Fans celebrated the new single with a live performance, themed merch and specialty cocktails.
If you’ve spent a night at Bayou Keys, Broadway’s vibrant dueling piano bar, chances are you’ve witnessed the magnetic energy and talent of Geoff Smith. Known for his soulful playing, crowd-pleasing charisma, and decades of musical experience, Geoff brings a unique blend of Southern charm, and showmanship to every performance.
Originally born in North Carolina and raised in Franklin, Tennessee, Geoff’s love for music started early. At just four years old, he was already writing songs with his dad. That father-son bond laid the foundation for a lifelong passion. Geoff’s dad wasn’t just any musical influence either, he played with legends like The Temptations and The Four Tops, instilling in Geoff a deep love for Southeast soul and classic R&B that still resonates in his playing today.
Geoff’s musical journey has been anything but ordinary. From piano bars in Rotterdam to producing music in Nashville, teaching in Africa, and even touring as the bassist for The Wallflowers, each chapter has shaped his versatile style. “Each musical experience is transformative,” Geoff says, “and I could write a book about what music has done for my life.”
In 2014, Geoff co-founded Rock and Roll Pianos, a traveling dueling piano show known for its high-energy sets and unforgettable singalongs. It was this very show that led him to Bayou Keys. After a corporate gig at Jason Aldean’s that blew the crowd away, management approached him to bring the magic to their newest venue. Today, Geoff balances his time between Bayou Keys and performances at other TC Restaurant Group venues like Morgan Wallen’s and Jason Aldean’s.
Bayou Keys isn’t your typical honky tonk. The stage, set in the center of the room, is visually striking and acoustically unmatched, giving Geoff and his fellow performers a direct line to every guest. “It’s an inviting, energetic space that encourages connection,” he explains. “We are always crowd focused first and foremost, so it becomes a fun ‘dance’ as we feed the crowd fun songs, and then we feed off their response and energy.”
That connection leads to some unforgettable moments. From spontaneous conga lines to 90-year-old grandmas dropping it to hip-hop, no night is ever the same. Celebrity drop-ins aren’t rare either, Lauren Alaina recently surprised the crowd with a birthday performance, and Lainey Wilson likes to pop in with friends and family from time to time.
As for song requests? The classics are always in rotation, “Piano Man,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Mr. Brightside”, but Geoff lights up when the unexpected hits. His personal favorite? “Come and Get Your Love”, a groove-packed gem that never fails to lift the room. And while he doesn’t “hate” any song (if the crowd loves it, he’s in), there are a few hidden gems he wishes got more love, like Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” a nostalgic favorite from his time performing in Europe.
Performing three nights a week, Thursday through Saturday, Geoff is a fixture at Bayou Keys. When asked to sum up the perfect night there, he puts it simply: “A night at Bayou Keys isn’t complete until glasses are lifted, phone flashlights fill the room, and everyone sways together singing at the top of their lungs.”
Between shows, Geoff continues producing music in the studio and working on choral projects, but rest assured, the Bayou Keys stage is where his heart (and his hands) keep coming back to.
Catch Geoff Smith live at Bayou Keys, right in the heart of Nashville’s Broadway honky tonk scene, where every show feels once-in-a-lifetime.
Make a reservation HERE.
