Hello Music Shut ins! Here’s something you need to check out. Just because we all have to stay home hasn’t stopped Kristian Montgomery and the Winterkill band from releasing a new CD that’s a must listen. Montgomery’s latest, The Gravel Church, is now out and ready for us all to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Check out the links below for more info as well as a short bio on Kristian and give him a listen.
Born in Florida to a Danish immigrant and a blue blooded American girl, his family moved to New England where his father worked as a fisherman. He lived with his grandparents and began singing in the church choir where his voice was recognized by his Reverend, a former professional tenor. Kristian realized the impact his voice had upon people once he opened his eyes after singing the Lord’s Prayer and seeing the silent tears fall from faces he had never met.
Outside of church Kristian sang shanties,Celtic and Scandanavian songs at local bars and told stories of fisherman coming home from sea. Over time he progressed as a songwriter and ultimately developed a following, He joined several rock bands through the years where he won awards for his voice. While a member of a metal band, Kristian was nominated for the Boston Music Awards for best male vocalist. He however, did not feel like this genre was a good fit for him. He wanted adventure, so he traveled to Nicaragua to perform on television in Managua. While there, he was photographed sitting around a table relaxing in the capital with an AK-47 in his arms; as if this was war torn country was just another place to find stories for his songs.
This experience awoke something in Kristian, he found a freedom that only his ancestors had known. He began taking his music back to his father’s homeland, where it was received like a son coming home to his family. Although his intentions were to bring music to the world; after starting a family in the US, it was at the dinner table where he truly found home. A divorce inevitably threw Kristian back into performing. He was jailed after fighting for equal rights for fathers in Massachusetts. Having lost everything, he began to rebuild his life. Upon release from prison he began work on “The Gravel Church”. He wrote about his experiences in prison, starting over and how he found hope.
“When your world is taken away” he says “it’s like watching a ship sail further and further away from you. You’re far apart, but if you put your feet in the water you’re still connected”
The Gravel Church
The gravel church was a 25×25 fenced in by barbed wire piece of dirt that he was allowed to walk around while in prison for trying to be a father in the Commonwealth. He did time in solitary for fighting with a man half his age and was eventually released to his family after 6 months of living hell. This is where the album was born. He then followed his dream to Ultrasound Productions and presented his music to Producer Joe Clapp. He and Mr. Clapp got to work on what started as a 5 song EP that turned into a 16 song album of reflection, understanding and healing. It’s everything country and rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to be.
This album will be a nice place to stay awhile.
