Audiences who hear Daryl Wayne Dasher can be thankful for the performer’s songwriting skills. If not for those, they might be hearing him in a rock band instead of playing country music.
“I always wanted to be a rocker,” Dasher says. When he was 20, he moved to Nashville where he played in a rock band for 15 years. “But when I wrote music and played it, it came out classic country stuff, stylistically and content-wise. I realized it’s who I have to be, who I am.”
Backed by a percussionist, Dasher will perform original music as well as some classic country and folk at Jacoby at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19.
Influenced by such country greats as Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and activists Joan Baez and Woody Guthrie, Dasher’s music reflects his love for the outdoors. He’s hiked several portions of the Appalachian Trail, the first 50 when he was just 11.
On his website, Dasher writes that he considers “Mountains of Montana” to be the centerpiece of his 2013 album, “Great Big Sky.”
“The lyrics act almost as a ‘last will and testament’ for the main character. Me, in some ways, but don’t we all have a similar yearning for simplicity and nature?”
And where do rockers such as KISS and Pearl Jam, influential to his music, come in?
“They’ve influenced my stage presence. That’s affected my energy,” says the man who confesses to stage fright.
Dasher, 39, grew up in the “flattest county in Ohio, probably in the whole country,” and came from a musical background of church hymns and bluegrass. His uncle, Jon Post, has led “The Bottom of the Barrel Boys” for years. Dasher’s dad, Verl, plays bass with the band and sometimes accompanies Dasher; his mom is a singer. Dasher started playing guitar in his church choir around age 4 and by the time he was 16, was playing in a rock band.
Dasher says his music got a lot better during his 30s, when he released his two albums. The first, “Long Road Now” is outlaw country; Great Big Sky is more folky.
“I grew a lot between the two. I wrote five songs the first album and paid closer attention to the lyrics on the second, where I wrote 10 of 11.”
Dasher’s gig at Jacoby is the result of a chance meeting with Eugene Baldwin. He met the Alton poet at a house concert outside of Nashville where Dasher was performing. The two chatted about a vintage Martin guitar Baldwin owned but hadn’t played in a long time. Dasher persuaded him to pick it up again and although Baldwin did, he decided it wasn’t for him. Instead, Baldwin offered to permanently loan Dasher the guitar as long as he preserved ‘Betsy’s’ name. In the course of the conversation, Baldwin talked about Alton in such glowing terms that Dasher made it a point to visit when he was in St. Louis on tour.
“What an amazing place. I was blown away with the history. You could just feel it,” says Dasher.
“Long Road Now” (2009) and “Great Big Sky” (2013) CDs will sell for $10 or $15 for vinyl.
Tickets are $10 unless otherwise noted and can be purchased at the door or follow the link at http://jacobyartscenter.org/events. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis. Doors open 30 minutes in advance and a cash bar is available.
About the Jacoby Arts Center
The mission of the Jacoby Arts Center is to nurture and promote the practice and appreciation of the arts through education, exhibits, cultural programs and community outreach initiatives. Jacoby Arts Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The Jacoby Arts Center is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
Jacoby Arts Center, 627 E. Broadway, Alton, IL 62002 / 618-462-5222 / jacobyartscenter@gmail.com
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