Rye can claim an impressive list of residents — past and present — that includes founding fathers and first ladies, astronauts and authors, actors and aviators, poets and journalists. But, how many know we have a rock star in our midst?
By Annette McLoughlin
Rye can claim an impressive list of residents — past and present — that includes founding fathers and first ladies, astronauts and authors, actors and aviators, poets and journalists. But, how many know we have a rock star in our midst?
Standing on the train platform, as he dissolves into the tide of suits coursing into the city every day, you may not recognize Reid Genauer. But this Rennasaince man with his Ivy League MBA is a legitimate, nation-touring, you-can-buy-his-music-on-Amazon-and-iTunes, rocker. He’s the talented lyricist, vocalist, and guitarist of the grassroots quintet Assembly of Dust (and previously of the group, Strangefolk.)
On the national stage since first fronting Strangefolk in the early ’90s, Mr. Genauer left to pursue graduate studies at Cornell and branched off musically on his own temporarily before forming Assembly of Dust.
Loved by his fans and praised by critics, his and AOD’s style is described as “hick funk” or “Alt-Country,” and the band has been compared to The Beatles, Paul Simon, CSNY, The Band, Little Feat, and Wilco. And you can’t miss the influence of The Grateful Dead, especially in the soulful lyrics and, as described by jambase.com, “the hooky melodies and earnest vocals.”
“I started playing in sixth or seventh grade,” recalled Mr. Genauer. “One of the most crystal-clear memories of my childhood was the moment I figured out how to play the first song I ever learned. It was “Let it Be”. When it came together, it was like catching lightning in a bottle, and I’ve been chasing that sensation for the past 30 years.”
His early writing influence was children’s author and poet Shel Silverstein. “He had a big effect on me around fourth or fifth grade. I started writing little ‘Silversteinesque’ poems and then ultimately shifted to more adult subject matter and added music.” Mr. Genauer added, “If figuring out how to play a Beatles song is like lighting in a bottle, writing a song is like a hurricane in terms of the satisfaction and self-expression.
“The Beatles and The Grateful Dead were my first real influences in terms of musical understanding. I would credit my inspiration less to the members of The Grateful Dead and more to the songwriting partnership of Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia. What struck me was their elegant intensity. If you listen to their lyrics, they’re spine-tingling.”
It’s hard to imagine how this father of three (ages 5 months to 5 years) finds enough hours in a week to do it all. In addition to putting out new music on a regular basis (nine albums in total, five since 2003, the most recent earlier this year), he tours nationally. “My tour schedule varies, but I’d say the cup definitely overfloweth. When I have a new album to promote, I’m on the road a lot more. But when we have a new baby in the house, less. The short answer is I tour less than I’d like. An average year for me these days is 40 shows or so and .5 kids. It used to be closer to about 100 to 140.”
How does he manage? “I cheat the edges. Unfortunately, my wife and family get the brunt of it. I have a fairly intense job, so I’ve leaned on my wife a lot.”
What inspired Mr. Genauer to continue to be a professional musician was watching his musician friends do other things while playing. “They teach and bang nails. In fact, one of my friends, who’s one of the best mandolin players — a virtuoso instrumentalist — is also a mason. And he’s an amazing craftsman. He was working — between the cracks of his craft.”
A full-time career is not in the offing for Mr. Genauer at this point. “First, in order to make a living, you have to do at least 100 gigs a year, and in order to be a dad, that’s an unappealing reality. Second is the drug that is creativity – it’s like holding a magic wand. I found that the demands of performing that many times a year muted the magic. So, for me, it stopped making sense. Performing too much kills the passion – you become more of a politician than an artist – reciting prescribed lines instead of feeling them.”
Mr. Genauer describes himself this way: “Without my music I’m beige. Music makes me Technicolor. I’m content with the choices I’ve made. I think I have my priorities straight. I hope I’ll be measured by the quality of my time with my family and friends, the number of cheeseburgers I’ve choked
back and if I’m lucky, also by my body of work.”
To learn more about Reid Genauer and Assembly of Dust and to grab a listen to their music, visit aodust.com. And catch them live in New York City for two nights this New Year’s.
