Episode 95: Kevin Banks - Author and Art Director

Joining me for episode #96, is author and professional songwriting coach, Greig Watts. Greig joins me from the UK and in this episode he and I talk about how songwriters, producers and recording artists can actually get their songs out there in the world – either being noticed by the industry or perhaps selling the rights to another artist.  Greig also has a book which we will talk about his book titled, KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE - A Songwriter’s Guide to Overcoming Rejection, Finding Success and Enjoying the Journey Along the Way. Greig’s book is not an instructional guide on how to write songs, it’s more a manual for musicians and songwriters to get their music heard, noticed and possibly purchased! We talk about the rejection he faced growing up in the 80s and 90’s in Surrey, England and how he eventually changed his entire approach and process to become a Eurovision songwriting award winner several times!  For listeners in the U.S., Eurovision is a premier, annual competition for original songs, submitted by songwriters representing European nations that has been around since 1956.  I’d also like to take a second to talk about this podcast. believe it or not over 50% of the people that listen are not subscribed to this podcast on their preferred platform. So I encourage you to hit the subscribe button now. This will help me get more of my dream guests to continue entertaining you. So, kick back, grab your pen and paper to take notes!! Please enjoy episode #96, my conversation with songwriting coach, Greig Watts. Let’s do this…Pick up Greig Watt's book, KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE - A Songwriter’s Guide to Overcoming Rejection, Finding Success and Enjoying the Journey Along the Way at the Bookstore at ALBUMREVIEW.NET.For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcastWant to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcastWant to get your music heard by someone at ALBUMREVIEW.NET?Create the opportunity to potentially get your music shared across our network!Submit your music now to us via Groover here:https://groover.co/en/band/signup/referral/influencer/18131/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=widget_banner&utm_campaign=0.albumreviewnet&widget

Joining me for episode #95, is author Kevin Banks. Kevin was a guest on a previous episode of the ALBUMREVIEW.NET podcast, episode # 44 which was titled Rapid Fire Roundtable. Kevin was part of a 3-person roundtable where we answer rapid fire questions about music. The episode was titled, “Does Music Today suck?”  Kevin Banks is an Art Director and Author. He returns to Podcast to talk about his newly published book titled Sloane – The Art School Underworld of 80s NYC. Kevin’s book is about his experience living at 356 West 34th Street during his years as a college student at The School of Visual Arts in the mid 1980s. And not only does Kevin share some CRAZY stories about what happened in that building but he also did a fine job tying music into the story, or stories I would say.  In this episode, Kevin and I will talk about the grueling process of writing the book, what it was like growing up in his home town outside of Boston, and why those experiences might have been the catalyst to the outrageous events he experienced and participated in during his time at Sloane.  Pick up Kevin Banks’ book, Sloane – The Art School Underworld of 80s NYC, on Amazon and on his website, https://claymoregoboom.com/.For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcastWant to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcastWant to get your music heard by someone at ALBUMREVIEW.NET?Create the opportunity to potentially get your music shared across our network!Submit your music now to us via Groover here:https://groover.co/en/band/signup/referral/influencer/18131/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=widget_banner&utm_campaign=0.albumreviewnet&widget

William Thomas hails from Toulouse, France. He is a producer, guitarist and composer. Will recently graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston with a degree in contemporary writing and production with a conducting minor. At Berklee, he founded his band, The William Thomas Orchestra, which is compiled of five members  The William Thomas Orchestra released their first album in 2023, titled, Boston The Hard Way, and most recently a single on September 30th , 2025 titled Lost My Beagle Today. This is the song that caught my attention. Will submitted his music to me and I was floored. It not only had tenacity, and an almost jokingly playful first few minutes, but William’s guitar talent shines during this song, especially in his solo.  In this episode, Will and I will talk about his life growing up in France, his move to the US and attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music, his band and his future!  So, pour your brandy into your tea or coffee, light that fire in the fireplace and get ready to be taken on our journey with this one. This is guitarist producer and composer, William Thomas. Let’s do this…For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcastWant to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcastWant to get your music heard by someone at ALBUMREVIEW.NET?Create the opportunity to potentially get your music shared across our network!Submit your music now to us via Groover here:https://groover.co/en/band/signup/referral/influencer/18131/?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=widget_banner&utm_campaign=0.albumreviewnet&widget_id=18131

Joining me for episode #93, is Music Media Company owner Rob Bach. Rob is the owner of Spinney Media, a company he founded that helps musicians and labels sell more physical albums. Spinney Media clients sign up, subscribe, and send in their vinyl, CDs, cassettes, and Spinney Media does the rest. Musicians and labels keep 100% of their earnings!  Rob has been in the music industry for most of his career. He led reverse logistics, internal help desk, and troubleshooting teams at Amazon in its early years. More recently, he served as COO at CD Baby. He is now founder and CEO of Spinney Media as well as an operations and management consultant with Spinney Group LLC.  In this episode, Rob and I dive QUITE DEEP into the music industry. We discuss the launch of Spinney Media, what it means to help artists earn their fair share, and we also discuss the challenges of building a business, especially one like Rob’s. I think you’ll find Rob incredibly humble, sharp, intelligent and best of all, very giving and supportive. This is not just an episode for you music lovers but also for people who have started their own business and for people who have raised children with disabilities. And Rob and I discuss more around this topic. So sit back and listen to my conversation with music industry pioneer, Rob Bach. Learn more about how to sell or buy indie music at https://spinneymedia.com/For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcastWant to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcast

For episode #92, we are taking a LEFT TURN. Yes, this is exciting. We continue to grow and morph. For this episode, I welcome Sarah Degrave, a professional Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or ADHD) Coach, a Creative Coach, and professional theatre artist (among other things).Sarah’s training includes courses with ADD Coach Academy, MentorCoach, Academy for Coaching Excellence, and she combines her knowledge of creative brain wiring and effective coaching tools with her professional experience in the arts to provide a unique approach to helping her clients.Sarah and I discuss her consulting services and we also talk about the positive effects music has on people with this neurodevelopmental disorder. And this episode really hits home for me. I was diagnosed with what was then just known as ADD in 1986. I can remember my mom telling me to go to the school nurse every day after lunch and take a pill. That pill was Ritalin. I spent another 12 years on this medication, not really knowing much about this disorder except that I “had a problem and I couldn’t pay attention”. So I internalized a lot of the negative connotations attached to it. So whether you suffer or know someone who suffers from ADHD, sit back and enjoy this episode, my conversation with ADHD Coach, Sarah Degrave. For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcastWant to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcast

Episode #91 will be covering an album we previously reviewed in 2021. Many consider this album among those that are in the hall of fame. Well, in all fairness, this band was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. And I am VERY PROUD to say, as a father, I took my son to see this band for his very first concert experience. He gets to tell this to his grandkids decades from now! That HIS dad was cool and took him to THIS! The year was 1997, and this band had experienced some minor commercial success with their first two albums, Pablo Honey and The Bends. But THIS album! This album would change the entire landscape of music. Yes I know I say that a lot on this podcast, but keep listening. You’ll see! As a New Englander, born and bred, the album cover of Radiohead’s third studio release, OK COMPUTER features a photograph of a highway interchange in Hartford, Connecticut, specifically the junction of Interstate 84 and Interstate 91. The image, captured during the band’s 1996 tour, was heavily edited to convey a sense of urban overstimulation and the rapid pace of modern life, themes central to the album. The cover was part of a visual diary created alongside the recording sessions, combining stark architecture with abstract elements to evoke both familiarity and unease. Today, the interchange itself is notable not only for its connection to the album but also because it is slated for redevelopment, adding a layer of historical significance to the image.So whether you’re Clark W. Griswold or not, sit back with your cool one, or just with Cousin Eddie’s floater and enjoy episode #91, our review of Radiohead’s 1997 masterpiece, OK COMPUTER. This is an updated, RE-RELEASE WITH musical clips. For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcastWant to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcast 

For episode # 90, we complete the Zepparella circle!! I am so delighted to have this guest on the show. She is the lead singer of the FEMALE Led Zeppelin Tribute project, Zepparella, Anna Kristina. Anna is one of the most impressive singers I have met in person. In this episode, Anna and I talk about her solo career, her solo album Soul Truth, songwriting, how she keeps her voice in such good shape, life on the road and we dive DEEP into loss. Many of us have lost love ones, it’s a part of life. For me, reflecting on how we feel about loss and how we as people can band together to see the positives in loss, make this life worth living. Don't forget to check out Zepparella's brand new album, Zeppelin Forever, just released on August 5th 2025. Please enjoy episode #90 and my conversation with Anna Kristina!

In light of Ozzy Osbourne’s recent passing on Tuesday July 22, 2025, I felt compelled to re-release this album review I did in 2020 of Ozzy’s original band, Black Sabbath and their self-titled debut album. I feel as if over the last few years, the music world has been losing more and more legends. Re-releasing this review (with music clips this time) is my tribute to Ozzy. Thank you for 48 years of entertaining me with great music, Ozzy. I’m so glad I was able to see your solo band AND Black Sabbath in concert. I will always remember you as the guy my parents were most afraid of when I was a kid, and your patch was on the back of everyone’s jean jacket. At least you got your sendoff concert in Birmingham, UK two weeks before your you passed on. What an event. Wish I was there.  Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album was produced by Roger Bain at Regent Sound Studios in London. Released on February 13th, 1970, it was recorded in ONE DAY! The band was fresh off changing their name from Earth to Black Sabbath. Their debut album is considered by many as the first heavy metal album. This is debatable as bands like Led Zeppelin, King Crimson and Deep Purple have also been defined as heavy metal’s “first”. But all you need to do is turn on this album and listen to the opening track, also titled, Black Sabbath. After a thunder and rain introduction (with some bells tolling), the opening riff of this song, belongs in the Hall of Fame. This was PRE AC/DC’s “Hells Bells” and PRE-Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Remember that. If there was a hall of fame for evil, dirty, angry, creepy, scary riffs, this would be at the very top. For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcast Want to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcast 

Since it is summer as I review this, I felt compelled to pay homage to my college days a little. I know what you’re thinking, how do college and summer correlate? Did you go to Summer School, Greg? No, I did not. However, I loved the movie! You know the one with Mark Harmon? That film just turned 38 years old, by the way, on July 22nd of this year! It was my freshman year at college, over 600 miles away from my hometown, my parents and the friends I grew up with, where my musical world opened even more so than when I was in high school. I have vivid memories, for about the first three months of college of the sounds of Bob Marley and The Wailers being blared from not only every dorm window, but every rooftop and every evening at the numerous parties I had the opportunity to attend. Although I was familiar with Mr. Marley, it would not be until I heard 1978’s Babylon By Bus in the late summer/fall of 1995, that my musical tastes would soon expand. Babylon By Bus is one of SEVEN Live albums released by Bob Marley & The Wailers, and I believe is their strongest. It was recorded during a run of shows (not consecutively) in either 1975, 1976, and 1977, mostly at Pavilion de Paris in, of course, Paris, France. Back in those days, studio and live albums were usually recorded quickly and released within a few months, in some cases even weeks! Bob Marley’s label, Tuff Gong, was able to get the album mixed and released within five months. The album was available to the public on November 10th, 1978. By this point, the band had recorded and put out ten studio albums, and the success from their previous live album in 1975, simply titled, “LIVE”, encouraged the band’s record company to capitalize off the current wave of achievement Bob Marley was a part of during the late 70s. For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcastWant to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcast

I was leaving a concert last month in beautiful Portsmouth, NH. A friend of mine and I walked from our hotel, about a mile into downtown to see Zepparella, a band who's members have been on previous episodes. On the walk back to our hotel, it started raining, heavily. We had to dive for cover in a nearby bar. As we entered, we see this guy singing a 90s grunge cover with nothing but his microphone and an acoustic guitar. Throughout the show, I became more impressed not only by his song choice, but by his voice. Colin Hart has a voice for the ages. And I had to ask him to be on the podcast. Fast forward a few weeks later - here we are!! In this episode Colin and I talk about everything from being a local touring musician, writing songs, recording his own songs and we also share stories of how losing loved ones … the pain that it has caused and how we live through that pain to attack another day!   Please enjoy this episode, #87, my discussion with musician Singer/Songwriter Colin Hart. Learn more about Colin at https://www.thehartofsound.com/For more to go https://www.albumreview.net/podcastWant to be a guest on The ALBUMREVIEW.net podcast? Send Greg Potters a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/albumreviewpodcast