A little over thirteen months ago, I was fortunate enough to play with the Randy James Dio cover band at Ben Levin Group’s CD release show.  That night Ben was releasing his first proper album, “Departure,” as well as premiering his 40-minute epic, “Pulse of a Nation.”   I had been good friends with Ben for years, and I had always really enjoyed his music.  Ben plays instrumental rock, and I always appreciated the fact that he largely stayed away from the mindless wanking that so often is the focus of the genre.

I was in a strange mood that night.  The past couple of months had been pretty crappy, and the past couple of weeks had been even worse.