Prince of Poverty is now available for CD purchase or digital download!
Prince of Poverty is now available! Purchase the album in our shop below or download on iTunes!
Prince of Poverty is now available! Purchase the album in our shop below or download on iTunes!
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 pe
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 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 t
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.
In this the age of the outsider, Kristian Montgomery might be starting to fit in...but don't tell him that. Montgomery grew up poor, prefers to catch his own meals on the waters off Cape Cod and has always felt his music defies genre. A lack of belonging colors his worldview, and he wouldn't have it any other way. The battle between searc
In this the age of the outsider, Kristian Montgomery might be starting to fit in...but don't tell him that. Montgomery grew up poor, prefers to catch his own meals on the waters off Cape Cod and has always felt his music defies genre. A lack of belonging colors his worldview, and he wouldn't have it any other way. The battle between searching for common ground and accepting his otherness informs much of his songwriting.
On his second pandemic release, Prince of Poverty, Montgomery and his Winterkill band pursue an edgier sound than on last year's 'The Gravel Church', which was largely penned while he served out a prison sentence.
From the Replacements-reminiscent barroom swagger of "Don't Call Me Baby" to the clanging anthem "They'll Remember My Name", and the jangly hooks through "That Kind of Love", the band oozes no nonsense, authentic blue-collar spirit that's keenly balanced with clever songwriting. The brooding defiance in "Soul for a Soul" puts focus on Montgomery's grunge-crooner vocals, while the banjo-propelled gallop of both "Working Hands" and "American Fire" shows off the band's rootsy foundation.
Uninspired by the recent turns in the world of mainstream country, Montgomery and Co. take their Americana into a space that's simultaneously restless, rugged and ragged, while still plenty infectious. It's an impressive tightrope act.