Robinson moved to Denver in 2019 from Austin, Texas, where he played with numerous groups and singer-songwriters, including the All Y'Alls, Greg Mullin and Tyler Stuckey. A year after landing in Colorado, he joined Fables of the Fall. Fronted by singer and banjoist Schwa Michel, the band — which also includes mandolinist Derrick McGuire, cellist Ellen Rice and pianist-accordionist Lindsey Gardner — became a unique force in the local music scene, fusing dark, apocalyptic folk with elements of punk, chamber music and metal.
At the time of Robinson's death, Fables of the Fall was about to embark on a pair of shows in New Mexico. The group's third and most recent album, Signs, was released in September of 2024.
Gardner offered Westword the following statement:
Geoff's death is a shock and such an incredible loss for his family, our band family and the community. I know we are all dealing with it in different ways. Yesterday I just laid with my head on the top of my record player and listened to our entire Signs album two times through, feeling and hearing his bass lines, and trying to get close. We are going to miss him tremendously on so many levels. Here are some thoughts and memories of Geoff.
- He was a kind and gentle soul with a smile on his face.
- Fables meant the world to him. He became, as he coined it on Facebook, "Slap happy low end @ Fables of the Fall." That was him — our happy low-end bass player, holding it down, intertwining his creative, rhythmic lines and keeping us all locked in. We were his musical family, and he ours.
- He always cheerfully offered a hand with loading instruments and equipment. Whenever needed an extra helping hand, Geoff was there.
- Even on his hardest days, he'd ask how we were doing, showed empathy and then strove to bring his best on the bass regardless of how he felt.
- Geoff was an avid reader and a treasure trove of movie and music trivia. It was always fun to hear the trivia banter between him and our bandmates.
- He got a kick out of stretching himself on the bass. Like learning to use a bow when he first joined the band, after we asked if he might be able to add that to his skills. He showed up to the second or third practice with a bow, ready to fully dive in. He also loved the challenge of switching between arco and pizzicato in super fast transitions.
- He was incredible in the studio. When it took the rest of us many tries to get the best take, at this best, he could nail it one try.
- He loved slapping his bass hard as he added his drive and rhythm to so many of our songs. He would smile and laugh about how tired his arm was, but you could tell he absolutely loved every minute of it.
Geoff was remarkable in his deeply caring nature and his encyclopedic knowledge of, well, everything. He would often joke that he moved to Denver to be in Fables of the Fall, before he even knew we existed. An amazing bass player, he met every challenge we threw at him, and he had a unique enthusiasm for our music. Even though he only joined the band in 2020, Geoff was a massive part of defining the sound we have today. We will miss him deeply, and if we're lucky, his ghost will haunt us for years to come. Rest in peace, friend.
For more about Fables of the Fall, visit the group's Bandcamp page.
