Sublime eclectic mayhem. That’s been my playlist project and musical life, one that begins with The Muppet Movie soundtrack and later involves performing hymns, death metal, surf, and bluegrass. I’ve played in theaters, tents, and basements, for multi-stage festivals and squirrel rodeos. I’ve written and recorded music for The Drunken Odyssey. Sublime eclectic mayhem. A warning and a welcome for joyous noise, for those navigating what Beckett called “this bitch of an earth.”

Poppa Mandrill cheated death–

left two stones of charcoal,
the rug burned at one end 
and a chair leg went missing
with him, but there was always 
a deck of cards with thirteen
jokers and no hearts,
slack hearths–

stills of October
berry wine 
almost made it okay.

Bitter fruits on bitter vines 
that wove over the door 
into the bedroom 
decorated with yarn
and corn dolls of various wear, 
icicle pickle shelves,
a cool ruin,
a cool run.

Knots and needles 
cushion some heavy grief,
woe flowers.

Shovels 
leaned in all the corners
and not one hole filled.

Poppa Mandrill Cheated Death

Listen on Tidal. Listen on Spotify.

1. “Too Close for Comfort” – Carmen McRae
2. “Mourning Dove” – Shannon Inouye
3. “Percussion Fruit” – Shatter Hands
4. “The Bionic Woman Main Title (Unused Version)” – Joe Harnell
5. “Which Way” – G Jones
6. “Nobody’s Nos” – The Residents
7. “Free Mingus” – David Murray Quartet
8. “Alabama” – Michael Hurley
9. “She’s Not a Disco Lady (High Energy)” – La Bionda
10. “Schismogenesis” – Atsuhsi Izumi
11. “The Casket” – Jerry Goldsmith
12. “Whispers” – Uèle Lamore
13. “Sevemez Kimse Seni” – Güneri Tecer
14. “Jazz Beef” – Euglossine
15. “Nargo” – Large Unit, Paal Nilssen-Love
16. “Prime Time Love” – The Carpenters
17. “2001 Polka” – “Martin Mull & His Fabulous Furniture

Stephen McClurg (Episode 473) composes and improvises in Serenity Dagger, The Abdomen, and other projects. Along with session work for mid-Alabama singer/songwriters, he frequently collaborates with musicians across the state adding bass, guitar, and synths to friends’ recordings. He currently writes reviews for Horror DNA and is the substitute low end wrangler for Mobile-based punk rock band Future Hate. You can find out more about his work here.