Simon Barrett

A strange question for you, what do Prog Rock and Neo Classical (I hate the term New Age) musicians have in common? The answer, is very few are self taught, the vast majority have gone to school to learn the art and science of music. Yes, there is an underlying science to music. Truly gifted musicians like Holland Phillips have mastered both the art and science. I really enjoyed this album, I mean no disrespect to any Neo Classical solo musician, but there is a tendency for the tracks to have a certain look and feel of sameness about them. So begins my review.I will be sitting down with Holland and exploring this very fine album

Linda Franks new book Making A Mystery With Annie Tillery: The Madonna Ghost is a must read for any aspiring writer. It takes you behind the story and into the mechanics of writing a book.

This week on the program attorney and author Mark Bello and I are going to dive a little deeper into the subject of sexual abuse by the clergy. Mark’s debut novel Betrayal Of Faith is about this very subject and is loosely based on his experience some years ago representing abuse victims.   Time permitting we may discuss the current state of Bail Bond reform, and the pro’s and con’s of the proposed changes.

This week we touch on many subjects—as the ‘non attorney’ here, I wish to revisit last week’s Opioid discussion and the $572 million levied against J & J. In addition, let’s discuss the college admissions scandal; actress Felicity Huffman is being sentenced this week. At the same time, some 3000 non-violent prisoners are being released because of the “First Step Act.” We’ll talk to Mark Bello about these two issues. Is Vaping the next “Opioid-type” crisis? How can the law prevent a crisis? Finally, “Gerrymandering;” what is it and why should we care in 2020? All this and more, please join us for a great discussion.  

This week on the program attorney/author Mark Bello and I will be joined by veteran trial attorney J.R Whaley. Last weeks decision against Johnson & Johnson for $572 million for their role in creating the Opioid crisis likely did not surprise many people. J&J of course are appealing the verdict. The question I have, is, are we looking at a relplay of the Big Tobacco story? This is sure to be a lively discussion

Attorney and Author Mark Bello and host Simon Barrett are pleased to anounce the launch of our new project, Journey Into Justice, we aim to explore different aspects of the legal system. We will also be invinting guests to share the knowlege on aspects of the law and specifif cased

The National Wrecking Company featuring members of  The Lizards, Cactus, Humble Pie & The Plasmatics are releasing their highly anticipated debut album. The new release features one of the final recordings by guitar legend Bernie Torme, best known for his work with the Ian Gillan Band and Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away this year. The song is a bonus preview track from the upcoming National Wrecking Company II release “Overture/Mechanized Confusion.”

I have long had a keen interest in the somewhat murky waters of the legal system Attorney and author Mark Bello has agreed to join me in a weekly dive into the heady space of the legal world. In this epispode we will merely be dipping our toes into the subject. Financier Jeffery Epstein commited suicide this week, and even though Trump would have us beleive that it was a glorious conspicacyby the Clintons, proof is in short supply but who cares when you have 50 million twits following your tweets? On a more serious note, how was a vey high risk person abble to hang himself in a high security jail?        

Noel Jasso on drums. Produced by Geoff Pearlman (“Echo in the Canyon Band”), “Follow Me to the Sun” is one of the featured songs in the Hollywood Fringe Fest Encore Award winning musical “American Stranger the Musical” (music & book by Laura Espinoza).   The song is about someone who feels desperate & lonely after someone has left them; the reason is never revealed. This person then hopes they will find a way to reunite, but it may not be within earthly bounds.   “Seem so long since you drove away, standing out in a chill burns my naked face, Morning gushes in a shallow wind, but the fire from your kiss keeps the flame within”  

Potter’s Daughter will be releasing their new single “Blood and Water” featuring legendary Renaissance vocalist Annie Haslam on August 8, 2019! The single will be available digitally, CD single and limited edition 7-inch vinyl! Potter’s Daughter was formed in New York City while Dyanne Potter Voegtlin was studying classical piano performance at the Manhattan School of Music. A pupil of Robert Goldsand and Mike Longo, Dyanne searched for the marriage of classical theory and virtuosity with the freedom and innovation of jazz both in study and performance. Together with a rotating group of masters from many schools of music, Dyanne performed regularly in New York City, as well as in north-eastern Pennsylvania. Now, joining forces with long-time friend, Amit Chatterjee, (producer, arranger, and guitarist), and Ian C. Voegtlin (composer, guitarist, and saxophonist), they are looking forward to releasing their first single, “Blood and Water,” featuring guest artist Annie Haslam. This single marks the beginnin

The Legendary Rock Band are recording a new album! This is the first new studio album made in the United States since 1977!!   The original members of NEKTAR: Derek "Mo" Moore (bass guitar, back vocals), Ron Howden (drums, back vocals) and Mick Brockett (lights and visuals), with Ryche Chlanda (guitar, lead vocals) from the 1978' band and Randy Dembo (12-strings guitar, bass guitar) from the 2005 band, and newcomer Kendall Scott (keyboards).   The music for our new album "The Other Side" comes from the 1978 era when the band was writing in Mo's basement in Chatham, New Jersey.   This music was put on pause for the last 40 years and it's now time to release it with new input and fresh ideas.   

Drummer Dave Schoepke will be releasing his first solo drum album titled “Drums On Low” on July 15, 2019. Schoepke is an accomplished North American drummer, who has had the pleasure of working with the legendary Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. Dave toured with Martin's band in 2017 and in 2018 for the “Cruise To The Edge” Tour. He's also been the primary drummer for The Willy Porter Band since 2002, and has loved every second of his time with the band. Dave has toured with Willy Porter on a number of occasions over the years, and has numerous television and radio appearances on his record. The amazing part is that Dave is able to do all of this, and still has time to devote to his own band Tweed. Tweed has been a mainstay touring in Europe for the last few years along with a number of other blues and soul groups. 

Drummer Dave Schoepke will be releasing his first solo drum album titled “Drums On Low” on July 15, 2019. Schoepke is an accomplished North American drummer, who has had the pleasure of working with the legendary Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. Dave toured with Martin's band in 2017 and in 2018 for the “Cruise To The Edge” Tour. He's also been the primary drummer for The Willy Porter Band since 2002, and has loved every second of his time with the band. Dave has toured with Willy Porter on a number of occasions over the years, and has numerous television and radio appearances on his record. The amazing part is that Dave is able to do all of this, and still has time to devote to his own band Tweed. Tweed has been a mainstay touring in Europe for the last few years along with a number of other blues and soul groups.   

An interview with Jack Spann about his new album Propaganda Man Jack Spann has had an incredible couple of years. The Saint Louis native has lived in New York City for the last 18 years and established himself as one of the city's in-demand keyboardists. His reputation led to an introduction to David Bowie's producer, Tony Visconti who hired him to play on the demos for what would be Bowie's final album, Blackstar.         Spann's Visconti connection did not end there. It led to an introduction to Milwaukee-based producer, Gary Tanin, who worked with Spann on his 1st and 2nd solo records, Time, Time, Time, Time, Time, and Beautiful Man From Mars and now on his 3rd upcoming release Propaganda Man.   The album took two years to complete and is different from his last, in that it faces social issues head on and does not shy away from addressing thorny social conundrums. Several guests appear while Spann provides lead vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar and bass. Cecil Robbington provides drums

Fraudprophets (www.fraudprophets.com), a collaboration between multi-instrumentalist and composer Sean Halley and A-list drummer Nate Morton (seen weekly on NBC’s ‘The Voice’), are ecstatic to announce the release of their debut album ‘Poptosis’ on June 3, 2019. The new record seamlessly blends elements of jazz, pop, rock, country and 70’s fusion into tunes that feel uniquely natural together, a result of the long-standing bond between Morton and Halley and their decades-long careers on stage and in the studio…and the gin. “It probably isn’t the best way to go about it, but we randomly started this whole thing one night by drinking cocktails to a click track”, said Morton. “Not having a plan ended up being a real blessing, as the snippets of music that came out of that evening were free-spirited and fun, and they were infused with personality and our love for each other as musical dorks.” Halley continues, “Nate and I love just about every kind of music, so nothing was off limits if it was a style we felt co

The Hillbilly Moon Explosion are a European band who just came to the US to play their own unique version of Rockabilly to Americans. They've long held the US in their hearts. Way back in 2006 they traveled to San Diego to record an album 'All Grown Up' with producer Mark Neill (Black Keys). That track was their first duet with Mark 'Sparky' Phillips, the wayward singer from Welsh psychobilly band Demented Are Go. His well-worn vocals contrasting with the sultry Emanuela Hutter made the pairing one that had to be repeated on their next two albums.  

Los Angeles - For the last thirty-five years, The RAZ Band has been recording and performing their own brand of original songs, entertaining audiences across the US and globally.    On March 30, 2019 Gonzo Multimedia will release the much anticipated new RAZ Band studio album “#9”. Produced by Badfinger legend Joey Molland, “#9” features eleven new RAZ Band songs. The first 1000 copies include a limited edition live EP, recorded in Los Angeles on December 8, 2018.    This past December 2018 The RAZ Band recorded their first live album performing songs from the upcoming “#9” album as well as their most recent albums “Madison Park” (2015 Roadie Crew magazine album of the year) & “The Best of RAZ 1984-2015”. The live performance will be included as a bonus disc with the release of their new studio album “#9”.   As Michael Raz Rescigno states: “I'm excited that our first live album will be released with our new studio album. album was a great recording experience and was recorded, mixed and mastered in

As amazing as it sounds, NYC rock legends Binky Philips & The Planets after 47 years will be releasing their debut album “Established 1972 NYC” on April 26th! David Fricke of Rolling Stone once described  the band as “the best rock & roll band I never saw or heard.”  Says Binky, “Over many years, I have written about ten albums worth of songs. None of them ever got past the demo stage. Perhaps, rightly so. It's fitting that The Planets' first ever true full-blown-production album, 'Established 1972 NYC', is comprised of the best songs I have ever written. The brand of music we play could be called Unhyphenated Rock. It's straight up. It's hard. It's real. We are not Pop. We are not Metal. We are not Punk. We are not Retro. We are Rock & Roll.”

This week author Joel Moore amd I will be joined by re-enactors John Houck and John Vogt.

As we start to wind down this season of Journey Into The Civil War this week we are going to heve a general discussion.