Although the band has only one official album to their name – Money Shot – Robert Walter’s 20th Congress certainly aren’t rookies on the funk scene.

Walters himself is a founding member of the Greyboy Allstars. His bandmates have played alongside Black-Eyed Peas, B.B. King, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Melvin Sparks, and other artists.

A consistent presence on the touring circuit, the 20th Congress has shared billing with a number of fan favorites, including Charlie Hunter, Leftover Salmon, Vinyl, moe., The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Galactic, and the seldom seen Herbie Hancock.

While the band has enjoyed the praise of those who say they’re funk’s revivalists, their career hasn’t been one big party. Last summer, the band experienced a “seriously messed up situation” when their entire cache of gear and equipment was stolen. The U-Haul trailer carrying the load was stolen from a parking lot. Vintage, unique and discontinued instruments were among the more treasured items lost to the thieves.

Robert Walter recently released his second solo project, There Goes The Neighborhood. In lieu of his 20th Congress band – Cochemea Gastelum, Chris Stillwell, George Sluppick, and Chuck Prada – Walter instead chose veteran players to back him up. Harvey Mason, Chuck Rainey, Phil Upchurch, Red Holloway, and his own Chuck Prada are featured performers.