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.”

Counseling

His face was the color
of an encyclopedia,
and I asked him 
what I could listen to 
that was more 
modern or strange.
I may have said 
avant-garde.

I just want to hear 
something new.

I like Mahler
but I get tired 
of classical music. 

I just want to hear 

something new. 

He mentioned Poulenc,
and I thanked him
and asked for more.
I think he recommended 
a few others, and I said 

I just want to hear 
something new.
I don’t like hearing 
the same music. 

He asked me if I knew 
what he didn’t like 
and I said no.

He said he didn’t like
people who repeated 
themselves 
because it made him 
feel stupid.

I thanked him again
and left with other questions
I’d never ask this now chalky
pterodactyl mind.

The Chalky Hands of Fate

Listen on Tidal. Listen on Spotify.

1. “They’re Dreaming Me” – Johnny Coley
2. “Dogear” – J.R.C.G.
3. “Small Car” – John Lurie, Marvin Pontiac
4. “Ocelot Omelette” – Barkers of the Wrong Tree
5. “Hunger” – Derek Bailey, Charlie Morrow
6. “America” – Deconstruction
7. “Motion” – Lenny Williams
8. “A Blueprint” – Brokeback
9. “Exuma, The Obeah Man” – Exuma
10. “Your Hidden Dreams” – White Noise
11. “The Hall of Mirrors” – Kraftwerk
12. “Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle” – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

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.