The Assembly of Dust
The Assembly Of Dust is a moniker borrowed from a Middle Ages secret society that sought escape from dreary imperial European society by focusing on music and nature as sources of recreation and spiritualism. Reid Genauer's new project is a modern extension of this philosophy, seeking escape in song and in seize-the-moment energy at concerts that border on revivalism. He is a storyteller first and foremost, with a heavy emphasis on lyrics, melody and song structure, but Genauer's ultimate goal is to explore both ends of the musical spectrum through well-crafted albums and improvisational, explosive live performances. "This album speaks directly through the lyricism and indirectly through the mood and the movement of the songs," he says. "I look to develop songs that will sit concisely on a record and on the radio, but also have enough elasticity and enough body to be extended in a live setting."The Assembly Of Dust serves as a nimble outfit to support this goal. Bassist John Leccese and drummer Andy Herrick form a flawless, propulsive rhythm section, and on their foundation Genauer and Adam Terrell's intertwining guitar lines and Nate Wilson's atmospheric keyboards carve out soaring anthems like "Burned Down," haunting ballads like "Drawn," and eclectic tunes like "Tavern Walker," which deftly alternates between lively funk-rock verses and double-time country choruses. "It was important for me to have players who have the duality that I was looking to accomplish in the songs," Genauer says. "I want musicians who are musically sophisticated, but still have a hooky and pop element, and that's a hard line to walk. But I think we have accomplished it." Throngs of fans flocking to the groups kinetic performances seem to agree. Less than one year old, the Assembly Of Dust is headlining large clubs (New York City's Irving Plaza, The Paradise in Boston MA and Toad's Place in New Haven among others) and drawing hordes of dedicated fans to their electrifying shows.