ISSUE #42 MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT Kristin BarlowKristin

Eddie Montgomery, Troy Gentry MONTGOMERY GENTRY The enduring country duo returns to the sound that made them famous

“WE’RE NOT MAINSTREAM COUNTRY,” they drifted away from toward the end of says Troy Gentry. “That’s one reason we’ve their relationship with Columbia Nashville. “I SUBSCRIBE FOR ONLY had the longevity that we’ve had. We’ve always think by the last couple of singles there, we been just different enough to hang in there.” were trying to chase radio,” Gentry recalls. When Gentry and fellow Kentucky “We were trying to be relevant and stay on native Eddie Montgomery arrived in Nashville radio, and some of our music dipped and in 1997, they were already as infl uenced changed in those days.” $12 by southern rock as they were inspired by Montgomery Gentry’s first three (For 1 Year, in U.S.) outlaw country. By the time the duo released albums—Tattoos & Scars, Carrying On their debut album Tattoos & Scars in 1999— (2001) and My Town (2002)—were all MMUSICMAG.COM/SAVE driven by the hit single “Hillbilly Shoes”—they certifi ed platinum. They also scored fi ve Issue #42 were being lauded by critics and radio for No. 1 hits including “If You Ever Stop having brought back the snarly ’70s sound Loving Me,” “Something to Be Proud Of,” M MUSIC & MUSICIANS of twin electric guitars. “Lucky Man,” “Back When I Knew It All” Montgomery Gentry’s latest, Folks Like and “Roll With Me.” MAGAZINE Us, is their eighth studio album, but it’s the Sixteen years after releasing their fi rst in a decade to return to that signature debut, the pair is grateful to still have a sound. The duo tapped producer Michael career, largely thanks to being embraced Knox, best known for his work with Jason by country radio for so long. But at this point, Aldean, to make that happen. Knox had they simply want to record the songs that worked with the pair early on in their career, best represent who they are and how they’ve selecting some of their most identifi able hits. always intended to sound—and that includes “It made his job easier coming into the those twin electric guitars. studio—he knows what we’re supposed to “From here on out, our object is to have sound like,” says Gentry, who notes that he longevity like the heroes we looked up to,” and Montgomery were more comfortable says Gentry, who name-checks Charlie and relaxed in the studio than they had been Daniels, Gregg Allman, Willie Nelson and in recent years. Waylon Jennings. “Outside of Waylon, those Knox had plugged songs for guys are still alive and they’re still making Montgomery Gentry when their sound best music, and that’s all Eddie and I can ask for.” represented who they are as artists—a sound –Keith Ryan Cartwright

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