Kristian Montgomery and the winterkill band

The Gravel Church is country fried rock, alt country, rock, folk,pop and roots music all rolled into one. - Rock at Night Magazine

Kristian has lost, found, Broken and rebuilt all along using his voice and his music to heal and share his remarkable life. - Country 102.5 Carolyn Kruse

A sterling work of Americana and roots rock - The Patriot ledger

Kristian Montgomery and the winterkill band release must listen cd. - Houston music review

One of the best roots albums to come out of New England in a very longtime - Bill Copeland music news

Explore the unique world of Kristian montgomery and the winterkill band. This album is a nice place to stay awhile. - Nashville country music magazine

It goes to show that light can form out of Darkness and the Gravel church is a testament to that fact - Skope magazine

Country and classic rock are not genres that are naturally grouped together. Kristian has blended the 2 together beautifully to create guitar solos with a bit of twang, rockn roll n roll mixed with a bit of classic Americana.With this "New" sound" he has released his 1st full length album. - The Beat critiques

Only someone who has lived through these experiences could write lyrics like this. - The alternative mix tapes

The bands roots grow over multiple genres honing in on their love of country and rock while incorporating different elements of sounds from different genres to deliver "A New" experience to the music scene - Buzz Music

A fantastic album and a true breath of fresh air in the resurgent country music genre - We write about music

American fire is a single with a Nashville melodrama sound which instantly captures your attention with its magical sound - That blogger music

Kristian has a lovely voice that suites his music perfectly and impressive guitar work - York calling (london)

Kristian Montgomery has created a "Watershed record " in The Gravel church. - Limelight magazine

Everything country and rock n roll is supposed to be - Americana music magazine

I thoroughly enjoyed the sound and artistry of the Gravel church - The country column

The things Kristian survived are so dramatic that they seem like a theme in a country song and indeed those hard times figures into the roots rock songs he writes - Palm Beach post

The album is a grungier take on country rock with full guitars and heartfelt lyrics - Three chords country

Kristian has a created a musical masterpiece in the Gravel church - Metronome magazine Boston

Doesn't usually cover country artist but gave a great review of the single - Seths rock report

KMWKB bring together so many wonderful sounds into one package im at a loss for words as to where to begin. - Wild roots Magazine

A good Q and A - Indie music discovery

Q&A - Indie interview with rc

Q&A - MEET-COUNTRY

The Gravel church is a unique collection of songs from a man who has live a Haggard kind of life - The country Angel

French language review - Direct-actu

A great radio show inBoston - Bumble bee radio

Spanish language blog in Ecuador - Indie criollo

French language blog - Alongsidenashville

Q%A - Music of the future

This song is typically them, if you follow them you'll love it. If you don't your missing out - Nashville sessions

Interview with Kristian - Cape cod times

Spanish language review - Rhodiemusic

Review - I am music critics

Kristian was kind enough to share B-side single 'Soul for Soul' with us, a stunning acoustic country track that couples Montgomery's raspy vocals with the use of a harpsichord to create a unique, fully rounded performance. - Middle eight

American fire holds nothing back - Recording artist guild

https://trexroads.altervista.org/prince-of-poverty-kristian-montgomery-the-winterkill-band-2021-english/ - Trex roads

Kristian Montgomery dives deep on Prince of Poverty - The Patriot ledger/Brockton Enterprise

A Q&A with Kristian - Crazy on classic rock

Warm grave opens with a emotionally driven acoustic guitar, the lyrics are close to the chest with a southern twang - Premier source music

Kristian Montgomery and the winterkill band have a unique blend of country, alternative and rock. - John's music hub

Q&A with Kristian - The review fix

Q&A with Kristian - For everyone now

He performs songs that are raw and real - Rock at night

A bloggers take on the last 2 albums - Confessions of a music geek blog

Kristian is the outlaw artist we hoped would return - Interviews with rc

Montgomery hasn't stopped writing and recording - The patriot ledger

Spanish language review - Rhodie music

Theirs a immediate sense of ragged rage - Worcester Magazine

Montgomery has one of the more colorful stories I've come across and I've come across a lot of colorful stories - Ear2theground music blog

Kmwkb take us through a spell binding and tumultuous journey of well crafted song writing and engaging tracks - Review of they'll remember my name

Montgomery and his band of merry men dropped another hard charging rocking roots album - Bill Copeland music news

The album has a uplifting hopeful characteristics to it that allows you to escape the doldrums into a bombastic paradise - Music box pete

Goes great with a glass of Scottish whiskey - Mangorave music blog

Album review - John's music hub

Much edgier than the gravel church with jangly hooks and a strong rootsy foundation - Mixerr reviews blog

Thos album defines his sound and is sure to give him a seat at the table with major label artists. - Amplify music magazine

Neil Young style rock combined with country, blues and country rock - Fiercely Americana

Strong and worthy ensemble of alt country and Americana tracks with straight aim and worldly balance - Listening through the lines

Review of Prince of poverty - Sarah m korongo music blog S Africa

Local Boston music blog - Geoff Wilbur music blog

A music blog via the Netherlands - Roots cafe

Review of the new record - Pump it up magazine

A music blog in the Midwest - The country Angel

A great interview - CAPE NEWS

Cool interview out of upstate NY - Nippertown

Kristian Montgomery and the winterkill band bring Appalachian rock to Bondvilel - Bennington Banner

Review - Seven days VT

Review - Worcester magazine

Review - Times Argus

Review - Bill Copeland music news

Review - Music box pete

Review of single - Country queer

Review from the Netherlands - Bluestone music

Chile based blog - Roadie metal

Review - Music street journal

Review out of Washongton DC - Music to my ears blog

Review/feature - NYS Music

Review - The Enterprise

Interview - City wide black out

Review - Rock at night

Review - Rock at Night

Review - Nippertown

Q&A - Country queer

Q&A music review - Bennington banner

Interview - NYS Music

Album review of A Heaven for Hertics - Rutland Herald

Cd review of a Heaven for Heretics - Bill Copeland music news

Album review - Music Box pete

Interview , music review - Brattleboro reformer

Song review - Music to my ears

Song review - Nagamag

Album review - Sevendaysvt

Single review - Seth's rock report

Review by Eric Harbardian - Aoide magazine

Florida native Kristian Montgomery settled easily into Vermont life when he moved here in 2020, making a happy home in Wallingford complete with goats, horses and fowl. His sound, on the other hand, may not have fit into the Green Mountain musical landscape quite as well. - Sevendaysvt

Browse: Home / 2023 / October / Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band maintain high standards, take risks on Lower County Outlaw
Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band maintain high standards, take risks on Lower County Outlaw
By Bill Copeland on October 1, 2023

Kristian Montgomery & The Winterkill Band punched out this Lower County Outlaw album in recent months. Montgomery & The Winterkill Band, as usual, rock right out with the aggression of a knife wielding street gang. As with their last three albums KMTWB rip the soulfulness out of country and muscle it into a rock and roll attitude.

Opening track “Submit To My Transmission” finds the band staring out with some trippy lead guitar picking and a profoundly sad, forlorn lead vocal. Its low key, down tempo approach does not mask the build up in Montgomery’s simmering attitude. Before long, he’s belting with soulful sustains and a lead guitar eruption spikes, burning more brightly as it hits ever higher notes. A mellow vocal sweep moves around the guitar spark to create a contrast between soul and pain. Nice touch.

“Around And Around” features a mischievous lead guitar line spiraling around Montgomery’s lofty vocal cruise. This singer keeps his wide smooth voice in the midst of intimidating guitar action. That he can remain as vital as the cutting guitar line shows his strength as a vocalist as well an arranger. His tuneful rhythm section keep a pulpy, juicy groove beneath the upper register rumble.

“The Long Gone Blues” burns right into the listener’s awareness with a smoldering lead guitar. Its smoky phrase moves aside to let Montgomery emote vocally over a groove that’s party shuffle, part rocking. Montgomery puts his three cents in, displaying his world weary view and startling tale with a sturdy assertion. Giving more credibility to this number is an earthy organ swirl. It gives another heaping scoop of soul while the vocal sustains with masculine authority and the lead guitar screams with finality, an ending that does justice.

“The 4th of July” eventually erupts into another bonfire of blistering electric guitar and soaring, sweeping lead vocals. Its high flying act remind of how things, like the flying trapeze, can go very wrong if one part of the act doesn’t coincide with another. Like a fireworks display, it begins with one large impression at a time. This starts out with a slow swagger, Montgomery singing his metaphor with wide gentlemanly aplomb, walking it out over a jittery electric guitar line and a subtle groove. Soon, a fiery slab of electric guitar starts wailing before its wails turn to screams and we feel we’re all heading to a grand finale, a finale we may or may not like. It’s amazing how well this outfit builds tensions and moods.

Pushy guitars, bossy bass guitar, and a plucky drummer push “I Don’t Know What’s Real Anymore” straight into existence. Montgomery belts out his lyrical frustration with diffidence as electric guitar chord progressions pound the message home. Aside from the blunt, hammerhead shark approach to rock and roll, there are subtle shifts in the slapping guitar chords, growling phrase, and a two fisted rhythm section. It’s an aggressive song but it has plenty of moving parts to keep it interesting.

“Somebody’s Baby Mama” benefits from a jumpy groove, sudden stop and start punctuation in the guitar, and a rush of drum fills. Its hard driving groove gives the electric guitar a rocky trail to ride with plenty of bumpy action and a throw caution to the wind tempo. Let’s see if they can all play this one in sync when they’re in concert.

Gritty bits of guitar lead us into “Gypsy Girl,” a down tempo singer-songwriter affair with an edge. Montgomery makes the most of his wide handsome vocal sweep, sending it out like a lasso over the main action from the guitars. When he belts out his lyrics, Montgomery’s heart and soul can be felt in his palpable expression.

“Easy To Forget You When I’m Gone” makes for a restful, easy going number amid all of the tension laden Montgomery pieces on this album. This slow burner finds Montgomery at his most soulful, his voice having lots of space among down tempo, unobtrusive groove and guitar phrasing. It reminds of “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd in its wide, expressive, and graceful motions.

Montgomery & The Winterkill Band are back to their old tricks in “The Girl With The Gage’s In Her Ear.” This is one of those KMTWB numbers that features them playing so many moving parts that you, again, have to wonder if they can match it when they play live. The authoritative groove hits hard as Montgomery sprawls his forceful lyrics and chorus through the landscape and the guitars jump around and hit home with hearty smacks.

A blistering lyrical attack on a local music scene short changer, “Annie, Pay Your Band” becomes a universal theme about people who take advantage when they don’t have to pay up front. Ahem. This one never pay at all. Montgomery, when he sustains the lyric “Annie, pay your bbbbbbaaaaaannnndddddd,” he sings with an undeniable anger. The song, though focusing on an unscrupulous person, has a “Maxwell Silver Hammer” type humor in its repetition. Montgomery has been around a long time and he knows the type that’s been kicked out of the crossroads, and he seems to have come across a real devil’s spawn.

A strong 1970s flavor, “A Little Lower” draws in the listener with a nostalgic wave for that decade’s songwriting. The chorus could remind of anything from Hall & Oates to Lynyrd Skynyrd to Eric Clapton to The Chi-Lites. It’s catchy as hell and feels reassuringly familiar as it remains wholly new and original. Its tastefully brittle guitar line is another draw, a serious tenderness that politely walks us right up to that million dollar chorus.

Closing track “Lost In Memphis” showcases Montgomery belting out with a bluesy fierceness. Supporting his pipes are a lattice work of aggressive groove that can knock down doors, mounds of jumpy guitar, and a considerate pace. Montgomery’s vocal heft and his battle hardened band make the listener feel the muscle in all of the moving parts here.

Montgomery and his Winterkill Band maintain on this Lower Count Outlaw album their own standards of excellence that we’ve all been seeing on his previous three albums, all released within the last few years. Lower County Outlaw, produced by Andrew Koss at The Studios At Strawberry Fields, increases somewhat the already established creativity that this outfit brings into the recording studio. They try some different kinds of dissonance, contrasts, and subtle guitar playing styles with good results. Their 12 tracks are all winsome and “A Little Lower” could get them even more air play as time goes on and more and more people find out about this band that fuses the soul of two different genres, driving outlaw country and excitingly raw rock and roll. - Bill Copeland Music News

It’s the 4th album in 3 years for this “lower county outlaw.” No one could ever accuse singer-songwriter Kristian Montgomery of slacking off on the job. The Vermont-based musician is certainly one of the hardest working cats in show business. He’s grown up all around the country — Florida, New Orleans and Boston, to be exact. In fact, he originally made a splash on the Boston scene and garnered considerable attention with previous recorded efforts. But since his re-location to the mountains and adoption of farm life, he has more keenly refined and sharpened his musical approach.

Montgomery’s latest and greatest features some of his best and most compelling songs to date. And he’s joined by celebrated producer-engineer/drummer Andrew Koss (Alicia Keys, John Legend), guitarist John Clark, and bassists Dave Leitch and Mark Harding. These are “genre bending songs that are lived in,” according to Montgomery on his website. And there is no doubt that the detail and honesty of his songs and stories come through.

This Americana-flavored and Cajun-spiced and rootsy thrill ride begins with “Submit to My Transmission.” There are some hellacious guitars featured here that are balanced by cool, subtle ambience and a reflective, testimonial tone.

“Around and Around” spotlights great rocking hooks and dovetails the groove with an earthy vocal. There is an interesting modulation technique in the melody that is subliminal and infectious.

“The Long Gone Blues” states “When you got nothin’ you got nothin’ to lose” and “Now that she’s got everything I guess she wants me too.” There is a tinge of cynicism wrapped in a jaunty country feel.

A screaming guitar defines the tuneful and dynamic “The 4th of July.” And that leads into the truth seeking “I Don’t Know What’s Real Anymore.” Montgomery simply asks, “Are you real?” over an ample wall of guitars and rhythm. This is a pleasing blend of stinging leads, an interesting bridge and rich harmonies.

“Somebody’s Baby Mama” recalls Joker-era Steve Miller, with the line “I bet you’re sweet, but you’re somebody’s baby mama now.” It’s got an infectious upbeat groove and an early Allman Brothers sensibility as well.

“Gypsy Girl” is a catchy souped-up femme fatale cautionary tale which is followed by the somewhat melancholy “Easy to Forget You When I’m Gone.” It’s a first person account of a relationship that is consistent with Montgomery’s no nonsense lyrical style.

The oddly titled “The Girl With Gages in Her Eyes” has a rocking, vibrant kick, with a retro alternative vibe that, to this reviewer, recalls Robert Palmer or Dire Straits.

“Annie Pay Your Band” is a pleasant country blues number and paves the way for the cool and somewhat funky “A Little Lower.” The indelible chorus and lilting bluesy guitars will get you going.

And the finale sounds like a real audience favorite, with “Lost in Memphis.” This is a rootsy rocker built on a sturdy and memorable groove. Smooth wah-wah guitar and wailing vocals wrap this release on a high note.

Kristian Montgomery’s Cajun-laced, blue collar sound is unique and familiar at the same time. He has a singular vision that is pop-oriented and relatable, yet cerebral, auto-biographical and edgy.

Looking Ahead

You can catch some Kristian Montgomery & the Winterkill Band performances, as the band is out gigging, including this upcoming Saturday, October 28th show at Nashville of Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, NY. Follow the band’s Facebook and Instagram accounts for future show announcements.

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