and Searchmode TV, as well as radio stations in Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Germany, and the UK. TNC is also providing music for Twin Cities spoken-word star Desdamona’s upcoming CD, Hymn of the Human Spirit.

Asked about the group’s success, frontman Aaron “Orange AC” Cosgrove, who writes most of the material, says, “A lot of things have happened in a short time. It was the [desire] to create something different and the enthusiasm to push ourselves. We’re kind of taking it as humbly and gracefully as possible.”

There’s a bit more to TNC’s rise than readily meets the eye. Before forming the band, Cosgrove and keyboardist-songwriter Russ King paid the requisite dues. Cosgrove grew up with a dad who played reggae and cut his teeth on gospel music at a neighborhood church in Duluth. In 1998,  he founded the popular Duluth group Crazy Betty. King has performed with Prince, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, and the Minnesota Music Award–winning reggae icons Ipso Facto. From 2001 to 2003, the Superior, Wisconsin, native played with Cosgrove in Crazy Betty. The two decided to try a bigger market and in March 2004 moved to the Twin Cities, where they were invited to join rocker Kip Blackshire’s band. Blackshire introduced them to, as Cosgrove says, “a ton of guys”—including Justin “J Biz” Blair (bass) and DJ Dudley D (turntables). They added Sean “Smitty” Smith (drums) and Manny Fresh Guzman (percussion), and The New Congress was born.

The music has a remarkable quality, harking to the heyday of such figures as Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, and Tower of Power. To be sure, though, TNC has a distinct sound that reaches audiences on its own accord. To wit: “Make You Move,” by listener demand, got heavy airplay on KMOJ before being released as the album’s first single. Showcasing a sinewy, percussive groove and seductive vocals, the music brandishes strong commercial appeal yet avoids the standard R & B formula.

How did the band come by its originality? Tipping a modest hat, King says, “From the day I met [Aaron], it’s been him. I knew from the days with Crazy Betty. Aaron writes great [music].

“It’s also the way we all play together. Everybody just creates magic. I’d have to say that it comes down to the songwriting and the chemistry.”

With the dust not yet settled from Everybody Gets Up! and the L.A. Music Awards almost under its belt, TNC already has new material written and a follow-up album on the drawing board. Thursday nights. Bunkers Music Bar & Grill, 761 Washington Ave. N., Mpls., 612-338-8188

Reach Dwight Hobbes at dhobbes@mn.rr.com.