Review Fix Exclusive: Kristian Montgomery Talks Winterkill Band and More

February 12, 2021 Patrick Hickey Jr. Music 0

Review Fix chats with Kristian Montgomery of the Winterkill Band to find out about his origin in music, new album, Prince of Poverty and more.

Review Fix: How did you get involved in music?

Kristian Montgomery: I wrote my first album while in prison for a crime I didn’t commit. I battled addiction in my youth and suppose I always thought I was more than just the son of a fisherman. I used my talents to pull away from that life but am now back at sea again as if it’s where ima supposed to live out my days I love the sea don’t get me wrong. I appreciate a hard day’s work and have always competed with the children of privilege for a seat at the table. I get ignored in the music scene in Boston perhaps because my music is too emotionally driven by a blue-collar soul amongst the wealthy artists. But I try to keep the chip on my shoulder from showing.

I grew up poor and was in church with my grandmother who had a terrible voice. I had to sing louder than her so no one could hear her. My reverend noticed my voice and asked my family if he could give me lessons. They agreed and he introduced me to the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and more. I taught myself guitar and began performing at local bars at 15. 

Review Fix: What’s your creative process like? 

Montgomery: I love the blues, I write about what’s happened to me, what I’ve been through and how I’ve managed to make it this far.


Review Fix: What inspires you?

Montgomery: My life has been exciting, I have traveled the world on a laborers budget, immersed myself in cultures and have experienced a lot of what life offers. Love, hate, anger, forgiveness it’s all so relevant. 

Review Fix: What does music mean to you?

Montgomery: It’s therapy, it’s my voice and most of what I have to offer the world. I’ve struggled to afford to make music so it means a lot more to me than the artists who have it handed to them.

Review Fix: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?

Montgomery: We are familiar yet new, a little bit of the past mixed in with the future. A dark country with rock and pop influences with lyrics that I hope are poetic.

Review Fix: How are your live shows different from your studio work?

Montgomery: Right now its all studio,  but live shows are always a connection to the audience that I thrive on. Eye contact, seeing the faces and being with my tribe. 

Review Fix: What inspired your latest single?

Montgomery: It’s a Appalachian love story, about women that will inspire you or destroy you.

Review Fix: What are your goals for 2021? 

Montgomery: To keep recording new albums until I can tour

Review Fix: What’s next?

Montgomery: Hitting the road, telling my story to a larger audience. We are getting good feedback all over the world,  reviews, interviews,  podcasts and blogs. I’ve never had my music received so well. It’s inspiring.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14316 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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