When I first heard that The Congress was coming to Richmond for the holidays, I immediately called dibs. This was my show. And good thing it was the day after Christmas, too, since I might have had to fight another staff member for it. They were back from Denver, and I'd been excited since I'd first heard about the show back in early November.

Now you might be wondering why I'm covering a band from Denver, if we're a Richmond publication. Fair enough. I first heard of Jonathan Meadows (guitar and vocals) and Scott Lane (guitar) from the popular Monday open-mic night at Emilio's on W. Broad, and they (plus keyboardist Daniel Clark - who also plays with Modern Groove Syndicate) are both Richmond guys through and through.

Unfortunately, due to travel complications, I didn't get a chance to meet the "actual" Congress. Despite this understandable setback, I was delighted to hear that Todd Herrington and Joel Denunzio of Modern Groove Syndicate would be joining Scott, Jonathan and Daniel at Emilio's for the December 26 show.

Also, please forgive my lack of photos. The day after Christmas does not lend itself well to people's schedules, but this was a show I could not miss.

Richmond was abuzz when this was announced. For weeks beforehand, regulars at Emilio's were coming up to each other saying, "Holy shit, I can't wait for this show." So I hope you can see why I'm pulling in a Denver band for this month's edition. They're Richmond homegrown and absolutely phenomenal. Plus, this was their CD pre-release party, and I couldn't miss sharing this with you guys.

The Richmond-based band People's Blues of Richmond (PBR) opened with a loud, driving set that perfectly matched the energy of the crowd pouring in the doors. For the day after Christmas, this was a crowd Emilio's wouldn't soon forget. (Oh! And stay tuned for a feature on PBR, people. These guys are good, loud, in your face and not-to-be-missed. Check them out ASAP).

When the Congress took the stage, it all made sense. Why I had been so excited for their show. Why the crowd was pulsing with anticipation. Why this show had been talked about for months. And it made sense why I was covering a band from Denver. Even though they're playing based out of a city nowhere near Virginia, they take the spirit and soul from our state with them. Daniel Clark's keys are reminiscent of that old-time gospel that stirs your soul down to it's quick. They might not be playing here, but the soul is right.

I talked to Daniel and Jonathan briefly the next night, when they played a show at Europa with the talented guys from Emilio's house band (Kai Eason, Andrew Rapisarda, Raphael Katchinoff and Chris Ryan). I asked Jonathan why he'd left for Colorado and what was so different about the music scene out there. It was a hard difference to describe. While he acknowledged the energy and dedication of the Richmond scene where he'd been so active over the years, he brought up a good point. The Colorado scene was more conscious of the music. While many people here go to their favorite bar to grab a beer and think, "Hey, if there's a band - awesome!" In Denver, people seek the music. They delve into the scene and look for the venues where their favorite bands are playing. While many of us here in Richmond definitely subscribe to that ideal, in Colorado it's a standard. Plus, as Jonathan said, "You can make a living from your music." It's not hard. It's what I hope most for our thriving Richmond scene, to be honest.

One thing I wish I could convey to you in better words, is the feeling you experience in front of these talented musicians. I can tell you that Daniel Clark's keys hit a note in your soul that you didn't think existed (and they do). I can describe how articulate Scott Lane's guitar work is or how awe-inspiring Jonathan Meadow's voice is, and I'd be telling the truth one hundred percent. But you can't really understand until you see them live.

Their self-titled CD is phenomenal (with cover-art by the talented Dave Klemencic of LarJar Trio), and each track blows me away. From Long Way to Go to Queen Mary. As Daniel Clark so beautifully put it "The spirit is on the music." Take it how you like, but it is. And that feeling was conveyed even through just their first set at Emilio's. As they covered "Kids" by MGMT to wrap up their 1^st set, I don't think there was a soul in that bar not on their feet. Yes, the spirit is on that music, and the energy is in the crowd.

Given that this was their pre-release party, I had to ask them about their CD. Recorded by the amazing John Macy (who also accompanies them on pedal steel), it's a 6-track masterpiece that showcases the soul and spirit of this group. They told me that the several days they spent in the studio with John Macy were some of the most fun of their lives, with the only "roadblocks" coming when a song turned out differently than they'd anticipated or when these different approaches dictated different needs. Not roadblocks, really, Jonathan and Daniel said. More like challenges to the way they had first imagined their music, and ways in which they could make it work.

I've never sat with two people who believed in their music more, and their conviction reminded me again why this group is so critical to any music scene they frequent. Halfway through their second set, I realized that the best way to describe Scott Lane, Jonathan Meadows and Daniel Clark (accompanied by Herrington and Denunzio) is that hearing their music, the soul that winds through their Appalachian influence, brightens your day. I stand in front of them and smile because to hear art this good, to experience such a series of incredible moments is not something you forget. It's a few hours that makes a normal day the day of your life.

By Author: Meredith Ripple

Meredith Ripple is a recent VCU graduate living in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom. She writes for a local marketing company during the week and frequents shows at local venues in the evenings and weekends (Cary St. Café and Emilio’s most often). Her dad introduced her to music from a very young age, ranging from the Beatles to David Benoit and she’s been hooked ever since. She’s lived in Detroit, eastern Pennsylvania and Williamsburg, VA before moving to Richmond four years ago. She’ll be covering Richmond’s active and energetic jam and folk scene for Magazine33, her first journalistic endeavor.

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