Pat Forsyth-Vocals, Guitar, Djembe
Lucas Volz-Guitar, Vocals, Djembe
Travis Blunt-Guitar, Vocals, Djembe, Digeridoo
Josh Harvey-Djembe, Bongos
Ryan Donahoe-Bass, Vocals, Djembe
Influences
are so many they are hard to vocalize. life, love, nature, people, places, politics, friends, family, freakshows, walmart :( Fast Eddie :), digeradoo's, digeradont's, drums, Harmony Park, Rivers, lakes, streams, thoughts, prayers, dreams, hope, suffering, sorrow, yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are all (even you) constantly influenced by everything around us, present and past, good and bad, and I believe that is what Useful Jenkins is all about.
View Useful Jenkins's EPK
Sounds Like
a celebration of jam, bluegrass, reggae, and folk. High energy, tribal percussion, and delicious kazoo solos.
A lot of people have been asking me lately about where our name came from. It's a long and difficult story to tell in person and many humans pass out because it's so intense. So I thought I'd set the record straight once and for all here on the all-knowing internet.
Here it is...
Several thousand years ago in August of 1869 we were balls deep in the Tennessee mountains searching for the lost treasure of Sanchez McClintock-Sanchez. We came across an very old man sitting on the front porch of an even older log cabin. He told us his name was Rasmus Jenkins and invited us to sit and widdle wood with him. Among the many things we learned in our time with Rasmus was that he was 137 years old, invented the G chord, and was the first person to introduce the gallon jug bass whistle into Tennessee front-porch bluegrass sessions.
Before we parted ways, Josh asked him how it was that he managed to live so long.
"Well boys", he answered, "I reckon it's 'cause I've stayed useful and helped people my whole life. Folks who don't use their talents and abilities to their full potential seem to wither up and die sooner 'cause they dont realize how important they are to this world. Everyone has a purpose boys. Always remember to stay useful".
The treasure that we found was the teachings of a very wise old man, and it was in this light that we became 'Useful Jenkins'. So the next time you find yourself sitting on the front porch drinking a Grain Belt Premium stop for a second and listen closely. You might just hear that distant dull whistle of an old man blowing across the top of a half full gallon jug-o-shine.
- much luv :) - Travis
Looking forward to seeing you guys down at the Underground this Saturday. My band and Roster are gonna rock out all night. Spread the word and bring your crew down...looking forward to playing for you guys and meeting you and your people.
Wow you guys are way busy this summer! So happy to see you play at Project Earth! We didn't stay too long, but none the less watched and boogied for a bit! Marley had lots of fun!
you guys were truely blissfull this weekend! i was sooooooooo glad to finally get to see you guys play agian! happy to say you helped me dance my tail off!
wish i could come see you this weekend! love love love!
Very excited to hear that your performing at PE this year, congrats!....looking forward to supporting our Mankato talent....see you guys very very sooooooon!!!
AHHHHHH we're so close to being in the arms of harmony!! i can't believe y'all are playing right before wookie-- you deserve it! see you friday morning :)
