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Kevin is known for his song writing abilities and he has written some fantastic songs over the course of his career, but when I set about writing this piece, I wanted to find out what song writers influence this quietly charming and intriguing character. So he chose his ten favourite songs and told me a little about each of them. ...More -- Maverick Magazine (Erin Spurling) |
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| The club was packed almost as soon as the doors opened and Montgomery
responded by giving them an extended and extremely entertaining set loaded
with great songs in a remarkably varied range of moods, fine playing and
a lot of good humour between Montgomery and former Maverick bass player
Robert Reynolds ... it was actually the quieter songs, notably Broken, Springsteen's
I Wish I Were Blind and the lovely Fear Nothing, simply sung to an acoustic
guitar, that were the highspot of the evening.
Montgomery was on stage for almost two and a half hours, but it didn't seem even half that length of time. Star rating: * * * * * -- Bristol Evening Post (Keith Clark) |
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| On a dank Tuesday evening Kevin Montgomery and his Road Trippers blew through London like a Texas tornado, and seemed perfectly capable of rocking on until dawn while drinking the Borderline dry. Battling it out for control of centre-stage were Montgomery himself - a rakish figure in satin trousers and waistcoat, with a card sharp's beard - and bassist Robert Reynolds. Reynolds's steady job is bassist with the Mavericks, but clearly that's not enough. As well as moonlighting with Montgomery, he plays in a band called SWAG and, to complement his talent for comic monologues, he's also a very handy singer and songwriter - a point proved in the cheerful 1960s folk-pop of Near Perfect Smile and the beefier Dragonfly. The Road Trippers are steeped in musical history. On Dobro they have Al Perkins, who has played with Gram Parsons, Dylan, Stephen Stills and many more. And Montgomery's father Bob used to write songs with Buddy Holly, including Wishing, which Kevin sang tonight. All this could have overshadowed the frontman's talents, but Montgomery proved himself equal to the task. Wisely, he doesn't try to emulate Reynolds's hyperactive wisecracking, and opts instead for a droll restraint that is well matched to the relaxed, melodic qualities of his songs. He warmed up with a couple of glowingly tuneful duets with Perkins, then summoned the band for Another Long Story, the Crazy Horse-evoking thump of Guess I'll Go to California, and the close harmonies and measured pace of Your Kind of Love. Almost every song featured some sort of collectable highlight. There was a shimmering performance by Montgomery of An Angel Tonight, accompanied only by guitarist Rune Kjeldsen. In a steaming version of Honky Tonk Woman, support act Dean Owens reappeared to sing lead, while Perkins did an astonishing job of playing three Rolling Stones guitar parts simultaneously. In the Gram Parsons tune Ooh Las Vegas, the unit set a ferocious tempo while Perkins and Kjeldsen fired volleys of bluegrass, picking at each other like grapeshot. Drummer Paul Deakin (also from the Mavericks) nailed the ensemble together with unswerving force. It was difficult to see how they were going to bring things to a close. They did it by blowing themselves offstage with a frantic medley of American Girl, Not Fade Away and Magic Bus, during which Reynolds grew almost apoplectic with excitement. A live album would seem mandatory. Five Stars --- The Guardian (Adam Sweeting) |
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| Kevin Montgomery's star is rising in Glasgow. He has gone, in short order, from attracting 30 or more inquiring souls to the intimate Chambers Bar, to doing sizeable business in King Tut's, the UK's number one venue for career launches. His appeal is instantly understood. The resolute 'Another Long Story' and the early Neil Young-ish 'Let's all go to California' have his audience word perfect on both. These are anthems, as so many of his songs are. One of country music's slide guitar elite, Al Perkins was predominantly content to add selfless, subtle, and quietly apposite shadings to songs such as Montgomery's ironically non-macho 'Red Blooded American Boy'. His solo spot was brilliantly self contained and full of nimble, bluesy turns, weeping harmonics, and gutsy snarls --- Glasgow Herald (Rob Adams) |
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| Brilliant songwriting combined with almost-ethereal vocals, this CD is a gem. Along with his original material, he covers Bruce Springsteen (yes, it passed my approval...big time), and we were treated to his version of "Sky Blue and Black", beautifully accompanied on the piano. Kevin's a huge Jackson Browne fan, and did the song proud. He would have had to...can you imagine screwing up a Jackson song with all of US in the room? --- PhoenixNancy (Jackson Browne Everyman List) |
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Kevin Montgomery and his phenomenally talented band The Road Trippers are becoming regular visitors to Bristol, and very welcome ones at that. As we have come to expect it was a lengthy and extremely tight set, a real mix of Montgomery's highly melodic and sometimes almost anthemic songs, like 'Let's All Go To California' and 'Tennessee Girl', some of his fine and thoughtful quieter numbers like 'I Wish I Were Blind' and the now customary rock jam. Our own Keith Warmington guested on a number of songs, blowing up a storm on harmonica and obviously over-awed by trading solos with Al Perkins but then who wouldn't be. At times, even the Mavericks and Montgomery looked on in amazement at the sounds he was conjuring up from his steel guitar. After about an hour and a half on stage Montgomery asked "I hope no one needs to rush off, because we're in no hurry". No-one left, which is just as well because they would have missed another hour of great music and entertainment. Star rating: * * * * (out of 5) -- Bristol Evening Post (Keith Clark) |
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| How's this for pedigree? Outstanding Nashville singer-songwriter Montgomery (whose Mum sang with Elvis Presley and Dad co-wrote "Wishing" with Buddy Holly) is joined by ace steel guitar and dobro man Al Perkins (who has played with the likes of Gram Parsons, the Stones, Bob Dylan, Dwight Yoakam and Dolly Parton). Expect hugely enjoyable country infused rock delivered with style and aplomb. --- London Time Out |
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| The venue was packed to bursting point with people from all over the country, every one of them a devoted fan. The sense of anticipation was as-near-as-dammit palpable ... If you are one of those people who thinks that most of the music you hear is a bit plastic, then Kevin Montgomery is the sort of artist whom you should go and see. If you're lucky enough to catch him with Al Perkins, then so much the better. --- www.TouchNottingham.com |
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| The show that impressed the most was when Kevin Montgomery turned up at the same time as Trish Murphy. The result was memorable. It reminded me so much of Emmylou and Gram Parsons at their very best. It blew us all away. It must have been the same for listeners judging by the number of calls we received. --- Ritz Radio 1035 |
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| Steve Earle once said that Nashville has a population of just over a million - and 900,000 of them are songwriters. And yet, despite the competition it remains a mystery to me that Kevin Montgomery has not climbed the heady heights of Earle, Springsteen and Don Henley. --- Leicester Mercury |
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| When Kevin Montgomery and Doug Pettibone came on stage they displayed exactly why Kevin, whose numbers have been cut by Juice Newton and Martina McBride is considered as being among the finest of Nashville's highly talented singer/songwriters. Together with the harmonies and sensitive Stratocaster playing of fellow songwriter Doug Pettibone, whose skilful use of the slide augmented the sound, Kevin exhibited his craftsmanship to perfection, especially on 'Red-Blooded American Boy' and 'Visions of White'. With his laid-back persona and his 'Bob Dylan touched by Jimmy LaFave' style of vocals, this fine artisan really excelled on his emotion filled interpretation of Bruce Springsteen's 'I Wish I Were Blind'. --- Country Music Round-Up |
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