November 2012 Murfreesboro Pulse

MURFREESBORO

MUSIC: ININMUSIC: David Allen Coe Coming to town Nov. 3

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IN ART:

Bravo Performance Academy starts 'em out young

Todd Gallery hosts scholarship sale this month.

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MIDDLE TENNESSEE’S SOURCE FOR ART, ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS

Vol. 7, Issue 11 November 2012

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ONLINE AT: BOROPULSE.COM

Roland Gresham REMEMBERING A LOCAL MUSIC LEGEND page 18

DEAR READERS:

CONTENTS OPINIONS

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Thanksgiving Gratitude makes you feel good, it's scientific.

Eye on the Markets Honey prices.

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La Palabra Pilgrims and Aliens.

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Gagflex The most important election.

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Phil Valentine Mitt Romney should stall for time while he's ahead.

LIVING

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Living Green Eco Home, steps to produce a home's own energy.

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NOVEMBER EVENTS Spelling, quilting, Diwali, football and more.

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Read to Succeed Book Review The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green

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Gardening Winterize your garden for a sucessful Spring.

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Run Strong Justus David finishes Middle Half in 1:06.

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Workout Tips by Tri-Fit The dumbbell bench press.

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Bravo Performance Academy Academy offers arts training for children of all ages.

FOOD

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Toot's: Good Food and Fun Wade Hayes tells of Toot's journey.

SOUNDS

i p a s f

Roland Gresham Murfreesboro remembers legendary jazz guitarist.

David Allan Coe Comes to Town The controversial rebel outlaw plays Main St. Live.

NOVEMBER CONCERT LISTINGS Album Reviews Ocean Architecture, Cryptic Calling, Saul Zonana, Endelouz An Evening of Swing MTSU students play big band tunes at country club.

30 24 WIN!

Giveaways Win a party at the Fairways golf simulator.

COVER STORY

 Roland photos

by Jonathan Hobson

MOVIES

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Reviews Seven Psychopaths, Frankenweenie Living Room Cinema Early Dreams With Wes Anderson

THEATER

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November Performance Schedule Peter Pan plays in Cannon Co., A Chorus Line.

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Jeckyl and Hyde Tennessee Rep puts on excellent horror production.

SPORTS

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Sports Talk with Z-Train Our Titans are getting trounced in 2012.

ART

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In the Todd Gallery MTSU Scholarship Sale

CREW

PULSE

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Express Yourself Students conference encourages making creativity a career.

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Publisher/Editor in Chief: Music Editor: Jessica Pace Bracken Mayo Contributing Writers: Barry Campbell, Art Director: Sarah L. Mayo Terri DeLong, Ryan Egly, Bryce Harmon, Jason Johnson, Zach Maxfield, Michelle Palmer, Advertising Reps: Cameron Parrish, Frank Shepard, Jay Spight, Don Clark, Barbara Adell, Andrea Stockard, Justin Stokes, Orrin McCullough Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine Copy Editor: Cindy Phiffer Photographer: Jonathan King Hobson

Sign up to receive our weekly digital newsletter at BoroPulse.com/Newsletter To carry The Pulse at your business, or submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com 116-E North Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 796-6248

Copyright © 2012, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 116-E N. Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed

by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views expressed in The Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

BE GRATEFUL for what you have this month, but never stop improving and striving for something better.

Success is a journey, as it says in the Toot’s HQ. I’m grateful for where I am, for where I’ve been. Gratitude is good for you, you know. But I have hope for a better future.

The growing season is coming to a close. It’s time for breaking out the jackets, cooking marshmallows on the fire, vivid colored leaves and SEC football.

As of press time, New York City and New Jersey are still there, but their future as above-water societies is questionable.

Z-Train brings up a great stat, as far as the football end goes; SEC wins for Dooley: 4. He’s 4-17 against the greatest league in the land. He still hopes for a good season, or at least to disguise that record with some victories against the less mighty.

Now, as far as the election and the office of the president go, I’ve lost hope.

Four years ago, a candidate talked about looking out for the little people and changing the culture in Washington—restoring the American dream, cleaning up the mess, getting along with the world, ending cronyism.

This was inspiring for a lot of Americans. Many actually believed the country was going somewhere new, somewhere better. Then the new president goes out and appoints a bunch of career politicians and elites to his cabinet, recruits a bunch of warmongers and financial executives for his team. And he’s just like all the rest.

At the end of the first term, his biggest legacy is handing billions of taxpayer dollars to corporate America; we have to save the auto industry, we have to save the banks. Oh yeah, the country did kill Osama bin Ladin during the president’s term. Bush didn’t seem to want to do that. His and bin Ladin’s families were big buddies; they made lots of money together.

I suppose I’m thankful I live in the land of the free. It still seems better than most countries out there. I don’t really have first-hand accounts of many other places to compare it to, but I don’t think I want to live in a Muslim majority country or a theocracy of any kind.

How many people want to come live in the U.S. every year? Millions. This has something to do with acceptance, tolerance and opportunity. How many want to go live in Musilm countries? (Iran, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Somolia, etc.?) Not quite as many. This has something to do with corruption, violence, stiffling of free speech and ideas, human rights abuses, etc.

Something to think about.

Keep hope alive. Keep pursuing your goals and a better future, but don’t wait on the president to make something positive happen in your life. It’s up to you.

And Mr. Obama, if you get elected for another term, it’s not too late to follow up on some of the talk from your 2008 campaign. Back then, you used words like “solutions,” “hope,” “progress,” “change,” “dreams.”

Lately, it seems more like “tough times,” “recession,” “difficult” and the like are big parts of your vocabulary.

I don’t want to hear about tough times, I want to hear about hope!

Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief BOROPULSE.COM

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OPINIONS Agnostic Thanksgiving column by FRANK SHEPARD

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your boat, but religion doesn’t have a monopoly on gratitude. Scientific research has revealed a strong connection between gratitude and good physical and mental health. It is highly probable that gratitude can boost the immune system, relieve stress and improve relationships. Many New Age gurus endorse starting each day with a “thank you” or two. Your body doesn’t care who or what you’re thanking; the benefits are in the attitude of gratitude. Even anti-theist Richard Dawkins is grateful. Listen to this excerpt from the Intelligence Squared Conference in November 2009: When I lie on my back and look up at the Milky Way on a clear night and see the vast distances of space and reflect that these are also vast differences of time as well, when I look at the Grand Canyon and see the strata going down, down, down, through periods of time which the human mind can’t comprehend . . . it’s a feeling of sort of an abstract gratitude that I am alive to appreciate

ome parties are the natural flow of things. Humans naturally reward themselves after working hard to complete a project, to celebrate the accomplishment, and of course, quench their thirst. There’s a spontaneous urge to fire up the grill, kill the fatted calf or pop open the champagne when we check off a big task from the to-do list. Thanksgiving is a tradition formed from this natural phenomenon in a post-harvest fervor. Everyone in the family or community worked hard to bring in the harvest.

Instincts showed them what to do next. With hearts full of pride and a strong sense of accomplishment, they broke out the musical instruments, prepared a feast and tapped the barrel of wine. A toast was in order: “to a bountiful harvest, to the assurance of a prosperous winter, and the cherished friends and family around this table!”

I’ll not decry the commercialization, the religious co-opting, or the political grandstanding that may or may not taint this otherwise spontaneous tradition. Instead, I’d like to point out one way to perhaps access the natural phenomenon that is illustrated in Thanksgiving—authentic, spontaneous celebration and gratitude. Do something. Set goals, work hard and then reward yourself. And the more the merrier. Find a group or organization that is making the world a better place and jump these wonders, when I look down a microscope in there. Just remember to stop every now and it’s the same feeling, I am grateful to be alive to then and celebrate your accomplishments. appreciate these wonders.

Regarding the “thanks” part, you’re thankGratitude is a loaded word. It is typically ing yourself and those that helped. But gratitude aroused in response to receiving of a gift. The redoesn’t always have to be associated with an acceipt of something implies a source. Who or what complishment. There’s never any shortage of things gave me this gift? Where should I direct my gratito be thankful for. Everything that’s wrong with tude? Where does Dawkins go with his gratitude? the world is actually fodder for gratitude when that Really, it’s nobody’s business. I’m reminded of flaw is dormant. I had an eye infection last week, Steve Martin’s song, “Atheists Ain’t Got No Songs”. but how many weeks of my life have I not had an I had the fortune of seeing him and The Steep eye infection? I don’t have any ingrown toenails Canyon Rangers perform it live at Bonnaroo 2010. right now—that’s awesome!

My hot water tank works, my lawn doesn’t need mowing, I’m not having issues in my marriage, there’s just the right amount of oxygen in the air for me to live on, I have full use of the left side of my body, and our giant dirt clod called Earth is floating in space. That’s awesome! It could all change tomorrow, but right now, there are countless reasons for me to muster thanksgiving.

The Steep Of course, there’s always Canyon Rangers God to thank if that floats

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Scientific research has revealed a strong connection between gratitude and good physical and mental health.

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Christians have their hymns and pages.

Hava Nagila’s for the Jews.

Baptists have the rock of ages.

Atheists just sing the blues.

Romantics play Claire de Lune.

Born agains sing He is risen.

But no one ever wrote a tune.

For godless existentialism.

For Atheists there’s no good news.

They’ll never sing a song of faith.

In their songs they have a rule.

The “he” is always lowercase.

The “he” is always lowercase.

Some folks sing a Bach cantata.

Lutherans get Christmas trees.

Atheist songs add up to nada.

But they do have Sundays free.

Pentecostals sing, sing to heaven.

Gothics had the books of scrolls.

Numerologists count, count to seven.

Atheists have rock and roll.

Catholics dress up for Mass.

And listen to Gregorian chants.

Atheists just take a pass.

Watch football in their underpants.

Parody aside, Martin elucidates what might be an awkward circumstance around the family table for those who find the idea of saying “thank you” to an ineffable God problematic.

Take heart: An agnostic who errs on the side of love in his/her treatment of others stands a much better chance of living “righteously” than those who have forfeited their common sense to adhere to a bronze age code of conduct.

Whatever you do, do not shame yourself for not being grateful enough. The last thing all the great aspects of your life want to produce is guilt. Let them produce what is instinctively normal—gratitude. Everything is what it is. Your ability to find the good equips you to say “yes” to the moment.

And by maintaining a good attitude, your immune system, your outlook and your very instincts will access the spirit of Thanksgiving that wants to pop a cork, fire up the grill and set a banquet table in the “presence of mine enemies.”

(Psalm 23)

EYE ON THE MARKETS:

HONEY

BY BRACKEN MAYO

THE GOOD FOLKS AT KROGER must have been paying attention to last month’s column. I wrote of how I found it odd that there wasn’t much of a discount on the 18-count eggs compared to the dozens.

A few weeks after that column hit the public, a big refrigerated bin at the Kroger on Middle Tennessee advertised a $1.50 sale on large 18-count egg cartons. That’s a cool 8.33 cents per egg, obliterating the 11.5-cent price last edition touted as the lowest in the area. $3 for 3 dozen. Nice.

Either the Kroger pricing officials were responding to market demand, or the chickens were extra happy out at the corporate hatchery and laid a surplus of the white miracle protein balls.

Now, onto this month’s product spotlight, honey. This nectar of the bees has a taste that can’t be duplicated; it’s great for sore throats (mix it with a little lemon juice and get it real hot), helps boost the immune system and turns Bracken Jr. into a giggly Winnie the Pooh. The term “superfood” is even thrown around. (Note: raw honey is really what you’re looking for if you want the full health benefits of honey, not the ultra pasteurized, heated and processed sweet gooeyness found at most groceries; still, there’s nothing like the trusty honey bear to give that peanut butter sandwich what it deserves.)

Upon last inspection, Walmart has 12 ounces of honey priced at $2.82, with a 24-ounce unit selling for $5.17.

The shelves at Publix carry a good variety of honeys, with orange blossom, organic and other varieties to choose from, but at its most affordable, a 12-ounce is $2.45 and a 24-ounce is $5.99.

Once again, strictly looking at pricing, Kroger comes out on top, offering the famous 12-ounce honey bear for $2.29. Look for one near the 18 eggs for $1.50!

Until next time, shop smart, and keep your eye on the markets.

Pilgrims and Aliens Peregrinos y Extranjeros IN ENGLISH:

that the master teacher of the black art of necromancy took away the body as well as the soul of his pupil, at the moment of the catastrophe.”

Were the strange lights, the ship’s destruction and alleged sorcerer whose body is never recovered simply a coincidence? Even when examined separately, they are wildly fascinating events worth more investigation. Could the “sorcerer” have actually been an extraterrestrial or a time traveler sent to change the course of history and then teleported away after sinking the ship? It would make for a great movie sci-fi movie script, Pilgrims and Aliens. Unfortunately, the truth about what really happened may remain a mystery like so many events in the distant past.

When it comes to unraveling Earth’s biggest mysteries, I need all the help I can get, so your comments and stories are welcome. Keep exploring!

WHEN IT COMES TO EXPLORING THE unexplained, UFOs are my favorite topic to investigate. So in honor of Thanksgiving, we will look at some surprising evidence of extraterrestrials that we find deep in America’s past. No, I’m not referring to the hundreds of Native American accounts we have of otherworldly visitors. Everybody knows that unless white folks write it down then it’s just mythology. Believe it or not, pilgrims (the whitest people ever) were the earliest Europeans in North America to record a number of UFO sightings.

The first known incident happened in 1639, just 9 years after the establishment of Plymouth colony. The report comes from The History of New England, 1630–1639, a book by John Winthrop, a puritan and the first elected Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His writings are considered IN SPANISH: the central source for the history of the area.

One night in March of 1639, James Everell “a Cuando se trata de explorar lo inexplicable, los sober, discreet man” and two companions boarded Ovnis son mi tema favorito para investigar. Asi a small boat and set out for a trip on the Muddy que en honor de El día de acción gracias, examiRiver in Boston. They had been moving downnaremos algunas sorprendentes evidencias de stream for about a mile when the night’s mysteriextraterrestres que encontramos en el pasado de ous events began. The three men were suddenly los Estados Unidos. No me refiero a los cientos de confronted with the appearance of a huge, bright cuentos nativos americanos que tenemos que delight hovering in the sky. The light “flamed up” as scriben visitas de habitantes de otro mundo. Todo it hovered and appeared to be about “three yards el mundo sabe al menos que la “gente blanca” square.” As they watched, the light “contracted lo entiende como parte de la mitología. Créalo o into the figure of a swine” and moved “swift as an no, los peregrinos fueron los primeros europeos arrow” in the direction of Charlton. For several en América del Norte que hours, the light moved back registraron un gran número and forth in the sky between de avistamientos de Ovnis.

Everell’s location and Charlton.

El primer incidente When the light finally disapUna columna del idioma español por CAMERON PARRISH ocurrió en 1639 a tan sólo 9 peared, the men noticed that años después de la creación they had somehow been carde Colonia Plymouth. Dos hombres fueron testigos ried against the tide back to the place where they “una gran luz en la noche” cerca de Boston. El had embarked. Wait a second. Either these pilinforme viene de la historia de Nueva Inglaterra, grims ate some magic mushrooms or this matches 1630–1639 un libro de John Winthrop, un puritano perfectly with what some modern UFO witnesses y el primer gobernador electo de la Colonia de la report with close encounters! Winthrop’s book ofBahía de Massachusetts. Sus escritos son considfers us even more strangeness to consider. erados la fuente central de la historia de la zona.

In 1644, a rash of bizarre sightings was again Una noche de marzo de 1639, James Everell reported in Boston. The account says that mys‘un hombre sobrio y discreto’ y dos compañeros terious lights appeared about 2 weeks after the embarcaron en un pequeño bote para un viaje en el destruction of a ship commanded by Captain John Río Muddy en Boston. Ellos habian bajado aproxiChaddock, a pirate whose ship was intentionally madamente una milla aguas abajo, cuando misteblown up in the harbor. On several occasions, riosos acontecimientos comenzaron en la noche.

Bostonians saw a light resembling the moon rise Los tres hombres se enfrentaron bruscamente con from the water near the site of the sunken ship la aparición de una enorme y brillante luz flotando that merged with an identical light and then en el cielo. La luz parecía ser de unos ‘tres metros separated again, repeating this over and over cuadrados.’ y resplandecía hacía el cielo. Cuando elwhile shooting out flames and sparks. The people los miraron, la luz adoptó la figura de un cerdo, así of Boston attributed the lights to the ghost of que se movieron ‘rápidamente como una flecha’ en one of the dead sailors, a confessed necromancer dirección de Charlton. Durante varias horas, la luz allegedly responsible for the ship’s destruction. se movió hacia atrás y hacia delante en el cielo enAccording to Winthrop, this anonymous person tre la posición de Everell y Charlton. Cuando la luz had “done some strange things by his art in his finalmente desapareció, los hombres notaron que Avay from Virginia hither;” to make things even habían sido de alguna manera llevados contra la more strange, Winthrop reports: marea al lugar donde habían embarcado. Espérate “all the bodies blown up were found but un momento. ¡Estos peregrinos comieron algunas his, which never was. Hence it is left to be inferred

setas mágicas o esto hace encaja perfectamente con lo que algunos testigos de OVNI modernos relatan con encuentros más cercanos en el tiempo! El libro de Winthrop nos ofrece alguna coincidencia más para considerar.

En el año 1644 una erupción de observaciones extrañas fue otra vez relatada en Boston. La cuenta dice que las luces misteriosas aparecieron aproximadamente 2 semanas después de la destrucción de un barco comandado por el Capitán John Chaddock, un pirata cuyo barco fue intencionadamente explotado en el puerto. En varias ocasiones Bostonianos vio una luz semejante a la luna en agua al del sitio del barco hundido que se combinó con una luz idéntica y luego se separó otra vez, repitiendo esto repetidas veces y tirando llamas y chispas.

La gente de Boston atribuyo las luces del fantasma de uno de los marineros muertos, un

confeso nigromante presuntamente responsable de la destrucción de la nave. Según Winthrop esta persona anónima ’hizo cosas extrañas por su arte en su viaje desde Virginia acá; Para hacer las cosas aún más extraño, Winthrop informa: “todos los cuerpos volados fueron encontrados pero él, que nunca fue. Por lo tanto se deja para inferir que el maestro principal del arte negro de nigromancia recogió el cuerpo como el alma de su pupilo, en el momento de la catástrofe.” ¿Debemos creer que las extrañas luces, la destrucción del barco y el presunto hechicero cuyo cuerpo nunca fue recuperado simplemente una coincidencia? Incluso cuando se examina por separado son fascinantes los eventos que valen más tiempo de investigación. ¿Podría el “mago” haber sido un extraterrestre o un viajero del tiempo que se envió a cambiar el curso de la historia y luego teletransportado lejos después del hundimiento del barco?

Esto funcionaría para un guión de película de ciencia ficción. Peregrinos y Extranjeros. Lamentablemente la verdad sobre lo que realmente pasó permanecerá en el misterio como tantos acontecimientos en el pasado. La revelación de los misterios más grandes de la Tierra necesita de toda la ayuda que puedo conseguir así como siempre preciso de sus comentarios y sus historias son bienvenidas. ¡Sigaexplorando!

La PALABRA

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OPINIONS

The Most Important Election

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ard-line conservatives seem to think that this is the most important election ever, that somehow there’s so much more at stake than ever before. I’ve heard people echo this line of thinking on sports talk radio, on NPR and through the obvious recycling of bad ideas on Facebook. While all elections hold a degree of significance, this election might hold the distinction of being the least important election of my generation and many generations that came before me.

The last election came down to who was going to clean up after eight catastrophic years under George W. Bush. We had to pick up the pieces of our economy and restore our image throughout the world. There was a lot at stake for the 2008 election. There was a laundry list of unimaginable problems to solve for the winner of that election. The hot issue for the 2004 election was a couple of major wars and whether the country was going let Bush stay behind the wheel while steering us into oncoming traffic. That’s kind

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of important. And you can look back further he’s dealing with Syria. Both President Obama at the major issues during past elections. and Romney love Israel unconditionally. And It’s not that we have less important issues both Obama and Romney agree that using going on now. The economy floundering, unmanned drones to take out presumed terwe are still in the process of pulling troops rorists is the way to go. Neither wants to apout of Afghanistan, and we still have terproach the subject of morality when it comes rorist cells throughout the world that want to these drones killing innocent civilians, and to turn us to dust. What they don’t have to because separates this one is how the issue isn’t on a list of much the candidates important polling topics. actually agree, and how The top of that list is column by JASON JOHNSON much they can actually jobs and the economy. tuckwopat@yahoo.com impact the issues that But according to Mitt they do disagree on.

Romney, the government If you watched the third debate on foreign doesn’t create jobs and conservatives are policy, it was basically an echo chamber. Both slamming President Obama for not creatMitt Romney and President Obama have the ing enough jobs. Mitt Romney wants to same vision for dealing with a nuclear Iran. keep the Bush tax cuts; President Obama Romney agrees with the president on how slammed the tax cuts last election and

GAGFLEX

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Instantaneously kicking everyone off their new policies and giving all the muscle back to insurance companies would cause a riot. It wouldn’t happen.

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helped to reach an agreement to extend the tax cuts in 2010. Then there’s health care.

The bulk of Obamacare changes kick in next year, and Romney says that the first day in office, he’ll completely repeal Obamacare.

This would be a lie. Not only would he not get Congressional approval to do this, instantaneously kicking everyone off their new policies and giving all the muscle back to insurance companies would cause a riot.

It wouldn’t happen.

There are obviously some clear and distinct differences between the two candidates. But to act like the world would implode if President Obama get’s reelected is nonsensical fear. The world won’t drastically change come Election Day regardless of who wins, and I’m sure some already know this because you’re reading this after the election. So whether it’s Romney or Obama, your world is not likely to come crashing down around you, unless of course you live in Afghanistan or Pakistan and you’re seeing unmanned drones overhead.

Romney Should Stall for Time While He Has the Lead

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itt Romney overwhelmingly meanor was back and Obama looked like a won the first presidential desperate candidate playing catch-up. Sure, debate. His poll numbers he had a couple of nice zingers but they began surging. (More on came at the cost of looking presidential. that in a moment.) The second debate went The polls have been showing Romney to President Obama but just barely. The surging since the first debate. It’s my belief third debate was important for both men that he’s been surging for much longer than but crucial for Obama. that. The reason his surge was not showI’m a big Carolina basketball fan from ing in the polls is because the polls were way back; old enough to remember Coach oversampling Democrats. A prime example Dean Smith’s four corners offense. That’s is the Pew Research Center poll which was when the Heels would take the lead in a oversampling Democrats before the first detight game toward the end and basically bate by 10 points. After the debate it began just hold the ball until the clock ran out. oversampling Republicans by 5 points. That Opponents hated it. That’s why they instiproduced a 12-point swing, taking Obama tuted the shot clock in college basketball. from 8 points ahead to 4 points behind.

The idea was to keep the other team from Barring some October surprise, I see getting control of the ball and scoring. Of Romney winning by 7 to 8 points in the course, that meant you wouldn’t score anypopular vote with about 285 electoral votes, more points either. That was the strategy I 15 over the 270 needed to win. Of course, suggested for Mitt Romanything can happen. Gloney in the final debate ria Allred, it’s rumored, VIEWS OF A and it looks like he may is standing in the wings have taken my advice. with a woman who says column by Many (me included) Romney “bullied” her PHIL VALENTINE were a bit disappointed when he was her bishop philvalentine.com that he didn’t go after 30 years ago. Seems she Obama harder on the Libya issue. There came to him because she was pregnant and were so many points he could’ve scored. I he urged her to keep her baby. Man, he sure would’ve started something like this. “Mr. sounds like some bully, doesn’t he? Now if President, you and Candy Crowley in the last you advise a woman not to have an abordebate maintained that you referred to the tion you’re somehow evil. Is that all you’ve Benghazi attack the day after as an ‘act of got, Gloria? terror.’ If you knew it the day after, why did But another surprise could be Iran. Note you insist for three weeks that the attack was the president’s language during the final the product of a spontaneous protest that got debate. He said “the clock is ticking” on out of hand over a YouTube video when you Iran. What exactly does that mean? Will knew you were telling a lie?” the alarm go off on, say, Nov. 1? None of That confrontation never happened. us wants Iran to get the nuclear bomb, but Perhaps Romney was smart in making sure I’m not sure the American people are ready it didn’t. One thing Romney learned from for another war in the Middle East. The the second debate is that he, at times, came surprise just might be on Mr. Obama. across as rude. The beauty of the first debate was that he was so darn likeable; more Phil Valentine is an author and nationally so than most people had imagined. He also syndicated radio talk show host with Westcame across as more presidential. wood One. For more of his commentary In the final debate, the old Romney deand articles, visit philvalentine.com.

CONSERVATIVE

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Many (me included) were a bit disappointed that (Romney) didn’t go after Obama harder on the Libya issue. That confrontation never happened. Perhaps Romney was smart in making sure it didn’t.

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LIVING

THE ECO-CONSCIOUS HOME Solar panels, sun room, wood stove and gardens reduce energy use.

talline solar panels with micro inverters on each panel, instead of the more common string inverter which covers the entire array. Micro inverters allow for performance monitoring of individual panels, as opposed to the entire system. String inverters adjust to the weakest link THE IDEA OF WHAT CONSTITUTES in an array, so the efficiency of the entire system a home is ever changing; to the Cherokee it can be hampered by a single panel. Micro meant a movable tipi, to Native Americans inverters are around 30 percent more expensive, in the Northeast it meant a more permanent however. The standard performance guarantee and communal wigwam. The early European for solar panels is 80 percent output after 25 Americans brought with them homes more years. The Lewis’s system is available to view similar to what we might recognize today, even online at enlighten.enphaseenergy.com. There is if only in form. When you currently a 30 percent federal step through the doorway of rebate on the installed price a modern home, you enter an of solar systems, as well as a entirely different beast. The $1,000 TVA rebate when you American home of today is a turn your system on. TVA also dynamic structure and relies guarantees a premium for column by RYAN EGLY primarily on electricity from electricity that a homeowner egly@boropulse.com coal (42 percent), natural gas feeds back into the grid, (25 percent) and nuclear (19 which is similar to Germany’s percent) to feed its voracious appetite. Only 13 successful PV incentive program (Germany, percent of electricity in the US currently comes even with its size and northern location, is a from renewable sources (EIA 2011). world leader in solar.).

Energy production, however, is only one part After the solar panel display, we moved on of the equation. You may be familiar with the to the Lewis’s solar water heater. A 10’ x 40’ motto, “The greenest product is the one you collector sits on top of their roof, which is made never produce.” This idea has the somewhat less of a reflective encasement that houses copfamiliar energy corollary, “The greenest energy per tubing. The unit heats water to about 160 is the kilowatt you never produce.” The US as degrees Farenheit. There are two kinds of solar a whole uses 13 times as much electricity as in water heating systems: direct and indirect. A 1950, 37 percent of which is residential. To help direct system heats the water that enters a hot solve the energy problem, one can turn to buzz water tank. An indirect system makes use of a words like Eco and Green, or you can just look heat exchanger and a transfer fluid, which is the at it as a more common sense approach to home same principle that an AC system or refrigeraenergy. On Oct. 8, Nashville hosted the first antor make use of. A small pump circulates water nual eco home tour, which showcased residenthroughout the system. The latter method, tial energy leaders in our area. although more expensive (the heat exchanger The home of Eric and Beth Lewis is nesunit alone costs around $900), offers some tled just off the Harpeth River, southeast of distinct advantages. An indirect heat exchanger Nashville. From the road, you see the beautiful model achieves a higher efficiency and also shiny black of a 4.2 kW solar array anchored allows for greater flexibility in system design. in concrete directly in front of a PVC-framed Eric estimates that they cover around 75 percent greenhouse. The couple has been shaping their of their water-heating energy this way, with an home for the past 25 years, and there are no approximate seasonal breakdown of 100 percent signs of slowing down. Turnout was great, and in the summer, 75 percent in the fall and spring we were divided into two groups. Eric led the and 50 percent in the winter. energy part of the tour, while Beth concentrated A second, more DIY solar water heater is on the agricultural side. also in the works. It will make use of coroplast, which is the material you see in political yard Eco Home: Perspective I – Energy signs (Solar heating is a far more sensible use, The Lewis’s 4.2 kW solar array was no small inin my not so humble opinion.). Instead of exvestment, costing around $18,000. Eric shopped pensive copper tubing, pex plastic piping will be around for some time, and chose Sundog Solar used, which is now the standard in residential for the installation. They decided on polycrysplumbing. EPDM rubber, aka pond liner, will be

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draped in a plywood box to construct the heat exchanger. Eric estimates that he will need three times the length of pex piping to account for the lower rate of heat transfer (compared to copper).

And as a final note on the DIY water heater, it will be much lighter than the purchased version, and will have to be secured to the roof.

The final part of the energy tour covered Eric’s workshop building, which is heated with passive solar. The concept makes use of a southfacing front room with windows along the front and top. The adjoining workshop, which has an apartment above it, has an insulated concrete floor that is 1 foot thick. Even during the winter months, the sun reaches well into the midpoint of the room, heating the thermal capacitor.

Easily retractable panels allow the room to be isolated at night. A cast iron stove provides additional heating.

Eco Home: Perspective II – Agriculture With food in American grocery stores having a whopping 1,500-food-mile footprint on average, no serious discussion of eco anything can ignore the need for a local food economy. Beth has been an active gardener since helping her grandmother with tomatoes as a child. This portion of the home tour started with a walk through beautiful wooded territory, with seven canine companions darting ahead and behind us all of the way. We passed Pecan, Chinese Chestnut, American Chestnut, Black Walnut, Shag-bark Hickory, mulberry, pear, plum, apple, paw-paw, and cherry trees, and eventually arrived at a wooden deck stretching out a few feet over the Harpeth. We continued through a gate to arrive at a large garden which was then covered in black plastic for the winter. A looming wild pear tree stood in a field next to the garden.

Beyond the garden stood an old house that was ruined in the great Nashville flood of 2010. After touring the grounds, we made our way back to the greenhouse. Beth gave me two varieties of tomatoes to save seeds from: a yellow globe as well as an Italian Myona heirloom.

Eco Home: Perspective III – the craziest tree house I have ever seen Also on the premise was a soaring tree house, straight out of the pages of The Swiss Family Robinson. Eric had just replaced the planks a week before our visit. The structure felt solid, and would be a great location for a coffee and a planning session for the eco revolution. Eric

mentioned one story that, although having no bearing on the eco tour, offers some rich imagery. He and his wife sometimes spend clear nights on the deck of the tree house, with only the stars above them and the animals of the night below them. Tennessee mosquitoes are not a problem 30 feet off the ground. One particular night grew quite stormy, and Eric was left alone in the tree with his mixed Boxer, Max, as the rain and wind beat against the secured window flap. On another occasion, a deer looked up and stared in amazement at the dog above her!

A favorite phrase when discussing any ‘eco’ technology is low-hanging fruit. A solar array is not an example of this, as it comes with some hefty up-front costs. Choosing not to own a clothing dryer, however, is. So is a homemade hot water heater, as well as a solar cooker. There are steps that we can all take to reduce our energy footprint, which in the global context, is gargantuan. On the production side, we can choose programs such as TVA’s Green Power Switch to promote change; on the demand side we can look to energy leaders such Eric and Beth. And perhaps most of all, keep in mind that this stuff is fun! Once you finish your first project, and see your bill start coming down, the idea of a second and a third project will surely follow. You will have something interesting and novel to discuss at church or with friends, rather than the mundane details of some TV show. Before you know it, your neighbors will be strolling by and asking questions, which is also known as community.

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NOVEMBER

EVENTS

Diwali Dhamaka DJ and Dance FIAM invites you to join Diwali celebrations 16 with Indian music, dance and dinner at the Double Tree Hotel (1850 Old Fort Pkwy.) at 7 p.m. In celebration of the Hindu Festival of Lights, Diwali Dhamaka features free Indian dinner, performances, open dancing, and other activities! Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids age 5–13 and $15 for students (with College ID).

NOV.

compiled by ANDREA STOCKARD

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com Autumn in the Oaks Spend your fall field day on the grounds of the elegant Oak2 lands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.). Under the beautiful leaves of fall, teachers and families can guide children through activities, games, and pastimes of autumn from 9 a.m.–noon. Admission is $5 per person. Explore the science, nature, history and art of fall through this self-guided experience. You are invited to bring sack lunches and your own blankets for a good old-fashioned picnic. For more information on this and other events at Oaklands, e-mail mb@oaklandsmuseum.org, call (615) 893-0022 or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

NOV.

Pre-Holiday Arts and Crafts Show The Murfreesboro Parks and 3 Recreation Department will hold a pre-holiday crafts fair on Nov. 3 at Patterson Park Community Center Gym (521 Mercury Boulevard) from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. To reserve a vendor booth, please call Trina Pullum at (616) 893-7439.

NOV.

Christmas Market All your gift-giving favorites NOV. in one place and the perfect 3 reason to jump start the holiday shopping season! Join us Saturday from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Hampton Inn and Suites (325 N. Thompson Ln.) for consultants such as Scentsy, Stella & Dot, Thirty-One, Tastefully Simple and The Pampered Chef! For more information visit the Facebook event at facebook.com/ events/520764864617533/.

Cookin’ to Build Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity Presents Cookin’ To 3 Build at the Murfreesboro Civic Plaza (100 West Vine St.) from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. Choose a unique bowl hand painted at The Pottery Place by community residents of all ages. Use your bowl to enjoy all of the delicious chili, soup and stew you can eat. Booths representing local organizations and Habitat supporters will cook their favorite dishes including desserts and drinks, and enjoy live music provided by The Flea Market Hustlers. Admission is $15.

All proceeds will benefit Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity. For more information, call (615) 890-5877, ext. 6.

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Old Fashioned Quilting Bee Join us for an old-fashioned 8 quilting bee as we gather and quilt a historic piece on a quilt stretcher suspended from the ceiling of the historic Lytle Building of Oalkands Historic House Museaum (900 N. Maney Ave.), from 10 a.m.–noon. Admission is $20; reservations and prepayment are required. For more information, call (615) 893-0022, e-mail mb@oaklandsmuseum.org or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

NOV.

Star Wars to Rachmaninoff: NOV. The Music of Film 8 The Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Joseph Lee will take you on a journey through great music from films in Star Wars to Rachmaninoff: The Music of Film. Kicking off the concert with a medley from Star Wars, the concert will be at First Methodist Church (265 West Thompson Lane) and feature the film music of John Williams, Disney and more.

Admission charged. For more information, visit murfreesborosymphony.com or call (615) 898-1862.

Christmas at Cannonsburgh NOV. Christmas at Cannonsburgh will 9 be in the back of Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Murfreesboro Art League Gallery will be open from 6–9 p.m. with cider/hot chocolate and goodies as part of Christmas at Cannonsburgh. For more information, email suzanne.lebeau@att.net.

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9th Annual Christmas on Madison Avenue HYPE Events Presents the 9th Annual Christmas on Madison

Avenue! Make plans to come shop with over 60 Vendors at Lane Agri Farmer’s Market Community Center (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). From 9 a.m–5 p.m., enjoy art, games, jewelry, candles, purses/ bags, hair accessories, makeup, skin care, jams and jellies, handmade dresses, dolls, kitchen accessories, food, a silent auction and more. There is a $5 entry fee; this years entry fee will benefit Last Call 4 Grace Ministries, a non-profit organization. Any gifts or donations received are tax-deductible and all funding goes toward helping the needy in Murfreesboro.

For more information, visit hypeeventstn. com or lastcall4grace.com or email info@ hypeeventstn.com.

Planet Art Saturday, Nov. 10, from 10 10 a.m.–2 p.m., join local artists at the Discovery Center of Murfree Spring (502 SE Broad St.) as they lead hands-on art/craft projects that highlight environmental awareness and reimagining of the way we consume. Guest artits include Leslie Roberts (“Wetland Mosaic—The importance of our wetlands”), Tara Syester (“What can a plastic bag become?”) and Juli Schumann (“The Art of Recycling”). For more information, please call (615) 890-2300.

NOV.

Apple Pie Moonshine Launch Party 10 Short Mountain Distillery’s (8280 Short Mountain Rd., Woodbury) official launch of their Apple Pie Moonshine is Saturday, Nov. 10. Be sure to bring your lawn chair and favorite jacket and enjoy a day of mule wagon rides, lite lunch served by The Blue Porch and music from the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band. The crew from Hazard Life will also be here with replicas of the entire Dukes of Hazard fleet. Come enjoy free moonshine tastings as well as an opportunity to purchase some of the first bottles of Short Mountain Apple Pie Moonshine! For more

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information, call (615) 216-0830 or visit shortmountaindistillery.com.

Oaklands Annual Membership Luncheon 13 The Oaklands Annual Membership Luncheon will take place in Maney Hall of Oaksland Historic House Museum (900 North Maney Ave.) at 11:30 a.m. Featured speaker to be announced.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling (615) 893-0022.

NOV.

Seventh Annual Celebrity Spelling Bee 13 Say bye-bye to spell check: the seventh annual Celebrity Bee is here. On Nov. 13, fifteen local celebrities will take the stage at Patterson Park Community Center in Murfreesboro to compete for the title of 2012 Spelling Champion.

The event is local literacy non-profit Read To Succeed’s only fundraiser throughout the year, raising essential funds for an adult tutoring program, in-school family literacy programs, ESL classes and dozens of other events in the community aimed at promoting reading. Donations of any size are encouraged in honor of any of the spellers, even if you cannot attend the Bee. For more information on the Celebrity Spelling Bee and to donate and/or to purchase tickets, visit readtosucceed.org, or contact Sarah Porterfield at rtsprograms@readtosucceed. org or (615) 738-7323.

NOV.

MTSU Football Game: MTSU Takes on Troy 24 Come cheer the Blue Raiders on to victory as they take on Troy at 2:30 p.m. at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium on the MTSU campus. Tickets are available at the stadium ticket office or at any Ticketmaster location. Contact MTSU at (615) 8982109 or 1-888-YESMTSU or visit goblueraiders.com.

NOV.

The Fault in Our Stars

by John Green John Green’s bestselling novel The Fault in Our Stars is a story of resilience and determination. It’s a love story, not just between a boy and a girl, but between parents and children. It’s a testimony to the power that one book can have in someone’s life. It’s also a book about cancer.

In Green’s newest novel, we meet Hazel, a 16-year-old with a rare form of childhood cancer. It’s clear from the beginning of the book that Hazel’s cancer is terminal—experimental treatment has already given her many more years than the doctors expected.

Constantly short of breath, Hazel no longer attends school but is able to meet with a support group for teens.

It is there, in the basement of a local church, where Hazel meets Augustus, a 17-year-old cancer survivor himself. Despite Hazel’s terminal diagnosis, love blooms between these two smart, funny teens. It would have been easy for Green’s novel to continue on the path of teen romance. But Fault is bigger than that.

It’s about the meaning of life, about making the most of the time we have on this earth and about the importance

by MICHELLE PALMER of moving on when someone we love passes away.

The Fault in Our Stars shows clearly what it is like to be a person suffering from cancer, but it also shows how to live. As Hazel and Gus’s romance deepens, the two become close in a way that only a life-threatening illness could provide. For years, Hazel has been obsessed with a book entitled An Imperial Affliction, one of those “read again and again until you know it by heart” kinds of books. Through Gus, Hazel is offered the opportunity of a lifetime—she gets to meet the author and ask every question she ever had about the book’s ending. To reveal any more would be to spoil a wonderfully poignant, laughout-loud funny and marvelously written story.

When the One Book committee discussed book choices for this year, The Fault in Our Stars was on the “short list.” But it’s hard to pick a book about cancer. As Hazel says, “cancer books suck.” At its heart, however, Fault is not just a book about cancer—it’s a life-affirming novel that will make you laugh, and cry, and look at terminal illness in a whole new light.

READ TO SUCCEED

BOOK REVIEW

Michelle Palmer is a RTS One Book Committee member, and author of the book blog, Turn of the Page (michellepalmersbooks.blogspot.com). Read To Succeed is the community collaborative created to promote literacy in Rutherford County. The objective of this partnership between schools, area agencies, and businesses is to support local programming and raise awareness about the importance of literacy. For more information and to find out how you can make a difference in Rutherford County’s literacy rates, visitreadtosucceed.org. The opinions expressed in this book review are not necessarily representative of Read To Succeed, but simply intended to promote the joy of reading.

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LIVING Putting Your Garden to Bed

Properly winterize your garden for best results in the spring.

by TERRI DELONG

THERE’S A NIP IN THE AIR, AND THE leaves are fiery colors. Fall is a time for roasting marshmallows, wearing knitted hats and jumping into piles of leaves. It’s also the perfect time for putting your garden to bed for the winter. Winterizing not only makes your garden look prettier in the cold months ahead, but it also makes the work of spring planting much easier. So don’t hang up your tools just yet! It’s a joy to be outside, and there are plenty of things to keep you in your garden a little longer this year.

If you haven’t already, you definitely want to start by cleaning up all dead and decaying plant debris. Although a tidy garden is definitely something to strive for, this is not only for looks. The main reason you want to clear out dead and dying plants is because they may harbor pests and diseases that can over-winter in your soil. This spells disaster for your garden next spring!

Fall is a great time to fertilize your soil.

If you have read any of my previous articles, you’ll know that I highly recommend using all-organic fertilizers. When using organic amendments, it’s beneficial to add them to the soil in the fall. Organic fertilizers are slower

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acting and take a few months before they can be utilized by plants. So if you add them now, you will be giving your seedlings a great start for the next growing season.

Fertilizer Recipe I actually prefer making my own fertilizer. It’s a little more trouble, but much less expensive than buying it pre-mixed in bags.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, here is the recipe I use: 4 measures soybean meal 1/2 measure agricultural lime 1 measure hard rock phosphate 1/2 measure kelp meal 1/4 measure greensand and gypsum You can find all of these ingredients at Farmer’s Co-op.

What I do is scoop these items into a 5-gallon bucket and stir it up with a trowel as I go.

It’s not imperative to add the greensand and gypsum, but they are great sources of trace minerals. The first four ingredients are essential, though, so I wouldn’t stray too far from the measurements. You definitely don’t want to add more than 1/2 measure of lime into the mix.

Lime is important, but if you add too much,

you risk severely upsetting the pH of your soil.

And this can have devastating effects!

Adding Organic Matter Fall is also the perfect time to add organic matter to your soil. There are all kinds of suitable products to buy, but my favorite ones are absolutely free! Fallen leaves are in abundance this time of year and I always take advantage of these. You can add leaves to the soil “as is” or better yet, rake them into short piles and run over them with a lawn mower to shred them first. This will prevent them from blowing around and it will help them break down in the soil more quickly. Coffee grounds are another wonderful addition to your soil.

You need a lot of them to make a difference, though. Don’t worry, you don’t have to drink twenty pots of coffee every day! Just visit any local coffee shop and they will gladly give you a big bag of coffee grounds for free. Manure is one of the best things you can add to your garden to improve soil fertility. If you don’t have a backyard full of farm animals, don’t despair.

Craigslist is a great place to find people who love to give away horse poop!

If I could only tell you only one thing to do

to your garden before winter, it would be to mulch. Most people know the importance of mulching trees, bushes and perennials before winter, but few see the relevance in mulching an empty garden spot. Bare soil is not a good thing for many reasons. Exposure to the elements erodes valuable topsoil, allows weeds to flourish and degrades the structure of the soil. If you use an organic mulch, such as straw or leaves, you’ll also be enriching your soil.

When soil microbes feed on the mulch, natural humic acids are released which make nutrients more readily available to plants. Mulch also helps control soil temperature which protects earthworms and other beneficial creatures living underground. I always add a thick layer of straw to my garden, but any organic mulch will do. Grass clippings, chopped leaves, pine needles and shredded bark are a few. Just make sure you rake the mulch back at least two weeks prior to planting in the spring.

These are a few of the things you can do to help the fertility and health of your garden.

You can do these any time of the year but if you get these crucial chores out of the way now, you’ll be ahead of the game once the weather turns warm in the spring.

PICK UP THOSE KNEES! Justus David places first in Middle Half.

I

t’s been a while, runners of the ‘Boro, but downhill stretch through the honky tonks of don’t worry, I’ve not ditched running. I’ve been Broadway.” The ensuing block party in front of out there, trying to do about 15 miles a week. the Hard Rock Cafe will fully reward participants I’ve had a little inspiration; I’ve been utiwith music, food and Michelob Ultra. The race lizing the Nike Running app to track distance will also award prizes for the best costumes. and pace, and it’s a handy way to record data On Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 22, in and to have a tangible number to look at to Murfreesboro, Borodash once again will invite represent all of the hard running work. runners to participate in its 4-mile event. This It seems to be fairly accurate most of the course originates at MTSU’s Dean Hayes time, but is definitely not 100 percent reliable; Track and Soccer Stadium and travels to the sometimes it reports a different distance for the Public Square and back. exact same route I ran previously. Still, it isn’t The charities supported by Borodash include too far off calibration, and seeing those miles Neema House, an outreach to orphaned add up on the smartphone screen is yet another children and broken families in Tanzania, reason to get out and pound the pavement.

Greenhouse Ministries and the Interfaith Dental Another inspiring number: 66. The winner of Clinic. There’s some more motivation for you to the latest local half marathon venture out to run on Thankscompleted the course winding giving morning; your registrathrough beautiful Murfreestion fee goes to help those who boro, Tenn., in just 66 minutes. need some assistance. column by That’s 13 miles, people!

To register or for more inforBRACKEN MAYO MTSU Blue Raider Justus mation, visit borodash.org.

David, who hails from Kenya If you must be in Nashville on and usually competes in 5 and 10Ks, placed Thanksgiving morning, the 2012 Boulevard Bolt, first in the 2012 Murfreesboro Half Marathon, a 5-mile run/walk, also aims to help out those the Middle Half, posting a 1:06:38 time, just right here in Middle Tennessee. This race begins one second ahead of his Kenyan countryman at St. George’s Episcopal Church (4715 Harding Daniel Kirwa.

Rd., Nashville) at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 22.

Amanda Dunne led the ladies in the Oct. 13 This event, a joint effort between St. race, with a time of 1:18:15.

George’s, The Temple and Immanuel Baptist November offers a unique opportunity to Church, distributes money to dozens of different post a negative time in a 5k, as the Anything is mid-state charities that work with the homeless, Possible race will be held in Nashville at 1:50 and invites other agencies to partner with them. a.m., Sunday, Nov. 4, to coincide with the end You may have some company if you run this of Daylight Savings Time. one; last year approximately 8,500 runners The 5k will be at Opry Mills, and proceeds and walkers registered for the annual fundraiser. will benefit Team Red, White and Blue, an orSince the Boulevard Bolt began in 1994, more ganization that enriches the lives of wounded than $2 million has been distributed among dozveterans and their families by supporting their ens of local agencies that serve the homeless. reintegration into society through a social To register or for more information, visit leadership-based community. boulevardbolt.org.

For more information, call (615) 514-1100 So get out there and register for a competior visit anythingispossible5k.com. tive road race. Don’t worry about everyone On Saturday, Nov. 3, at 8:30 a.m., the crossing the finish line before you do. Just Snyder Foundation 5K Run/Walk For The Kids push yourself to cross it, and train to cut that kicks off at the Smyrna Walmart, 570 Enon time down next time.

Springs Rd., Smyrna. This event benefits the This issues’ brief tip is to really pick up Smyrna Fraternal Order of Police’s Cops and those legs as you move along; don’t just shufKids for Christmas Program. fle along and kick your feet behind you. Bring For those who missed the Middle Half, or the knees up high with each step; incorporate are otherwise wanting to take on the 13 miles the “high knees” along with the “butt kicks” of a half marathon, the Hard Rock Cafe Nashand make every stride count. If you’re having ville 1/2 Marathon will be Saturday, Nov. 10, at soreness in the hamstrings, on the back of the 7 a.m. at 1st Aveune and Broadway. leg, post-running, this can help split the load The route takes runners through some of between those muscles and the quads in front Nashville’s most beautiful and historic scenery, and the glute muscles, so it’s not just the hamincluding The Gulch and East Nashville and strings’ pulling motion doing all of the work. the last quarter mile finishes “on a triumphant Alright, I have to run. Run strong.

RUN STRONG

Chest Presses and Lat Pulldowns Push and pull workout routines are not new to fitness and they are very simple. Those qualities are benefits, not detriments. This theory has been around forever because it is effective. Utilizing opposing muscle groups in a super set format is not only effective in delivering a maximum blood flow and developing an increased heart rate, it also maximizes your time in the gym. In almost the same time it takes a lifter to complete one exercise effecting one muscle group, one can do opposing exercises and affect two muscle groups.

The push pull workout gets its name due to the way your muscles are grouped. Push muscles (Chest, anterior and lateral deltoids, and triceps) are utilized by pushing or raising weight away from the body, pull muscles (back, posterior deltoids, and biceps) are utilized by pulling weight to the body. In this edition of the push and pull workout we’ll group the lat pulldown, a “pull” exercise that utilizes your back and biceps, with a dumbbell chest press that utilizes your chest, shoulders and triceps. These exercises should be performed back to back in a series followed by a 60–90 second break. Perform 4 sets of 10–12 reps to fully exhaust all of the muscle groups.

Lat Pulldown  The equipment for the Lat Pulldown is a cable pulley station with adjustable selectable weights and adjustable seat.

GETTING SET: • Adjust the seat so the thigh pads are comfortable on the top of the legs and your knees are at a 90-degree angle.

• Grab the bar with an overhand grip and sit on the seat with legs under the pads.

MOVEMENT: • Keeping the back flat, pull the bar to just below chin level.

• Squeeze the shoulder blades together during

the movement focusing on driving the elbows downward.

• Do not to force the bar any lower your collar bone and always make sure your wrists are above your elbows.

• Return the bar to full extension and repeat.

 Dumbbell Chest Press The equipment needed for this press is a flat bench and a pair of dumbbell weights.

GETTING SET: • Lie on the flat bench, dumbbell in each hand and your feet flat on the ground.

• Position the dumbbells slightly below the shoulders with upper arms at 45 degrees to the body with elbows forward of the shoulder line to avoid stress on the shoulder joint. The palms should face forward.

• Engage ab muscles and keep a good posture trying not to flatten out the back on the bench. Keep your five points of contact stable (head, upper shoulders, gluteus and each foot).

MOVEMENT: • Push the dumbbells away from the body. The dumbbells should travel in a slight arc and meet over the top of the chest.

• Do not forcefully lock out your elbows at the top of the movement.

• Always move the dumbbells in a controlled, smooth motion.

None of your points of contact should raise off the bench or the floor during the lift and you should ensure you do not flatten your back at the top of the lift.

• Lower the dumbbells again in a controlled, smooth motion to the starting position.

— BARRY CAMPBELL

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LIVING An Arts Academy For Pre-Schoolers BRAVO PERFORMANCE ACADEMY, located at 216 W. Vine St., opened earlier this year to offer classes for children in dance, acting, music and more.

These sessions include a Wednesday morning Mom’s Morning Out. Here, young performers ages 2–5 can be dropped off and encouraged to express themselves through music, crafts, songs, dance, tumbling, games, storytime and other organized activities.

There are plenty of sessions offered for older youth, too, and plans for classes and workshops range from yoga to presentations of full productions from Alice in Wonderland to Annie.

For more information on what’s going on at Bravo, visit bravoperformanceacademy.com.

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Youngsters had a great time playing instruments, tumbling, making crafts, listening to stories and more at Bravo.

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FOOD

One of Toot's delicious half-pound burgers.

(Right) The fantastically crispy and huge onion rings aren’t cut and breaded until an order is placed.

GOOD GOOD FOOD, FUN

County’s first full-service restaurant survives test of time. story and photos by BRACKEN MAYO

A

lot has changed since 1985.

You want to head over to Toot’s for a chicken finger basket with some ranch dressing on the side for dipping?

Not happening in the restaurant’s early years.

“We didn’t have chicken fingers the first 10 years we were in business,” says Toot’s owner Wade Hayes. “Nobody had heard of chicken fingers then.

“We didn’t have ranch dressing yet. It wasn’t popular; people ate blue cheese back then,” Hayes continues. “We didn’t have catfish in the early days. We served white fish. Catfish was something you ate when you went fishing. It wasn’t raised and distributed like it is now.”

Of course, going to Toot’s originally meant traveling to the corner of Broad Street and Medical Center Parkway (f.k.a. Lokey Avenue) and not to the other locations the company would later add on South Church Street in Murfrees-

Read more about local restaurants at:

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boro, Sam Ridley Parkway in Smyrna and in Bowling Green, Ky., and Cincinnati.

Toot’s did offer a few of their time-tested tasty items right off the bat.

“We brought Buffalo wings, fried pickles into the arena,” Hayes said. “Nobody in Middle Tennessee served Buffalo wings until Toot’s did.”

Of course, technology and ways to reach customers have changed drastically since then too.

“Four years ago, I was the guy who was writing up managers for being on Facebook while they were at work,” Hayes says. “Now, it’s mandatory. You’re written up if you’re not on Facebook promoting,” Today, after a couple of decades of evolution, occasional menu additions, tweaks here and there and a steady growth trend upwards, Toot’s stands ingrained as a legitimate piece of Murfreesboro culture, as much a part of the city’s landscape and history as MTSU or the Stones River Battlefield.

The business has become a huge fan of local athletics as well. Toot’s supports the MTSU Blue Raiders and area high school athletic programs with its money and messaging; often, when Murfreesboro’s hardest-throwing MLB hurler David Price takes the mound, the restaurant’s sign invites hungry customers to come in and watch the game that evening on TV as they dine.

One can always catch up on

THE DISH NAME: Toot's LOCATIONS: 860 NW Broad 860 NW Broad St.; 2992 S. Church St.; 301 Sam Ridley Parkway W., Smyrna PHONE: (615) 898-1301 PRICES: Tricycle Sampler (pick 3 appetizers): $9.97; Grilled Cajun chicken salad: $7.88; Half-pound burger: $4.99; Full rack of ribs platter: $14.66 ($10.99 on Sunday!)

ONLINE: toots.com

news from the Vietnam war and MTSU’s baseball season from decades ago as Toot’s adorns its tables with newspapers from years past.

Toot’s is known far and wide for its wings and pickle chips and is surely the most popular spot in the county for oysters.

The onion rings are awesome; the massive circles of onion are coated in a wonderful light, crispy breading and are perfectly salted and seasoned. Come to find out, the onion rings are not even sliced and battered, let alone fried, until the customer orders them.

For something unique, try the frog leg basket, served with a tasty cherry mustard sauce.

The restaurant is usually hoppin’ during lunch (there’s almost always room for one more though), thanks in large part to the

rotating lunch specials, such as the $4.99 chicken finger basket.

“We raised them a dollar last year,” (from $3.99) Hayes says. “Most people didn’t notice.

It’s still a great deal, and to only raise it a dollar over the past 20 years is saying a lot.”

Today, not only can you can order chicken fingers, you can request them tossed in one of Toot’s sauces, if you like.

Recent additions to the menu include bacon cheese fries, a new and improved steak sandwich with an 8 oz. ribeye, BBQ sliders and cheeseburger sliders. Hayes says the Toot’s team worked for months perfecting their sliders before he would allow them on the menu.

“I love the concept of a small hamburger, but every time I’d order a slider out some-

where, no matter how much I paid for it, it would be dry and tough. Try a Toot’s slider and tell me if it isn’t juicy,” he says.

Another recent development for Toot’s, their sauces are now available by the bottle, mail-order. Hot, medium and mild wing sauce, BBQ sauce and honey mustard bottle are all available at shoptoots.com, along with shirts, hats, gift cards and more.

The beers offered at Toot’s have changed quite a bit over the years as well. They now offer a selection of imports and craft beers to evolve with changing palates and culture and have replaced the smaller handle mugs with pint glasses.

“In the ’90s, people didn’t drink draft imports. They just didn’t do it . . . it would be like sweet tea in Cincinati,” Hayes says with a laugh, noting that sales of sweet tea in the Cincinnati store did not immediately explode, but Toot’s more Northern customers have since developed a taste for the sweet Southern beverage.

“We wanted all of our restaurants to have the same food, the same product, the same music; hours of operation, the specials are the same,” Hayes said. “But they still all have different identities. In Cincinnati, people are all wearing jerseys with big X’s on them, for Xavier. They don’t know what MTSU is. Same

thing here. People love MTSU, but don’t really know what Xavier University is.

“Do you know what Xavier University is,” Hayes asks one of the Toot’s servers, taking a quick informal survey.

“Is that one of the online universities?” she replies.

“See?” Hayes says.

The oldest full-service restaurant in Rutherford County has seen plenty of other restaurants come and go over the decades. Hayes stays very aware of their coming and going, in fact. He keeps a timeline of when any restaurant that may present competition for Toot’s opened, and approximately two-thirds of them have a line through them indicating that they have since closed. (Anyone remember Cooker, Santa Fe, Davy Crockett’s, Schlotzsky’s Deli, Fuddrucker’s, Puffing Billy’s? The list goes on and on.)

“Chili’s and Hooters opened up the same month on me,” Hayes says, pointing to late 1996 on his timeline. “I couldn’t sleep that month; I thought ‘the plane is crashing.’”

But sure enough, though sales took a brief dip, the people of Murfreesboro continued supporting Toot’s, the home of good food and fun.

Opening the second location on Church Street is a testament to the city’s, and the company’s, growth.

“We scored a good deal over there. We look at I-24 as the Mississippi River. (Broad Street) takes everything on this side, Toot’s South pulls from the neighborhoods on their side,” he says.

Having the second location was incredibly fortunate for the company in the spring of 2011, when damage from a tornado forced the original location to close for repairs.

“When those storms hit here, the business at Toot’s South spiked,” Hayes says.

While Hayes has clearly poured a lot of time and energy into Toot’s over the years, he is quick to credit his team around him for a lot of the company’s success.

“We have a great director of operations, Bill McCrary,” Hayes says. “John Floyd became a partner in 2007 to help finance growth.

“Endeavor Marketing and Media allowed me to open Toot’s South. Harold and Jason came in and sat in my office for two days, and they explained to me how Facebook works, how Twitter works, how social networking works. Those guys are marketing geniuses . . . We are so blessed to have Lewis Bakery right here, which is a major bread company, right across the street. We get buns fresh every morning.”

In his time capsule of an office, surrounded

by Toot’s posters, menus, sales data and imagery from years past and a prominent sign reminding him that “Success is a journey, not a destination,” Hayes grows reflective as he talks of his restaurant, his career, his family, his employees.

“I’ll be 50 this coming year, and I’ve been sitting in this same seat since I was 24,” he says. “I was back here when I was 24 and they (many members of the Toot’s staff ) were 22.

Now, I’m almost 50 . . . and they’re still 22.”

BOROPULSE.COM

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NOVEMBER 2012

* 17

SOUNDS

Remembering Roland

Murfreesboro remembers local Jazz guitarist Roland Gresham, who passed away Oct. 18 at the age of 78.

G

story by JESSICA PACE

resham was known widely as the guitar aficionado from The Roland Gresham Trio who also jammed with the likes of Etta James.

Locally, he was known as a man who would jam with the other locals, as the guy who played Sundays at Bluesboro and the Boro, and a lot of other area venues—and as a friend.

The memories Murfreesboro built with the guitar virtuoso preserve Gresham as what he is—a tremendous talent lost but not forgotten. Friends of Gresham’s, young and old, from Murfreesboro and beyond, remember Gresham’s small kindnesses, great faith, immense talent and warm heart:

“He was a brief mentor for me when I was living in Murfreesboro in the late ’90s. My band at the time, Signal, asked him to come in and record on this jazzy second line style number we put on our album, and he humbly agreed to come help out some local youngsters, which we were so psyched about. I always had so much respect for him and his music, and he was a genuinely warm and vibrant personality. He will be missed.”

– SCOTT HALL I think just about every musician that has set foot on stage in Murfreesboro after Roland has been either directly or indirectly influenced by him. I had the great honor to get to sit in with him a few years ago on a New Year’s Eve performance, and I’m so grateful that I did. R.I.P. Roland—I have a hunch Jesus is a jazz lover.”

– CJ VAUGHN, Murfreesboro blues artist “A long time ago when a path was being forged, a web was being woven and a spell was being cast, I used to meet up with Dwayne Buzz Gibson at The Boro to hear Roland Gresham on Sunday nights. It’s a tiny, dark venue where the fine sounds of a tremendous jazz guitar player could be heard in a town where real music sadly takes a backseat to karaoke and American Idol. He let me get up and sing ‘At Last’ with him once. It was fabulous. And ironic.

And foreshadowing. We will miss you, 18 * NOVEMBER 2012 * BOROPULSE.COM

The Roland Gresham Trio: (from left) Roland Gresham, Avent Lane, Dallas Starke

Roland, and I will always treasure the times I was allowed to share in your music.”

– JOLIE C. BELL, singer/songwriter “Until the end, Roland wanted to talk about the passion of his life—music and guitar. I visited him in his final days and told him how much I loved him, his music and influence on local guitarists. His body was frail and weak which belied his exuberance of spirit. He smiled proudly when he told me about a recent visit from his son, Roland Jr. Roland Jr. had inherited his father’s guitar abilities, and Roland proclaimed how his son could “run the keys off that guitar!” Roland was self-taught and in most ways a ‘do-ityourself’ man. He built his own house, dug his own septic system and did it the old-fashioned way with his legendary massive hands. The same large, strong and calloused hands that could also dance lightly around the guitar fret board, delicately playing a jazz standard like ‘Misty’ or ‘Tenderly,’ and indeed, run the keys off of that guitar.”

– LARRY PINKERTON, Murfreesboro jazz artist “He was a vital part of the Murfreesboro music scene for years and years. He was quite an inspiration to me when I first discovered the world of music and bass. He

truly, truly played purely for the love of it.

R.I.P. good sir.”

– MARC WILLIAMS

the arms of your maker Mr. Gresham and Godspeed to your family and loved ones.”

– TONY LEHEW

Happy I got to sing with him several times back in the day at The Boro . . . figured I was doin’ something right if he would invite me up to do one with him. Roland was one-of-a-kind in many different respects.

– TREV WOOTEN

“Roland was a very special man. He played my wife’s favorite song, ‘At Last,’ for our first dance at our wedding, with Dallas [Starke] singing. Truly a loss of a great human being.”

– JONATHAN HOBSON

“I took a few lessons from the elder Mr. Gresham, many years ago; he was an amazing guitar player and very nice man. I know that he played the Chitlin’ Circuit back in his younger day and he once told me he gave a guitar lessons to Jimi Hendrix. The world lost a real piece of history and a beautiful sound is silenced. The sound he gets from his style could not be duplicated.

Although we were not personal friends, I still feel a loss that he is gone. Rest well in

“I was hoping he would live forever.”

– LANE ROGERS “Wow, what an inspiration this man was. If you lived in Murfreesboro, I hope you had the pleasure of knowing Roland Gresham.”

– RON COOK The memories Murfreesboro built with the guitar virtuoso preserve Gresham as what he is—a tremendous talent lost but not forgotten.

BOROPULSE.COM

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NOVEMBER 2012

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SOUNDS

“IN MY TIME OF TRIALS”

David Allan Coe to perform at Main St. Live Nov. 3 story by BRYCE HARMON

O

ver the course of a long life and exceptional musical career, 73-year-old Akron, Ohio, native and outlaw country blues singer/songwriter/guitarist, David Allan Coe, has come to know the polar opposite core emotions love and hate as the two sentiments have always found the guitarist as a team, as his career’s highs and lows have conflicted simultaneously over the course of the last 40 years. Love and hate are seen and heard together coming out his song writing, personal life and from the attention he has received over the years through critic, peer and fan praise as well as their undeniable contempt for some aspects of Coe’s career. In other words, Coe has written immensely popular hits for the likes of Tanya Tucker and others, all the way to some

20 * NOVEMBER 2012 * BOROPULSE.COM

of the most racially derogative lyrics written in the country rock genre. Whichever side of the fence you’re sitting on, though, rest assured that the famously infamous Coe is bringing all he is to the stage of Main St. Live (formerly 527 and Gilligan’s, among other names) the night of Saturday, Nov. 3, with special guests The Screaming Boweevils and Plowd opening for him while the recently local fixture, Jason and the Punknecks, will perform an after party at the venue once Coe finishes his set.

Off to a nice Akron start for the first eight years of his life, Coe got in somewhat of a childhood before, at the age of nine, he was shipped off to a reform school in the area, giving way to a life in and out of developmental correction facilities until he was shy of 30 years old. Fortunately,

the love found in such a hateful environment controversial song, “Nigger Fucker,” deemed, sparked from going in as a fan of Memphis “among the most racist, misogynist, homophorhythm and blues singer, Johnny Ace, which led bic and obscene songs recorded by a popular Coe to a friendship with fellow inmate and presongwriter,” according to New York Times writer shock rocker, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins of “I Put a Neil Strauss in 2000, whom Coe responded to Spell on You” fame, who put Coe on the mindset appropriately as an envelope-pushing artist of to write his own music. Even in such a racially his time such as Eminem was during the time charged environment as a 1950s and ’60s prison Strauss issued his review). setting, Coe had a good head on his shoulders; Nonetheless, after releasing his two most connever defeated by the abuse he caught from troversial albums that have stuck to his reputawhite inmates for having friends with a different tion more than anything else he’s accomplished, color skin and with the inspiration from his jail and along with a string of mainstream successes buddies, the freshly paroled Coe of 1967 traveled as other artists, as well as filmmakers, used down to live in a hearse parked around the Ryhis songs for their own productions, Coe, after man Auditorium in hopes of all his success, fell off the being picked up by the Grand success train as the Internal Ole Opry, but instead, the Revenue Service took his opportunity to sign with an home in Key West after some WHO: David Allan Coe, independent label, Plantation back taxes Coe owed were Screemin’ Boweevils, Records, happened before any discovered, eventually and Plowd, Jason and the potential Opry fame. literally leaving the songPunknecks From there, Coe found writer with nowhere to live WHERE: Main St. Live, 527 527 W. Main St. himself in the middle of the outside of a Tennessee cave beginning musician’s dream: until he had the opportunity WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 3 Releasing his country-blues to marry and get himself PRICES: $20, $30 (balcony) raucous of a debut album, together for a resurgence in ONLINE: Search Main St. Penitentiary Blues, in January popularity and career re-boot Live on Facebook of 1969 that earned him an in the early 1980s. During opening spot on Grand Funk Railroad’s tour that that time, Coe belted out chart-topping Billboard year as well as a songwriting credibility taken hits such as “The Ride” in 1983, “Mona Lisa Lost advantage of by the likes of Tanya Tucker for her Her Smile” in ’84 and “She Used to Love Me a 1973 #1 hit, “Would You Lay with Me (In a Field Lot,” in ’85. In the early 1990s, seemingly in spite of Stone),” that eventually graduated Coe from of and in the eyes of his rebound success, he beginner-musician’s status to the roster of Coreissued Nothing Sacred and Underground Album lumbia Records for being one of Nashville’s hoton CD as CDs were becoming the hip music metest songwriters during the mid 1970s. It sounds dium, afterwards taking time and his repertoire like a head-spinning turn of events for someone on the road around the world for the following coming from such a rough past, but however decade. Coe stuck to the road plan, only releashard his head spun, it put the man’s noggin’ in a ing one other album, Rebel Meets Rebel (recorded loving place as success came rolling in. with a majority of Pantera, including Dimebag After enjoying the fame of a sought-after Darrell), as an outstanding representation of Nashvillian country music writer, Coe was on a what the not-so-well-known genre of country high horse, living down in Key West, schmoozmetal and released just shortly after Darrell’s oning with the likes of other famous lyricists stage murder in 2006. such as Shel Silverstein who, according to the Since then, David Allan Coe’s just been touralbum’s story-to-publication, talked Coe into ing for the masses that can never get enough of independently producing a couple of bootleg, the country/rock bluesman’s rasp and praised underground records, 1978’s Nothing Sacred and guitar chops. And now, Murfreesboro finally 1982’s Underground Album, which both writers brings him in for the local folks fascinated with recognized as somewhat comedic productions the long-haired, Ohio-born, heathen of a success despite hateful content (such as Coe’s most story, David Allan Coe.

IF YOU GO:

CONCERT LISTINGS

WED, 11/21 3 BROTHERS Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night BUNGANUT PIG Cover Me Badd

Send your show listings to listings@boropulse.com

THURS, 11/1 3 BROTHERS No Strings Attached BONHOEFFERS Keturah Brown, Dakota Lindstrom, Diamond Tucker, Stevie Woodward BUNGANUT PIG Dirty Proper JOZOARA Rik Gracia MAIN STREET LIVE Flummox, The Buddy System SAUNDERS FINE ARTS Jazz Combo Recital

FRI, 11/2 3 BROTHERS Dirty Cherry BUNGANUT PIG Corbitt Brothers FANATICS John Salaway GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Phoenix Rising WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Matt Cantrell, Don Aliquo, Rick Mraz, Paula VanGoes Faculty Saxophone Recital

SAT, 11/3 3 BROTHERS Aaron Williams & the Hoodoo BUNGANUT PIG Zone Status GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Fire & Ice MAIN STREET LIVE David Allen Coe WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Saxophone Festival

SUN, 11/4 3 BROTHERS Creative Mic Night with Lee Miller BUNGANUT PIG Kelly Lee Culbreath WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Michael Petrone, Luke Ziegler Senior Vocal Recital, Andrea Dawson, Lillian Pearson

MON, 11/5 3 BROTHERS Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night JOZOARA Songwriter’s Night WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Jazz Ensemble II

TUES, 11/6 JOZOARA Bob & Linda LIQUID SMOKE Bellwether WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Singers

WED, 11/7 3 BROTHERS Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Clarinet Choir

THURS, 11/8 BONHOEFFERS My Anchor Holds, Mirrors, Little Moses BUNGANUT PIG Reckless Revival

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Murfreesboro Symphony: Star Wars to Rachmaninoff: The Music of Film JOZOARA Rik Gracia MAIN STREET LIVE Dieselboy, Maximillian, Skinny B THE BORO The Incredible Heat Machine Reunion Show WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Jazz Combos

FRI, 11/9 BUNGANUT PIG Gravel Road Gypsies FANATICS Chasing Lovely LIQUID SMOKE Winslow Family Band MAIN STREET LIVE Arpetrio THE BORO PADAMN!, The Runaway Teeth WALL STREET AJ & the Jiggawatts, Smooth Dialects WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Rebecca Johnson, Student Woodwind Chamber Laura Ann Ross

SAT, 11/10 3 BROTHERS Mike Palmer & Friends BUNGANUT PIG Greez Monkeez FANATICS Christine Parri GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Stoopid Cool Stones River Country Club Evening of Swing THE BORO Reggae Spirit: Authentic Reggae Band from Caribbean WALL STREET Dirk Quinn, Sky Hi WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Brass clinic

THURS, 11/22 JOZOARA Rik Gracia

 DIESELBOY, MAXIMILIAN AND SKINNY B,

THURSDAY, NOV. 8 @ MAIN ST. LIVE Beats are what’s in store for you tonight at Main Street Live: Maximilian and Skinny B join up with Dieselboy, aka Damian Higgins, the Brooklyn dubstep DJ who is not only known as a drum and bass pioneer, but one who’s has an incredible festival résumé and founded/co-founded record labels Human Imprint and SubHuman.

TUES, 11/13 JOZOARA Bob & Linda LIQUID SMOKE Bellwether WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Salsa Bands

WED, 11/14 3 BROTHERS Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night BUNGANUT PIG Dirty Cherry THE BORO Looka Looka Looka WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Guitar Ensemble, A John Cage Celebration

THURS, 11/15 BONHOEFFERS East Main, Almost December, Nuclear Bubblewrap BUNGANUT PIG John Sutton Band JOZOARA Rik Gracia WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Jazz Ensemble I

SUN, 11/11

FRI, 11/16

3 BROTHERS Creative Mic Night with Lee Miller WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Angela DeBoer (horn), Lillian Pearson (piano) Faculty Recital, String recital I, String recital II

3 BROTHERS Dennis & the Menace BUNGANUT Pig Marshall Creek FANATICS Greez Monkeez GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Monkey Wrench THE BORO Sproul Heights WALL STREET Tuscarora THE WALNUT HOUSE Montezuma Fire Machine, Funkanauts, AFRO

MON, 11/12 JOZOARA Songwriter’s Night WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Aulos Ensemble

PULSE PICK

WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Wind Ensemble

SAT, 11/17 3 BROTHERS Holiness Movement, Spybox, Fallopian Tube Tops BUNGANUT PIG Dirty Cherry FANATICS Top Chelf FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Cavendar Lane Senior Trombone Recital GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR South Delta Moon WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. D.J. Creech Graduate Trumpet Recital, Elizabeth Elliott Junior Vocal Recital

SUN, 11/18 3 BROTHERS Creative Mic Night with Lee Miller SAUNDERS FINE ARTS Caitlin Calvert Senior J azz Violin Recital WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Laura Ann Ross (oboe), Arunesh Nadgir (piano) Faculty Recital, Sarah Wade, Lynn Rice-See (piano)

MON, 11/19 JOZOARA Songwriter’s Night WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Brooke Huffman, Senior Percussion Recital

TUES, 11/20 LIQUID SMOKE Bellwether JOZOARA Bob & Linda

 WINSLOW FAMILY BAND

FRIDAY, NOV. 9 @ LIQUID SMOKE It’s been a minute since Winslow Family Band did a Murfreesboro gig. What began as a soul/funk band in 2007 has evolved slowly into something more rock leaning. They’ve also had some interesting side projects of late, including Juan De Winslow's solo album El Mundo Entero and Zach Matthews’ band Fresh Hats Tight Beats has a new 7" inch single, Course Clear!

Singer/songwriter Sean Armbruster opens.

3 Brothers 223 W. Main St. 410-3096 Bonhoeffer’s 610 Dill Lane 202-3517 Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd.

893-7860

FRI, 11/23

PUL SE PICK

IF YOU GO:

3 BROTHERS Sugar Lime Blue BUNGANUT PIG Groove Addiction FANATICS John Salaway GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Fire & Ice

SAT, 11/24 FANATICS Chris & Elle Viget GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Class X MAIN STREET LIVE Lobo, Stigma Strain THE BORO The Buddy System

SUN, 11/25 3 BROTHERS Creative Mic Night with Lee Miller

MON, 11/26 JOZOARA Songwriter’s Night WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Flute Choir, Don Aliquo (saxophone) Faculty Recital

Fanatic’s 1850 Old Fort Pkwy.

494-3995 First United Methodist Church 265 West Thompson Lane JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822 Main St. Live 527 W. Main St. 439-6135 Murfreesboro/ Center for the Arts 110 W. College St. 904-ARTS The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800 The Walnut House TKTK 118 Walnut St. 669-1166 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090 Wright Music Bldg.

1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 898-2493

TUES, 11/27 JOZOARA Bob & Linda LIQUID SMOKE Bellwether

SAT, 12/1

WED, 11/28 3 BROTHERS Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night BUNGANUT PIG Your Imaginary Friends WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Twas Brass Before Christmas

THURS, 11/29 BONHOEFFERS Parker Deal & Friends BUNGANUT PIG Martin Rodriguez JOZOARA Rik Gracia WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Women’s Chorale

3 BROTHERS Nathan Stickman Band, Nathan Thomas Band BUNGANUT PIG Atomic Trunk Monkeys MAIN STREET LIVE Moon Taxi WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Maureen Moeller, Erin McDaniel, Lynn Rice-See

SUN, 12/2 3 BROTHERS Creative Mic Night with Lee Miller WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Handel’s Messiah, MTSU Symphony Orchestra Concert

FRI, 11/30

MON, 12/3

3 BROTHERS The Enablers BUNGANUT PIG Nick Carver Band FANATICS Zone Status MAIN STREET LIVE Yo Mamas Big Fat Booty Band SAUNDERS FINE ARTS Matt Lund (jazz guitar) Faculty Recital with The Lund McVey Group WALL STREET Laser Flames, Battle Path, Now the Never WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Emily Jones Sr. Flute Recital

JOZOARA Songwriter’s Night WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Handel’s Messiah

TUES, 12/4 JOZOARA Bob & Linda LIQUID SMOKE Bellwether WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. MTSU Symphonic Band

WED, 12/5 WRIGHT MUSIC BLDG. Commercial Music Ensemble

BOROPULSE.COM

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NOVEMBER 2012

* 21

ALBUM REVIEWS

Saul Zonana

The Ocean Architecture

It’s hard to believe that the multi-talented multi-instrumentalist of Crash Test Dummies fame is living right in Murfreesboro. Saul Zonana, whose accomplishments include a producing career, touring with Deep Purple and The Animals (yes, really) and an extensive solo career, just added a tenth solo album to his résumé called Fix the Broken. This work, though far Zonana’s first in producing, singing, songwriting or playing, is possibly his most important.

Always striving to progress as a songwriter with each subsequent release, Zonana’s Fix the Broken is about as all-encompassing of its writer’s career as it gets. As someone who has written songs since the age of three, Zonana’s had a hand in playing, writing and recording music from the ’70s up to the present, and the result is a record with straightforward, expressive songwriting and fine-tuned instrumentation – but with no definitive genre. Fix the Broken is 10 genre-less songs whose sound spans the decades and are infectious, sugary, clean, polished and accessible in topic and sonic appeal to just about anyone.

The artist’s intent here seems to be more about the “doing” of the record – writing what he was thinking, playing what sounded good, producing the album – than trying to make the album itself “do” anything. That, in itself, is one of Fix the Broken’s most attractive qualities. Good for him – after all, there’s little left for Zonana to prove musically.

Zonana’s vocals are infuriatingly smooth and reassuring, crooning over meticulously arranged instrumentation done entirely by Zonana save for percussion and a bit of piano and cello at AI Nashville and Murfreesboro’s Studio Z. Fix the Broken, which can be narrowed down no further than calling it a collection of pop songs in a classic rock frame, is irrefutably well-constructed by someone who’s had a lifetime of practice.

Spread out in recording studios in Delaware, Maryland and Tennessee, Murfreesboro metalheads Ocean Architecture released debut album Animus in March this year, an experimental storybook of prog metal described as a “musical entity that tells an unfolding story about doubt, anger, perception, confusion, fear, insanity and enlightenment,” in the band’s words. In The Pulse’s words, the eight-track project, written between September 2010 and June 2011, has a lot to say, its shortest song clocking in at over five minutes.

What began as Kyle Standifer (guitar), Nic Giordano (drums) and Joe Dorsey (keys) expanded to a five-piece in March 2011 with Parker Deal (vocals, acoustic guitar, flute) and Eric Hodge (bass). Each track of Animus has multiple phases, beginning with the first track “Metatheory”, which is also the first song written as a band. The opener plunges into a deep sea of prog rock; cold, precise piano flourishes join up with somber vocals for part one. The tempo picks up, and the song’s hardcore integrity is wrecked by electronic-sounding spasms that choke the guitars, then it drifts into operatic ambient bliss, finishing with more erratic noise that sounds like a skee-ball game ending. That’s only track one.

Dreamy keys raindropping through nightmarish guitars are captivating on “The Last Stand” with abrasive vocals strung over clean instrumentation. All of Animus’s instrumentation, whether erratic or composed, guttural or delicate, is deliberate, calculated, Deftones-y and sometimes flirtatious with a sort of hardcore Tim Burton film score appeal, like on “Plato’s Cave” and “Velvet”.

As an experiment, and a lengthy one, it’s hard not to get lost in this record. After a while, the sound drifts from your conscious mind to your subconscious. But hey, that’s the point of ambience. Save for a few awkward moments of glitchy spasms where things get a little frilly—mainly in the beginning of the album—Animus is a multifaceted, polished and fine-tuned first.

— JESSICA PACE

— JESSICA PACE

Fix the Broken

22 * NOVEMBER 2012 * BOROPULSE.COM

Animus

Endelouz

Cryptic Calling

Don't Lose Your Heart Out There

Cryptic Calling

Formerly of the Chattanooga band North American There has been a recent trend in the realm of Royalty, the members of Endelouz wanted to pursue hard rock music in the capitol of country music and musical projects that were a little more rock ‘n’ roll banjos have nothing to do with it. and formed in 2008. Don’t Lose Your Heart Out With the newly released debut EP by Cryptic CallThere, a sunny pop rock gem, came to fruition in 2011, ing comes a refreshing sound. The self-titled EP is a recorded at Revolution Sound in Chattanooga and long awaited release from fans of the hard rock band.

Reel Love in Nashville, and finally made its way to the The track “Otiose” draws you right in with the Murfreesboro Pulse. But these seven bright and melblazing guitar and lead vocals of James Robbins, low tracks, though they’ve been circulating for more driving percussion of Shea Shankle and beat driven than a year, are still worth noting. bass of Clay Zimmerman. The With Jack Kirton on vocals and We’re working metaphoric lyrics speak of a family guitar, Chris Reich on guitar and hard to promote member who has constantly done BGVs, Dennis Hubbard on bass and wrong, with broken promises, to good music in finally have the whole family turn BGVs and Joseph Berkley on drums, Middle Tennessee. against them. Amazing lyrics are Endelouz made a record that mashes R&B and pop rock and sounds like driven home with the emotion Bands: Send your albums summer at its hottest, maybe your budfilled vocals of Robbins. Otiose and promotional materials to dies at their drunkest and you at your being a rather old fashioned term The Murfreesboro Pulse, 116-E North Walnut St., happiest. Memphis rhythm and blues for not serving any useful purpose, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. done Rolling Stones-style and a cheery, this is a great track indeed on so unhurried Elvis Costello kind of pop many different levels. sensibility converge here with a singing organ (courThe track “Shattered Dreams” is more of a ballad, tesy of Patrick Himes) found on “Get Her Back Again,” and a very good one at that. A song of a love that is crashing cymbals like on “A.I.A.B.B.” and a trilling, in some sort of limbo. Whether it be from a death, or ornery little harmonica on “The Spelling Song.” debilitating illness or injury is left up for interpretaOn the inside of the album is the caption, “I retion by the listener. Robbins delivers on all levels member those nights. We chased the light across the helping you feel the anguish in his lyrics at the situasky, the earth buzzing and flashing beneath us pulsattion being sung about. The music accompanying just ing warm breaths to radiate our hearts, desiring perintensifies that with every crescendo and drop. fection seeking infinity and always drinking the wine The same can be said about the other three tracks from the cup. Blaring organs and crashing cymbals.” all dealing with lost love. Whether being friend, The meaning behind that musing may be ambigufamily or lover, all of the tracks are delivered with ous, but it’s safe to say the lackadaisical pop feel and a strong emotion of loss on every level. With the West Tennessee influence on this album create a music being just as emotionally charged as the lyrdistinct aesthetic of summery nights and outdoor perics, Cryptic Calling has delivered a concept EP that formance. “Don’t Lose Your Heart Out There,” a title is masterfully produced and recorded. The long wait that sounds like an earnest warning for a musician/ for fans was well worth it. journeyman, pours out like neon light over a bar’s Overall, the debut EP from Cryptic Calling is very back deck in the middle of August and is the pinnacle enjoyable and the production value is superb. Watch of the whole album. It’s easy to warm up to. for this band to rise in acclaim in the near future.

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— JESSICA PACE

RATINGS: AVERAGE

A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE

— LARRY WHITE

OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD BOROPULSE.COM

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SOUNDS MTSU Presents Annual Evening of Swing on Nov. 10 MTSU’S FRIENDS OF MUSIC are preparing for another gala community celebration of the university’s School of Music: the sixth annual “Evening of Swing” dinner/ dance on Saturday, Nov. 10, at Stones River Country Club.

The evening, which will get under way at 6:15 p.m., will feature the big-band music of the 1930s and ’40s performed

by MTSU’s two jazz ensembles, directed by MTSU music faculty members Jamey Simmons and Don Aliquo.

“The Friends’ annual ‘Evening of Swing’ galas have drawn large numbers of community members to enjoy the pre-reception, dinner, dancing and fellowship,” said Dr. George T. Riordan, director of the MTSU School of Music.

“We have a number of big-band music scores for our ensembles that will be familiar to everyone who enjoys swing music, including hits by the likes of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and Tommy Dorsey, so bring your dancing shoes.”

Individual tickets to the event, which includes dinner and a gala evening of music and dancing, are $100 per person. Tables seating eight are available for $800, and patron and major sponsor tables for up to 10 people are available for $1,000 and $2,500.

Adding that the country club is a “great place for dancing and enjoying music,” Riordan noted that “people have been very impressed with the authentic and danceable swing provided by our students in the MTSU jazz ensemble. This is a wonderful forum to introduce the high quality of our musicians to people who haven’t yet enjoyed concerts at the School of Music.”

Riordan said the Friends of Music was organized to encourage community members to enjoy the 200-plus concerts presented each year at MTSU and to help the school

provide more services and opportunities to music students.

The Friends also offer guidance to the School of Music by providing a community perspective.

“Proceeds from the last Evening of Swing in 2010 made it possible for some 50 or more music students to take advantage of professional opportunities that they otherwise would have to miss,” the director said.

“We’re grateful for the foundation that our patrons provide to help for us in our mission of serving students, MTSU and state and local communities. And we have an active and dynamic leadership committee who are excited about this event, the school and our students.”

Riordan said those who’d like to polish their moves or learn the basics before the “Evening of Swing” can join a free group swing-dance lesson on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., led by Becky and Justin Ward at the Dance Murfreesboro studio. Dance Murfreesboro is located at 730A Middle Tennessee Blvd., Suite 14.

For tickets or more information on “Evening of Swing”, call (615) 898-5924.

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to win A pair of tickets to Alison Brown and Fair Weather Friends at Bluegrass Underground on Saturday, Nov. 24

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tickets to the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra’s Sounds of Christmas performance at First United Methodist Church on Friday, Dec. 14

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Gallery party at Fairways Golf & Grill Exclusive use of the golf simulator for a evening + wing and nacho bar

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Some Tips to Fix Your Mix Use pro cables, compressors to perfect recordings.

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loha, and welcome to the first of a series of articles intended to cover music production tips and explain some of the finer points of audio recording, production, mixing and mastering in hopes of helping you improve not only your recordings but the ways you record.

That sounds like a daunting task, but broken into smaller pieces, I hope to be able to show you music production is not as hard as it can seem. These articles are aimed at beginners and novices, but I hope that some of the audio professionals reading can explore new techniques as well.

Knowing how to use the equipment you’ve already got is crucial; even the nicest equipment can’t make up for bad technique, and I don’t believe there is a spell checker in Antares Auto Tune.

Since this is the first in a series, I thought what better way to get started than drop a few simple tips that can help you today, and cover some basics while I’m at it, so we can delve deeper in future articles without explaining as much. Tips are like opinions, and we know what those are like, so take these like seasonings and sprinkle appropriately. There are few hard and fast rules in recording but here are a few tips to show you what I hope to offer.

column by JACOB SPALDING

Even the best mics in the world sound like crap when connected with a low-quality or damaged cable. Don’t believe me? Test it for yourself. Record the same audio using a new pro cable and a bargain store cable or listen and examine the files. Wanna upgrade your sound? Upgrade your cables.

If your equipment or program has an Input/Output meter and A higher quality audio cable can drastically improve sound quality.

you see red, that is a bad thing.

While it may not always sound terrible as you listen overall, there is something too loud.

If your master is clipping, go back and search for individual tracks that may be clipping as well. A special note to DJs: If your mixer is showing red lights when you spin, your mix is suffering. We can hear it and it sounds bad.

Mastering has been a part of audio recording since the begin-

ning, and it still is today. The best artists’ records are always mastered before release, and even though computer programs have come a long way, unless you master recordings every day, you can’t do it like a professional can.

The best engineers are careful with effects. Use them wisely, and whenever possible, try to get good recordings that don’t need effects and then ice the cake.

Equalization does a lot better job of cutting frequencies than boosting them. Try cutting the low end from vocals and cymbals; it is a great way to clean up your mixes.

Hope these tips can help you or in any case get you excited about recording again. You can email audio-related questions or concerns to fixyourmix@ boropulse.com and we’ll try to feature some or personally answer them if we can. Just like studio schedules, we’re out of time and they’re out of money so we’ll catch you next time.

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LIVING ROOM CINEMA

MOVIES REVIEWS

column by NORBERT THIEMANN

cinespire@gmail.com

Early Dreaming With Anderson

FRANKENWEENIE

A LOVER OF ENSEMBLE FILMS, Wes Anderson has explored that fetish by giving us many large-cast movies. My favorites end up being his more personal films, which are strictly relative to him. Not only do many actors appear, but he shoots wide. That combined with fantastic soundtracks and quirky scripts make his films unmistakably his own.

Starring: Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara Directed by Tim Burton

Rated PG

Tim Burton’s latest, Frankenweenie, is at once classic Burton, and also somewhat of a departure from the director’s current trajectory of hyper-colorful, creepy, completely unnecessary remakes. Frankenweenie is a remake, but of Burton’s own 1984 short film, and it’s shot entirely in black-and-white, stop-motion animation. Best of all, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter are nowhere to be found.

In a town seemingly trapped in the atomic ’60s called New Holland, young Victor Frankenstein (Tahan) is a gawky kid with a love of science and few friends. As with many socially awkward boys, Victor’s best friend is his pet dachshund Sparky. When Sparky gets hit by a car, Victor, inspired by his eerie new science teacher Mr. Rzykruski (perfectly voiced by Martin Landau), decides to try to reanimate his beloved pet. When the wonderfully kooky towns children get wind of Victor’s success, jealous that he’ll win the upcoming science fair, they attempt experiments of their own.

The anachronistic absence of color and computer graphics doesn’t keep Frankenweenie from being visually stunning. The film looks great and the visual easter eggs for fans of the classic Universal monsters are too many to catch in one viewing. Some of the more obvious references include a classmate of Victor’s who looks like the original Frankenstein’s Monster, and another classmate named Edgar “E” Gore, a round, hunchbacked, big-toothed, ogley-eyed, Peter Lorre-lovin’ kid voiced by The Middle’s own weirdling Atticus Shaffer, who nearly steals every scene he’s in.

The story is simple, diluted Shelley via diluted Hollywood, and the pacing is brisk and

SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS Starring: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken Directed by Maritn McDonagh

Rated R

Easily one of my favorite films of the year, Seven Psychopaths is also one of the weirdest and most creative the year has had to offer.

Following the alcoholic exploits of Marty, an aspiring screenwriter (Colin Farrell) who suddenly becomes immersed in the world of crime and criminals while researching for a screenplay he’s writing called Seven Psychopaths by his friend, an actor-turned-dogthief (Billy Bickle, played to perfection by Sam Rockwell) who is partially responsible for the dog-napping of a Shih Tzu which belongs to dangerous criminal Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson), resulting in a manhunt for the two, in addition to Billy’s dog-napping partner Hans (Christopher Walken).

From the opening, this film literally starts with a bang (two mob hit men are discussing the mechanics of shooting someone in the eyeball), and relents neither in quirkiness or

RATINGS:

A CLASSIC

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soliciting your interest. The writer and director of the movie, Martin McDonagh, is no stranger to the silver screen, having started out as an award-winning playwright in the 1990s. His feature film debut In Bruges has earned both widespread acclaim and an almost cult-like following for mixing beauty, pitch-black comedy and violence in a piece of unforgettable drama.

And while Seven Psychopaths is no different, it introduces an element of McDonagh previously

OUTSTANDING

efficient, never lapsing into a lull, but aside from the obvious heart-string tugging moments (all dog movies have them, you know the type), Frankenweenie’s main shortcoming is a lack of in-depth character development.

Without that connection, the exciting finale feels like little is at stake. But that shouldn’t keep legions of little weirdos, young and old, from loving the creatures in this feature. A little too gruesome at points for the K–3rd grade set (even for a PG rating), and a little too strange for everyone else, Frankenweenie might just find its niche among the freaks as one of Tim Burton’s best in years.

— JAY SPIGHT

only seen in his work on stage, which is his love for history. Events such as the My Lai Massacre or the presence of the Zodiac Killer, some of the ugliest events in America’s timeline, are presented in both a humorous and intriguing light that only serve to perpetuate the attention given to the film. To add to this deftly crafted screenplay, McDonagh has taken an all-star cast of veteran actors, ranging from the muchappreciated names above to some players who have been acting for years and never been truly respected, such as Woody Harrelson and Tom Waits (Both actors are top-notch in this film.).

My only real complaint with the film has nothing to do with the film itself, but is actually a problem I’ve had for years with the motion picture industry. The trailer for this film, much like the trailer for every other film made, is extremely misleading. It makes you think that film is going to be primarily about “X”, when the reality is that the film contains “X”, but is much deeper by including “Y” and “Z”. Having stated that, I’m eternally grateful that the film is not a remake, sequel or an adaption of anything else. It’s original to a fault, ridiculous to hilarity and pretty damned smart.

— JUSTIN STOKES

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

 Bottle Rocket (1996) is directed

by Wes Anderson. Anderson’s first feature film is co-written with Owen Wilson, who stars along with his brother Luke Wilson and Robert Musgrave. Notable additions are the third brother Wilson (Andrew Wilson) and James Caan. Bottle Rocket celebrates misfits trying to achieve the lofty dream of making it in an adventurous life of crime. The film was an endearing introduction into the mind of Wes Anderson for me, and it forever holds a sentimental grip in my memory.

 Rushmore (1998) is directed by Wes Anderson,and is co-written with his friend and ally, Owen Wilson. This polished followup to his first film, Rushmore introduces actor Jason Schwartzman and re-introduces Bill Murray. Bill Murray is able to exchange his former zany persona for a matured and masterful deadpan disposition with this first opportunity into quirky independent films.

A motivational boarding school lad has his team of students and adult friends working on his various crafted plans. The movie is both heartfelt and hilarious.

You can also find Living Room Cinema on Facebook and Tumblr.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

THEATER A Chorus Line

On Golden Pond

Peter Pan

NOVEMBER PERFORMANCES

AUDITIONS

A CHORUS LINE 7 p.m. Nov. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17; 2 p.m. Nov. 4, 11 and 18 Murfreesboro Center for the Arts 110 W. College St. boroarts.org

FOOTLOOSE Sunday, Nov. 4, 6–8:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 5, 6–8:30 p.m.

Roles available for boys & girls ages 13–18 Performances will be Jan. 11–20 Directed by Kim Powers Auditions will consist of dance, music, and cold readings from the script. All actors will be asked to sing at least 16 bars of a prepared piece of music. An accompanist will be provided. Be sure to bring your own sheet music.

For more information, call (615) 904ARTS or email tim@boroarts.org.

CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF 7 p.m. Nov. 9, 10, 16 and 17; 2 p.m.

Nov. 11 and 18 Murfreesboro Little Theatre 702 Ewing Ave. mltarts.com PETER PAN 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17; 2 p.m. Nov. 4 and 11 The Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy. artscenterofcc.com THE 39 STEPS 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2 and 3; 4:30 p.m.

Nov. 4 Lamplighter’s Theater 14119 Old Nashville Hwy., Smyrna lamplighterstheatre.com THAT FOUR LETTER WORD 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1-4, 8-11 Out Front on Main 1511 E. Main St. outfrontonmain.com

Tennessee Repertory Theater Shows a New Side to Jekyll and Hyde IT’S A RARE TREAT to get to see a piece of good theater, not for a lack of good productions, but for a lack of personal free time on my part.

What’s more scarce than good theater is a good scare, and a horror play for me is almost unheard of (I am a huge horror fan). Upon learning that the Tennessee Repertory Theater was performing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, my schedule suddenly cleared up. Adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Hatcher, this theatrical delicacy is based on the century-old classic novella

by Robert Louis Stevenson and is a must-see for any fan of the stage or iconic literature.

For those uninitiated, the story is the tale of Dr. Henry Jekyll, a respected London doctor whose relationship with the mysterious Mr. Edward Hyde proves to be more than dichotomous as the ghastly crimes of Hyde are pinned on his social counterpart.

Through the monologues of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, it is revealed that they are actually two personalities of the same body, triggered by experimentation with various “powders and tinctures” in an effort to discover the potential of the human mind. The good doctor gets more than he bargained for when he realizes that the

doorways of the brain, once opened, cannot be closed so easily, as lust, fear, hatred and depravity hold great power over the mind.

Much in the tradition of the Grand Guignol, this play is every bit as thrilling and terrifying to the senses as the good doctor becomes the puppet to his own inner psyche. And just like his relationship with Mr. Hyde, the play serves as the darker, more invigorated counterpart to the novel, showing a fresh side to the story of the book, its metamorphosis a byproduct of the dark experimentation only witnessed in live theater.

The actors are superb, and the caliber of their performances reaffirms the importance of local theater. The production is smart, detailed and entertaining at every turn.

Before Strange Case, mass culture was somewhat unfamiliar with the reality of dissociative identity disorder (commonly referred to as “split personalities”) and the horrors that lurked deep inside each one of us. And despite being a classic, the tale of Jekyll and Hyde has been elusive to major audiences, at least audiences of the last few decades. Hatcher’s re-imagining breathes a new life into the characters, and by the chilling conclusion, we are ultimately left asking, “What is good and what is evil?”

Performances are running through Nov. 3.

Tickets are available at tennesseerep.org.

— JUSTIN STOKES

HELLO DOLLY! Sunday, Nov. 11, 6–8:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 12, 6–8:30 p.m.

Performances will be Feb. 15– March 3 Directed by Cyndie Verbeten Auditions will consist of dance, music, and cold readings from the script. All actors will be asked to sing at least 16 bars of a prepared piece of music. An accompanist will be provided. Be sure to bring your own sheet music.

For more information, call (615) 904-ARTS or email tim@boroarts.org.

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SPORTS SEATS GETTING HOTTER FOR BOTH MUNCHAK, DOOLEY

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Titans fan and all you bandwagon fans, jump; you don’t deserve to ride. All you loyal fans, stay true. Times will get better.

No matter what team you cheer for, there has to be some passion involved.

It is just a game, and some women may never understand. Even though I am a single man, I search for this woman that I have created in my head and I will find her. I am a 27-year-old bachelor and my perfect womenm, column by Z-TRAIN titanman1984@ well, she has the face of Jennifer yahoo.com Aniston, the bust of Scarlett Johansson, the bootie of Jessica Alba and he runs and screams at refs and even now on the sports knowledge of ESPN Sportscaster crutches hops all around screaming. But it Rachel Nichols. Man. That is a sexy image. seems ineffective.

Just take a second and put all those pieces toCoach Munchak is a total opposite character gether in your mind like a jigsaw puzzle and I to me and I don’t know if there is one example promise you got one sexy broad. Oh yeah, she of him getting mad at a call or a ref or even a has to have a good personality also. player. He is well spoken, he says things that don’t ruffle feathers. Well Coach, it’s time to C'MON TENNESSEE COACHES get fired up and a ruffle a feather or two. Both Back to football now. I have a real problem with of these coaches have a 3-4 record and neither two coaches who both sit in a seat that seems to man has won a conference game, and it sadbe getting hotter and hotter. I am going to talk dens me because I so badly want to see these about Coach Dooley programs succeed. People will have their own and Coach Mike opinions, and not a one of us understands the Munchak. Both ins and outs of coaching, but we do undercoaches have plenty of stand when things seem to be going wrong. critics and both have Here are some quick Volunteer facts; opposite coaching Dooley has a record of 14-19 overall with a styles. My problem 4-17 conference record. Why should the Rocky with Tennessee and BLUE-BLOODED WOMAN Top faithful find this unacceptable? Only four Dooley is that it seems It is what it is, all this ranting and raving is SEC wins in two and a half seasons, no wins they never change just the light shade of blue blood that courses against Alabama or Florida and last season's their scheme or to put through my veins. I bleed a light shade of ugly loss to Kentucky to close out the season. it simply, change what is wrong after halftime. blue and no matter the weather, no matter Those examples are not what the 100,000 I don’t doubt the fire and passion Dooley has; the storm, you better believe I am a true blue screaming fans at Neyland Stadium deserve.

Granted, Dooley walked into a mess of a program, and I would give him another year no matter the results of this season. One year, that’s it! Coach Dooley gets another year only because he walked into a mess of program.

The offense is moving in the right direction, the Face of . . . the Bust of . . . the Booty of . . . the Brain of . . . and I believe the players respect him even through all this turmoil. The defense has got to get better if you want to be able to compete with teams in the SEC. Coach Munchak has an overall record of 12-12 halfway through his second season. He finished second in the AFC South last season with a respectable 9-7 record after taking over a struggling team. All I want to say here is I am disgusted with the Titans defense; it ranks close to last in almost all major categories.

Jennifer Aniston Scarlett Johanson Jessica Alba Rachel Nichols lright everyone, the Train Daddy is back and fired up. It’s just hours after the Titans vs. Colts game, and refs suck! It isn’t that I hate refs; I don’t hate anyone, hate is a strong word. But I do dislike things; I dislike refs! Refs have no soul, they have no heart and the fact that these games we fans and players have such a passion to succeed in, it's tragic these games can end by the bad call of a heartless man.

I like to give the refs the benefit of the doubt, but these guys are cannibals. They would eat their own young before they would admit they made a bad call, and I have seen it; it’s not pretty!

The end of the Titans vs. Colts matchup had me fired up, like I already said, the fact that the ref blew that whistle so quickly and that viewers across America, like myself and the TV announcers, we all agreed, "Hey, it’s a fumble, review it!" Well, the heartless refs and folks up top decided there was a whistle, and there was no need to review the obvious fumble; that would have given possession to the Titans with time expiring in the fourth and given Mr. Bironas a shot to win it all. That is just my personal opinion on the game that could have shifted the Titans' ways to a .500 record and a 3-game winning streak. Nope, instead the history books will read Mr. Luck came into Nashville as a rookie and won in OT in his first appearance ever at LP Field.

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SPORTS TALK

 Derek Dooley's lack of success against SEC opponents has caused great frustration in Big Orange Country.

The Titans looked good winning against the Steelers and the Bills and what should have been a win against the Colts, but the defense sucks! So I hope Coach Munchak brings hope and passion to a team and city that need a real boost and coach to get mad and get up in the faces of them dirty refs when they screw us over on a call.

That’s all I got for this issue. Sorry it was full of negativity and hate except for the description of the Train's perfect women. Man, she is a sexy thought!

Look, I don’t want either of these coaches to get fired, but when things aren’t running so well, there is a kink in the engine and you got to fix it. I am not a mechanic so I can’t diagnose this problem, but the old ball coach is the commander in chief and it seems Dooley and Munchak aren’t commanding to my standards. If I am comparing the head coach to a commander, well, I reckon the players are the soldiers, and I reckon it’s possible it’s the soldiers not producing. I have watched plenty of Band of Brothers and The Pacific and they beat those boys into shape during basic training.

Maybe that’s what the Titans and Vols should do, start with basics!

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween; the holidays are knocking at the door and the cold is on the way. I love it all; I love the fall, I love the winter. I love good cold football tailgaiting. Some super meaty chili, clam chowder, hot burgers and brats and a little sip of gramps' moonshine to get the soul feeling just right. Everyone remember the 4 F's: Friends, Family, Faith and Football, that’s the Train's recipe for success.

I am out the station. Choo, Choo!

ART Creative Careers Students talk to local busness people about turning their talent into lucrative careers.

Area high school students get the opportunity to interact with professional artists at the Express Yourself Arts Conference.

B

ob Lanier, Bell Jeweler’s in-house jewelry designer, has loved to draw since he was a small child, and he has been able to turn the swoops and curly lines of his pencil drawings into a career of designing and making fine jewelry. But many creative kids don’t know how to turn their talents into a job. The mission of the sixth annual Express Yourself Arts Conference on Nov. 5 at World Outreach in Murfreesboro is to do exactly that—give high school students the opportunity to see how successful business people, like Lanier, have turned their talents into a life-long career.

On Nov. 8, high-school students from all over the county will have the opportunity to work and talk with creative professionals about turning their passions into a career.

EYAC, a collaboration of the Business Education Partnership Foundation, Read To Succeed and Arts in Rutherford, aims to encourage students to explore, practice and hone their skills, from painting to sculpture, writing to dance, music to theater.

Workshops will be broken down into five tracks: Literary Arts, Performing Arts, Performing Arts—Music, Visual Arts and The Dabbler for those wishing to explore a number of different areas. Each workshop leader has years of experience in their chosen field, and they are excited to share their wisdom with local students through hands-on activities.

Besides the workshops, there will be a panel discussion on the “Business of Art” with members of the business community.

Included on the panel will be graphic designer Sheana Firth, furnishing design specialist Marianne Miller, Screen Art owner Mike Bickford, Latin Grammy-nominated sound engineer J.C. Monterrosa and jewelry designer Bob Lanier. This discussion will be followed

by a conversation with Pat Blankenship, who is a lawyer and the founder of Children’s Academy Theatre of Tennessee, a division of Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities, about arts advocacy. She will talk about what students can do now to ensure the future of the arts in the county and beyond.

As a special treat, participating students will hear through Skype from members of the design team at Nissan Design America, which creates the interior and exterior look of American-made Nissans. This group has also designed everything from kindergarten furniture to the look and feel of the ICON, a personal light aircraft.

“This conference has had a real impact on participant’s lives,” said Conference Coordinator Lee Rennick. “Participating students have been inspired to complete high school and make plans for post-secondary education because the artists with which the students interacted at EYAC let it be known how important advanced education was to their success.”

For more information about EYAC visit rutherfordbep.org or readtosucceed.org. The page facebook.com/BEPFoundation has photos from previous years and visual artwork created by this year’s students.

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ART Todd Gallery Hosts Student Scholarship Sale, BFA Exhibits THIS MONTH THE MTSU TODD ART GALLERY will host three exhibits from graduating seniors in studio art, along with its fourthannual Seasonal Scholarship Sale.

The Scholarship Sale supports the Department of Art’s 10 scholarships for art majors studying graphic design, art education, art history and studio art. Scheduled for Nov. 19–21 the sale features work donated by MTSU art faculty, staff, students, alums and community artists.

The three student exhibits, commonly referred to as BFA exhibits for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree received upon graduation, feature work in painting, sculpture, clay, printmaking and letterpress. These exhibits run Nov. 6–8, 13–15 and 27–29. All feature a reception from 6–8 p.m. the Monday preceding each exhibit’s Tuesday opening.

Exhibitions are free and open to the public. Todd Art Gallery hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. For more information, call (615) 898-5653.

1

1 “Paint Strokes”, a print

offered in the Seasonal Scholarship Sale Work displayed at MTSU's BFA exhibits include:

2 “Satellite”, a mixed media work by Justin Boone

2

3 and

a metal sculpture by Zach Duensing

4 “Untitled”, oil on canvas

offered in the Seasonal Scholarship Sale

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