INSIDE
TEDESCHI TRUCKS / TURNTABLE MEDIC / RECORD HISTORY / BUSINESS BUZZ / MURFREESBORO AVIATION / & MORE! JUNE 2021 / VOL. 16, ISSUE 6 / FREE
Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News
Record Store Day: Where to Look for Vinyl in the ’Boro and Beyond
Z's Comic Lair Carries Exclusive Dolly Parton Comic Cover
Josh Turner Country Superstar Appears at Hop Springs June 26; Justin Moore Performs June 5
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Contents
“Dot Art Mandala” by Lynn Lee
27
12
FEATURES
IN EVERY ISSUE
12
6 Events
THE J J’s HAVE IT
16
CALENDAR Great Tennessee Air Show, Experience Worship Night, Wartrace Musicfest, Splash Out, Boat Day and more
A travelogue through years of musical change with WMOT’s DJ Greg Lee.
10
Justin Moore and Josh Turner to play Hop Springs outdoor ampitheater.
A VINYL TOUR
18
RECORD STORE DAY
A guide to hunting for vinyl in Middle Tennessee on Record Store Day, June 12, and all year long.
20
Sounds
What goes around, comes around for local music mechanic Tom Blizzard.
22
CONCERT CALENDAR ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR MUSIC NOTES Tedeschi Trucks
MTSU Center for Popular Music archives thousands of audio artifacts since the beginning of recorded sound.
Steel Blossoms joins 7 Bridges at Main Street
24 Reviews
Art Director: Sarah Mayo Copy Editor: Steve Morley Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo
Advertising: Jared Stuart
26 Art
BOOK Z’s Comic Lair has exclusive Dolly Parton comic cover.
28 Food 30 News
Ibiza Night Club
ALBUM Thunderfrog
quest for private pilot license.
RESTAURANT Mexico Tipico
Stonewood Shakedown
RECORDING HISTORY
MOVIE Those Who Wish Me Dead
EXHIBIT St. Clair Street Senior Center exhibits works at at City Hall Rotunda
Simply Smyrna Fest
TURNTABLE MEDIC
33
BUSINESS MOMENTUM Grafix615
BUSINESS EDUCATION Murfreesboro Aviation sponsors student’s
Contributors: Melissa Coker, Jennifer Durand, Delores Elliott, Bryce Harmon, Laura Lindsay, Blaine Little, Zach Maxfield, Jason Pickle, Edwina Shannon, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard
BUSINESS BUZZ Station Grill, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wag it Better, Petnership, Sellebrity, Southern Flare and more
36
Opinion SPORTS TALK Predators keep playoff appearance streak alive but fall in first round; Titans schedule. GARDENING EDUCATION Details for your garden LIVE . . . WELL Untangle your life. HEALTH Volunteer Botanicals opens hemp research headquarters to provide cannabinoid ingredients for nutrition and food.
Copyright © 2021, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 714 W. Main St., #208, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Pulse is a free publication funded by advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X
714 W. Main St., Suite 208, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 615-796-6248 To carry the PULSE at your business, or to submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com SIGN UP for the Pulse Weekly Digital Newsletter at BOROPULSE.COM/NEWSLETTER FOLLOW:
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GREETINGS, PULSE READERS. Thanks to all who came out to the Walnut House for last month’s Small Business Fair and contributed to its success. That gathering included many individuals with vision and a passion for the local economy and for lifting up others. Vinyl collectors and music lovers, the Pulse has some special material for you this edition. Find a directory of Middle Tennessee record stores where record enthusiasts can search for some new albums; find a little history of recorded music formats from the Center for Popular Music (which, by the way, contains an archive of the Murfreesboro Pulse in its extensive collection of recorded music and music-related literature and writings); find a discussion of some of the noteworthy albums of the ’60s and ’70s, according to radio host Greg Lee, as well as a piece about a unique local individual who can service your record player, if needed. A big shout-out to Century 21, who helped me build a small collection of albums over the years. I appreciate your support of the Pulse and the local music scene! It is definitely a happy place in my kitchen when I put some Mountain or Allman Brothers or Peter, Paul and Mary on the little record player as I cook, or maybe turn on some Dylan or Zeppelin, or Beethoven, Cash, Tchaikovsky, the Dead, Gershwin, Elvis or Elton. Crackle crackle, sizzle sizzle. But those records always skip . . . somehow a blasted scratch appears on them! The Mayos made it to the Gulf for a little beach getaway in May. A change of scenery can be nice. The trip included quite a few firsts for baby Beckett (who is now sitting up very well and trying to make even more sounds)—his first venture out of state, his first frozen custard. A very happy birthday to 12-year old Bracken Jr. this month. We are usually somewhere awesome on his birthday—Mammoth Cave, Myrtle Beach and Burgess Falls have been our locations the last three June 12s. Huge thanks to wife and business partner Sarah for always coming through and getting the Pulse done in easy or challenging times. It never gets old for me! “It’s like you’ve never done this before,” she told me recently. Feels like the first time, baby! Good vibes only at the Mayo house. The Preds and the Hurricanes put on a hard-fought, exciting series, but it is on to next year for the Predators. Perhaps I will see you out this month at Splash Out or the Murfreesboro Hot Rod Club Cruise-In or Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi or at Movies Under The Stars sometime. Enjoy life, eat tacos, happy summer! Peace, BRACKEN MAYO Publisher/Editor in Chief
EVENTS CALENDAR JUNE 2021 BY ANDREA STOCKARD JUNE 4
searching through genealogy sites to locate past generations with the help of Daughters of the American Revolution. Watch a demonstration on how to clean old cast iron skillets at 1 p.m. There is a competition for ages 6–8 at 10 a.m. and for ages 9–12 at 10:30 a.m. to see who can build the best log cabin with Lincoln Logs. Stop by the Vietnam Veterans booth for sandwiches or go to the General Store for pinto beans and Southern fixins. Get your hoecakes at the open cooking fire or get a hand-dipped sundae or soda. Don’t miss the book signing by Cody Engdahl and listen to soft music flowing through the village. Donations are greatly appreciated but admission is free. For more information, call 615-547-6111 or visit fiddlersgrovetn.com/neddy-jacobs-days-2.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE Main Street Murfreesboro will kick off its free Friday Night Live concert series on Friday, June 4, on the Murfreesboro Public Square. From 6:30–9:30 p.m., Middle Tennessee band Entice will play great music from the ’60s, ’70s and today. The free concerts have become a monthly community party downtown, and 2021 shows will continue the first Friday of July, August and September. Bring your lawn chairs and join the fun. For more information, visit mainstreetmurfreesboro.org.
JUNE 4 BIG BAND ON THE OAKLANDS MANSION LAWN Join friends, neighbors and Oaklands Mansion members for an evening of jazz under the stars on the grounds of historic Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) for Oaklands Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, June 4, from 6–9 p.m. The Lynn Beal Big Band takes the stage on the front lawn nestled in Oaklands Park, a native tree arboretum and natural wetlands. The grounds also include Maney Spring alongside heritage and native gardens. For more information, find a Facebook event page for The Lynn Beal Big Band on the Lawn or visit oaklandsmansion.org.
JUNE 4–6 SECRET GARDEN WEEKEND Secret Garden Weekend is one of the main fundraising events for the Discovery Center (502 S.E. Broad St.). The series allows participants to get sneak peeks at beautiful gardens hidden in backyards or behind walls or fences in and around Murfreesboro. The 29th Annual Secret Garden Party kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, June 4, at the home of Judy and Ken Stone. This year’s theme is, “A Stroll by the Seine,” with signature cocktails, crafted plates and a rich array of fine auction items including travel and novel home accessories. The Secret Garden Tour is Saturday, June 5, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday, June 6, from 1–4 p.m. The tour offers a peek at six beautiful gardens with a collection of private and public gardens demonstrating native and nonnative florals, herbs, fruits and vegetables. Gain plenty of tips and ideas for your own home gardens. 6 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
JUNE 5 STEERED STRAIGHT CUSTOMER APPRECIATION
JUNE 5 AND 6 THE GREAT TENNESSEE AIR SHOW The Great Tennessee Air Show features the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds on Saturday, June 5, and Sunday, June 6, at the Smyrna Airport (278 Doug Warpoole Rd., Smyrna). Gates open at 8 a.m. with the Flight Line Club opening at 9 a.m. and the show ending at 4:30 p.m. The schedule is expected to be the same both days, though acts are subject to change. The 2021 air show is a reduced-capacity event. All tickets must be purchased in advance, no general admission tickets are available at the event. All ticket holders will have their own seats. Viewers can still see the planes at many points around the Smyrna area outside of the airport. For more information, visit greattennesseeairshow.com. This year children can join the festivities at the Secret Garden Tour Scavenger Hunt. Children can visit gardens, chart their observations and bring their booklets to Discovery Center for a special prize. New to this year’s series of events is the Enchanted Garden Princess Tea on Sunday, June 6, from 1–3 p.m., in the enchanting wetlands of Murfree Springs. Guests can meet their favorite princesses and enjoy a special tea party. The day features boxed treats, craft stations, a bubble dance party, time to meet a variety of popular princesses and admission to the center. Children are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite prince or princess, a knight or royal sidekick. For
more information and tickets, call 615-8902300 or visit explorethedc.org/sgp.
JUNE 5 NEDDY JACOBS HERITAGE DAY Come out to Fiddlers Grove Historic Village (945 E. Baddour Pkwy., Lebanon) on Saturday, June 5, for a fun family outing. Experience various vendors selling hand-crafted items and offerings from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. At 11 a.m. Wilson County’s finest first responders will compete against each other in the Outhouse Race alongside a few unique cheerleaders spurring them on. Find your roots while
Steered Straight Thrift Store (845 Middle Tennessee Blvd.) will have food, fun, prizes, a silent auction, music and other outside activities for its Customer Appreciation Day on Saturday, June 5, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. All clothes and shoes are 50 percent off and customers can fill a bag with books for $3. For more information, find the Steered Straight Customer Appreciation event on Facebook or visit steeredstraightthriftstore.org.
JUNE 5 AND 19 CRUISIN’ THE ’BORO The Murfreesboro Hot Rod Club presents the Cruisin’ the ’Boro car show two Saturdays each month this summer. Come out to River Rock Baptist Church (2248 Highway 99) from 4–8 p.m. on Saturdays, June 5 and 19, for the car show as well as music, door prizes and games for kids. The River Rock Baptist Church youth group will sell concessions. For more information, find the Murfreesboro Hot Rod Club on Facebook, or call 615-405-5271 or 615-556-0547.
JUNE 8 TENNESSEE TRAILS PICNIC Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Murfreesboro chapter of the Tennessee CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 Trails Association on Tuesday, June 8, at Barfield Crescent Park Picnic Shelter #5 (697 Veterans Pkwy.) at 6 p.m. The Tennessee Trails Association was formed in 1968 but it was not until 1981 that the Murfreesboro chapter was chartered. This will be a “bring your own meal” day. Enjoy a 40th anniversary cake to celebrate. Former chapter members and officers are invited back to attend and participate in a group photo. For more information, contact murfreesboro@tennesseetrails.org.
(312 S. Front St.) on Thursday, June 17, at 10 a.m. Ages 8–14 are welcome. The cost is $3. Reservations are by required by calling 615-890-0355.
JUNE 19 WARTRACE MUSICFEST Dallas Moore, Asher Cataldo and Justin Williams will perform at the Wartrace MusicFest on Saturday, June 19, from 6–10:30 p.m. in Downtown Wartrace (98 Main St., Wartrace). The event includes food trucks, merchandise from vendors and free parking. For more information, visit wartracechamber.org or call 931-240-0300. Tickets are $15.
JUNE 8 DECORATE A MINIATURE BIRDHOUSE Paint and decorate a miniature birdhouse to accent your garden on Tuesday, June 8, at 10 a.m., at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.). The cost is $3. Ages 8 and up are welcome. Reservations are required by calling 615-890-0355.
JUNE 9 LIVING SENT MEETING Join the June 2021 Living Sent Murfreesboro meeting on Wednesday, June 9, from 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m., at the Experience (521 Old Salem Rd.). Daniel Crosby, a licensed professional counselor at Branches Counseling Center in Murfreesboro, will speak about “Confidence in Your Current Calling.” Everyone is invited and welcome. A complimentary lunch is provided by SFA Wealth Management of Murfreesboro. For more information or to RSVP, email bob.williams@alhambra partners.com.
JUNE 10 UNPLUGGED IN THE KITCHEN Have fun using some of the old-fashioned kitchen gadgets on Thursday, June 10, at 10 a.m. at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.). All ages are welcome and admission is free. For more information, call 615-890-0355.
JUNE 10 SHANNON PERRY BOOK SIGNING Shannon Perry signs and sells copies of her book, Ode to Mother Earth, on Thursday, June 10, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.). Published in 2020, this work serves as a reminder of the refuge that is Mother Nature. Perry shares why we love Mother Nature and provides a warrior’s cry of empowerment in this pictorial guide of the vivid gifts she gives us. Books are $20 each. For more information, call 615893-4131 or visit rclstn.org.
JUNE 22 MAKE A BIRD FEEDER
JUNE 11 EXPERIENCE WORSHIP NIGHT Worship Night returns to the Murfreesboro Square on Friday, June 11, at 7:30 p.m., with Spirit-filled worship and strategic prayer to lift high the name of Jesus Christ, hosted by Experience Music. All churches, denominations and backgrounds are welcome; invite as many people as you like. One hundred percent of proceeds from event merchandise sales will benefit Greenhouse Ministries. The Experience believes that through Him, anything is possible. For more information, visit experiencemusicofficial.com.
JUNE 11 KIDS OUTDOOR MURAL Spend time with the kids while painting a sidewalk mural at Gateway Island (1875 W. College St.) Friday, June 11, from noon–3 p.m. Using everyday household items, create colorful sidewalk paint and create a giant mural. Children of all ages are welcome; an adult must be present. Brushes of all sizes are available. Please register in advance. The cost is $3. For more information, contact 615-893-2141 or efaye@murfreesborotn.gov.
found the courage to turn his passion into reality. This is his first book. Books are $10 each. For more information, call 615-8934131 or visit rclstn.org.
JUNE 12 SOUTHERN SHOPPING SHINDIG Join Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John Rice Blvd.) on Saturday, June 12, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., for over 50 handmade, vintage, direct sales and food vendors. For more information, find Southern Shopping Shindig on Facebook.
JUNE 12
JUNE 15
LOYD ELMORE BOOK SIGNING
FOUR PATCH QUILT BLOCK
Loyd Elmore, Jr., signs and sells copies of his book, The Spaces Between Spaces: Eight Stories of Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction, Saturday, June 12, from noon–3 p.m. at Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.). These eight stories of fantasy, horror and science fiction give the reader goosebumps and chills as they make readers think about what might lie in the spaces between the spaces. Elmore discovered Steven Spielberg movies, Rod Serling TV shows and Stephen King books in his preteens. This fueled his imagination and created the passion to create his own worlds with words, but it wasn’t until middle age he
Laura Ingalls Wilder and her sister Mary spent many hours making quilt blocks, and four-patch blocks were a favorite. Make a four-patch block with simple designs and iron-on crayon at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) on Tuesday, June 15, at 10 a.m. Ages 8–14 are welcome. The cost is $3. Reservations are required by calling 615-890-0355.
Send community event information to CONTACT@BOROPULSE.COM
JUNE 17 MAKE A DECORATIVE BUTTERFLY Learn about symmetry by making decorative butterflies at Cannonsburgh Village
Make a simple bird feeder with everyday objects at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) on Tuesday, June 22, at 10 a.m. All materials, bird seed and recipes for seed balls are provided. Reservations are required by calling 615-890-0355. Ages 8 and up are welcome. The cost is $3. For more information, call 615-890-0355.
JUNE 24 PAINTED ROCKS Use your imagination and creativity to paint rocks at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) on Thursday, June 24, at 1 p.m. Hide them in the village or take them home. Ages 8 and up are welcome. The cost is $3. Reservations are required by calling 615-890-0355.
JUNE 24 SPLASH OUT Join the many happy children under the spray from the Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department on Thursdays, June 24, July 8 and July 22 from 1:30–3 p.m. Wear clothes and shoes to get wet in, and don’t forget your sunscreen and towel. Ages 12 and under are welcome with vigilant adult supervision. Admission is free. The June 24 Splash Out will be at Richard Siegel Park, with July 8 at Barfield Crescent Park and the July 22 event Old Fort Park For more information, contact bjohnson@murfreesborotn.gov or 615-893-2141.
JUNE 25–27 BLAST IN THE BORO PICKLEBALL EVENT Lovers of pickleball can register to play in the First Annual Blast in the Boro Pickleball Event to be held outdoors at Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.). Singles tournament will be held on CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 BOROPULSE.COM
* JUNE 2021 * 7
Limited concessions are available for purchase and guests can bring their own. Blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. For more information, call 615-890-5333.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
June 25, gender doubles on June 26 and mixed doubles on June 27. Age and skill brackets will be available. For more information or to register, call 615-907-2251 or contact bgarrett@murfreesborotn.gov.
THROUGHOUT JUNE POETRY FESTIVAL CONTEST
JUNE 29 MAKE SUCCULENT WREATHS Embrace the trend of succulent wreaths at Gateway Island (1875 W. College St.) Tuesday, June 29, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. A succulent wreath is a floral creation with a grapevine-style base that is covered in a variety of plastic succulents that turn from simple brown wreaths into colorful concoctions of magnificence. Ages 18 and up are welcome. Register in advance to save a spot. The fee is $20 and includes supplies. For more information, contact 615-8932141 or efaye@murfreesborotn.gov.
TUESDAYS WATER POLO Looking for a unique way to get an intense workout? Water polo is designed for swimmers who are comfortable in the deep end of the pool. Beginners are also welcome. Visit Sports*Com Indoor Pool (2310 Memorial Blvd.) Tuesdays from 7–8:45 p.m. Ages 13 and up are welcome. The cost is $4 for adults and $3 for youth, seniors and military. For more information, contact 615-895-5040 or kgoss@murfreesborotn.gov.
WEDNESDAYS BLACKSMITHING DEMONSTRATIONS The Rutherford County Blacksmith Association demonstrates their talents every Wednesday in June from 9 a.m.–noon at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.). All ages are welcome and admission is free. For more information, call 615-890-0355.
WEDNESDAYS ADULT BASKETBALL LEAGUE The Sports*Com Adult Basketball League offers full-court games with trained officials one day a week. Teams interested in participating in the league should call 615-9072251. A list of interested individuals is kept, and efforts are made to help them find a team. Games begin at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. each Wednesday. The cost is $4 per player per visit or premium pass. For more information, contact mmccafferty@murfreesborotn.gov.
WEDNESDAYS WILD THINGS Visit Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) Wednesdays in June from 9:30–10:15 a.m. and 10:45– 8 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
JUNE 26 BOAT DAY Join Outdoor Murfreesboro for a Saturday morning of boat and water exploration on Manson Pike Trailhead (1208 Searcy St.) June 26, from 9 a.m.–noon. There are several different types of canoes and kayaks to try. Learn boating basics, correct paddling strokes and boat safety. PFDs and paddles are provided. No preregistration is required. All ages are welcome and admission is free. For more information, contact 615-217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@murfreesborotn.gov. 11:30 a.m. to learn more about the wilderness. Sing songs, read a story, complete a craft and conclude the day with a short walk. Focus on a different nature theme each week. Ages 1–4 are welcome. The cost is $3. Registrations are required the day prior to the program by contacting 615-217-3017 or hmeyer@murfreesborotn.gov.
THURSDAYS YOUTH VOLLEYBALL CLASS Bump, set and spike it at Sports*Com (2310 Memorial Blvd.) while qualified coaches give instructions on every aspect of the game of volleyball. From beginners to advanced, youth volleyball players can develop and refine their skills in both practice and game situations. Class size is limited, so call 615-907-2251 the day before or day of class to reserve your spot. Ages 8–17 are welcome Thursdays from 4:30–6 p.m. The cost is $3 per visit. For more information, contact athletics@murfreesborotn.gov.
FRIDAYS TRAIL WORMS Discover different native plants and animal species who call Murfreesboro home. Meet at General Bragg Trailhead (1540 W. College St.) and go for a short walk, create a craft project, sing songs and read a story. Each week explore a new topic specific to Middle Tennessee. Enjoy the beautiful greenway and learn new things, rain or shine, Fridays in June
from 10–10:45 a.m. Ages 7 and under are welcome. Admission is free. For more information, contact 615-217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@murfreesborotn.gov.
FRIDAYS TODDLER TIME WITH THOMAS Toddlers love to play, and that’s what they’ll do while learning to follow directions and work together at Sports*Com (2310 Memorial Blvd.) Fridays at 10 a.m. The focus is on body part recognition, cognitive skill development and fun. Ages 5 and under are welcome. The cost is $3. For more information, contact 615-907-2251 or athletics@murfreesborotn.gov.
ONGOING MOVIES UNDER THE STARS The Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to enjoy free family-friendly films during the annual Movies Under the Stars program. A different movie is shown each week at four locations beginning at 8:30 p.m. each night. Locations are: Mondays: Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) Thursdays: Richard Siegel Neighborhood Park (515 Cherry Lane Dr.) Fridays: Cason Trailhead (1100 Cason Trl.) Saturdays: Fountains at Gateway (1500 Medical Center Pkwy.) For more information and a schedule of movies, visit murfreesboroparks.com.
The Poetry Society of Tennessee’s 65th Annual Festival Contest is open both to members and non-members as it features 27 categorical contests for English-language poetry. Writers can win $1,500 in prizes. Contests range from free verse to more specific forms like prose poems and sonnets, and from many topics like “urban wilderness” and “why we need or want art.” New this year is a free verse, Tennesseeresident only contest. PST encourages fellowship among poets and the development of creative talent throughout the state. All contest entries must be postmarked by Aug. 6. For more information on submitting work, visit poetrytennessee.org or contact poetrytennessee@gmail.com.
THROUGHOUT JUNE ADULT COED BASKETBALL Adult Coed Basketball League is designed for ages 18 and up to compete against others in a six-week season with a single elimination tournament at the end of the season. Enjoy playing at McFadden Community Center (411 Bridge Ave.) whether you are a former college basketball player, high school basketball player or just enjoy playing for fun. Gather your team and join on the court this summer. Each player pays $4 or premium admission each night of play. Space is limited to eight teams. League play begins June 6. Games are played on Thursday nights at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. For more information, contact 615-9072251 or mmccafferty@murfreesborotn.gov.
THROUGHOUT JUNE MURFREESBORO FOOTBALL LEAGUE SIGNUPS Murfreesboro Football League is a non-travel recreational league that encourages all skill levels to participate and provides a safe environment for youth to enjoy football while developing their skills and learning valuable life lessons. Ages 5–6 and 7–8 (as of Sept. 1) play flag football and ages 9–10 and 11–13 play tackle football. Registration is through July 17. Player evaluation is July 10 and 17. Ages 5–8 play Saturday mornings beginning at 9 a.m. and ages 9–13 play Mondays or Tuesdays beginning at 6 or 7 p.m. The cost is $75 per player. Practice is at McKnight Football Complex (120 DeJarnette Ln.) and games are at Richard Siegel Soccer Park (515 Cherry Lane Dr.). For more information, contact 615-907-2251 or jteichman@ murfreesborotn.gov.
KIDS LOVE OUR SUMMER PROGRAM! WHY? BECAUSE IT’S FUN AND CHALLENGING!
5/24/2021
Mail - Austin Betty - Outlook
WE SERVICE MOST MAKES AND MODELS!
5/24/2021
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Tedeschi Trucks Trucks through Hop Springs, June 19 and 20
SIMPLY SMYRNA CELEBRATION RETURNS JUNE 12 TO SMYRNA’S HISTORIC DEPOT DISTRICT
10 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
RIDING HIGH, FLORIDIAN, DEEP-SOUTH, blues-heavy, jamcircuit legacy and Allman joy Tedeschi Trucks comes to groove and soothe the Murfreesboro area’s soul, June 19 and 20. The more-intimate-than-usual incarnation of the group comes for the weekend to the spacious outdoor venue with its Fireside Live tour, at Murfreesboro’s local brewery Hop Springs’ open-air amphitheater. As a scaled-down version of the full Tedeschi Trucks Band’s Wheels of Soul summer tour, this Fireside Live tour brings the same nod-worthy, mesmerizing blues jam vibe from the usually duodectet lineup to anywhere between an octet to a quartet onstage (varying by city and date). Musical couple Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi tour this summer as Tedeschi Trucks, as opposed to Tedeschi Trucks Band, in solidarity with bandmates unable to make it out to play. The Fireside Live tour should evoke the mood of a nice night beside the campfire as slide guitar and soothing, high-register blues melodies drift into the dark warmth of the summer’s night like embers flittering from the crack of a dry log.
Find tickets for the June 19 and 20 Tedeschi Trucks shows at tedeschitrucksband.com and at ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices start at $40 for general admission. The shows start at 7:30 p.m., both nights. Hop Springs is located at 6790 John Bragg Hwy., Murfreesboro.
PHOTO BY SHERVIN LAINEZ
THE SIMPLY SMYRNA CELEBRATION returns Saturday, June 12, from 6–10 p.m., in the Historic Depot District on Front Street in downtown Smyrna. The Saturday evening music festival begins Smyrna’s month-long Depot District Arts Fest, Summer in Smyrna. “This year at the Simply Smyrna Celebration, we are celebrating [the] 10th anniversary. Mayor Reed and the Smyrna Town Council have issued a resolution declaring June 12 Carpe Artista Day,” says Ron Alley, CEO and founder of downtown Smyrna’s Carpe Artista. Hosted by Smyrna arts, culture and business conglomerate Carpe Artista (of the Carpe Artista Academy for the Arts, Carpe Cafe and Carpe Artista headquar-
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ters and event venue), the Simply Smyrna Celebration not only brings Smyrna-town together for the (now mayor- and Smyrna council-approved) Carpe Artista Day, but also as an opportunity for area vendors and businesses, artisans and musicians, and especially the local community, to come together, stretch out, peddle wares, express themselves and mingle with neighbors. So, there’s about to be two years’ worth of pent-up creativity released
on Front Street, with plenty of room for 7,000 to 10,000 attendees, to make up for 2020’s Simply Smyrna Celebration cancellation. “There is a significant buzz about the event. This will be the first large event in Smyrna’s Depot District since before the COVID shutdowns,” says Alley. Carpe Artista will present four stages (with a fifth pending as of presstime) hosting at least 13 musical acts to cover Simply Smyrna’s district-size swath, a kids’ zone, wine and craft beer garden and currently over 50 artisan vendors, food trucks and area businesses in the vendor spaces. As for the evening’s live summer listening lineup, beginning at 6 p.m., Simply Smyrna’s Depot Stage will host Kinn, followed by John Lewis and easy Americana-rock headliner the Jason Lee McKinney band. An indoor Depot stage will present country music artist and former veteran J.T. Cooper that evening. Scheduled for the Cafe Front Porch stage is Elecoustic Soul, followed by
Business School and folk lyricist Gabrielle Grace (imagine Coldplay with a Southern drawl), headlining with new material from her new EP, We’ll Be Alright as well as the 2019 release This Beautiful Life. And, at the Front Street Sign Company garage, hour-long sets start with local acoustic alternative-rock optimist Real Face, followed by Brad Beal at 7:30 p.m., and Quality Time headlining at the Sign Company between 9–10 p.m. The wine-tasting portion at Assembly Hall will most likely include some live jazz performers, totaling five downtown locations hosting live music that evening (Carpe Artista and Simply Smyrna are still finalizing those details). The Front Street Depot District will be open to pedestrians only for the summer evening of music, a free community event to attend. For more information, find a Simply Smyrna 2021 Facebook event page or call 615-984-4038; visit carpeartista.com to find a map and vendor registration. — BRYCE HARMON
JUNE CONCERTS ONLINE AT BOROPULSE.COM/CALENDAR WED, 6/2 HANK’S Krystal King
THUR, 6/3 HANK’S Jordan Carter
FRI, 6/4
COCONUT BAY Jack Finley Band HANK’S Delyn Christian; Lefty Ferguson HOP SPRINGS Gwen Levy MAYDAY BREWERY Easy Green PUBLIC SQUARE Entice PUCKETT’S Olivia Faye SEASONS The Sugar Daddys
SAT, 6/5
COCONUT BAY Static Pop HANK’S A Slice of American Pie; Zach Neil HOP SPRINGS Justin Moore MAIN STREET MUSIC 7 Bridges (Eagles Tribute); Steel Blossoms PUCKETT’S Herrick SEASONS Ibiza Mobile Party THE WHEEL Sons of Whiskey
SUN, 6/6
HOP SPRINGS Americana Sunday with Brad Frazier HANK’S Crosstown
TUES, 6/8 HANK’S Jordan Rainer
WED, 6/9
COCONUT BAY Travis Franklin HANK’S Jessie
THURS, 6/10 HANK’S Tawnya Reynolds
FRI, 6/11
COCONUT BAY Reggie White
If You Go
& Friends HANK’S Tanner Burch; Jack Finley Band HOP SPRINGS Christian Lopez HOTSHOTZ Fallen Karma MAYDAY BREWERY Roland Justice PUBLIC SQUARE Experience Worship Night PUCKETT’S GROCERY Liv Noelle SEASONS Noise Pollution (AC/DC tribute)
The Deltaz
SAT, 6/12
FRI, 6/18
COCONUT BAY Skipper Grace HANK’S Jim Valdez; Joe Hooper; Phil Valdez HOP SPRINGS 103.3 Country Pickin’ Party with Dillon Charmichael PUCKETT’S The Hobbs Sisters SEASONS Ibiza Mobile Party SMYRNA DEPOT DISTRICT Jason Lee McKinney Band, John Lewis, Kinn, J.T. Cooper, Quality Time, Brad Beal, Real Face, Gabrielle Grace, Business School and Elecoustic Soul THE GREAT ESCAPE Jake Leg Stompers THE WHEEL Loaded Dogs
AHARTS PIZZA 2476 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-494-9797 COCONUT BAY 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 615-494-0504
PULSE PICK FRI, 6/18 @ PUCKETT’S GROCERY Brothers John and Ted Siegel began playing their blend of blues, psychedelic rock, country and folk as teenagers in Southern California. Catch The Deltaz’ energetic harmonica-driven Americana sound (harmonica played by the drummer, in an impressive display of coordination) at Puckett’s Grocery on June 18. Find more on the band at thedeltaz.com.
COCONUT BAY Escape Band HANK’S Sara Simmons; Justin Walden Band MAYDAY BREWERY Dolly Mama PUCKETT’S The Deltaz
SAT, 6/19
COCONUT BAY Stranger Than Fiction HANK’S The Hammonds; The Wentzel Bros. HOP SPRINGS Tedeschi Trucks PUCKETT’S Troy Kemp SEASONS Ibiza Mobile Party THE WHEEL Junk Box
MAYDAY BREWERY Strings Attached HANK’S Blake Esse; Justin Dukes HOP SPRINGS Boys in the Band (Alabama tribute) HOTSHOTZ Sticky Kim PUCKETT’S Matt Nicholls
SAT, 6/26
HANK’S Emily Miller HOP SPRINGS Tedeschi Trucks
COCONUT BAY DJ Chad HANK’S Hunter Girl; Whiskey Smoke HOP SPRINGS Josh Turner MAIN STREET MUSIC Rubiks Groove PUCKETT’S Larysa SEASONS Ibiza Mobile Party THE WHEEL Bill Ashmore and the Last Stand
HANK’S The O’Donnells HOP SPRINGS Americana Sunday Amanda Pruitt
TUES, 6/22
SUN, 6/27
TUES, 6/15
COCONUT BAY Zack Montgomery HANK’S Phil Valdez
SUN, 6/13
HANK’S Will King
WED, 6/16 HANK’S Aly Cutter
THUR, 6/17 HANK’S Spencer Maige
SUN, 6/20
HANK’S Delyn Christian
WED, 6/23
THUR, 6/24 HANK’S Alan Crist
FRI, 6/25
COCONUT BAY Zone Status
HANK’S Karree J. Phillips HOP SPRINGS Americana Sunday with Levi Massie & Billy Plant
TUES, 6/29 HANK’S Alexis Taylor
WED, 6/30 HANK’S Sir-Anthony
KARAOKE, TRIVIA AND DJ NIGHTS IN MURFREESBORO ONLINE AT BOROPULSE.COM/KARAOKE
Mondays
Thursdays
EL TORO 1006 Memorial Blvd. 615-546-5150
AHARTS PIZZA GARDEN Trivia Night 7 p.m.
FRONT ST. PUB 104 Front St., Smyrna 615-355-6880
HANK’S Open Mic Night 6–9 p.m.
219 MIXED CUISINE Trivia, 7 p.m. FRONT STREET PUB Line Dancing NOTES Karaoke, 5 p.m. PARTY FOWL Trivia Night, 7 p.m. SEASONS Free Poker, 7 p.m. STARS & STRIKES Trivia, 6:30 p.m. VAN’S Pool Tournament 7 p.m.
HANK’S HONKY TONK 2341 Memorial Blvd. 615-410-7747 HOP SPRINGS 6670 John Bragg Hwy. 615-450-1907 HOTSHOTZ 1208 S. Lowry St., Smyrna 629-255-8296 JACK BROWN’S 113 N. Maple St. 615-962-9641 MAIN STREET MUSIC 527 W. Main St. 615-440-2425 MAYDAY 521 Old Salem Rd. 615-479-9722 NACHO’S 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 615-907-2700 NOTES 2349 S. Church St. 615-528-3303 PUCKETT’S 114 N. Church St. 629-201-6916 SEASONS 2227 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-895-5471 THE BORO 1211 Greenland Dr. 615-895-4800 THE BOULEVARD 2154 Middle Tennessee Blvd. 615-624-8002 VAN’S BAR & GRILL 2404 Halls Hill Pk. 615-624-7767 WALNUT HOUSE 116 N. Walnut St. 615-705-7897
JACK BROWN’S Trivia Night 7 p.m. LEVEL III Trivia, 7 p.m. THE BORO Karaoke, 8 p.m.
Tuesdays COCONUT BAY Trivia, 7:30 p.m. FRONT STREET PUB Acoustic Jam Session NACHO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT Trivia, 7 p.m.
Wednesdays BURGER REPUBLIC Trivia, 7 p.m. EL TORO Trivia, 7 p.m. GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Karaoke 8 p.m.–12 a.m. JONATHAN’S GRILLE Trivia, 7:30 p.m. JUST LOVE COFFEE EAST Trivia, 5 p.m. SEASONS Salsa and Bachata with DJ Julian 8:30 p.m.–1 a.m. BOULEVARD Trivia 8 p.m. VAN’S Bike Night, Karaoke, 6 p.m.
Fridays BOOMBOZZ PIZZA Trivia Night 8:30 p.m. FRONT STREET PUB Karaoke GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Karaoke 9 p.m.–1 a.m. MARGARITAS Karaoke, 7 p.m.–12
Saturdays CARMEN MEXICAN RESTAURANT Karaoke, 9 p.m. FRONT STREET PUB Karaoke GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Karaoke 9 p.m.–1 a.m. MARGARITAS Karaoke, 7 p.m.–12 SEASONS Latin DJ Night 10 p.m.—3 a.m. VAN’S Karaoke, 7 p.m.
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* JUNE 2021 * 11
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The J’s Have It
Josh Turner Justin Moore to play Hop Springs outdoor amphitheater in June BY MELISSA COKER
IF YOU’RE A LITTLE MESSED UP but need something cheaper than a danged ole shrink (a pickle which Justin Moore can attest to finding himself in), look no further than Hop Springs. The J’s—being Justin Moore and Josh Turner—have you covered this June. They’re both rooted in country and pack a sturdy set of songs to assist with your mental balance. Don’t act like you kinda don’t care (we’re pointing at you), the sprawling 80 acres allotted for these shows are small town USA at its finest. Moore is literally Straight Outta the Country; his new album (his sixth) by that name was released in April as the follow-up to 2019’s Late Nights and Longnecks, which (in addition to being the title of a widespread tour with Tracy Lawrence, currently making up some dates) probably aptly describes what the “Lettin’ the Night Roll” singer’s Hop Springs attendees can expect to see. Moore was recently presented with a surprise Pandora plaque, by the way, for over 3 billion lifetime spins. His “Why We Drink” is now certified platinum in Canada (“ . . . from an idea that started because my mom asked me why I drink so much,” he laughed). And of 12 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
course Straight Outta the Country is featured on Waffle House jukeboxes everywhere. “I’m thrilled to have a chance to put out a new project. In a window of time where we have all searched for bright spots to cling to, Straight Outta the Country has certainly been one for me,” said Moore excitedly. Turner has turned some pages in his storied career, from beseeching audiences against a ride on “Long Black Train” on his debut in 2003 (or criminally-underrated
follow-up “What It Ain’t” complete with video wherein Turner charmed as host of pretend match game show Love, Not Love) to recording with Randy Travis to showing off his husky, come-hither narrative with selections such as “Your Man” to fun-lovingly booming about his better half with “Firecracker” or extending a hand in “Would You Go With Me?” Award-nominated across genres, this artist is a guy who knows how to navigate a story song.
Turner, who in recent years has also performed at Murfreesboro’s World Outreach Church multiple times, shared his sunny spiritual side with mostly-gospel album I Serve a Savior (which wisely contains his previous single release “Me and God” and a live recording of “Long Black Train”) and gotten back to the basics with established classic country hit takes on Country State of Mind (released in August). CSoM’s collaborations on country throwbacks feature artists including Randy Travis on “Forever and Ever, Amen,” Kris Kristofferson on “Why Me,” Chris Janson on the title track, John Anderson and Allison Moorer. Turner takes on well-known standards cut by Keith Whitley, Randy Travis, Johnny Cash, Patty Loveless, Vern Gosdin, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Waylon Jennings and both the Jr. and Sr. varieties of Hank Williams. In March “Your Man”—written by Chris Stapleton, Jace Everett and Chris DuBois— was certified as a 3-times-platinum single. On June 25 (one day before his Murfreesboro show), Turner will release Your Man: Deluxe Edition, featuring three additional live tracks not on its original release. Preorders are available now and the release will also be available on vinyl. “Hop Springs has an incredible space and opportunity . . . I’m honored to be partnering with their team,” said Jason Oschwald, co-owner of Big Spring Entertainment, booking partner of the outdoor amphitheater at Hop Springs. “Everything they do is of the absolute highest standard with a precise attention to details. This partnership is going to put Murfreesboro on everyone’s tour and will create a unique alternative to other venues in the region.” Both Justin and Josh are outdoor events; ticket purchasers may bring their own chairs. General admission tickets are available but do not include a designated pod for seating. Don’t let the term “pod” keep you away from the socially-distanced event. It might sound otherworldly but all it means is that you’ll be ever-so-slightly separated from others by a small fence. Justin Moore performs at Hop Springs on Saturday, June 5, at 7 p.m.; Josh Turner will perform Saturday, June 26, at 7 p.m. Find tickets for both concerts on ticketmaster.com. Hop Springs Beer Park is located at 6790 John Bragg Hwy. For more information, visit hopspringstn.com; for more on the artists, visit justinmoore music.com and joshturner.com.
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SABADOS RUMBEROS CON IBIZA NIGHT CLUB MOBILE EN MURFREESBORO ESTABLISHING A TASTE OF MIAMI in Middle Tennessee, traveling pop-up party on wheels Ibiza Night Club Mobile continues to bring its laid-back nightclub experience to Murfreesboro, presenting weekly Latino-flavored guest DJs from around the Southeastern U.S. and Central America. Find a mix of popular, tropical, house, techno, rumba, salsa, reggaeton, merengue, bachata and cumbia every Saturday night at the Seasons of Murfreesboro Restaurant and Lounge. When asked, “What’s a good time to show up?” to the Latino-inspired night club experience, Ibiza Night Club representatives say, “anytime until about 2:45 [a.m.].” Formerly a brick-and-mortar establishment in Nashville, Ibiza Night Club
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first branched out with satellite mobile ventures in Kentucky and Alabama. The show included a setup at Seasons of Murfreesboro that began December of 2020, according to Mike, the Ibiza Night Club Mobile event manager. The Seasons residency continues, as Ibiza Night Club Mobile owner Carlos Moncayo keeps in mind the idea of venturing even farther. “We set up an entire club with stage, sound and lighting,” said Moncayo. “It takes five of us to set up for four hours, non-stop,” he continued. “It’s a lot of work but we have built our name in Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee and North and South Carolina.” At a recent suavidad Murfreesboro Ibiza Mobile night, the guest DJ booth overlooked a broad, full club with its dance floor lit, strobed, discoed and filled with dressed-to-impress Murfreesboro patrons. Perks include Seasons of Murfreesboro menu, full bar, table-side bucket service, in-house photo-ops for
social media (think table-side wedding reception photographer), and, of course, popular Latino DJs spinning and getting bootys shaking all evening. The experience also includes roped-off VIP sections, plus Seasons of Murfreesboro is outfitted with pool tables, dart boards and plenty of space for lounging. On May 8, it was a little unsettling walking up to the entrance of the Seasons through a mildly chaotic parking lot as several security personnel processed a few patrons for entrance with the usual metal-detecting wand and purse checks while Murfreesboro Police were parked next to them responding to unrelated issues in the Clarion Inn lobby. Moncayo eventually opened the muffling, tinted restaurant doors to reveal, with a welcoming open hand, a surprising transition to such a chill party within. With a smile, a gesture inside and a mean pair of cowboy boots appropriately worn for a good night out, the Ibiza owner and operator welcomed folks into the Ibiza Night Club Mobile experience. The world cuts off once past those doors. The chill-factor inside is completely different from the initial entrance scene. Security is normal and Mr. Moncayo and Seasons of Murfreesboro supply a surprisingly relaxed nightclub atmosphere. It’s as though everyone at a family member’s backyard barbeque all decided to go hang out in a club for a change of scenery. Throw in people of all ages (18 and up; people had their moms out there, too) dancing it up on the floor, and one has Ibiza Night Club Mobile at Seasons of Murfreesboro. The pop-up seems to be about community, a good time and definitely looking sharp, all right here to enjoy in Murfreesboro, and, maybe on some evening sometime soon, in other towns as well. Ibiza Night Club Mobile pops up every Saturday night this summer from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. at the Seasons of Murfreesboro Restaurant and Lounge, conjoined to the Murfreesboro Clarion Inn at 2227 Old Fort Pkwy. Find more information on currently scheduled DJs on the Ibiza Night Club Mobile social sites or call 615-589-1588. Ibiza Night Club Mobile será una fiesta tremenda que no te puedes perder.
— BRYCE HARMON 14 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
STEEL BLOSSOMS JOINS 7 BRIDGES AT MAIN STREET JUNE 5 GOOD NEWS—standing on a corner in downtown Murfreesboro is such a fine sight to see. Saturday, June 5, perennial local players Steel Blossoms soar in to open for “ultimate Eagles experience” 7 Bridges at Main Street Music for a show that’s sure to help you take it easy. It may not be the Hotel California, but you’re still welcome. And there are stars in the Southern sky. There is moonlight and moss in the trees. So, desperado, come to your senses. Open the gate and help 7 Bridges take that peaceful, easy feeling to the limit; . . . there might even be some “Heartache Tonight.” So they keep things authentic, 7 Bridges uses no backing tracks or harmonizers. Every show features hit singles as well as some Eagles members’ solo work surprises thrown in. The band features Jay Sweet as Glenn Frey, Keith Thoma as Don Henley, Bryan Graves as Randy Meisner/Timothy B. Schmit, Richie Scholl as Joe Walsh, Brian Franklin as Don Felder and Vernon Roop as Joe Vitale. “We’re super excited to get back to Main Street Music,” exclaimed the band. “We packed the house last time, so let’s do it again!” Members also say they’re looking forward to sharing the stage with the Blossoms. Showcasing original music as well as covers, the two firmly-planted Steel Blossoms have an ever-growing tour schedule as well, including a date at McMinnville’s Main Street Live series on Friday, June 18. The 7 Bridges and Steel Blossoms show is Saturday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $19, available on Eventbrite. Main Street Music is located at 527 W. Main St., Murfreesboro. — MELISSA COKER
FREE CONCERTS the First Friday Night of
TENNESSEE DEAD
GOTTA POKE AROUND MT. SHAKEDOWN: GRATEFUL FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND AT STONEWOOD BLUFF AND AMPHITHEATER THE INAUGURAL, PATRIOTIC, HIPPIE TRIBUTE FESTIVAL Stonewood Mountain Shakedown will raise its freak flag high atop a McMinnville bluff the weekend of July 2–5. McMinnville-area outdoor event venue and campground Stonewood Bluff and Amphitheater will host this three-night Fourth of July Grateful Dead tribute music festival. As a peaceful, laid-back approach to a Fourth of July celebration brought to you by area locals, for area locals, Stonewood Mountain Shakedown provides an ideal vibe in which to be grateful for America’s Independence Day, summer festival camping with family and friends, fireworks, hippies and a bluff, all brought to you by Stonewood Bluff, Treehouse Studio and Hillfolk Entertainment. The jam sounds of live Dead will echo through the foothills of McMinnville, courtesy of top regional tribute band Tennessee Dead. A three-day Stonewood Mountain Shakedown ticket includes one camping spot, one vehicle parking pass and a wristband for show access at the amphitheater. Performing on Grateful Grass Friday, July 2, is Trevor Clark from 3–5 p.m., In the Pines from 6–8 p.m., and DJ Andrew Bodandrew spinning sides into the night. Country Grass Saturday, July 3, kicks off with Dumbster Queen and the Brass Taxes from 3–5 p.m., with Wes Shipp and friends from 6–8 p.m. And as for Sunday, the 4th of July, Sugar Lime Blue starts the patriotism at 3 p.m., with Shakedown headliner Tennessee Dead performing at 6 p.m., before, or during, the fireworks display on top of the mountain, as well as the fireworks down in the valley. There will be food vendors, Pish-La-Ki camp store and a beer bar open for the people, but Stonewood Mountain Shakedown does ask attendees to bring their own personal supplies such as paper towels, hand sanitizer, trash bags and such, and organizers remind everyone this is a “Leave No Trace Behind” event. “We expect all present to radiate positivity to each other and love and care for our Mother Earth at this event. This is a family-friendly event. Reckless attitudes and aggressive drunken behavior will not be tolerated,” state Stonewood Mountain Shakedown organizers. Tickets for Stonewood Mountain Shakedown range from $25–$125 and can be found, along with all of this information and more, at Stonewood Mountain Shakedown’s Eventbrite page; for updated event information, find a Stonewood Mountain Shakedown Facebook event page. Ages 12 and under admitted free; additional parking spots are available for $10. No glass, and no outside fireworks—the event will provide a fireworks show on July 4. Gates open at 9 a.m., Friday, July 2. Stonewood Bluff and Amphitheater is located at 208 Pish-La-Ki Circle in McMinnville, Tennessee. “Come join us up on the bluff for the Fourth of July weekend for an American Grateful Dead tribute!” — BRYCE HARMON
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THE RECORDS THAT OPENED the mind of local radio host Greg Lee some 50 years ago, and which now richly populate his weekly WMOT show, Bel-Aire Drive, are far too many to list. So, we’ll zero in on a handful of titles that remain especially emblematic of the time period Lee calls the BelAire Drive experience, referencing his Tullahoma, Tennessee teenage address. (Check out the May 2021 edition to see the Pulse’s feature on Lee and the story behind Bel-Aire Drive.) Diversity began to noticeably pervade mainstream record bins in the later ’60s, with a variety Lee recalls as “surprising, with not much categorization by styles. Most everything was alphabetical. It made bin diving a fun experience.” To illustrate his point, Lee mentally browses across the letter H, where an album by progressive soul artist Isaac Hayes might sit next to one by raw, electric bluesman John Lee Hooker. Experimental jazz-fusion by Herbie Hancock could be found alongside R&B/gospel singer Cissy Houston (yes, Whitney’s mom), while commercial soul-pop by the short-lived Honey Cone sat just in front of hard-hitting, blues-influenced British rockers Humble Pie. In those bins, aided by radio and neighborhood exposure, Lee would find such period-defining gems as The Temptations’ Psychedelic Shack, which found the quartet’s caramel-smooth commercial sound becoming edgier and more topical. Not every recording artist followed suit with changing trends, but for many, purely romantic and dancefloor fare alone would no longer suffice. Acts such as The Temptations and The Supremes, who didn’t write their own material, began to get makeovers from Motown staff writer-producers. Taking the cultural cue, Motown’s creative core came up with songs dealing with drug abuse (“Cloud Nine”), unwed and uncommitted parenthood (“Love Child”), even worldwide unrest and controversy (“Ball of Confusion”). In that spirit, Psychedelic Shack featured the ferocious Vietnam protest song “War,” which Edwin Starr would record and take to No. 1 in 1970. Stomping like a military march crossed with a tribal chant, the track’s intensity inflamed the AM airwaves like little else at that time. Though uncommon in the years just prior, fierce and forceful messages from soul artists 16 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
Vinyl Tour Down Bel-Aire Drive Travelogue through explosive years of social and musical change BY STEVE MORLEY occasionally found radio success, as with James Brown’s anthemic “Say It Loud—I’m Black and I’m Proud.” After helping the now-iconic performer reach an unprecedented level of success, most of Brown’s band defected in 1970 along with featured saxophonist Maceo Parker, cutting Maceo and All the King’s Men—Doing Their Own Thing, a notable discovery that Lee counts among his personal favorites. “It was one of the funkiest things I had ever heard,” Lee says. “I think it probably helped fuel my interest in jazz, too;
certainly in James Brown.” Parker’s name and reputation had grown rapidly thanks to the funky fingerprints the sax player left all over JB tracks such as “Cold Sweat” and “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” before temporarily disconnecting with Brown, a primary funk innovator whose massive, self-written body of work stands as a towering influence. Armed with considerable songwriting ability themselves, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder navigated to the artistic front lines soon after the ’70s dawned; both had fun-
neled millions into Motown owner Berry Gordy’s Detroit-based record label with a stack of mostly staff-written hits between them. Now, sparked by the events and issues sailing around their heads—and influenced by the ascension of the singer-songwriter movement spearheaded by Bob Dylan and fueled by the likes of Joni Mitchell and James Taylor—both were insistent on transitioning from hit-making entertainers to artists asking questions, offering opinions and exploring their own inner terrain. Even so, the hits would continue, confirming the accuracy of their timing and discernment. Wonder’s uncompromising “Living For the City” made no bones about the difficulties his brothers and sisters encountered daily, yet it affirmed their dignity and integrity in the face of them (though the extended album version included a harrowing scenario in which a young man is wrongly imprisoned after drugs are planted on him while visiting New York City). Gaye’s now-acclaimed What’s Going On, an album Lee singles out as particularly noteworthy, presented searching and troubled lyrics made easier to digest by Gaye’s silken voice and easy-gliding grooves. Addressing a cluster of concerns from the environment and drug addiction to endangered children and economic oppression, What’s Going On took the top spot of Rolling Stone’s recently revised 500 Greatest Albums of All-Time chart last year, dethroning The Beatles’ longtime No. 1 Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. In sharp contrast to Wonder and Gaye, but a part of the musical landscape nonetheless, was B.B. King’s still-vital 1964 concert recording Live at the Regal. It offered sheer entertainment from the blues legend-to-be, though measurably grittier stuff, tackling a sackful of woe but triggering a catharsis ostensibly felt by artist and audience alike. Lee, who was first captivated by the live set at a community yard party where it was spinning on the turntable, declares “it was just electric—all the stars were in line that evening
and they captured it.” Live sets don’t get any more memorable than the pair of short ones by Otis Redding and The Jimi Hendrix Experience which comprise Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival. “It was the 1967 ‘comingout’ performance for both to mainstream fans,” notes Lee, who adds, “Like a lot of people, I didn’t find Otis Redding until after he died.” (A plane crash claimed Redding’s life in September of ’67.) Before his death in 1970, the inestimably influential Hendrix would potently join forces with drummer and vocalist Buddy Miles, who blew Lee’s mind with a 13-minute live Neil Young cover. “I was in a car with some friends late one night laughing and having fun and the old WKDF, 103 FM, played “Down By the River” by Buddy Miles. I’ll never forget it—gospel, soul, rock, jazz, all simultaneously rolled into one remarkable performance.” A signature development just outside the archway to the 1970s was the increasing crossing of musical bloodlines heard in multi-cultural, often integrated groups such as War, Santana and Rare Earth. Santana, led by Mexican-born guitarist Carlos Santana, was a racially mixed band adding percussion (and later, horns) to a rock core seasoned by Santana’s fiery lead guitar work. Released months after the San Francisco band’s heralded 1969 Woodstock set, the breakthrough album Abraxas perfected an inventive hybrid spanning hard rock, jazz, Latin and blues elements. The band’s stylistic breadth was evident from its early ’70s hits alone: the lithe blues-rocker “Black Magic Woman,” the Cuban-originating “Oye Como Va” and the frenetic, horn-laden Africanesque workout “Everybody’s Everything,” featuring the crack horn section from Tower of Power, another racially integrated band worthy of note as a driving early force for unadulterated, progressive soul music. Rare Earth, which inaugurated Motown Records’ spin-off label (also called Rare Earth), first strode to success in 1970 with its reworking of The Temptations’ Smokey Robinson-penned 1966 hit “Get Ready.” The band, whose blue-eyed pop-rock germinated in rich soil fortified by R&B influences, became a fixture on and around Bel-Aire Drive with the album Lee says everyone seemed to own: Rare Earth In Concert, featuring spirited, extended performances of the edited-for-radio “Get Ready”
and another high-charting Temptations cover,”(I Know) I’m Losing You.” Also from California came War, whose run of popular singles established them primarily as an simple, upbeat outfit. A closer listen reveals considerably more dimension: the reggae-flecked “Why Can’t We Be Friends” houses witty lyrics that play ironically off the song’s title, while the sharply drawn declaration “The World Is a Ghetto” travels wistfully along urban landscapes before landing with an inspirational takeaway about the power of love. War’s stirring “Slippin’ Into Darkness,” a minor-key affair equal parts mournful and menacing, contrasts starkly with its album’s title cut, “All Day Music”— a carefree slice of Latinesque soul championing the music-filled fun Lee remembers experiencing even amidst the turbulence of the times. Towering atop Lee’s list is a most justifiable choice for the top slot: Sly and the Family Stone’s Greatest Hits album, one Lee owned “in every format—LP, cassette, 8-track and reel-to-reel.” Now available in an expanded CD version titled Anthology, the collection in either form is a marvel of stylistic integration and diversity. “Sly in his healthier days had everything: soul, R&B, funk, pop,” Lee says. Stone later developed an insatiable appetite for addictive substances, growing embittered and unreliable, but not before churning out still-potent perennials like “Hot Fun in the Summertime” and the affirming, anthemic “Everyday People.” Sly’s output provided seeds for an inestimable crop of rulebreakers and line-crossers to come, Prince being primary among those spreading the Family Stone’s genreresistant gene into the 21st century. Lee did his part in paying it forward by gifting a copy of Greatest Hits to his oldest daughter when she turned 18. As the director of operations for Roots Radio 89.5, Lee carries his passion for musical diversity into a different cross-section of styles, but one comparable to the mixture heard on Bel-Aire Drive. Pointing to WMOT’s unusually open-ended programming, Lee notes that the station’s format “embraces that joy and fellowship” and hopes that, “through the power of music, we can all enjoy our own Bel-Aire Drive right where we are, wherever we are.” In a sense, he’s paraphrasing Sly Stone, promoting a late-20th century ideal: different strokes for different folks, indeed. BOROPULSE.COM
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Sounds
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Crying Cat NEWEST ADDITION TO LOCAL RETAIL MEDIA SHOPS
JAKE LEG STOMPERS
2021 Record Store Day RECORD DROP HAPPENS SATURDAY, JUNE 12 BY DELORES ELLIOTT THIS YEAR, a modified Record Store Day (generally held each April) will take place on Saturday, June 12. With the pandemic still causing adjustments to gatherings and events, the first record drop will happen on this day, with a second following on July 17. “I think the idea is to spread them out enough to make it easier for smaller businesses like ours to be able to financially plan for the large amounts of inventory that small record stores will be purchasing,” said Kelly Jones, one of the owners at Century 21 Music and More. CENTURY 21 MUSIC & MORE will space their special releases out to prevent large crowds from forming. During the event last year, the business was unable to have customers inside the building, so they are considerably more excited for the event this year. “We would love nothing more than to have big events like in years past, but with COVID still in the picture, our events this year will be a scaled back (but still fun!) version of our normal RSD events,” Jones said. She noted that the majority of the event will depend on the weather on both days.
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They plan to host a few local artists whose items are sold in the store, most likely outside. They also plan to have live music and some small one- or two-person acts featured to entertain shoppers, and may set up a lot of their items outside as if for a sidewalk sale. They plan to also set out some of their rare items for sale. “Like a lot of businesses, COVID hit smaller music stores like ours really hard. We are so grateful for the community support we received (and still receive) that has allowed us to stay in business. We are so happy this year that we will get to see our customers back in the store, shopping for their favorite releases,” Jones said. Jones also said that aside from “RSD official” releases put out in June, special items that are considered independent record store exclusives are available all year, such as special colored vinyl releases only available at independent brick-and-mortar stores. Century 21 Music and More is located at 125 Lasseter Dr. THE GREAT ESCAPE: MURFREESBORO will open two hours early for Record Store Day festivities, which
means that they will open at 10 a.m. on June 12 for the first day of Record Store Day drops. The store will close at 7 p.m. that day. The Great Escape will feature special and limited-edition releases only available for purchase in person. Consumers can find these releases only at independent record stores, not online, by phone order or through “big-box” stores. These exclusive releases usually sell out fast, according to The Great Escape coowner Rob Baker, so it is recommended that shoppers arrive early. The Record Store Day releases are offered on a first-come, firstserve basis. The Great Escape will also give away up to five free records from their $0.99 LP section on Saturday, June 12, with no purchase necessary to receive these special free records. The business will also give away free tote-bags, buttons and other giveaway items while supplies last. At 2 p.m. at the Murfreesboro location, 810 NW Broad St., #202, The Great Escape will host a performance by the Murfreesboro’s own Jake-Leg Stompers. Store hours and giveaways apply to The Great Escape’s other locations in Nashville, Madison, Bowling Green and Louisville, and those stores will also host some live music on June 12. The Great Escape is Located at 810 NW Broad St., #202, Murfreesboro. Again, Record Store Day this year will take place on June 12, with a second drop on July 17.
CRYING CAT BOOKS AND RECORDS, which opened in April on Maney Avenue, just a few blocks off of the Murfreesboro Public Square, dedicates many of its rooms to its wide variety of books but has a great selection of records to peruse as well. The business adds new stuff daily, to keep customers coming back regularly to see what is in. A music or book lover could spend a long, long time in the shop, which also carries some vintage toys, candles, DVDs, skincare products, local art and various other treasures. “Be honest: what activity isn’t improved by listening to an awesome vinyl record?” cryingcatbooks.com asks. The store, owned and operated by longtime Go U.S.A. manager Terri DeLong, prides itself on an eclectic record collection with a selection of new and used vinyl from every genre. “Whether you’re looking for something to jam out to while you wash the dishes or to soothe you to sleep, we’ve got you covered!” according to DeLong. Stop in and snoop around and see what Crying Cat, which aims to be a part of the Murfreesboro creative community, is all about.
If You Go Crying Cat Books and Records 504 N. Maney Ave., Murfreesboro 629-207- 3931 Open Tues.–Sat. noon–7 p.m. cryingcatbooks.com — BRACKEN MAYO
RECORD SHOPS OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
WILLIAMSON COUNTY RECORD STORES SPOTLIGHT
CENTURY 21 MUSIC & MORE 125 Lasseter Dr., Murfreesboro CRYING CAT BOOKS AND RECORDS 504 N. Maney Ave., Murfreesboro THE GREAT ESCAPE 810 NW Broad St., #202, Murfreesboro
Carpe Diem
Rutherford Co.
Williamson Co.
CARPE DIEM 212 S. Margin St., Franklin LUNA RECORD SHOP 230 Franklin Rd., #12D, Franklin SPINNERS RECORD STORE 2001 Campbell Station Pkwy., A3, Spring Hill
Davidson Co.
ALISON’S RECORD SHOP 994A Davidson Dr., Nashville DISK GO JOE’S 211A N. Main St., Goodlettsville GRIMEY’S NEW & PRELOVED MUSIC 1060 E. Trinity Ln., Nashville HALF PRICE BOOKS 21 White Bridge Pk., Nashville McKAY’S 636 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville PHONOLUXE 2609 Nolensville Pk., Nashville THE GREAT ESCAPE 5400 Charlotte Ave., Nashville THE GREAT ESCAPE 105 Gallatin Pk. N., Madison THE GROOVE 1103 Calvin Ave., Nashville THIRD MAN RECORDS 623 7th Ave. S., Nashville VINYL TAP 2038 Greenwood Ave., Nashville
Maury Co.
VARIETY RECORDS 24 Public Square, Columbia
Sumner Co.
TOWNE SQUARE RECORDS 124 N. Water Ave., Gallatin JTB’S GROOVY RECORD ROOM 3712 TN-76, Cottontown ELEVATOR VINYL 115 Sanders Ferry Rd., Hendersonville
Cheatham Co.
VIV & DICKEY’S 1262 Jackson Felts Rd., Joelton
Dickson Co.
ZACK’S MUSIC SHOP 126 N. Main St., Dickson
Montgomery Co.
ODDBALL MEDIA 3863 Trenton Rd., Clarksville
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BY STEVE MORLEY
212 S. Margin St, Franklin • 615-429-0157 Hours: Tues.–Sat. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (Hours may vary; call to confirm) • carpediem212.com Records. Junk. Family. That curious verbal trinity will greet you on the website for Carpe Diem, a used record shop with a funky junk-store vibe, located just a few blocks off the Franklin Public Square. Modest in size but loaded with a patchwork quilt of inventory, Carpe Diem offers old comics, vintage postcards, Grandpaera knick-knacks, used camera and stereo gear, leather jackets and assorted one-offs among the few thousand vintage LPs in racks lining both sides of the shop’s wooden-floored area. The vinyl is especially well categorized, with country, jazz, bluegrass, soul/funk, comedy/spoken word, soundtracks (separated by decade), kids’ records and miscellaneous male and female vocal albums complementing the meatier selection of pop and rock music spanning the classic-rock period and beyond. Humorous divider tabs, some with wordplay bearing references aimed at the more music-savvy shopper (the multidecade mashup “Kings of Leon Russell,” for example) provide some chuckles as you flip through. Hard-to-find collectible and specialty titles might go for $20-and-up, while many titles are priced at $10 and below. Some can be had for $5 or less. Condition varies; if you like some authentic analog crackle and pop with your vinyl, you can find platters that include these at no extra cost. (That’s a joke, son.) Just next door and under the same ownership is live music venue Kimbro’s Pickin’ Parlor, offering a full bar, local bands, blues jams and songwriter nights. Time your visit just right and follow it with some food, libations and live music once the record store closes. In operation since June 2005, Carpe Diem is the first record shop to have opened in the Franklin area—and a serious contender for the most unique.
Luna Record Shop
230 Franklin Rd #12d, Franklin • 615-806-9435 Hours: Mon.–Sat. Noon–5 p.m. • lunarecordshop.com Take into account that Franklin’s Luna Record Shop owes its name to a Smashing Pumpkins song title, and you’re at least halfway to understanding why the modest-sized but mighty retailer claims the largest selection of used ’80s and ’90s alt-rock and indie rock in its area. Used vinyl rules the roost, proportionately, but make no mistake, Luna’s co-owners (who happen to be sisters) stay on top of and stock new releases. Pre-orders can be made online at their website for those who want to be ready to catch a new disc before it drops. But as with any vinyl vendor worth their salt, there’s a blast to be had in the browsing. Luna is compact and neat, tucked into a space near the rear entrance of The Factory at Franklin, itself a vibey venue updating a piece of local industrial history into an unique, upscale shopping haven. If the inventory of used music isn’t the largest you’ll find, it’s certainly not skimpy, and it’s particularly well curated, featuring rare ’60s pop and psych, ’70s prog-rock, miscellaneous sub-genre hyphenates and other less commonly found titles likely to raise a collector’s eyebrow.
Pricing is relative to rarity, though many pieces are available in the roughly $10 range. Mixed classic rock and pop takes up the most bins-per-genre, joined in smaller measure by funk/soul, jazz, country, punk, metal, hip-hop and soundtracks. All vinyl is pre-graded for condition, and all used inventory is cleaned with the high-end VPI 16.5 record cleaner. The remainder of the space contains CDs and tapes, music-related gift items and stylish, branded Luna tees for faithful Luna-tics. While daily hours are a bit limited, on Mondays they’re the only record game in town.
Spinners Record Store
2001 Campbell Station Pkwy., a3, Spring Hill 615-614-1771 • Hours: Wed.–Sun. Noon–7 p.m. spinnersspringhill.com Hard rock and heavy metal rule at Spinners, though the colorful front-window paintings symbolize the wide variety of musical styles found inside. At about two years old, Spinners is the newest of Williamson County’s three independently owned record shops. It’s also the largest, the kind of place a music-head can easily browse in for a couple of hours. A retro-style lounging area, slathered with classic-rock posters and vintage LP sleeves, greets customers upon entering. While usually cluttered, it’s nonetheless inviting, with newly acquired used records, books, maybe some stickers or promotional items or who-knows-what gathered around the vinylcovered chairs, awaiting curious fingers and eyes. The largest share of the several large racks are designated for used “pop” and “rock,” respectively, and are thoughtfully organized despite the unavoidable gray areas (such as Kinks albums in both sections, or perhaps Bob Marley loosely occupying “rock” . . . so look in both sections). You’ll also find a hefty metal section and modest-sized racks of jazz, country and peripherals like TV and movie soundtracks as well as dollar bins (well, mostly boxes on the floor). These onebuckers are often in buyer-beware condition, but they’re a delight for dedicated diggers, sometimes bearing cheap hidden treasure. Big spenders looking for rare records may find a long-sought gem along walls lined with titles priced in double and triple figures. Median prices are in line with today’s elevated value for vinyl. True to its name, Spinners specializes in records, including a smattering of new vinyl. But you might spend your first 45 minutes just checking out T-shirts, buttons, CDs, stereo gear and music-related second-hand books and magazines, some of which are ’60s and ’70s collectibles. BOROPULSE.COM
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Sounds
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What Goes Around, Comes Around
Murfreesboro music man and mechanical medic repairs vintage audio devices BY STEVE MORLEY THE SEASONS OF LIFE GO AROUND and around, not unlike a record spinning on a platter. Unlike that proverbial record player, though, life itself is known for shifting its speed without notice. An actual turntable, when correctly calibrated, will rotate at a constant 331/3 revolutions per minute. No more, no less. Such constancy is especially welcome in the midst of extended unpredictability like the kind that descended in March of 2020. As was surely the case for many, the pandemic’s winds of change momentarily threatened to topple Tom Blizzard, a Murfreesboro transplant by way of Mobile, Alabama. Under the business moniker Turntable Medic, Blizzard currently repairs record players and a variety of electronics. The Medic can calibrate your platter to spin at precisely the correct speed, if that’s what it needs. But the story of the revolutions per minute that brought him to this particular endeavor is
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quite a long-player in itself. A versatile fellow, Blizzard is at heart a creative soul and a performer with deep roots in music. It’s what brought him from the Gulf Coast to Middle Tennessee in 2015, when he
and wife Aubrey followed a couple of his band members who were relocating to the Music City. For Blizzard, Murfreesboro was “a great spot. It was just close enough to Nashville, but retained some of the ‘community’ feeling I had been used to.” In Mobile, Blizzard had served stints as a home health aide and an apprentice welder in a shipyard, studied watchmaking, repaired hearing aids under a microscope, fixed engines, and even serviced computers and networks. Possessing an entrepreneurial bent in addition to a natural mechanical aptitude, he ran a business programming custom software solutions and also owned a small computer hardware company. All the above followed a short but notable “detour” in the Air Force Space Command in the early 1990s, working on satellites and helping with a shuttle launch before concluding that military life wasn’t a cozy fit for his artistic side. (One additional encounter with the aerospace world did take place in a later career incarnation as a professional photographer, when he did a photo shoot with Moonwalking astronaut Buzz Aldrin.) Blizzard, who spent his adolescence singing
in church and barbershop quartets while also learning to play trumpet, baritone and French horn, would gradually resume his musical orbit. In 1999, Blizzard and a friend opened GroundZero Cards–Comics–Games in Mobile. Soon he found himself booking young local bands and occasional bigger-name acts into the store. The comic shop’s weekend shows broke even, but the experience nudged Blizzard back into a longstanding passion. “[The shop] was a gathering spot and we had a lot of space, so I was able to open a music venue in the back,” explains Blizzard, who at the time was performing with a regionally popular rockabilly and old-school country act. “That’s when music really kicked in again for me,” he says. “Since then, I have kept music a part of my life and tried to make it a part of everyone else’s!” After having settled into Murfreesboro, Blizzard had been operating a photography business while singing and acting on the side. He was content enough until pandemic conditions emerged in early 2020, causing a drastic shift in revolutions per minute. “It wasn’t until the lockdown,” he says, “that I realized [my means of making a living] weren’t coming back anytime soon and I needed to turn to something else.” His nearly year-old Turntable Medic business, he says, “grew out of an obsession with tube electronics. I was collecting tube radios and repairing them. At some point I got an old console [record player] and repaired it. I posted it for sale and was immediately overwhelmed with responses,” says Blizzard, who quickly realized there was a strong demand for vintage audio gear and, by extension, repair service. Blizzard’s Turntable Medic venture is flourishing, with drop-off/pick-up locations at independent record stores in Franklin, Spring Hill and Columbia as well as the regional granddaddy of the groove, Grimey’s
in Nashville. Working from his Murfreesboro home, he offers personal area pick-up and does house calls for customers with furniture-sized units. Often, he says, these items are treasured family heirlooms that retain considerable sentimental value. Blizzard offers one particularly poignant example of a console repair for a customer whose parents had been the original owners. “It was one of the first pieces of furniture they had purchased in 1960 to furnish their home,” he begins. “The customer’s father had passed away and they were downsizing his mother’s belongings for a new living situation.” Fearing the non-working console’s disposal, his customer’s mother shed tears. When she later saw a video of the restored player in operation, she wept again, he was told—“this time with tears of relief. People really get attached,” he says, “to the things that bring them joy.” Blizzard’s own first audio infatuation was the mid-century Magnavox Astrosonic console his parents had—and his mom still has, he reports. “That may be why I work on consoles now. I’m about the only guy around here doing it, but they have such a great sound, and owning a classic console, or vintage turntable or stereo, is like owning a classic car,” Blizzard rhapsodizes. “Once they are serviced, they do their job very well and with a lot of style!”
Occupying a rewarding niche as the Turntable Medic, Blizzard was riding a groove into 2021 until another jarring disruption took place in his revolutions per minute—his wife, Aubrey, was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. The reasons it bears mentioning here are twofold: first, the Blizzards want to express their gratitude to area citizens as well as others who generously responded to an online fundraiser and a locally managed meal delivery schedule as Aubrey’s recent April surgery date approached. Secondly, her convalescence and continuing need for treatment have necessarily slowed Blizzard’s repair turnaround time, which is typically quite efficient, relative to the severity of the repair. (For opportunities to help with meals or medical expenses, go to turntablemedic.com/cancer-sucks.) Handling business as effectively as possible while tending to his wife, Blizzard sometimes finds respite from the whirlwind by spinning one of his well-worn vinyl LPs. When the speed of life suddenly changes, recalibration is required. But as Turntable Medic and his customers both know, the constant RPM rate of a long-playing disc as it therapeutically revolves—331/3—is perhaps the nicest, and roundest, number of all. For more on the Turntable Medic, visit turntablemedic.com.
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Twelve-inch album by The Perry County Music Makers from West Tennessee, released by Clarksville based Davis Unlimited in 1974.
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A square dance recording by the Rhythm Outlaws Band with caller Billy Lewis. Small regional labels throughout the country released square dance records like this in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Many came with a sheet of calls in the record sleeve. Ten-inch shellac disc by Handy’s Memphis Blues Band released in 1922.
RECORDING
HISTORY IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to imagine a time when pre-recorded music was not available, not part of our everyday lives and sonic environment. More and more people today get their music via streaming platforms, internet radio and other ephemeral sources, but those of us over a certain age remember growing up with physical music formats with fondness and nostalgia. In recent years there’s been a rebirth of enthusiasm for vinyl and even some older tape formats, as many younger people have recognized that, despite the conveniences of streaming music, there’s still something missing: the artwork, the object itself, the simple ritual of placing the physical disc on the turntable. The Center for Popular Music at MTSU, part of the College of Media and Entertainment, is one of the nation’s largest research archives of materials related to American popular music—the collection ranges from the 18th century to the present, covering every folk and commercial genre imaginable. Along with music books, sheet music, photographs, manuscripts and the like, sound recordings naturally make up a huge portion of the Center’s archival holdings, roughly 300,000 recordings in all. This audio collection covers every format since the beginning, including all of the popular ones that were available to consumers, some that didn’t really catch on, and
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MTSU’s Center for Popular Music archives thousands of audio artifacts from the beginning of recorded sound BY DR. GREG REISH
others only used by the music and radio industries. The archive also houses many examples of what’s referred to as “manuscript audio,” an oxymoronic term that means an original and one-of-a-kind recording usually made by an interviewer, field researcher or amateur musician. Although there were some earlier experiments and breakthroughs, the invention of the phonograph sound recording machine is generally credited to Thomas Edison in 1877. Edison devised a way to capture the sound waves transmitted through the air, recording their vibrations onto cylinders wrapped in wax-covered paper or thin sheets of tinfoil. The recording and playback technology was entirely mechanical and acoustic, using no electricity. Edison brought this technology to consumers starting in the late 1880s, originally marketing the phonograph for use as an office dictation machine. Soon he and others realized its potential for music and spoken-word entertainment. The
cylinders began to be made of more durable compounds but the misnomer “wax cylinder” had stuck. Cylinders continued to be a viable commercial format well into the 1920s. Around 1890 a German-born American inventor named Emile Berliner introduced a competing format, the flat platter disc, along with a new machine that he called by the brand name Gramophone. Although his first offerings were made of hard rubber, these discs evolved into what are generally called “seventy-eights,” 10-inch discs made of shellac that turn at a speed of 78 RPM (revolutions per minute). Shellac discs are relatively heavy and durable, but also brittle. They won’t warp, but if you drop one it will definitely break! They are also limited to roughly three minutes per side, so they were sold as singles (one song per side). In the 1930s record companies began to sell some 78s in box sets called “albums,” with multiple discs in
Ernest V. Stoneman’s 1926 recording of “The Sinking of the Titanic” on Edison Records Blue Amberol cylinder.
sleeves that the consumer would flip through. Some albums were devoted to big-name artists, while others were put together thematically (for example, “Cowboy Songs” or “Swinging Dance Music”). Album sets were also well-suited to longer classical or musical theater works. In addition, consumers could purchase empty albums to fill with their favorite discs, an early version of the playlist. In the mid-1920s electrical recording technology began to replace the older acoustic recordings. Although cylinders and 78s were still the dominant formats, the sound quality of the recordings themselves improved as recording engineers began using microphones to capture sound, yielding a wider dynamic range. Performance styles began to change, with softer-voiced “crooners” like Bing Crosby able to take advantage of the technology by singing into a mic at close proximity. Vinyl discs came onto the scene in the late 1940s, both as 7-inch 45 RPM singles and as 12-inch 331/3 LPs (“Long Playing”). The combination of a larger disc, a slower turntable speed and material that allowed more grooves per inch meant that LPs were able to get 15 or 20 minutes of music on each side; five or six songs instead of one. Since LPs collected multiple songs on one disc, they were still called “albums” even though the word was now used figuratively. Magnetic tape for sound recording appeared around the same time, in the immediate post-World War II years. Tape began to be used by the recording industry, opening the door to multi-track and overdubbing techniques in the studio. Soon various tape formats were marketed to consumers, as well. Many were on 5-, 7- or 10-inch open reels, but others were housed in cartridges to make their use easier. Though a viable consumer format, tape did not catch on in a big way until the more convenient 8-tracks and cassettes were introduced in the 1960s. Digital recordings and the CD (compact disc) format were the innovations of the 1980s. A completely new kind of recording and playback
technology that converted continuous sound waves into binary digital information, digital recording offered even greater dynamic range, virtually no extraneous noise and the convenience of more than 70 minutes of music on one durable 5-inch disc. The Center for Popular Music holds thousands of recordings in each of these formats, and many more oddball or industry formats that most listeners have never seen. To give but one example, the Center’s collection includes roughly 2,500 large format 16-inch radio “transcription” discs, vinyl records that spin at 331/3 RPM and were in use by the radio industry more than a decade before 12-inch vinyl LPs hit the market. It seems clear that music streaming is here to stay, as most consumers value convenience and practically endless op-
tions, but the recent resurgence of interest in vinyl and even cassettes has made the music industry sit up and take notice. For a devoted segment of the music consumer marketplace, there will always be a demand to hold those beloved objects in their hands, and to have the gratifying pleasure of dropping the needle. Dr. Greg Reish is a professor of music history at MTSU and the director of the Center for Popular Music. He’s contributed to The Grove Dictionary of American Music and the Oxford Handbook of Country Music. For more on the Center for Popular Music, call 615-898-2449 or pay it a visit between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday—Friday in the MTSU Bragg Media and Entertainment Building.
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Reviews
ALBUM
MOVIE
THUNDERFROG Bring It Back
For almost a decade, Murfreesboro-area’s civic-minded artist/wall influencer Ryan Frizzell, a.k.a. The Rhinovirus, has canvassed (and dressed) a plethora of formerly drab local establishments around Murfreesboro proper (usually along with powermuralist-partner-not-in-crime Meagan Armes). The Rhinovirus’ permitted street graffiti murals incorporate stenciling, pasting and sharply sprayed Rhinovirus or pop-culture characters over cityscapes and pop-psychedelia motifs, aesthetic pleasantries that continue to steadily pop up in our paths. Seamlessly swapping artsy “a.k.a.’s” however, Frizzell lets The Rhinovirus walls dry while he picks up his axe to become frontman of rock trio Thunderfrog, who in October 2020 released the lo-fi, six-song, indie-produced and released Bring it Back, recorded live at Shelbyville’s Bring It Back Games. He kept Armes around for the musical endeavor. Thunderfrog—Frizzell on lead vocals and guitar, Meagan Armes metal-punk thumping the bass and John Miller holding down drums and backing vocals— blasts sounds reminiscent of the two thousand aught’s after-school, MTV rock scene. Frizzell nails an A. Jay Popoff (of Lit) vocal style on the original tune “Live Wire,” driving its Baby, I’m your man dive-bar blues lyrics to a Lit-ish, alt-rock, pop-punk jam. The trio tosses in a couple of covers on the release with Weezer’s “The World Has Turned (And Left Me Here),” Frizzell adding a hint of Pee Wee Herman to the Popoff vocality during stressed notes, but not during a near-perfect replication of Rivers’ solo from the original Weezer version; and Green Day’s “Coming Clean” explodes out of the gate, where Miller shows off his timely Tre Cool chops. Thunderfrog’s roadhouse romance “Clementine” sounds like an ’80s Van Halen punk-fuzzed a Southern highway blues number with Frizzell’s growling vocals. I can imagine it blasting from distant open garage doors late at night. Frizzell seems outside of his body, having a ball playing “How Was I to Know,” containing proper usage of the floor tom, a nicely placed Tom Morello-esque guitar solo and solid outro. Armes’ bass’ metal-punk duality paired with Frizzell’s grunge guitar and finding his own voice make the arena metal, punch-rock, fight anthem original “Batefoot” a locally tapped source of adrenaline nary harvested since Ghostfinger’s “Love My Head.” The release is truly Thunderfrog rocking a game and toy shop. Thunderfrog’s Bring It Back (Live EP) can be found on Bandcamp at thunderfrog.bandcamp.com, where they’re “playing on the slickest of Tennessee twang for a 2-piece ’n’ a biscuit that you’ve ever heard!” — BRYCE HARMON 24 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD DIRECTOR Taylor Sheridan STARRING Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Hoult, Finn Little RATED R
The clumsily titled Those Who Wish Me Dead feels like a place-filler in HBO’s deal with Warner Bros. to release a movie a month on its streaming service and in theaters simultaneously. Despite starring Jolie, featuring a supporting cast of ubiquitous faces, and being directed and co-written by a once-promising name, the thriller set against a raging wildfire left this reviewer feeling lukewarm. Jolie stars as Hannah, a smoke-jumper who suffered a traumatic experience fighting a wildfire, leaving her slightly suicidal and severely sullen. While stationed at a fire watchtower, Hannah encounters a lone boy wandering the woods (Finn Little as Connor) and soon becomes embroiled in a MacGuffin conspiracy uncovered by the boy’s father resulting in them both being the targets of two professional assassins (Hoult and Game of Throne’s Aidan Gillen). Throw in Medina Senghore as a pregnant survivalist instructor and Jon Bernthal as her cop husband, and you have all the ingredients of a Cliffhanger-esque survival thriller that swaps snowy mountains for the flaming wilds of Montana. What we get instead is film that is neither excellent nor terrible, neither exciting nor boring. It just . . . is. It’s the flavorless rice-cakes of film. Hannah being a smoke-jumper never comes into play
plot-wise. The wildfire the poster promises is only a threat in the final 20 minutes. The conspiracy (i.e. what’s at stake) that Connor’s father uncovers is never revealed (I know, it’s a MacGuffin, but still). The most fleshed-out relationship is between the two assassins, yet it’s unclear whether they’re brothers, work partners, more? It’s hard to describe how a movie can be this not bad/ not good. Often, the word used is “forgettable” but how do you forget something that can’t leave an impression in the first place? There is but one good scene in the movie where Hannah and Connor are trading traumas over a campfire at night, a single moment of levity born of pain that, like an ember, threatens to set the rest of the film alight in a conflagration of charm and adventure but instead safely fizzles out. Threat averted. According to IMDB, Taylor Sheridan was brought in to do rewrites but ended up taking over directing duties when the previous director dropped out. Having written Sicario, Hell or High Water and Wind River, Sheridan had the neo-Western writing bona fides. But, Those Who Wish Me Dead makes one wonder whether Sheridan’s work shines best through the lens of a director other than himself. Wind River, Sheridan’s second feature and first time directing his own script, felt like Fincher-lite. Now, with TWWMD, his direction feels like the anonymous work of someone filming a Ford truck commercial, empty calories with an undercurrent of Americana machismo. Though some blame might be placed on the source material—the movie is based on a book by author Michael Koryta, who co-wrote the script—Sheridan’s bland take on an already boilerplate thriller could be a sign that his rising star might be flaming out. — JAY SPIGHT
Art
BOOK
Z’s Comic Lair Has Exclusive Dolly Parton Comic TIDALWAVE COMICS HAS ISSUED A NEW VARIANT COVER for a Dolly Parton comic book especially for Murfreesboro comic book retailer Z’s Comic Lair. The book on Dolly Parton is the newest comic book biography in TidalWave’s popular Female Force series focused on women who make an impact around the world, and Z’s, the exclusive retailer for one of the special editions, has already shipped these variants all over the world. Marvel Comics artist Yonami drew the new 26 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
cover for the book available now exclusively at Z’s Comic Lair. Female Force: Dolly Parton, a 22-page comic written by Michael Frizell with art by Ramon Salas, is available both digitally and in print with a variety of alternate covers. The woman famous for proclaiming “It costs a lot of money to look this cheap,” has proven to be a powerhouse singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman and philanthropist. The ascent of country music superstar Dolly Parton from modest
means to the most honored female country performer of all-time is empowering and inspirational for many. “We are excited to work with retailers in the home state of Dolly!” TidalWave publisher Darren Davis said. “We have created variants of this book with five other Tennessee shops in the last couple months. Helping out small businesses during this time by doing a special variant is a bonus.” Patrick Zambrano, owner of Z’s Comic Lair, added that “The comic book has been so much fun to promote and sell in our store! It has been a blast meeting and talking to her fans across the country.” The Female Force imprint features prominent and influential authors, business executives, entertainers, journalists, politicians and activists. The latest biography comic book joins TidalWave’s ever-growing library
of more than 200 comic book biographies. Previous titles have profiled Mother Teresa, Betty White, Michelle Obama, Barbra Streisand and Gloria Steinem. To order Female Force: Dolly Parton, contact Z’s Comic Lair, 2108 Medical Center Pkwy., Suite E, Murfreesboro, 615-624-7676. TidalWave Comics’ catalog of titles can also be downloaded digitally from Kindle, iTunes, EPIC!, ComiXology, DriveThru Comics and other electronic retailers. TidalWave is a multimedia production company with the mission of delivering dynamic storytelling by developing graphic and literary fiction and nonfiction, audio, film, groundbreaking art and more. For more information about the company, visit tidalwavecomics.com.
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Murfreesboro City Hall Rotunda Displays Art from St. Clair Street Senior Center MURFREESBORO CULTURAL Arts team invites the public to the spring City Hall Rotunda exhibit featuring works by artists from St. Clair Street Senior Center through June 24. Exhibit hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and admission is free. “We are so proud of the seniors here at St. Clair. The artists have kept their minds and hands busy painting and creating during this last year,” said Kathy Herod, program coordinator at St. Clair Street Senior Center. “We are excited to show off the talents of our seniors.” A virtual tour will be broadcast June 11 on the City TV YouTube channel as well as on the Cultural Arts Facebook page (@culturalartsmurfreesboro). Since 1980, the St. Clair Street Senior Center has helped seniors live an active and independent lifestyle that includes immersion in the fine arts. For more information about the St. Clair Street Senior Center exhibit, contact Lisa Browning, Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation program coordinator at 615-801-2467 or lbrowning@murfreesborotn.gov.
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Food
RESTAURANT
Dip the Taco at Murfreesboro’s
Mexico Tipico
The Dish RESTAURANT:
Mexico Tipico LOCATION:
2021 S. Church St. PHONE:
629-201-5074 HOURS: Daily,
8 a.m.–10 p.m.
PRICES:
Sope: $2.50; Mulita: $2.50; Birria quesa tacos (3): $10.99; Albondigas: $10.99; Birria de Res: $10.99; Burrito: $7.50; Chilaquiles: $10.99; Torta: $6.99
STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO
H
have you tried birria quesa tacos? Ever heard of them? Behold these delicious, juicy creations, like a meaty Mexican French dip sandwich of sorts, flavorful and cheesy. Try three of these tacos, served with some lime, extra cilantro and onion and a large cup of beefy broth juice (also known as consomé . . . or consume, or consommé), for $10.99 at Mexico Tipico, located on Murfreesboro’s Church Street near I-24. These birria quesa tacos, which include shredded beef, cheese, onion and cilantro stuffed into double red tortilla shells and toasted on the griddle, offer a comforting, meaty and moist pot-roast-sandwich kind 28 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO of bite to them. Birria quesa is a good thing. One recent Mexico Tipico diner Rachel called them “marvelously delicious” and said “everything was phenomenal and packed with flavor,” at the restaurant, but that “The birria tacos were absolutely the star of the show. Crispy, cheesy, seasoned to perfection . . . The sopes were good too, but different level with the tacos!” The birria quesa tacos have a fine flavor on their own, but some choose to spice the Mexico Tipico dish up a little. Both of the sauces, green and red, possess some spice. A little pineapple agua fresca or horchata could then cool down diners at the estab-
lishment. Mexico Tipico also serves tasty little mulitas, meats and cheese served toastedsandwich-style between two street tacosized tortillas. A few of the mulitas, available at $2.50 apiece, could make a filling meal. Try these, and other items with chorizo, carnitas, pastor, pollo (chicken), pescado (fish), asada (steak), lengua (tongue) or tripa (intestine). In addition to chimichangas, burritos, quesadillas, sopes, tortas and taco salads, find a meatball soup called albondigas, as well as mole and Jalisco-style enchiladas at Mexico Tipico, located in the restaurant space next to the Regal Inn on Church Street. “I had the menudo, ceviche tostada and a lengua taco to try a variety. All were excellent . . . very good,” another recent customer, Billy, said. “This restaurant serves authentic Mexican food instead of the typical Tex-Mex.” “Huge portions and tasty!” another Mexico Tipico diner reported after having a chimichanga.
The restaurant opens everyday for breakfast, with huevos, breakfast burritos and chilaquiles. In fact, the spot is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day of the week. So a hungry Murfreesboro diner never has to worry about the restaurant being closed. Many independent restaurants in town either don’t open for lunch, or are lunch only, or take Saturday, Sunday and/or Monday off, or don’t do breakfast, or have certain days their hours are different, but not Tipico. It is there for you basically three meals a day, seven days a week. The restaurant had very quick service on a recent Wednesday at 6 p.m., the team bringing out tacos, sope and mulitas. Very speedy in that instance. Lambert, a customer from Smyrna, agreed that Tipico offers “good authentic Mexican food.” He found the lengua “very delicious” with very tender pieces of meat and a mild flavor. “Squeeze the lime and choose between the red or green sauce with a pickled carrot.
S T E A K • S E A F O O D • PA S TA • W I N E • W H I S K E Y
Catering Available
HAPPY HOUR MON – THURS 4 PM TO 7 PM SAT 11 AM TO 3 PM 223 West Main Street Murfreesboro 615-203-3498 alleyonmain.com Clockwise from far left: Birria quesa tacos; cheese quesadilla with rice and beans; fish tacos with spicy green sauce; chirozo mulita; pineapple agua fresca; chicken sope
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Amazing!” the customer said. Although the tripa may sound weird to some, the same customer said “The flavor is absolutely amazing! A little saltiness, very good crunch.” Lambert also recommended the michelada, a beer-based drink with tomato juice and spices, somewhat similar to a bloody mary, with “tajin in the rim and a beer of your choice. I usually do Modelo. Good spices. Give it a try!” he said. He put in his own praise for the birria quesa tacos, but added that a downfall he has noticed is that the asada can be inconsistent, sometimes juicy sometimes very dry. Some of the other items get mixed reviews. Another customer, Salina, said that “the birria tacos are very good. Crunchy outside with a meaty inside. The red and green sauce were good too. They had a slight kick to them and were so flavorful. The carnitas really disappointed me though. They were extremely dry.” The fish tacos, made with battered and fried fish, are topped with a sweet sauce
and lots of lettuce and tomato. Pretty good, but other spots in town may have a better mastery of fish tacos. And Bracken Jr. said the queso, while tasty, was a little thin and runny. But with the large selection, most should be able to find a Mexican taste to suit them at Tipico. “One of the best authentic Mexican restaurants in town! I definitely recommend getting some of their street tacos; my favorite meats are lengua, tripa and barbacoa,” Cesar said following a meal. “Don’t be scared to venture out and let your palate have some fun. Also this is one of the only places in Murfreesboro that has birria tacos. Don’t forget to top it off with some horchata!” Those birria quesa tacos continue to earn lots of local fans. “Don’t worry about what to order because I’m gonna tell you. Birria tacos. Rice and beans if you wanna round it out. And a michelada with your choice of brew for those over 21,” another Mexico Tipico patron, Ashton, posted in his Yelp review.
7
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BUSINESS MOMENTUM
BY BLAINE LITTLE
SIGNS, SIGNS EVERYWHERE A SIGN Grafix615 helping brand businesses through custom vinyl graphics Social media can be effective advertising, but every brick-and-mortar business still has to have signs for a customer to find them. According to a survey commissioned by FedEx, 60 percent of prospective customers are deterred from entering a business address without the presence of proper signage. Yet two-thirds of respondents in that same study stated they ultimately purchased from a business because its sign initially caught their eye. Real estate professionals still rely on the yard sign to sell a home. Otherwise, you wouldn’t still see them. Agents understand the importance of the “silent seller” in the front yard. It’s there 24/7 keeping the home listing in the minds of those who may be looking. At just pennies per impression, they are a great investment. But now we see so many rolling billboards on the back window of a Realtor’s car because advertising services are even more economic today. Letter and logos can be placed almost anywhere to help drum up business. One person helping those independent contractors and small businesses is Aaron Walls, proprietor of Grafix615. He purchased the business a couple of years ago from a gentleman in Texas via a Facebook post. He bought the website, all the equipment and several original designs, though he changed the name to reflect a more local feel for Middle Tennessee. Faith and family play a big part in Walls’ 30 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
motivation. Once a local teacher, Walls felt the need to make a transition in his career. When he became a father, he started looking for an opportunity that would provide more security in the long run, so he took a leap of faith. He admits there was a learning curve, but his business has now established a lot of momentum in the Murfreesboro market, providing custom graphics for vehicles along with other signage and branding products. Walls said he has always been fascinated with design and how appealing things are visually. “I’ve always had a good eye for design, but freehand drawing is not something I’ve ever done. I’ve always worked on computers to create,” the Grafix615 owner said. There is a talent in knowing what looks
good and what needs improvement, so he has been able to help several retailers in the area with his expertise. One job was for a local contractor who required 20-inch-tall letters on the sides of trucks. Of course, Walls has also done vinyl on many local storefront windows and smaller jobs as well. Prospecting and marketing are a big portion of any business, and Aaron certainly does his share. The in-person networking has amplified Grafix615. Walls has landed several jobs from being tagged in social media posts by people who know him and
his work. That doesn’t happen if you don’t have a good reputation. Had it not been for that interaction and referrals from others, he never would have seen those posts. In addition to automotive branding, Walls can also place graphics on koozies, ball caps and handbags and make custom T-shirts. They need not be purchased in bulk. A handful or individual product can be produced since he does all his work in his Murfreesboro shop. So whether you need large letters or small promotions, Aaron can get you started and help steer customers your way. Visit grafix615.com and check out his handiwork yourself or call him direct at 615-796-3893 and ask him how he can promote you! Blaine Little is the founder and CEO of Momentum Seminars Training and Coaching, helping companies remain profitable by investing in their people. Learn more at momentumseminars.com. Be sure to get his new book Managerial Mistakes, Missteps & Misunderstandings, available now on Amazon in paperback or Kindle format. Check out the podcast at bit.ly/toastcaster143.
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BUSINESS
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LEARN TO FLY
Murfreesboro Aviation sponsors private pilot’s license for young local aspiring pilot MURFREESBORO AVIATION IS A UNIQUE LOCAL ENTERPRISE and is surrounded by unique stories. One of those stories is that of a 16-year-old Blackman High School student who has always been fascinated by airplanes and aviation in general. Ever since his first Discovery Flight three years ago with Murfreesboro Aviation owner Jim Gardner, he’s been “all in”! Patrick Jordan’s parents fed his hunger for aviation by rewarding his good grades with Discovery Flights. During the summers, they would drop Patrick off at the airport where he educated himself on the world of aviation by memorizing planes, their performance numbers, the different engine types and avionics. Additionally, Patrick’s growing passion for aviation photography became a natural fit for his airborne pursuits. “Patrick is an amazing young man,” Gardner said. “He knows more about flying than most pilots,” he jokingly continued. “He makes us better at what we do because he’s always asking questions and inquiring about every aspect of aviation.” Patrick has logged 10 hours of flight time and needs a total of 40 hours to achieve his goal of getting his Private Pilot License. Jordan said his dream is to be a commercial pilot someday, flying his favorite plane, the 747. Murfreesboro Aviation has decided to sponsor Patrick’s endeavor. Patrick has committed to getting his PPL by his 17th birthday and is tracking his progress on Murfreesboro Aviation social media. “We’re very happy to be sponsoring Patrick. He deserves the support and we’re
confident he will achieve his goal,” Patrick’s flight instructor Ryan Kulaga said. Patrick currently works for Murfreesboro Aviation as its primary weekend manager. His responsibilities include making sure the flight instructors and customers are dispatching the planes on schedule and check in on time. He
interacts directly with customers, moves aircraft, manages ramp activities and ensures the weekend flight activity flows seamlessly. He communicates directly with management for any issues that arise, and is a trusted employee who loves what he does. Follow Patrick’s progress and encourage him as he pursues his PPL at facebook. com/infomurfreesboroaviation/timeline.
AROUND TOWN ’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ
Station Grill, BWW, Wag It Better, Southern Flare Cigar Lounge, Vape and Hookah Shops Sellebrity Co-Working, Petnership BY DELORES ELLIOTT STATION GRILL on Lascassas Pike has announced that it will soon move its restaurant to the former Bunganut Pig location on West Northfield Boulevard. The new Station Grill will be near Deep South Growlers and Five Senses at 1602 W. Northfield Blvd. The old location will not remain open. BUFFALO WILD WINGS’ Murfreesboro location by the Stones River Town Centre has closed due to issues with the lease and landlord, according to comments from former employees. The casual restaurant and sports bar plans to reopen at the former Macaroni Grill location near The Avenue. According to employees, the new restaurant should open in December or early 2022 after renovations to the building have been completed. WAG IT BETTER DOG TRAINING AND BOUTIQUE has opened at 215 Robert Rose Dr. The boutique will host its ribbon cutting ceremony on June 4 at 11 a.m., and will have an open house event on June 6 from 2-4 p.m. Refreshments and tours will be offered during the open house event. Normal hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Wag It Better offers all sorts of products from treats to pearl collars. The business offers harnesses, leashes, toys—stuffed and interactive—gourmet treats, clothes, beds, shampoo and conditioner and training courses. The business also plans to implement a self-service dog wash soon. For more information, visit wagitbetter.com. Murfreesboro parents have a new option for early education and care with the opening of PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF NORTH MURFREESBORO in June. The school is currently enrolling children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. This will be 34 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
the second Primrose School in Murfreesboro and the eighth Primrose School in the greater Nashville area. Local franchise owners Tim and Julie Henry also operate a Primrose School in Spring Hill, which they opened in 2014. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Murfreesboro community and help provide young children with the right foundation for future learning and life,” said Tim Henry, franchise owner of Primrose School of North Murfreesboro. “Our family knows what a struggle it can be to find premier childcare, and we want to give parents the peace of mind that comes from knowing their children are well-cared for and happy.” Children at Primrose Schools benefit from the Primrose Balanced Learning approach, which blends purposeful play with nurturing guidance from teachers to encourage curiosity, creativity, confidence and compassion. The school is actively hiring for teaching and staff positions and will create 40 local jobs once at full capacity, according to the Henrys. Primrose School of North Murfreesboro is located at 2308 Wendelwood Dr., directly behind the Kroger on Memorial Boulevard. For more information about enrollment or job opportunities, visit primrosenorthmurfreesboro.com. THE SALVATION ARMY held a ribbon cutting ceremony in May to celebrate its new programs and services. The Salvation Army has expanded its services to meet the growing needs of families and individuals in our community. Six new staff positions have been added with a goal of permanent housing for people currently living on the streets. Salvation Army’s Supportive Housing is a place for families and individuals in transition to call home. The new Life Navigation (LIFNAV) program provides mentoring for both our Supportive Housing guests and neighbors in our community experiencing, or on the verge of, homelessness. The new LIFNAV outreach specialist visits local encampments twice a week to provide meals, clothes and hygiene items, building relationships and helping others set and achieve smart goals. Additionally, learning pods and resource hubs were developed as a safe space for families to come and receive tutoring, internet access, recreation, food, financial assistance and community. To learn more about local Salvation Army programs and services, visit salvationarmymurfreesboro.org.
PETNERSHIP VETERINARY CARE has opened for business, offering house call vet services for the dogs and cats of Rutherford County. Petnership aims to celebrate, protect and nurture the human-animal bond through compassionate, innovative and collaborative relationship-centered veterinary care. The clinic’s goal is to unite people, their pets and their vets in what can be referred to as a “petnership.” Petnership also focuses on relationship-building in the comfort of the pet’s home, which can be easier than conducting care at a veterinary facility away from home. Petnership’s staff is certified through Fear Free Pets, which is an organization that practices minimizing the fear, anxiety and stress associated with vet visits. Petnership strives to ensure that the pet’s emotional health is not sacrificed for the sake of medical care. “We have a new vision in veterinary medicine, relationship-centered veterinary care that understands what our patients are going through and what our clients are experiencing. Veterinary medicine is no longer a doctor telling clients what to do, it’s a ‘petnership,’ where we decide as a team what is best for the particular pet and family,” said Dr. Sara Covert. Dr. Covert, a graduate of the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, became a part of the Rutherford County community as an associate at Williams Animal Hospital for over 16 years. Murfreesboro loves the hookah, evidently, along with vaping and CBD. Stores keep popping up all over town. Media Rerun closed its doors permanently in February after 18 years in business at 2820 S. Rutherford Blvd. The location has since become a hookah and vape shop called MURFREESBORO TOBACCO AND VAPE.
Just up Rutherford, a new vape and smoke shop has opened at the former location of The Chair Barber Shop on North Rutherford Boulevard. “GOOD DEAL EVERYTHING” a sign proclaims at 225 N. Rutherford Blvd. The Murfreesboro store is the fourth for the business, which has additional locations in East Nashville, West Nashville and Hendersonville.
A new retail business next door to Habibi Hookah Cafe on Middle Tennessee Boulevard offers vape, hemp, hookah, glass and smoke supplies for purchase. A new smoke shop has also opened at the corner of Lokey Avenue and Memorial Boulevard. The smoke shop offers glass, vape, CBD, beer and kratom products. Local couple Calvin Gatlin and Lovely Lancaster are proud to announce the grand opening of SOUTHERN FLARE CIGAR & SOCIAL LOUNGE and SELLEBRITY CO-WORKING SPACE & CAFE. The couple share an interest in leadership and hospitality. Calvin has years of experience in the bar and hospitality industry, and his father successfully owned several bars and clubs in Mississippi and Louisiana. Calvin plans to continue his father’s legacy of entrepreneurship and leadership. Lovely began her career as a child model at the age of 4. Since then, she has earned a degree in broadcast journalism and organizational leadership, served in the United States Army and has written several books. She has also previously owned several successful businesses. Calvin and Lovely met a little over a year ago and soon began a relationship which eventually became a marriage
and business partnership. Calvin and Lovely developed the idea for the two businesses after research demonstrated that the Smyrna, La Vergne and South Nashville areas had demand for a location where professionals and entrepreneurs could work and unwind at the same time. The two businesses will be beside each other at 98 and 100 S. Lowry St. in Smyrna. “Southern Flare Cigar and Sellebrity Co-Working is not just the coming together of a like-minded idea,” said Calvin. “It’s a legacy and lifelong dream for us to work together, grow together, and build together noteworthy establishments that bring pride to our family and community.” Sellebrity Co-Working Cafe will provide members access to their co-working space, professional classes, access to the onsite cafe, business services and discounted consulting services. Membership prices begin at $25, with a premium monthly option that includes a private cubicle for $250. Southern Flare Cigar & Social Lounge will be open for the public to enjoy a premium cigar, beer or crafted cocktail. Southern Flare will also provide opportunities to educate those who may not be familiar with cigar culture. For more information on the two businesses, visit southernflarecigars.com or sellebrityco-working.com or call 615-668-2388.
BOROPULSE.COM
* JUNE 2021 * 35
SPORTS
TALK
COLUMN BY “Z-TRAIN”
titanman1984@gmail.com
THEY ALLOWED 117 SHOTS ON GOAL. You hear me? That is insane. Also insane is that goalie Juuse Saros stopped 110 of them. I truly hope Saros can stay around in Nashville, a perfect young superstar replacement for fan favorite Pekka Rinne.
HOOKED ON NSC
Preds Keep Playoff Streak Alive; Lose in First Round; Titans Schedule Unveiled THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! This goes out to my loyal readers, and that includes my haters, who may even be more loyal than the readers who like me: thank you for reading my work! I love going over all the emails sent to titanman1984@gmail. com, so please feel free to contact me. Ask a question. Call me a stanky stupid jackass. Or just let me know you have been reading my writing for over a decade and you think I am the greatest sportswriter in Middle Tennessee. Wow, I have been writing sports for the Murfreesboro Pulse for over a decade. Dag’gum, brother! Tennessee without doubt is the best state in this country. At least I see it that way. Overall, Tennessee is still a state that respects the Constitution! A man has a right to protect his family, work and put food on the table and, unlike many states in this country, Tennessee has done a phenomenal job this last year keeping that the truth. That is not something I take lightly—I love this state!
NFL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
I have posted the 2021 season schedule for the Tennessee Titans. Enjoy the 17-game season! Fun Fact: The Titans have five straight winning seasons. Only two other teams in the NFL, the Seahawks and the 36 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
Chiefs, can make that claim right now. Let’s make it six straight winning seasons and win the AFC South for a second straight season, something that the Titans, sadly, have never done. The Colts are the Titans’ only competition in the division and while they have a great team, I have little faith in quarterback Carson Wentz. I have the Titans winning the division at 11–6.
PREDS FALL TO CANES
A shout-out goes to the Nashville Predators, who started this season off rough. We nearly had the team ripped apart at the trade deadline due to such a poor start, but management held it together and boom—the Predators played some great hockey down the stretch and, amazingly, kept the consecutive playoff appearance run alive. Nashville possesses the secondlongest streak in the NHL with seven consecutive postseason appearances for Nashville, behind Pittsburgh with 15. The Predators may have lost to a superior team in the first round in a 4–2 series, pushing Carolina to the brink in four straight overtime games and nearly a Game 7, but this 2021 Predators team surely earned the respect of any knowledgeable hockey fan. Fun Fact: In the Predators’ two wins vs. Carolina in this playoff series they allowed 117 shots on goal. IN THE TWO WINS
I went to my first Nashville Soccer Club game at Nissan Stadium recently and it was a dominating win against the league’s top team, New England. I loved the atmosphere. I am hooked! I watched every game of the inaugural season last year and was cheering from day one. Being at a live soccer game is different. It almost has the feeling of being at a Predators game. The chants, the passion, the camaraderie . . . it is simply different, and I will 100 percent be back. I cannot believe how quickly NSC has created a feeling of tradition already. It’s special for such a young team. Nashville is one of the few teams in the league undefeated with a strange 2 wins and 5 draws record as of press time.
ENJOY SUMMER
Stay tuned for my upcoming articles with a twist. We have the patriotic issue coming out in the beginning of July, when I brag about America and salute the troops while entwining sports into the piece. It’s insane to think that after that article runs it will soon be August and it will be prime time to talk about the Tennessee Titans getting ready for the 2021 season. That is exactly what I will be doing, full-fledged Titans talk. So, stay tuned. I already have plans for a new twist on this season’s articles. Do not get me wrong, I will still be covering Volunteer football and local MTSU ball, but I am going to stick to my bread and butter and, without doubt, for me that’s Titans football. Alright, my friends! I will end on a sincere note: enjoy the beautiful summer! After 2020 I can only assume many of you will embrace so many things you may previously have taken for granted. Spend time with family and friends. Go outside. Go to a concert or a water park, throw a football, plant a garden. Go ride a bike, go to the arcade, go tubing or go see the Jack Daniels Distillery if you never have. It is worth it. Just make sure when you do all that, you take that damn mask off and breathe that fresh Tennessee air. Shake hands. Hug people. If you’re single and
ready to mingle, well, go find someone and enjoy a beautiful Tennessee summer with them. Do not let anyone shame you for not having a mask on, and it is not anyone’s business whether you have been vaccinated or not. Nobody but you and your family’s business. God bless America! The Train is rolling into the station. Choo-chooooo!
TITANS 2021 SCHEDULE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 q w e r t y u i Sun. 9/12 · 12 p.m. Arizona Cardinals · CBS
Sun. 9/19 · 3:25 p.m. at Seattle Seahawks · CBS Sun. 9/26 · 12 p.m. Indianapolis Colts · CBS Sun. 10/03 · 12 p.m. at New York Jets · CBS
Sun. 10/10 · 12 p.m. at Jacksonville Jaguars · CBS Mon. 10/18 · 7:15 p.m. Buffalo Bills · ESPN
Sun. 10/24 · 12 p.m. Kansas City Chiefs · CBS
Sun. 10/31 · 12 p.m. at Indianapolis Colts · CBS
Sun. 11/07 · 7:20 p.m. at Los Angeles Rams · NBC Sun. 11/14 · 12 p.m. New Orleans Saints · CBS Sun. 11/21 · 12 p.m. Houston Texans · CBS
Sun. 11/28 · 12 p.m. at New England Patriots · CBS BYE
Sun. 12/12 · 12 p.m. Jacksonville Jaguars · CBS
Sun. 12/19 · 12 p.m. at Pittsburgh Steelers · CBS
Thu. 12/23 · 7:20 p.m. San Francisco 49ers · NFLN Sun. 1/02 · 12 p.m. Miami Dolphins · CBS
Sun. 1/09 · 12 p.m. at Houston Texans · CBS
Gardening Education Series BY EDWINA SHANNON
they interfere with yields. Hoe or cultivate the rows or between plants shallowly. You want to avoid losing soil moisture or cutting the roots of desirable plants. Hand-pull weeds in or very near the vegetable row. There will be less damage to vegetable plants and it is easier if weeds are removed while they are small. So every day, as you are inspecting the garden, remove the weeds you see.
good habit to get your plants used to. Any diseases or problem insects need to be dealt with immediately. Either culprit causes plant stress and we want stressfree, happy plants. If you choose to use a chemical on your vegetables, please read and carefully follow directions. You are growing the vegetables to eat them. A recent application of chemical to produce is hazardous to your health. Read and understand the labels.
DEEP WATERING TOMATOES COURTESY OF ARTEM BELIAIKIN / PEXELS; WATERING COURTESY OF MARKUS SPISKE / PEXELS
Little Details for Your Garden THE SPRING BUG HAS BITTEN and you have planted your vegetable garden. Like most Americans, you chose tomatoes. Invariably, peppers, cukes and squash are in it, too. The adventuresome and experienced include less common vegetables. Okra makes a nice fence as it matures. If you are like me, the vegetable space is just not enough to plant in. Maintenance is another story, though. As exciting as it is to have fresh vegetables, it requires commitment and work: pleasurable work but still work. A garden requires a commitment to show up each day and put some effort in. Now some of you may be juggling that change-over time when the space and the vegetables in the beds are transitioning between spring harvest and summer planting. As the spring vegetables fulfill their purpose, remove the plants. No space to decompose in place. I have seen where gardeners chop and drop used plants. The challenge with that is twofold. First, be sure the plants are healthy. Diseased plants should not be allowed to return to the soil. Secondly, the current crop needs space to breathe. Air circulation does play a pivotal role in minimizing mildew and other moisture problems. If dropping the retired plants hinders the ability of the producing plants to dry their leaves during the day, you risk creating a moisture problem. Why create a problem?
which gets added back to the garden later. Things take time and space. The spring and summer clippings and yard debris (without chemicals) can be expected to be ready to return to the growing bed in late fall or even next spring. Garbage, without the meat and bones, as well as newspapers and cardboard boxes without the packaging tape can go into this compost pile. If you haven’t yet used the compost which has been cooking since last year, now is the time to side-dress your summer crop.
ANTICIPATING FALL CROPS Just as an aside here, when the strawberries are done producing, the time has arrived to plant pumpkins for the fall. If you are planting any fall crop, be mindful of time. How much time does it take for the seed to germinate, then to maturity and finally for full production of the crop. Add the days and start backward from the expected frost date. In Middle Tennessee, that is mid-October. Towards the end of the growing season, consider a soil test. People often think of doing them in the spring. But if your garden needs lime, you will want to add it in the fall. Typically, lime gets added every couple of years. It is a soil additive that has been used in farming for hundreds of years. Why? Liming decreases soil acidity, increases the absorption of fertilizer and reduces certain physiological problems such as blossom-end-rot on tomatoes, peppers and watermelons.
OUT WITH THE OLD If they are healthy plants when they complete their growing cycle, they should go into the compost pile, where they will decompose and become a humus-like soil
SAY NO TO WEEDS As the garden grows, be sure the weeds do not. They compete with vegetable plants for water, nutrients and sunlight. As such,
A vegetable garden should have 1 to 1½ inches of water a week. Plants develop deeper roots with deep watering. Frequent, shallow watering encourages shallow root development. It is best to apply water in the early morning, before the scorching temperatures and sun interfere with soil absorption. If you use a sprinkler, apply the water slowly to avoid water runoff. A rain measurement gauge will measure the quantity of water received by the plants. With deep watering, plants can go almost a week without watering. It is probably a
ALWAYS WASH PRODUCE Before you use any vegetable for cooking or eating raw, wash it under cold water to rinse off bacteria. Broccoli and cauliflower can sit in cold water for 1–2 minutes. Simple rinsing will eliminate most bacteria. You Do not wash and then store the vegetables. It is fine to store unwashed fresh produce, even in the fridge! A source of nutrition, “Gardening for Nutrition,” which can be found at UT’s Institute of Agriculture Extension Publications website: extension .tennessee.edu/publications.
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Untangle Your Life I LOVE HOW THE UNIVERSE HAS A WAY of connecting bits and pieces of life together in order for them to take shape and manifest into a dynamic shift, an experience that is remembered or even viewed as metaphoric. I had a seemingly insignificant activity recently that turned out to be fairly profound, as I began to see hidden metaphors emerging.
was time for that necklace. At first it didn’t seem like there was a place to start. Yes, it was that bad. With tweezers in hand, I started pulling pieces of the chain. Bit by bit it loosened. This process took over 30 minutes. Many times I was tempted to put it down and come back to it later. Since I had already done that many other times over the weeks, I remembered my commitment to get it done this time.
There is an area in my bathroom that houses my jewelry. It was starting to look sloppy from not organizing pieces as I took them off, instead just loosely placing them in the general area. Hair and other particles seemed to be visible now. It was getting borderline gross. Also, there were pieces of jewelry that had gotten tangled together after a trip where I’d stored them together. There was one necklace that had it pretty bad. It was not looking like it would be an easy fix. Over the course of several weeks I would eyeball this space and think how I really needed to make some time to clean it up and fix my jewelry so I could wear it again.
Lesson 3: Follow through. Finish.
“We are what we repeatedly do; excellence is not an act but a habit.” — Aristotle
TASTING ROOM
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7027 Main St. Christiana, Tennessee 37037 615.785.2124
Over the weeks, I managed to de-tangle a few chokers and necklaces that were entwined. It only took a few minutes. It felt like progress. However, there remained the very knotted necklace that I knew would take more time. The area still needed to be cleaned and organized. It was starting to get under my skin, as cleanliness and order are things I value.
Sidebar:
I was at lunch with a friend who showed me a picture of her in-laws’ bathroom. She was remarking how cluttered and disorganized everything was. While spending time with them, my friend went through that whole bathroom, weeding out the items that were unnecessary or no longer needed. My friend is naturally gifted in cleanliness and order. The photograph she shared was a great reminder to me that being disorganized was not something I wanted to be. Two days later, the thought wouldn’t go away. It was time to clean this area and to untangle the last necklace. Since I knew it was going to take awhile, I kept convincing myself that I had way more important things I needed to be doing with my time. Ha! Then the small voice inside said “just do it and be done.”
Lesson 1: Decision. Commitment to an endeavor. The organizing and cleaning up of dust, dirt and hair went fairly quickly.
Lesson 2: Knock out the little things. Now it 38 * JUNE 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM
“You are going to want to give up. Don’t!” — Unknown As I saw and felt the mess breaking free, the last strand just easily pulled apart. In that moment it seemed like it hadn’t taken any effort at all. It was back to its perfectly natural state. Even though I knew the amount of time it had taken, the freedom that was felt in resolving this made it feel like it took no time at all. The exhilaration of an issue resolved felt very liberating.
Lesson 4: It feels good to accomplish something. “Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” — Tony Robbins
Lesson 5: The parallels to life. This little activity reminded me of all the things that can get tangled up in life. Relationships, family, identity, right and wrong, beliefs, thoughts, what’s real and what’s not. We are tempted to just drop whatever seems too difficult, replace what’s broken instead of working to fix it. We move on to other relationships without ever fixing what contributed to the failed ones. We practice avoidance or apathy instead of working to untangle one strand at a time. It is possible that as you de-tangle (or de-mystify) an issue, you may realize that something has changed and you no longer need the item, it is not repairable, or it has served its purpose and it is time to move on. Letting go can provide the freedom necessary to start fresh. Provided you did the untangling exercises to arrive at this decision, you will be unencumbered with any prior messes and can move forward with freedom and freshness. Stay tuned next month for an amazing story on how you can untangle bound-up feelings and even relieve physical pain when you do!
Jennifer Durand is owner and operator of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe; a certified QiGong and Breathe Empowerment instructor, and is licensed in massage therapy, body work and somatic integration. Visit nurturenook.com or call 615-896-7110.
HEALTH
Volunteer Botanicals Opens Hemp Research Headquarters to Provide Cannabinoid Ingredients for Nutrition Supplements and Pharmaceuticals CHRISTIANA, TENNESSEE-BASED VOLUNTEER Botanicals, which provides manufacturers with consistent, versatile hemp-based ingredients for use in a wide variety of consumer products, is nearing the completion of a new research and development headquarters to help meet the growing demand for various medicinal products derived from the plant. A 2019 market research study conducted by BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research projects the market for CBD sales to surpass $20 billion by 2024 in the United States alone. This anticipated growth will not just be fueled by CBD products from hemp producers, but by traditional manufacturers as they recognize the value of adding cannabinoids to more mainstream products. According to the report, general retail stores
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will soon take over the majority of CBD product sales from cannabis dispensaries, where they currently occur. “The day is rapidly approaching when CBD and other cannabinoids become ingredients, not just products,” said Derek Odette, co-founder of Volunteer Botanicals. “The potential for cannabinoid ingredients in nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals and over-the-counter medications is tremendous. Our new headquarters will provide us with the room to accommodate these and other developing opportunities.” The current challenge for the industry is developing products that fit modern consumer preferences, according to Odette. As the market moves from dispensaries to mainstream retailers, customers will be seeking familiar delivery methods they feel comfortable using. The ability to provide various cannabinoids in enjoyable form factors will set brands apart. As science and technology merge with the hemp plant we will see a new spectrum of products that are so much more dynamic than typical oil-phase products. New cannabinoids are showing promising results in medical trials as more universities and scientists work with the plant.
“The market is growing, and we need to reach beyond those consumers who are willing to use oil-based products like tinctures,” said Dave Neundorfer, CEO of Open Book Extracts. “In order to connect with customers, we must go to market with products that meet mainstream preferences.” According to Neundorfer, the company is currently partnering with Volunteer Botanicals on two new products to address these consumer needs: A 50-milligram, broad spectrum CBD instant release tablet with an “immunity blend” of nine terpenes, and a 1:1 oral dissolving tablet with 5 mg of CBD and 5 mg of CBN (an alternate compound with a tendency to stimulate, rather than suppress, appetite). Each unique in their own way, these products are geared directly at this newly emerging mainstream consumer. “The ability of Volunteer Botanicals to meet the potency requirements we desire with consistency and precision is what drew us to work with them,” he said. “They are one of the few labs that is putting the pieces together on how cannabinoids can work for manufacturers and consumers.” Construction of the new facility in Christiana is partially funded through a $25,000 grant awarded to Volunteer Botanicals
earlier this year from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Ag Enterprise Fund (AEF). The Ag Enterprise Fund is designed to enable agriculture-related companies to grow and positively impact rural economies in Tennessee. Volunteer Botanicals was started by three MTSU graduates who feel Tennessee is a perfect place for emerging hemp technologies. The company supports many different farmers, extractors and brands by providing a book of services that expands the untapped potential of hemp extract. “If we can help farmers move extract to the product creators that need it, in the form that they need it, we all win,” explains Odette. “We play a small but important role in the supply chain. Our services are open to all customers. When you work with Volunteer Botanicals you are able to access all of our technology and services without having to make that investment. We are here to help.” For more information, contact Volunteer Botanicals at volunteerbotanicals.com or 1-833-CBD-TABS. Jason Pickle is the co-founder of Volunteer Botanicals; learn more at volunteerbotanicals.com.
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