2006–2015: Celebrating 10 Years
LIVING
MURFREESBORO
Gospel hymns keep Granny grateful page 18
Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News
JULY 2015 Vol. 10, Issue 7
FREE For You!
Dr. Ralph Ralph Stanle tanley The SteelDrivers, Russell Moore and many others in Murfreesboro to celebrate string band music
page 12
Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival Schedule Inside!
EVENTS
ART
Splash Out, Fun Run, Malco Smyrna Summer Kids Fest and more
Artwork of Carol Curtis on display at City Hall and more
page 4
page 14
Contents
DEAR READERS:
4 27 ON THE COVER
The SteelDrivers
12
EVENTS
4
July Community Events Malco Smyrna Summer Kids Fest, Splash Out, Fun Run, Flick ’N Float and more!
SOUNDS
6
7 8 9 0 w
JULY CONCERTS Entertainment Calendar Karaoke, Bingo, DJs and Live Trivia Bonnaroo Highlights of the 2015 festival Album Reviews Navaeh, Normal Fox Music Notes Drum Corps International makes Floyd Stadium stop, Weekly College Night at Mayday Brewery Uncle Dave Macon Days 2015 Celebration of Bluegrass features Ralph Stanley, The SteelDrivers, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out and many others. Plus, view the schedule!
y
Art Events Curtis exhibit at City Hall, Walker exhibit at Center for the Arts, art enthusiasts plan art crawl, and more. Master’s Pieces Mayday hosts art of Mickey Masters.
LIVING Granny i Grateful No one can stop one of downtown Murfreesboro’s
p s
Review f Restaurant The Goat on the Mountain h Table Stillhouse Restaurant teams with
Local Table to celebrate local cuisine.
REVIEWS
j Movies Inside Out, Jurassic World k l
Living Room Cinema Experimental Artists Video Game Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Book The Girl on the Train
THEATER in July ; Onstage The Soul of Broadway, Avenue Q, West Side Story
OPINIONS
ART
r
FOOD
colorful characters from singinging her hymns. Farmers’ Market Education Series Environmental challenges in the home garden Homeless in the ’Boro Luis for Life: Appreciating found treasures, local man says he is rich in love.
The Stockard Report x Moses Bess put away for murder, numerous local law
v b n
enforcement personnel on paid leave Is America Still the Land of the Free? Does today’s America reflect the intentions of the founding fathers? Phil Valentine: Views of a Conservative Take some personal responsibility and improve your situation. Music Through the Decades The Banjo Contest
SPORTS Talk with Z-Train , Sports Introducing Calcio Fiorentino
CREW
PULSE
COVER: RALPH STANLEY BY WILL MCINTIRE / COURTESY MOONSTRUCK MANAGEMENT
Publisher/Editor in Chief: Contributors: Dylan Aycock, Bracken Mayo Robbie Barnes, Gloria Christy, Sarah H. Art Director: Sarah L. Mayo Clark, Zach Maxfield, Michelle Palmer, Darcy Payne, Edwina Shannon, Advertising Reps: Christy Simmons, Cecilia Sinkala, Don Clark, Carrie Richards, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Jeff Brown, Jamie Jennings Sam Stockard, Norbert Thiemann, Copy Editor: Steve Morley Phil Valentine, Dr. Jonathan Z
To carry the Pulse at your business, or submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 796-6248
Copyright © 2015, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X
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THE YANKEES ARE AT IT AGAIN, trying to capture the Confederate flag at strategic strongholds. The motivation behind this latest round of anti-Confederate sentiment may be rooted in good intentions. Those leading the charge say they want more peace, inclusion and tolerance, and less hate, violence and racism. The Confederacy did not stand for equality and human rights, so it, and most any reference to it, must be destroyed. OK, sounds fine, we must get rid of intolerance and hate, right? Let’s take down the Confederate flag (and the Gen. Forrest statues, and remove Jackson from the $20 . . . let me know when we find some hero or symbol that is not deeply flawed in some way). In other words, some are a little intolerant of the Stars and Bars, and hate what it stands for. Oh wait . . . then forcing it to be taken down would in itself be promoting intolerance and hate? Confusing times. Focusing on the flag and the word “Forrest” may be a case of treating the symptoms and not the disease. I am not a doctor, but I feel like the disease has something to do with confused, insecure individuals with not enough love in their lives acting out of hate, violence and disrespect for human life and fellow living creatures. That should be addressed. But treating the symptoms ain’t really treating the disease. Now, I am all about some defiance, standing up for states’ rights and seceding from the Union, but I’m not sure I want to do all of that under the Confederate flag. In Murfreesboro, a movement to change the name of MTSU’s Forrest Hall has gotten some traction. That issue can easily be solved. Just simply use Forrest Hall to honor Forrest Gump. Yes, he himself was indeed named after the Confederate leader, but Gump, we should not forget, was a champion of civil rights. People today should preserve Gump’s legacy and cement his rightful place in the history of American education, for when Alabama Gov. George Wallace stood on a college campus in the 1960s, Gump courageously defied the period’s customs and crossed the line of racial segregation, defying Gov. Wallace, setting in motion the integration of the University of Alabama and changing the course of American history. That’s the way it went down, and that is what should be taught in schools. Anyway, shall we set up a society in which personal relationships, romantic or otherwise, do not require government approval or registration? Also in the news lately, Tennessee has unveiled its new logo. Some are uncertain that those fonts truly represent their values, while others in the “penny pincher” crowd express skepticism that someone typing two letters on a red background is considered to be worth $46,000. I have taken the liberty of creating a new logo for the fine people of Tennessee. I have my limitations in Photoshop, but I was still able to bumble around and put no more than 20 minutes into this beautiful image you see above. It’s 100 times more awesome than that lame one the state paid for, and I will only bill, say, $9 grand. (Look at me, I’m an ad agency! Pay me.) Fly that flag with pride, Tennessee. Happy Independence Day. Remember the words of Thomas Jefferson: “A little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing.” Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM
* JULY 2015 * 3
Events COMPILED BY
THROUGH JULY 29
ANDREA STOCKARD
MALCO THEATRE KIDS SUMMER FILM FEST
Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com
THROUGHOUT JULY
SATURDAYS IN JULY
MOVIES UNDER THE STARS
SMYRNA DEPOT FARMERS’ MARKET
TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS RUTHERFORD COUNTY FARMERS’ MARKET Purchase fresh, local, organic food grown in more than 20 Middle Tennessee counties. Available fare includes fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, baked and canned goods, flowers, plants and more, from 7 a.m.–noon at Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). For more information, call (615) 898-7710 or visit extension.tennessee.edu/rutherford.
THURSDAYS IN JULY GET POP-CULTURED WITH BARNES AND NOBLE Every Thursday during July, Barnes and Nobles in the Avenue (2615 Medical Center Pkwy.) invites everyone to Throwback Thursday as they feature a different decade from the 1950s through the 1990s. Booksellers dress up in costumes and customers are encouraged to deck themselves out in costume as well. For more information, call (615) 890-8580 or visit bn.com/get-pop-cultured.
SATURDAYS IN JULY MAIN STREET SATURDAY MARKET Vendors surround the Rutherford County Courthouse in downtown Murfreesboro offering fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, meats, and flowers from 8 a.m.–noon. For more information, call (615) 895-1887 or visit downtownmurfreesboro.com. 4 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
The Croods
Enjoy local fresh produce, dairy and meat directly from the source to the consumer at the Smyrna Depot (98 Front St.) from 8 a.m.–noon each Saturday. For more information, contact (615) 330-0516 or vendors@carpeartista.com.
SATURDAYS IN JULY BICYCLE TOURS OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD Join a ranger for a 90-minute bicycle tour of the battlefield at 9 a.m. at Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.). Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 893-9501.
JULY 3 MAIN STREET’S FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE CONCERT SERIES Enjoy food vendors and more at Main Street’s Friday Night Live Concert Series at Murfreesboro Public Square from 6:30–9:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the band Everyday People. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 895-1887 or visit downtownmurfreesboro.com.
JULY 3 CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY AT OAKLANDS Oakland Historic Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) welcomes everyone to celebrate Independence Day from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. with a picnic where children can play 19th-century lawn games or tour the mansion, and everyone can enjoy live music featuring Bonnie
Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
and Bonnie. Pack a lunch and enjoy the day on one of the rocking chairs or checkered picnic blankets (or bring your own). For more information, contact (615) 893-0022 or events@oaklandsmuseum.org.
lavergnetn.gov, or visit lavergnetn.gov.
JULY 6 SCIENCE OF HISTORY SUMMER CAMP
JULY 4 A SOLDIER’S CHILD 4 ON THE 4TH RACE The annual 4 on the 4th race is a beautiful 4-mile run in historic Murfreesboro beginning at 8 a.m. at Providence Christian Academy (410 Dejarnette Ln.) to raise money for America’s fallen heroes. For more information, contact becky@asoldierschild.org or visit asoldierschild.org.
JULY 4 Celebrate America’s birthday with an evening of fireworks, music and fun at Veteran’s Memorial Park (115 Floyd Mayfield Dr.) at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. For more information, contact (615) 793-3224 or adavis@
JULY 6 LINEBAUGH HOSTS LOCAL AUTHOR CHRISTINA RUNKEL Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.) welcomes author Christina Runkel, who will be selling and signing copies of her book Images of America: Smyrna from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Runkel relays the magic of stories about Smyrna and its residents after becoming a resident during college. The images in this book were contributed by the Sam Davis Memorial Association collection, the Rutherford County Archives and many private collections and individuals. For more information, call (615) 893-4131 or visit linebaugh.org.
The Sam Davis Home and Plantation (1399 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna) teaches the community about the site’s natural resources while implementing hands-on activities encouraging environmental involvement. The Science of History Summer Camp offers activities such as a creek stomp, a meadow safari, outdoor living skills and even getting up-close and personal with some wildlife. Hours are from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Registration deadline is June 19. For more information, contact (615) 4592341 or visit samdavishome.org.
JULY 10–12
4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION
38TH ANNUAL UNCLE DAVE MACON DAYS FESTIVAL Come out for the 38th Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) for National Championships in old-time banjo, old-time buck dancing and old-time clogging, and other competitions and concerts. Click here for more information.
JULY 11 HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERY
RUNKEL BY JENNIFER DUNAWAY PHOTOGRAPHY
Enjoy family-friendly movies outdoors all summer with Movies Under the Stars presented by the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs or truck bed. Concessions available for purchase. Movies begin at 8:30 p.m. Locations are as follows: Mondays, Cason Lane Trailhead Tuesdays, Cannonsburgh Village Thursdays, Richard Siegel Neighborhood Park Fridays, Mitchell-Neilson Primary Saturdays, Hobgood Elementary Movies showing include: June 29–July 3 – Monkey Trouble July 6–11 – The Boxtrolls July 13–18 – Free Willy July 20–25 – Wreck-it Ralph For more information, contact (615) 8932141 or recreation@murfreesborotn.gov.
Over the years, the festival has raised thousands of dollars for various children’s charities. This year’s beneficiaries support various children’s hospitals throughout the mid-South. Every Tuesday and Wednesday from through July 29, Malco Theatres’ Smyrna Cinema will offer kids’ movies at 10 a.m. for just $2 per ticket. The summer schedule includes: June 30–July 1: The Croods July 7–8: Epic June 14–15: Alvin & the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked July 21–22: Ice Age: The Meltdown July 28–29: How to Train Your Dragon Malco’s Smyrna Cinema is located at 100 Movie Row, Smyrna. For more information, visit malco.com.
Spend an hour walking through the cemetery by lantern light while hearing the stories of soldiers and civilians that tell us about the terrible cost of the Civil War at Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 8939501 or visit nps.gov/stri.
JULY 11 TALENT SHOW BENEFITS
H.O.M.E. BOUND PROGRAM
JULY 15 LINEBAUGH LIBRARY SMYRNA HOSTS LOCAL AUTHOR CARROLL SILVERA Smyrna Public Library welcomes author Carroll Silvera at 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, as she sells and signs copies of her books Ancestral Bonz, What Doesn’t Kill You and Every 9 Seconds. Silvera lives in Tennessee and bases her stories around the history, geography and architecture of the state. Smyrna Public Library is located at 400 Enon Springs Road W. in Smyrna. For more information, call (615) 893-4131 or visit linebaugh.org.
JULY 15 FLICK ’N FLOAT Come out to Sports*Com Outdoor Pool (2310 Memorial Blvd.) at 8 p.m. (pool opens at 7:30 p.m.) for a free movie at ’Boro Beach! Bring your own float for the pool or a blanket to watch poolside. For more information, call (615) 890-5333. Admission is free.
JULY 16
successful entrepreneur and business consultant, has helped numerous small businesses increase their profits by assisting them in planning the steps they need to take and the order they need to take them, and in identifying and reaching their target market. The evening is open to all area business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. The series will continue the third Thursday of each month following July’s event. For more information, contact justin@maydaybrewery.com.
JULY 24 DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL
JUNE 16 SPLASH OUT! Join the Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department under the spray for water day at Old Fort Park, Pavilion #1 (916 Golf Ln.) from 1:30–3:30 p.m. Wear clothes and shoes suitable for getting wet in, and bring sunscreen and towel. Admission is free. Parents, stay and enjoy the water as well. For more information, call (615) 893-2141.
and their community. Enjoy coffee, pastries and the chance to meet and mingle with our service members and their families. For more information, call (615) 893-6565.
JULY 17 3RD FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES AT CANNONSBURGH VILLAGE Enjoy the 3rd Friday Night Concert Series at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 7 p.m.–9 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 890-0355.
JULY 17–19 MURFREESBORO ANTIQUE SHOW
Get involved and support the Alzheimer’s Association of Rutherford County with an evening of live music, silent auction, food, wine and beer from 4–7 p.m. (2744 Ashers Fork Dr.). Admission is $15 at the door. Sponsored by Creekside at Three Rivers Assisted Living and Senior Helpers. For more information, call (615) 895-3002.
This longstanding Murfreesboro tradition attracts some of the finest antique dealers from across the country at MTSU Murphy Center (2650 Middle Tennessee Blvd.) Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Items for sale include jewelry, art, glass, pottery, furniture, photographs, toys, collectibles and more. For more information, call (270) 237-5205 or visit murfreesboroantiqueshow.com.
JULY 17
JULY 18
COFFEE WITH THE VETERANS
KNIGHTS OF THE COURT 3-ON3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
SUMMER BREEZE MEMORIES
Join Operation Adopt a Hero at Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) on the third Friday of each month from 7:30–9 a.m. for Coffee With the Veterans, an informal, social networking event between local veterans
The Drum Corps International Tour returns as part of the 2015 Tour of Champions event series at the MTSU Floyd Stadium (1500 Greenland Dr.) at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call (800) 745-3000 or visit dci.org.
SPLASH PHOTOS BY JIM DAVIS/MURFREESBORO PARKS & REC
A talent showcase at Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.) will help the local H.O.M.E. Bound program raise money for men seeking to gain a second start in life. The showcase is open to all talents and all ages; performances will be limited to 3–5 minutes and the show will run from 5–7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11. H.O.M.E. BOUND is a rapid re-housing program that is designed to help homeless men in the Rutherford County area acquire a permanent residence, regain stability and develop life-long skills and confidence in order to become a positive, productive individual in today’s society. The organization strives to restore hope and transform lives by focusing on growth, financial management and self-sufficiency. To register for the talent show, or for more information on H.O.M.E. Bound, visit homeboundtn.org.
Lancaster Christian Academy (150 Soccer Way, Smyrna) coaches invite all area basketball players to participate in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament Saturday, July 18. Three games per team guaranteed. For more information, contact (615) 223-0451 or lcajodea@gmail.com.
JULY 24 FUN RUN Support the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department in the celebration of Parks and Recreation month at Gateway Island and Reception Center (1875 W. College St.) at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 24. Runners and walkers welcome. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 890-5333.
JULY 21
JULY 28
CONQUERING STRESS, HEADACHES AND TENSION
BREAKFAST WITH CHAMPIONS
It is easy for your brain to work overtime when you are physically overworking and taking on some not-so-healthy habits like excessive caffeine consumption, lack of fresh air, stress, exposure to harsh lighting, poor nutrition and other health-affecting choices. Learn how your body handles everyday stressors and how to improve your overall health in your workplace at Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce (3050 Medical Center Pkwy.) from 7:45–10 a.m. Presented by Colleen Vanderkolk, Neurologist, Headache Specialist with St. Thomas Medical Partners. For more information, call (615) 893-6565.
JULY 23 THE CONNECTION, BUSINESS NETWORKING AT MAYDAY Mayday Brewery will launch a new monthly event on Thursday, July 23. The Connection: an Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming will be from 5–8 p.m. at the brewery, 521 Old Salem Road. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, no-obligation event where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. Robert Ritch will lead an open roundtable discussion, encouraging participation from those in attendance, asking them to articulate their vision for their business, and calling for examples of some of the business challenges and solutions they are experiencing. Ritch, a
Join Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) from 8–9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, for breakfast and a presentation on the finances and brands of billion-dollar start-ups like Uber, Snapchat, Pinterest and Buzzfeed. Learn about their intellectual properties: patents, trademarks, trade secrets, IP protection and copyrights. Hosted by Erik Runnels, who began his career in the patent department of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Contact info@cultivatecoworking.com or (615) 203-6084 for reservations.
JULY 31 END OF SUMMER LUAU AT PATTERSON PARK With summer drawing to an end, what better way to start the new school year than with a luau-themed swim party at Patterson Park Indoor Pool (521 Mercury Blvd.) from 6–10 p.m. Friday, July 31. Ages 7–13, enjoy food, a craft and lots of swimming. For more information, call (615) 893-7439.
AUG. 1 RIDE 4 TAY POKER RUN AND CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT The Ride 4 Tay Poker Run offers prizes for the best and worst hand in the poker run, as well as a corn hole tournament, food, music and more. Ride Registration is from 8–9:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at Sloan’s (2233 N.W. Broad St.) The race ends at Dewayne’s Handlebar (2601 E Main St.). For more information, contact (615) 9488181 or live4tayfoundation@gmail.com. BOROPULSE.COM
* JULY 2015 * 5
Concerts JULY 2015
Send show listings to listings@boropulse.com
THE BORO
Pine Box Boys, Sweet Georgia Brown
BUNGANUT PIG
THE BORO
JD Shelburne Duo
Jrenka
MAIN STREET MUSIC
Distortion Sleep, Another Dead Saint, Infamous
The O’Donnells
CANNONSBURGH
Ralph Stanley, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Robert Eskew and more
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
The Clydesdales
TEMPT
David Heartbreak, DJ Skinny B, Beat Bear, Forte Forte
FRI, 7/3 BUNGANUT PIG
Zone Status
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
SUN, 7/5 BUNGANUT PIG
Reilly’s Writers Night
THE BORO
Swing Night with the Wonderin’ Cowboys
Joe West
COCONUT BAY CAFE
DJ TruFX
MAYDAY BREWERY
Woodferd
MURFREESBORO PUBLIC SQUARE
Everyday People
THE GREEN DRAGON
Uncle Don Clark
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
Joe West
Liberty Valance
Davie and the Untamed
THE POUR HOUSE
Crazy Rabbit
TEMPT
Wuki
THE ALLEY
Karaoke with Hitman Bar Room Prophets
Black Market Research, The Wooly Mamas, Steam Boars, Amos Moses and the Legend
THE BORO
Vamptones, Sweetcheeks
THE POUR HOUSE
Renegade Canyon
Reilly's Writers Night Swing Night with the Wonderin’ Cowboys
MON, 7/20 THE POUR HOUSE
The Al DeLuca Jam
TUES, 7/21 BUNGANUT PIG
Jon Myers
WED, 7/22 BUNGANUT PIG
JD Shelburne Duo
THURS, 7/23
Amons Moses and the Legend
BUNGANUT PIG
SUN, 7/12 BUNGANUT PIG
Reilly's Writers Night
CANNONSBURGH
Larry Cordle and Lonesome Standard Time, Kristina Craig and Exit 148 and more
THE BORO
Swing Night with the Wonderin’ Cowboys
Eskew Band
NACHO’S
Ivan LaFever
THE BORO
All-Star Jam with Stuart Montez
FRI, 7/24 BUNGANUT PIG
My July Band
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
Joe West
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Dark Before Dawn, The Verge, Caliber
BUNGANUT PIG
Crossroads
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
Joe West
Chris Freund, Lauryn Snapp
Bonhoeffer’s 610 Dill Ln., 907-2890
Debi Lynn and The Jr. Brown Band
Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd. 893-7860
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR THE BORO
WALL STREET
Dingzui, Meatbanana
SUN, 7/26 BUNGANUT PIG
Reilly's Writers Night
THE BORO
Swing Night with the Wonderin’ Cowboys
MON, 7/27 THE POUR HOUSE
The Al DeLuca Jam
TUES, 7/28 BUNGANUT PIG
Justin Thomas
THE BORO
Twin Cities
WED, 7/29 BUNGANUT PIG
Madison Shea
THURS, 7/30 BUNGANUT PIG
Charleyhorse Band
NACHO’S
Ivan LaFever
ARTS CENTER OF CANNON COUNTY
Forever Abbey Road
BUNGANUT PIG
Crusty Veterans
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
Joe West
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Crossroads
MAIN STREET MUSIC
Falcon One
MAYDAY BREWERY
Surrender Hill
SAT, 8/1 AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO
DJ Britt, Sterfry, Josh Wilsdorf, Glowstik Ninja, Ryan Frame, My Alter Ego, PapaBear
Uncle Don Clark
Joe West
JOURNEY POINTE CHURCH
WILLIE’S WET SPOT
THE POUR HOUSE
TUES, 7/7
WED, 7/15
BUNGANUT PIG
BUNGANUT PIG
Shane Douglas
View Concert Listings Online:
Georgia’s Sports Bar and Grill 555 S. Lowry St. Smyrna, 267-0295 Hippie Hill 8627 Burks Hollow Rd. 796-3697 Journey Point Church 1267 Middle Tennessee Blvd., 896-9272 JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Level III 114 S. Maple St. 900-3754
Main St. Music 527 W. Main St. 440-2425
MTSU FLOYD STADIUM
David Perez
Eisenhouser 1209 Twin Oak Dr.
FRI, 7/31
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
D. Franey
Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 494-0504
Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822
All-Star Jam with Stuart Montez
THE POUR HOUSE
BUNGANUT PIG
Carmen’s Taqueria 206 W. Northfield Blvd. 848-9003
THE BORO
Lost Dawg
Drum Corps International
Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy. Woodbury 563-2787 Autograph Rehearsal Studio 1400 W. College St. 631-2605
MON, 7/13 The Al DeLuca Jam
IF YOU GO:
DJ RDP
COCONUT BAY CAFE
MAYDAY BREWERY
THE POUR HOUSE
6 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
Joe West
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Uncle Don Clark
THE BORO
TUES, 7/14
Jake & Peg Leg Stompers
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
THE BORO
The SteelDrivers, Hog Slop String Band, The Glade City Rounders and more
MON, 7/6 The Al DeLuca Jam
Everyday People
CANNONSBURGH
MAYDAY BREWERY
The Sugar Daddys
BUNGANUT PIG
BUNGANUT PIG
Come together for a night with the music of The Beatles, as Forever Abbey Road reminds fans of the Fab Four that all you need is love. The band—Adam Therrien, John Salaway, Josh Horne, Jon Loyd and Jay Szalay— will perform at the Arts Center of Cannon County on Friday, July 31. The quintet’s exciting live show features favorites from The Beatles’ entire catalog. For tickets or more information, visit artscenterofcc.com.
All-Star Jam with Stuart Montez
SAT, 7/18
SUN, 7/19
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR
Chase Perryman
Alyssa Jacey
BUNGANUT PIG
FRIDAY, 7/31 @ THE ARTS CENTER OF CANNON COUNTY
THE POUR HOUSE
MAYDAY BREWERY
SAT, 7/11 Escape
Ivan LaFever
Zone Status
MAYDAY BREWERY
THE POUR HOUSE
THE BORO
Uptown Country
Scott Free
Ryan Boss
On the Water
Joe West
Joe West
MAYDAY BREWERY
MAYDAY BREWERY
Marshall Creek
CARMEN’S TAQUERIA
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Lost Cranes
BUNGANUT PIG
COCONUT BAY CAFE
BUNGANUT PIG
NACHO’S
FRI, 7/17
THE BORO
FRI, 7/10
EISENHOUSER
All-Star Jam with Stuart Montez
CANNONSBURGH
All-Star Jam with Stuart Montez
SAT, 7/4
Ivan LaFever
NACHO’S
Ivan LaFever
BUNGANUT PIG
AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO
The O'Donnells
NACHO’S
BUNGANUT PIG
THURS, 7/2
SAT, 7/25
BUNGANUT PIG
WED, 7/8 THURS, 7/9
PULSE FOREVER ABBEY ROAD, PICK
THURS, 7/16
Melanie Winn
Stuart Montez
Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722 MTSU Wright Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 898-2469 Nacho’s 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 907-2700 Tempt 211 W. Main St. 615-225-7757 The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800 The Green Dragon 714-F W. Main St. 801-7171 The Pour House 2404 Halls Hill Pk. 615-603-7978 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090 Willie’s Wet Spot 1208 S. Lowery St., Smyrna 355-0010
ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
DJ, Bingo, Trivia & Karaoke NIGHTS IN MURFREESBORO
MONDAYS BUNGANUT PIG Live Trivia, 7 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7–11 p.m. TGI FRIDAY’S Live Trivia, 7 p.m.
TUESDAYS OLD CHICAGO Live Trivia, 9 p.m. COCONUT BAY CAFÉ Live Trivia, 7:30 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7–11 p.m. NACHOS Live Trivia, 7 p.m. NOBODY’S Bingo, 7 p.m. THE BOULEVARD Karaoke, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. MELLOW MUSHROOM Live Trivia, 8 p.m.
NOBODY’S Live Trivia, 7 and 9:30 p.m. SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Live Trivia, 8 p.m.
MT BOTTLE Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.
THURSDAYS
SATURDAYS
CAMPUS PUB Live Trivia, 8:15 p.m. COCONUT BAY Karaoke, 8 p.m. LA SIESTA (CHURCH ST.) Karaoke, 6 p.m. NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. SPORTS SEASONS Live Trivia, 7 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE Karaoke, 9 p.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.
CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. NACHOS Live Trivia, 7 p.m. NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.
FRIDAYS NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. LA SIESTA (CHURCH ST.) Karaoke, 6 p.m. LA SIESTA (GREENLAND) Trivia, 7 p.m.
SUNDAYS O’POSSUMS Live Trivia, 8 p.m. LA SIESTA (CHURCH ST.) Karaoke, 6 p.m. THE POUR HOUSE DJ, 7 p.m. SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Live Trivia, 8 p.m. Send information on weekly entertainment events to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com
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BOROPULSE.COM
* JULY 2015 * 7
Sounds
MTSU Mass Communications Students Gain “Real-World” Experience at Bonnaroo BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK
O
ED HELMS
BRANDI CARSLILE BOY NAMED BANJO
THE EARLS OF LEICESTER
STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO | PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO
Mumford & Sons, Billy Joel, Bassnectar, Ben Harper Highlight 2015 Installment of Bonnaroo Festival MUMFORD & SONS CLOSED THEIR Saturday night main-stage set at the ’Roo this year with a grand, guest-gang Beatles tribute—Hozier, Ed Helms, members of My Morning Jacket and Dawes, Rhiannon Giddens and Danny Clinch all joined them onstage for one of those epic Bonnaroo singalongs that occasionally happen. In one of those surprise moments that lifted the spirits of weary concertgoers and got tens of thousands of people singing in sync, peals of the very-appropriate-for-a-massive-festivalatmosphere chorus “I get by with a little help from my friends” arose from Manchester. Bonnaroo 2015 also featured Ben Harper, Earth, Wind & Fire, My Morning Jacket and some of that rap and EDM music the kids like these days. I could picture one of those increasingly popular hot air balloon lantern things flying right into a snack tent’s funnel cake grease during the Billy Joel set and igniting the very dry grass . . . as he sang “We Didn’t Start the Fire” . . . but luckily, all lanterns launched successfully. This year’s Bonnaroo may be remembered as the year Billy Joel’s guitar tech rocked the crowd and nearly stole the show; a buzz of excitement spread through the crowd during 8 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
Mr. Joel’s festival-closing performance as unexpected sounds of “Highway to Hell” came from the sound system. Comments the likes of “who is that singing?” “what’s going on?” and “oh, hey, we know this one, let’s belt it out!” began to circulate. The singer turned out to be known as “Chainsaw,” a member of the road crew for Billy Joel, who had switched from piano to guitar for this AC/DC number. Naturally, the set also featured Joel’s own biggest hits as well, including “Piano Man,” “Only the Good Die Young” and “She’s Always a Woman.” Two thousand fifteen may also be remem-
bered as the year Slayer came to Bonnaroo; Cartman, we all recall, used the music of Slayer to disperse hippies at a music festival in a classic South Park episode, but, alas, it turns out that a little metal couldn’t destroy Bonnaroo, and despite the heavy metal sounds of Slayer, the festival crowds hung around. Mr. Ed Helms has helped fuel a genuine movement, promoting the resurgence of string band music, and the actor, musician and organizer of bluegrass wonderfulness brought together the Punch Brothers, Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn and others under his Bluegrass Situation banner in the That Tent on Sunday afternoon. As has been widely noted, the festival has undergone many changes since its inception in 2002. Macbook-wielding acts like Bassnectar and Deadmou5 are receiving prime-time spots, large numbers of indie-rock and EDMloving youngsters have replaced the Deadheads of old, and there are more bass drops than extended jam-band guitar solos, but that’s OK. Music changes, culture evolves. One thing remains the same, though—every year on the farm, come the second week of June, it’s always Bonnaroo, it’s always magical and, from Centeroo to Camp Kielbasa, the Bonnaroovians let the good vibes roll once again. To view some of the performances from this year’s Bonnaroo, visit redbull.tv/ bonnaroo.
f the many Middle Tennessee State University students who walked under Bonnaroo’s rainbow arch for a weekend of nonstop music, a group of production and recording arts students played an integral role in the music heard at one of the festival’s many stages. Now in its second year, the University’s partnership with the Festival grew tremendously, thanks to the addition of about 40 students and the university’s $1.7 million Mobile Production Lab. Electronic media production and recording industry students joined forces with industry professionals to operate video, audio and editing production gear for Bonnaroo’s Who Stage for four shows each day. Ken Paulson, dean of MTSU’s College of Mass Communication, forged the partnership in 2014, and was granted the opportunity to bring several more students to “The Farm” this year. “MTSU had a very positive partnership last year, and we were asked if we could build on that,” Paulson explained in an interview, calling it an “education opportunity unlike any other.” The video production group, having now tripled in size, isn’t new to the demands that come with working a live event in what some students refer to as “The Truck.” The college has also worked behind the scenes for concerts with Capitol Records, performances at Loveless Cafe and events at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, among many others. Students worked alongside industry professionals to produce multimedia content for the four-day event. The team gathered vital experience by using state-of-the-art video and editing equipment, but also by learning from mistakes along the way. “There’s always the chance for a few small troubles, but everything is running smoothly for the most part,” said MTSU graduate student Paula Hernandez, who worked audio for the festival. Like Hernandez, Devan Kochersperger, graduate student in recording arts and technologies, also worked audio during Bonnaroo. He says the opportunity opens the door to connect with potential employers while gaining “real-world” experience. “We’re doing a scaled-down version of what they do in the big leagues, but we also get to work with professional sound engineers as well,” Kochersperger said. “We’re dipping our toes in the pond of what is, hopefully, future employment.” (This article was published in cooperation with the Seigenthaler News Service.)
ALBUM REVIEWS
BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK
NAVAEH
NORMAL FOX
Find A Way
The Tragic Hero
3.5
3.5
From Nashville-based Navaeh comes the group’s newly released third studio endeavor, Find a Way, a nine-track effort full of punchy guitar lines, vigorous cymbal work and howling vocals. As of late, members Andrew Godfrey and Ernest Morris received local traction when Nashville’s 102.9 The Buzz spotlighted the record’s third track, “Fraud,” as a “Buzz Cut of the Week.” Find a Way kicks off in full force with its title track, which adopts a sound strongly influenced by musical mentors and post-grunge rockers Foo Fighters. It’s immediately followed by “Looking In,” a song that harbors pure aggression. Godfrey sings: Suffer the quiet, a lonely defeat Take on the terror of when you retreat Enlist the void that will never be filled Sounds of regression lay high on the hill While most tracks rock with intensity, many of the album’s finer moments shine on the softer, more abstract compositions. A prime example is the astral-sounding track “Lemon Kisses,” which features memorable and mesmerizing harmonies. Every moving part on “My Head” hits its pinnacle with pensive drums, soaring guitar riffs and a growling yet powerful vocal performance strikingly familiar to the roughhewn style of Dave Grohl. Although many of the songs are odes to its influences, Navaeh’s sound is solid enough to avoid sounding too campy. The album’s depth is pleasantly surprising given its vague song titles, such as cuts “Looking In,” “Alone Again” and “In the Void,” all of which feature dense instrumentation and thought-provoking lyrics. Navaeh performs frequently in the Nashville area, and their upcoming show dates can be found on their Facebook page. To order Find a Way or to listen to previous Navaeh releases, visit navaehrocks.com.
RATINGS: AVERAGE
Normal Fox’s full-length LP The Tragic Hero is highly accessible for dedicated pop-punk fans. A progressive follow-up to the 2013 EP, The Boy Who Couldn’t Change Anything, it reveals a sound that has matured by mixing the popular genre with elements of post-hardcore and emo. The album hardly skips a beat after its acoustic opener, “Presque Vu,” which captures that “tip-of-thetongue” feeling with lyrics like I believe that there’s something more and There’s a lot of things that I thought that you thought, too, before transitioning into “Memphis,” which tells the predictable story of a girl falling in love with, you guessed it, Memphis. These moments give a glimpse into life as a lovesick twenty-something with foreseeable narratives of romance and regret threaded through sugary punk melodies, like on “Emo Girls” and “Fishing for Whales.” This is expected, given the members’ ages (the band formed while they were all music students in 2012). The band hails from Oshkosh, Wis., but vocalist Derek Fredericksen has recently spent some time in Murfreesboro. Fredericksen says he is looking to perform at as many open mics and acoustic shows as possible while in Tennessee to promote his music and songwriting. The Tragic Hero is roughly 30 minutes in length from front to back, but with its sharp melodies and aggressive hooks, it feels much longer. Normal Fox—comprised of Fredericksen, Trae Titus, Spencer Fox and Jacob Sveum—rides on raw emotion, whether it stems from love, regret or victory. Although Normal Fox occasionally experiments with different styles, the album’s best moments are those which stay true to traditional pop-punk. The disc comes to a close with its sole ballad, “Common Sense,” with Fredericksen calling out repeatedly, Who says you can’t live forever? All in all, Normal Fox’s strong power-chord choruses will stick in your head for days. For more information on Normal Fox, find them on Facebook and Bandcamp.
A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE
OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS
DEAD BOROPULSE.COM
* JULY 2015 * 9
MUSIC NOTES
BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK
MUSIC CITY DRUM CORPS RETURN Bands from across the country will return to Middle Tennessee State University’s Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium on Friday, July 24, for the Drum Corps International’s The Masters of the Summer Music Games. The event will feature pre-show entertainment and competitive performances by nine drum corps ensembles from across the country, including Nashville’s very own Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, the Blue Devils of Concord, Calif., The Cadets of Allentown, Pa., the Bluecoats of Canton, Ohio, and others. Beginning at 7 p.m., Drum Corps International will bring three hours of family-friendly entertainment by giving fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the drum corps experience. Tickets range from $30–45 and are available for purchase at ticketmaster.com, however, tickets increase $5 in all sections the day of the show. For more information on “Marching Music’s Major League,” visit dci.org.
MAYDAY’S “COLLEGE NIGHT” SET TO RUN THROUGH AUG. 5 Whether spending the summer enrolled in courses, working or enjoying the semester off, college students now have a special night to celebrate the season. From now until Aug. 5, college students will be able to enjoy live music and 2-for-1 pints on Wednesday nights at Mayday Brewery. Local artists, DJs and bands take the stage each week, with performances scheduled from 5–8 p.m. and occasional late-night sets lasting until midnight. Previous acts include local favorites Mouth Reader, Nashville-based The Shy, Meth Dad and many more. Check out Mayday’s Facebook page or maydaybrewery.com to stay up to date on announced bands and drink specials for the College Night Summer Series. Mayday is located at 521 Old Salem Rd.
10 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
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* JULY 2015 * 11
Sounds DR. RALPH STANLEY AND THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS
Some Bluegrass A Little ]
]
Old-Time Oldime &
A Whole Lot oƒ Talent Murfreesboro’s Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days is Back! STORY BY SARAH H. CLARK
U
RALPH STANLEY COURTESY WILL MCINTIRE
ncle Dave Macon Days, coming up July 10–12, has been a Murfreesboro tradition since 1978, when the first festival was held on the Square. It replaced 1977’s Homegrown Days, and this time the name stuck. It was the brainchild of Jesse Messick, the owner of Martin Rexall Drug Store, with help from Macon’s grandson, Ramsey Macon. The first festival lasted only a day, part of which was rained out, and was supported by donations of $25 each from some of the local merchants. Messick and Macon just wanted to commemorate the musical legend who had sometimes sat picking on the steps of the Rutherford County courthouse—and so they did. But the festival was only just getting started.
It was in 1982 that Gloria Christy, the outgoing festival director for many years now, first got involved. She was good friends with Messick, who asked her to help him put together a display of old photographs to display at that year’s Uncle Dave Macon Days. After attending, however, Christy was hooked. “I was fascinated by the talent—and by the authenticity,” she says. “People were literally coming out of the hollers.” She loved the music, as well as its history and impact on American popular music over time. “The story wasn’t being told,” she says. “Interest in this music, and in saving rural culture, has come in waves.” One wave hit in the 1970s, she says, and a lot of the banjo-picking contests that continue to this day emerged around that time. “They showcased the talent, and that’s been passed on to the people who play now,” Christy explains. In a similar way, Christy herself is passing 12 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
the baton of running the festival. This year, her son, Ben Wilson, is taking over the organization and day-to-day operations of putting this event together. Wilson’s goal is to uphold the festival’s traditions while also tweaking the format to put the emphasis of the festival where he thinks it belongs. “Every year some of the members of the bands who come say they competed [at UDMD] when they were younger,” says Wilson. “The Steep Canyon Rangers competed here as teenagers,” he offers as an example. And it’s on those competitions that showcase homegrown talent and raise up the players of the next generation that Wilson wants to shine the biggest spotlight. So this year, he’s brought in a full-set show at 7 and 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. And after those shows, which he hopes will draw the biggest crowds, the championships for the day’s contests will take place. Friday will feature the band and jug band finales, while on Sat-
THE STEELDRIVERS
urday the night will end with the bluegrass, old-time and banjo championships. “The competitions are the heart of the festival,” says Wilson. He hopes the folks who come out for the big-name bands will stay to see the talent that comes together for Uncle Dave Macon Days. And of course Uncle Dave Macon Days has a lot more than music, too. It takes place on the grounds of historic Cannonsburgh Village. While demonstrators and competitors showcase the history of our region’s music, attendees can see the physical history of the historic homes and buildings of Cannonsburgh and watch demonstrations of black-
smithing in the village’s working forge. On Sunday, there will be a car show from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and, of course, there will be plenty of good food available for guests. Day passes for Uncle Dave Macon Days cost only $10, and a three-day pass to attend the whole festival is $20. Children under 12 can attend the festival for free. This year’s Uncle Dave Macon Days, to be held July 10–12, will be star-studded, drawing some of the finest bluegrass artists in the country. The Murfreesboro Pulse talked to some of the musicians about their musical pasts, their new albums, and their upcoming time in Murfreesboro.
Uncle Dave Macon Days 2015 Schedule FRIDAY, JULY 10 Main Stage 10 a.m. Uncle Dave Daze Band 1 p.m. Competitions: Dulcimer, Dobro, Harmonica, Begining Instrumental 4 p.m. Tommy Jackson (Rocky Top Review) 5 p.m. Competitions: Jug Band, Uncle Dave Macon Free Wheelin’, Macon Doubler Fellowship 6:15 p.m. Colors and Pledge to the Flag 7 p.m. Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out 8 p.m. Ralph Stanley 9 p.m. Competitions: Jug Band
RUSSELL MOORE & IIIRD TYME OUT
RUSSELL MOORE AND IIIRD TYME OUT FRIDAY, JULY 10 S 7 P.M.
“Uncle Dave Macon still influences the music we play today,” says Russell Moore. And Moore would know—he’s been part of the bluegrass and old-time scene since he was 8 or 9 years old, he says. That’s when his cousins first introduced him to bluegrass by inviting him to a festival in southeast Texas. “I was intrigued by the jam sessions, where you could get right up close to the performers,” he says. By age 11, with the help of his mom’s LP recording of the Osborne Brothers, he had decided to learn the guitar. “I was committed,” he says. “I wanted to move people with music like they did.” At age 15, he joined his first band. Moore has been with IIIrd Tyme Out since 1991, and Moore says the makeup of the band is now the best it’s ever been. Each player’s strengths add up to an ensemble he’s excited to record and play with, he says—and he’s excited about their latest record, which will be released soon. The first single from the record, “Brown Country Red,” reached the top of Bluegrass Today’s Top 20 Songs chart for the month of June. The material from the album, says Moore, is what fans have come to expect from IIIrd Tyme Out: a mixture of traditional, contemporary and plain out-ofthe-box offerings. “Some of the songs aren’t even technically ‘bluegrass,’” he says. “We just throw in the kitchen sink. There’s a little bit of something for everybody, but we’re still holding true to our roots.” Moore has participated in Uncle Dave Macon Days before, several years ago: “It was a great time—a wonderful production,” he says. One of Moore’s earliest recollections of Uncle Dave was hearing his song “Rockaby My Fair Jane” being played bluegrass-style at a festival in Louisiana. He still considers Macon hugely influential, both in his interaction with Bill Monroe and in his songs that are still played today. “We always try to arrive [for a festival] in time to mingle and listen to the other
bands—they’re our peers and friends,” says Moore. “We try to take in the whole event. We’re excited to be celebrating Uncle Dave Macon, his music and legacy, and his connection to bluegrass.”
THE STEELDRIVERS SATURDAY, JULY 11 S 8 P.M.
“I love Murfreesboro, and what it stands for,” says Gary Nichols, lead vocalist of the SteelDrivers. “It’s a beautiful area, and there are a lot of people there who love the earth.” He’s really looking forward to Uncle Dave Macon Days, not least because of the opportunity to hear some of the other bands playing, he says. “I love playing festivals.” Nichols has been with The SteelDrivers, a five-piece bluegrass band based out of Nashville, for five years. He joined as guitarist and lead vocalist of the group after the departure of Chris Stapleton. Those were big shoes to fill, says Nichols, who was already a big admirer of Stapleton. But music isn’t new to Nichols. He was in his first band and around age 5 or 6—and played his first gig around then, too. At first he just played covers—one of his first memories is of belting “Elvira” at the age of 2—but songwriting followed soon after. “There’s something in my head that wants to get out,” says Nichols. He’s never wanted to do anything other than music. Fortunately, he had musicians on both sides of his family, and his mother gave him his first instrument, a ukulele, when he was just 11 months old. After joining The SteelDrivers, says Nichols, “I felt like the new guy through Hammer Down.” Over the years he’s gotten more comfortable with his place in the group. It’s with their newest record, The Muscle Shoals Recordings, that he finally feels “100 percent myself ” as part of the band. With five songwriting credits on the 11-track record as well as a contribution from his longtime friend Jason Isbell, Nichols says that, of all the music he’s been part of, this is what he’s most proud of. One of the songs on The SteelDrivers’
Dixie Dew Drop Stage 10 a.m. Mid-State Cloggers 1 p.m. Hillary Klug & the Dixie Dewdrops 2 p.m. Uncle Dave Daze Band 3 p.m. Competitions: Singing, Blues Singing 6 p.m. Mid-State Cloggers 7 p.m. Haint Hollow Hootenanny 8:45 p.m. Robert Eskew 9:40 p.m. Grasstime SATURDAY, JULY 11 Main Stage 10 a.m. Competitions: Buck Dance (Junior, Adult And Senior), Clogging (Junior, Adult And Senior) 1 p.m. Competitions: Fiddle, Old-Time Banjo, Old-Time Band
new record should have particular resonance for Murfreesboro citizens, since it takes its theme from one of the town’s biggest historical events: the Battle of Stones River. The tune, “River Runs Red,” tells the story of the New Years’ night before the battle, when the Northern troops’ band played “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and the Southerners responded with “Dixie Land,” ever louder, throughout the night—but at dawn, the two joined together for a rendition of “Home Sweet Home.” The tune, co-written by fiddler and vocalist Tammy Rogers, is one of Nichols’s favorite songs from their new record.
DR. RALPH STANLEY AND THE CLINCH MOUNTAIN BOYS FRIDAY, JULY 10 S 8 P.M.
“The Stanley Sound is its own kind of music— it’s very rare,” says Nathan Stanley, grandson of bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley and lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the Clinch Mountain Boys. The Stanley Sound is exactly what listeners should expect from the Clinch Mountain Boys, too—old-time bluegrass and gospel with Dr. Stanley’s own particular flair. Nathan has been learning from his famous grandfather practically from the cradle—he made his first public appearance at his grandfather’s side when he was only 2 years old and played the spoons on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. “I had no idea how important that stage was, of course,” he says. But he was with his papaw, and that’s the only place he ever wanted to be. “He was the only father figure I ever knew,” he explains. Nathan’s been touring with his grandfather ever since,
4 p.m. Competitions: Buck Dance Finals (Junior, Adult and Senior), Clogging Finals (Junior, Adult and Senior), Fiddle, Bluegrass Banjo, Bluegrass Band, Old-Time Banjo, Old-Time Band 7 p.m. Hog Slop String Band 8 p.m. The Steeldrivers 9:30 p.m. Competitions: Old-Time Banjo Finals, Bluegrass Banjo Finals, Bluegrass Band Finals, Old-Time Band Finals Dixie Dew Drop Stage 9:30 a.m. Hillary Klug & the Dixie Dew Drops 10:30 a.m. Competitions: Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Bluegrass Banjo, Bluegrass Band 1 p.m. Mid-State Cloggers 3 p.m. Hillary Klug & the Dixie Dew Drops 4 p.m. Greg Reish 5 p.m. Robert Eskew 6 p.m. Robyn Taylor 7 p.m. Glade City Rounders 9 p.m. Greg Reish 10 p.m. Open Mic SUNDAY, JULY 12 Main Stage 1 p.m. Hymns Led By Andy Collins, Followed By Message 2 p.m. 3 Point Hitch 4:45 p.m. Kristina Craig & Exit 148 6 p.m. Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time
playing as many as 200 shows a year. From the spoons, he graduated to the mandolin at around age 10 and was officially hired to play in his grandfather’s band. At 15, he assumed his current role as lead singer and switched to playing rhythm guitar. He’s released several solo records as well—and he’s only 23 now. Together, the two Stanleys have just released their latest record, Gospel Favorites. “Gospel music is our favorite music to sing,” says Stanley. They’ve recorded some old favorites, as well as several new songs. Meanwhile, the Clinch Mountain Boys are doing better than ever. “They’re a wonderful band—there’s more unity now than there ever has been,” he says. That helps when the band plays almost every weekend—though the Stanleys always head to Coeburn, Va., to rest at home during the week. Now aged 88, Dr. Ralph Stanley will have been in the music business for 70 years in October of this year. “He’s an iconic musician,” says the younger Stanley, a fact that is certainly undeniable. His grandfather, notably, will perform at Uncle Dave Macon Days, probably coming onstage about half an hour into the Clinch Mountain Boys’ set. “I’m honored to be coming to the festival. I’ve heard so much good about it,” says Stanley. The band will also be signing autographs and giving away a signed guitar at the end of the night to one lucky festival attendee who purchases a copy of their new record. For more information on this year’s Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival, including the full schedule, visit uncledavemacondays.com. BOROPULSE.COM
* JULY 2015 * 13
Art
JULY ART EVENTS
ARTIST CAROL CURTIS TO EXHIBIT AT CITY HALL AN EXHIBIT OF PAINTINGS BY CAROL CURTIS will be exhibited in Murfreesboro’s City Hall through July 24. Accomplished in working with watercolors, Curtis is equally gifted in pencil drawing and oils. Having studied architecture at Auburn University, she began working for the Hyatt Hotel Corporation after graduation. The work was a blend of management, hospitality and visual art that often involved the opening of new hotel locations around the United States. With her Southern roots to pull from, Curtis drew upon her Hyatt experience and applied it to successful ventures in catering, textile design and painting. Of her work she states, “My designs capture the essence of still life and botanicals in exquisite detail.” Her work clearly shows her passion as an artist for combining her eye for color with her appreciation for the textures and fluid lines found in the garden. Committed to lifelong learning, Curtis teaches painting through workshops and classes. Curtis will present a total of 42 paintings in the Rotunda; the show, like all exhibits at City Hall, is free and open to the public for viewing on Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., except for observed holidays. The Rotunda Gallery of City Hall is located at 111 W. Vine St. For questions about the exhibit, call (615) 542-6368. For more information on the artist, visit carolcurtisart.com or email carol.curtis1@gmail.com.
ART CRAWL MEETING THERE ARE MANY TALENTED artists in Murfreesboro, and a large art crawl may just be what the city needs to bring out the talent. The Center for the Arts (110 W. College St.) hosts a community discussion at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, for those who are interested in starting a Murfreesboro Art Crawl. Artists, business owners and all who are interested are welcome. For more, find a Murfreesboro Art Crawl Discussion event page on Facebook.
WILD BRAVE YONDER! ART EXHIBIT WILD BRAVE YONDER! is an art exhibit of paintings by Pamela Cisneros at Center for the Arts (110 W. College St.) Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.–5 p.m. through July 12. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 904-2787 or visit boroarts.org.
JEN WALKER ART EXHIBIT VIEW THE ARTWORK OF JEN WALKER Tuesdays through Fridays, July 15–Aug. 30, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Center for the Arts (110 W. College St.). Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (615) 904-2787 or visit boroarts.org. 14 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
CFA SEEKING 2016 GALLERY SUBMISSIONS MURFREESBORO’S CENTER FOR THE ARTS IS CURRENTLY seeking submissions from area artists for its 2016 gallery schedule. To submit work contact mai@boroarts. org with: a name, web address, phone number; artist statement, exhibition history and/or bio; and 5–10 sample images of artwork, including title, dimensions, medium, year, and price for each work. Artists may also mail submissions to: Center for the Arts Gallery, 110 W. College St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130.
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* JULY 2015 * 15
Art
“Billy”
“Grande”
“Fairy” “Alien”
“MASTERS PIECES” PAINTING COLLECTION ON DISPLAY AT MAYDAY BREWERY WHEN CRAFT BEER is intertwined with culture, the result can enrich a community, helping to indicate the quality of life that visitors and residents can expect from a city. The folks at Mayday Brewery, 521 Old Salem Road, want to help shape local culture by introducing Rutherford County to all kinds of new tastes. Supplementing the business of beer with event programming, Mayday is launching a monthly series of art shows that will bring artists from all over the Middle Tennessee area. Starting on July 30, the creative experiment will begin in the form of a monthly series featuring a new artist each month. The upcoming Mayday show, titled “Masters Pieces,” will feature the works of professional artist Mickey Masters. Neither
a slouch nor a slave to convention, Masters’ infamy came from taking the practice of fine art to uncharted territory in commissioned works. His work is probably most recognized by frequenters of Nashville’s West End who have viewed his “Mapco Mural.” The Pulse recently caught up with Mickey to discuss the upcoming art show. How would you describe your art? My personal series are usually erotic, dark, primal, while pushing the boundaries of whatever mediums I am using. When I say pushing boundaries, I mean using unconventional mediums purposefully, or more familiar mediums in strange ways, to execute so that the piece has a bigger impression. I also like constantly exploring different me-
diums and techniques so as not to become stagnant. But I also have abstract and other collections that contain other subject matter, sometimes lighter. For this particular showcase, what can you tell readers about the pieces you’ve selected? In addition to the previously mentioned collections, I will also be showcasing some pieces that are more technically driven that take a street-art spray-paint idea and push it. Like an eight-foot black-light responsive space scene, which I have had a demand for, because of their size, look like wall murals but aren’t painted on the actual wall and can be moved. So it’s convenient for apartment dwellers. But, I have also done murals in entire rooms with this subject and when blacklit, really give the sensation of being surrounded by space. You’re currently starting a business venture for graphic design needs in the greater Nashville area? Polyeight Studio is a company that myself and a friend and fellow freelance artist have started here in Nashville. It’s a large, portfolio-optioned art studio for branding, logo design and photography, and all art is done in-house. We came together realizing we individually are capable of broad portfolios, but we complement each other in things the other doesn’t do. Are there any artists you would you cite as inspiration? I like Ralph Steadman, H.R. Giger . . . really, a lot of artists are influences in their own right; even though I might not like the subject matter, I can respect and learn from the technique or execution of their work.
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A big portion of your work features the female form . . . I have always thought that the female form is one of the most beautiful images. My father was an anatomy teacher and artist, and was pretty hard on me on getting the anatomy right. But most often when I use a female form for a piece I tear it apart or disfigure it. Perhaps to give the viewer a mixed reaction of appeal and attraction. Outside of that spectrum, what can you share with Pulse readers about your life as a working artist? Being a mercenary artist for years, I have done logos, branding, album covers, T-shirts, auto paint jobs, advertisements . . . really, everything. If you see it, I have probably done it. Which keeps me learning and developing a rounded portfolio. But I like when clients ask for fine art that they themselves have conceived, or gotten an idea from my other work and would like a custom piece. What future projects are you working on? For the Mayday showcase, I’ll have a new piece to display. It’s a gift for a friend that will have never been showcased before. Outside of that, I am setting up in a few other galleries soon in Nashville and surrounding areas, some at breweries and other locations that would lend themselves better to people whom would want to see more exotic art than still lifes of fruit bowls. Masters Pieces will begin its display on July 30. Mickey’s art can also be seen at mickeymasters.com. For more information on exhibits at Mayday, contact justin@ maydaybrewery.com.
BOROPULSE.COM
* JULY 2015 * 17
Living A walking, talking, singing miracle:
Grateful
Granny STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO PHOTOS BY SCOTT WALKER
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hose living in the downtown Murfreesboro area have come to know Granny, a.k.a. Elizabeth Jernigan, who can often be seen hanging out on the recliner on her porch smoking cigarettes, reading or just watching the world go by.
“I love to sing,” Granny said, offering to sing a song for some visitors. She launches into “When We All Get to Heaven.” “Sometimes I come out here at one in the morning just to sing,” she said, sitting on her porch. Granny can explore a little, too; some in the neighborhood report seeing Granny at various times through the day near their houses. She has a love for flowers, evidently. “She’s a local icon,” one downtown dweller put it. Granny, who is 68 years old, can be overcome with joy one moment and bursting into tears the next; such drastic and instantaneous emotional transformations are commonplace for her. A flag flies boldly on Granny’s porch: “God Loves Everyone Amen,” it proclaims. 18 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
“I pass her home every day coming back from work. Her sign makes me smile each time,” according to area resident Amanda Marlar. Upon closer inspection, the flag is a white towel, secured partially with bandages. Jernigan’s house doesn’t seem to contain many possessions; some family photos, an ashtray filled with cigarette butts and a very small bookcase with a few books on it. Granny says she loves to read, and particularly enjoys love stories. Everyone needs a little love, eh?
“I’m just so happy to be alive,” Granny said. She has survived “two brain aneurysms, I’ve been hit by two cars, and a van ran over my foot,” she said. At times, she displays great anguish over her past, but then she will repeatedly expresses her gratitude just to have another day. And to sing. “Ain’t no one going to stop me from singing,” Ms. Jernigan said. “Every morning I thank God for letting me live . . . and for giving me such a great singing voice.
“I go have lunch at Journey Home sometimes,” Granny continued. “My dad died two blocks away from there, so I go see him sometimes.” Jernigan was born and raised in Murfreesboro, and attended McFadden and Central schools. She moved to Wisconsin when she was married, and lived there for 41 years. She has been back in the ’Boro for eight years and currently attends church at Fair Havens Independent Baptist Church. “I don’t have any bad feelings at all, I’m happy!” she declared. Jernigan’s brother and sister-in-law live across the street, and near them lives Pam, one of the people Granny calls a true friend. Jernigan says she has two daughters, Melissa and Kim; “. . . I haven’t spoken to my daughters in five years,” she said, noting one is in Nevada, one is in Wisconsin. Granny is the eccentric character who those on nearby streets may find in the car, in their flowers or peering in their window. Many will say that the community needs to show this lady love and compassion, that her wandering about is innocent, that she is in search of personal interaction; anyone’s grandmother might behave in that way. Others point out that there are some (very valid) safety, legal and privacy concerns when individuals are allowed to come over for unannounced visits and to rummage through others’ possessions. This can stir some mixed emotions among the neighbors: how does one balance being compassionate and loving toward a neighbor while still protecting personal property rights? “She was put in our neighborhood for a reason,” commented Jennie Owens Simmons. “Kindness goes a long way in people’s lives and it sounds like she needs some.” Meanwhile, Granny’s still singing, and grateful (hmm . . . maybe there’s a connection between singing and being grateful). “She does have the potential to be the next great folk artist!” said Leslie Russell Yost. Whatever the future may hold, Granny plans to keep on singing. “It’s like God gave me a reward; I don’t know why he let me live, but he did,” she said, bursting into tears again. “I can’t wait to sing in his choir.”
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Living
Upcoming Farmers Market Classes: JULY 3 Reggie Reeves, CMG: Organic Gardening Part I Safe, effective options and methods.
FARMERS’ MARKET EDUCATION SERIES by EDWINA SHANNON
JULY 7 Edwina Shannon, CMG: Garden Signs How to create your own humorous or practical signs to decorate your garden.
HOME GARDENING CHALLENGES
THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY of summer are here. The vegetables are growing. The cucumbers are trailing everywhere. The tomatoes are getting so tall that they are starting to tip. The pole beans are out of control. As wonderful as this is for food production, the conditions do create the perfect scenario for problems from insects and disease. The first line of defense against disease development is to provide healthy, humus-laden soil. Clay soil is not the ideal soil in which to grow vegetables. Organic matter improves soil structure by improving soil drainage, soil aeration and water-holding capacity. Soil improvement is an ongoing activity as a gardener. Those gardeners who use raised beds will have an easier time improving the garden soil. as it is a determined, contained area. Compost, leaves and seed-free (preferably pesticide-free) grass clippings are easy-to-find materials that assist in improving soil. A healthy soil will be amenable to holding an adequate amount of nutrients for 20 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
plant absorption. During the growing season, gardeners can side-dress their plants with compost and grass clippings. This side dressing will decompose throughout the season and become part of the soil. The majority of the diseases on established plants are caused by fungi. Plants need space around them. Keep as much of the plant off the ground as possible. You want to stake or cage the tomatoes. Have the cucumbers and beans run up trellises or along fences. Next year, plant the beans near the corn and the cucumbers near the tomatoes so each can take advantage of their partners’ supports. Some gardeners have made mesh slings to get melons and cantaloupes off the ground. There is a UT Extension brochure (#W316) titled Home Vegetable Disease Control. It is a great resource, as it covers multiple facets of disease prevention. Should one of your vegetables acquire a symptom of a disease, the material provides a chart in alphabetic order by vegetable of symptoms, controls
and cultural practices of the most common vegetable diseases. Excessive water on plant foliage will promote disease. The ideal time to water is the morning: the earlier, the better. You do want the foliage to dry throughout the day. Watering in the middle of the day is not efficient and evening watering can easily promote problems, as the foliage is wet during the night. The least efficient and greatest contributor to unnecessary water on foliage is the sprinkler. If at all possible, use a drip irrigation system. This will provide water to the roots where it is needed while keeping it off the foliage, minimizing the potential for fungal conditions to develop. Organic fungicides include sulphur, copper, Bordeaux mixture and Neem oil. Insects can also damage your crops. If you decide to use either organic or synthetic pesticides to control insects, it is very important to read the directions on the label. They are poisonous, and you will want to avoid damaging yourself in the application. Do not assume that doubling the pesticide will be twice as effective. Instead, it will create problems. Please follow the directions for best results and for safety. If you choose the organic option, expect to apply the pesticide more often. Along with the organic, natural approach to controlling destructive insects is the promotion of beneficial insects in the garden. These insects are ladybugs, lacewings, hover flies, tachinid flies and parasitic wasps. To encourage these insects in your garden, provide plants that help them to thrive. Plants from the aster, carrot and buckwheat families are useful as well as sweet alyssum, bachelor buttons, cosmos, coreopsis, catmint (Nepeta) and sunflowers. Diligence and a perceptive eye are two qualities that will help your garden thrive. If something is amiss in the garden, do not hesitate to correct the problem as quickly as possible. The longer it exists, the bigger the problem becomes. Even with the potential for problems and disappointments in the garden, it is still a very satisfying activity. Farmers’ Market Education classes continue to be held in the Community Center at the Agricultural Park on John R. Rice Blvd. They are free and start at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays.
JULY 10 Mark Murphy, CMG: Compost and Soil Health What is composting? How do I start? What is it good for? Find out today!
JULY 14 Marilyn Rogan, CMG: Saving and Organizing Seeds Seed organization will save you money.
JULY 17 Jane McNulty: Music for Everyone Learn how to use music to feel better, exercise your brain and decrease stress.
JULY 21 Richard Lee, CMG: Fall Garden Planning Gardening can be done almost year-round! Learn what to plant for the fall to extend the season.
JULY 24 Carla Bush, Ext. Agent: Putting up Tomatoes Plan for preserving those gorgeous, fresh tomatoes so that you capture them at their peak. Can, freeze or dry home garden jewels so that you may enjoy them throughout the year.
JULY 28 Carla Bush, Ext. Agent: Seasonal Eating Taste new dishes made with the season’s freshest, locally grown produce.
JULY 31 Michael Shirley, Riverdale High School: Backyard Chickens 101 Raising chickens in your backyard for egg production.
AUG. 4 Tiffany Schmidt, Ext. Program Assistant: Cooking with Kids Introduce young ones to the joys of cooking and fun, healthy snacks.
AUG. 7 Mitchell Murphree, Chef at Five Senses Restaurant: Five Senses Cooking Demo “Southern gourmet” dishes and pick up tips from one of our local professional chefs. Contact Janie Becker at jbecker8@utk.edu or (615) 898-7710 for further information or questions on the Farmers’ Market or the education series.
BOROPULSE.COM
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Living “In all my years digging through these dumpsters, not one person has come to say hello.”
e f i L r o f s i u L
nd in . u o f s e ur ove l s a n i e r h t c ciating says he is ri e r p p A man , s r e t dumps
HOMELESS IN THE ’BORO
I
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DARCY PAYNE
t’s early June. A bright blue dumpster is reflecting the setting sun on a scorching summer evening. Flies are swarming to feast on garbage piled high, thought to be forgotten. This garbage, though, is far from forgotten—for some, it’s a treasure.
Every day at University Gables, a 65-yearold Hispanic man rifles through three dirty dumpsters. His eyes are bright, but his wrinkles make them droop close to the middle of his cheeks. Hoping to find goodies and knickknacks, this dumpster-dig has been Luis’ routine for four years. Today, he made out with a plastic storage bin, a mini-fridge and a few pencils. After previously being homeless for six years of his life as a Californian, Luis has learned to appreciate the smallest things, even his new pencils. Today he is retired and living off his prior success in the furni-
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ture business. He had a shop in California, but he hopes to create a furniture store in Murfreesboro. His vision is to create a store in the building that used to be Rose’s on Mercury Boulevard. “Oooo-ah!” Luis gasps in fright as I approach him digging through the dump. “In all my years digging through these dumpsters, not one person has come to say hello.” Minding his own business, Luis ransacks a dumpster full of unloved items. He calls this his hobby. Luis has lived in the University Gables for four years in hopes to keep “under the radar.” He believes attention isn’t
the way to live. Although, he says one day we will see his face on television. “I will give you an autograph,” says Luis, “You better frame it. It’ll be worth something soon.” Luis is very adamant about appreciating what he has. He has great advice about spending money and life in general. “There is a difference between loving money and respecting the money you have,” says Luis. He believes all he needs is pennies. After hearing a story on the radio about a little girl who was satisfied with just 57 cents when she died at a young age, he couldn’t help but be satisfied with the little he has. Luis said he had $100,000 in the bank at one point while living in California, but then he blew it all and became homeless. One day, after blowing the money, he asked God for just 57 cents. Upon his arrival to a bank, three people gave him money. It all added up to 57 cents, just like he asked. Soon after this circumstance, Luis lost 11 cents. “When I lost 11 cents,” says Lois, “I felt like I lost a million dollars.” Now, Luis gets blessed with money often. “I find at least seven dollars in coins on the ground,” says Luis, “but next, I’m going to ask God for a dollar. Just a paper dollar.” He’s sure he will be given that dollar. Luis has a jar in his room full of pennies. He believes that if he has 1,000 pennies, they will later be rewarded to him as $1,000 from God. When asked when “later” is, he says God decides the time. Luis believes God provides him with everything he needs. He is wearing a navy blue sweatshirt and grey sweatpants. It’s 90 degrees outside today. Actually, all the clothes that he is wearing today were acquired from previ-
ous dumpster dives. He is also wearing a flat-billed hat featuring a pink Muppet; Luis calls the Muppet “Nemo.” “A lady told me that’s what this Muppet’s name is,” says Luis: “Nemo!” His favorite book is The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. The book features secrets from successful people. Luis has a very big heart and a special love for success. Previously, Luis was married to a beautiful blondhaired woman. “I shouldn’t have ruined that marriage,” says Luis seriously. “I ruined it . . . I brought a skunk home. She got mad at me, and then she kept the skunk and kicked me out!” When asked why his past wife didn’t just kick out the skunk instead, Luis merely says, “Women are crazy like that.” Although he is no longer married, he has very successful step-grandchildren who have gone to school and made great lives for themselves. He couldn’t be more proud. Although he has pride in his family, one of his step-grandchildren messed up. His said his step-grandson was one of the top wrestlers in the state, but he quit high school after hanging around the wrong crowd. He stole $7,000 from Luis’ now exwife and got into trouble. Now, Luis has a new life. He has a car that has been parked in the same spot for over two years. He chooses to ride the bus or walk for exercise, so his car hasn’t moved. He says it’s just easier that way. No insurance to pay, no responsibilities. While Luis was walking alongside a road one day, a car hit him. Luis was in a coma for 30 days. He now has brain damage and a damaged leg, but his spirit is still strong. He recently started attending church at The Experience Community. At first, Luis seemed puzzled by the offering plate system. Traditionally, a plate is passed around. Not at The Experience. Getting used to the stationary offering jar was a struggle for Luis. Today, he put pennies into the offering jar. “Wow,” said Sarah Josovitz, the collector of this day’s offering money. “Someone put a lot of pennies in here.” Luis is still standing near the jar. He confesses, “That was me.” Sarah winks
kindly at him. At The Experience Community, connection cards are offered for new attendees. Luis fills out a card and asks Sarah where to put it. “Oh,” says Sarah, “You can put it in this.” She holds the pouch of money towards Luis so he can put the card in. She had already collected the offering jar that he was supposed to store it in. Luis slides the card into the pouch and pretends to take the
pouch out of Sarah’s hands. Sarah was worried for a few seconds that he was trying to steal the money, but Luis let it go with a chuckle. Hopefully Sarah has a good sense of humor. . . . “I like to make people laugh,” says Luis, “If I can make one person laugh every day, I’ve done my job.” Although he dumpster-dives, Luis is content. Every day, Luis says to himself, “I will find a penny.” This morning he found 26 cents. He still has a goal to find a dollar bill. Luis writes down all the goals he has set for himself to reach. He accomplishes every goal he writes down and sticks them onto the bulletin board in his office. “For the rest of your life, you might not be broke,” says Luis, “but you can be broken in spirit. Broken in drive. Right now, I am happy. I am content.” Sometimes, pennies are all you’ve got. Luis gave all he had to the Lord today in church, even if it was just a lot of pennies. If you or someone you know is in need of some money today, it could be enough to give them a lucky penny. “I want to give people 100 times more than what God gave me,” says Luis, “and I’m rich. Not with money, but in love.” Luis waddles along the road with his cane, heading back to his apartment, one step closer to his next goal. One step closer to his next penny.
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* JULY 2015 * 23
Food
STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRISTY SIMMONS
GOAT-STROPUB
THE GOAT takes bar food to a new level in gorgeous, modern space.
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ast month, I went on vacation to Florida for seven glorious, beach-filled days. While I was there, I was told about a new restaurant back home called The Goat. My first thought was “That’s a very weird name for a restaurant,” followed immediately by “How quickly will the conservative Christians in Murfreesboro accuse them of being involved in a Satanic cult?” Then I looked up the menu on the Internet and couldn’t think about anything else but how I needed to try all of this food. All of it. Right now. The Goat’s menu is unlike anything I have seen in the area, with the exception of maybe Five Senses. It is a gastropub, and the food is like typical bar food, but taken up about eleventy million notches. I mean, when is the last time you saw house-cured pork belly on a menu in Murfreesboro? Anyone? Yeah, me neither. So, I knew as soon as I got back from vacation, that I would be paying The Goat a visit. The location of the restaurant is a little tricky to determine. It’s situated in the communal portion of the new condos/apartments 24 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
on Robert Rose Boulevard that look like brownstone housing straight out of London (officially known as LC Henley Station). You won’t see a sign, or a parking lot; just park in one of the parallel spaces close to the pool and volleyball courts and walk into the back of the building. The doors are red, and when you see the gorgeous wooden plank wall with the huge plaque that says “The Goat,” you’ll know you’re in the right place. I went at around 1 p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon and practically had the place to myself. The spacious interior is absolutely beautiful, and I wish I could build a house with similar qualities: soaring ceilings with exposed wooden beams, tons of windows to let in natural light, pearly white subway tile, dark hand-scraped wood floors and shades of gray on the walls, all of which gave the whole place a modern/ industrial/rustic feel. (FYI, there were no pentagrams or goat heads to be found; you’re all safe.) And the bar area is exquisite. When you walk in, there’s a sign that says “seat yourself,” so I did. Within a couple of
From left: handrolled tater tots with beer cheese sauce; chicken sandwich with goat cheese, red peppers and pesto aioli; burger (with the same toppings) and sweet potato fries.
minutes a server came by to drop off menus and take my drink order. I had read reviews on Yelp for this place, and nearly everyone complained about the service while some complained about bland food, but as far as the service goes, mine wasn’t horrible. When a new restaurant opens up, it sometimes takes
Blueberry Mule
a couple of months to work all the kinks out with both servers and kitchen staff, so I was ready to be lenient, but I didn’t have to be. I even met the kitchen manager, but that’s an amusing story we’ll get to soon enough. While waiting on my dining companions, I ordered a cocktail and perused the menu. The drink I ordered, a Blueberry Mule, was made quickly, and was delicious. It was fruity, refreshing and not too sweet, garnished with fresh mint and a lime wedge. They also didn’t skimp on the alcohol, and they used Tito’s handcrafted vodka, which I love. When my friends arrived, I was trying to choose which appetizer to order: the buffalo cauliflower or the handmade tater tots with beer cheese dipping sauce. They chose the tots, which were crispy and had great flavor. The sauce wasn’t my favorite thing ever, but it was creamy and warm, and you could taste the beer. For our entrees we ordered The Goat burger with sweet potato fries, The Goat chicken sandwich with russet chips, and the wedge salad. We also had a child with us, and while they don’t have a
THE DISH NAME: The Goat LOCATION: 2355 Adwell St. PHONE: (615) 203-8245 HOURS: Mon.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–2:30 a.m.; Sun.: 10 a.m.–2:30 a.m. PRICES: Tots with house-made beer cheese sauce: $7.49; Ranch Hand burger (with bacon, cheddar, fried egg and capicola) and fries: $11.49; Devil on Goatback pizza (white cheddar, house-cured pork belly, baby spinach, caramelized onions, dates, sriracha aioli): $14.99 ONLINE: lcgoat.com
The Goat’s spacious main room houses a beautifully decorated bar area.
dedicated menu for children, there are several things on the menu that can be tailored for child-like tastebuds, such as a plain burger and fries, chicken tenders or a cheese or pepperoni pizza. (Tip: if you have two children, order one pizza—they are larger than individual size and one is plenty for two little bellies). The food arrived in a timely fashion on metal trays in lieu of plates, which fits their overall vibe. My burger was juicy and cooked the way I ordered it (medium, normally I get medium well, but they grind the meat for the burgers daily, so I knew it was fresh) and I enjoyed the goat cheese, roasted red peppers and pesto aioli that were on it. The sweet potato fries were some of the best I have ever had. I usually don’t really like sweet potato fries, but I ordered them mainly for their color in photographs; I devoured them because they were delicious. The chicken sandwich had the same toppings on it as my burger and, aside from the chicken itself needing a bit more seasoning, it was enjoyed by the friend who had ordered it. I refused to touch the wedge salad with a ten-foot pole, due to the use of both blue cheese and blue cheese dressing, but the friend eating it said that it needed more blue cheese (!) and other toppings to go with
Doughnut holes
Wedge Salad
the huge wedge of lettuce. I did try one of the cubes of deep-fried pork belly that was on the salad and thought it was very good, but not as salty as I would have liked. When it came time for dessert, the menu listed two dessert items: handmade fried doughnut holes served with fresh strawberry preserves, or a Guinness chocolate pie with a vanilla wafer crust. I decided on the pie, because the only combination better than chocolate and Guinness is chocolate and bourbon. I placed my order and waited. The server came out and apologized: apparently the health codes inspector decided to show up right then and the kitchen couldn’t send out any food until he vacated. As we were talking about this, though, someone came over and said that the kitchen was back open and my pie was being cut and would be served shortly. Then . . . a few minutes later, the kitchen manager came out and told me that as he was taking the pie out of the cooler to cut it, he dropped the entire thing on the ground, and would I like some doughnut holes? So, we got the doughnut holes on the house, which were delicious little fried dough balls, coated in cinnamon sugar (served with strawberry preserves). I am most definitely going back to try the buffalo cauliflower bites and the Devil on Goatback pizza. Not to mention the as-yetelusive Guinness and chocolate pie. BOROPULSE.COM
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Food Table on the
MOUNTAIN Local Table celebrates Tennessee food, new Stillhouse Restaurant STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO
Onion soufflé; (above, center) duck confit with corn cake and slaw; (above, right) drinks at the Stillhouse were mixed with crushed fruit.
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he Stillhouse Restaurant is now open on Short Mountain in Cannon County, next to Short Mountain Distillery, and on June 6 the restaurant hosted a special evening of gourmet dining. Local Table magazine presented this onetime dinner event, billed as Local Table on the Mountain, and the evening’s food included as much Middle Tennessee-sourced food as possible, organizers said. Before the meal even officially began, guests were impressed by the delicious onion soufflé, served with pita toast and vegetables. After all had sampled from the appetizer table, Stillhouse service staff began bringing the plated dishes out to the guests. This service, which continued throughout the long evening, included the presentation of many delicious dishes. The first course consisted of duck confit, served on a corn cake with slaw—a perfect balance of meat, bread and veggies. The duck for this opening course came from Wilson County’s Wedge Oak Farms; Readyville Mill supplied the corn meal for the corn cakes, while cabbage and herbs were produced by Alexandria’s Pomona Hill Farm. Other area farms supplying ingredients for the meal included D&D Farm, Folsom Farm, Blueberry Hill Farm, Casey Family Farm and Little Short Mountain Farm. The evening’s second course featured fried green tomatoes accompanied with mozzarella, bacon and a dill mousse, bringing a distinctly herbal flavor and an appealing creaminess to the breaded tomatoes; diners then enjoyed roasted lamb with sweet potato purée, tobacco onions and micro greens. A peppermint-smoked beef tenderloin (perfectly tender and tasty), served with a balsamic reduction, candied walnuts and pecans, and shaved Parmesan, completed the savory courses.
But the meal did not end until all guests received a small jar of gelato made by Southern Sundaes, using milk from Casey Family Farm and Short Mountain Distillery’s Apple Pie Moonshine. This, along with blueberries and blackberries, provided a light, sweet ending to a near-perfect gourmet meal. After the meal concluded, Stillhouse Restaurant owner Todd Hollandsworth brought out all of the kitchen staff, whom diners greeted with a standing ovation. Even the dishwashers were honored; all had worked hard through the night, constantly washing plates in order to have enough dishes for the multicourse affair. For more information on the Stillhouse Restaurant, visit stillhouserestaurant.com or call (615) 563-1243.
Reviews
LIVING ROOM CINEMA column by NORBERT THIEMANN
facebook.com/livingroomcinema
Experimental Artists
INSIDE OUT 5
DIRECTED BY Pete Docter STARRING Kaitlyn Dias,
Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, Lewis Black RATED PG
Inside Out is the greatest movie Pixar has ever made. It sounds hyperbolic but it’s the truth. The quality of the writing, acting, animation, and message is so immense that the movie easily bests Pixar’s best. Inside Out is about a girl named Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), who goes through an emotional upheaval when her parents move her from Minnesota to San Francisco. Her personified emotions—Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Disgust (Mindy Kaling), Fear (Bill Hader) and Anger (Lewis Black)— clash as they try to figure out how to make Riley the happy little girl she once was. The concept of venturing into
accepting the complexity of emotions. Joy is determined to keep Sadness out of Riley’s memories because she thinks joy is all Riley needs. And Riley keeps a façade of happiness because she believes that’s what her parents expect from her. But the movie beautifully shows that sometimes happiness isn’t attainable and that sadness may be what’s necessary in order to feel joy. Inside Out is bursting with excellent performances but the
clear standout is Phyllis Smith as Sadness. She had the toughest job—that of making the ultimate “Debbie Downer” likable—and she succeeded. Smith brings such humor and empathy to the character that Sadness isn’t just likable but greatly relatable. Inside Out’s existence is so important. Many children seeing this movie will be going through the same changes as Riley. This movie not only gives those children a language to express their emotions, but it also gives them the knowledge that they aren’t alone. — CECILIA SINKALA
boredom with said man-made marvels, which is the blind reasoning behind the “could’ve trumps should’ve” creation of a hybrid killing machine, christened the evil-sounding Indominus rex. Basically a T. rex with beefy arms added for good measure, Indominus rex is excused with a self-aware nudge and a wink as being “what the people want,” and if you have a problem with that then you’d do yourself a favor to
remember that they spliced frog genes with dino DNA at the first park, so they were never 100% natural dinosaurs to begin with. Jurassic World would’ve done well to downplay its comparisons to first film in the series, especially when it comes to the analogous characters. Chris Pratt’s charm is wasted as a mostly humorless raptor-wrangler (Omar Sy’s secondary dino-trainer would’ve been a better lead). Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire is downright regressive next to Laura Dern in Park. The best character is Ty Simpkins’ Gray, who is basically Tim from the first film with more severe Asperger’s. Even without the comparison, Jurassic World is a silly, often nonsensical, but ultimately fun flick. It really depends not on how much, but how you love the original that will determine how these comparisons color your experience with Jurassic World. — JAY SPIGHT
MOVIE a person’s head isn’t particularly new, but it has never been seen like this before. A significant chunk of Inside Out involves Joy and Sadness journeying through Riley’s mind, and that’s where the movie’s imagination runs wild. Whether it’s portraying dreams as a movie studio or visualizing a person’s “train of thought” as an actual train, Inside Out’s conception of the human mind is both exceedingly clever and coherent. But the movie’s power lies in its depth. Inside Out is about
JURASSIC WORLD 3.5
DIRECTED BY
Colin Trevorrow Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins STARRING
RATED PG-13
With less than 15 minutes of CGI screen time, Jurassic Park helped revolutionize special effects and became an instant classic. It’s been 22 years since dinosaurs were brought back to life onscreen for a whole generation of people lucky enough to be children in 1993, and in that time CGI has taken precedence over all other aspects of action/adventure films. Jurassic World, sadly, is no exception, but so strong is nostalgia in the Jurassic Generation that, despite its many shortcomings, it’s hard not to enjoy this trip back to the park. RATINGS:
Part of that enjoyment comes from finally seeing the park fully operational. No longer just SUVs on rails, the wildly popular themeisland boasts such ridiculous attractions as a mosasaurus water show, a baby dino riding/petting zoo, unguided gyro-sphere tours and kayaking with dinosaurs! Stupid but awesome. Of course, this idyllic depiction of man’s mastery over nature pales in comparison with man’s ever-increasing A CLASSIC
OUTSTANDING
AVERAGE
BELOW AVERAGE
T
hese fine artists are true experimentalists who connect with their audience through conceptual ideas. Their work is both groundbreaking and meaningful, and their life stories are well worth knowing.
Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present (2011) is directed by Matthew Akers. Marina Abramovic is a performance artist who uses her body to push the boundaries of pain, discomfort and social limitiations. The Artist Is Present refers to Abramovic’s 736-hour performance at MoMA in 2010, which is thoroughly covered in the film.
In the Mirror of Maya Deren (2002) is directed by Martina Kudlacek. Maya Deren made her mark as a noted pioneer of avant-garde filmmaking in the 1940s and ’50s. Included in this film are several interviews with her friends and collegues. Kudlacek does a wonderful job painting a detailed portrait of Deren’s life and work. AVOID AT ALL COSTS BOROPULSE.COM
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G AME
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn 4
Final Fantasy XIV had a very rocky start. It was Square Enix’s second foray into the MMO world and it failed miserably. The world was open for just under two years before it was finally shut down. Most people did not have many positive things to say about the broken world. Square Enix closed the doors to XIV. Instead of leaving the game there, they began a massive overhaul of the entire game and released Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Comparing the two, the difference is like night and day. FFXIV: ARR is a very solid game. One of the best parts about A Realm Reborn is the fact that you actually feel like you are playing a Final Fantasy game—something I did not feel in the original XIV or XI. The game’s story and writing are fantastic, making you feel like you are the hero who is saving the world. The first 20 or so levels of the story feel pretty generic and are a pretty typical unknown-hero-versusworld-destroyingvillain kind of affair, seemingly a trend in a lot of Final Fantasy games. However, as in most Final Fantasy games, once you get to a certain point the game grabs the story and runs with it into something much more fleshed out and interesting. The cutscenes are well done and the voice acting, while not appearing as frequently as many might desire, is also executed well. The story, tragically, is mainly compromised of fetch quests and go-talk-to-this-NPC (nonplayer character) quests that will have you running all over Eorzea constantly. It can get a little stale, but the story is interesting enough that you want to follow it through. Plus, the dialogue is hilarious at times. Several of the side quests also have longrunning stories that keep you interested. 28 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
One such story is the infamous Hildibrand questline, which is a hilarious story following Inspector Extraordinaire Hildibrand Helidor Maxmillian Manderville as he looks for the ever-elusive Phantom Thief. I won’t spoil anything for you, but definitely do this quest line. It’s one of the best ones in the game. The world is gorgeous; there’s plenty of scenery to take in as you traverse Eorzea. The forests of the Shroud, the deserts of Thanalan and the oceanside views of La Noscea, all of these are absolutely beautiful. The biggest issue with the world, however, is that it is broken up into many zones and there are a lot of loading screens when you’re traveling. This is in part due to the fact that the game was made to be able to run on the Playstation 3, which limited some of their capabilities of making a seamless world. You will run into a lot of loading screens; if you are playing on a weaker PC or the PS3, you may experience some long load times pretty frequently. There are also a lot of invisible walls that you will run into as you explore. There is currently no swimming in the game, so you are cut off from oceans, lakes and deep rivers. It is still a very pretty world and there’s plenty to see and to have fun exploring. There are plenty of quests to do as you explore the world. While many of them are typical fetch or kill-this-many-monsters, the game does a good job of keeping the grind to a minimum as you are questing. There is a grind, though: once you hit max level, that’s how you will get all of your gear, but more on that later. On the flipside of the world, all of the dungeons are well-made and attractive. The beginning dungeons are very straightforward and considered more of a tutorial to get you used to the game mechanics. As you progress further in the game, you unlock more and more interesting dungeons, Haukke Manor being one of my favorites. You will also run into primal fights along the way that take you into a
BOOK
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Rachel Watson, the main character in Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train, rides the same train every morning and night, staring absently into the windows and lives of the people she sees in the houses along the way. Over time, one couple in particular has captured her interest—Rachel names them “Jason and Jess,” and they live down the street from where Rachel herself lived before her life began to deteriorate. Dubbed by Rachel as “the golden couple,” Jason and Jess seem to have the perfect life, at least from the tiny glimpses Rachel has each day. One day, Rachel sees “Jess” in the arms of an-
mini-dungeon of sorts and have you battle a primal. The primals are summons from earlier games and they are some of the main villains in this game. Your first fight is Ifrit, followed by Titan and then Garuda. The primal fights were one of my favorite parts of the game. Each primal fight is unique and has several game mechanics you will have to master in order to defeat them. The first time you run into them in the story, they are toned down a lot and are much easier to beat. Once you reach the level cap, you can do the Hard mode and Extreme mode versions, which mix things up much more; you also have the ability to fight several more primals in addition to the first three. At the level cap, the game really starts to shine in terms of dungeons and trials. This is good, because there’s a heavy dungeon grind if you want to get the best gear. Most of your best gear is purchased with tomes that you get from running dungeons, and you
other man, causing Rachel to question everything she thought was true about the perfect couple; matters only get worse, when Jess, whose real life name is Megan, turns up missing. What has before been a mindless fantasy during Rachel’s commute now becomes full-blown obsession, and Rachel quickly finds herself part of the growing mystery of Megan’s disappearance. Rachel’s life, which had been a downward spiral of alcoholism and self destruction, now suddenly has purpose. Hawkins’ skillfully crafted twists and turns make this thriller a worthy read, but it’s Rachel who is the real star. Rachel’s addiction problems begin after her struggle with infertility and, as her marriage to husband Tom falls apart, Rachel finds solace through alcohol. As the book opens, she has lost her job, her marriage, and her home. In her shame, Rachel pretends to go to work each day in London, comforted by her cans of gin and tonic. With her many flaws, Rachel is a sort of anti-heroine. She spends much of the novel trying to claw her way toward sobriety, and her relapses and frequent blackouts make her an incredibly unreliable narrator, adding an additional layer of mystery to the novel. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, we root for her, and we can’t help but hope each time Rachel vows to become sober that this drink will be her last. Part Hitchcock’s Rear Window and part Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train will keep you turning the pages late into the right, cautiously peering around the corner for the next clue. Hawkins’ pacing and skilled foreshadowing lend a sense of doom to the entire novel, filled with characters who are all deeply flawed, but The Girl on the Train is a compulsively readable mystery with a thrilling conclusion. Rachel and her fellow cast of characters will remain with you long after the final page. — MICHELLE PALMER
need quite a bit of them to get the best gear. You can also get some nice gear from dungeon drops, and your ultimate goal is to get well enough geared to be able to run Final Coil of Bahamut, which is the current endgame raid. Another place where FFXIV: ARR shines is the crafting system. Each item takes a bit of time to make, though they do have an automated process for crafting. The high-quality chance hovers around one percent when you use this, though. Once you get used to the crafting system, you can crank out items quickly and make a pretty penny. I ended up maxing out every crafter because I enjoyed it so much. While FFXIV: ARR doesn’t take very many chances and follows a pretty standard formula for MMOs, it does it very well. The game is a lot of fun, pretty, the story is interesting, and you actually care for a lot of the characters. — ROBBIE BARNES BOROPULSE.COM
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Theater MLT PRESENTS ADULT PUPPET SHOW, AVENUE Q, OPENING JULY 10 MURFREESBORO LITTLE THEATRE PROUDLY PRESENTS the laugh-out-loud comedy musical Avenue Q, opening July 10 for two weekends. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, Avenue Q tells the timeless story of a recent college graduate named Princeton who moves to a shabby New York apartment way out on Avenue Q. There, Princeton finds a wide assortment of friends, each struggling to find jobs, dates and the ever-elusive purpose of life. Directed by Danielle Araujo, the cast features Jamie Kirkland, Andrew Hosale, Blake Holliday, Brittney Avant, E.J. Gresham, Wesley Rutledge, Holly Evans, Seth Limbaugh, Amanda Caperton, Georgia Hemrick, Jack Teal, David Lannom and Scott Hendricks. Holly Evans serves as musical director, with Charlie Parker as keyboard accompanist. Filled with adult humor and catchy songs—as well as lots of puppets—the production is recommended for mature audiences. Show dates are July 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7 p.m.; 2 p.m. matinees will be presented July 12 and 19. The MLT Log Cabin is located at 702 Ewing Blvd. in Murfreesboro. For tickets or more information, visit mltarts.com.
THE SOUL OF BROADWAY REVUE COMES TO MURFREESBORO ON JULY 11 A ONE-OF-A-KIND MUSICAL REVUE comes to Murfreesboro’s Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 11. The show, titled The Soul of Broadway, highlights African Americans in musical theater. Chanel Bragg and Mitchell Vantrease created The Soul of Broadway in Phoenix, Ariz. In 2010, the two sat at a kitchen table and chose to move forward with the venture. They started to talk with other performers in Arizona, the result being a revue of songs from Broadway shows that featured African American performers. Bragg continues to perform in Arizona and runs the troupe there. However, Vantrease chose to move back to his native home state of Tennessee, 30 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
ONSTAGE IN JULY AVENUE Q
Murfreesboro Little Theatre 702 Ewing Blvd. July 10, 11, 17 & 18 at 7 p.m. July 12 & 19 at 2 p.m. mltarts.com
BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL
The Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy, Woodbury July 10, 11, 17, 18, 24 & 25 at 7:30 p.m. July 12 & 19 at 2 p.m. artscenterofcc.com
WEST SIDE STORY Center for the Arts 110 W. College St. July 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 & Aug. 1 at 7:30 p.m. July 19, 26 & Aug. 2 at 2 p.m. boroarts.org
where he formed a new, local cast. In February, The Soul of Broadway made its Tennessee premiere at the Capitol Theatre in Lebanon, Tenn., to great success. And now, the show is moving to Murfreesboro. “We’re very excited to continue to share and educate people about this great music and these incredible shows,” Vantrease said. The show features songs from Porgy and Bess, showstoppers from Dreamgirls and Ain’t Misbehavin’ and the most recent hits from shows like The Color Purple and The Scottsboro Boys. The current Tennessee cast of The Soul of Broadway includes Shonka Dukareh, Byron Harvey, Jermaine Johnson, Saaneah Jamison, Elvie Williams and Mitchell Vantrease, with Dave Ragland serving as music director. Ragland recently directed Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill and also music directed the popular run of Color Purple at the Center for the Arts. The Center for the Arts is located at 110 W. College St., Murfreesboro. For tickets visit brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006; for more information on The Soul of Broadway email mitch.vantrease@gmail.com. BOROPULSE.COM
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Opinion Whitsell Ends DA Career With Murder Conviction Against Moses Bess DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRO TEM Bill Whitesell did not go quietly into the night. After decades with the DA’s office here, Whitesell made his final argument in Circuit Court recently, netting the conviction of Jewell Moses Bess for first-degree murder in the 1986 shooting death of his wife, Deborah Sherfield Bess. Whitesell retired from office in August 2014 but agreed to finish the case against Bess, which regained momentum in 2011 after people began talking about incidents on Richland Road in the 1980s and ’90s when Bess ruled a “party” place of house trailers called “Moses’ Mountain in eastern Rutherford County. The trial was marked by the fact several of its witnesses were convicted felons, some of whom were still in prison or jail, including Bess, who served 15 years for raping his own daughter but was kept in jail here without bond after a grand jury indicted him for WHITESELL murder in 2012. His wife’s death was ruled a suicide 29 years ago, apparently after the lead detective at the time took Bess’s word that she pulled the trigger on a .44 Magnum and killed herself in front of her toddler. One witness, Joni Bush, who is serving time in a Florida penitentiary, testified by videotaped deposition that she felt nobody followed through on the case because everybody who hung out at “Moses’ Mountain” was “white trash” and they were ignored. Other witnesses said they were threatened by Bess to keep quiet, and most did until about four years ago. Key testimony came from Bess’s son, Michael, who has spent much of his life in and out of jail and prison. He was 15, he said, when he was peeping into his father’s bedroom and saw Moses grab Deborah by the hair, put the pistol up to her chin and blow her head off. The defense contended Michael came up with the story so he could cut a deal to avoid a 25-year jail sentence. But the jury took Michael’s word over that of his father, who decided to take the stand in his own defense (In doing so, he made his child rape conviction known to jurors). Moses probably didn’t have much choice after nearly 32 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
The
STOCKARD REPORT BY SAM STOCKARD sstockard44@gmail.com
every state witness described how he bragged about killing Deborah and even demonstrated the murder on numerous occasions. They said he even kept part of her jaw in a jar in the bedroom to intimidate people who came over to drink, use drugs, ride motorcycles and shoot up eastern Rutherford County for roughly 20 years. Sure, Moses said, he cheated with other women and allowed another woman to move in not long after Deborah’s death. In fact, he was cheating when he hooked up with Deborah in the early 1980s, he said. But to hear him tell it, you’d think he just got off a tour with the Billy Graham Crusade. Of course, he did make the expert witBESS ness in his defense into a liar, saying the man was wrong about where he told him Deborah got the gun that night. Then he said it was so dark in the room he couldn’t see whether Deborah had the gun. He also said the force from the gunshot blew him backwards onto the bed, even though he said previously he caught Deborah as she fell and laid her on the floor. He also said the first thing he did was to pick up their child from her baby bed where she had her mother’s brains and blood all over her. Oh yeah, and he also said his neighbor, Charles Ewing, didn’t go into the bedroom and mess with the shooting scene. But how could he have known if he sat on the front porch smoking a cigarette while Ewing went into the trailer? And, how could Ewing have gotten blood on his pants, as his wife testified. Oops, I almost forgot to mention Ewing is serving time for murdering his first wife and got away with it for years before Rutherford County Sheriff ’s detectives arrested him. During his testimony, Ewing changed his story six times about whether he got rid of bloody sheets from the Besses’ bedroom that night, depending on who questioned him. When Whitesell cross-examined Dr. Charles
Ihrig, the defense’s expert witness, one of the questions he asked was, “Have you ever heard the term ‘liquid courage’?” Of course, Ihrig said he had, and by the end of Ihrig’s testimony he sounded more like the prosecution’s witness than a defense witness. He’d been brought in to say Deborah’s drinking that night could have caused her to kill herself. And while the prosecution’s expert said it was more likely somebody murdered her, Ihrig said there was no way to know. By the time Whitesell was done, though, it was clear Ihrig didn’t know much of anything. Ultimately, Deborah, a Waffle House waitress, was ready to leave Moses and take his and her kids with her, Whitesell later told jurors in his closing, or she was going to turn him out from “Moses’ Mountain.” She’d bought a bottle of whiskey that day when she took their kids to register for school, and the alcohol gave her the courage to challenge Moses when he came home to his mountain. “He blew her head off . . . because you don’t mess with the king,” Whitesell told the jurors. After more than six days of testimony, the jury took only about two hours to find Bess guilty. Judge David Bragg sentenced him to life in prison. As for Whitesell, he says he’s going fishing, a rest well-deserved.
EVERYBODY WANTS THESE JOBS
Question: Where can you find a job making anywhere from $53,000 to $69,000 a year and get paid without even going to work? Answer: The Rutherford County Sheriff ’s Office. Seriously. This is no joke. The county has paid more than $20,000 to three sheriff ’s office personnel placed on administrative leave with pay since the TBI and state Comptroller’s Office started looking into Sheriff Robert Arnold’s administration in April. Administrative Chief Deputy Joe Russell, who makes $68,970, Detective Commander Bill Sharp, whose salary is $66,317, and Capt. John Frost, who gets $53,816 a year, were all placed on leave with pay not long after the state’s investigation started. Since then, the FBI joined the fray. People across Rutherford County are irritated, to say the least, about this leave with pay. County Commissioner Mike Kusch says he wants “a refund” if wrongdoing is found. County Commissioner Rhonda Allen has been outspoken about the matter as well but says the county attorney has advised her all three would have to go through due process if they were put on leave without pay. The question is: Suppose the FBI/TBI investigation, which is now several weeks in, leads to indictments. Supposed the sheriff refuses to leave office and decides to fight any charges, a right he certainly has. Will those placed on administrative leave with pay remain in that
RUSSELL
SHARP
status until the case is done? It takes about two years for anything to crawl through the legal system. By that time, we could be paying three people about $190,000 annually plus benefits to stay home. We still don’t know why Frost, who oversaw IT at the sheriff ’s office, was placed on leave. Sharp, who, incidentally, investigated the Bess murder case, was running a consulting and training business on sheriff ’s office time and equipment. Russell, the sheriff ’s running buddy and top financial guy, was running JailCigs out of the sheriff ’s office as it supplied e-cigarettes to inmates at the county jail. Since all this came up, a local group filed an ethics complaint against the sheriff. At the county Ethics Committee’s first meeting on the matter, Arnold’s attorney, a rather nice fellow with Neal & Harwell out of Nashville, said Arnold couldn’t comment until the investigation is complete. Some have asked me how Arnold can afford a high-priced attorney. Well, he makes about $125,000 a year, but the other response would have to be either some local backer is footing the bill or e-cigarettes pay real well. Of course, if Russell winds up losing his job, he can sell real estate, which he’s already doing, and run JailCigs full time, which he’s also doing, without anyone caring. By the way, even though the sheriff ’s handbook requires all personnel to work 40 hours a week, “exempt” personnel at the sheriff ’s office, those on salary, have been getting paid without turning in time sheets, according to a county official. I wonder whose idea that was.
ETHICS ATTORNEY
In its first meeting, the Ethics Commission asked county commissioners to supply it with an attorney to provide guidance through this ordeal with Arnold. The commission hired John T. Bobo of Shelbyville to do the job at $350 an hour. Bobo’s first move at his initial appearance was to advise the Ethics Commission it had already done as much as it should do in calling for the district attorney to seek an investigation of the sheriff ’s office. Considering that investigation was under way already, Bobo’s counseling was to avoid stepping on the FBI/ TBI/Comptroller investigation. At last check, he hadn’t sent the county a bill. But let’s see, it probably took him a couple of hours to drive back and forth from Shelbyville, another two hours for the meeting and two or three hours to read material involving the investigation. Multiply seven times $350 and you get $2,450. Not bad for a day’s work.
BOROPULSE.COM
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Is America Still the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave?
W
BY DR. JONATHAN Z+
hat does it mean to be free? As Thomas Jefferson proclaimed, liberty is freedom and freedom is a God-given, inalienable gift. In other words, freedom is the right to choose among alternatives of one’s choice. Without the alternatives of choice, a man is not a man but a mere creature, an instrument, a slave or a thing. Who wants to be a slave, an instrument or a mere subject, when one can be a free citizen with God-given rights to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (alluding to the right to own and use private property)? Are we as U.S. citizens still free (in a Jeffersonian sense)? When the 56 Founders signed the Declaration of Independence to declare their legal separation from the King of England, they also pledged their “Lives, Fortunes and sacred Honor” to uphold, preserve and protect our God-given inalienable rights. This very act was high treason against the King and his monarchy, punishable by death. There was no higher crime in all of England. Why would they rebel against their King? Here are just a few of the top reasons why. 1. In England, the Rule of Law held that you were “guilty until proven innocent” if charged with a crime. It didn’t matter whether you were innocent; you had to prove your innocence. This system was tyrannical, unjust and upside-down in the eyes of our founders, so they reversed it where everyone would be innocent until proven guilty. Are we still innocent until proven guilty today? 2. In England and its territories, whatever was declared by the King officially became law. In Latin, this is known as “Rex Lex,” meaning the king is law. If the King imposed a tax, or a “health-care law,” it became law and the people, who were just subjects, had to pay the tax or follow the law, similar to Obama(does he really?)Care. The Revolutionary War is said to have begun with the Boston Tea Party largely because the Colonists believed that “taxation without representation is wrong.” Why did we not have a federal income tax for more than 150 years in America? Chiefly, because the Founders believed such taxes were unconstitutional. How well do your taxes today represent your interests? 3. The Founders reversed the system of jurisprudence in England and made a new one for America called “Lex Rex,” meaning the Law as strategized in The Declaration and The Constitution would forever be the law of the land. In Latin, it means “the Law is King,” not vice versa. Instead of kings deciding what is law, the essential gifts from God to us would be the law of the land. What were these essential God-given gifts? Read on. 4. Three cardinal truths would forever be the bedrock values of America if it were to become “the land of the free and the home
34 * JULY 2015 * BOROPULSE.COM
of the brave.” What were these three cardinal truths or values? In Jefferson’s words: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) with certain unalienable (God-given) Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of property” (which James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and others defined as private property ownership; British philosopher John Locke is credited for the phrase, which was later edited by Thomas Jefferson into “the pursuit of Happiness”). Why would the Founders agree to such principles and write about God as Creator, divine Providence and sacred Honor if they intended to separate Church and State? They didn’t mean to separate these two institutions, but intended that the Church would have supremacy, not the State. As Jefferson wrote in his letter to the Danberry Baptists who were worried that the Congregational Church would become the “official church of the Republic,” he gave credit to Fisher Ames, who drafted the First Amendment. Jefferson declared that there was “a one-way veil” between the church and the state in which the church would be able to impose its morality or values on the state, yet the state could not oversee or regulate the church. Is this still true today? If so, how many churches or Christian leaders today are overseeing what our government is doing? A bumper sticker I saw recently is quite telling. It read “I love my country, but I fear my government.” Perhaps we would do well to return to the essential God-given truths and values to which our dear forefathers pledged their “Lives, Fortunes and sacred Honor.” After reading many of the original letters, articles and drafts of our forefathers, it is clear to me that they were not only men of unshakeable faith and integrity, they were also Trinitarians. They believed in God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, so much that they set up government on three levels—federal, state and local—in three branches: executive, legislative and judicial; and on three forces: power (executive), love (legislative) and a sound mind as final authority (judicial). They were Christians; thus to honor God, His Ten Commandments and the Gospels of our Lord Jesus they pledged everything they believed in and everything they owned. What was the price of doing so? Nearly half of the 56 Founders lost their property, their families or their lives. The others who survived the Revolutionary War went on to birth the only nation on earth established to honor God in the Trinity. Makes one wonder: Are we still the land of the free and the home of the brave? The answer is still in His Trinity and the Honor that radiates in our “Lives, Fortunes and sacred Honor.”
Take Some Personal Responsibility and Improve Your Situation
I
’ve long maintained that the solution to much of society’s ills lies in one simple phrase. Personal responsibility. Now there’s a new series of studies that appears to back that up. And an interesting sidebar is that conservatives might be better at dieting than liberals.
Why is that? The studies show it has much to do with one’s perception of free will. The researchers defined free will as the belief that a person is largely responsible for their own outcomes. Conservatives agreed with statements like “Strength of mind can always overcome the body’s desires.” Joshua Clarkson, the lead author of the study, told the LA Times, “Conservatives tend to believe they had a greater control over their outcomes.” In other words, the studies indicated that liberals tend to believe that taking full responsibility for their outcomes would cause them to suffer from more guilt and frustration. This led the authors of the study to conclude that conservatives are more likely to stick to a diet because they believe that the outcome is based on their own actions. The L.A. Times seemed fixated on dietary habits in conjunction with the study, but it really has more VIEWS OF A far-reaching ramifications. Conservatives were far more likely to agree with column by the statement “People can overcome any obstacles PHIL VALENTINE philvalentine.com if they truly want to.” Think of what a difference that makes in people’s everyday lives. Liberals want you to think that you’re a victim of your circumstances. Heck, they want you to think you’re a victim, period. That mindset leaves people trapped in their present condition. It robs them of hope. It destroys their incentive to make something of themselves. We all have it in us to do better. We all have free will. It was that free will that drove a ragtag country to independence and, later, to become the beacon of freedom and prosperity for the rest of the world. People who tell you that you can’t change your circumstances are either those too lazy to better their own lot or those on whom you are dependent. The only time in this study in which liberals outperformed conservatives was when participants were provided with fake research that said free will was an obstacle to success. After reading the article, conservatives performed worse on the test than did liberals. Why? Because they had been convinced that they couldn’t do something. Isn’t that really what liberalism preaches day in and day out? Liberals drill into peoples’ heads that they can’t possibly make it on their own. They need the government to give them food or shelter or financial assistance. They tell them that they aren’t responsible for their poverty. It’s the corporations and the rich folks who have robbed them. The cold reality is most people in America who are poor are poor because of bad choices. Liberalism teaches them that’s not so. I saw a woman with a ‘Will Work for Food’ sign just the other day. She had multiple tattoos, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much food the money she spent on those tattoos would buy. Liberalism shifts the responsibility to someone else. It’s all about personal responsibility. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. If everyone were to take responsibility for their own actions and stop blaming others or looking to the government, we would all be much better off. The good news is that we’re not hard-wired to be conservative or liberal. Despite the belief to the contrary, we do have free will. People can change. Societies can change. There’s hope for a more self-reliant—and thinner—America.
CONSERVATIVE
all have free will. “We
It was that free will that drove a ragtag country to independence and, later, to become the beacon of freedom and prosperity for the rest of the world.”
Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com. BOROPULSE.COM
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Murfreesboro’s Music Through the Decades BY GLORIA CHRISTY
(From left) Kevin McNulty, Russell Moore —who will be playing before Ralph Stanley— and Bill Cody of WSM 650, and me and my son Ben.
Roots of America’s Music, Part 3: “The Banjo Contest”
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riginally made from a gourd covered with groundhog’s hide, goat’s skin or, sometimes, cat skin, the “banja or banjars” (today’s banjo) has become a part of our country’s heritage. The story of the banjo, from its African American roots to the sound of its plucked strings ringing from cabins in the dark hollows of the Appalachians, is about America’s people. The natural tone of the banjo is happy and joyous—its lighthearted sound could peel the bark off a tree. In the early 19th century, the instrument was an oddity, denied respect in most music circles. In the 20th century, with the emergence of the exciting “claw-hammer” of “frailing” performance styles of Uncle Dave Macon, it became a reputable standard during the early days of the WSM Barn Dance and Grand Ole Opry. On Oct. 19, 1857, the first banjo contest was held in, of all places, New York City. The contest was organized by Charles Morrell, a banjo maker. The first and only prize was $100 (equivalent to well over $2,000 today). It was held in the Old Chinese Assembly Rooms at No. 539 on Broadway. There were three judges, a custom still followed today in banjo contests around the country. Each player was to play five tunes: a waltz, one schottische, one polka, one reel and one jig. Twenty players entered the contest. Years later, Morrell documented the historical event, saying that the audience went wild, mesmerized by the players: “I thought that the roof would fall off!” Charles Plummer was announced the winner—“The Champion Banjoist of America.” He played his five tunes in a continuous medley, running one tune into another until he finished. Charles Morrell took his banjo playing and contest idea to the West Coast, teaching hundreds of Californians to play even before the Civil War. It is fair to assume that many contemporary banjo contests have been influenced by Mr. Morrell’s idea today—Galax, Virginia’s Old Fiddler’s Contest (featuring banjo competitions), the Appalachian String Band
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Festival in Clifftop, W.V., or the Topanga Canyon Banjo Contest in Aurora Hills, Calif.—or even our own Uncle Dave Macon Days. Banjo contests are great fun. Over the years, the contests have almost become a way of life for some players. Here is a story of the humble beginnings of Uncle Dave Macon Days. By 1987, after starting as a one-day banjo pickin’ contest in 1978, Uncle Dave Macon Days had become one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing old-time music festivals. The 1987 event marked the 11th Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days; the previous year, Congress had declared the festival to be the official site of the National Championships for the old-time dance styles of clogging and buck dancing. In addition, Uncle Dave’s “claw-hammer banjo” performing style had achieved prominence as the festival was also declared the National Championship in old-time banjo performance. So, 1987 was the first year that these national competitions would be featured as a part of the festival. Clearly, Uncle Dave Macon Days was carving out its own popular niche. When I first volunteered to help in the summer of 1982, I soon found that Jesse Messick, the founder of Uncle Dave Macon Days, was a man of remarkable character and conviction. He had the ability to see the best in an individual and encourage them beyond their own perception of themselves. In 1984, Jesse had asked me to direct the festival. In those days, I was grieving from a broken marriage and was overwhelmed with feelings of inadequacy and failure. Somehow, in his wisdom, Jesse persuaded me to look beyond my circumstances and rely on God for the results in every facet of my life. This included how a festival was to be developed and directed. Up until then, I really did not think God cared about those kinds of details in everyday life. Jesse, a prominent businessman, owned Messick Family Pharmacy, which had been a fixture on the Murfreesboro Public Square, and served as a county commissioner
Jesse Messick (left), the founder of the Uncle Dave Macon Days Festival, worked until his death in 1988 to promote the annual event.
completely devoted to his community, particularly the downtown area. Above all, Jesse loved the music and the comedy of the early days of the Grand Ole Opry. In 1977, after being involved in an event that inspired Uncle Dave Macon Days called the “Homespun Days,” Jesse came up with the idea to create an event featuring the music of those early Opry days. It was his hope that this event would bring a family-friendly activity to the Square, drawing interest back to the downtown area, which had succumbed to the impact of outlying shopping centers. Jesse’s dream was to stimulate the economy and vitality of the downtown by establishing an event around the Opry’s first superstar, Uncle Dave Macon. Uncle Dave, one of Rutherford County’s most flamboyant figures and a lifelong resident, had died in 1952. By 1987, through Jesse’s leadership and guidance, the festival organizers had truly bonded. Jesse’s “empowerment technique” was simply to affirm one’s gifts and allow them to flourish in the context of working in a group initiative on the festival. As the 1987 festival approached, we all realized that the Uncle Dave Macon Days Committee was more than just a group of organizers. Not only had we become a national competition, but with Jesse’s leadership, we had flourished into an extended family. Indeed, we were truly a blended family, each one with their own unique gifts. Jesse’s life-path of sacrificial faith was an eye-opener, the likes of which I had never experienced. Although I had been festival director since 1984, and prone to being a “control freak,” I found this kind of behavior unsettling. How could one surrender everything to God, including a music festival? He always reassured me that God was a like a kind father who really cared about the assignments that were given to us. “Total surrender to God” seemed so unrealistic, even irresponsible, like a pious evasion of personal responsibility. Many encircling circumstances threatened to stifle our efforts that year. If Uncle Dave Macon Days was going to happen in 1987, it was clearly going to take more than Jesse, myself as director, or any of the rest of us on the committee. Similar to this year, among other obstacles was the overpowering heat and drought that had plagued Middle Tennessee that year. As I recall, it had not rained significantly since May. As Saturday morning of the competition began, the sun beat down relentlessly on the pavement of the Public Square. Waves of heat blurred one’s sight when looking
out from the splotches of shade beneath the immense trees on the Courthouse lawn. A few pickers would brave the elements, and only a few onlookers ventured out to endure what was to be a scorcher of an afternoon. During the opening ceremonies on Friday, Jesse’s pastor had led the smattering of attendees in a brief prayer. Among his simple petitions to the Lord, he fervently prayed for rain. I remember thinking as I gazed up into the blazing, clear, cloudless blue sky, “That’s nice, but not this weekend, okay, Lord?” Out of nowhere in the summer haze of that Saturday afternoon, like sheep in a vast field of blue, appeared a clouded canopy. Then, as if a towering angel began to flap her dewy wings, a sweet breeze breathed in a delightful afternoon shower which swept across the Square, bringing soothing cool relief over the entire downtown area. Moistened and refreshed, the air was sparked with a charge of excitement and attraction. Within a short time after the rain, an enormous crowd converged. Attendance kept growing and growing, and by Saturday evening, we had the largest crowd ever at Uncle Dave Macon Days. It was the first year that the crowd expanded outside the courtyard and onto Main Street, and it was apparent that the event would soon outgrow the Square. In 1989, we moved the festival to Cannonsburgh Village. As it happened, that would be Jesse’s last Uncle Dave Macon Days. He died in the spring of 1988. Beyond his passing, Jesse left a legacy of faith in all of us who have volunteered for the past 38 years with this remarkable gift of love to our community. Year after year, I have learned that the festival is an opportunity to discover God’s power as well as a way to honor and reflect his kindness and abundance. Recently, we have discovered that many of our young prodigies have gone on to careers in music, playing with such talents as Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent, and even last year’s Heritage Award Winners, Dailey and Vincent. Many of our former Uncle Dave Macon Days dancers are now professionals on the Grand Old Opry. I am still amazed how God has used this festival to show His grace and goodness. Now, after more than 30 years as director of Uncle Dave Macon Days, I have passed the festival’s leadership on to my son, Ben Wilson. Under his leadership, and that of talented others who have grown up in the festival’s organization, Uncle Dave Macon Days will undoubtedly be sustained and will evolve into a new level of greatness. What a blessing to have such leadership skills in my son, right under my feet! His new role as director is for such a time as now. With banjos being one of the top-selling instruments across the U.S., the roots-music movement continues to expand, sweeping across our land and helping to preserve what is special about America’s musical story. Uncle Dave Macon Days is a part of sharing this legacy with the next generation. (For more information about the 2015 Uncle Dave Macon Festival, visit uncledavemacondays.com or see this year’s schedule on page 12.) Thank you, Jesse, for teaching us faith in the context of an old-time music festival. If you have not experienced Uncle Dave Macon Days, come and enjoy. You will be changed by the music on the banks of Lytle Creek.
“Jesse came up with the idea to create an event featuring the music of those early Opry days. It was his hope that this event would bring a family-friendly activity to the Square . . .”
Read more Murfreesboro’s Music Through the Decades series at BOROPULSE.COM BOROPULSE.COM
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Sports INTRODUCING CALCIO FIORENTINO
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SPORTS TALK
adies and gentleman, published for the first time in boys and girls, children 1580 by Giovanni de Bardi, a column by ZACH of all ages, the Train Florentine count. So, let’s talk “Z-TRAIN” MAXFIELD titanman1984yahoo.com Daddy proudly brings rules and explain the game. to you the knowledge of all Matches, played on a sandthings sports and, occasionally, some politicovered field twice as long as is wide, last 50 cally incorrect statements to get everyone fired minutes. There are 27 players on each side with up. Let’s roll out the station, my friends! no substitutions allowed. Teams are made up of Last month we had a beautiful piece covering four goalkeepers, three fullbacks, five halfbacks all things Tennessee Titans and the greatest and 15 forwards. The purpose of the game is to Titans fan ever, the Me-Ma. What do I have for throw the ball into the other team’s goal using you this time around? Well, we have a crazyhands or feet to advance the ball. Players are alass Italian blood sport that has been going on lowed to use any means necessary to advance or since around the 15th century to talk about; the stop the ball, and the team with the most goals Titans’ new stadium is now Nissan Stadium; the scored after 50 minutes wins the game. speedy General Lee is under attack, and there’s Interest in the game diminished in the 17th also a transgender MMA fighter to discuss. Yipcentury; however, in 1930 it was reorganized pee ki-yay! So hold on to your butts, my friends, as a game in the kingdom of Italy. Let’s look at this article is spicy—it has blood, racism, politics a few of the more infamous games played. In and transgender karate all rolled into one. 1530, while the city was under siege—and in So, what happens when you put 54 men on defiance of the imperial troops sent by Charles a field of sand, give them a ball and tell them V—a game was played. In 1574, Henry III of there are practically no rules, just that whomFrance attended a game played in his honor ever has the most points after 50 minutes wins during a visit. The King is recorded as saying, a rare breed of cow? Blood, guts and glory, of “Too small to be a war, and too cruel to be a course! Try to imagine rugby combined with game.” There is even said to have been a match bare-knuckle fighting, and you get what the played in 1491 on top of the frozen Arno River. Italians call Calcio Fiorentino, which originated There are many examples of violent sports in in the 15th century in Florence, Italy. Originally, the history books: the Gladiators of Rome, for the game was reserved for rich aristocrats who example. In Central America, there were games played regularly. Even popes, such as Clement like Pelota, played between the Mayans and in VIII, Urban VIII and Leo XI, were known to play which the captain of the losing team was often the sport in the Vatican City. Murder, death and killed. Violence is bred into mankind. At least violence was a normal occurrence in that time of let’s make a game of it, so I say. history, and it was a way for noblemen to legally These days there are four Calcio Fiorenbeat the crap out of their rival nobleman while tino teams, all of whom represent a different also controlling and entertaining the general Quartiere of their city of Florence. The Crocs population. The official rules of Calcio were (Santa Croce) wear blue, the Marias (Santa
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Maria Novella) red, Santo Spirito white and San Giovanni sports the color green. After playing each other in two opening games, the two overall winners go into the final game, which occurs only once a year on June 24. This day is St. John’s Day, honoring the Patron Saint of Florence. Today’s modern version of Calcio allows tactics such as head butting, punching, elbows and choking. Although in my opinion very violent, it’s not brutal; well, maybe a little brutal. But there are rules that make this a fair fight for all who willingly enter the field. There is a head referee deemed master of the field, and six lineman who control the madness. No kicks to the head are allowed, and (my favorite rule) two fighters can’t advance on a single opponent. Eventually, enough people get knocked out and carted off of the field, giving the stronger team more opportunities to score. Watch the madness for yourself right now: find Calcio Storico (its original name) on YouTube and watch. The winning team wins the pride of their Quartiere of the City and, best of all, a Chianina cow, an Italian breed that is one of the largest and oldest breeds in the world, praised for its tender meat.
MAN/WOMAN VS. WOMAN? Let’s skip beating around the bush here and get talking about something crazy in my eyes. Don’t get upset, extreme feminist or LGBT community, as these next few sentences are backed up by science. Men and women are differently built. Being born a man means larger hands, shoulders, bones, and muscle mass. A man would have a distinct advantage in anything involving strength and power. Of course, women like Xena the warrior princess or Chyna the former professional wrestler and body builder could definitely hold their own against any foe. I am speaking in a general sense here of the average man compared to the average women. Do you believe a transgender, a human-born man who now identifies as a woman should be allowed to fight other women? Well, I say no, but some say yes. Transgender fighter Fallon Fox, born a man, fights women. In Fallon Fox’s most recent bout, the fighter defeated Tamikka Brents in just under two minutes of the first round. Brents suffered a damaged orbital bone, which required 7 staples, and a concussion. Brents summed it up after the defeat: “I’ve never felt so overpowered
in my life. I have fought a lot of women and never have felt that amount of strength. I can’t answer whether it’s because he/she was born a man or not, I’m not a doctor.” UFC color commentator Joe Rogan had some harsh words for Fox that I won’t repeat, but he practically summed up what is true but what some don’t want to hear. Ronda Rousey, the current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion also refuses to fight Fallon, stating the unfair advantage. And what happens? Plenty of media outlets label Ronda as a racist, a homophobe and a coward for not willing to fight Fallon Fox. Ronda stated she feels Fox needs to be fighting men, especially with the extreme damage Fox is inflicting on other women. In my opinion the laws of nature, science and common sense don’t apply to the left. They make their own and manipulate the existing to accommodate their lifestyles. Then they expect everything and everyone to conform, and those who don’t are said to be racist, haters and homophobes. That’s it for this topic. It’s only my opinion, and here in America we can have an opinion without fear of ISIS cutting out our tongues. God bless America!
TENNESSEE TITANS HOME FIELD RENAMED NISSAN STADIUM Nissan is one of Middle Tennessee’s largest employers; the Smyrna plant has more than 8,400 employees, and the contract between Nissan and the stadium will last 20 years.
PRODUCTION OF GENERAL LEE HALTED I can remember having my little General Lee toy car as a child. I would make her flip, she would roll, she could fly, baby! Never as a child did I think my little orange car was a racist, but Obama and others now say she is. Production of the General Lee car has been halted. Me, personally, I would never wear or fly a Confederate flag. To me, it’s better suited in a museum than on the grounds of a state capital. But people in general should have the right to do as they please in regard to whatever flag suits them. And neither the government nor the media should have the right to say what you should or should not fly. That’s it, my friends, the Train is slowing its roll. To my loyal readers: Thanks and keep on reading!
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