Neal Morse, Spock's Beard Reunite For Two Shows

Spock's Beard is one of the best progressive rock bands of the last 20 years.  In 2001, they were getting set to record their sixth studio album, and it would become a two CD concept album called Snow.  Neal Morse was the principle songwriter and singer for the band, and he was going through a spiritual journey of his own, somewhat along the lines of the character Snow.

The story on the album follows the journey of Snow.  He's gifted in the ability to connect with people spiritually and help them with their troubles.  He leaves his small town and goes to new York City, where he meets all sorts of interesting characters, becomes famous, let's it get to his head, falls for a girl who dumps him, looses control and somehow comes out better in the end.

Writing began around the time of 9/11/2001.  As the album neared completion, Neal had his own spiritual awakening and became a Born Again Christian.  When the album was released, he left the band to pursue his own path in music.  He also urged the band to continue on.  They did a couple of acoustic sets to promote Snow, and then parted ways  The band immediately went back into the studio without Neal to record their next album.

Neal didn't stay away from music.  In fact, he's been quite prolific in doing several solo albums, mostly progressive rock.  He's also recorded with Transatlantic, Flying Colors and other groups.  He recently did Morsefest, an event where he performed along with other bands.  His old band, Spock's Beard, was invited.  For the occasion, they performed the entire Snow album from start to finish for the first time.  They later repeated the performance in Germany.

The group performed as if they never missed a beat.  Neal's renditions of Long Time Suffering and I Am The Guy were highlights, along with Nick D'Virgilio's version of Welcome To New York City.  Neal was visibly moved near the end when he played I Will Go.  No doubt, the significance of the moment and all of the old memories came rushing back right then.

Snow is seen in the progressive rock community as one of the band's best albums.  In studio, it was the band at their best.  It may have been that moment where they were about to take it to the next level, but instead it was a fitting last recorded statement by the original five members, Neal Morse and his brother Alan Morse, Dave Meros, Nick D'Virgilio and Ryo Okumoto.

The cameras were rolling for these shows, and Neal will be releasing a live DVD through his Radiant Records Label.  He is about to release a new Neal Morse Band CD in November.  Three of the others continue to tour as Spock's Beard and have recorded several CD's since Neal's departure.  D'Virgilio left the band n 2011 to pursue a solo career.  When the live performance of Snow is released, it will be a must have for Spock Beard fans and progressive rock fans in general.

The Battle Of Good Vs. Evil

With each passing day, I'm really starting to believe that a great evil is ruling this world. It is a spirit led by greed and selfishness and destruction, and it is everywhere. You can feel it in the air if you pay attention.

What is this evil? Is it of Satan or Lucifer or any of the evil entities we've heard named in the past? Does The Bible warn of this? Should we take The Bible or anything religion says seriously? Where do you turn when you know this evil is wrong?

I mention religion and I know people will cringe. Who could blame them? We've heard of the things priests of the church have done with children. We've heard of the killing in the past for the church. We see the judgmental attitude of people who claim to be of God.

However, I don't really believe the church or any priest speaks for God. How presumptuous of man to think that he can speak for the Divine Creator of all? You don't find God in a church. You find God in the very world that was created for us to dwell upon. You find God in your heart if your heart is open to it.

I don't have all the answers. I just know we've been taught of the end times. I look at the greed of the world. So many have way more than they need while others suffer without. Nobody seems to really care about all the death and wars, murders and even abortions. People are numb to it.

People tune out to the reality through their TV's and computers, and some speak out. The problem is those people are labeled as racists or crazy. If you don't go along with what the mainstream tells you, you can be vilified, and you can even lose your job.

There's just so many crazy things that it's hard to keep up with it all. The narrative increasingly is that there are too many people, we are killing the earth and we are some sort of virus. This sort of talk is getting louder and louder, and it's not normal talk. If you pay attention, you'll see it.

Where does all of this come from? I think it comes from a dark place, and increasingly I realize that there is an evil force taking over. I'm not a religious person, though I am spiritual in a way. I just know that if I'm going to pick a side, I choose the light over the darkness. I don't know if I'm good enough, but I want to be on the side of goodness.