By: David Schultz

Very few environmental scientists possessing an M.B.A. from Cornell get to have their name chanted in unison by adoring fans. Yet, this past Thursday night after the Assembly of Dust concluded their set at New York's Irving Plaza such an event did so occur. Responding to the exuberant and reverent chanting of his name, Dust's most recognizable face, Reid Genauer, returned to the stage, guitar in hand, kicking off the encore with an acoustic version of "Sideways Train." Genauer's remarkable academic resume notwithstanding, the crowd's adulation for him arises more from an appreciation of his skills as a singer-songwriter than from his proficiency with his guitar. With a poetry and optimism missing from many songs today, Genauer and occasional collaborator Nate Wilson tell simple, rural stories involving recognizable characters that show a skillful mastery of old-school Dylanesque songwriting.

After spending close to a decade with the Vermont-based Strangefolk, Genauer left his former mates to pursue his graduate studies. Unable to keep away from the stage, Genauer ultimately formed the Assembly Of Dust as an outlet for his new songs and to the consternation of some old fans, for old Strangefolk tunes. Maintaining a calm presence on stage, Genauer delivers his songs with a relatively conversational singing style. Not until he dives into the chorus does Genauer's deceptively strong voice reveal itself. Genauer's well-designed choruses, whether it be from Assembly of Dust originals like "Amplified Messiah" or Strangefolk favorites like "Valhalla" and "Roads" inspire rousing sing-alongs from the crowd.

When the band steps away from the mikes, good things result as Genauer's songs provide a wonderful framework for the band to show off their improvisational skills. AOD will extend the songs in concert but, save for the show closing "Westerly," opts against stretching them to extraordinary lengths. With Genauer playing rhythm guitar, the onus of lead guitar sits upon the shoulders of Adam Terrell. Where other guitarists might pull the band into trippy, exploratory territory, Terrell surgically punctuates each song with crisp solos, adding to the mix rather than taking it in a different direction. On the other side of the stage, Nate Wilson patiently provided solid keyboards, awaiting the opening provided by "Speculator" to provide a wonderful Hammond organ solo that had the crowd swaying to and fro. Bassist John Leccese and drummer Andy Herrick provided a firm backbone, providing support rather than solos.

Significant for those who take note of their fellow concert-goers, Assembly of Dust's laid back sound attracts a good number of female fans, who unlike some that you might see at a Dave Matthews Band show, truly dig the band. Prior to Dust assembling on stage, the Hackensaw Boys provided an hour long set of bluegrass and traditional acoustic music, quickly spreading their contagious enthusiasm throughout the crowd. Early arriving fans received a treat with the hellaciously sexy Grace Potter leading the Nocturnals through a short but remarkable set capped off with an organ-heavy rendition of "Nothing But The Water."

Following in the footsteps of other notable musicians that have passed through the Burlington, Vermont area, Genauer and the Assembly of Dust excel on stage. The troupe from Instant Live have been following the band through their December shows, including their second annual two night New Year's run at Boston's Paradise Rock Club. Putting his M.B.A. to fine use, Genauer craftily closed the year by creating a slew of albums capturing the band in their element.

Labels: Assembly Of Dust, Grace Potter and The Nocturnals