With vocals much like that of Chris Robertson of Black Stone Cherry twisted with a hint of Sebastian Bach of Skid Row and Layne Staley of Alice In Chains running through his veins, 17-year-old Trevor Smith is paving the route for band 449, who gets its name from Highway 449 that runs along the Cumberland river near home of bass player, Dakota Vincent in Burkesville, Kentucky. Lead vocalist Trevor Smith has a gravitational pull to his fans as he says, “Without the fans, there is no music.”

449 Members:

• Trevor Smith-Lead Vocals
• Malcolm Booher-Lead Guitar
• Dakota Vincent-Bass
• Justin Bush-Drums
• Jordan Henson-Rhythm Guitar and Vocals

Trevor Smith, a junior in high school admits, “My Mom is my biggest fan. She screams the loudest of anyone out there.” Smith’s father is a piano player and singer. Trevor received a drum set at the age of 3. He reached the epiphany of making music his life at an early age. “I was watching TV and Slash of Guns-N-Roses was playing guitar. I saw how the audience reacted to him and told my Dad I wanted to play.” He, then, learned to play guitar.

449 found a new drummer, and almost broke up while struggling to find a new singer. Trevor Smith, who is connected with the band’s former drummer, learned 449 was holding auditions for the band in 2011. “I just had my wisdom teeth cut out that day.” Trevor Smith admits. “I just wanted to play guitar.” Instead, he found an opportune moment to shine as a vocalist when learning their guitarist, Jordan Henson, couldn’t hit the range on Blackstone Cherry song, “Rain Wizard”.  Trevor Smith, who was 15 years old at the time says, “The band asked me to be their new lead singer.”
Rain Wizard by Black Stone Cherry (youtube)

449 brings a 90’s Rock flavor to the one-stoplight small town of Burkesville, Kentucky, which is more famous for its Bluegrass music. The band put out its first album, The Art of Perception, produced by David Barrack and Black Stone Cherry lead vocalist, Chris Robertson.

According to Trevor Smith, 449 lead guitarist, Malcolm Booher is a great band manager as he sends MP3 links to concert venues, which has landed them opening up for big acts Mark Tremonti, Powerman 5000, Black Stone Cherry, Adelitas Way, The Art of Dying and more. Trevor Smith says, “Work hard. You can’t be lazy. If you want something, you have to work hard to get it.”

Link to 449 performing “Love Like A Suicide” while opening up for Mark Tremonti at the Exit In in Nashville, TN on October 2, 2012
Love Like A Suicide by 449 (Youtube)

Black Stone Cherry has a new record company called Music is ME, LLC. Over the summer 2012, 449 went into the studio with members of Black Stone Cherry, bass player John Lawhon and lead vocalist Chris Robertson to record their second album, Best Part of Me.

Trevor Smith informs, “Chris Robertson mixed the album while John Lawhon polished the songs to be radio friendly, but still have that 449 edge.” A lot of band EP’s usually consist of three good songs. Trevor Smith says, “We truly wanted to make an album with not just three songs, but every song on the album to be what everyone wants to listen to.” Best Part of Me is due out this year.

449 lead guitarist, Malcolm Booher is sponsored by Kickass Cables of Evansville, Indiana, who supplies him with homemade guitar cables. The band is also sponsored by Rebel Iron out of Arab, Alabama, who made the band a stage riser mic stand.

449 can also be found on Facebook or ReverbNation.

You can purchase 449’s album The Art of Perception from Amazon.