"House Of Freaks" a Hook original for CrimeFest

[Hook]

When Groundy posted his Murder Ballad I started this one. It's a true & tragic story about one of my favorite bands.
1 acoustic guitar/vocals (stereo)
1 drums(stereo)
1 bass drum

House Of Freaks

written & performed by Hook

Mid to late 1980s
I was probably 15 or 16
grew up in Richmond Virginia
little bit of a music scene
stumbled on a record
It really spoke to me
just a two men band
House of freaks

They let out  5 records
I bought all of them
Knew a few faces on the cover
of their last "All My Friends"
The band broke up
I never stopped listening to their beats
Bryan Harvey &Johnny Hott
The band House Of Freaks

The lyrics were deeper
than I could understand
Metaphorical & historical
I didn't always comprehend
But the songs and the sounds
Of the 2 of them
made sense to me

Time went by
families grew
Can't remember when I found out
But my friend Justin knew
A murder spree through Virginia
Led to the Harveys front door
Ricky Gray & Ray Dandridge
Brutally murdered a beautiful family of 4

2005 or maybe 2006
It was January 1st when Johnny discovered it
On his way to his friends to party the new year
The house on fire surely filled him with fear

The firefighters found the family tortured and tied
In the basement of their house in Woodland Heights
It was random & senseless & wrong on every way
& the Harveys weren't the only family to pay

In Arlington ryan Carey had been badly beaten and stabbed earlier new years eve
2 months before Treva Gray, rickys wife, met the same fate the Harveys did

On January 6th another family found dead
Layers af duct taped found wrapped round thier heads

January 7th, the very next day
Police found and arrested Ricky & Ray
It didn't take long for confessions To come
& on February 9th 2006 it was done
Guilty the jury found in only 30min.

Ray Dandridge got life and is in Keen Mountain today
I hope that bastard is just rotting away
Ricky Gray got the penalty his appeals were denied
& on January 18th 2017 by injection he died

It took 33 minutes for the drugs to do thier job
Did he suffer, I don't care, justice isn't my job

There's a store in Carytown, the Fan in Richmond VA
It was owned by Bryans wife, World Of Mirth, I've been there
It was a while after the murders my first time home in 20 years
& though I'd never been there before
I imagine it was different without her there





 

[Blooby]

True story? Holy skamoley. I followed with voracious intrigue as the lyrics unfolded.

Jiminy.

Blooby

[Groundy]

Brilliant Story telling Hook,
I too listened with intrigue,
so well written and performed,
And a true story,
Take a Bow my friend...


Alex

[Johnny Robbo]

A chilling tale, Hook. Even more so for being a true story. And hats off to you for documenting it with such skill & brilliant songwriting. Sounds like that new drum kit is earning it's keep already!

[Kenneth]

In all sincerity, you are a real pro. Wow!
Horrific story, but masterfully told.

[thetworegs]

an excellent story told well is a thing to behold and this one was told well Bravo! Justice on!!

[launched]

Yes, I was captivated from the beginning. "Justice isn't my job", loved that lyric

Sweet crafting my man!

[Hook]

Thanks guys, I tried to blend the style of the band and a traditional murder ballad.

. Sounds like that new drum kit is earning it's keep already!

Not the new kit but.my Roland handsonic 10. Can't quite do that drums stuff on the cocktail kit...yet.
Rock on!

[fenderbender]

Jeeeeeezzzzz-
What a story
Hook one again
you are unique -----one of a kind-----
So well recorded and sung



Tommy

[thetworegs]

Bump !! still a hell of a story well told....