Stephen McClurg's Blog, page 2

New Music: Reverse Engineer

Over on Bandcamp, you can hear a live Reverse Engineer improv set recorded at Village Green Records in Montgomery. Reverse Engineer is really Kenny Johnson, and whatever inspires him for that project. A few years back, I made the Red Hills EP with him as Reverse Engineer, and if you check streaming, you will find many other releases with many other members. (And that’s only one of Kenny’s several projects.) For this live set, we also had Tracy Harris, my brother in Stull. (Tracy has also written 100s of songs.) It’s a treat to play music or just hang out with these guys.

The instrumentation for this is:
Kenny Johnson – Upright bass and synth
Stephen McClurg – Prepared guitar
Tracy Harris – Drums

Based on the titles, I assume the other guys felt similar to me. The music ended up having a spacey jam feel to it, even though I was largely running plastic chains over the guitar or playing it with pencils, metal straws, ping pong balls, and wind-up toys.

If songs, particularly of the aggressive kind, are more your thing, you can check out several of Kenny’s other groups, including Terrible Lovers.

Musicalia #138: The Grip

A new poem and playlist reside over at The Drunken Odyssey.

New Music: Trey Lane’s Sold Over Hold

Trey Lane’s new recording Sold Over Hold is now available on Bandcamp and on Tidal. I played a variety of auxiliary parts like synth, piano, and some secondary guitar.

At Horror DNA: Access:Horror 2025

Partnered with the George A. Romero Foundation, Access:Horror is a festival that focuses on disability and genre cinema. I had a blast covering the festival this year for Horror DNA.

You can read the reviews here:

Shorts Block One: From Womb to Tomb
Shorts Block Two: Flesh of My Flesh

Musicalia #137: Proximity

A new poem and playlist await at The Drunken Odyssey.

A MODOK Origin Story

For a few years in the mid-2000s—and off and on since—I wrote comics, zines, and, on rare occasions, illustrated them. Somewhere in that period, I was introduced to The Journal of MODOK Studies and immediately fell in love with its unique mix of reverence and absurdity, especially at a time when you weren’t really supposed to take superhero comics seriously.

Despite the rise of graphic novels, many of us were still reeling in (or rediscovering) the wild imagination of Jack Kirby. I was about to head back to grad school for a second time and felt like I might be cutting myself off from creative work, so I was scrambling to finish a few short pieces before sinking into the academic grind.

Around that time, I was also writing a lot of fake documents—stuff where the joy came from mimicking different prose voices. I decided to bring that approach to the MODOK zine. I remember the editor planned to use it, but like so many underground comics and zines, the whole thing disappeared. Maybe it was a question of money or interest—or maybe it just faded away. I didn’t think there was anywhere else I could send it, so I shelved it. Over the years, and several storage devices later, I thought I’d lost it entirely.

But over the weekend, while digging through an old box, I found a printed copy.

I’d done a lot of fun research into the character and the era, and the more you know about MODOK, the more the piece probably lands—it was definitely written for a niche audience. Still, even without all that background, I think it can still be read and enjoyed, though it’ll likely come across as pretty goofy.

Eckner, Frank T., 1963. “The Disappearance of Dr. Georg Groskopf: Maintaining proper doctor/patient relationships.” Northeast Journal of Psychiatry, 113, 36-40

Dr. Georg Groskopf was a preeminent psychiatrist and early developer of schizophrenic diagnoses. He studied under Dr. Kurt Schneider at Heidelberg University before Schneider’s retirement in 1956. We assume that he helped in the advancement of Schneider’s first rank symptoms of schizophrenia based on the notes for his case studies, including patient J. There are many other assumptions to be made in this case, as Dr. Groskopf and J both disappeared in 1958.

What follows are excerpts from Grodkopf’s notebooks during his pre-treatment and analysis of J. These may be last writings the doctor ever made, and while indeed rough (certainly the doctor would have extensively revised his notes before publication), their roughness may help students by showing them the thought processes of a renowned psychiatrist. 

May these writings serve also as a warning to current and future practitioners that no matter how much they want to help a patient, it is important–indeed paramount–that a proper doctor/patient relationship be maintained at all times. Remember, we are here to cure disease, not make friends,or risk our lives. No links have ever been found between J’s description of CREST and the toothpaste produced by Proctor and Gamble in 1955. 

Thursday, April 3

New patient JMale, 31Healthy, good hairlineJ contends that he works for Crest–an organization developing thought control devices and products (?)Until now he has been content with his work, even to the point of enjoyment. Reasons for not enjoying work include bouts of paranoia–he is sure that Crest is using their developments on their employees. Particularly upsetting is their shift in upper management. He firmly believes that upper management is involved with mind control. J set appointment for next week. I need to call Cathy–noodle shop at 6. 

J probably is not enjoying work and has developed an elaborate avoidance fantasy. However, if he is indeed hearing voices, then I will be able to work with first rank symptoms and schizophrenia development. 

Thursday, April 10

Today I wanted to discuss J’s work and his claim that he worked at a business called Crest. I told him that I knew of no business by that name. 

J says CREST is an acronym for Creative Revolutions Every Second in Technology, He discussed it as an underground operation with funding through unknown channels. I asked J to bring in evidence of CREST’s existence next week. He replied about the dangers but he would do his best.

Pork satay–hmmm

Thursday, April 17

J never showed for appointment. I figured that if I asked for positive proof of CREST’s existence this would happen. I may have “cured” him in two weeks–sometimes jarring a patient into reality can do wonders. Present contradicting circumstances (!)

I may call Cathy to celebrate. Summer rolls–peanut sauce, likely. Vertigo again. Yes (!)

Thursday, April 24

J showed and brought evidence of CREST–a beekeeper outfit that I believe he spray-painted yellow. And a tube of toothpaste. 

Interesting items, however inconclusiveJ wasn’t sure why he had to wear the uniform. He felt that it may have enhanced their mind control abilities. It also kept everyone’s identity concealed.

He continued on in a very elaborate explanation. What kind of real work does this man do–accounting, banking–is he clergy (?)

What about the toothpaste? Yes, it was called Crest, but that didn’t prove anything. J confided in me that it had been a failed attempt at creating a mind-batter toiletry (!) The original idea was for people to use this and the chemicals would allow for easier mind control. Mind-batter didn’t work but he thinks that the chemists in charge of the experiment saved their lives by effectively creating the first toothpaste with fluoride. They were able to sell it to Proctor & Gamble who put it on the market in 1955. Of course all this is strictly confidential and only one employee at P&G actually knows about the origins of the toothpaste.

I noticed what looked like fish skin in my hot and sour soup today. Initially, I was alarmed. Hui told me that it was only the fish seasoning re-hydrating. He said it was like a dried fish sauce and “salty good.”

Just before our time was up J started talking about a toadstool. I asked him to continue in the next session. 

Friday, May 2

Important meeting came up Thursday. Had to move J’s appointment to Friday. He agreed. Toadstool (?)

He said he was actually referring to TODSTUHL. Another acronym. This one for Technology of Death Soon To be Under His Leadership. I asked him why German words were put together to make an English acronym. He acted confused. I asked him if deathchair meant anything to him. He was unresponsive. Not sure why he claims to not understand his own invention. Mayne he is further along than I first imagined. Thorazine (?)

He said that the voices had been stringer ever since a crewmate of his had been led away from their work area and had not been seen again. He said this was about a month before he started therapy.

Two weeks before he started therapy, J had been manipulated through mind control to do things. He said he would be told to go to the bathroom or cafeteria for no reason and at times would find himself in these places 10 or 12 times a day (!) When he came to these places another CREST member would be there to tell him: “Great job, Brother. You can go back to work.” Sometimes they give him “vitamins.”

I am going to try one more thing before I turn to Thorazine or a heterocyclic. 

Thursday, May 8

I am determined to see this through–and possibly scare some accountants ot church ladies with this ridiculous beekeeper outfit. I am going with J to CREST “headquarters.”

Tomorrow night–Cathy, mutton korma, Touch of Evil, Cathy

(Cathy–my mutton of evil)

yes

Musicalia #136: A Thin Glory

You can get this week’s playlist and poem over at The Drunken Odyssey!

Psychic Tuesday Radio!

The latest episode of Psychic Tuesday Radio focuses on Ethiopian jazz great Gétachèw Mèkurya and features a few local acts including Serenity Dagger’s “Out of This World.”

A big thank you to Psychic Tuesday Radio and Substrate!

Musicalia #135: And the Moon

You can get the playlist and poem at The Drunken Odyssey.

At Horror DNA: Anoxia

My review is now available over at Horror DNA.