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.”

Fatal Visions with Mac “The Dagger” Macdeath

What is this swagger I see before me?
A rival to my standing? Come,
let me camel clutch thee.

I reach, but close my hands on air,
a wrestler of the mind, a false contender
proceeding from the heat-oppressèd ring?

I see thee yet, in form as palpable
as this steel chair which now I draw.
Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going,
the very finisher I meant to use.

O, full of scorpions is my mind,
dear manager!

Stars, hide your fires.
Let not the ref see
my black and deep desires.

By the pricking of my thumbs,
a heel turn this way comes.

There are daggers in men’s smiles, Duncan,
and every Dagger bears my name.

I go, and it is done.
The bell invites me.

Who would have thought the old champ
to have had so much blood in him?

Out, out, brief spotlight.

Nothing in your run
will become you like the leaving of it.

The marquee will fade.
The ropes go slack.

Your little life in the squared circle,
all sound, all fury,

all merchandise and entrance music,
signifying nothing.

Brief Spotlight
Listen on Tidal. Listen on Spotify.

1. “Lortzing: Der Waffenschmied, Act I: Sprühe, Flamme! Glühe, Eisen!” – Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
2. “Giving In” – Kacy Lee Anderson
3. “I’m In No Condition” – Dolly Parton
4. “Michigan” – Margaret Glaspy
5. “Good Timing Rhyming Song” – Ween
6. “Black Hall” – Gatta Morta
7. “Lair of Reversal” – Jeff McLeod
8. “Relax Redux” – HIGHSIGH, Lia Kohl, Jon Starks
9. “Copos De Nieve” – Super Grupo Colombia
10. “Ice Heaven” – Mats Gustafsson, Kimmo Pohjonen
11. “see-saw” – Abracadabra
12. “This Time I’m Present (fantasy of a broken heart remix)” – Ulrika Spacek
13. “Shaolin Rebel 2” – Inspectah Deck, Wu-Tang Clan, SiahLaw
14. “Arrow” – Homeboy Sandman, Jack Splash
15. “CONTRABAND” – Naisha, Skrillex, BEAM, Dilip
16. “Quand Le Soleil Dit Bonjour Aux Montagnes” – Bobby Wayne, Guylaine
17. “Breakfast at Sharkey’s” – Dinner Party, Terrace Martin, 9th Wonder, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Phoelix
18. “Deliria” – Simon Boswell
19. “Meet Mr. Blue” – Tim Curry

Stephen McClurg (Episode 473 & 666) composes and improvises inSerenity 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.