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.”

Corner Booth, Facing Window

The ache in the tooth,
the corner booth
where nothing got resolved.

Quiet on Sundays,
if we’re lucky.

Relentless feeds and feeding.
Though some starve, it’s a world,
I guess. What use it’s had.

Remembering the frogs
all gigged in the daylight.
Outside, the fog kept the buildings
out of sight though

seven stories tall.
The tombs of grey strangers
arranged in sidelong mangers.

The graves were the tiny mouths of hell,
even for the unbelievers.

Tiny Mouths of Hell
Listen on Tidal. Listen on Spotify.

1. “Terry’s Escape / The Minx Trailer” – The Cyrkle
2. “Não Chora Meu Amor” – Martinho Da Vila
3. “Radon” – Steven Berenstein, Scotty Hard
4. “Knit Stockings” – Wilfred Guillette
5. “Magnetic Rag” – Ellery Eskelin, Christian Weber, Michael Griener
6. “Bird Songs For Atomic Skies” – Gwenifer Raymond
7. “Thirteen Miles To Birmingham” – Bobby Wayne
8. “After All These Years” – Wayne Horvitz
9. “Pettiford” – Steven Berenstein
10. “Bubaran Sunrise” – Mother Bank
11. “Death Is Bitter [Είναι πικρός ο θάνατος]” – Markos Vamvakaris
12. “Love Doesn’t Need To Rush” – Finn Carter
13. “Seven Sisters” – Ferg Ireland
14. “Theme for Bright Madness” – SQUANDERERS
15. “Asbestos Farm” – Torture Agenda
16. “Louie’s Murder” – Joe Delia
17. “Bach Invention #14” – Joe Delia
18. “Sunset Over My Grave” – OLD NICK
19. “Til My Heart Stops (Nik Brinkman Remix) – The Beths

Stephen McClurg (Episode 473 & 666, & Sirens of Verse #2) 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.