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.

Remember We Have More Than Two Choices On Election Day

You may not agree with the views of this article, but if nothing else, remember that you have more than two choices for president on election day.

 

Remember We Have More Than Two Choices On Election Day

When I go to vote, I ask myself one question. It isn't whether I think that candidate can win or lose. And, BLEEP the people who say you must vote for the puppet on the left or the puppet on the right or you are throwing your vote away. Voting for the lesser of two evils still leaves you with evil.

So, what I ask myself is can I live with my vote if the person I voted for gets in?

I know the two "choices" they are selling us as the only choices for president are not the only choices. They are the corporate supported, banker supported, elite supported candidates who only serve their masters.

There was NEVER a moment when I could have in good conscience considered a vote for Clinton. All Clinton's and Bush's should just go away. They've done enough damage to this country, in my opinion. But again, they are serving a different agenda.

Now, Trump is an interesting character. I disliked hm from the start for the way he runs his mouth before really thinking. He has bankrupted how many businesses and is yet somehow supposed to be good with money? For football fans, he spearheaded the death of a fun league called the USFL because of his greed and the fact that the NFL wouldn't let him in before. He is all ego.

I get how people get roped into supporting him, because the GOP establishment hates him. Automatically, that makes him an underdog and makes people want him just because. I get the psychology here. However, the elite has many tentacles, and the party leadership isn't really who calls the shots. It goes much higher than that.

Trump doesn't represent the people either, and I don't believe he is truly genuine in what he doing. This is my opinion. The establishment is going to try to shove Clinton up our posterior, and they may get away with it. I said before things started that we'd either get her or Bush, and the agenda seems to be in full gear. Everybody is up in arms that she wasn't indicted, but come on folks. Did you really think she would be? I have to laugh, because I knew she wouldn't . That's the way things go. The elite love this woman.

I don't see how anybody with a brain could support that woman. I get how people could support Trump, but they are misguided. People are putting all of their dislike of Clinton and Obama towards love for Trump. It's an interesting phenomenon that happens every four years as people develop a dislike for the party in office and transfer that into love for the party on the outside. Many are probably holding their noses and voting lesser of two evils. Look where this has gotten us. Can our country survive much longer as we get divided racially, are being positioned for a big war that Trump or Clinton will probably lead us into and people are getting poorer and losing everything?

Watch the ballot box, because if the numbers are close enough, I guarantee you Clinton will get the win. The way our system works, they only have to rig a few states to decide the whole thing, and they've done it before. They think we are stupid enough or just complacent enough to just sit there and take it. Have we had enough yet?

As I said, I'm not going to tell you who to vote for. That is up to you. If you feel good about either one of the "major" two, then vote that way. If you are uncertain, remember one thing. You won't hear about your alternative choices on the news. It's bought and paid for. If that starts to change and one of the three other parties gets more coverage, question why? As of now, you have to search for the alternatives.

The Libertarian Party is out there, the Green Party and The Constitution Party as well. The Constitution party sounds okay, but I don't care for having religion foisted upon me. I believe in God and I worship in my own way. I do believe in The Constitution and Declaration Of Independence as the founding documents of our Nation. People will call the founding fathers racists and use that to pick away at the principles of The Constitution, but they are wrong. They wrote it for a reason . Learn about it.

I've looked at the Green Party in the past. They have some good ideas, but when I see their candidate trumpet how great the "Black Lives Matter" movement is, you lose me. I would take a beating for a good, principled black man, but what is going on here is racial division. There is bigger stuff at play when it comes to what is happening on the streets, and its not just black people being victimized. I've witnessed first hand the tactics used against law abiding citizens, and there are legitimate concerns. Until you have it happen to you when you are doing nothing wrong, maybe you won't understand. It is certainly a polarizing issue. Anyway, racial division is not needed, so I'm not fond of the Green Party candidate.

This leads me to the Libertarian Party and Gary Johnson. I love the philosophy. Less intrusive government, don't tell me what to believe or what to do with my life or my body,

Okay, I intentionally stay out of politics and usually use this page for racing. There are social issues important to me that I don't even discuss here. I am NOT making an endorsement here. I was one of the over one million last year who voted for the Libertarian party candidate last time.

When I go to vote, I ask myself one question. It isn't whether I think that candidate can win or lose. And, BLEEP the people who say you must vote for the puppet on the left or the puppet on the right or you are throwing your vote away. Voting for the lesser of two evils still leaves you with evil.

So, what I ask myself is can I live with my vote if the person I voted for gets in?

I know the two "choices" they are selling us as the only choices for president are not the only choices. They are the corporate supported, banker supported, elite supported candidates who only serve their masters.

There was NEVER a moment when I could have in good conscience considered a vote for Clinton. All Clinton's and Bush's should just go away. They've done enough damage to this country, in my opinion. But again, they are serving a different agenda.

Now, Trump is an interesting character. I disliked hm from the start for the way he runs his mouth before really thinking. He has bankrupted how many businesses and is yet somehow supposed to be good with money? For football fans, he spearheaded the death of a fun league called the USFL because of his greed and the fact that the NFL wouldn't let him in before. He is all ego.

I get how people get roped into supporting him, because the GOP establishment hates him. Automatically, that makes him an underdog and makes people want him just because. I get the psychology here. However, the elite has many tentacles, and the party leadership isn't really who calls the shots. It goes much higher than that.

Trump doesn't represent the people either, and I don't believe he is truly genuine in what he doing. This is my opinion. The establishment is going to try to shove Clinton up our posterior, and they may get away with it. I said before things started that we'd either get her or Bush, and the agenda seems to be in full gear. Everybody is up in arms that she wasn't indicted, but come on folks. Did you really think she would be? I have to laugh, because I knew she wouldn't . That's the way things go. The elite love this woman.

I don't see how anybody with a brain could support that woman. I get how people could support Trump, but they are misguided. People are putting all of their dislike of Clinton and Obama towards love for Trump. It's an interesting phenomenon that happens every four years as people develop a dislike for the party in office and transfer that into love for the party on the outside. Many are probably holding their noses and voting lesser of two evils. Look where this has gotten us. Can our country survive much longer as we get divided racially, are being positioned for a big war that Trump or Clinton will probably lead us into and people are getting poorer and losing everything?

Watch the ballot box, because if the numbers are close enough, I guarantee you Clinton will get the win. The way our system works, they only have to rig a few states to decide the whole thing, and they've done it before. They think we are stupid enough or just complacent enough to just sit there and take it. Have we had enough yet?

As I said, I'm not going to tell you who to vote for. That is up to you. If you feel good about either one of the "major" two, then vote that way. If you are uncertain, remember one thing. You won't hear about your alternative choices on the news. It's bought and paid for. If that starts to change and one of the three other parties gets more coverage, question why? As of now, you have to search for the alternatives.

The Libertarian Party is out there, the Green Party and The Constitution Party as well. The Constitution party sounds okay, but I don't care for having religion foisted upon me. I believe in God and I worship in my own way. I do believe in The Constitution and Declaration Of Independence as the founding documents of our Nation. People will call the founding fathers racists and use that to pick away at the principles of The Constitution, but they are wrong. They wrote it for a reason . Learn about it.

I've looked at the Green Party in the past. They have some good ideas, but when I see their candidate trumpet how great the "Black Lives Matter" movement is, you lose me. I would take a beating for a good, principled black man, but what is going on here is racial division. There is bigger stuff at play when it comes to what is happening on the streets, and its not just black people being victimized. I've witnessed first hand the tactics used against law abiding citizens, and there are legitimate concerns. Until you have it happen to you when you are doing nothing wrong, maybe you won't understand. It is certainly a polarizing issue. Anyway, racial division is not needed, so I'm not fond of the Green Party candidate.

This leads me to the Libertarian Party and Gary Johnson. I love the philosophy. Less intrusive government, don't tell me what to believe or what to do with my life or my body,

Okay, I intentionally stay out of politics and usually use this page for racing. There are social issues important to me that I don't even discuss here. I am NOT making an endorsement here. I was one of the over one million last year who voted for the Libertarian party candidate last time.

When I go to vote, I ask myself one question. It isn't whether I think that candidate can win or lose. And, BLEEP the people who say you must vote for the puppet on the left or the puppet on the right or you are throwing your vote away. Voting for the lesser of two evils still leaves you with evil.

So, what I ask myself is can I live with my vote if the person I voted for gets in?

I know the two "choices" they are selling us as the only choices for president are not the only choices. They are the corporate supported, banker supported, elite supported candidates who only serve their masters.

There was NEVER a moment when I could have in good conscience considered a vote for Clinton. All Clinton's and Bush's should just go away. They've done enough damage to this country, in my opinion. But again, they are serving a different agenda.

Now, Trump is an interesting character. I disliked hm from the start for the way he runs his mouth before really thinking. He has bankrupted how many businesses and is yet somehow supposed to be good with money? For football fans, he spearheaded the death of a fun league called the USFL because of his greed and the fact that the NFL wouldn't let him in before. He is all ego.

I get how people get roped into supporting him, because the GOP establishment hates him. Automatically, that makes him an underdog and makes people want him just because. I get the psychology here. However, the elite has many tentacles, and the party leadership isn't really who calls the shots. It goes much higher than that.

Trump doesn't represent the people either, and I don't believe he is truly genuine in what he doing. This is my opinion. The establishment is going to try to shove Clinton up our posterior, and they may get away with it. I said before things started that we'd either get her or Bush, and the agenda seems to be in full gear. Everybody is up in arms that she wasn't indicted, but come on folks. Did you really think she would be? I have to laugh, because I knew she wouldn't . That's the way things go. The elite love this woman.

I don't see how anybody with a brain could support that woman. I get how people could support Trump, but they are misguided. People are putting all of their dislike of Clinton and Obama towards love for Trump. It's an interesting phenomenon that happens every four years as people develop a dislike for the party in office and transfer that into love for the party on the outside. Many are probably holding their noses and voting lesser of two evils. Look where this has gotten us. Can our country survive much longer as we get divided racially, are being positioned for a big war that Trump or Clinton will probably lead us into and people are getting poorer and losing everything?

Watch the ballot box, because if the numbers are close enough, I guarantee you Clinton will get the win. The way our system works, they only have to rig a few states to decide the whole thing, and they've done it before. They think we are stupid enough or just complacent enough to just sit there and take it. Have we had enough yet?

As I said, I'm not going to tell you who to vote for. That is up to you. If you feel good about either one of the "major" two, then vote that way. If you are uncertain, remember one thing. You won't hear about your alternative choices on the news. It's bought and paid for. If that starts to change and one of the three other parties gets more coverage, question why? As of now, you have to search for the alternatives.

The Libertarian Party is out there, the Green Party and The Constitution Party as well. The Constitution party sounds okay, but I don't care for having religion foisted upon me. I believe in God and I worship in my own way. I do believe in The Constitution and Declaration Of Independence as the founding documents of our Nation. People will call the founding fathers racists and use that to pick away at the principles of The Constitution, but they are wrong. They wrote it for a reason . Learn about it.

I've looked at the Green Party in the past. They have some good ideas, but when I see their candidate trumpet how great the "Black Lives Matter" movement is, you lose me. I would take a beating for a good, principled black man, but what is going on here is racial division. There is bigger stuff at play when it comes to what is happening on the streets, and its not just black people being victimized. I've witnessed first hand the tactics used against law abiding citizens, and there are legitimate concerns. Until you have it happen to you when you are doing nothing wrong, maybe you won't understand. It is certainly a polarizing issue. Anyway, racial division is not needed, so I'm not fond of the Green Party candidate.

This leads me to the Libertarian Party and Gary Johnson. I love the philosophy. Less intrusive government, don't tell me what to believe or what to do with my life or my body, protect our borders, but don't police the world and give billions to other countries so they can stir the pot and focus on rebuilding our infrastructure back up. One million plus votes went to Gary four years ago, a party record.

This is not an endorsement. It's just an observation that we do have choices beyond what the TV tells us. You're on he internet reading this, so do yourself a favor and do some research on your choices. As I say in one of my books, don't let me or anybody think for you, do some research and think for yourself. God gave you a brain, use it!

That is all...protect our borders, but don't police the world and give billions to other countries so they can stir the pot and focus on rebuilding our infrastructure back up. One million plus votes went to Gary four years ago, a party record.

This is not an endorsement. It's just an observation that we do have choices beyond what the TV tells us. You're on the internet reading this, so do yourself a favor and do some research on your choices. As I say in one of my books, don't let me or anybody think for you, do some research and think for yourself. God gave you a brain, use it!

That is all..., protect our borders, but don't police the world and give billions to other countries so they can stir the pot. One million plus votes went to Gary four years ago, a party record.

This is not an endorsement. It's just an observation that we do have choices beyond what the TV tells us. You're on he internet reading this, so do yourself a favor and do some research on your choices. As I say in one of my books, don't let me or anybody think for you, do some research and think for yourself. God gave you a brain, use it!

That is all...