Behind the Scenes

Shots from my Indiegogo video shoot.

Final Circus Screamer

Committing suicide in front of thousands of screaming fans is only fitting for the murderous, masochistic, maniacal, Suicide Sid. The killer of circus performers, loudly and vividly snuffs himself out in the fifth and final circus screamer.

Roaring around the big top working his fans in to a foaming frenzy, he takes his place in front of the three-story jump. Attacking the jump with the fury of a starved animal, he takes flight. At the summit of his ascent he leaps off the motorcycle, spreads his arms, and soars.

A single melody moans as Suicide Sid descends to his death. Broken phrases and disjointed thirds play as the crowd watches his lifeless body being hauled off. In shock and weeping the audience exits the big top.

It won’t be discovered until weeks later that Suicide Sid was responsible for the murder of four other circus performers. His name will go in the paper. His posters will out sale the snow cones.

To finish on a high note, a suicide note was found in Sid’s dressing room following his death stating that all of his stunt bikes should be donated to charity.

Listen here.

Corral of Fire

No horses were hurt in the constructing of this piece. Yes they were.

My fourth of five circus screamers reveals the latest tragedy to come to a circus performer--death by fire. Corral of Fire is the first circus screamer I've written with the prancing piano. A rock was placed on the sustain pedal to keep the mood. As the corral is built in the shadow of the spotlight, performers and horses march into the big top to the click of triplets. Marching soon gives way to a frenzied cantor that quickly gives way to a chaotic race to escape the hot lick of flames.

To spoil the story, all the horses, though singed and marred, escape alive. The lead horseman, however, march as he may cannot escape the burning corral.

Shall we march?

Mixed results

Three musical gems have emerged from our mixing sessions. The glimmer of each has already been put to work per its power and propensity to transfix. One is fueling a small moped down to Mexico. Another was sold to a silver-faced street performer. The third was pitched to AMC for a new TV show about carnivals. Each musical gem is casting a shadow. Each is as unpredictable as a wolf.

Here is Highwire Hanging: