CONGRESS THE BAND/RIGOMETRICS/THE GRINGOS
Congres The Band/Rigometrics/The Gringos, Theater of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA 7/15/2026
Charleston’s own Congress The Band is a must see for any indie-rock lover. They infuse a great sense of southern soul into each song they play—perfectly balancing a mix of slow acoustic spirit and electrifying guitar riffs. They opened their set with my favorite song “Don’t Let Me Down,” which has an insane guitar riff where you can’t help but make a stank face. I’ve never heard TLA so loud before. Later in their set they played a cult classic “Valerie,” covering Amy Winehouse. Lead vocalist William Bennet disregarded safety as he insisted the crowd get on shoulders. Dozens followed and security helplessly watched. They also performed a 9-minute rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child,” where lead guitarist Daniel Guy stood on the barricade and paid tribute to Hendrix’s iconic technique of plucking strings with his teeth and flicking them with his tongue. The crowd erupted, guys threw up rock hand signs and girls broke the sound barrier with their screams. This bright band gave Philly an unforgettable experience, and for me, a new addiction to capturing live music.
However, when going to see an up and coming headliner like Congress The Band, do not count out the openers! There is no better band that sets the stage than The Gringos. Like Congress, they opened with a galvanizing tune “Late For The Door.” It begins with a catchy intro from the lead guitar that you can sing along to, despite no vocals appearing yet. As the drums come in, headbanging starts. From the back of the balcony, the hairs on my arms spiked. They carried this energy all the way to their three cover song mashups of “Time” by Pink Floyd, “Enter Sandman” by Metallica, and “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin. Despite the younger crowd, lyrics echoed all the way down South Street.
Adding to the lineup, Rigometrics also played a phenomenal set. Having never heard of Rigometrics, I was pleasantly surprised by how great their performance was. Early in the set they played a cover of Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got A Feeling.” The crowd erupted singing word for word alongside the lead singer of the band, Keenan Hendricks. While leading the vocals and manning the keys, Josef Berger shredded from the heart in conjunction with drummer Derek Haney as they played their new single “Wake Up,” which has a very catchy chorus. Finishing their set, they played the first song “Night After Night,” off their new album “The Rigossance Era.” With a more hardcore rock and roll sound, the crowd felt the energy from the barricade to the balcony. It was an unforgettable night at an iconic venue. Look out for Rigometrics, because they’re putting themselves on the map!
Shot and Written by Dan Shea
