Carmen Macri
Words by Carmen Macri
“It wasn’t always the dream, you know, I didn’t always want to be a punk or a rockstar, it’s just something that kind of happened through life.”
Jacksonville’s music scene might seem like a thing of the past — if you’re not paying attention. But it’s far from dead. In fact, Lifted Riffs is out here proving it’s still very much alive and kicking. The pop-punk three-piece has only just begun and is hell-bent on carving out a path that leads them directly to stardom, and all we can do is sit back and enjoy the ride.
Frontman Benjamin Hudnall never set out to be a rockstar; it just kind of happened. But looking back, it feels like this was always the road he was meant to take. His mom handed him a guitar as a kid, gently nudging him, hoping it might be a good creative outlet. It didn’t click right away, but he kept coming back to it. After school, after work, after practice, no matter how tired he was, he’d catch himself eyeing that guitar collecting dust in the corner, thinking, “Man, I’m gonna figure this out. I’m gonna figure out how to play this thing.”
Hudnall already knew he had a voice that could turn heads, so he leaned into it … hard. He hit up open mic nights and took over karaoke bars, testing the waters and figuring out what landed and what didn’t. Night after night, he’d head home, pick up that same old guitar and grind. No audience, no spotlight — just him, the strings and the drive to get better. And he kept at it until the day came when he didn’t just walk on stage with his voice, he brought the guitar too.
“I finally figured out how to play enough of the guitar where I could do an open mic where it was just me, and that’s where it all started — with open mics and doing cover songs. And then it kind of just grew,” Hudnall explained. “I finally found the right people for it [the band] and at the time, we had a good enough foundation and enough songs where we could actually do something. And we did. We kind of just ran as fast as we could in that direction, and never stopped all this time later.”
That was back in 2020. By 2022, Lifted Riffs had locked in a solid three-piece lineup and enough of a game plan to start booking —and selling— shows. It didn’t take long for the momentum to build. Soon, they were landing opening slots for rock acts like First to Eleven and The Dollyrots, holding their own and turning heads along the way.
“We are opening for these bigger bands, and we’re fine with being the openers. I mean, I honestly love it, to kick it off and get everybody into it,” Hudnall expressed. “Because they’re the reason we’re there. It’s kind of a beautiful thing that we get to do, and I love it.”
Like most baby bands, the pop-punk trio started out playing covers, testing the waters with crowd-pleasers. But it wasn’t long before they started carving out a sound of their own. Inspired by pop-punk giants like Blink-182, New Found Glory and Good Charlotte, Lifted Riffs set out to make something new that still hit with that sweet sense of nostalgia. Music that could punch you in the gut and pull at your teenage heartstrings — no matter how old you are. Hudnall remembers looking out at the crowd during a set and seeing everything from high schoolers to retirees singing along. That’s always been the mission: Make it loud, make it fun and make sure everyone feels like they’re part of it.
“We’ve got some stuff cooking for that, where we’re gonna take that avenue and try to get in people’s face and say ‘This is us, this is who we are, and we really want you to be a part of it.’ I mean, that’s the whole point of this. It’s such a joy, and hopefully, we’ll bring people nostalgia along the way,” Hudnall said. “That’s one of my favorite parts, no matter if they’re 16, 17, or if they’re 72. We’ve had people who are 81, 83 in the crowd, coming to talk to us, saying that our music brought them back to a place they loved and enjoyed. It’s really cool to be able to bring that type of energy to people on a daily basis. It’s just such a superpower to have that.”
For Hudnall, part of what makes Lifted Riffs tick is the dynamic within the trio. The three-piece format wasn’t some strategic decision — it just felt right.
“It’s very conventional, yeah, but it also gives each of us room to have our own identity,” Hudnall expressed. “That’s important to me. Like Blink or Green Day — you know each member. They’ve each got their own thing. That’s the kind of band I wanted us to be.”
Hudnall is the voice, the energy, the plaid-pants-in-your-face frontman, but he lights up talking about bassist Joseph Howard and drummer Dallon Kraus, watching them grow into their roles and come into their own.
“I think we’re getting tighter every show, more confident, and I love seeing that for them more than I do myself,” Hudnall explained. “It’s heartwarming, honestly. You don’t realize it at the start, but these people end up believing in you and following you wherever this thing goes. That’s just … really cool.”
And where is this thing going? Big places. The band has an album in the works with singles already lined up and plans to drop it later this year, ideally in October. Hudnall’s already got a name and a vision for the artwork, and while he’s playing around with designs himself, he’s also leaning on talented creatives in his orbit to help bring it to life.
But even with their eyes on the next chapter, the band’s heart is still right here at home. Hudnall is vocal about his love for Jacksonville and the local scene — and he’s determined to help rebuild it. He says the band is doing everything it can to help rebuild the local scene. With venues closing left and right, it’s hard not to feel like the flame is burning out, but they’re not letting it go without a fight. For them, it’s about showing up, speaking up and reminding people that the talent is still here and it deserves more than to just survive. It deserves to thrive.
Lifted Riffs wants to be more than just another band that made it out — they want to be the ones who reached back in and helped others climb out too. Whether it’s sharing the stage, supporting other local acts or even designing merch to help newer bands get their start, they’re committed to lifting the scene as they rise.
“I never want Jacksonville to be on the back burner,” Hudnall said. “Wherever we go, whatever we do — this is home. This is always going to be where I come back to play. And I want to be part of the team that helps this city thrive again. Even if they’re just an artist with a spray can in their hand. Everybody deserves a chance to thrive.”
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