Listen to the latest episode of Hot & New with Nina

By Nina McCarthy, Music Journalist 

A good musician is so much more than their ability and aptitude for making music. I read an article online recently that said, “a good musician can speak the language of music, is disciplined and curious, has an attitude of confident humility, and has excellent musicianship skills and musicality.” Let me introduce you to 27 year old singer/songwriter Sage King from northern central Connecticut, who fits the definition of a great musician, and in January 2025 he will be making his way from New England to Nashville, Tennessee to fulfill his dreams.

Growing up in a household where music was always playing, Sage wasn’t interested in playing sports, so his mom told him that he had to play an instrument, so Sage chose drums and played in the school band as a percussionist. Sage was very good but he decided he didn't want to play drums, “especially in the parade,” his mom, Heidi, jokes. His first concert was Bon Jovi at age 10, as his mom played them constantly in the car and Sage knew every word. Sage’s father bought him his first guitar when he was around 10 years old. Sage always was a huge fan of Motley Crue and remembered Nikki Sixx talking about wanting to write his own songs and not wanting to play covers, and he shared this same mentality. It immediately became an obsession when he started to learn chords and Sage gives credit to his mentor, Josh Enemy, as having the biggest impact on him. Josh would form bands with his students at Falcetti’s Music in CT and Sage would mostly play guitar and sing and these recitals were his first experience playing in front of an audience. Sage formed his first band during this time calling it Obsidian. Josh went on to own Suffield Music in Connecticut and said that Sage explored different styles of music but had a natural gift for songwriting.

As far as formal training, Sage immersed himself in vocal lessons in High School learning the basics such as warming up and layering music, along with his guitar lessons. However, he seemed to be born with the talent to rock. Performing a Motley Crue song in 5th grade and Shinedown in 6th, Sage received standing ovations at his school’s talent shows. He did well afterward at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, but they didn't allow the hungry teen to pursue his love of original music as much as he would have liked, so he quit. The school was disappointed because they thought he was one of the best students with his creativity and musical ability, but Sage didn't want to follow their curriculum. He wanted to write and perform his original music.

Sage's first paid solo acoustic gig was at a Mexican restaurant at 13 years old and he played two hours of covers and originals and was handed a hundred-dollar bill. As a young teenager, Sage looked at that bill and couldn’t believe he made that from doing something he loved, and thought, “I’m going to do this forever! I’ll be rich!” and so began his musical career as a not-so-rich musician.

The most memorable and “anxiety-ridden” gig was when Sage and his band (Sage King & Co.) flew out to Minnesota as part of the iHeart Radio, Jack Daniels Battle of the Bands and played in front of the biggest audience (about 3000) that he had ever played in front of. Winning the songwriting contest, he submitted a song that he had written at 17 years old and won $10,000, which financed his second EP entitled, Blossom (2021).  “People had no idea of who we were but they were all about it,” states King. Winning was a validating moment for this young singer/songwriter.

Sage has supported himself solely with his gigging, and is currently in about five projects from his original music in Sage King & Co. and Hivebane, solo acoustic covers and originals, a Chris Cornell tribute called Revelations, and the metal supergroup featuring members of Anthrax and Shadows Fall, called Living Wreckage. “Sage eats, sleeps, and breathes music. There’s nothing else he wants to do. He just wants to sing,” says his biggest fan, his mom.

Not knowing what the future holds or how long he’ll be there, Sage thought Nashville had the most opportunity to create his journey, along with his growing love for country music. It’s a huge songwriting community and growing up he only had the opportunity to write for his own bands. In Nashville, it’s a huge culture for outside songwriters, especially with many signed artists not writing their songs. They have a label, a great voice, and an image but may not be the best songwriters, so there’s a job market down there for people to write songs. “I’ve become much more okay with the idea of writing a song that I may not sing,” says King.

When asked if he was turning country on us, Sage expressed that he is remaining open-minded, not chasing any specific thing, but writing whatever comes and seeing where it takes him, but Rock is his foundation. He credits the success of the artist HARDY (who has written songs for artists like Florida Georgia Line, Blake Shelton, and Morgan Wallen) with being significant in opening a lane for his chosen journey. “I love HARDY and he moved from Mississippi to Nashville for songwriting and he didn’t even want to be an artist. He turned down an artist deal at one point,” explains Sage. HARDY is now worth 15 million dollars and has 16 number-1 singles, so not a bad musical exemplar.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sage seven years ago when his band opened for Austin John Winkler (former Hinder frontman). At the time, he was about to turn 21 and I was extremely impressed with his vocals, maturity, and old soul. I’ve seen him in all of his projects over the years, with many notable gigs, such as opening for Mike Tramp (White Lion) a few times (both acoustically and with Living Wreckage). This young man can mesmerize you with his deep meaningful country songs or get you headbanging to metal, and everything in between. I’ve often heard the phrase and have said it myself, “He can do it all!” 

When I asked Sage about the challenges of being an independent musician, he explained that “there are so many ideas and things I want to accomplish, but the business is tough financially.” Things take a lot of money to get started, making things take a lot longer than hoped for. The recently released song off his new upcoming album, Save This Soul, was written 3 years ago. Also challenging, is getting your music out to the world because there’s so much out there and people’s attention spans are short. After self-funding and releasing two independent EPs, Sage is currently fundraising to release this third album based on his personal experiences, which he believes is his best writing yet. Sometimes you put so much time and attention into something and no one ends up hearing it. It’s hard to have success based on streaming services alone, although Sage’s song Bones is having some success on Spotify, even being streamed a few hundred times in Europe. Labels are looking for engagement with fans, so Sage finds it best to be himself and share a little of his personal life rather than just pushing his music. “That’s what I’d want from an artist I admire,” he shares.

In his announcement of his departure, Sage said he would continue to finish his newest solo record and continue to release songs from it in the upcoming weeks and months. He will continue to be part of Living Wreckage, as they are currently recording and have high hopes for 2025. I’m sure Sage will be racking up those frequent flyer miles to come back home to perform.  A farewell show for Sage will be on January 4th, 2025 at Westfield River Brewing Company in Southwick, MA. Tickets are on sale now for that final performance before he heads to Nashville. Get yours now, as I’m sure it will be an unforgettable evening.

Sage King has broken a lot of hearts in New England with the announcement of his departure to Music City. However, we all are behind him and his talent and wish him the best on his musical journey. We just hope the people of Nashville take a listen, help him network, and above all else, embrace the talent coming your way. Good luck Sage! New England will miss you but the world deserves to hear your music!

I have been fortunate enough to play drums with Sage since around 2017 in various projects. One thing about Sage that really stands out is his professionalism and his live performances. You need to bring your A-game because Sage will deliver night in and night out. Watching him grow over the years as a band mate and friend has been nothing short of awesome. - Matt 9 Raymond, Drummer

Sage is the hardest-working musician I've ever met. Full stop. Watching him grind every single day to improve his vocal prowess, guitar proficiency, and perhaps most importantly, writing ability, is a mystical thing to witness. Sage will work tirelessly until everything is exactly the way he wants it, and that shows in his product. On top of that, Sage is an incredible musician to work with, as he pushes you to get the very best out of you, while remaining patient and understanding. Working with Sage and getting to know him as a friend and a brother in musical arms, has been one of the absolute greatest joys of my life. - Nathan Paul Legare, Drummer

Sage had a natural gift for songwriting and you could see his talent at the early age of 13 or 14. Interestingly, he never had a regular job because right out of the gate, he knew what he wanted to do from an early age. - Josh Enemy, Music Instructor, Musician, and Sage’s Mentor

Sage is very determined stubborn serious person and musician. He’s always always been an old soul. He sleeps, eats, and breathes music. There’s nothing else he wants to do. He always was a high achiever and amazing in school, but did not want to go to college, he just wanted to sing. I know he won’t take no for an answer when it comes to his determination, he will pick music first. Music has ALWAYS come first.” - Heidi Kuhnly Vesco, Sage’s Mom

It was a beautiful fall day and chilly night when Taproot's SC\SSRS tour rolled into Wally’s in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Taproot is an alternative metal band from Ann Arbor, Michigan, formed in 1997. They are best known for their hit single "Poem", which peaked at No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart in 2002.  The band released its seventh studio album, SC\SSRS, on September 29, 2023 and after a long hiatus from touring, was back again with some anxiously anticipated new music!  It had been over a decade since I had last seen Taproot, so I was excited to witness their return. Usually when I’m covering a show, I’d be up front and taking the action all in. However, due to a recent knee surgery, I observed this night differently than my norm, and found a barstool near the back.

New Haven, Connecticut’s Dead By Wednesday was the opening band. Being a long time friend and follower of DBW, I knew the unexpecting crowd was about to be assaulted without any foreplay, with DBW being the heaviest they’ve been since their inception in 2006. As anticipated, they ripped it up and the crowd was packed in tight and ready for the night. That’s how you warm up a crowd!

Maine has some really great metal, including Portland’s groove metal band Trawl, who are often local support for tours coming through northern New England. Although they had some technical issues on the guitar side, the rhythm section held strong until the situation was corrected. If I hadn’t been watching, I may not have noticed because I was distracted by the groove of the bass.

Eva Under Fire, a rock band from Detroit, was the tour support for Taproot on this run. I was familiar with the name, but not enough to know any lyrics, and couldn’t remember if I had seen them live before or not.  Frontwoman, Amanda “Eva Marie” Lyberg, certainly was not intimidated by the previous growling metal frontmen, and certainly held her ground. I must admit, Eva Under Fire’s set was my favorite of the night. Each band had its moments, but Eva Under Fire consistently impressed me song after song. I was easily distracted with people watching sitting so far in the back, but my interest was held during this performance, which can be a challenge if I’m not singing along to familiar lyrics. The audience seemed to be enjoying the set as much as I was, as they crowded in tighter when newcomers arrived.

The changeovers seemed efficient tonight and the crowd was primed and ready for the headliner. Seeing video from the previous night’s performance and hearing Taproot’s brand new album, SC\SSRS, I kind of had an idea what I was in for. The crowd cheered as the band took the stage and broke right into “Smile” and “Again and Again” off the 2000 ‘Gift’ album. The band teased the audience with “Mine,” the opening track of 2022’s ‘Welcome,’ before giving us a taste of some new tracks that the crowd had been waiting to hear live. They played the heavier ones from SC\SSRS which included  “We Control Our Destiny” and “V\ct\m \ Play”.  Taproot played a satisfying collection off of SC\SSRS along with some older favorites. At one point frontman, Stephen Richards, climbed over the barrier and crowd surfed back to the bar before returning to the front to hop back onto the stage. Apparently, from what I’ve read, he likes to jump into the crowd, but there was nothing higher than the few foot tall stage. I was excited to hear the radio single, “Favourite Song” for which the band recorded their video for at Buffalo Bill’s house (Silence of the Lambs) in Pennsylvania. Check it out on YouTube. The album features Elias Soriano from Nonpoint on this track, but since he wasn’t in attendance, Stephen did his best at singing that part too.  On a side note, I heard that on the following night at The Gramercy Theater in NYC, Esteban from Dead By Wednesday, had quickly learned the part and filled in for Elias’ vocal part. 

Back to Hampton Beach…Taproot has some slower songs, but they certainly brought the energy to the live show.  New guitarist, Taylor Roberts, brought some monstrous energy to the band alongside veteran bassist Phil Lipscomb and returning drummer, Jarrod Montague. The crowd has been patiently waiting to hear the most well known Taproot song, “Poem,” which also may be the only song a portion of the younger crowd knows. Stephen invited the whole crowd to join the band up on the stage. After a little encouragement, people started filling up the stage until security limited it. Stephen warned the group to not be selfish and hog the mic as the band played and the microphone was passed around so everyone could sing a little. It wasn’t the best version of the song you’d want to hear, but it was fun for the fans that had the adrenaline already flowing. After the stage cleared, Richards gave the crowd a choice of an encore song and “Mirrors Reflection,” which historically Taproot doesn’t play live, won the shouts of approval. Taproot was met with audience approbation and all seemed to be fulfilled after the 15 song set. 

All the bands met fans at their merch tables after their sets, as well as mingled among the crowd. That’s always the advantage of these smaller venues. I think it’s admirable when nationally touring artists value the fans and show their appreciation by staying for signings and many, many photographs.  Those are the fans that will keep coming back.

Thank you to Ryan Gaudet of 229 Photo for the pictures (below)

Lynch Mob was formed in 1989, and is an American hard rock band featuring former Dokken guitarist George Lynch. He has been the band's only permanent member. The first Lynch Mob album was released in 1990, titled 'Wicked Sensation.'  After several disbandments and reunions, the current lineup is: Lynch on guitar, Jimmy D'Anda on drums, Jaron Gulino holding down the low end on bass, and Gabriel Colon on vocals. After recently seeing the band live at Jameson Pub in Watertown, CT, I caught up with the frontman, Gabriel, to learn more about him and what is in store for Lynch Mob.   

STN: Can you give me a brief history of where you were born and when your interest in music started? 

I was born in Boston, Massachusetts but my family moved when I was four so I was raised in Puerto Rico. That’s where they’re originally from. For me it started with the “Eye Of The Tiger.” That’s the first song I remember liking, and MTV is where I first heard Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, and Nirvana, and it went from there. Then my brother started buying their records and I got hooked right away. I didn’t start singing until I was 15, but you know, like in the bathroom. 

STN: I know you've been in other bands, so how did you connect with George Lynch? 

Yeah, I’ve been in a few bands, I’ve been singing for a while now. I’ve worked with a lot of interesting characters along the way and learned a lot. With George, it was a good friend of mine that gave me his number and said he was looking for a singer; so, I sent George some videos of songs I’ve recorded and he liked it. Then he told me to send him live videos, and in about a week he called me. I was working in maintenance in Long Beach. We talked for about 20 minutes and that was it. We had a little acoustic session at his place 2 months later, and the next night we did a show. 

STN: What is it like working with George? 

It’s a lot of fun. It’s never too serious because everyone knows what they’re doing. George likes a loose sound and it’s always different so it keeps us on our toes, keeps us fresh.They’re all good people too.  I’m very grateful. 

STN: I saw both shows on the Monsters of Rock Cruise and was highly impressed.  Not only was the singing great, but you look like you were born to be on stage. Speaking of which, Jaron told me to ask you about your stage moves and moonwalk…lol 

Thank you, I really enjoy it and I think that’s what comes through…the love for the music. It’s still a work in progress.  

Moonwalk eh?! Haha Well, I’ve always been drawn to the more flamboyant performers like Freddie Mercury, Little Richard, Juan Gabriel, so that’s where that comes from. But I don’t rehearse any of it, obviously. It’s ALL for Jaron! 

STN: How did you enjoy the cruise? 

The cruise was pretty crazy. It’s hard to sit still when there’s so much going on. It’s cool though, everything is there. A lot of great talent, everybody was very nice, and the crowd never let the party die! 

STN: What do you like to do when you're not pursuing musical interests? 

That’s a tough one, I don’t have any hobbies. I enjoy working out, walking, sloppy steak dinners, getting together with family and friends, going to shows and movies. That’s about it really. 

STN: Lynch Mob has had several vocalists. Last time I saw the band, it was Robert Mason. What has been the feedback you've received now that you've been touring with the band? 

Nothing but love, I’m surprised. People seem to like what I’ve been doing so I’m very fortunate. Lynch Mob has had some great singers. I’m glad I can do the songs justice and add some Gabriel juice to them. 

STN: Lynch Mob has a new record ‘Babylon’ coming out this fall . What can you tell me about it? 

It’s a solid album, it grooves throughout. We’ve been playing  2 of the new songs live and it always moves the crowd. I think the fans are really gonna dig it! 

STN: "Time After Time" will be the first single coming out, which I heard live and I liked it a lot. What can you tell me about the song? 

It’s a poppy tune, pretty catchy but it has a bit of a dark tone. It’s about making the same bad choices over and over and not being able, or not having the will, to change anything. A vicious cycle. The video we did has a ‘Groundhog Day’ take on it that’s interesting. That should be out at the end of August. 

STN: Anything you'd like to add in conclusion? 

Thank you for supporting Lynch Mob. I hope you enjoy the new record coming out in October and see you on the road. Thanks Nina, have a wonderful evening. 

STN: Thank you Gabriel. I can’t wait to hear the new album and see you all again. 

Recently, I took a little road trip to Dingbatz in New Jersey to catch some bands that were playing within 2 nights of each other. The night I went to see my friends in Spread Eagle, Killcode happened to be on the bill. I had heard great things about Killcode, which is a five piece rock band that hails from New York City. I took the opportunity to do a last minute interview and get to know the band better. (Thank you guys for a fun night and some laughs.)

I thought this was my first time seeing Killcode perform live, but ironically their first big show was in my home state of Rhode Island at the previously named, Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence. They played a Tattoo Fest with Sevendust and Godsmack, so low and behold, this was my second time seeing Killcode live.

While doing research about Killcode, the one thing I admired was how they don't really have a game plan as far as genre. They play what sounds right  to them and try new and different things, so basically they don't try to fit in with what's popular at the moment. “We’re a very mixed bag as far as our influences: rock, hip hop, new wave, heavy metal. It’s an amalgamation of all of that,” says frontman Tom Morrissey “It’s very organic and nobody really leads the charge, yet everyone does at the same time."  "Someone just starts and we all add our influences, and it becomes Killcode,” adds drummer Rob Noxious.

Being a band from NYC, which was the happening place any night of the week for rock and roll, it has now become more underground. This is what drives the band even harder to do what they do, and fortunately they have been lucky enough to get out of NYC and play all over the world, until Covid hit.

When the world was shut down during Covid, the guys wisely used the time to record their latest album Life, Death, Rock N’ Roll which was released worldwide on January 20, 2023 on the NYC born, L.A. based Mother West label.  Tommy stated that he was humbled by the response to the album, but "these days it doesn’t seem to matter if people like your music or not, but rather if it goes viral and becomes trendy."  He respected the reviews they are getting about the album and about the songs.  “The name just fits perfectly for everyone," says bassist Bobby Flores “especially by the time it came out.”  “It was really what we all personally went through during that time,” added Rob Noxious, who also praised Bobby for joining right before Covid. The band had a few really good shows booked and they needed him really fast and “he worked his fucking ass off and was there.” Apparently they had 2000 tickets sold and overnight, the world stopped! He joined a band that was touring the world and had played with bands like Godsmack, Sevendust, KISS, Twisted Sister, and was direct support to Dee Snider's solo band across the US., and then nothing! I’m glad I got to see Bobby play live finally, and I’m sure he was excited to be playing two nights in a row.

Killcode made it clear, however, that they make music for themselves first and “if people get it, that’s beautiful” but they need to “impress themselves first.” I listened to the latest album several times and I certainly was impressed. I enjoyed the mix of what I would consider 80's arena fist pumping rock, southern rock, and straight up good ol' rock n' roll, including some beautiful ballads such as "Girl Next Door."  Take a listen for yourself and see what your favorite song is.

Finally things started getting back to normal after the pandemic, as the first track on the album screams, “Let’s Get Back To Rock n’ Roll.”

Killcode would be an amazing addition to the Monsters of Rock Cruise.  Killcode said that they are still waiting for their invitation…Larry Morand?  “It’s people like you that help us get there. Spread The Code…”Tommy concludes.

"Life, Death, Rock-N-Roll" produced by Joey Zampella (Life of Agony, Stereo Mud , Carnivore) Available NOW world-wide on all digital platforms!

https://orcd.co/killcodelifedeathrocknroll

Order your physical copy and bundles here:

https://motherwest.storenvy.com/collections/2000968-killcode

Hailing from Springfield, MA Hivebane have hit us with their first full length album, 'Collider' released March 31, 2023. The album was produced by Anthony John and mixed and mastered by Jim Fogarty, who has worked with Killswitch Engage and All That Remains.

Calm down metalheads. If you like it really heavy with screaming vocals and growls, then this album is not for you. However, I'm not fooled and I know you all have a soft side, so you may enjoy this rock album when your metal kindred spirits aren't around. Live a little and give it a listen. For those of you who like pure unadulterated rock, then get your ear buds ready. 

If you live in western Massachusetts, then you may have heard of (or seen) Sage King, because he has been playing his guitar and singing in area establishments since he was 14. Local rockers may also remember guitarist, Anthony John, from Gaiah. 

From what I understand, Anthony was out one night and heard Sage singing and decided that he "had to make music with this kid!"  They then connected over similar tastes in music and formed Hivebane back in 2017. After about 5 years of writing together, they were joined by the captivating percussion of Nathan Paul on drums, with John doing triple duty on guitar, bass, and vocals, and King taking on the frontman duties, belting out heartfelt lyrics.

Hivebane, self admittedly "does not fit into any one particular box but rather chooses to live outside it altogether. " The advantage to that is, it substantially broadens their fan base. I've been to several of their live shows and have seen them do acoustic sets at restaurants, unplugged shows at theaters, right on up to full electric concerts at rock venues.

Speaking of not fitting in the box, 'Collider' kicks off with "The Pain," which is one of the harder rocking tracks on the album. The lyrics ask us, "Are we just machines in some recalculated reality, unhuman but still breathing, start thinking for yourself!" That makes you reflect, doesn't it?

If you are familiar with Hivebane, you may have heard “Shed My Skin," a song about avoiding one’s own destiny, that was previously recorded on Hivebane's unplugged album 'Prologue' released October, 2018. On 'Collider' this tune takes on a whole new life with full supporting electric instrumentation.

One of the things that I Iove about Sage's voice is the way he can get real soft and melancholy then throw that rare deep anger growl at the right moment of the song. "Over and Over," is one song that showcases the range of King's vocals, as he describes a toxic relationship that needs to end. In a previous review I described him as having the voice of an angel. Don't let that fool you! He also has a scream that could wake the dead, knowing just when to use it, but never overdone. This is most evident in the fourth track, "Does It Always."  Sage has his own sound that can withstand any tempo and given range. No one has a voice that sounds anything like him, making him uniquely recognizable. Truly a gift to have!

"Unsung" is a darker track written as if he is speaking to a friend or family member that has committed suicide. You will "live on in a song and you will not be unsung," he promises, tearing at the listener's heartstrings. A song I'm sure everyone can relate to. 

"Playing With Fire" and "Tired Eyes" have upbeat melodies and are most catchy, as I found myself easily singing along to the choruses.

This 11 song album is packed with crisp guitar riffs that wail with melody and authority when necessary, driving bass, topped with the heartfelt lyrics. 'Collider' is a true testament to how the right riffs and relatable lyrics can be the ultimate formula for a rock album. 

Do you wonder why they chose the title 'Collider'?  When you take a look at the album cover, it's pretty obvious.  However, dig deeper into the thought provoking lyrics and lose yourself in the tantalizing music, as Hivebane takes you on an emotional ride where the heart and mind collide.

"Sometimes the heart doesn't agree with the mind, what's important is that YOU should know when to compromise, when to let YOUR mind win and when to let YOUR heart decide." -- quote by Abhishek Tiwari

If I piqued your interest, then Hivebane will be having a Vinyl Release Party at The Divine Theater at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke, MA on Saturday, July 8, 2023. The event and ticket details can be found here: 

https://facebook.com/events/s/hivebane-vinyl-release-show-th/1501740796901513/

Hope to see you there! If not, you can steam the full album on Spotify and follow Hivebane at https://www.facebook.com/hivebane