Dale Henry Geist

I bring a little Western flavor to the party, with a wardrobe that can range from jeans-and-boots to a two-piece suit with bolo tie and cowboy hat. My big-bodied sunburst Gibson completes the picture. When I hit a chord and open my mouth to sing, you're immediately inside the song, and it's a song that's calibrated to hit you in the feels, whether that's longing, loss, love, lust, or unbridled joy.

Depending on your listening habits, you'll recognize many of the songs as folk-rock-country classics or acknowledged gems of songcraft. When you hear something new, you'll connect with the sincerity of a soulful Americana-tinged original.

Either way, you'll come away inspired, in a way that only a great song can do.

I started writing songs when I was a teenager, under the influence of Elton John, The Beatles, and Bob Dylan. Everything was coming through rock radio or albums that got passed around among friends or handed down by older sisters and brothers. In Plattsburgh, New York, your options were limited.

Ever since then, I've been writing, playing and singing as I guess what you would call a side career. Influences have ranged from legendary folk-rockers like Dylan, Neil Young, and Springsteen, to top-shelf writers like Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits, to twangier artists like Steve Earle (I attended the very first session of Steve's songwriting camp), Kris Kristofferson, and John Prine.

I lived in Northern California and was deeply involved in its thriving Americana scene for decades. Now I'm back East and eager to bring that wonderful Western thing back here with me.

I typically play an acoustic-electric. For very small events I can be heard adequately without amplification. Much more than ten people and you'll want me to bring my one-piece PA, including a mic and stand. That works well in a restaurant or coffeehouse gig. If you have your own PA, I can put my guitar straight into that.