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Writer's picturechris poor

Obsessions

This play may very well drive you mad. I don't have any scientific evidence for this, but it has had its claws in me for five years, and shows no sign of letting up. "It came to me in a dream," seems like a plot from a Lovecraft story, but it is true. I woke, and the story was there - I was driven to write, and the first draft was completed in 36 hours. In the five years since that day, I have thought about this play (and its sister play, The Mask) every day, gone to sleep thinking about character, plot and dialog, awakened with new ideas for writing, been distracted at work thinking about a new direction for a character arc...wait, is this obsession? Yeah, I tend to do that a lot. Just ask anyone who has known me for more than a week.


My latest obsession: The Amazing Devil.

The passion, the energy, the creativity and the courage of this video. They aren't perfect, but you have to respect that they are totally committed to their vision. Their songs are stories, and stories of passionate, broken relationships, people with flaws pounding away at themselves to be better, to understand each other, or understand why they love each other so fiercely in spite of the obvious flaws. Their songs speak of the devil in us all, that thing that betrays our best intentions and torpedoes our dreams in spite of ourselves, but also, the noble, tough part of us all that fights through the storm to grasp the value. There is something in this music that fascinates me in the same way that the Mythos does. Perhaps I have found the essence of The Yellow Sign here.


"All it took to unearth in the dust and the dirt

Some release or respite from the heat and the hurt

Was taking the time now and then to ask how I am

And now at the end, at the end of all things

I’m not going to scream, beat my chest at the wind

I’m doing fine"


Their style is unique; I have labeled it "Emo Folk," but that doesn't really capture it well. Joey Batey writes lyrics that tell stories of broken people fighting to improve themselves, to make life bearable in spite of the pain, and he moves back and forth from rage, horror and fear to tenderness and insightful observations of the nature of life that leave me verklempt nearly every time.


"I promise you I’m not broken, I promise you there’s more

More to come, more to reach for, more to hurl at the door

Goodbye to all my darkness, there’s nothing here but light

Adieu to all the faceless things that sleep with me at night

This here is not makeup, it’s a porcelain tomb

And this here is not singing, I’m just screaming in tune"

- from "Farewell Wanderlust"


I want to post more, but I understand that this is an acquired taste, so consider this an invitation to listen to something that you may not like. Some of their lyrics are expletives, but they aren't out of place, or salacious, they are there to nail down an emotional reaction. I was shocked at first, but I realized that this was just the songwriter being authentic in his lyrics.


So, to summarize: obsessions can be good. They can help us to focus on things that are important, to notice things that matter. Check it out. Maybe you'll find a new obsession.


Another obsession that we hope you will consider: The Yellow Sign, an original horror play based on the writings of R.W. Chambers. Make plans to attend the world premier of this work, November 11-13 2022 at Playhouse in the Park, Murray, Kentucky.


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