When musician Joey Jenkins moved to the Sunshine State with his family in 2012, the former Tennessean realized Florida’s mild winters suited him well. Over the years, Jacksonville’s bustling music scene has come to suit him well, too. The bassist is a dedicated rocker, playing in his own band while also supporting and working with other artists and groups. The intimate live music venues nestled throughout Murray Hill and Downtown Jacksonville are a source of artistic inspiration. The local alternative rock music scene has also inspired close friendships for Jenkins.
“I’ve been playing in the Jacksonville punk scene for about three years now. I started out playing in an indie band called Funlight, and that was the first band I got into,” Jenkins said.
Through his first band, he was introduced to his friend and fellow musician, Jay Webster, who’d eventually become his business partner.
“We do everything together,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins enjoys working shifts at HairPeace Salon in Riverside.
“I’m over there all the time,” he said.
But when he’s not working at the salon, he’s playing in his band, trust., with Webster.
He describes the group’s sound as “melodic metalcore.” Their music is a fusion of rock-laced stylings, including hardcore punk and emo, also known as emocore, a subgenre that reached a fever pitch in the mid-2000s. The bandmates have been together for a little over a year, and they’ve been busy in the studio and on the stage.
Influenced by bands like Silverstein, Underoath and Vanna, Jenkins said the group draws inspiration from “a lot of those heavier bands that have a lot of clean singing and a lot of pretty melodies and harmonies.”
trust. features Jenkins on bass (he also provides “scream” work, a vocal technique vital to their music), Webster on rhythm guitar and vocals, Toby Wyndham on drums and Jonas Gideons on lead guitar. The band loves playing The Walrus, an eclectic eatery in Murray Hill with a fun atmosphere and a focus on live music, and The Albatross, a popular live-music venue formerly known as Underbelly in the heart of downtown. They also enjoy playing Hard Love in Murray Hill when the creative studio space hosts shows. In between their local performances, they take their show on the road.
“We travel quite frequently,” Jenkins said.
When he isn’t playing a show, Jenkins loves attending them as a fan. If he’s not playing pool, he can be found taking in a show at FIVE. The recently renovated music venue in the historic Five Points district is the former home of the longtime movie theatre Sun-Ray Cinema.
Recently, trust. traveled to Las Vegas to record, an experience that was one for the memory books.
“It was really fun. Seven straight days of living in the studio,” Jenkins said.
And when he got back into town, he visited a few of his favorite spots.
“I love Nacho Taco in Riverside. That’s probably my favorite place. I love the Murray Hillbilly. And The Walrus, I do really like just going to The Walrus,” he said.
Jenkins and his bandmates stay busy with trust., but as independent musicians they do a lot of work behind the scenes as well. About two years ago, Jenkins and Webster started a booking company called Housefire Records. They record and book bands, and Webster’s fiancé, photographer Anna Schell, handles the photography for Housefire.
Ultimately, Jenkins sees Housefire signing acts and overseeing the distribution of music. While many artists are still trying to figure out today’s streaming landscape, Jenkins is focused on more tangible ways to share music and connect with fans. He and Webster prefer working with physical CDs and tapes, and are in the process of increasing their merchandise and putting out a music magazine featuring show updates and photos.
“Kind of take it back old school, in a way,” Jenkins said.
As Jacksonville’s music scene continues to prosper, anchored by areas like Murray Hill and Riverside, growth is on the horizon for Jenkins and his crew as well.
