The Band
It was a sunny, crisp, midwestern October day in 2018. The leaves had turned to their fall colors and Jeff Krause and Mike Pounovich had taken their families to the local pumpkin farm to prepare for Halloween. Little did they know that on that fateful day Voices of Verity would be born.
Mike and Jeff had known each other for 13 years at that point. Jeff was the singer in Mike’s first band. In the time since, Jeff had become a staple in the Chicago music scene. His bands could be heard playing around the area on a weekly basis at major festivals and premier venues around the city. Mike had gone on to play in his own bands during that time and had started writing and working on his own music. Though the years had passed they both had stayed close, looking for an opportunity to once again share the stage. Then, on that brisk autumn day, Jeff approached Mike with an idea he had brewing. An all original Christian heavy rock band.
So, with nothing much to go on the duo got started writing. A few months ticked by and they were ready to start bringing in other players to fill out the lineup of the band. Jeff had known Mark Gontarz from his days on the local circuit and Mark and Jeff played in a band together as well. But, the question was he going to be interested in the direction this new band was going? It turns out that he was!
Another veteran of the local Chicago music scene, Mark had been playing bass in and out of bands since the 80’s. It was clear since the first notes rang that the three of them were on to something. As they began working over the next couple years they began putting together their debut. “Redemption” was released in October 2020 almost 2 years to the day Jeff had first approached Mike.
While the pandemic has put a hold on many things across the globe Voices of Verity has forged ahead. In the coming months they continue to work on all new material. They are planning new releases throughout the year and are looking forward to getting on the stage once again in 2022.
Jeff Krause
Lead Vocals
Jeff Krause has been a staple of the Chicagoland music scene for over 15 years. He has fronted multiple successful cover bands that included No Limit, Audio Fracture & Blind Reflexx. While in these bands, he played over 200 shows that included many large festivals, venues and even on both radio and tv. In 2018, he co-founded the original band Voices of Verity that continues today.
Mike Pounovich
Art and music have been part of Mike’s life since any early age. Growing up in Northern Michigan he started taking piano lessons at 6 years old and that musicality and artistry followed him through high school band and art classes. Mike joined the US Army Reserve in 2000 when he graduated high school and in 2003 he was deployed to Iraq. This is where his love of guitar really started.
Mark Gontarz
At age 15 Mark bought his first bass for $30. It was a Univox violin bass, loosely, a Beatle bass copy. After a year or so, he began incorporating bass into his parish guitar mass group (where he met his wife and many lifelong friends). Mark learned a lot playing that style of music. He also learned a lot from his and his older brother’s, records, Sabbath, Rush, etc. Later, Mark joined a variety of bands, a hardcore Chicago punk band called Fast Forward, playing on a local folk artist’s album, Bill Dicker, and in a rock bar band called Sheridan Ave.
