Assembly of Dust 10/23/2005

If you like bands that rip it up, but still deliver thoughtful lyrics with great vocals and harmonies-add Assembly of Dust to your list. The band’s principal songwriters Reid Genauer (lead vocals/guitar) and Nate Wilson (keyboards/vocals) write lyrics with emotion and music that gives the band plenty of room to stretch. The rhythm section of Andy Herrick (drums) and John Leccese, (bass, vocals) steers the band with a perpetual structure perfectly suited for the band’s working class style. All while Adam Terrell brings a steady stream of fine guitar work that cascades beautifully with Genauer and Wilson over the solid bedrock of Herrick and Leccese.

The first set immediately got the audience going from the very first guitar note of “Sometimes” and Genauer’s vocals provided integrity to the swirl of music that completely enveloped the crowd. Terrell launched into a guitar exploration in the “Low Country” over the crunchy grooves and low-end bombshells of bass. The set forged ahead with a view of Americana in “Bus Driver,” the intense “Whistle Clock,” the emotionally charged “Little by Little,” and the funk groove of “Samuel Ageing,” that had Wilson crushing his piano keys in a great solo that culminated with fiery interplay with Terrell. The slower, but beautiful ballad “Paul Henry” brought things down a peg before igniting to full throttle once again as they closed the set out with “Tavern Walker,” featuring a sweet vocal harmony, another amazing piano jam frenzy and killer wah-wah laden guitar.

The second set began right where the first left off, with more beautiful rhythm, harmonies, and emotionally charged lyrics in “Songbeard,” which had the post-set break audience right back into full motion. The bluegrass tinged “Mud Spring Draw” was a real stomp along, yee-haw, feel good romp. The driving funk of “Lone Tree” found a nice home sandwiched between two emotive ballads “Mama” and “45 Degrees” that contained impressive ivory tinkling from Wilson. And it rounded out with “Lost and Amazed” and “Stone Choir,” both scrawled with the Assembly of Dust signature sound. Then the sweet double encore of “Skyline” and “Elixir” took care of any shred of roof the band had yet to tear off the Mexicali Blues.

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