June 2013 Murfreesboro Pulse

MURFREESBORO

Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News

DINING

Smile and Say Sushi with Aya

Vol. 8, Issue 6 JUNE 2013

FREE Gift For You!

page 16

Keller Williams

brings his one-man show to Main St. Live page 14

THIS MONTH: Eagleville Annual Super Truck and Tractor Pull page 4

Dancers Convene for International Folk Fest page 18

ONLINE AT: BOROPULSE.COM

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DEAR READERS:

CONTENTS EVENTS

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COMMUNITY EVENTS

Eagleville Truck and Tractor Pull, Secret Garden Party, Taylor Guitars Road Show, Kids Summer Film Fest.

MOVIES

6 7 8

Reviews Star Trek Into Darkness; Die, Develkok, Die!; Iron Man 3.

Motion Pictures in Music City Nashville is becoming a hub for video production.

Living Room Cinema 1960s B-Movie Horror.

SOUNDS

9

Wartrace MusicFest June 8 event aims to bring boogie, blues and BBQ.

q

JUNE CONCERTS

w r

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Album Reviews Don Coyote, The Joy of Painting, Sky Hi, A Secret Policeman's Ball.

Keller Williams Veteram jam rocker brings his one-man show to Main St.

FOOD

y u

Smile and Say Sushi Aya Sushi offers delicious sushi, soups and a friendly staff.

Own (a Piece of) Your Own Farm Farmer brings the CSA concept to Middle Tennessee tables.

Coffee Talk The Zombie Java edition.

Recipes Miss Daisy King's Spring Fruit Trifle.

COVER STORY

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LIVING

i p a s

International Folk Fest Week of dance brings groups from around the globe.

Living Green Sustainability is more than just a marketing slogan.

Read to Succeed Book Review Reconstructing Amelia, by Kimberly McCreight.

DECA Group of enterprising Riverdale students helps small businesses grow and market themselves.

SPORTS

f

Sports Talk with Z-Train NBA finals set for June.

THEATER

g

March Performances Rent, The Tempest, The Altos, Comedy Mayhem, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash.

OPINIONS

h j k l

La Palabra Summer safaris for the manly man.

Phil Valentine Opposition to gay marriage is not hateful.

Energy One radiant individual says it's in infinite supply.

Recover Rutherford "Heartaches" and whistling.

ART

Two Tone is Open on Lytle Local tattoo artist opens art gallery, recording studio near Murfreesboro Public Square.

CREW

PULSE

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Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo Art Director: Sarah L. Mayo Ad Rep: Don Clark Copy Editors: Steve Morley, Kelda Sturgis

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Sign up to receive our weekly digital newsletter at BoroPulse.com/Newsletter

Music Editor: Jessica Pace Contributing Writers: Gloria Christy, Ryan Egly, Bryce Harmon, Zach Maxfield, Hayden Owens, Jeff Parnell, Cameron Parrish, Sarah Porterfield, Alex Richey, Elizabeth Scott, Jay Spight, Frank Shepard, Andrea Stockard, Justin Stokes, Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine

To carry The Pulse at your business, or submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com 116-E North Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 796-6248

Copyright © 2013, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 116-E N. Walnut St., 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

FIRST OF ALL, I DIDN’T START THE PULSE because I enjoy the advertising industry or business-tobusiness sales. I enjoyed music and writing and restaurants and discussing ideas and life. However, along the way I have come to enjoy the business end of it, meeting so many great local businesspeople, trying to help them reach new people and grow their operations, learning about all of the unique products, services and customers and seeing how money flows through our town and the local economy.

I’ve learned and talked a lot about advertising over the years, but at times it can be mysterious what people may respond to until it’s out there, and the advertising game is certainly not an exact science.

But a perplexing pair of puzzling patterns have revealed themselves: often, the businesses who cannot afford to advertise have the greatest need to acquire more cusomers, while many businesses that have the excess money in reserve with the ability to advertise are those with already established track records and customer bases; incidentally, those who need to advertise the least.

If a business is losing money month after month, a strong advertising campaign could help them recruit more customers and generate more sales; but from where will the money come for that business to purchase an advertising campaign if they are in the red as it is? Conversely, those businesses who are rockin’ right along are most likely those who’ve already figured out a key to success in business in the area and have managed to already become profitable. Why would this business pour some of its hard-earned profit into advertising when it is making good money already?

This is my conundrum.

However, if your business is one that is successful, if it is one that has the money to invest in local media, if you like the Murfreesboro Pulse and feel that we stand for some of the things that you do, if you appreciate that it’s a free gift to the community and it is packed full of wonderful information about our fair town, please find it in your budget to allocate something for an ad with us, and in return you will get a piece of this document to do with as you please; you will reach people with your message.

If you are a business who needs to grow, if you want to move from surviving to succeeding, if appearing in the pages of the Pulse could benefit you and help you reach some new folks, I encourage you to get in contact—let’s see what we can work out. bracken@boropulse.com.

I see our existing advertisers as those who have acheived some level of success with their businesses; they all have their fans, but still choose to run with us, and we thank you for it! But I think they all see much more growth for each of their respectable enterprises, plan to be around for a while, and seem to know that if they will invest a little now, we can all gain a lot over the long run.

Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM

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EVENTS compiled by ANDREA STOCKARD

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

JUNE AND JULY THEATER YOUTH CAMPS The Murfreesboro Center for the Arts will host summer theater camps for students entering first through twelfth grades, plus a mini-camp for ages 4–6.

Amy Baltimore, who recently directed the bilingual Aladdin musical at the Center, will be directing all four Center Stage Academy camps. Junior sessions for kids entering grades one through six will be held June 3–14, and again June 17–28. The senior session for those entering grades seven through twelve will run July 8–19, and the mini-camp will be held July 22–26. For more information or to make reservations, call (615) 904-ARTS or visit boroarts.org.

JUNE 6 UNBROKEN CIRCLE AUTHOR TO VISIT LINEBAUGH Public Library will be hosting local author Alicia Smith on Thurs., June 6, from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m.

Smith will be selling and signing copies of her book Unbroken Circle, published by One Karma Publishing in 2012.

A native of Texas, Smith relocated to the Tennessee area in 1990. She began her literary career in 1999, when she began writing one-ofa-kind pieces of poetry for clients upon request.

She later turned her interest toward her second love, fiction, and published her first novel in 2010. Unbroken Circle, her second novel, tells the story of five friends who have settled into their careers and find refuge in the illustrious community of Carrington Heights.

Linebaugh Public Library is located at 105 W. Vine St. Murfreesboro. For more information, call (615) 893-4131 or visit linebaugh.org.

family members, friends and other significant people in their lives. Admission is $30 per participant, but need-based scholarships are available so that every child may benefit regardless of ability to pay. Space is limited, and registration is required. For more information, call (615) 346-8680 or visit alivehospice.org.

JUNE 6 TAYLOR ROAD SHOW Music World and Drummer’s Din present Taylor Road Show June 6 at 2762 S. Church St., with great deals on music gear, new and used instruments, lessons and rentals, a DJ and live band performances. For more information, call (615) 893-4242.

JUNE 9–16

FRONT PORCH PASTIMES DAY CAMP

JUNE 7

Enjoy activities all week, involving daytime shows for senior citizens, civic clubs, schools, etc., and evening performances in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County. For more information, call Steve Cates at (615) 896-3559 or (615) 885-2631, or visit mboro-international-folkfest.org.

Children ages 6 through 12 will have a chance to step back into the past while being introduced to period games, chores, crafts and cooking at Oakland Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) from 10 a.m.-noon. Reservations are required and are currently being accepted. Admission is $35 per child. For more information, call (615) 893-0022, visit oaklandsmuseum. org or e-mail mb@oaklandsmuseum.org.

JUNE 7 FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE CONCERT SERIES Middle Tennessee Medical Center presents Main Street’s Summer Concert Series beginning June 7! The opening concert of the season features the premier classic rock ’n’ roll band in Middle Tennessee, the Leonard Brothers Band, at 6:30 p.m. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy great music under the beautiful trees on the east side of the courthouse. Other concert dates are July 5, Aug. 2 and Sept. 6.

ANIMAL SECRETS EXHIBIT

SECRET GARDEN PARTY GUESTS TO CELEBRATE THE STYLE OF “DOWNTON ABBEY"

CAMP FORGET-ME-NOT FOR GRIEVING KIDS Camp Forget-Me-Not by Alive Hospice will be June 5-7 at Trinity United Methodist Church (2303 Jones Blvd.) for grieving kids (ages 6-14) who have lost loved ones including

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Malco Theaters across Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, including Rutherford County’s Malco-Roxy Theatre in Smyrna, are presenting the 2013 Kids Summer Film Fest this summer to raise funds for regional children’s hospitals including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Admission is only $2 per person.

This program will run at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through July 31. This year’s schedule includes: June 4–5: Rio June 11–12: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs June 18–19: Ice Age: Continental Drift June 25–26: Horton Hears a Who July 2–3: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Roderick Rules July 9–10: Space Chimps July 16–17: Mr. Popper’s Penguins July 23–24: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakel July 30–31: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked!

For more information, call (615) 223-6252.

Neal at (615) 890-2300 for more information or to reserve tickets.

JUNE 7

JUNE 5–7

KIDS MOVIES FOR A CAUSE

JUNE 6-7

THROUGH SEPT. 8 Families and visitors will explore the hidden habits and secret lives of forest animals at the Discovery Center (502 S.E. Broad St.) as well as discover nature from an animal’s point of view in a hands-on naturalistic environment. For more information, call (615) 890-2300 or visit discoverycenteronline.org.

TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS 

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring will host their annual Secret Garden Party on Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m. at the home of Elizabeth and Brad Allen (2261 Oakleigh Dr.). In keeping with summer garden party style, ladies’ hats are encouraged. There will be garden tours, food, drinks and a silent and live auction with a “Downtown Abbey” theme. Proceeds will support educational programs and exciting hands-on exhibits at The Discovery Center.

Secret Garden Party tickets are $75 each, and may be purchased at the Discovery Center or at explorethedc.org. Please contact Jennifer

MUSIC AT THE MILL Wildfire will kick off this summer concert series with free music, food vendors and inflatables for children at Gregory Mill Park (390 Enon Springs Rd.) beginning at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call (615) 459-9773 or visit townofsmyrna.org.

JUNE 8 LAST CALL FOR GRACE GOLF TOURNAMENT Come out for the 4-person scramble Inaugural Last Call 4 Grace Golf Tournament, June 8, with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun. Dinner will be served and guests can take part in the silent auction.

LC4G is a grace-filled ministry where 100% of monies collected are invested into the lives of those in need. Cost is $300 per team or $75 per player. $350 per team includes Tee Sponsor. If you would like to be a Tee Sponsor it is $50, Tee and T- Shirt sponsor $150 and Hole Challenge Sponsor $250. For more information, please contact tfoote@championsrun.biz or find Last Call 4 Grace Golf Tournament at Champion Runs Golf Course on Facebook.

JUNE 8  EAGLEVILLE SUPER TRUCK AND TRACTOR PULL The most entertaining show in the South returns to the TVPPA Eagleville Tractor Show Grounds (747 Chapel Hill Pike, Eagleville) for one night only, with modifieds, tractors, street legal and more! For more information, call Jesse Geasley at (615) 542-5656 or visit eaglevilletvppa.com.

INTERNATIONAL FOLKFEST

JUNE 8 & 22 HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERY Spend an hour walking through the cemetery at Stones River National Battlefield (1563 N. Thompson Ln.) by lantern light while hearing the stories of soldiers and civilians revealing the terrible cost of the Civil War. Held on both Saturday, June 8, and Saturday, June 22. For more information, call (615) 893-9501 or visit nps.gov/stri.

JUNE 8 MEDICAL MISSION EVENT AT MINERVA DRIVE CHURCH OF CHRIST As part of Saint Thomas Health’s commitment to serve the poor and vulnerable in Middle Tennessee, the Rutherford County Medical Mission at Home will host a free medical screening event Sat., June 8, at the Minerva Drive Church

JUNE 15 THE SUMMER PARTY— A TASTE OF RUTHERFORD Main Street invites you to The Summer PartyA Taste of Rutherford, hosted by Margaret and Lynn Agee (4551 Lascassas Pike) June 15 from 7–10 p.m. This annual fundraiser for Main Street features “tastes” from your favorite local restaurants and caterers. The $50 reservation also includes an open bar, music

by Karl & the Undertones and more. For more information, please contact the Main Street office at (615) 895-1887 or michelle. msmurf@bellsouth.net; visit downtownmurfreesboro.com for reservations.

JUNE 21 CANNONSBURGH CONCERT SERIES Enjoy the Cannonsburgh Concert Series at

Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 7–9 p.m. in the pavilion. Admission is free. For more information, call (615) 890-0355.

JUNE 24–28 ANTEBELLUM ACADEMY This week-long camp is available for girls ages 12 and older to learn etiquette, dance, penmanship, music, needlework and art at Oaklands Historic House Museum (900 N. Maney Ave.). For more information, call (615) 893-0022, visit oaklandsmuseum.org or email mb@oaklandsmuseum.org.

JUNE 29 UNITED WAY’S RED, WHITE, AND BLUES EVENT SOUTHERN COASTAL EXPERIENCE The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties will host its annual signature fundraising event, the fourth annual Red, White, and Blues event, on June 29, at the home of Larry and Susan Quesenberry. This casual outdoor dinner is reminiscent of the southern coastal areas and associated with the 4th of July holiday.

Tickets to the dinner are $75 each ($150 per couple) and tickets to the Patron’s Party before the dinner are $125 each ($250 per couple).

Reservations are requested by June 14 and can

be made by calling (615) 893-7303 or visiting uwrutherford.org/events. Proceeds will benefit programs and initiatives in the areas of education, income, health and rebuilding lives.

FRIDAYS MTSU STUDENT FARMERS MARKET MTSU students will be selling produce and plants in the university’s Horticulture Center, located on Lightning Way across from the Tennessee Livestock Center on campus, every Friday from noon to 3 p.m. throughout the summer. The produce is grown at the University’s Experiential Learning and Research Center at the MTSU Farm and Dairy, located off Guy James Road in Lascassas. For more information, call (615) 898-2523.

SATURDAYS SATURDAY MARKET ON THE SQUARE Saturday Market on the Square returns to downtown Murfreesboro on Sat., June 1, and will continue every Saturday through October from 8 a.m.–Noon on the Public Square.

Come out for early summer vegetables, fresh strawberries, fried pies, 100% grass-fed beef, grass- fed, grain-finished beef, pork

PHOTO BY MTSU NEWS AND MEDIA RELATIONS

of Christ (1115 Minerva Dr.) from 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Volunteer medical personnel from the top medical centers and hospitals in Middle Tennessee will provide free medical, dental and optical checkups along with pharmacy services; optical eye care and dental check-ups will be provided.

For more information, call (615) 396-4693 or e-mail kathy.ferrell@mtmc.org.

MTSU employees Charlotte Caruthers and Theresa Stevenson check out recently harvested lettuce at the Student Farmers Market in the Horticulture Center.

and free-range chicken. All meat sold at the Saturday Market is hormone-, antibiotic- and steroid-free. Beautiful hanging flower baskets and bedding plants will also be available for sale. For more information, find Murfreesboro Saturday Market on Facebook.

BOROPULSE.COM

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MOVIES REVIEWS

DIE, DEVELKOK, DIE! Starring: Chad Laha, Anthony Thomas, Dustin Rye

Directed by Mike Dobrzelecki

Rated N/R

Die, Develkok, Die! is the first feature-length film of Murfreesboro local Mike Dobrzelecki, filmed in and around Murfreesboro and the greater Middle Tennessee area, and I was lucky enough to catch the premiere on May 15 at Smyrna’s Malco-Roxy Theatre.

If the title alone doesn’t give it away, Die, Develkok, Die! is no Driving Miss Daisy. Dobrzelecki cites such master genre pics as Grindhouse and The Warriors as inspiration for his darkly comic “lost” exploitation film about the titular Terry Develkok (Chad Laha), a down-onhis-luck dude who, after trying to off himself, discovers that he cannot die.

Vowing to use his newfound powers for good, what sounds like a horror

movie turns into a gorehound’s wet dream of a superhero movie, as Develkok attempts to rescue the Littlest Prostitute from the nameless city’s hordes of sadistic super-villains.

Though Terry has top billing, it’s the baddies that steal the show. Like a cross between the gangs in The Warriors and Fred Dekker’s monsters of Universal Pictures mashup Monster Squad, Die, Develkok, Die! revels in its cadre of creative psychopaths: Lucha Lunatic, Lum-

berJack the Ripper, Frankenbomber, the Voodoo Vixens and Kris Krinkle, just to name a few, with Creepo the Clown (Dustin Rye) and Pimp Daddy (Anthony Thomas) giving standout performances.

The film’s main strength is also its biggest flaw, however. With so many clever villains receiving their own special introductory scenes, Terry Develkok’s own story sometimes falls by the wayside. And while I would’ve loved to see what

IRON MAN 3 Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley Directed by Shane Black

Rated PG-13

The events of last summer’s recordbreaking blockbuster The Avengers have left Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr., in his fourth outing as the fan-favorite character) a broken man, and harmed the relationships with the people he holds most dear to him, including that of girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).

Enter the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), a Middle Eastern terrorist whose outlandish attacks force Tony Stark to suit up as Iron Man once again.

After the surprisingly well written/directed Avengers, Marvel succeeded in raising the bar quite high for themselves. Whatever followed next in their self-proclaimed “phase two” of films based on their

RATINGS: 6 * JUNE 2013 * BOROPULSE.COM

characters would need to live up to the hype Avengers created. Iron Man 3 possesses all of the elements of a great follow-up to the superhero team-up, and the elements of a great conclusion to the Iron Man trilogy. Unfortunately, the film manages to corrupt these elements, and ultimately falls flat on its face.

The main problem is the complete bastardization of the Mandarin. What the casual moviegoer may not know is this character is the ultimate Iron Man villain. The Mandarin is to Iron Man what the Joker is to Batman. The dichotomy of

A CLASSIC

their relationship is one of the more fascinating dualities in the Marvel Universe. As a lifelong comic book fan, imagine my anticipation when it was announced that the Mandarin be brought to the big screen to close out the Iron Man trilogy. To my shock, Marvel threw a complete curveball, and turned one of their most fascinating villains into a complete laughingstock.

I’m sure at this point I seem like the pretentious comic book guy from The Simpsons, so let me set the record straight. I am fine with writers/directors changing up

OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

villains the filmmakers came up with next (I was especially disappointed The Phantom of the Apollo’s scenes didn’t make the final cut), cutting just a few more would’ve allowed for a deeper exploration of the remaining characters and their showdowns with the unkillable Develkok. Of course, this flick is pure exploitation, so a lack of pathos is no surprise and no fault, and a clever conceit in the opening scene covers any complaints about “scenes missing.”

With nearly all the gore effects being practical (i.e. no CGI), an original score by Ryan Holladay and Spencer Cantrell, and a super-committed cast and crew, Die, Develkok, Die! is an amazing example of what several passionate local filmmakers can accomplish with an investment of $8,000 and a little less than two years. To keep tabs on when the next screening might occur, “Like” the Die, Develkok, Die! Facebook page and stay tuned for Mike D.’s next film, Terms, already in pre-production.

— JAY SPIGHT

characters for big-screen adaptations. In fact, I welcome the change.

The problem with Iron Man 3 is that one look at any of the advertising for the movie points towards the Mandarin being the villain. It is obvious that Marvel wanted to trick the audience into believing this, and instead wrote in a second-act twist that turned the rest of the film into a convoluted disaster. The plot just gets thicker and thicker, and, like the previous two Iron Man movies, you reach a point about threefourths into the film where you simply give up on following it and just try and enjoy the action scenes.

What I always find more frustrating than a simply terrible movie, is when a movie has all the elements of being fantastic, but throws them aside in favor of lazy writing and directing. This is regrettably the case in Iron Man 3—another entry in a now-tired franchise, proving only that Iron Man might be getting a little rusty. — HAYDEN OWENS

BELOW AVERAGE

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg Directed by JJ Abrans

Rated PG-13

After being demoted and losing the U.S.S. Enterprise, Kirk discovers that a menacing act of terrorism on the homefront may bear deeper meaning and a bigger threat than he first realized . . .

That, roughly, is the plot of Star Trek Into Darkness, the newest episode in the massively successful J.J. Abrams reboot of the franchise. I’m not going to say much more about the plot itself at the risk of spoiling anything, because I know how much people have been looking forward to this movie.

Let me say that this is a very fun film, with a lot to offer to audiences. From the beginning, Abrams was smart enough to make a distinction between the timelines of this universe and that of the original series (doing a decent job of preserving what the fans held sacred). While I’m not a “Trekkie” by any means, I think I can safely say that the film recreates the feel and energy of the original series.

Having shared that, I do not think this film is as good Abrams’s first Star Trek movie. Yes, it’s got killer action scenes and a few twists that many people won’t see coming. But, in my opinion, the film also seems to lack the level of character and plot development that the first movie had.

Some of our favorite characters seem to only be in the film for a few minutes.

Now, does this ruin the movie? Absolutely not. But I certainly don’t see this being the best film of the summer. It’s a good exploration of the friendship of Kirk and Spock, albeit at the expense of other characters. I can’t help but think of the many other directions in which the story could have gone. We could have had a movie that was epic, but instead we got a movie that you’ll certainly want to see.

Think I’m crazy? That’s fair. Join the conversation at boropulse.com. Anyone’s welcome to chime in, so long as it’s respectful.

— JUSTIN STOKES

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

IT’S AN ICONIC PART OF NASHVILLE to see musicians on the sidewalks. These artists put everything they have into their craft, hoping to one day realize their dreams. And now a new kind of artist is looking to capture the magic of downtown, only this time through a camera.

Nashville is quickly gaining momentum as a hub for video, motion picture and television production, with one of the biggest needs for cameras being to create content to accompany the music coming out of Music City.

“Commercials are mixed in, as well as narrative work. Most often, music videos are the product of choice,” jokes cinematographer Matt Satterfield.

“Being in Nashville, music is the backbone of the film industry. I would say that close to 50 percent of my work are music videos or another form of advertising for an artist. The spectrum is vast as well, from small independent artists with a $5,000 budget to a major label with $100,000 allocated.”

Satterfield, an MTSU graduate who started his own business in 2008, has quickly made himself a mainstay of the film community. His website, matthewsatterfield.com, offers an eclectic spectrum of images of his demo reel, ranging from quirky to haunting. Satterfield also notes that production work has increased, thanks to a certain TV show about a certain city.

Quite a few high schools in the region offer classes and resources in video production. These endeavors got so popular that the high schools partnered with the College of Mass Communications at MTSU to create a festival for young media producers, the Blue Spark Awards, encouraging students to pursue their passion of media production into college. Watkins College and the Nashville Film Institute both offer film schools.

Lesser known, however, are the video production projects of other schools. Vanderbilt offers both a program in “film studies” as well as the Vanderbilt Film Society. Murfreesboro’s own MTSU offers numerous classes to learn the art of motion picture production, as well as its own club: The MTSU Film Guild, a student organization which allocates thousands of dollars to opportunities for student films. MTSU professor Bob Pondillo has produced several award-winning shorts with the help of his students, including The Miracles on Honey Bee Hill.

The latest player in this game is Belmont University, who will actually be teaming up with Watkins College for their own program in motion pictures.

The program is being chaired by Will Akers, filmmaker, screenwriter, and author of Your Screenplay Sucks!: 100 Ways to Make it Great, an acclaimed book on the screenwriting process.

These schools create a support system for those looking to further their education in the art of motion picture production. Nashville’s love affair with movies stretches way outside the halls of academia, though, with video production companies popping up all over the city. Adding to this, meetup.com has quite a few hobbyist groups for varying parts of the movie-making process.

The Nashville Screenwriter’s Conference is entering its 14th year, bringing the movers and shakers of the film industries in New York and L.A. to Nashville so that they may share their insight. On the production end, Nashville also hosts Film-Com, an annual packaging, financing and distribution

MOTION PICTURES IN MUSIC CITY The TV series Nashville has helped turn the spotlight on the Music City as a hub of motion picture and video production.

Is the city of Nashville becoming a “Third Coast” for video production? story by JUSTIN STOKES

market which directly connects filmmakers and their new projects to domestic and foreign distribution companies, offering workshops, symposiums and exposure for locally-made movies.

The Nashville Film and Media club offers monthly networking meetings for anyone wanting to be involved. NFAM’s founder Joe Rohaley was a grip who lived in Louisiana and wanted to start a union for film workers in Tennessee. The club, which is only a few months old, presently has more than 600 members and plans to further the increase in available production work.

“I want to see everybody working,” Joe tells the Pulse. “Nashville’s a great city, and I think it’s time that we brought everybody together so we can make some great movies. A lot of very talented people are here.”

Indeed, Nashville does have some very talented people working behind the camera. One person is Chris Hollo, a veteran photographer of 25 years. As owner of Hollo Photographic, Chris is the official photographer/videographer for Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry. He’s also the creator of Legacy, an online web series that lets people vote on the outcome of the episode (which can be found at legacywebseries. com). This series was made possible by digital filmmaking equipment, which reduces the costs of production. In the last decade, technology has made it possible for small production companies to create exceptional work. And, like Legacy, it can be seen in many different ways as people are able to produce and distribute their work more easily than ever.

“I think Nashville, and perhaps more importantly Tennessee, has an active film and TV industry but it could be much more. You keep hearing about hot markets for film like Vancouver, New Orleans, etc., and the reason that they are hot is because of the financial benefits and packages that production companies are offered,” Hollo said.

Jaz Dorsey, playwright, theater critic, actor, producer and head of the Nashville Dramaturgy Project cites a “serious paradigm shift” in the

Chris Hollo works on the Legacy web video series.

world of cinema: “There is no city better poised to capitalize on this than Nashville. Our talent pool is growing in all areas and we have strong community leaders.”

Perhaps the strongest community leader is the state government itself, as it saw to the creation of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment & Music Commission. The commission acts as an information resource center for entertainment professionals, as well as a liaison to the private sector and government agencies. The commission also offers grants for film, but is now looking to combine the artistic efforts in other creative mediums to more broadly cover entertainment.

Clint Brewer spoke on behalf of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission: “It’s a very exciting time for Tennessee. Nashville is a huge center for entertainment, both for music and videos. But it’s not alone, as Knoxville is becoming a production hub for television, and Memphis is growing its own film community. But, compared to other states, Tennessee’s incentive program is still very small.” Brewer went on to tell the Pulse that “Nashville has a huge branding potential . . . We

want to assist movies that don’t just take place in Tennessee, but tell its story.”

ABC’s hit TV show Nashville has made tremendous headway with this, averaging 8.2 million views per episode; states would be hard-pressed to buy that kind of publicity.

In the world of film festivals, the Nashville Film Festival has exploded, screening over 250 films in an eight-day period, and even giving local residents their own red-carpet experience, as some of Hollywood’s celebrities visit Green Hills to attend.

Tennessee is a state still striving to give bigbudget movies a tax incentive, many personnel in the industry, though pleased with local progress, often talk of moving to bigger cities like Los Angeles and Vancouver for greater opportunities, and though the series Nashville has helped put the city on the map, there’s talk of the show’s production relocating to areas with alreadyestablished infrastructure. But still, more in-state audiences are going to see independent films, and more native Tennesseans look to share their experiences through cinema, with heavy emphases on music and southern culture. And while the time-frame and specifics of this movement remain unclear, one thing is for certain: the moving picture is starting to call Nashville “home”.

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MOVIES

LIVING ROOM CINEMA column by NORBERT THIEMANN

cinespir e@gmail.com

Newer Western’ish

T

hese films are high on the evolutionary chain of B movies, and have become true Cult Classics.

They share a quality that is not always successfully achieved by other films in that they are downright creepy and genuinely unsettling.  Spider Baby (1964) is written and directed by Jack Hill, and stars Lon Chaney Jr. The cast also includes a young Sid Haig. Chaney plays Bruno, who is the caretaker of three surviving children with a degenerative family disease. The kids are both playful and quite dangerous. Due to a bankruptcy, the film was not released until 1968. It was rediscovered for the home video market in the 1980s, and has gained popularity ever since.  Carnival of Souls (1962) is directed by Herk Harvey and stars Candace Hilligoss. A tragic car crash miraculously leaves one surviving young woman. She carries on with her life and accepts a new job, while trying to make sense of her existence. Carnival of Souls manifests into a very creepy psychological horror film. It is so revered that it was later added to the Criterion Collection.

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SOUNDS

Cumberland Blue

Boogie, Blues And Bar-B-Que Wartrace MusicFest returns June 8.

T

he Town of Wartrace and the Wartrace Chamber of Commerce present the ninth annual Wartrace MusicFest from 4–11 p.m. Sat., June 8, at the Wartrace Horse Show Grounds, 112 Bridgeview Ave., Wartrace, Tenn.

The event is a nonprofit effort to benefit the Town of Wartrace and underwrite civic improvements including park benches, trash receptacles and street lighting. A donation is also made to the Cascade High School Band for supervising parking.

This year’s theme is “Boogie, Blues and Bar-B-Que” and admission is just $5, with children 12 and under admitted free.

The fest’s On the Tent Stage presents local and regional musical acts beginning at 4 p.m. in an intimate setting beneath a large tent, with table seating for those enjoying bar-b-que.

For more information on the 2013 Wartrace MusicFest, visit facebook.com/wartracemusicfest Sam Hunter or wartracemusicfest.org or call Jerry Fox at (615) 428-7366.

Cumberland Blue

2013 Wartrace MusicFest Main Stage Lineup: 6 P.M. – CUMBERLAND BLUE is a seven-piece teenage blues band with an average age of 15. The group represented the Nashville Blues Society at the 2013 International Blues Challenge youth showcase held in Memphis.

7 P.M. – THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL BAND is a group of seasoned professionals with tight vocal harmonies, playing classics from every musical genre including rockabilly, R&B, reggae, doo-wop, country, jazz and high-energy rock and roll.

8 P.M. – SAM HUNTER & THE TWO TONES is a trio of accomplished musicians in their early twenties who play classic rock and roll with respect and with an emphasis on fun. This personable group, which never fails to include the audience in its antics, has gained a welldeserved buzz among critics and fans.

Bethany Jo

9 P.M. – EDDIE DELGADO AND LOS VATOS LOCOS featuring BETHANY JO is a six-piece group from New York and East L.A. that plays rock and roll with a Latin flavor reminiscent of Santana. Bethany Jo is a passionate, rising star-level vocalist who has an incredible stage presence.

10 P.M. —THE GIAN CAGE BAND is a group of Nashville studio pros who specialize in their own brand of infectious funk and R&B, covering the likes of Otis Redding, Prince, Gladys Knight and Johnny Cash, all with their own indelible stamp.

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IF YOU GO:

SOUNDS

JUNE CONCERTS

Send your show listings to listings@boropulse.com

THURS, 6/6

TUES, 6/11

JOZOARA Rik Gracia MAIN STREET LIVE Keller Williams

3 BROTHERS Breakdown In the Boro

FRI, 6/7

ROOSTER’S LONE STAR BBQ Writers Night with Mike Short & Lindsay Jurek WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane & Lenny

CAJUN COVE AT FOUR CORNERS MARINA Ryan Coleman FANATICS Pimpalicious HIPPIE HILL Suriya Fest MAIN STREET LIVE The Finale, Evylvy, The Advocate Project ROOSTER’S LONE STAR BBQ Wade Hayes, Southern Proof THE BORO Aye Mammoth WALL STREET Judd Hall WILLIE’S WET SPOT Gypsy Rose

SAT, 6/8 3 BROTHERS Jonny Gowow & the Japanese Cowboys CAJUN COVE AT FOUR CORNERS MARINA The Blues Boys, Jimmy Gonzales FANATICS Greez Monkeez HIPPIE HILL Suriya Fest JOZOARA Charley Davidson MAIN STREET LIVE Webb Wilder & the Beatnecks THE ASCENT Late Night Climb with Live Music THE BORO Murder Suicide, Catechist, Tomatoface WARTRACE HORSE SHOW GROUNDS Cumberland Blue, The Midnight Special Band, Sam Hunter & the Two Tones, Eddie Delgado & Los Vatos Locos, The Gian Cage Band WILLIE’S WET SPOT Sucker Punch

SUN, 6/9 HIPPIE HILL Suriya Fest

WED, 6/12

THURS, 6/13 JOZOARA Rik Gracia

FRI, 6/14 FANATICS Top Shelf JOZOARA JoZoara Palooza with Mark Duckworth, Penny Rae MAIN STREET LIVE Rumble In The Jungle MAYDAY BREWERY Jerry On The Moon THE BORO Redstone, The Dirty Truth, Wheathouse WILLIE’S WET SPOT Justice Colt

SAT, 6/15 CAJUN COVE AT FOUR CORNERS MARINA Reggae Boys FANATICS Blues Fever JOZOARA JoZoara Palooza with Kelli Turczyn, Rik Gracia, Charley Davidson, Stick Figure, Justin Kaleb Driggers, Northfield MAIN STREET LIVE Harrison B., 3rd Class Citizens, Judd Hall, Black Market Research, Clyde Frazer MAYDAY BREWERY Raising River Open Mic Night ROOSTER’S LONE STAR BBQ Debra Kay THE BORO Single Mothers WILLIE’S WET SPOT CJ Vaughn Trio

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3 Brothers 114 N. Church St. 410-3096

SUN, 6/16 MAYDAY BREWERY Raising River Open Mic Night

TUES, 6/18 3 BROTHERS Breakdown In the Boro THE BORO Framing the Red Out of Natchez

WED, 6/19 ROOSTER’S LONE STAR BBQ Writers Night with Mike Short & Lindsay Jurek WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane & Lenny

THURS, 6/20 JOZOARA Rik Gracia MAIN STREET LIVE Linear Downfall THE BORO Rhythm Kitchen, DinoVolt

FRI, 6/21 CAJUN COVE AT FOUR CORNERS MARINA Mike Palmer FANATICS Zone Status HIPPIE HILL 11th Annual Afteroo MAIN STREET LIVE Kansas Bible Company MAYDAY BREWERY Jonny Gowow & The Japanese Cowboys THE BORO Adam Dalton & the B-Sides WALKING HORSE HOTEL Allman Brothers Tribute featuring The Midnight Riders WILLIE’S WET SPOT Greez Monkeez

SAT, 6/22 CAJUN COVE AT FOUR CORNERS MARINA Biff Kapow FANATICS Ivan LaFever HIPPIE HILL 11th Annual Afteroo JOZOARA Justin Kaleb Driggers MAIN STREET LIVE Butch Clancy, Mayhem, Cyberoptics, Dixie Voodoo Revival ROOSTER’S LONE STAR BBQ Zone Status THE BORO Skeetzo N’ Krysis Cancer Benefit WALKING HORSE HOTEL Dance with The Midnight Special Band WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane & The Moneymakers

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I AM WHAT I AM AUTISM BENEFIT FRIDAY, JUNE 28 @ THE BORO BAR & GRILL Local band The Ghost Ballerinas were searching for album artwork online when they found an album cover designed by a man with autism named Tim Sharp.

The band liked Sharp’s work so much, it led to them starting I Am What I Am, a music and arts festival to raise money and awareness for autism. This fundraiser held at The Boro will feature Richard Koozie, Scott Fernandez, THE BUDDY SYSTEM and Landfall.

SUN, 6/23 HIPPIE HILL 11th Annual Afteroo THE BORO Jazz Night featuring Alias

TUES, 6/25 3 BROTHERS Breakdown In the Boro

WED, 6/26 ROOSTER’S LONE STAR BBQ Writers Night with Mike Short & Lindsay Jurek WILLIE’S WET SPOT Shane & Lenny

THURS, 6/27 JOZOARA Rik Gracia

FRI, 6/28 CAJUN COVE AT FOUR CORNERS MARINA Mullenix FANATICS Pimpalicious MAIN STREET LIVE Sky Hi, Deep Machine, TN EDM

THE BORO I Am What I Am Fest: Autism Benefit featuring Richard Koozie Scott, Fernandez, Buddy System, Landfall WILLIE’S WET SPOT Hump & the Blackouts

SAT, 6/29 CAJUN COVE AT FOUR CORNERS MARINA Junkbox FANATICS The Eclectics JOZOARA Stick Figure MAIN STREET LIVE Burning Las Vegas THE BORO Steam Boars

TUES, 7/2 3 BROTHERS Breakdown In the Boro

WED, 7/3 ROOSTER’S LONE STAR BBQ Writers Night with Mike Short & Lindsay Jurek

Aura Lounge 114 S. Maple St. 396-8328 Bonhoeffer’s 610 Dill Lane 202-3517 Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd.

893-7860 Cajun Cove at Four Corners Marina 4027 LaVergne Couchville Pk 641-6002 Fairways Golf & Grill 127 SE Broad St. 962-7853 Fanatics 1850 Old Fort Pkwy.

494-3995 First United Methodist Church 265 West Thompson Lane JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822 Main St. Live 527 W. Main St. 439-6135 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722 MT Bottle 3940 Shelbyville Hwy. 962-9872 New Life Christian Church 343 Rucker Rd. 977-3770 Nobody’s Grill & BBQ 116 John R. Rice Blvd.

962-8019 Readyville Mill 5418 Murfreesboro Road 563-MILL Rooster's Lonestar BBQ 223 W. Main St. 867-1836 Social 114 N. Church St. 904-7236 Temptation Club 2404 Halls Hill Pike 217-0944

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The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800

WADE HAYES

Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090

Wade Hayes achieved success in the country music world in the mid-’90s with his song (and album of the same name) “Old Enough to Know Better.” He had a rough year in 2012 battling colon cancer, but the disease has since been declared in remission, and Hayes is donating all proceeds from his latest track, “Is it Already Time?”, to the Colon Cancer Alliance. Catch a special appearance at Rooster’s on June 7 at 7 p.m.

Walking Horse Hotel 101 Spring St., Wartrace (931) 389-7050

FRIDAY, JUNE 7 @ ROOSTER'S LONE STAR BBQ

Willie’s Wet Spot 1208 S. Lowry St., Smyrna 355-0010

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ALBUM REVIEWS

THE JOY OF PAINTING

DON COYOTE

The Joy of Painting has shown through their two previous records, Lighten Up and Asterisk, that they tend to veer toward some fairly heavy reflection as it concerns their lyrics, which are so effective and resonant because it’s sometimes difficult to tell whether they’re being tonguein-cheek, completely earnest or somewhere between the two. Tender Age, which dropped May 21 on South Division, is no different. The seven-track EP fixates upon the concept of age, growing up, being too old to be young and too young to be old. It’s serious shit, but just as they did with their previous recordings, The Joy of Painting pump their songs so ridiculously full of high-voltage sonic boom, they can’t help but stand out even among the sunniest of Nashville indie poppers. Though The Joy of Painting’s lyrics imply they’re going to be pensive, moody or apprehensive, at least they’re going to do it as loudly, and with bright and shiny musical overtones.

From the get-go with the hooky “High Definitions,” Tender Age is like a coiled spring vibrant with guitars that dig in, in garage-punk fashion, while the percussion and frontman Garreth Spinn’s vocals say indie-pop. The opener sets the stage for the pleasant invitations of “Dontchu Wanna,” which asks if you want to talk straight in a good mood and get laid, make love or whatever it’s called today. This is probably one of the album’s best, speckled with droll introspection—Dontchu wanna/Make plans, make vows/Put on a record, play it loud/’Cause it feels so good at a tender age—and unpretentious insight: Nothing’s more pure than correcting your wrongs/Correcting your wrongs to make it right.

“Ghost” is a well-placed leveler about the memory of a former lover and her long-goneness that haunts the singer, who’s stuck between wanting to look back and needing to move forward: There’s a ghost in my house/She doesn’t let me sleep/There’s a part of me/That doesn’t want no peace. And again contemplation of age and time spring up as the album closes with “I Didn’t Think.”

The Joy of Painting’s songwriting is good, but it’s their instrumental resiliency that makes them irresistible.

They’ve got the garage-rock touch that easily gives them a place in Nashville, but they’ve tenderized it with something of their own, and far more rare, which is a really good sense of pop music. Like the albums that have come before this, Tender Age is just more proof of it.

— JESSICA PACE

If there ever is an opportunity to do a scuzzy line dance during a nice night on the Square, or at someone’s wedding this summer, or maybe even in some godforsaken Tennessee backwoods dive bar, Murfreesboro’s down-home and raucous Don Coyote has released a selftitled EP that should probably play on the jukebox wherever that scuzzy kicking and grinning happens.

This quintet of country-western punkers has pulled off a 5-track collection, a loving gift to our fair state. Don Coyote sounds as if it was specifically tailored for the Tennesseean-at-heart, as the band’s home-state pride, celebratory nature and satirical observations about Middle Tennessee, make this album an easy listen. Being such a short disc and sounding like a Levon Helm-assembled band mixed with an upbeat, Father John Misty sound, it’s hard not to play through it two or three times.

The opening track, “Give it a Rest Coast,” showcases the satirical nature of Don Coyote’s lyrics, supported by a punchy tack piano and a Marshall Grant-esque, bass-driven rag. The band’s contentment with its geographical location plays in contrast to the ambitions of other bands who’ve been moving to “greener pastures,” outside of our state’s borders. “Moving to Smyrna” is a comedic interpretation of those folks who don’t quite make it to any coast, much less the musical Mecca of Nashville, iterating their interpretation of the post-Murfreesboro Smyrna experience. (Fittingly, Smyrna native Josh White blows the saxophone.)

The more personal “She’s a Needer” stands as the album’s half-step country/western harmony-growler, deserving of a spot in a Tarantino film, while members of Coyote’s pride chime in, creating a sweet harmony like the ones the guys and gal nail down during live shows.

The big, Tennessee-celebrating kicker of the Don Coyote EP, though, is the final track, “Brothers.” If there’s an honest song nowadays about how a group of folks have come together this is it, a goosebumpraising anthem and a reason to congratulate the group for its longevity and authenticity. They all keep me out of trouble when my back’s against the wall/ We’re all . . . right-hand brothers/And we’ll be brothers until we die.

For more on the Don Coyote guys and gal, visit doncoyote.bandcamp.com or find them on Facebook. Feel free to ask them how to make coffee-can-based string instruments, and maybe even wakes. — BRYCE HARMON

Tender Age

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Don Coyote

A SECRET POLICEMAN'S BALL Teenage Crimewave

SKY HI

Reality Check

A Secret Policeman’s Ball’s new record, out on As is customary for Sky Hi, the new five-track record, MVD Records, was celebrated June 1 with a release Reality Check, released through G.E.D. Soul Records, show at Wall Street, which was the band’s first peris a mash-up of braying horns, sharp and defining formance in almost a year. Titled Teenage Crimewave, bass lines, mood-setting keys and DeRobert “Dee” the album is ethereal powerhouse rock that sounds Adams’ own soulful belt, components that have like the good parts of the ’80s, ’90s and early ’00s. caused me to start picturing a huge amalgam of From track 1, “Brian’s House,” to track 10, “Stairway icons in funk and soul as the face of the band. to Upstairs,” Crimewave is hard rock that’s taken a dip Reality Check starts at mid-tempo with the title track, in the ambient dream pool with vivid melodies, hard cresting with the far reach of a four-piece horn section. percussion and beautiful, crystalline vocal parts from That’s Austin Little on trombone, Aaron Heffron on alto Nikki Oliff, who shares vocals with guitarist Greg sax, Mark Spain on tenor sax and Michael Royer on Harp. Oliff ’s pipes over heavy trumpet. Their parts reach an guitars are as pleasing to the ear even higher high than Adams’ as Kim Deal’s in the Breeders. voice, and the brooding bass Swirls of Jimmy Eat World and adds a dark undercurrent to it all.

Brand New-sort of stuff fit right “Numeral Uno” brings things in with hints of ’80s gloom-rock up a step higher with smoother, and goth-rock, like The Cure and quieter keys warbling underSiouxsie & the Banshees, with a neath Adams’ warning that I Bands: Send your albums modern spin. Song-by-song, the lost my cool/I’m freaking out. His and promotional materials to nuances suggest disconnectedvocals are full-bodied, stretchThe Murfreesboro Pulse, ness, though the record is clearly ing and emotive, punctuated by 116-E North Walnut St., a whole. The band channels the the horns and underlined with Murfreesboro, TN 37130. dense but melodic rock of Sunny Josh Cochran’s keys, which conDay Real Estate, like in “They Alvey a range of emotion as they ready Banged,” but sometimes a hardcore edge creeps warble, liquefy and add a tangible groove to the songs. in as well, like on certain parts of “Sweaters.” Other The all-instrumental “Funk Till Dawn” really allows times there are leanings toward a bleary ’80s synththe listener to appreciate what this nine-piece outfit does, pop feel that channels Siouxsie Sioux. Riffs surge, combine a deep funk style with a soft soul edge remiexpand and travel, drums thunder, keyboard parts are niscent of Marvin Gaye’s ability to combine a smooth, captivating and guitars power through the songs with soothing groove with a sensual rhythm. That combinaan unearthly sparkle. For people like myself who tend tion can be found on the closing track, “Your Body.” to hear music in color and, perhaps oddly, associate Sky Hi sounds like the kind of band you might find music with a particular element, Teenage Crimewave’s yourself face-to-face with as you turn the corner onto any sound is like blue air. urban street where there’s a block party in progress. AdIt's difficult to stamp this thing with any params could be singing about car parts and still make the ticular genre; suffice it to say the record is sonically lyrics sound poignant and uplifting, and the lift and wasparkling with production that’s been gone over with ver of his vocals, meshing with danceable, ever-changing a fine-toothed comb and vocals that perfectly complerhythms and the horns’ punctuation, pit the fist-pump of ment the musical backdrop. For more, visit funk against the warmth of soul. Order or stream Reality asecretpolicemansball.com. — JESSICA PACE Check at skyhifunk.com. — JESSICA PACE

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We’re working hard to promote good music in Middle Tennessee.

RATINGS: AVERAGE

A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE

OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD BOROPULSE.COM

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SOUNDS Interview With

Keller Williams

Jam-rocker comes to Murfreesboro for a show at Main Street Live on June 6. story by JESSICA PACE KELLER WILLIAMS IS A SINGER/SONGWRITER from Virginia with a career that spans 20

years, more than a dozen solo recordings and additional collaborations. A one-man band most of the time, Williams is possibly best known for his unique covers of a range of artists from Beck to, most recently, the Grateful Dead. Earlier this year, Williams released Keys, a compilation of Dead covers played on piano to benefit the legendary band’s own Rex Foundation. When he’s not looping multiple instruments to give his solo show a full-band effect, Williams collaborates with other bands, including The Travelin’ McCourys and a six-piece funk band formed in his hometown and known as More Than a Little, after Williams’ song of the same name. (Late this year, Williams will release a live album of More Than a Little performances from late 2012 through New Year’s Day.) Williams, who will be bringing just himself to the ’Boro on Thurs., June 6 for a set at Main Street Live, recently spoke with the Murfreesboro Pulse from the road.

When and how did More Than a Little form?

Four of the five members used to do a Tuesday night show at a local bar in my hometown, and I sat in with them one night, and there was something there. It was something very different from what I’m used to and anyone I’d ever played with, and some time went by, and we put together a soul/R&B/funk band. We started rehearsing once a week and lined up six shows between Christmas and New Year’s. I always try to do a little run between Christmas and New Year’s every year. I try to do something different every year, and that was the idea behind it—to do this band for that run, and I loved it so much I kept it going.

What inspires you to have so many different collaborations? To explore different genres? Why do that with several bands rather than one?

I think the whole concept behind my entire career is to entertain myself. It’s all about me. It’s all about me having fun. It’s very self-indulgent, but at the same time, I’m very lucky to be able to pull that off. By me entertaining myself, I think it comes across to the audience. What I call my day job is my solo show. Of the 110 shows I do a year, probably about 75 or 80 are solo. Playing by myself so much makes me appreciate playing with other people. Being able to play with more than one collaboration is super-refreshing and makes the moments even more special, because you don’t play with one group so many times. It’s a luxury.

What does playing solo do for you, specifically, that collaborating doesn’t, and vice versa?

I think each aspect helps me appreciate the other

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more. The more I play with a band, the more I appreciate playing solo. There’s a certain freedom that comes with playing solo. My brain has a backlog of songs that I can dip into, whereas playing with different collaborations, there’s a certain handful of rehearsed songs we can draw from. Right now, today, I prefer to play with an ensemble. Ask me tomorrow, and I’ll prefer playing solo.

How do you choose the songs you cover?

They, unfortunately, choose me. They get locked in my brain, they get stuck in my head, and I have to play them to get them out of my brain. The more I play them, the less they’re stuck in my brain. They find me somehow.

When you cover a song, what’s your intent? Remodel it? Interpret it?

I’m not planning on sculpting it. I play it how I hear it. There are some songs that are so interesting, and I end up forgetting how they’re usually played. I absorb them and take them into my own. There are some situations where you take classic rock songs and make them bluegrass, and other bands do this too, which I think brings the person [who’s] not so much into bluegrass into the bluegrass world and helps them appreciate the genre more by playing a familiar song in a bluegrass background. It can bring people into a genre [who] wouldn’t ordinarily go there.

What was the process like for putting Keys together? How is it different from making a record of your own songs?

It was 7 years of sitting down and recording piano tracks and never being happy with it, never really allowing myself to go there and release it.

Who wants to hear a piano record of Grateful Dead songs played by me?

That was the mentality. It kind of started 7 or 8 years ago with getting a real piano of my own. Every time I sat down at the piano, what would come out were like Jerry Garcia ballads, but it was instrumental to picking out melodies on the piano. That led into vocals. Compared to making a record of my own songs, it’s interesting, because you can take one approach and be really true to the song and play it exactly like it was written, or do what I did and have a disclaimer saying these are loose interpretations so the traditional Grateful Dead fans don’t get too offended, and so my fans understand. With that disclaimer, it’s easier not stressing on exactly what was played. All proceeds go to The Rex Foundation, a blanket nonprofit started by the Grateful Dead in the ’80s. It’s going to a good cause and helped me get that out of my head.

You’re known to improvise onstage. Is that a learned or innate skill?

I think it’s both. You have to have kind of an open mind and be able to go somewhere and nowhere at the same time with your mind. You need to understand what’s happening. Improvisation really has a lot to do with listening. I think with some folks, that is something you need to learn. It’s like conversation. If you’re not listening, how can you add to the conversation?

What is your songwriting process like in general? Do you have to write under particular conditions?

Songwriting doesn’t come like it used to. Most of my songs are written in off time between tours. I’d be out 3 or 4 weeks, then be home for 2 weeks. A few days are unwinding, then the boredom kicks in. When that kicks in, that’s when the creativity

starts to flow. Now I have two kids and am gone a lot, and there’s never a whole lot of downtime, so the songwriting process is changing. Now it’s kind of hitting me sporadically. All of a sudden, I’ll get an idea, and I have to see that through wherever I am, no matter what time of day it is. For me, it usually starts with the hook, the chorus, and spurs from there. It’s definitely an interesting situation right now with the songwriting.

Have you been inspired by different things over the years and over multiple recordings?

I’m definitely inspired by many things in the music business, for sure. The songwriting is tricky, because there are so many good songs written that it’s so hard to contemplate something that hasn’t been done already. I think it mainly comes from me putting myself in the place of an audience member.

Being in the audience, listening to that song, what would it make me feel like to hear this song? I try to go from that perspective. A lot of my songs become tongue-in-cheek and a little less serious.

Why is your spring/summer tour a mix of solo shows and collaborations?

There’s many elements involved. Some elements involve promoters that want me as a solo act, some want the projects. There are some elements where there is enough money to bring everybody together and others, there’s not. It’s many different things that are at play. I feel very grateful to have that option, to go different places and have different choices. I don’t think it will ever be the same band for a long time.  For more on Keller Williams, visit kellerwilliams.net. For more on concerts coming up at Main Street Live, find them on Facebook.

Visit BoroPulse .com/ Gallery to view more photos of Beale Street Music Fest 2013 and other great events.

BEALE ST. MUSIC FEST 2013 



Artists who appeared at this year's Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis include Jerry Lee Lewis (above), Bassnectar (below) and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, who will also perform at Bonnaroo this June.

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FOOD

Smile and Say Sushi!

Aya Sushi’s quirky charm, tasty food and friendly staff keep patrons smiling and coming back for more.

From the una chee roll (far left) with barbecued eel and creem cheese, to chicken udon (above) with its chewy noodles, to ice cream flavored with red beans, sesame, green tea and mango, each in its own pastry ball (below), to the fun photo finish (left), a dinner at Aya is sure to be filled with great taste combinations and fun suprises.

W

hen the experience I had at Aya Sushi runs through my mind, few things continue to linger more than the power of subtlety. Throughout the entire time I spent at Aya the little things, the small details, the smallest flavors were the ones that left me with the greatest impression on the real character of Aya. Aya Sushi is located in a somewhat secluded corner of the Jackson Heights shopping center at the corner of Broad Street and Medical Center Parkway, and as soon as you find yourself in the door you are hit with a wave of unexpected, upbeat jazz music that feels barely a notch above what might be considered a normal volume for a restaurant, yet when you realize the irony in this it gives you a small giggle. On the way to your table, your eyes start to wander around at the eccentric collection of decorations and photographs hung on the wall. Sitting at the table, you may find yourself asking, “Was that a picture of some Russian immigrants? And another picture with a mythological Greek god?

How does this tie in with a sushi restaurant?”

The answer you may never know, but it gives the place a unique feel, for sure.

The quirkiness continues with the menus.

Yes, the multiple menus showcasing their drink selection, appetizers, soups, salads and sushi rolls spread across the table, feeling a little redundant, but nonetheless a funny little quirk that is more than welcome.

Once the family-run staff suggested what dishes to try, I eagerly awaited what was to come. We started with a salad of fresh lettuce, carrots, and hearty pieces of broccoli drizzled with a special dressing original to the restaurant. Imagine a sweet-tasting soy sauce with minced onions, ginger and just a touch of something you couldn’t quite wrap your taste buds around—a nice change-up from salads served at other restaurants.

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Shortly after we finished our salads, a large bowl of steaming Chicken Udon was brought to the table. Everything about this dish was amazing. The thick and chewy udon noodles, mixed with pieces of grilled chicken that had a nice straight-off-thegrill smoky flavor, filled the bowl to the brim. It was a definite surprise that I will have to come back and get again.

Finally the main event, a huge platter of sushi. Not once in my life have I had an opportunity to try this many different kinds of sushi, so I took a chance and went a little adventurous on things I wouldn’t normally try, like eel and various other strange fish. I started off with a standard favorite of mine, a Philadelphia roll. It was up to par with my expectation. The cream cheese and salmon worked perfectly together. Up next was the spider roll, which consisted of fried soft shell crab, fish eggs, and asparagus. I was skeptical at first with the fish eggs, but I was very surprised at the mildness of flavor and the simplicity of the few ingredients. The balance was very nice.

My favorite roll of the whole night would have to be the una chee roll. The barbecued eel was amazing, along with so many other ingredients that were new to me in a sushi setting, and yet they all contributed to make this an incredibly tasty roll that stuck out from all the others.

As we finished up the last of our meal, we struck a conversation with the staff and they explained everything behind the restaurant.

It was interesting to learn how tight a family can become when running a restaurant and how much care goes into behind the scenes to prepare all the food. The perfection of the vinegar rice or the blend of tea all requires a special kind of attention. Subtle details might go unnoticed by some, but for those who really care, it can make all the difference. For Aya, I do believe they have captured that difference.

THE DISH

story by ALEX RICHEY | photos by CHRISTY SIMMONS

NAME: Aya Sushi LOCATION: 810 NW Broad St., Ste. 272 PHONE: (615) 893-0400 HOURS: Tues.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 5:30–9:30 p.m.; Sun.: 5:30–9:30 p.m.

PRICES: Lunch sushi combo: $9.95, chicken teriyaki: $12.95, California roll: $4.75, Philadelphia roll: $8.50 ONLINE: ayasushilovers.com

COFFEE TALK: The Zombie Java Edition column by JUSTIN STOKES

James Colwell (left) assists a customer at the Nashville Flea Market; Colwell's CSA program gives area families the chance to get a basket of fresh veggies each week through the fall.

Dan Sperry’s no stranger to reinvention. Calling himself an “anti-conjurer,” Sperry changed the way we look at magic with a world-famous stage act described as “Copperfield meets Marilyn Manson.” The shock illusionist is now adding his own dark flavor to coffee in a monstrous brew called Zombie Java.

Slick packaging, cool name, and a badass logo. But how’s the coffee? Well, Mr. Sperry currently has three flavors of his gourmet blend out on the market. Let me acknowledge first that for $12.95 + S/H, I do not feel that Zombie Java’s Original Blend is something customers are going to want.

There are simply too many coffees of comparable value on the market.

Stating the above, I’d also like to recommend his other blends. The Black Noir (Dark French Roast) is a decent brew. The star of the show, however, would be his Cinnamon Toasted Pecan blend, as its unique, tasty flavor stands out among the crowd. It is definitely worth the purchase, and his “double up” offer for two coffees at a 20 percent discount is a good deal.

I’d also like to add that he’s got some of the coolest coffee mugs out there as well.

Own a Piece of Your Own Farm Happy Harvest CSA set for growing season. by BRACKEN MAYO AREA FAMILIES WHO WANT TO EAT farm fresh produce but do not have the land, the time, the knowledge or the means to grow it themselves can obtain an incredible variety of vegetables this season through a project called community supported agriculture.

James Colwell and his family produce far more vegetables than they need at their Coffee County farm, and many families in the area are not able to produce nearly enough, so it seems like a natural arrangement for a farmer to sell shares, or subscriptions, to his produce for a season. The investors divide up the produce among themselves as it is grown, and share some of the risk, as well as the expense, with the farmer.

That model is the concept behind community supported agriculture, a system that has grown in popularity across the U.S. over the past couple of decades. This year, Colwell plans to serve more than 100 regular subscribers. He says he has the ability to produce enough for 200.

“Beginning the last week of June, and continuing through November, everyone gets 20 pounds of produce each week for about $20 each week,” Colwell tells a prospective client.

“When it comes to CSAs, we’re dirt cheap, no pun intended; some may charge as much as $25 for only 10 pounds of produce.”

Throughout the season the weekly basket will vary, based on what is in abundance during a given part of the year.

“Generally speaking, everybody gets the same thing. We allow one substitution per week,” Colwell said.

Some may be able to grow a particular vegetable in their own yard and not need more of it.

“We work with people as we need to,” Colwell said. “If they really don’t like broccoli,

we’ll get them something else.”

However he added that his agreement would not, for example, provide a single client with 20 pounds of tomatoes every week.

But participants in the Happy Harvest CSA can expect to get a great variety of fresh-fromthe-dirt Tennessee vegetables each week.

“I put 3,000 potato plants out the other day,” Colwell told the Murfreesboro Pulse on May 30.

Other crops subscribers can expect include cabbage, corn, carrots, peas, tomatoes, watermelons, broccoli, cantaloupe, cauliflower, onions, potatoes, peppers and more. Pumpkins and winter squash will come later in the season.

“Corn comes in middle of June,” according to the farmer. “Aside from corn and squash, Tennessee produce typically comes in middle of July.

“Some weeks I’ll even be able to add in some surprises we didn’t grow, from other local farms: apples, grapes, peaches,” Colwell said, adding that there will be a pickup location in Murfreesboro. June 29 is scheduled as the first pickup day.

When one really stops to consider the complicated international network of mass-scale food production, transportation, sorting, processing, marketing, packaging and sales, its mystery ingredients and modifications, a shelf life of whoknows-how-long, chemicals, pesticides, semitrucks, gasoline, crates, trains and supermarkets, it doesn’t seem like such a far-out idea to simply find a farmer, and give him a little money for some of his produce. Eat fresh and eat local.

For more information on Happy Harvest CSA or to sign up, call (931) 954-0235, or look for Colwell at the Murfreesboro Saturday Market on the Square each week, or at the Nashville Flea Market each month. Find the farm online at producefreshfromthefarm.com.

Sweet Summer Recipes courtesy of Recipes From Miss Daisy’s by DAISY KING

MISS DAISY KING’S SPRING FRUIT TRIFLE

MISS DAISY’S FIVE FLAVOR POUND CAKE

Serves 15 to 20

Serves 15 to 20

1 ½ quarts whole milk 1 ½ cups sugar 2 tablespoons corn starch 6 eggs ½ cup sherry 2 cups heavy cream ½ of Miss Daisy’s Five-Flavor Pound Cake, sliced Raspberry or strawberry preserves Strawberries, blueberries and kiwi

1 cup butter or margarine ½ cup vegetable shortening 3 cups sugar 5 eggs, well beaten 3 cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon coconut extract 1 teaspoon rum extract 1 teaspoon butter extract 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour milk into top of a double boiler.

Combine the sugar, corn starch, and eggs until smooth; add to the milk; heat until mixture is thickened, stirring constantly.

Set aside to cool.

Add sherry to the cooled custard.

Whip the heavy cream and set aside.

Arrange cake slices in a deep glass trifle dish.

Spread with preserves, then top with fruit, a layer of custard and a layer of whipped cream.

Repeat until all ingredients are used.

Chill until time to serve.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 10-inch tube pan.

In a large bowl mix the butter, shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.

In a small bowl beat the eggs until lemon colored. Add to the butter mixture.

In a large bowl combine the flour and baking powder. Add to the butter mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in the flavorings.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the cake tests done.

Add glaze (see below) if desired or cool in the pan for about ten minutes before turning out.

GLAZE:

1 cup sugar ½ cup water 1 teaspoon coconut extract 1 teaspoon butter extract 1 teaspoon lemon extract 1 teaspoon rum extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract In a saucepan combine all of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Pour over the hot cake in the pan. Let the cake sit in the pan until cool.

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LIVING Dancers from Around the Globe Convene story by ELIZABETH SCOTT

THE INTERNATIONAL FOLKFEST, held June 9–16, will be exciting and educational for Murfreesboro and nearby communities. Sponsored by the International Folkloric Society, the FolkFest brings dancers from around the world to perform for schools and community groups.

IFS is a nonprofit organization based in Murfreesboro that is dedicated to promoting and preserving international cultural heritage with a primary focus on the arts. The organization brings the festival to Middle Tennessee every year, and helps spread Tennessee culture and history to other parts of the world as well.

This festival began in 1982 and ran annually through 1997. It was reintroduced to Murfreesboro in 2004, with hopes to

educate Middle Tennessee on international culture and performing arts. Participants from many countries have visited the community during the festival over the years and performed music and dance.

This year, France, Turkey, Puerto Rico and the United States are some of the countries participating in the events.

From Turkey, a folk dance troupe of Kandilli Anatolian High School for Girls will be performing. The group practices a variety of dances, including Black Sea region dances, Horon dances from the Trabzon-Akçaabat region, Artvin region dances and Zeybek and Harmandalı dances.

Rutherford County’s own Cripple Creek Cloggers will be performing in the festival as well. This group has been traveling the world since 1979, performing Tennessee’s authentic Appalachian-style clogging.

Each June, Murfreesboro's own Cripple Creek Cloggers (above) hosts the International Folk Fest, bringing folk dance troupes from all over the world to Middle Tennessee. This year, a group from a girls' high school in Turkey (below, left) will join the festivities, along with participants from France and Puerto Rico.

2013 International FolkFest Schedule MONDAY, JUNE 10 Williamson County Ag Expo Park 4210 Long Lane, Franklin 6:45 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12 Central Christian Church 404 East Main St., Murfreesboro 7 p.m.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13 Dekalb County Community Center 715 S. Congress Blvd., Smithville 7 p.m. ($5, children free) FRIDAY, JUNE 14 Patterson Park Community Center 521 Mercury Blvd., Murfreesboro 7 p.m. ($5) SATURDAY, JUNE 15 East side of the Courthouse Square, Murfreesboro 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. (free) Bell Buckle Banquet Hall Bell Buckle 6 p.m.

For more information, visit mboro-international-folkfest.org.

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LIVING Exploring Sustainability

Though corporate logos and messaging may appeal to those interested in making a difference, one should ask if the very nature of their activities are things worth endorsing or not.

Responsible consumers should evaluate corporate claims of being natural, sustainable, responsible. isted were 3–5 million years It is a universal truth that a ago during the Pliocene single word of newfound popuera. Another might be the larity is in want of clarificafact that May has been the tion. However little known the 338th consecutive month feelings or views of such a word with a global temperature may be on its first entering the column by RYAN EGLY above the 20th century common vernacular, this truth egly@boropulse.com average (that’s over 28 is so well fixed in the minds of years). Whatever ecological the surrounding corporations disaster it is that moves you, it is a moral imthat it is considered as the rightful property of perative of every conscious being to evaluate some one or other of their marketing departments. claims of sustainability as they are presented.

— Jane Austen (revised) Does something seem strange about those little hotel signs begging you to save the SUSTAINABILITY, A TERM WITH DEEP planet by not washing a towel, or the green meaning but scant understanding, has slowly made its way into nearly every aspect of mod- leaf logo on the hybrid SUV idling behind you ern consumption. From the grocery store bot- at the McDonald’s drive-through? There is a very simple explanation for this: they can. tled water aisle to the car lot, various shades There is little to no oversight governing of green are accompanied by a myriad of the use of such terms as “sustaindubious claims, meeting the unsusable,” “green” or “natural.” The pecting shopper conveniently at eye responsibility lies entirely on the level. The U.N. defines sustainabilconsumer to evaluate the truth ity as “meeting the needs of the of such claims. present without compromising The Northwest Earth Instithe ability of future generations to tute (NWEI) based in Portland, meet their own needs.”

Ore., explores some of the most If we assume that future generapressing issues of our day, and offers tions will require clean water, fertile courses that can help one come to a deeper and unpolluted land, breathable air and an understanding of terms like sustainability. The equitable access to resources, then current group provides a means to discover new ways efforts towards sustainability must be viewed to “live, work, create and consume,” and aims as a spectacular failure. Although there are to close the “say-do” gap. Course books are countless indicators that support this asseravailable online and are intended for groups of tion, perhaps the most eye-catching was the 8–12 people. I am participating in the 7-part recent news that the human species soared “Choices for Sustainable Living” course in past the 400 ppm mark of atmospheric CO2 Nashville and have been pleasantly surprised concentration. The last time similar levels ex-

LIVING GREEN

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Symbols encouraging recycling printed on products do not necessarily mean the product meets any sort of standard, but hey, being green sells.

“Easter’s End.” If you ever want a glimpse into by the quality of the selected readings, as well the true dangers of ignoring natural resource as the structure of the class. For each 1.5-hour limits, or need some fodder for light dinner meetup there is a facilitator, opener and note conversation, give that article a skim. The sectaker, and these roles change. Guiding question ends with an exercise in systems thinking, tions as well as suggested group activities are where the difference between the easily observavailable in the course book, which at $22 is able symptom of a probthe only cost for the course. lem and the vastly more Topics highlighted in this COURSES complex drivers behind course include: Ecological OFFERED it is illustrated with the Principles, Food, Community,

BY NWEI common iceberg analogy Transportation, Consumption • Choices for (the symptom represents and Economy.

Sustainable Living the 10 percent of the iceberg All of the topics listed • Reconnecting with Earth that is visible). Each meeting above touch upon the topic • Menu for the Future generates great discussion, of sustainability, and each • Hungry for Change: Food, and we try to nail down comrelates in some way to lifestyle Ethics and Sustainability mitments to complete relevant choices that we make every • Sustainable Systems goals by the next meeting. An day. Material isn’t presented in at Work example might be, “purchase a “Here’s the answer” format, • Voluntary Simplicity 80 percent of the week’s but rather through relevant • Discovering a Sense food from a farmer’s market, readings from experts in each of Place organic if possible” or “open category. As an example, con• Change by Degrees: windows and keep the HVAC sider the topic of Part 1: A Call Addressing the Climate Challenge off as long as possible.” All to Sustainability. The section of the aspects of the course opens with a 2009 com• A World of Health: Connecting People, Place would lead one to recognize mencement speech from the and Planet that no bottle of water, no University of Portland titled I came to hear about the matter how thin the plastic, “You Are Brilliant, and the Nashville NWEI course fits any meaningful attempt at Earth is Hiring.” Next comes through a blast from the sustainable living. Or that no the 2008 article “Why Bother” Transition Nashville meetup.com group. A group car, no matter how great the

by Michael Pollan, which is fuel efficiency or battery size, followed by a fascinating piece could easily form in the ’Boro; at the very least you

by Jared Diamond, the author would be sure to meet some beats a bicycle or well-utilized mass transit system. of Gun, Germs and Steel titled interesting people!

Reconstructing Amelia

by Kimberly McCreight I guess I, like so many of us, am a complete sucker for “the next big thing”: the second I heard Kimberly McCreight’s newly-released novel Reconstructing Amelia praised as the Gone Girl of this summer, I immediately—as in, within minutes—found myself pre-ordering it on Amazon. I wasn’t quite as obsessed with Gone Girl as I think the majority of the readers in our country became, but I liked it. A lot. I read it in that oh-so-rare, I-can’t-waitto-get-in-bed-so-I-can-read kind of way.

I expected the same from Reconstructing Amelia, a thrilling tale about a hyperintelligent 15-year-old girl who throws herself off her high school’s roof after being caught plagiarizing a paper on Virginia Woolf. Amelia’s workaholic single mother, Kate, is sent into a nail-biting journey of who-what-when-where and why after receiving a simple, menacing text after her daughter’s death that reads: “Amelia didn’t jump.”

Amelia and Kate alternate narrating chapters, slowly revealing the truth behind their (on the surface) idyllic, Manhattan, ritzy life.

Amelia is chosen for one of Grace Hall’s secret societies, falls in love for the first time and has a secret pen pal, none of which she tells her rarely-there mom. Kate, constantly guilty over her daughter’s lack of family life, deals with her daughter’s apparent suicide by taking the investigation into her own hands in a very 2013-way, going through all of her texts and e-mails, not to mention wading through the hateful blog gRaCeFULLY that details the gossip at Amelia’s prep school.

I won’t reveal more; like Gone Girl, Reconstructing Amelia holds twists that would be all too easy to spoil in one plot detail.

It all sounds a little Gossip Girl-meets-CSI on the surface,

by SARAH PORTERFIELD but Reconstructing Amelia seamlessly blends a crime story with a touching relationship drama about a mother and her devotion to her daughter. It’s Gossip Girl without the silliness, CSI without the cheesy just-for-effect tricks.

In her debut novel, author McCreight somehow made me think about the perils of working-mom guilt, bullying, police corruption and Gossip Girl. That’s no easy feat.

I don’t know if Reconstructing Amelia is the Gone Girl of summer 2013, but I can promise you this: you will be gone for however long it takes you to uncover its secrets.

READ TO SUCCEED

BOOK REVIEW

Read To Succeed is the community collaborative created to promote literacy in Rutherford County. The objective of this partnership between schools, area agencies, and businesses is to support local programming and raise awareness about the importance of literacy. For more information and to find out how you can make a difference in Rutherford County’s literacy rates, visit readtosucceed.org. The opinions expressed in this book review are not necessarily representative of Read To Succeed, but simply intended to promote the joy of reading.

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LIVING EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS, EXPOSURE FOR SMALL BUSINESS

DECA gvies students real-world work in the local business community.

The DECA chapter at Riverdale High School sent some team members to the international competition in California.

story by JEFF PARNELL

IF YOU KNOW ANY KIDS IN public schools, you have probably been approached and asked to help with fundraisers. You’ve probably bought those huge overpriced candy bars or subscribed to magazines that you didn’t really want. Or, my personal favorite, you’ve probably bought those rolls of Christmas wrap that barely hold enough paper to cover a shoebox. I know I have paid my fundraising dues over the years, so I was skeptical as to the value I was to receive when I was approached to be a corporate sponsor of a school organization. For once I was surprised by how much value I received for such a little investment.

Thomas Beal, a Riverdale High School student in his junior year, approached me about being a sponsor for DECA. And he asked if he could use my business, Cornerstone SCUBA, in a project that he and a friend had been assigned. I was skeptical that it would really give me anything but philanthropic benefit, but Thomas is like a son to me, so I said I would be happy to participate.

Riverdale High School has the largest DECA chapter in the state of Tennessee, with over 350 members, and is one of the top DECA chapters in the world. Joy Rich, a fearless and energetic teacher, directs the Riverdale DECA program, where kids

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learn real-life marketing skills.

DECA stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America, and the organization promotes marketing, management and entrepreneurship.

DECA students develop real-life marketing skills, participate in leadership roles and are educated by immersion in community service. DECA also creates successful partnerships between public education and community businesses.

Beal and his partner in crime, Tanner Mayhall, had the DECA assignment to find a business with a sub-par web presence and develop ideas on how to help the business better use the Internet. Like many small business owners, I often lack the resources and time to accomplish what I am fully aware needs to be accomplished.

The assignment commenced and the young men interviewed me extensively about the history of my business, what my business did to generate revenue and the goals of my business. They did a thorough critique of my website, cornerstonescuba.com, and used other students to develop a survey of what was helpful on my website and ways that it could be improved. They also looked at how I was utilizing social media. Cornerstone Scuba already had a Facebook page, but we had not started utilizing Twitter. Thomas and Tanner created a Twitter account for us, and as the assignment progressed they made recommendations on how my business could communicate with our customers using the Twitter account and other social media—thanks to them you can now follow us @Cornerstonescub.

They developed a promotional video about the business that emphasized scuba lessons and the use of our indoor swimming pool for birthday parties, and they uploaded that video to YouTube. They designed a QR code

for me to use in our advertising. After completing their 27-page project report, they presented the information to me.

Thomas and Tanner presented their project at the Tennessee State DECA competition and won first place.

Three other DECA students–Kaitlan Maxwell, Katherine Hoepker and Rakerria Mines–did their project on a local nonprofit organization called Angels for Protectors. DECA students built a float for the Christmas parade which was seen by thousands of people, handed out candy canes and wore T-shirts, and their efforts resulted in new donations of over $1,200 to the organization and new sponsorships.

The Riverdale DECA chapter has also had great impact on the Rutherford County Foster Parent Association and many other local businesses. Each year the chapter takes 45 to 50 students to DECA’s international competition.

This year, the students traveled to Anaheim, Calif. One of the presentations, focusing on the local business Carla & Company, placed as an international finalist. It was a great experience for the students, but extremely expensive.

Because of this financial burden, the DECA chapter developed a corporate sponsorship program where businesses could sponsor from $150-$600 and in turn receive a variety of specific promotions within the school.

It is a great joy to see teenagers putting so much passion into the work they do. Many donations are worthwhile, but few produce such an incredible return in the form of community goodwill, increased business productivity within our community and real-world educational benefit.

If you or anyone you know would like to know more about DECA and become a corporate sponsor, you can contact Joy Rich at richj@rcschools.net.

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SPORTS WE ALL LIKE CHICKEN; NBA FINALS SET

SPORTS TALK column by Z-TRAIN

titanman1984@ yahoo.com

T

he Train Daddy is back with the pain daddy and ready to hit you in the mouth with sports knowledge in such a way, that everyone reading this will be craving some fried chicken; like Michael Jackson said, “It don’t matter if you’re black or white.” So, just to get this thing rolling, yes, Sergio Garcia stated to the media if he were to have Tiger Woods over for dinner, he would serve him fried chicken every night.

I believe comedian Dave Chappelle summed up the chicken situation best during a stand-up performance, and after Tiger said his feelings were hurt, Jack Nicklaus stated, “I mean, it’s stupid.” I don’t know if Sergio was purposely attempting to be racist or hateful, but let’s be real: we all love chicken here in America, everyone!

I get that this liking of chicken has been used as a derogatory reference towards African Americans, maybe it’s my personal opinion, but take it with a laugh and a shrug. I would like to have seen Tiger maybe make a joke to Sergio like, “Yo mama is so fat that her blood type is KFC.” Instead Tiger took to Twitter and stated the comment was hurtful and disrespectful. Sergio claims it was a joke gone bad; there is no doubt these two have disliked each other over the years. Whatever your opinion on the matter, I just think we have grown into a country that takes things too seriously, and we should all chill out a bit.

So, what real sports stories do I have for you in this article? The NBA Championship is underway, I break

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down and give you my thoughts on Tim Tebow, and legendary Hall-ofFame quarterback Jim Kelly begins his battle with cancer, as we break down his career. Oh yeah, I have one more chicken joke and then I promise I am done talking about chicken: What is in the KFC Obama Cabinet Bucket?

Nothing but a bunch of left wings, and some nuts!

I have always surrounded myself with good people, good friends and my loving family. Surround yourself with people who will bring you up, not down. Just a couple of months ago, I had the pleasure meeting Jim Kelly, prior to his recent diagnosis with cancer. My family helped promote a book written by his wife, Jill, as she spoke at women’s conferences around the country. It was great getting to know the Kelly family; they are a happy, loving family that tell it like it is. Recently the former Buffalo Bill and current Hall of Fame quarterback announced he has a form of cancer in

the upper jawbone, and is scheduled for immediate surgery. Doctors state the prognosis for recovery is looking good as of now.

Kelly was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002 and is probably best known for leading the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls (where they were defeated all four times). In 11 seasons with the Bills he threw 35,467 yards with 237 touchdowns and 175 interceptions, all of which are Bills all-time records. Kelly is known for his toughness and durability along with his famous no-huddle offense that was exciting to watch. Kelly originally

(Above) Chris "Birdman" Anderson and the Heat came out on top in the Eastern Conference showdown with the Pacers, but can King James (here) fly high enough to capture another ring?

wanted to play for Penn State under Joe Paterno, but Penn State wanted him as a linebacker “confirming his toughness”; Kelly turned it down and had a great career at the University of Miami as a quarterback. The man was a gunslinger and one heck of a player, my thoughts and prayers are with him for a speedy recovery.

So let’s get into the NBA and the excitement that is the NBA Playoffs.

Heat vs. Spurs, almost as exciting as the NFL Playoffs, College Bowl Games, or March Madness. Hey, it's fourth on my list. I love the NBA come playoff time, but it’s just not my favorite. Let me give a shout out to the Memphis Grizzlies who looked great all the way up to the Western Conference Finals, where the San Antonio Spurs blew them out. The veteran team led by Tony Parker and Tim Duncan was just too much, but it was exciting seeing Memphis make it to their first Conference Finals. The NBA Finals are set and the Heat will take on the Spurs, this article hits the stands June 6, and that is the date that Game 1 will take place. The favorite will probably be the Heat, but I am not buying it; it's going to be all San Antonio. It will be a great series, I'm taking the Spurs in six games—too much veteran power. Look, Miami looked great in their Game 7 win vs. Indiana, but that was the only time they looked great. Lebron carried them the whole way on his shoulders. Wade and Bosh decided to show up come Game 7 finally, but I'm taking the Spurs. Tim Duncan is at the end of his career but the man is playing better than ever. He

is beating players down the court and he is too smart. Tony Parker already stated he wants Duncan to go out like David Robinson, a champion. Tony Parker plays the point guard position the right way, and is in my opinion the MVP of the entire Playoffs as of yet.

We'll see what happens vs. the Heat.

I understand the Heat have Lebron James and some other scrubs that show up on occasion. Wade doesn’t have the game he used to, Bosh is all over the place and the Birdman is a punk, go Spurs!

Lets get talking about another quarterback, one who is known for being one of the best, if not the best, college players of all time! Tim Tebow.

I would liked to have seen Tiger maybe make a joke to Sergio like, “Yo mama is so fat that her blood type is KFC.”

Oh, poor Tim, just lost his job and the sports world . . . well, it can be cruel. Tebow news has been quiet as of late, since New York released him over a month ago, and the opportunity for a new job looks slim. Tebow has not generated any buzz from any NFL teams since being released, and according to some undisclosed members of Tebow’s Camp, they believe the 2010 first-round pick is done. The football world is divided over the once-great Heisman trophy winner; media just loves to talk about him, being his open faith or fall from the top. Recently Tim Tebow’s father Bob dismissed the ESPN the Magazine report that members of Tebow’s Camp believe it is over and stated “You are old enough to not believe all you hear.”

It’s going to be a slim chance, though. I believe it's going to come down to an injury during mini camps or the pre-season.

I believe that a change in position is ridiculous to even consider for Tim. Take tight end, for example; all 32 tight ends are professionals, it’s their job. He wouldn’t be better than any of the starting players at that position.

Whoever takes him on, if they decide to, will be in a spot where they are desperate. I hope it happens because I enjoy watching that crazy style of play; it’s ugly and non-traditional, but he got some wins for the Broncos. It was a circus in New York, why take him and cause all that controversy? Hey, I would start him over Sanchez all day.

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson recently stated that his team is about “truth, justice and the American way.” Well Hall-of-Fame quarterback Joe Namath isn’t buying it, stating the Jets have misled their fan base and The New York Post commented saying PSLs are the only thing harder to get rid of than Mark Sanchez. Now you understand; I hate the Jets and Fat Rex! Choo-choo!

THEATER

Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash

ONSTAGE IN JUNE

The Tempest

THE ALTOS: INTERACTIVE MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE 6:30 p.m., June 7 and 8 110 W. College St. boroarts.org RENT 7:30 p.m., June 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29; 2 p.m. June 16, 23 and 30 Murfreesboro Center for the Arts 110 W. College St. boroarts.org COMEDY MAYHEM 9 p.m., June 27–29 Out Front on Main 1511 E. Main St. outfrontonmain.com RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH 7:30 p.m., June 7, 8, 14 and 15; 2 p.m., June 9 The Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy. artscenterofcc.com THE TEMPEST 7 p.m., June 7, 8, 14 and 15; 2 p.m., June 9 and 16 Murfreesboro Little Theatre 702 Ewing Ave. mltarts.com

JUNE GIVEAWAY Pulse friends, stay tuned to Facebook.com/BoroPulse on Tuesday, June 18, at 4 p.m. to find out how you can win a special Pulse Prize Pack from our fabulous sponsors including merchandise and gift cards from 3 Brothers Deli and Brewhouse, OK Jose, Bluegrass Underground, JoZoara Coffeeshop, Mobil 1, Readyville Mill, B McNeel’s and others! We'll see you there—thanks for reading!

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OPINIONS Summer Safaris for the Suburban Man

El Safari de Verano Para el Hombre Suburbano

IN ENGLISH: FOR THOSE WITH A PASSION for adventure, summer is a prime season for having just that. It’s a time for travel and exploration both abroad and in our own backyard. Unfortunately, many guys have slid into a sedentary rhythm of work or study that has left them soft and unfulfilled. Man-boobs and obesity are on the rise and testosteronefueled excursions have often been supplanted by video games, music, movies and online are plenty of caves, such as Mammoth Cave entertainment. in Kentucky and Cumberland Caverns here in I may have just sounded like Captain Middle Tennessee, offering tours which will Judge-Much here, and I’m aware that not all challenge your body and your wits. of you lads are pathetic. But whatever your Go bear watching! Bears are fun animals to case may be, all men need action periodically. watch in the wild. Their smelly presence alone Gentlemen, it’s time for a safari. That means is enough to cause a slight adrenaline rush in doing something a little dangerous. I don’t most people. Practice your wildlife photogmean the foolhardy stunts you did as a teenraphy skills by capturing a few shots at a safe ager, but real sporting activities off the beaten distance. Find out where the closest habitat path. I’m talking about testing your wits and is for bears and plan a camping trip. Bring honing your skills in the great outdoors. Let’s a camera and lots of food to attract these take a look at some of my favorites that may furry beasts. Again, use common sense when inspire you. So grow a mustache, grab your around bears. gear and let’s go!

No list of summer safaTake a canoeing experis for the manly advendition where there are alUna columna del idioma español por turer would be complete ligators. That’s right: alCAMERON PARRISH without recommending ligators. Anyone can take a good old-fashioned a canoe trip. But gators hunting expedition. Theodore Roosevelt and in the water bring the excitement level up Ernest Hemingway would both agree that a bit, and if you bring your camera, maybe you can get some impressive photos to show little compares to the excitement of putting your archery or rifle skills to the test the guys back home. Despite the fact that by killing ferocious animals. Of course, not alligator attacks have been on the rise in everyone has the time and resources to book recent decades, alligator mississippiensis is a safari in South Africa. But a number of a shy creature and rarely attacks humans, places in the interior of the U.S. have sumunlike its deadly cousin, the crocodile. Plan mer hunting seasons for wild boar, coyote B: If you live too far from alligator-infested and varmints. A hog skull with razor-sharp waters to make such a trip, then invite a tusks is a great conversation piece for any cute girl and tell her there are alligators. man’s living room. Texas, Louisiana and MisUnless she is a biology major this should sissippi come to mind as good destinations work to your advantage. for a mid-summer hunting safari.

Explore a cave. I find exploring caves to be What are you waiting for? Start planning both physically challenging and a great way your own safari, and keep exploring! to stay cool in the summer heat. Some caving experts would call this bad advice if you aren’t an experienced caver. But people have been EN ESPANOL: exploring caves for thousands of years, and most were not members of any grotto society PARA AQUELLOS CON PASIÓN de or a spelunking club. Bring proper equippor aventura, el verano es la temporada ment, don’t go alone, and use common sense. principal para tener una. Es un tiempo para Don’t know of any caves to explore? There viajes y exploración tanto en el extranjero

La PALABRA

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como en nuestro propio patio de atrás. Lamentablemente muchos tipos han adoptado un ritmo sedentario de trabajo o estudio que los ha dejado insatisfechos. Los man-boobs y la obesidad están en alza y las excursiones impulsadas por la testosterona a menudo son suplantadas por videojuegos, música, películas y entretenimiento en línea. Si esto describe su situación, o simplemente quiere evitar un estado tan patético y desgraciado, tengo la solución perfecta.

Señores, es el tiempo para un safari. Esto significa hacer algo un poco peligroso. No hablo de los trucos temerarios que hicieron cuando eran adolescentes, sino verdaderas actividades deportivas del camino no trillado.

Hablo de pruebas de sus ingenios y afiladura de sus habilidades en el campo y aire libre.

Vamos a mirar a algunos de mis favoritos que le pueden inspirar. ¡Así cultive un bigote, agarre su marcha y vamos!

Tome una expedición de canoa donde hay caimanes .Sí, dije caimanes. Cualquiera puede tomar un viaje en canoa. Pero los caimanes en el agua suben el nivel del entusiasmo un poco y si traes la cámara, tal vez puedes conseguir que algunas fotos impresionantes para mostrar a los tipos que se quedaron en casa. A pesar de que los ataques del caimán han crecido en décadas recientes, el alligatormississippiensis es una criatura tímida y raramente ataca a la gente a diferencia de su primo mortal el cocodrilo. El plan B. Si vive demasiado lejos de las aguas plagadas de caimanes para hacer tal viaje, luego invitar a una muchacha guapa y decirle que hay caimanes.

Esto debería trabajar a tu favor.

Explorar una cueva. Creo que exploración de cavernas es físicamente exigente y una buena forma de mantenerse fresco en el tiempo cálido. Algunos expertos en cuevas dirian que este es un mal asesoramiento si no se es experimentado espeleólogo. No estoy de acuerdo. Las personas han estado explorando cuevas durante miles de años y la mayoría no eran miembros de ninguna sociedad o club espeleológico. Llevar el equipo adecuado, no ir solos y usar el sentido común. No conoces ninguna cueva para explorar? Hay un montón de cuevas como la Cueva del Mamut en Kentucky y Cumberland Caverns (aquí en Middle Tennessee) que pondrán a prueba tu cuerpo y tu ingenio.

Sacar fotos de osos. Los osos son animales divertidos para observar en la naturaleza. Su presencia es suficiente para causar una prisa de la adrenalina en la mayoria de personas. Practique tus habilidades de la fotografía de la fauna capturando unos tiros en una distancia segura. Averigüe donde está el hábitat más cercano para osos y planee un viaje de acampada.

Traiga una cámara y mucha comida para atraer a estas bestias peludas. Otra vez, use la razón cuando esté rodeado de osos. A veces (pero raramente) comen a personas asi que vaya preparándose para defenderse si es necesario.

Ninguna lista de excursiones para el aventurero Varonil estaría completa sin recomendar una expedición de caza. Theodore Roosevelt y Ernest Hemingway coincidirían ambos que poco se compara con la emoción de poner sus habilidades de tiro con arco o rifle a prueba por la matanza de los animales feroces (o sabrosos). Por supuesto, no todo el mundo tiene el tiempo y recursos para realizar un Safari en África del sur. Sin embargo, muchos lugares en el interior de los Estados Unidos tienen temporadas de caza durante el verano para jabalí, coyote y alimañas. Un cráneo de cerdo con colmillos afilados es una gran pieza de salón para cualquier hombre.

Texas, Louisiana y Mississippi son buenos destinos para una excursión de caza en el solsticio de verano. ¿Qué estás esperando? Planifica tu safari ahora y sigue explorando!

Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage is Not Hateful

M

innesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year last year in the NFL. This year he may once again be the NFL’s offensive player, but not in the way he intended. In the ever-growing politically correct climate of professional sports, Peterson’s views on gay marriage are being deemed offensive.

I know, there I go using logic again. The simple fact is you don’t see these same gay marriage proponents standing up for polygamists and sibling marriage even though a case can be made that they’re just as much in love as two men could be.

It’s time we had a frank discussion. It’s easy to think of the gay issue in terms of wonderful, caring neighbors or a coworker who does such an exemplary job, but that’s not being gay. Being gay is two men having sex. Let that image sink in for a moment. That’s not an image that sits The Vikings recently cut punter Chris well with most people. If you just cringed Kluwe, an outspoken supporter of gay marwhen you read those words you’re not a riage—which becomes legal in Minnesota homophobe, you’re not a bigot or someone on Aug. 1. Peterson told SiriusXM NFL who hates. You’re a completely normal radio, “I have relatives who are gay. I’m not heterosexual and there’s absolutely nothbiased towards them. I still treat them the ing wrong with you. same. I love ’em. But again, I’m not with Heterosexuals have a natural aversion to that. That’s not something I believe in.” gay sex. Our culture today is brainwashing Peterson was excoriated on Twitter. us into believing that if we don’t completely One tweeter wrote, “It’s embrace homosexuality on called equality, bro. Get the same level as heteroVIEWS OF A with it.” Another wrote sexuality that we’re somethat Peterson was “less how evil people. We’re column by demi-god and more seminot. There’s a huge differPHIL VALENTINE troglodyte.” JustZoe wrote, ence between tolerance and philvalentine.com “He should’ve kept the acceptance. I tolerate all anti-gay opinions to himself.” As I’ve often sorts of things I don’t believe in because we said, the left is always about diversity, except live in a free country. That doesn’t mean I for diversity of thought. have to accept everything as being just fine.

They love to make gay marriage into an That’s not to say that we don’t love people equality issue. You’ve seen the equal signs who are gay. When I learn someone is gay on the backs of cars and posted on Faceit doesn’t change my love or admiration for book. It’s as if to say that if you support them. But it also doesn’t mean that just betraditional marriage then you’re somehow cause I love them I have to love what they do. treating people unfairly.

That’s the distinction that needs to be made.

Let’s take a look at the restrictions If I’m to accept that you’re a person of already on marriage. You can’t get married worth even though you’re gay, then you until you reach a certain age. Does that should be willing to accept that I’m a mean anyone supporting traditional marperson of worth even though I don’t believe riage is engaging in ageism? (And, yes, your marriage should be legally recognized. that’s actually a word.) There’s a prohibiTolerance is a two-way street. tion in every state against brothers and sisters marrying, against having more than Phil Valentine is an author and nationone spouse, against marrying your father ally syndicated radio talk show host or your mother. Does that make those with Westwood One. For more of his who want to break those rules victims of commentary and articles, visit philvaldiscrimination? entine.com.

CONSERVATIVE

“

If I’m to accept that you’re a person of worth even though you’re gay, then you should be willing to accept that I’m a person of worth even though I don’t believe your marriage should be legally recognized.

Tolerance is a two-way street.

”

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OPINIONS

Energy

column by FRANK SHEPARD

frank@boropulse.com

THE MYSTERIOUS ENERGY that propels all things—every atom, the sun and the very orbit of the planets—pulsates through our veins. Some people emit more than others. Most of us want more. We look to coffee, energy drinks and even magic wristbands to boost us. We want to be that person who elevates the energy of a room simply by entering it. How does one flip the switch on this mojo? This could really enhance every aspect of our lives. To get inside the head of one of these people, I interviewed a friend (whom we’ll call Mojo).

FRANK SHEPARD: Everyone I talked to, including those who don’t necessarily like you and your biggest fans, agree that you are one of those people whose presence elevates the energy of a room. Why do you think this is so?

MOJO: As long as I can remember, I have been in awe of life. And today, it’s like I’ve never lost that childlike wonder.

Also, my parents genuinely loved me. I think it is significant for humans to get their love-cup filled, and keep it filled.

FS: Well, that may not be much help to those whose parents didn’t love them or who had a less privileged upbringing.

MOJO: I had a feeling you’d say that. Here’s what I think about that: We each build our own story (from our memory banks) that creates the person we think we need to be to survive. We draft a narrative that best casts us as the character we think will make us successful. We all have both good and bad childhood memories. If we want to be tough, we draw from the hard memories; if we need attention or sympathy, we play the sad tapes.

But think about this: Unless a parent is psychopathic (which is a very small percentage of humanity), they love their children. They may have been pitiful at expressing it, but in their own way, they loved you. People can search their memory banks for at least one time that their parent expressed love to them, and it is there, no matter how feeble the attempt. We can choose which stories to build our lives on. Both are true; both are there—the loving and the hateful. But we can choose to believe that we were loved, and make that story the one that defines us. If need be, we can feel the love of the universe itself. As brutal as it is, it does provide gravity and oxygen so that we can exist.

The point is: Get your love-cup filled, whatever it takes, and keep it filled. Choose to feel loved. Wayne Dyer says to himself daily, “I want to feel good.” Feel the cooperation of

the universe towards your goodness. Some people want to stay angry, they like being sick, they benefit somehow from being the victim. If a person feels loved, believes they’re lovable, and builds their story on that, it can alter the trajectory of their life. Did you know it’s possible to live as if no one and nothing is against you?

FS: This is pretty Oprah-ish. Thinking that the universe exists to serve you, that sounds pretty arrogant. Isn’t this just pride? Bad people change the energy of rooms too.

MOJO: Well, there is a fine line between pride and humility. It’s very humbling to admit to yourself, “I am awesome.”

On the other hand, it can be prideful to believe “I suck.”

Which is easier to believe? Which takes more courage?

Which holds me more accountable? Is it pride or humility that refuses charity? Who’s going to bring more energy to the room (and the good kind)—a person who believes their very existence is proof that they are a beautiful gift to earth, or a person ashamed, embarrassed, jealous of everyone else?

FS: I’m starting to wonder if the room could handle being full of such egos?

MOJO: Actually, it couldn’t; the human ego is in survival mode and they would all stampede each other to feed their anemic self-image. I’m talking about a healthy lack of ego—a self that is at rest, comfortable in its own skin, and free to love and serve others. This is the paradox of true power.

FS: So, so far we have childlike wonder, a love of life, a full lovecup . . . anything else?

MOJO: Yes, I think it’s important to see everything—the universe, every tree, every human, even our words and behavior—as continuous expressions of Art. Call it God’s Art if you like. From the Big Bang to this moment. As time marches on, the Art is happening in the push-pull friction of life and death, success and failure, function and dysfunction, excitement and boredom, heaven and hell. We’re all part of the paint and clay and poetry of the constant unveiling of what is.

FS: So these are your suspicions of what makes you a carrier of unique energy?

MOJO: Yes. I suppose so. But keep in mind, energy is no respecter of persons; it doesn’t care who accesses it. And, according to Einstein, it has no beginning or end. Let’s presume that it is in infinite supply and available to whomever wants it. Like a rushing river, it finds the lowest point and fills it. A human soul can create a reservoir for this energy to fill. I create that space by seeing life as Art . . . say yes to it, and become a conduit of its power. Give it a try . . .

FS: I’ll do that.

“Get your love cup filled, whatever it takes, and keep it filled.

Choose to feel loved.”

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RECOVER RUTHERFORD:

Step 5: “Heartaches” column by GLORIA CHRISTY

STEP 5: We admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

HEARTACHE IS ONE PAINFUL FEELING! Once upon a time, a couple of decades ago, I was vulnerable and sad beyond words. The “pain” from my emotional emptiness, disappointment and sorrow ached from the very center of my being. Inside my chest, I actually felt so overwhelmed that the tears would not come. I could barely breathe and hardly think. Every negative feeling—the emptiness, misery, loneliness, regret and disbelief—all seemed to come together and drain away any possibility of peace and happiness.

By my thirties, I had spent much of my early adulthood making wrong decisions. This self-sufficiency was continually perpetuated by my pride and temporary success, either professionally or personally. Finally, these destructive dysfunctional patterns of behavior led to broken and strained relationships, including a failed marriage. Each day, the compulsion to fix the problem with my own resources led to overpowering fear and dread.

My self-deception led to a crop of consequences hidden from my friends, family and, I thought, even God. In my delusion and fear of displeasing people, I continued to conceal and mask the pain.

I did not have the tools to take off the mask and get real with my feelings without the guilt and shame. So I continued the charade, wearing a mask of well-being to shield myself from disclosure, especially from my dad. My dad was the one person on earth that I did not want to disappoint.

So, I pretended that everything was all right.

For years I continued the heartache, struggling to make peace by my own initiatives, denying reality and finding excuses, squirming under the full weight of bad choices and negative attitudes.

Finally, with the help of some God-fearing people who surrounded me with love and acceptance, I came to believe in a Power greater than myself that could help me recover!

God combined the strength of a mountain peak, the wisdom of the ages, the power of an eagle’s flight, the patience of eternity, the faith of a mustard seed and a strong comforting arm in times of need, and placed those eternal qualities in my dearest friend: my father, Richard Shacklett.

Only now am I able to appreciate the masterpiece God created and how Dad intuitively understood the depth of our family’s need and responded sacrificially. Yep! He could have been a famous photographer, but instead, he chose to be “Dad.” In the 1950s, my family was living in Idaho.

After World War II and college, Dad and Mom had moved from Tennessee to Twin Falls, Idaho, and opened a studio. Dad was considered the best photographer in town, and for a time, the studio was very successful. But times got rough. My brother, Bill, was born with a teratoma tumor that had to

be removed when he was only 6 weeks old. Along with some other difficult circumstances, our family plummeted into financial “hard times.”

To my mother’s chagrin, Elmo Tanner Dad moved the studio into our home. It was an exasperating time for our entire family. Maybe, even at age 3, I, too, was affected by the tension in the home. One could hardly have avoided those troubled emotions and apprehensive moments. A murky pall of uncertainty, worry and dread had descended over our household.

There are so many subtle images from my childhood that have created lasting impressions.

One of those indelible memories is my Dad’s incredible skill as a whistler. It was during those agonizing days in our home that I was awakened in the middle of the night by Dad’s whistling, a restless, hypnotic sound that undoubtedly was a release for my father’s fretful thoughts. As I wandered through the house pursuing this melancholy sound, there on the back porch was my dad, his face puckered and shadowed with a grimace as he whistled, rolling his tongue with his unique shrills and trills over and over again. As the soft glow from the retouch lamp framed his face, he continued whistling as he carefully corrected a photographic negative.

In the radio days of the 1930s and ’40s, the airwaves were alive with the sweet sentimental sounds of the Big Bands, who made some of the most enduring music ever recorded. Recorded in 1933 for RCA Victor’s Bluebird imprint (and again in 1938 for Decca Records), “Heartaches,” with its mesmerizing tune by Ted Weems and his Orchestra and the whistling Elmo Tanner from Nashville, has to be one of the finest. After Tanner joined the band in 1929, his whistling talent was accidentally discovered while the band members were singing, whistling and cutting up en route to an engagement. Weems was so impressed by Tanner’s talent that he added a whistling tune to every segment of their show.

Weems loved the melody; however, he found the lyrics depressing, and opted to have Tanner whistle rather than sing the melody. In 1942, at the beginning of World War II, Weems, Tanner and the entire orchestra joined the Merchant Marines. During that period, their royalties from “Heartaches” were allowed to expire (not that they’d lost much, as the song’s only success thus far had come from a version by Guy Lombardo, released in 1931).

After the war, in 1947, Charlotte, N.C. disc jockey Kurt Webster stumbled upon an old 78 RPM Bluebird recording, dusted it off, played it, and listeners began overwhelmingly requesting the song. With its renewed popularity, it was one of the year’s top-sellers, though neither Weems, Tanner, nor any of the band members ever

received any compensation.

Weems and Tanner briefly revived the band to capitalize on their No. 1 recording.

In an article dated Aug. 4, 1979, a roly-poly, 75-yearold Elmo Tanner says, “I stopped whistling when I lost my teeth 10 years ago. I miss it like I miss my right eye—that’s gone too. I never regretted a moment in my life.”

When asked, “Whatever happened to all the whistlers?” Tanner said, “Radio happened, TV happened, and music stopped being a doing-it yourself and became a spectator sport.”

By then, Elmo and his precious wife, whom he married between shows 40 years earlier, were most proud of their four children. He had learned not to be bitter about life’s tough breaks.

Elmo Tanner had definitely found the key to happiness, accepting difficulties as a part of life.

Tanner died in 1990 and is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.

By the way, I have learned that the tune my dad whistled during those anxious times was “Heartaches.” Dad could whistle the melody with the same precision as Elmo Tanner. Apparently, in the early 1950s, the newly-popularized reissue of the 1930s-era “Heartaches” had captivated Dad as well.

You know, I have come to realize that a little girl needs her daddy for many things. One of those is when she awakens, frantic with the terrors of night, to find her dad there to bring comfort when all else falls apart. Only now, more than 60 years later, am I able to appreciate my dad’s toiling for long hours to provide for our family, choosing to be “Dad” rather than have fame or fortune. Dad’s example is still there like a great mountain of courage and strength, a beacon and a guide for his three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

In retrospect, beyond his apparent artistry, Dad taught me to run to God with my requests, to that Higher Place where I would find comfort and answers when I was beaten down by the events of life.

The last phrase of the song “Heartaches” is: I should be happy with someone new, but my heart aches for you!

Dad, I now know your heart was for more than your profession. Just like Elmo Tanner, it was for your family, and for that, I thank you!

Celebrate Recovery is that safe-place where people can remove the mask of denial and be open and honest. There are now three Celebrate Recovery meetings in Murfreesboro: one at 7 p.m. every Monday at North Boulevard Church of Christ, one every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Belle Aire Baptist Church and another every Thursday at 7 p.m. at New Vision Baptist Church. For more information, call (615) 896-6288.

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ART

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Two Tone Gallery Brings Work from Local Artists to Lytle St. Murfreesboro is nearly overflowing with talent. Musicians, painters, photographers and sculptors are always looking for ways to further develop their community and have their message heard. Todd Wilson, local artist and owner of Two-Tone Art Gallery, is offering a chance for artists to do just that.

Todd, who spends much of his time working at Icon Tattoo shop, says even from an early age he can remember always wanting to create and draw. This passion eventually led him to open Two-Tone.

"We're bridging the gap between local artists, and people in the community, giving local artists a place to feel comfortable in displaying their work," Wilson says.

There is no fee to display your work, but Two-Tone will receive a commission off any items sold, according to Wilson.

“All art will be displayed for approximately three weeks before being rotated out,” he says.

The gallery has made agreements with other local businesses to continue to display pieces after they have left Two-Tone's showroom.

“The last day the current rotation of art will be displayed we will host a silent auction for all the artists being showcased.

This will be a great time for clients and artists to meet and interact with one another. We will hopefully be able to feature a local band as well,” the owner says on the Two-Tone Facebook page.

Two-Tone lends its name to the fact that not only does it have an art gallery, but also features a recording studio, headed by Chase Cawthorn.

Two-Tone is located just off the Square at 113 W. Lytle St. and is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. MondaysFridays, and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.

All forms of media are welcome. If you are an artist in the Murfreesboro area and want to display your work, call Wilson at (615) 971-9270 or visit face book.com/TwoToneArtGallery. — ALEX RICHEY

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Art currently on display at the Two-Tone Art Gallery includes work by: 1 Eric Lamure 2 Gallery owner Todd Wilson 3 Jessica Maraschiello 4 Russell Garrett 5 Hayden Combs 6 Ryan Frizzell 7 Oliver Langston Keep up with Two-Tone on Facebook for notices on auctions and events.

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ERIC LAMURE AND STOREFRONT BY JSTEARNSPHOTO ALL OTHERS BY CHRISTY SIMMONS

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