Conal Montgomery’s Album Launch

 Conal Montgomery’s ‘Corner Stone’ album launched at Pug Ugly’s, Belfast on 16th June. Doors opened at 8pm with a warm welcome from staff and customers alike as the performances showered the pub with an appreciation for country music.

Support act Damien Hanna began his set at 9pm, taking audience requests which led to a barrage of Bon Jovi songs. Having requested ‘Living On A Prayer’ I was amazed at the quick and effortless response as he flowed into the song.

10pm saw the much awaited for Conal Montgomery take to the stage, bringing his album to life with his vocal and instrumental artistry. 

Paying homage to his hometown Killyleagh, ‘Corner Stone’ is Conal’s second album. With deep, meaningful lyrics, each song is a staple to the everyday happenings of the village, detailing the people he has known.  Considering the nature of his music, ‘Corner Stone’ is an apt name that encapsulates the symbolism of the ceremonial stone sitting at The Central Bar, which serves to inscribe pertinent information. Naming his album after a cornerstone cements the importance of lyricism and its contribution to the lives of many that are passed along orally and yet generally unknown. Conal is artfully depicting his surroundings, his life and the people within whilst providing the audience with an unforgettable experience that feels relatable and refreshing in that it’s an amalgamation of the past, the present and the inevitability of change. Check out The Corner Stone title track here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j17PF8h44N0

Written during lockdown the album’s title track is reminiscent of the nostalgia we associate with our childhood and how his love for his hometown translates into music. The first track on the album, ‘Isaac’ is based on Conal’s relative who drowned at the harbour in Killyleagh, 1903. ‘Isaac’ like many of Conal’s songs is a piece of storytelling, transporting the audience to the stormy seas whereupon Isaac lingers for eternity, haunting the place he had once felt safe. Assumedly ‘Isaac’ could be a morose piece, but the mythological elements of ghosts and an otherworldly ocean incites intrigue whilst the twang in Conal’s voice created an eerie calm; a dichotomy between death and life as ‘Isaac’ lives on through music.

‘The Shores of Killyleagh’ serves as a love letter to the beauty of the sky when it meets the sea as the light and colours converge and reflect with the lapping of the ocean. Transfused with care, heartbreak and open lyrics the audience can attach their personal experiences to the album while revelling in the storytelling aspect of the songs.

Throughout his performance the audience was taken on a journey of love, loss and recovery as emotional outpourings delve into the inner psyche whilst revelations reign upon his. ‘My Confession’ serves as an emotional upheaval as Conal faces the truth that sobriety is the way he must lead his life. ‘This Life Is Not for Me’ was released as an extension of changing your addictions which in Conal’s case references his struggle with alcohol and how he overcame that to live a life of sobriety. This single is the exploration of recognising the difficulties of facing your demons and how you find the courage to continue despite the struggles that come your way. 

The revelatory way in which Conal combines genres including folk music, country and rock is distinctive and epitomises the thematic units he employs throughout his work that unite lyricism and sound. 

‘A Single White Feather’ as a country toe-tapper spurred the audience to rise from their seats and dance to the supportive crowd of cheers and clapping. Conal’s pitch seamlessly intertwined from traditional country vocals to elongated vowels, allowing the audience to engage with the story whilst dancing to the almost soprano-like vocals.

Finishing with ‘Promises’ was truly an experience with the audience sitting in awe at this tear jerker. Whilst remaining sombre, this single offers a sense of hope as his pitch deviates, leaving him to belt out ‘Promises’ in a way in which that echoed throughout. The vibrato of his voice, the lyrics and the instrumental experience truly served to create an unforgettable album launch.

The album was recorded and produced by award winning songwriter and friend, Gerard Dornan in Loughinisland, County Down at his Hillside Studio. The ‘Corner Stone’ album is available on all major platforms and CDs can be purchased here: https://conalmontgomery.bandcamp.com/album/the-corner-stone.

Published on Excalibur press with BAM: https://bamni.co.uk/2022/06/23/conal-montgomerys-album-launch/