John Leccese is the lead rock bass player and founding member of Assembly of Dust. He and I have known each other for more than 20 years.   He is my musical compadre, confidant and one of my closest friends. John wears many hats in Assembly of Dust including musical director (he knows the songs better than I do), setlist writer (he knows the songs better than I do), master of the one-eyed stage shame hammer (he knows the songs better than I do).  In addition to being my broseph and our musical map John has a host of wonderful approach to life. His personality is like his bass playing - buoyant. 

Dave Diamond: “I think about music through lens of drumming. I love to groove and I’m hyper sensitive as to how the feel is working. I’m always reading the energy in the room and trying to asses if the groove is translating with the band and to the audience. I want to make sure they’re all relating to it. “

From that first homegrown "Sanford and Son" sunny weekend in 1996 to this day Eden lives on as the heart of an organism composed of band, songs, fans, friends, families and indelible memories.  We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Eden in the meantime here are some awesome memories and photos contributed byyou the  Strangefolk community. Be Good To Each Other

n 1996 guided by the vision of our manage Brett Fairbrother and the hard work of a handful of New England bohemianswe hatched a homegrown "Sanford and Son" gathering of Strangers in northern VT. The first garden of Eden was in fact in Eden Vermont, hence the name.  That weekend would become the heart of an organism called Strangefolk, Some 2 decades later summon that unusual cocktail (pardon the pun)  with a self-assurance that those moments, that singular indelible place in the collective of our minds still exists. #WeWillRemain.

Scott Rosowsky aka Quiz Daddy aka Quizzie McGuireis is America's favorite new game show celebrity. He's like Bob Barker 3.0. Scott is beloved because he is genuinely funny but it's more than that its because he is genuine, he's a good dude and an authentic entertainer - he's real. Whats more Scott's a huge Jamband fan. 

There is something unique about Terrapin Crossroads and the performances that occur there that's worth exploring.  For me, a big part of it is that every day of the week a community of musicians gets up on that stage, "dusts off those rusty strings" and in earnest makes them shine again and again.   The other powerful thing for me about Terrapin Crossroads is that The Grateful Dead and all of the musical offshoots represent a spiritual place in one's mind. Terrapin Crossroads is actually a physical place that holds that same emotion.  You can tangibly touch it. 

Julie Field has spent 20 years cheering me and my bandmates on as a friend and a fan and its about f*cking time we did some cheering on her behalf. With that said please make welcome “on the lead glitter hippy swirl…. Julie Field.”

“Amplified Messiah,” which marks the first studio recording made by the original memembers of Assembly of Dust since Some Assembly Required in 2009 and as you might expect includes Nate Wilson on keys and Andy Herrick on drums. Fear not Jason and Dave are all over the album. Dave actually joins Andy for the double drummer effect on Amplified. 

This is a late night fast and furious and as near as I can tell fun recap our Strangefolks 2018 MEMACT adventure.  Have a listen a look and keep it real folks #ConspireToSmile - RG

Recaping The Great American#ConspireToSmile Kickoff, a "Beta Test". Collectively we set out to  raise high our communal hearts, our heals and find high spirits last Friday. I would say it was a Great American success by all measures.

Reid Genauer & Folks, Conspire To Smile is a new album, a kickstarter and a joint new years resolution to lighten the mood on social media through good tunes and community. The songs from Conspire To Smile will be released on a rolling basies for free starting Feb 1 2018 along with the kick off of the Conspire to Smile Kickstarter Campaign.  Kickstart Compassion in 2018, #ConspireToSmile

Coming Feb 1 2018 

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Face melting soft rock at its finest.

When you look back on your life, your memories come in different shapes and sizes with varying intensity and a range of ingredients composed of your senses, your emotions, and your psychology. Memories have multiple axes by which they are defined.  Some are vague – like a feeling or a sense that you associate with a time in your life, a person or a place that is tangible - but you can't quite describe it. 

 I remember sitting on a pine green blanket sometime around 1985. The crisp glean of a brand spanking new Beatles song book. The feeling is what sticks with me the most, though it was like being touched by some unknown entity, filled completely and fired up with intensity. At the risk of sounding inappropriately Californian, I realize now it was the first tast of things to come - a way of being spiritual and of connecting with THE universe through a gateway they call music, and it rocked!