Assembly of Dust

Drawing from the profound rhythms of blues and R&B while weaving in guitar textures reminiscent of J.J. Cale and Little Feat, the New York-based quintet Assembly of Dust has built a substantial East Coast audience through its richly melodic, country-tinged songs and formidable instrumental command. Lead singer and chief songwriter Reid Genauer launched the group after Strangefolk disbanded; he had planned a solo project and enlisted former road companions from that earlier band to assist. When his 2003 solo album appeared under the title Assembly of Dust, Genauer retained the name for the new ensemble, whose lineup placed him on lead vocals and acoustic guitar alongside Nate Wilson on keyboards, Adam Terrell on lead guitar, John Leccese on bass, and Andy Herrick on drums. The band’s debut studio-era release arrived in 2004 as the live album The Honest Hour, capturing its widely celebrated stage intensity. Five “instant live” albums followed from the December 2005 tour, cementing Assembly of Dust’s standing among jam-band listeners even though Genauer has noted in interviews that the group’s emphasis on songcraft distinguishes it from that scene despite his respect for it. Their first proper studio album, Recollection, surfaced in spring 2007 and prompted extensive touring across the country.