Based in the shadows and moss of the Pacific Northwest, GEIST & THE SACRED ENSEMBLE forge a doom-inflected folk ritualism—dirges tinged with experimental psychedelia, post-rock, and eerie, meditative moments. They carve a singular sound that creates an immersive and emotionally deep experience. An otherworldly space for the listener, leading them into a trance before building up excitement.
Their music has been featured in Decibel Magazine, Metal Injection, Brooklyn Vegan, Tiny Mix Tape, Nine Circles, House of Prog, and more.
Geist & TSE has shared the stage with acts as diverse as Oranssi Pazuzu, Insect Ark, Earth, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Dead Meadow, Xasthur, Six Organs of Admittance, Pedestrian Deposit and many more from the eclectic underground. They have appeared at Cascadian Midsummer, Lunasa Cascadia, Litha:Cascadian Midsummer, Thirst For Light, Fun Hog, Northwest Psych Fest, Missoula Psych Fest, PNW Folklife, Magma Fest, Dismal Fest and Escalator Fest. Their live shows are hypnotic and emotionally-charged, often taking place at unique locations like a metal forge & foundry, forests and meadows, old schools, churches & more. At their greatest, Geist & the Sacred Ensemble’s tunes exist as an ever-changing pilgrimage; transforming their abstract drifts into apocalyptic folk hymns or private confessionals.
Geist
started in late 2005 after M. Sauder left Geist Road in Lancaster, Pa
and hitched-hiked around the country with a childhood friend. Inspired from that trip and experiences of growing up as a
gravedigger from a Christian household led to the original themes of this project. In 2007 percussionist Samuel
Joseph came in to offer his rhythmic wizardry thus becoming Geist &
Samuel Joseph. By 2008 they self released their self-titled ep 'Geist
& Samuel Joseph'. The following year they started to have a
rotating cast of musicians and Geist & the Sacred Ensemble was
born. The first release as Geist & the Sacred Ensemble was 'In Search of Fabled Lands' in 2011. The current version of the band is M.Sauder, S. Yoder, C. Segawa and G. Tull-Esterbrook.
