Sept 2013 Murfreesboro Pulse

Murfreesboro

Vol. 8, Issue 9 September 2013

FREE Take one, or more!

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

My Roots on the street How a food truck is bringing gourmet on the go, and how an in-town farm is supplying him with peppers and more. page 18

online at: Boropulse.com

album reviews

in music

living

Dead Soldiers Billy Jones Bluez

Joe Satriani stands against the subjunctive disease page 24

Why switching to a credit union may be the ethical choice page 16

page 21

Dear Readers:

contents events Community Events 4 Book signing, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, 9/11 Memorial.

Trivia/Karaoke Calendar 6 Murfreesboro Various locations host fun activities throughout the week.

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art

September Exhibits 8 "Afghanistan: Through the Eyes of a Soldier"; Jodi Ohl.

opinions La Palabra 0

Miley Cyrus and the Post-Christian-Era Revival.

Recover Rutherford q

Making Amends.

DUI Laws Interpreted w Area attorney gives perspective on the legality of checkpoints.

Phil Valentine e

Is the U.S. supporting terrorists to raise gas prices?

Frank Shepard r

Goin' Rogue.

Read to Succeed Book Review t

Siege and Storm, by Leigh Bardugo.

Living Green y Banking choices matter too; vote with your wallet.

food Recipe u

Baked Ratatouille.

Brew Review Chocolate, Roibos and Vanilla tea; pumpkin caramel coffee.

My Roots i Anthony Wong's food truck slinging mac and cheese egg rolls.

COVER STORY

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Eat Tennessee o

Sinking Creek Farm: an in-town agricultural venture.

sounds Short Mountain p

Distillery to host Music in the Middle fest Oct. 4–6 with

Aeroplane, The 1975, Space Capone, Sky Hi and more.

Album Reviews Dead Soldiers, Billy Jones Bluez.

a Kansas Bible Company s

Traveling 12-piece releases video game, opens for Panic.

Joe Satriani: Curing Subjunctive Disease f

Virtuoso tells aspiring artists to try and be original. h September concerts

sports Games j

Metro Last Light, Tomb Raider.

MTSU Football Update k

Blue Raiders head into Chapel Hill 1–0.

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Sports Talk with Z-Train ;

NFL 2013 is now.

Run Strong z Road races held every weekend in September.

movies & theater

x Reviews The World's End; Kick-Ass 2.

Living Room Cinema c

Who is Harry Nilsson? onstage this month

crew

Pulse

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Publisher/Editor in Chief: Music Editor: Jessica Pace Bracken Mayo Photographer: Christy Simmons Art Director: Sarah L. Mayo Writers: Marissa Albertson, Gloria Christy, Ryan Egly, Nader Hobballah, Zach Maxfield, Ad Rep: Don Clark Michelle Palmer, Cameron Parrish, David Raybin, Copy Editor: Jay Spight, Frank Shepard, Andrea Stockard, Steve Morley Justin Stokes, Norbert Thiemann, Phil Valentine

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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 © 2013, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 116-E N. Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

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

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

Middle Tennessee now has one fewer publication, as the Nashville City Paper printed its final edition last month and ceased operations.

I enjoyed picking up the City Paper, but would certainly never have paid money for it, and its absence means very little to my life. Sorry.

A column in the final edition painted the publication as a “victim,” and begged for a rich “hero” to swoop in, throw a boatload of money at an unnecessary and unprofitable operation and save the day for the people of Nashville (or the employees of the City Paper, more realistically).

And to that I say: Please! C’mon, man. What kind of communist fairy tale are you living in?!

The business community did not value the publication enough to support it sufficiently for the owner to want it to exist any longer.

Now, I operate a publication that I very much want to see continue rolling of the press for a good long time (but understand there may not always be the support for it), and I like seeing a variety of choices in independent local media (And to Local Table, Grease Monkey, Nashville Scene, and all other quality publications offered for free in the area: Good luck! I support you.) But that’s life. Businesses close, publications cease printing, things die.

I do strongly support the notion that professional journalists are important. Writers who cover and get to know a beat over a career, and know how to ask the question “why?” are very valuable to society. But the idea that any community “needs” newspapers is ridiculous. A city needs a newspaper just as the movie industry needs Blockbuster (a parallel referenced in the final City Paper). They don’t.

Even if Nashville did need newspapers, why does SouthComm need two publications in the same market?

The death of CDs, particularly those priced at $19.99, is probably a good thing for the music industry, and Blockbuster’s and Hollywood Video dying are probably a good thing for the movie industry. The U.S. Postal Service should probably close soon, too. Many years ago it was a valuable tool that helped people communicate.

But it is not necessary now. Just because the USPS dies does not mean that people will stop communicating.

There are more efficient ways to communicate now, and the private sector does a better job shipping packages.

Ordinary people across the world being able to discuss and share their views with one another instantly is an amazing thing (protect a free and open Internet, people!).

Newspapers have had their chance, and have done a lot of good work. However, generally speaking, for every quality investigative piece in print, there are about 10 simply echoing whatever propaganda a government official or advertiser wants out there.

Even if print goes away, newspapers never were so much about the piece of paper, as the ideas and images contained within; the Blockbuster wasn't so much about VHS tapes as the worlds of movies one could watch. Albums weren't just the vinyl or compact disc; it was about the music. The ideas, films and music will live on.

Even without the piece of paper, I believe that talented reporters and designers and photographers will be able to sell their skills, and a quality, organized website will be able to sell access to its readership, whether or not dead trees are involved. It’s about ideas, not just ink and newsracks. It’s evolution, baby.

Peace, Bracken Mayo Editor in Chief boropulse.com

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Through Sept. 7 

events

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Championships

compiled by Andrea STOCKARD

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association is the fastest-growing equestrian sport in the nation. Mounted contestants compete in this fast-action, timed event at Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304-B W. Thompson Ln.) using two .45 caliber single-action revolvers, each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. The association has a variety of levels of competition for everyone, ranging from novice levels to the seasoned professional. For more information, please call (615) 494-8879 or visit cowboymountedshooting.com.

Send event information to murfreesboropulse@yahoo.com

Through Sept. 8 Animal Secrets Exhibit Families can explore the hidden habits and secret lives of forest animals and discover nature from an animal’s point of view in a hands-on naturalistic environment at the Discovery Center (502 S.E. Broad St.).

For more information, please call (615) 890-2300 or visit explorethedc.org.

Sept. 6 Friday Night Concert Series

be awarded. For more information, please contact Kari Jones at bknjones@bellsouth. net or (615) 519-0872.

 Sept. 7 Readyville Mill Cranks Back Up After a summer hiatus, The Readyville Mill is re-opening for breakfast and good old fashioned stone-ground grits, cornmeal, flour and steel-cut oats on Saturday, Sept.

7. Johnny B and the Balladeers will provide their old-timey music, and the pancakes and

Come out for Main Street’s Friday Night Live concert series from 6:30–9:30 p.m. at the Public Square and enjoy food vendors and more. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the band Entice! Admission is free. For more information, please call (615) 895-1887 or visit downtownmurfreesboro.com.

 Sept. 6–7 Pioneer Power Days The South’s largest antique tractor and gas engine show hosts over 700 tractors at Eagleville Show Grounds (747 Chapel Hill Pk., Eagleville) 7 a.m. daily. For more information, please contact (615) 5425656 or jessegeasley@yahoo.com, or visit eaglevilletvppa.com.

Sept. 7 Women’s Wellness Fair The Women’s Wellness Fair discusses women’s health at Lane Agricultural Park (315 John R. Rice Rd.) on Sept. 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This is a free event with information regarding bone density, balance, mental health, nutrition, finances and more.

There will be three panel discussions: trauma at 11 a.m., stroke at 1 p.m. and hormone imbalance at 2:15 p.m. Health screenings will include blood pressures, grip strength, stress, bone density and more, with exhibitors on hand such as chiropractors, massage therapists, medical doctors, financial planners and dieticians. Door prizes will 4 * September 2013 * boropulse.com

and one overall grand prize of $500 will be awarded. A $100 scholarship will be awarded to a student who will be attending MTSU with a major or minor in the arts, sponsored by the Lynn Henny Bailey Scholarship Fund. Admission is $7, with all proceeds going towards operation costs for the program. For more information, call (615) 890-7116. Tickets can be purchased online at gfckidz.org or on Facebook.

Sept. 7 Healthy Me, Healthy You

quiche and biscuits and sausage gravy will be hot, fresh, and old-timey delicious. The Mill will serve breakfast from 9 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Reservations are strongly encouraged, and can be made by calling (615) 563MILL. The Readyville Mill is a 150-year old working grist mill, and is on the National Registry of Historic Sites. It sits on six idyllic acres along the Stones River, and serves not only as an eatery and a mill, but also an event venue for special occasions.

Sept. 7

Discovery Center, Murfreesboro City Schools, Rutherford County Schools, and the Rutherford County Health Department present Healthy Me, Healthy You, a free event promoting pediatric and family wellness on Sept. 7 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Discovery Center (502 S.E. Broad St.). Community partners will offer interactive and educational activities addressing a variety of health and wellness issues for children and adults including childhood obesity, healthy portion control, CPR and much more. Activities include a bounce house and several fitness demonstrations. For more information, contact Jennifer Neal at (615) 890-2300 or visit explorethedc.org.

Youth Talent Contest

Sept. 7

Generation for Creation Inc., a Murfreesboro-based nonprofit organization, is hosting the 11th annual Talent Contest, “Reflections of Love,” on Sept. 7 at 4 p.m., at Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.). Prizes will be awarded,

The Alzheimer’s Association invites Rutherford County residents to unite in a movement to reclaim the future for millions by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Gateway

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

 Sept. 6 Oh to Grace Book Signing

Come out for an afternoon of grace with native Murfreesboro author Abby Rosser’s new book, Oh to Grace, Friday, Sept. 6, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. at ReevesSain (1801 Memorial Blvd.). Oh to Grace is a thrilling work of fiction set during Prohibition-era Chicago. This work includes vivid characters, tragic romances, humorous situations and suspenseful action that will keep you from putting it down. Meet Abby Rosser and get your copy of Oh to Grace signed. Grab a milkshake while you’re at it! For more information, please call (615) 278-3118. For more information on the author, visit blessedintheboro.blogspot.com.

Trails on Sept. 7 at 8:30 a.m. Walk to End Alzheimer’s is an opportunity to learn about Alzheimer’s disease and how to get involved with this critical cause. Topics will include advocacy opportunities, the latest in Alzheimer’s research, clinical trial enrollment, and support programs and services.

Each walker will also join in a meaningful ceremony to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Start or join a team today at alz.org/walk.

Sept. 11 9/11 MEMORIAL Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office takes part in memorializing the victims and military who lost their lives due to the Sept.

11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The 12th annual 9-11 remembrance event this Sept. 11, from 4-8 p.m. at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (940 New Salem Hwy), will feature the memorial centered on a 2,000-pound steel beam from Tower 1 in the World Trade Center. For the first time, the Sheriff’s Office will partner with A Soldier’s Child, a Murfreesboro-based foundation providing birthday presents to children whose military parents died defending the U.S. and citizens’ freedoms. The event will include booths set up by nonprofit organizations and other community groups. This is a free, family event with inflatables and games for children, food vendors and live music.

Those who plan to attend should park at the Expo Center on Park Avenue and ride Murfreesboro’s Rover bus to the Sheriff’s Office. For more information, contact Lisa Marchesoni at lmarchesoni@rcsotn.org or (615) 904-3089.

Sept. 13 Music at the Mill Summer Concert Series Top Tier is a fun, high-energy party band and a smooth, light jazz band all in one.

Enjoy live music at Gregory Mill Park (390 Enon Springs Rd., Smyrna) at 6:30 p.m. with food vendors and more. Admission is free. For more information, call Smyrna Parks and Recreation at (615) 459-9773.

Sept. 13 We Heart Murf ART SHOW Are you a local artist? Do you heart Murfreesboro? Reveille Joe Coffee Co. (113 N. Maple St.) hosts We Heart Murf Community Art Show Sept.

13 with a reception at 5 p.m. All art pieces must have the theme of “Murfreesboro.”

Photography, painting, graphic design, drawing, writing and more are welcome in order to showcase the talent here in Murfreesboro.

The evening’s musical lineup includes Uncle Don Clark at 5:30 p.m., Candace Brown at 6:30 p.m., Brush Arbor Days at 7:30 p.m. and Rik Gracia at 8:30 p.m. If you are interested, contact weheartmurf@ gmail.com or (615) 649-1212 or check out facebook.com/weheartmurf.

ed at the door and are tax-deductible. The Main Street Program is affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Main Street Center and follows the tenets of that program. Main Street capitalizes on the unique character of the courthouse square and the surrounding business district with the goal of transforming it into the cultural, social, professional and retail center of Rutherford County.

Sept. 13 Hometown Huddle Hometown Huddle is a nationwide United Way initiative to increase healthy habits in youth by 2018. United Way’s Hometown Huddle is in partnership with Middle Tennessee State University, the Student Government Association and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.

Help make an impact in your community by participating in one of the many volunteer opportunities on Sept. 13, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Ways to get involved are refurbishing playgrounds, collecting healthy items for snack packs, participating in organized activities with kids and more. For more information, visit unitedwayvolunteer.org/ hometownhuddle.php or contact the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties (615 Memorial Blvd., Suite 200).

Sept. 13–15 Old Timers’ Festival Old Timers’ Festival features carnival rides, free concerts, great food, hot air balloon rides and more. Enjoy the City of La Vergne’s annual festival celebrating La Vergne and its citizens at 115 Floyd Mayfield Dr. For more information, please call (615) 287-8690 or visit lavergnetn.gov.

Sept. 17 down on Main Street Main Street: Murfreesboro/Rutherford County, Inc. hosts “An Evening on Main Street” Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the home of Roger and Kimberly Hopkins (702 E. Main St.) in the East Main Historic District.

Main Street’s Board of Directors will treat attendees to a variety of delicious hors d’oeuvres prepared by Maple Street Grill and wine, compliments of Stones River Total Beverages. Reservations are suggested, but not required. Donations will be accept-

en who are uninsured and under-insured.

This casual, fun evening outdoors features a progressive wine tasting with more than 75 wines at multiple retail and office venues as well as snacks from Slick Pig, Jim ’N Nick’s, Peter D’s and more. Enjoy live music including the Michael Toman Quartet, DJ Bobby Howard, John Ward, Mid-South Mobile DJs, and DJ Jimmy Mansfield. Tickets can be purchased at winearoundthesquare.org for $75. Photo ID is required. For More information, contact Terri H. Sterling at (615) 945-4794 or terri@terristerling.com.

Sept. 20 Campus Life Golf TOURNEY The 3rd Annual Campus Life Golf Classic will be held at Indian Hills Golf Course (405 Calumet Trace) on Sept. 20 with an 8 a.m. tee time. Golfers are invited to come and enjoy this event with all proceeds supporting Campus Life programs. Cost is $125 per golfer or $400 per team. The tournament consists of a 4-person scramble, hole-in-one, closest to the pin, longest drive, and putting competitions. Light breakfast will be provided as well as lunch for all players. Silent auction items will be available for bidding and an awards ceremony with many door prizes will be given away. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Registration is available by contacting Christy Lambright at (615) 890-3203 or Christy@mtcampuslife.com.

Sept. 20  Sept. 19–20 Churning and Learning Teachers and parents can plan a day of hands-on activities, demonstrations, crafts and games for children from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Oaklands Historic House Museum (900 N. Maney Ave.). Visitors can experience chores from the 1860s when they wash clothes on a washboard, make candles, churn butter and beat the rugs. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, contact (615) 893-0022 or mb@oaklandsmuseum.org, or visit oaklandsmuseum.org.

 Sept. 20 Second Annual Wine Around the Square Stroll, wine and dine at the MTMC Foundation’s Power of Pink around the historic downtown Square in Murfreesboro Friday, Sept.

20, at 6 p.m.

Power of Pink provides diagnostic breast cancer services to Rutherford County wom-

Cannonsburgh ConcertS Have fun at Cannonsburgh Concert Series on Sept. 20 from 7 p.m.–9 p.m. in the pavilion at Cannonsburgh Village (312 South Front St.) Admission is free. For more information, please call (615) 890-0355.

tion Initiative” which is headed by the Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity.

There will be good food, live music from Unfinished Business, prizes and great fellowship with riders. If you would like to become a named sponsor of this worthy event, please e-mail srowland1@bellsouth. net. The ride will leave Bumpus Harley Davidson (2250 Northwest Broad St.) and travel through the scenic back roads of Middle Tennessee to Lynchburg and back to Murfreesboro. The run will end at Lanes, Trains, & Automobiles Entertainment Depot (450 Butler Dr.). Prizes will be awarded. The cost to participate is $20 per rider and $10 per passenger day of ride. Riders can pre-register prior to the event at a discount. For more information, visit hammerdownforhabitat.com or call (615) 890-5877.

Sept. 24 Mini-Park Meeting The City of Murfreesboro is pleased to announce a public meeting to discuss the renovation of West View Mini-Park. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 4–6 p.m. at West View Mini-Park (111 February St.). In the case of inclement weather, the meeting will move to McFadden Community Center (211 Bridge Ave). If you are unable to attend this public meeting, please send your questions or comments to Angela Jackson, Assistant Director of Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department, P.O. Box 748, Murfreesboro, TN, 37133, or contact ajackson@murfreesborotn.gov or (615) 890-5333.

Sept. 26 Foundation and Fashions

Talented artists will display and sell their work along the Greenway Trail at Old Fort Park (916 Golf Ln.) Sept. 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Browse through booths of original artwork in a family-friendly park setting. Oils, acrylics, watercolors, pottery, sculpture and other original artwork will be available while guests enjoy music, food vendors and kids’ art activities. This is a juried festival. Artists’ entry fee is $25; visitors admitted free. For more information, contact (615) 893-2141 or mtate@murfreesborotn.gov, or visit murfreesborotn.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?aid=166.

The City Schools Foundation presents Foundation and Fashions Thursday, Sept.

26 from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Stones River Country Club (1830 N.W. Broad St.).

The 6 Schools Foundation includes a host of fashions presented by the Shoppes at the Avenue for men and women, an improved runway and new seating options.

Money raised will benefit Murfreesboro City Schools’ pre-kindergarten through 6th grade students with goals to boost the school system’s financial support in the areas of science and math, academic competition, excellence among students, and more. General admission tickets are $40, reserved seating is $55 and VIP seating with event.

For additional information, please visit cityschoolsfoundation.com/events.

Sept. 21

Sept. 28

Hammer Down For Habitat

7th Annual Depot Days

Motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere are invited to join this 110-plus-mile ride to raise money and awareness for critical home repair efforts for low-income families in Rutherford County. This program is part of the “Neighborhood Revitaliza-

Enjoy great food, great music and great entertainment from 10 a.m.-–4 p.m. at Front Street in Smyrna. For more information, please call Smyrna Independent Merchants Association at (615) 562-SIMA (7462) or visit smyrnadepotdays.com.

Sept. 21 Greenway Art Festival

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events

september Trivia and karaoke Mondays

Wednesdays

Fairways Golf & Grill Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

Sam's Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Bunganut Pig Live Trivia, 7 p.m.

Mellow Mushroom Trivia, 8 p.m.

The Pour House DJ, 7–11 p.m.

Campus Pub Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

Tuesdays

Thursdays

Old Chicago Live trivia, 9 p.m.

Sam's Live trivia, 8 p.m.

Coconut Bay Café Live trivia, 7:30 p.m.

Wall Street Live trivia, 8 p.m.

The Pour House DJ, 7–11 p.m.

Ignite Karaoke, 8 p.m.–12 a.m.

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The Pour House Karaoke, 7–11 p.m.

Fridays Nobody's Karaoke, 9:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

To be included in the listings, or for information on setting up your own karaoke night, contact zek@tnkaraoke.com.

MT Bottle Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m.

Fairways Golf & Grill Karaoke, 7 p.m. (starting 9/13)

Saturdays

Sundays

Nobody's Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

Fairways Golf & Grill Karaoke, 7 p.m.

Wall Street Team bingo, 5–7 p.m.

OK Jose Trivia, 7 p.m.

Campus Pub Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.

The Pour House DJ, 7–11 p.m.

Nobody's Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m.

Sam's Sports trivia, 6:30 p.m.

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art  MTSU Student’s Photos Show “Afghanistan: Through the Eyes of a Soldier” An MTSU student-turned-U.S. Army veteran will let his camera tell the story of his service in Afghanistan in a new exhibit opening this week inside the Todd Art Gallery on campus.

Duran Bunch, a junior marketing major, will display “Afghanistan: Through the Eyes of a Soldier” through Sept. 19 in Room 210 of the Todd Building.

Bunch, a Nashville native, first came to MTSU as a biochemistry major straight out of high school in 2005. A modeling agent spied him in a Nashville store and whisked him into international fashion, where he worked in front of the lens as a model for the Wilhelmina Models NYC, traversing runways in Milan and Paris for designers John Galliano, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood and Tommy Hilfiger.

He traded in the designer garb for desert fatigues in 2009, joining the U.S. Army Reserve’s 325th Tactical Psychological Operations Company (Airborne) as a specialist and winding up in Kandahar, Afghanistan, to support the 82nd Airborne in 2011 and 2012.

His unit was one responsible for the “hearts and minds” factor in U.S. military service, communicating American goals and offering help and support to local residents before the Taliban could make more inroads into the towns and villages.

Bunch, now 25, bought a Pentax ZX-M 35mm camera and kept it and plenty of black-and-white film at hand throughout his tour of duty, using knowledge gained from working with renowned photographers Steven Klein and Steven Meisel to capture the documentary-style shots. The result is a series of photos that depict the soldiers’ overseas experience in “Operation Enduring Freedom,” ranging from daily interactions with the Afghan people to routine missions that could, and did, abruptly turn deadly.

Since his return to the States, Bunch has exhibited his photos, along with looped video footage from his “helmet cam,” at a Nashville gallery while working toward a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and more appearances on the dean’s list. He’s also donating proceeds from sales of his prints to the Wounded Warrior Project. His photographs and uniform also will be a part of an exhibit in the Tennessee State Museum featuring an historic look at military uniforms over the years. Bunch’s uniform will represent the current conflict.

Todd Art Gallery exhibitions and receptions are always free and open to the public. The gallery is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and is closed on state and university holidays. For more information, including parking and directions, contact Eric Snyder at (615) 898-5653 or eric.snyder@mtsu.edu or visit mtsu.edu/art.

 Rock Stars & Guitars Earthsoul Gallery is currently hosting a group art exhibition featuring work from many talented local artists. “Rock Stars & Guitars” will be displayed through Sept. 28, and is free and open to the public.

Participating artists include Cris Lane, J. Oliver Langston, Josh Lewis, Laura Neal, Eric Neal, Susan Shae Pierson, Walt Pope, Autumn Smith, CaTS SWaGGa, Tracy Bante Yarbrough, Katie Wedgewood, Angela Elkins and more.

Earthsoul is located at 307 Hazelwood Dr., Smyrna, and is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, visit the Rock Stars & Guitars Facebook event page, or earthsoul.co.

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 Art Barn to Host Jodi Ohl Workshops The Art Barn will host mixed-media guest artist Jodi Ohl, who has been featured in Cloth, Paper, Scissors and Somerset Studio magazines as well as many other art publications and books, during two days of workshops. “Paint the Town” will be held on Sat., Sept. 21, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., with “Texturize This” the following day, Sun., Sept. 22, also from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

The Art Barn is located at 8190 Hwy 99, Rockvale. For more information or to register, visit TheArtBarnTN.com, call (615) 722-1026 or find The Art Barn or Jodi Ohl on Facebook.

 MTSU Art Faculty Share “Collaborative Spirit” Working in groups of two and three, art faculty and staff combined their talents to create an artistic consensus of expression. The results constitute the opening exhibit of the fall 2013 semester "Bunny for the MTSU Department of Art’s Todd Art Shaman," Gallery, scheduled through Sept. 19. a ceramics collaboraA few collaborative examples include the tion by John pairing of Noël Lorson and Marisa Recchia, Donovan who came up with an interactive satirical and Charles take on Tombola, an Italian version of Bingo Clary that features common scatological euphemisms. For her part, Lorson did the graphic design for the game board and cards while Recchia made the playing pieces from clay. Lorson, one of several in the ever-growing area of graphic design, serves as an assistant professor of graphic design and vice president for Nashville’s chapter of AIGA, the professional association of design. Recchia, an associate professor of art in ceramics currently serves as the director of the Italy Summer Study Abroad program and is participating and lecturing at the CHAWAN International Exhibition to be held later this year in Taiwan, China.

Ashley Hairston, an assistant professor of graphic design and illustration, and Rick Rishaw, the department’s gallery preparator and woodshop supervisor, have developed an interesting premise to pursue in their collaboration. Describing the effort, Rishaw stated, “Our installation revolves around reconciling first and second impressions of what is said and what is implied, using both verbal repetition and visual allegory.”

The artistic team of Erin Anfinson and Kathleen O’Connell describe their joint effort as a shared mutual appreciation for the visual part of art-making that walks a fine line between whimsical and formal.

The Todd Art Gallery is open Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. All exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Eric Snyder at (615) 898-5653 or eric.snyder@mtsu.edu.

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opinions La Palabra Una columna del idioma español por Cameron Parrish

Miley Cyrus and the Post-Christian-Era Revival

Miley Cyrus y el ReNacimiento del era Post-Cristiana

in English: Having just watched a YouTube clip of the Miley Cyrus performance at MTV’s 2013 Video Music Awards, it’s easy to assume that somewhere in heaven angels are holding Jesus’s hair while He throws up. Or, could Miley actually be setting the stage for a post-Christian-era revival? I’ll explain.

Christianity began as a counter-culture movement which, among other things, did a great deal to upset the status quo of Rome in the first century A.D. The teachings of Jesus Christ and the beliefs of His followers were greatly at odds with the system of values and religious practices that drove Roman society, maintaining the rigid class system. The first Christfollowers were predominantly from the lower-classes and included slaves as well as other non-citizens of Rome, living in places like Judea and Asia Minor.

But in the 4th century, what began as a counter-culture movement became the state religion of Rome and a vehicle of empires throughout the world. Although the legacy of imperial Christianity and its “reformed” offspring haven’t disappeared, the influence of Christianity in the West is declining dramatically. Some of my fellow Christians may disagree with what I’m about to say, but it’s possible that the decline of Christianity as we know it may be a good thing.

Once adopted by the Roman state and subsequent empires, Christianity quickly ceased to be a peaceful, soul-transforming counter-cultural force and instead became a system of imperial expansion and control by the elite. This is totally contrary to God’s purpose of sending Christ to our planet. If Christianity were meant to be a religion of political power and authority, then Christ would have gone to the elites first. Instead He came first to the downtrodden and subjugated masses living under the Roman police state.

Once the elite of Roman society converted and Christianity went mainstream, more damage was done to the Church than any competing religion could have accomplished. Since attaining this privileged status, I believe we’ve been poor stewards of our power, partially because we were never intended to have it. Though we are no longer converting people through violent conquest, too many of us remain preoccupied with crusades against everything from Islam to gays and occasionally the Easter Bunny. We blame non-Christian “sinners” for societal problems and marginalize them to promote conformity. Change achieved in this manner, and that isn’t derived from willing spiritual transformation, is illegitimate.

So what happens now? I predict that Western society will continue its transformation into what is beginning to resemble the world depicted in the movie Idiocracy. In the film, two subjects of a hibernation experiment awaken 500 years in the future. They find a toxic and morally bankrupt world where rampant commercialism and cultural anti-intellectualism has yielded such entertainment selections as the “Masturbation 10 * September 2013 * boropulse.com

Network” and the “Violence Channel.” That is basically the direction we are going as a culture, and it may very well be exactly what needs to happen. History tells us that ancient Rome was full of pagan temples where rituals were worse than what we see from modern entertainers. It makes sense that the situation must decay until it effectively re-creates the conditions under which the movement flourished as a legitimate counter-cultural force. Such a crucible will likely produce more enlightened individuals and spiritual revolutionaries and the intolerant, half-hearted conformists of the mainstream will disappear. Unfortunately, it will probably also produce a great deal of persecution as well as a few martyrs, as it did before.

Only in the midst of a dominant culture which rejects Christian principles can Christianity reclaim its place as a counter-culture movement and prepare the way for Christ’s return. Thanks, Miley, for doing your part.

En espaNol: Acabo de ver un clip de YouTube de la actuación de Miley Cyrus en los 2013 VMAs, y es fácil suponer que en algún lugar en el cielo Jesucristo está vomitando. ¿O, quizás en realidad que Miley esta estableciendo un escenario para un renacimiento del Fe en una era post-cristiana? Déjame a explicar.

Cristianismo comenzó como un movimiento de contracultura que, entre otras cosas, fue muy importante para alterar el statu quo de Roma en el primer siglo D.C. Las enseñanzas de Jesucristo y las creencias de sus seguidores fueron grandemente en desacuerdo con el sistema de valores y religión que conducía la sociedad romana, manteniendo el sistema rígido de la clase. Los primeros seguidores de Cristo fueron predominantemente de las clases más bajas e incluyeron esclavos así como otros extranjeros de Roma que vivían en lugares como Judea y Asia menor.

Pero en el siglo IV, lo que comenzó como un movimiento de contracultura se convirtió a la religión del estado de Roma

y un vehículo del Imperialismo en todo el mundo. Aunque el legado del cristianismo imperial y su hijos “reformadas” no han desaparecidos, la influencia del cristianismo en Occidente está disminuyendo dramáticamente. Aunque algunos de mis hermanos cristianos pueden estar en desacuerdo con lo que digo, es posible que la declinación del cristianismo como lo conocemos que es una buena cosa.

Al ser adoptado por el estado romano y los imperios posteriores, cristianismo rápidamente dejó de ser una fuerza pacifica, de transformación espiritual y contracultural. En su lugar se convirtió en un sistema de expansión imperial y control elitista.

Esto es totalmente contrario a los propósitos de Dios de enviar a Cristo a nuestro planeta. Si el Cristianismo fuera una religión del poder político y la autoridad, entonces Cristo hubiera ido a las élites primero. En su lugar llegó primero a las masas oprimidas y subyugadas viviendo bajo la policía del estado romano.

Cuando los gobernantes de la sociedad romana convirtieron y el cristianismo fue dominante, hizo más daño a la iglesia de cualquier religión oponente pudiera lograr. Desde lograr a nuestra posición privilegiada, creo que hemos sido mayordomos malos de nuestro poder, parcialmente porque estábamos impensado para tenerlo. Aunque ya no nos estamos convirtiendo a personas mediante la violenta conquista, muchos cristianos nos preocupamos con cruzadas contra todo, desde el Islam a homosexuales y ocasionalmente el conejito de Pascua.

Echamos la culpa a los que no son cristianos y “pecadores” por problemas sociales hacerles maltrato para promover la conformidad. Cambio que se logra en esta forma y que no es derivado de transformación espiritual no es ilegítimo. ¿Así pues, qué pasa ahora? Predigo que la sociedad occidental seguirá su transformación a lo que se parece el mundo representado en la película Idiocracy. En la película, dos sujetos de un experimento de la hibernación despiertan 500 años en el futuro. Encuentran un mundo tóxico y moralmente quebrado donde la comercialización desenfrenada y el contraintelectualismo cultural han cedido tales selecciones de entretenimiento como la “Red de la Masturbación” y el “Canal de Violencia”.

Esto es básicamente la dirección vamos como una cultura y puede ser exactamente lo que necesita de pasar. La historia nos dice que Roma antigua estaba llena de templos paganos donde los rituales eran peores que lo que vemos de artistas modernas.

Tiene sentido que la situación debe deteriorar hasta que se recree las condiciones bajo que el movimiento prosperó antiguamente como una fuerza contracultural legítima. Tal crisol producirá a individuos más cultos y revolucionarios espirituales y los conformistas intolerantes y flojos de la corriente principal desaparecerán. Lamentablemente también producirá probablemente mucha persecución así como unos mártires como antes.

En resumen,sólo en medio de una cultura dominante que rechaza el Cristianismo los principales cristianos pueden reclamar su lugar como un movimiento contra-cultura y preparar el camino de retorno de Cristo. Gracias Miley para hacer su parte.

Recover Rutherford

column by GLORIA Christy

Making Amends step 8: We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Sultry! Bewitching! Definitive! Disciplined!

These words describe the sweet, silky voice of jazz singer Sarah Vaughan, or, as she was known, “Sassy” and even “The Divine One.” With her impressive three-octave range, she has been regarded by many as not only one of the greatest jazz singers, but among the greatest singers of all time. The rendition that clearly raises goose bumps is her interpretation of “September Song,” a poetic metaphor comparing a person’s lifespan from birth to death. “September Song” is an American pop standard composed

by Kurt Weill with lyrics

by Maxwell Anderson and introduced by Walter Huston in the 1938 Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday. It was written as an emotional love song from an older man to a younger woman and has been recorded by numerous singers and instrumentalists, from Frank Sinatra to James Brown. There is a hidden meaning in Sarah’s heartfelt version, an earnest lyrical lament. Could it be a persuasive plea from an older person to a younger person not to waste time, especially when it comes to relationships? . . . But, it’s a long, long while from May to December But the days grow short when you reach September When the autumn weather turns the leaves to flame One hasn’t got time for the waiting game Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few September, November And these few precious days I’ll spend with you These precious days I’ll spend with you You think differently about time as you get older. It seems that when you are younger, your perception is that the times of your life will go on forever. Now that nearly two-thirds of my life is over, I have come to realize how foolish it is to waste any of it. The more that I am aware of time and the brevity of life, the more I want to make the most out of every moment.

In February 2010, I was in a near-fatal car accident. To this day, I compulsively cringe and then jump when I see headlights approaching the side of my vehicle, praying they will stop. Since then, I have made the decision to be adaptable, teachable and forgiving. I have spent way too much time living in regret and remorse. I cannot erase time, but I must live every day as if it is my last.

In the previous steps of recovery, we have started the repair work on the personal side of

our lives: admitting our powerlessness, turning our lives and wills over to God’s care and control, and confessing our wrongdoings to others and God. In this phase of our recovery, we are ready for real change as we begin the repair work on the relational side of our lives. Maybe you feel like giving up, with too many struggles and difficulties to work through.

In recovery, making amends is one of the most complicated places to be, but the fact is simple— making amends is not so much about your past as it is about your future. Before you can have healthy relationships in the future, you must come to terms with those you have hurt and those who have hurt you. We must learn to forgive ourselves Sarah Vaughan and others to make the most out of the times in our lives.

It is critical to the success of the recovery process. When we come to this place where we cannot handle life, God’s persistent love is there to get us through those tough situations and people, one moment at a time.

Forgiving yourself is one thing, but forgiving the perpetrator of wrongdoing is another. Perhaps as you recall the memory of such acts, your mind fills with sadness and even fear. As silent words appear in your mind while you hold tightly to your clammy hands, your heart races and pounds within your chest. Dealing with the emotional pain of all you have done to others and what others have done to you seems impossible! Even though the butterflies and that “kicked-in-the-stomach feeling” hold your unsteady mind in confusion, you are ready and resolved that the times of your life must change. You are sick and tired of being sick and tired! You are tired of the insanity cycle: “doing the same old things and expecting different results.”

Just being sorry is one thing, but making amends is genuine remorse in action. Two things are noted; making amends breaks down the sadness and reaches through the black hole of bitterness. Also, making amends allows the finger of God to point toward your conscience.

Real change and overwhelming victory is ahead!

Remember, everything that has happened is in the design to make you stronger. In many cases after amends, relationships are strengthened and become even more meaningful.

Dwelling on the past only leaves you in an unsafe place in your mind. For so long, you have verbalized silently and aloud your regrets.

Clearly, people do not care how much you know until you show them how much you care! Pride must take a fall so that the amends process can

be successful and real victory can occur. Pride is toxic and destructive when it comes to the healing of interpersonal relationships.

No matter what part of the world you live in, there are certain universal truths about being human. And one of them is that it is for us hard to say “I’m sorry.” However, as people mature and learn more about themselves, including what it really means to live with integrity and accountability, it gets easier to say these words. You have to live with yourself as well as your words and actions.

To avoid living in the toxicity of guilt and shame, you need to make amends. This means using both words and actions. Below are some tips for how to say “I’m sorry” with both words and actions.

Using Words • Think carefully about your motives beforehand • Apologize from a sincere place in your heart • Apologize face to face whenever possible • Keep your apology concise • Focus on what you did • Don’t justify, minimize or rationalize • Honestly recognize the error of your ways • Expect nothing in return • Be humble, honest, sincere and willing • Be committed not to let this circumstance happen again • Back up your words through actions Using Actions • Reflect true sorrow and a desire to change, or your words are truly meaningless • Take responsibility for your actions • Your actions must reflect your words—after all,

actions always speak louder than words • Your actions must show that you are honestly sorry • Learn not to be so reactive • Be more patient and gentle • Be sincerely repentant • Don’t attempt to do this without prayer!

• Wait for God and his perfect timing before taking action!

Courageous ones, as you move forward in this step, I encourage you to pray for willingness— willingness to evaluate all your past and present relationships. God will strengthen you as you become willing to make amends. Offer forgiveness to those whom you have hurt and ask forgiveness for the harm you’ve done to others. This is all possible because of God’s love and forgiveness that is extended to us. Don’t let the darkness and pain of the past destroy your future! Life is too short to live in such bondage! Enjoy the freedom and blessings by making amends.

Oh the days dwindle down To a precious few . . .

September, November . . .

And these few precious days I’ll spend with you Celebrate Recovery is that safe-place where people can remove the mask of denial and be open and honest. If you are interested in dealing with the pain of your past, there are people who will stand with you. For more information about the ministry call (615) 896-6288.

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opinions What is the Law on DUI Checkpoints?

By David Raybin

A citizen’s YouTube video encounter with the police at a sobriety checkpoint has engendered enormous interest.

And a lot of legal questions.

Nancy Amons for Nashville’s Channel 4 News asked me to comment on this. My interview has prompted other print and television media to request a more detailed exposition of the law and how that squares with what we saw on this man’s YouTube video of the DUI checkpoint.

Constitution prohibits unreasonable search and seizure The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and article 1, section 7 of the Tennessee Constitution both prohibit unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement officers.

The purpose of these provisions is to safeguard the privacy and security of individuals

against arbitrary invasions of government officials. Police activity involving the stop of an automobile qualifies as a seizure under both the state and federal constitutions.

Why is this different than a “traffic stop?”

Ordinarily, a driver may only be subjected to a stop and search if the officer has a reasonable suspicion that criminal activity is afoot, and the driver may refuse consent for investigation beyond what the officer can reasonably suspect. What makes the encounter in the YouTube video different is that it occurred at a DUI Checkpoint, not a traffic stop.

Are DUI checkpoints legal?

Yes. In State v. Downey, the Tennessee Supreme Court, relying on decisions by the United States Supreme Court, recognized that

“a roadblock seizure . . . is a departure from . . . fundamental constitutional principles because it permits officers to stop and question persons whose conduct is ordinary, innocent, and free from suspicion.” (Tennessee Supreme Court 945 S.W.2d at 104) The court determined that the constitutionality of such seizures depends upon a balancing of the public interest and the amount of interference on the individual’s liberty. The most important attribute of a reasonable roadblock is the presence of genuine limitations upon the discretion of the officers in the field over whether and how the roadblock is imposed.

The court concluded that the State has a compelling interest in alleviating drunk driving and that sobriety checkpoints are effective tools for detecting impaired drivers. Thus, DUI checkpoints are legal and comply with the Constitution if conducted in a uniform manner.

Are DUI roadblocks an Invasion of privacy?

There is nothing to suggest that the DUI checkpoint we saw in the YouTube video was itself unlawful in any manner. Some folks have commented on the right of the police to stop motorists in such roadblocks in the first place as being an invasion of one’s rights.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld sobriety road blocks and license checks. Being subject to periodic government inspection to see if we are fit to drive is a consequence of the freedom of driving on the roads. Think of it as a weight check for a truck.

As long as our courts have interpreted the state and federal constitutions to permit DUI roadblocks, law enforcement agencies are free to conduct them within the guidelines.

What can police legally do at sobriety checkpoints?

That said, what can the officer lawfully do at such a roadblock? Very little, beyond asking for your license—if done to every driver—and engaging you enough to determine if you are impaired by drugs or alcohol.

It is here that the citizen in the YouTube video ran afoul.

The complaint is that the citizen should not have been required to roll down his window beyond that necessary for the officer and the citizen to “hear each other.”

Wrong.

The point of a DUI roadblock is a sobriety check which cannot be accomplished only by conversation, although slurred speech is indicative of impairment. The officer must be allowed to engage the driver by manner, possible bloodshot eyes, and particularly odor.

Liquor, beer and pot emit an odor and, if detected on the driver or in the interior of the ve-

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hicle, afford the officer reasonable suspicion to inquire further. Asking the driver if he or she “has been drinking” inevitably produces the “only two beers” response, which is useless.

Failure to comply with officer’s request Once the citizen failed to comply with the lawful request to fully roll down the window, the law permitted the officer to escalate the response including the command to pull further up, get out of the vehicle, and submit to a drug dog inspection. This citizen was rapidly progressing to the point of “rolling probable cause” which potentially could have included being placed in handcuffs while the vehicle was searched.

What about the drug dog?

I could not see enough of that in video to determine if the search of the interior was justified. One officer remarked to the other that that “wasn’t much of an alert.” Perhaps not.

A closer question is whether the search of the interior of the vehicle met constitutional muster based on the meager dog alert.

What about the officer’s “gruff” manner?

That is known as a “command voice” which officers are trained to employ to clearly convey instructions to the citizen to minimize confusion and reduce the risk of further force. The officer began the encounter courteously enough but his verbal engagement increased as the citizen’s behavior dictated an escalation of response.

For purposes of full disclosure, my firm has sued Rutherford County officers when they are out of bounds in their contact with our clients.

I do not see that this officer was excessive in his contact with our YouTube citizen here.

On balance, the video was expertly crafted.

I did not find it misleading and it conveyed a sense of drama and reality.

However, the citizen’s YouTube video demonstrated exactly how a driver should not behave in a police roadblock. Once we understand that the Constitution permits brief investigatory stops at valid checkpoints it becomes clear that the officer did not violate the driver’s rights by asking him to roll down his window and investigating further when he refused.

This may seem offensive to some, but the courts have determined that we must tolerate the temporary intrusion in our travels as the price we pay for virtually unfettered freedom to drive as we please and to protect us from impaired drivers who can injure or kill us.

Next time, sir, roll down the window.

David Raybin is a partner at Hollins, Raybin & Weissman and he heads up the criminal defense section of the firm.

Is the U.S. Supporting Terrorists to Raise Gas Prices?

S

omething’s not quite right with the Syrian situation. As we go to war with the Assad regime under the assumption of their use of chemical weapons, the facts just don’t add up. Consider that Assad’s troops had been routing the rebels in the days leading up to the attack. Also consider that Assad had been warned, in no uncertain terms, that his use of chemical weapons would incur the wrath of the United States and other Western powers. Why would he do it?

“Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. The Qur’an is our law. Jihad is our way.

Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.”

Sounds like a peaceful bunch, doesn’t it?

We can argue over whether the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist group, but there’s no arguing that al Qaeda is, and they’re the ones in charge of the Syrian rebels. The rebels have declared their allegiance to al Qaeda. And now we’re helping them take over the country.

So, we’re aiding the terrorists in Syria.

We helped bring the Muslim Brotherhood to power in Egypt. We supported the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group in Libya which our own State Department and the U.N. Security Council have listed as an al Qaeda-linked terrorist group. Have we lost our minds!?!

What on earth could be the motivation?

It’s my belief that he didn’t. Who had I’ll toss out one theory. What’s the shortest the most to gain from a chemical weapons route to getting Americans on the greenattack? The rebels. We now know beyond a energy bandwagon? High gas prices. What’s shadow of a doubt that the Syrian rebels are the quickest way to raise global oil prices being led by al Qaeda. They have committhrough the roof? Putting a bunch of terted some unspeakable atrocities in Syria. rorists in charge of oil-producing countries If al Qaeda wanted to take control of Syria in the Middle East. If you their best option would be have a better theory I’d to the have our military views of a love to hear it. Frankly, bombard Assad’s troops I think that’s the least from off-shore. column by damning theory for this Which begs the quesphil Valentine administration. All others tion: What are we doing philvalentine.com range from outright incomaiding al Qaeda? Last time petence to blatant support for radical Islam’s I checked we were at war with them. The quest to rule the world. whole “Arab Spring” debacle has resulted It’s by no coincidence that we have been in undesirables seizing power in the Middle systematically toppling regimes that have, East. The Muslim Brotherhood, itself a terfor decades, kept the terrorists in check only rorist organization, took control of Egypt, to replace them with the terrorists themsuspended the constitution, instituted Sharia selves. Like Mohamed Zrig. He was denied law and had to be ousted by the military. refugee status in Canada because of terrorSenators John McCain and Lindsey ism. He was the leader of the Movement of Graham flew to Egypt to meet with senior the Islamic Tendency which later became officials of the Muslim Brotherhood and Ennahda. Ennahda is the ruling party in TuPresident Obama has invited them to a meetnisia, where this whole Arab Spring began. ing at the White House. FBI Director Robert And the Arab Spring could not have Mueller testified before a House committee sprung without the aid of Barack Obama. that the Muslim Brotherhood has supported terrorism not only overseas but right here in America. And our elected officials are meeting Phil Valentine is an author and nationally with these people? syndicated radio talk show host with WestDon’t believe the Muslim Brotherhood is a wood One. For more of his commentary and terrorist organization? Consider their motto: articles, visit philvalentine.com.

conservative

“

What’s the shortest route to getting Americans on the green-energy bandwagon?

High gas prices. What’s the quickest way to raise global oil prices through the roof?

Putting a bunch of terrorists in charge of oil-producing countries.

”

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Opinions

Goin’ Rogue column by frank shepard | frank@boropulse.com

Recently, Rutherford County Commissioner Steve Sandlin inserted a rogue Christian prayer during the dedication ceremony of a new county school. It was not part of the program.

It was reminiscent of the young valedictorian, Roy Costner, who ripped his pre-approved speech in two and proceeded to share his Christian testimony at his South Carolina high school’s graduation ceremony.

In both cases Sandlin and Costner were met with erupting applause and lauded as heroes. Many said that they were proud of them for standing up for their faith; that what they did was “impressive.” Tennessee State Rep. Mike Sparks, a Republican from Smyrna, praised Sandlin’s courage: “I applaud Commissioner Sandlin for praying over those students and praying over the school. I think we need more of it this day.

If there’s ever been a time in our history in which we need to be on God’s side, it’s now.”

For those who do not appreciate this kind of thing, allow me to help you understand why people do this. It is clear that Sandlin, Costner, and their devotees justify little insurgences such as these because of the greater good that the community will reap. The key to understanding this is seeing what they see. We need to know what is at stake for them.

First, they know full well that what they’re doing is disrespectful to all others whose beliefs do not match theirs. They are intentionally hijacking a public ceremony and injecting it with personal and private religious content for a noble reason.

They know it is not a kind thing to do, but neither was Jesus’ overturning of the tables, so it remains a Christ-like act. Secondly, they’re doing it for the betterment of the polity, thus it is deeply patriotic.

Never mind that our forebears left a theocracy to flee religious bullying, and that Jesus specifically condemned public prayer, instead advised to lock one’s self in a closet and personally sought secluded places to pray in solitude.

But the real reason they did has to do with keeping God happy (or what they call “glorifying God.”) The Bible illustrates over and over that people suffer when they ignore God. In the theology of divine retribution, tragedy is an indication of God’s disfavor. This naturally leads to a need to find blame.

From Job to Jonah to Jesus, when tragedy struck the question was always, “Who sinned?” The underlying assumption is that God’s good world is supposed to work. People are not supposed to be blind; storms are not supposed to be destructive; we are not supposed to get sick and die. And when these things happen, it’s thought to be an indication that we’re

out of God’s will, that God is not on our side.

Christianity is not alone in this line of thinking.

For millennia, humanity has interpreted difficulty and hardships as the workings of an angry, offended God. To win back his favor and convey sincere penitence, sacrifices were offered to lift the curse—the more precious the sacrifice, the more sincere the penance. Perhaps this is why children were the ultimate sacrifice.

In contrast, the “sacrifice” that Sandlin and Costner made seems small. But we’re starting to see what would motivate a person to step out of their comfort zone, risk controversy, and rock the boat—it’s a way of getting God’s attention. What could be more valiant?

God sees the hero “standing in the gap” between his anger and humanity’s sin, fending off God’s wrath, and demonstrating that ‘there are still those who care about you.’ The fact that what they did was rude is part and parcel to sacrifice. Sacrifices were an ugly, bloody mess and cost their performer greatly—by design. Surely this is how the Westboro Baptist folk view their hideous behavior. It’s a tremendous act of love to care that much for America, is it not? With all the difficulties that our society is experiencing, obtaining God’s blessing is tantamount.

Given such high stakes, it’s surprising that we don’t see even more radical religious demonstrations. Of course, nothing will ever beat 9/11.

But what do these public demonstrations say about God’s character? His jealousy for our full attention and exclusive worship paints a picture of a deeply insecure and needy patriarch. His threatening, love-me-or-else fear mongering smacks of an abusive, controlling wife-beater, whose “love” is entirely conditional, who throws tantrums and hurts people when he doesn’t get his way. And just when we start to notice the emperor is naked, we’re told to trust in him with all our hearts, lean not on our own understanding, and in all our ways pay tribute to him.

Fortunately, such a God is a counterfeit, manmade superstition. The real solution for America’s woes is to put on our big-boy pants, get over our fear of ourselves, each other, “god,” life, death, and responsibility. We waste our energy erecting sides and making sure we’re on God’s side, when neither “god” nor “sides” exist. It’s just us here. No outside force is going to save us. As a species, we’re past the age of looking to Mom or Dad for help. Our failure to launch is evident. We need to repent: “We must increase, and He must decrease.”

If you’re still reading, you realize that, in the spirit of Sandlin and Costner, I just wrote a rogue column that might offend some but is justified because my beliefs can save America, and I’m brave to do so.

“The real solution for America’s woes is to put on our big-boy pants, get over our fear of ourselves, each other, “god,” life, death, and responsibility.”

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Siege and Storm

by Leigh Bardugo Gifted sorcerers known as Grisha, a dark lord made greedy with power, and a land divided by impenetrable darkness: This is the world created by Leigh Bardugo in her wildly popular series, the Grisha trilogy. The first book in the series, Shadow and Bone, created a cult following, with talk of movie rights and fans eagerly anticipating the sequel.

Siege and Storm, Leigh Bardugo’s second in the Grisha trilogy, picks up right where the first book left off—Alina, a Grisha known as “the Sun Summoner” and her friend Mal have made a life for themselves after fleeing their homeland of Ravka and leaving their nemesis, the Darkling, behind. But a young girl radiating power and her handsome young companion are easy targets, and it’s not long before the Darkling has tracked them down and kidnapped them. Fans of Bardugo’s books know to expect the unexpected, and Siege and Storm is no different. Alina and Mal are freed from captivity by an unlikely ally, a pirate known as Sturmhond, and in a stunning plot twist, Alina and Mal find themselves heading back to Ravka.

As a main character, Alina has shown tremendous growth from the first novel. She is far from the abandoned orphan and outcast she was in the beginning of Shadow and Bone, and the powers she harnessed have only continued to grow, particularly with the addition of the scales of a fabled ice dragon. Haunted by the deaths she has inadvertently caused, frightened by visions of the Darkling and her own need for more power, Alina has developed from a naïve girl into a complex young woman and a force to be reckoned with. As Ravka continues its descent into ruin, Alina realizes that she may be the only force strong enough to stop the Darkling from taking over. With a ragtag group of Grisha, military deserters, and the remains of the by michelle palmeR Royal Court, Alina gathers an army to prepare for battle against the ever-strengthening Darkling.

To reveal much more of the plot would be to give away an ending that will have you clamoring for the final installment, due out next year. Although there is enough background information included within Siege and Storm for it to be read as a standalone novel, new readers will find the journey far more enjoyable by readingShadow and Bone first. Bardugo’s rich imagination and character development make this series a highly enjoyable read, especially for those looking to get lost in a good book.

read to succeed

book review

Michelle Palmer is Read To Succeed’s One Book Committee Co-Chair and author of the 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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Opinions TRUE CHANGE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ETHICAL BANKING

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ven after reducing consumption to an vidual choices from an ethical standpoint. For the elegant minimum, the conscious consumer majority of us the monetary medium, as fictitious is inevitably left with a seemingly unending as it is valuable, is held in a profit-earning institunumber of choices. Were the raw materials tion. Banks are rarely described this way. They for the product ethically sourced? How far did are simply a part of life, providing a financial the item travel to reach this shelf? Are the workmechanism to purchase items over a long period ers paid a living wage? In the perpetual pursuit of time on credit, or are a place to earn money of a conscious path—and it is indeed a path; I with money in the form of interest. As a financial am not convinced that we can ever get ‘there’—it tool this system can be valuable for both the borseems to me that one crucial factor remains perower and the lender, and is in fact the driving culiarly absent. That factor is personal financing. force of a consumption-based economy. The idea Say for example you earn $100 of ethical banking, however, cash on a particular day and never seems to enter the equathat after work you agonize tion. Even the pairing of those about how to spend $5 on the two words should merit a secmost ethical, local and organic ond glance, so divorced from tomatoes at the farmer’s maranother are the concepts. column by ryan egly ket. You then place that warm egly@boropulse.com red bounty of summer in your The idea that a bank bike basket and pedal to the should, like all other instibranch of a national bank chain to deposit the tutions, be beholden to some type of ethiremaining $95. As a safe investor, you decide to cal code gained widespread attention during the invest $20 in that bank’s mutual fund offer2007-2008 financial crisis. It was revealed during ing. At the end of that day 95 percent of your this time, although not for the first time, that the financial power is stored at or invested with an largest banks are on par with the largest corporainstitution that is legally beholden to shareholdtions in their ruthless zeal to return the highest ers, and that is certainly invested in high-return margin, whatever the risk to society. There is petrochemical, agribusiness, pharmaceutical thankfully another financial model, based not on and weapons companies, while 5 percent of your profit to shareholders, but on community values. financial power goes toward a local, fairly paid A credit union is by definition nonprofit and farm worker who doesn’t pollute your city’s water member-owned. Credit unions are democratisupply. That agonizing decision, although imporcally run by an elected board to whom the CEO tant, has in a sense bought off your conscience. reports. Financial benefits include lower fees and strong ties to the local economy, which are benWhat you are worth in savings plus what you efits also offered by local community banks. It is might owe on a mortgage or other form of debt a widely cited statistic that local banks and credit likely outweighs the sum of painstaking indiunions fund over half of small business growth

 If you see the importance in shopping local, remember to include your financial, banking, savings and lending needs.

tion of their financial assets invested unethically.

In this context, the relatively minuscule amount spent on fair trade chocolate may ease the conscience, but does little to effect true change.

A good analogy is recycling—some avid recyclers are also the highest-volume and most wasteful consumers. Recycling in these cases provides a fictitious boon for the conscience while the consumer continues to devour the planet.

living green

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while accounting for under a quarter of national banking assets. Larger banking institutions, say on the Bank of America level, operate on a model analogous to the fast food industry. Branch locations extract wealth from local communities and transfer it out of the community.

Another important financial issue is noninsured assets. Financial assets insured by the FDIC, such as standard checking and savings accounts, have to play by certain rules, one of which is avoiding speculative and risky investments such as the stock market. If you choose to invest in mutual funds, or if your company chooses for you in the form of a 401k plan, you are gambling on a higher rate of return by making uninsured investments in a variety of markets. This is not inherently unethical, but as they say, the devil is in the details. The petrochemical, agribusiness, pharmaceutical and weapons industries are all immensely profitable ventures in our current way of valuing goods, and it would be impossible for an ethical investor to choose such companies. It would also be very unlikely that the customer in the opening paragraph would choose those types of companies if there was a clear choice. Making high-return investments is however the sole aim of the company offering the 401k plan. Mutual funds are a prime example of how a citizen striving to make ethical choices can have a large por-

Now that the problem has been identified, let’s look forward to solutions. The first step is to move your money (see moveyourmoney.org).

If you bank at a national financial institution, move your assets, all of them, and let them know why. By ‘them’ I do not mean the nice teller who is equally taken advantage of, and who may have no idea what you are talking about. There are multiple credit unions in the ’Boro including Ascend, Heritage South and Cornerstone Financial.

I recently opened an account with U.S. Community Credit Union in Nashville, partly as a result of doing research for this article. Secondly, if you are invested in a company retirement program or with personal assets, investigate just how those assets are invested. Don’t be shy when you change plans—it is a real opportunity to get a decision maker’s attention. Vanguard, the company who administers my company’s 401k program, offers Socially Responsible Investments (SRIs) as a mutual fund option. There is typically a group responsible for determining the plan’s options to employees, and if you ask it isn’t hard to find the right contact.

Understanding the banking system is anything but simple. But for anyone concerned with true change, as opposed to superficially appeasing the conscience, it is a must. The usual ‘what difference can I make?’ feeling will undoubtedly creep in, but I would encourage you with this: it doesn’t take 50 percent of people moving their assets for change to happen. Competition is stiff among financial service providers, and even a small drop in business because of a clear issue can get things moving. Have any advice or experience with local credit unions or banks? Let the Pulse hear about it!

Food

Baked Ratatouille Recipe and photos by CHRISTY SIMMONS

INGREDIENTS: 1 medium onion, finely diced 2 tbsp. butter 1 large tomato or 2 medium tomatoes, chopped ½ tsp. kosher salt 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 eight-ounce can of tomato sauce Pinch of sugar 1 medium yellow squash 1 medium zucchini 1 red bell pepper 1 small eggplant Kosher salt Fresh ground pepper A few sprigs of fresh thyme

directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sauté the onion in butter over medium heat until translucent. Add chopped tomato and raise heat to medium high. Sprinkle with ½ tsp. salt to allow the tomatoes to fully release their juices. Add garlic, tomato sauce and sugar (optional; I

add it to all my tomato sauces to help cut down on the acidity). Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly reduced, about 6-7 minutes. Pour into bottom of casserole dish.

Thinly slice the squash, zucchini, pepper and eggplant. (I use a mandolin slicer, which is a great investment if you like thin, uniform slices. You could just as easily use a sharp knife and the patience of a Jedi Knight.) Arrange the slices of vegetables on top of the tomato mixture, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper and thyme leaves.

(Strip the leaves off the thyme stems by holding the stem at the top and running your fingers down to the bottom.)

Cut a piece of parchment paper so that it fits just inside the dish you are using. Cover with the parchment and bake for 45-55 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked through, but are still retaining their shape. They should not be browned and you should be able to see the tomato juice bubbling up on the sides.

This can be served as a side dish to any meat, or you can serve it as a main dish, like I do, by serving it on top of a thick, toasted slice of crusty bread, spread with soft goat cheese and topped with a perfectly poached local farm egg, sprinkled with salt and fresh ground pepper.

(Adapted from Thomas Keller/The French Laundry)

Some Fall Flavors column by JUSTIN STOKES

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am a huge fan of brewed beverages. Coffee. Tea. And adding to that equation, I’d like to introduce our new guest for coverage: beer.

brew review

English Tea Shop’s Chocolate, Roibos, and Vanilla 5 Pulses I could drink this tea all year long. It’s a caffeine-free beverage that is another great selection from the English Tea Shop. I felt that these sweet tastes went together as smoothly as velvet. It’s what a post-meal tea should be.

World Market’s Island Blend – 2.5 Pulses This may be one of the biggest letdowns from the World Market selection. It’s a medium roast with a full body and low acidity, which sounds great as a selling point but really doesn’t offer much taste. It’s drinkable, but a little murky about what it wants to be. I don’t mind drinking this as a good reserve coffee, but after offering it to a few friends, I can safely say it’s a coffee many people won’t care to drink.

World Market’s Caramel Pumpkin Pie Coffee – 3.5 Pulses I wait all year long for pumpkin coffee. The same magical feeling people get for winter foods, I get around the fall for pumpkin beverages. Last

year, World Market changed their pumpkin coffee recipe by adding caramel. While this is a departure from their pumpkin coffees of the past years, it’s a good seasonal coffee.

World Market’s Chocolate Pecan Pie Coffee – 3.5 Pulses Ditto on the above for this coffee, but I would say that the flavor of pecan is not as prevalent as with the pumpkin. Still a good coffee.

Lucky Bucket Brewing Company Oktoberfest – 3 Pulses No such thing as a bad Märzen beer. Just mind the aftertaste with this one.

New Belgium’s Pumpkick – 4 Pulses Made from allspice, cranberry, lemongrass, pumpkin juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg, this proved to be a very interesting concoction of ingredients.

Woodchuck Fall Cider – 4.5 Pulses Playing on the fall flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg, this fall cider adds those tastes to the sweetness of a candy apple. It’s crisp, spicy and refreshing. Many dismiss hard ciders, but I get the same satisfaction drinking a cider as I do a beer. boropulse.com

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Food

Mac & cheese egg rolls. (Right) The Gimmie-Gimmie Cheese-Cheese Burger. (Below) Proof that desserts have their place on the truck.

On the grill

Branching Out story by Justin stokes photos by christy simmons

My Roots offers gourmet flavor to the food truck scene.

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he last decade has seen a tremendous change in our city’s dining options. As Murfreesboro has grown, so have our restaurants.

Murfreesboro has provided us some great restaurants but is still growing past the phase of basic chains and meat-and-threes. As is always the case with evolution in any culture, people are finding ways to do more with less.

Bypassing the traditional model, many restaurateurs are now realizing that food trucks are outlets that let them offer many more ways to prepare food.

Of the many ways to make food, one of the best ways is the Wong way.

Anthony Wong, owner and operator of the My Roots food truck, came from a family of food lovers. Wong had a very simple dream: he wanted to bring the same fun flavors of fair food to the good people of Rutherford County with his own unique flair of Cantonese-Italian fusion. Having started off as the Broad Street Eats food truck, Wong wasn’t mobile at the time of operation, and operated under maroon and yellow colors.

“Everyone thought I was a barbecue place”, Wong shares “so I had to change colors.” After becoming mobile and changing his colors to the current bright green with blue highlights, Wong started to up his game, changing the menu and shopping for fresh ingredients every day at Sinking Creek Farm. Combine that with a sparkling score from the health department (whom he commends for doing a great job and caring 18 * September 2013 * boropulse.com

Grilled cheese with tomato and basil.

about the community), and it’s very easy to understand My Roots’ popularity with the foodie crowd. Be it with the workingman lunches or signature dishes like the Mayday ’Boro Blonde Onion Rings, the menu offered is a one-of-akind selection of delectable items that celebrates the interests of fast and well-crafted foods.

I was lucky enough to get to sample some of Anthony’s food.

Mac & Cheese Egg Rolls

Fried mac & cheese is a food familiar to many fair-goers. But with its mass production, lack of texture, and frozen-foods origins, many fried mac & cheese items leave something to

be desired. After moving away from the spring roll wrappers, My Roots offers a hand-rolled, flaky appetizer made with elbow macaroni and sharp Wisconsin cheddar. It’s a warm, golden taste that is best appreciated by watching it made right in front of you. Amazing.

As for the veggie spring rolls, they’re no slouch in the taste department. Featuring fresh local cabbage and basil, you can actually have your rolls built custom, just the way you want. Add a drop of Sriracha sauce, and you’re in business.

Meat Skewers

Meat on a stick. This is a very simple dish that still somehow manages to be more sophisticated than what one may expect. The tender nature of the meat means that its fibers have the same delicacy you would expect with fish. There’s a bit of a spicy finish to the pork. It’s a friendly heat that adds to the ginger root and black bean, two fixtures of the cooking of Wong’s grandfather. Wong’s claim that the meat itself doesn’t need anything can be verified for yourself.

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter/Caramel Supreme Cake

“Doesn’t that name say it all?” asks Anthony, referring to this decadent dessert-monster made lovingly by his wife. This is perhaps one of the best desserts I have had in the area. It’s heavy, sweet and delicious, with a thick crust, and something you would not expect out of any food truck. When we shared our love for this, we were pleased to learn that Wong’s wife has dreams of operating her own food truck. The dessert’s only possible drawback is that it might be a little too heavy if you order anything else.

Overall, My Roots is a fantastic food truck that serves first-rate fare. My Roots is currently offering lunch specials at BAM Customs, 524 Old Salem Highway. You can call them to place an order at (251) 509-6562 or via the My Roots Curbside Culinary Facebook page.

Fool Me Once: Gondolier

eat Tennessee stor y and photos by Bracken

mayo

Sinking Creek Farm

From the shores of Sinking Creek come peppers, flowers, beans, eggs, slaws, jellies and more.

The tale of an in-town agricultural venture

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ucked away in the midst of a residential North Murfreesboro neighborhood is a 15-acre pocket of land known as Sinking Creek Farm.

Danny and Ginger Demonbreun first moved to the property on Battleground Drive two decades ago.

“Ginger’s dad found this place 20 years ago,” Danny said. “We were looking for land, and he took us out here. We were driving through the subdivision, and I was thinking, ‘There’s nothing for us out here.’”

But the Demonbreuns were amazed at the large piece of land, and settled on the banks of Sinking Creek.

But only recently, out of a destructive force a few years ago, came the agricultural element now included in the name of the property. The Good Friday tornado of 2009 devastated a chunk of Rutherford County, but the way the Demonbreuns saw it, it cleared the way for Sinking Creek Farm, literally.

“They hauled out 487 dump truck loads of waste,” Ginger said. “We’ve always been into organic gardening, but that allowed us to really expand. We said, ‘Let’s try this!’”

Now, with the majority of the land no longer being heavily wooded, there is ample room to grow veggies, and the proprietors of Sinking Creek can grow sunflowers, beans, eggplant, asparagus, cabbage and more, plus produce a few condiments, with a particular partiality to

peppers. The Demonbreuns package jars of spicy mustard, pepper jellies, German hot slaw and Carolina hot slaw.

“They’re great on everything,” Ginger says of the hot slaws. “Pinto beans . . . everything.”

Sinking Creek wants to promote the grow-your-own, do-it-yourself spirit in the community, and its proprietors invite anyone interested to attend periodical Artisan Bashes on the property.

“It’s great to get like-minded people to come together,” Ginger said.

Come see the new facility at Sinking Creek Farm's next Artisan Bash, Sept. 7.

By like-minded, she means those with a desire to get back to living off the land, and turn to a more natural and more local way of shopping, eating and living. These people may include farmers, musicians and merchants, along with beekeepers, soap makers, woodworkers, producers of crafts and arts—all are invited.

The next Artisan Bash will be Saturday, Sept. 7, from 2–6 p.m., and the afternoon will include music, food, drink, crafts, networking, the exchange of ideas, possible wading in the creek, friends and fun.

Sinking Creek also offers its facilities for rentals and events, and boasts a brand-new wooden picnic pavilion.

“Danny just built this in 6 weeks,” Ginger said while standing in the new structure. “I’m so proud of him!”

But neither Demonbreun seems to stand still for very long; Ginger is off to prepare for an event that night, while Danny is busy cutting grass. It’s not easy running a farm, but it has its rewards.

Pick up some hot slaw at Broad Street Tobacco & Beverage, or look for the My Roots food truck around town to further sample some of the Demonbreuns’ produce.

Sinking Creek Farm is located at 2473 Battleground Drive. Drop by Sept. 7 for the Artisan Bash if you can. Like Sinking Creek Farm on Facebook or visit gigisorganic.com for more information.

column by Justin stokes

Last year I was talking with two friends who moved from New York and are a part of an Italian family. I’d say that New Yorkers who appreciate authentic food would be the best people to ask for thoughts on the Italian restaurants in the area. I ask about Marina’s, one of my favorite restaurants in the ’Boro. Every time I’ve eaten there, I’ve left with a fantastic experience.

My friends share that Marina’s did not win the “Favorite Italian Restaurant” award from the Ruthies; that Gondolier won for both “Favorite Italian Restaurant” and “Favorite Dessert Place” of 2012. In the same breath they share that they didn’t trust the judgment of the Ruthie Awards, they say they were disgusted by Gondolier.

“The bread literally tastes like something from Little Caesars. Which isn’t terrible, but that’s not what you should have at an Italian place."

So, in 2012, I go there. The bread is just like something you would have at Little Caesars.

The salad is something out of a Dole bag.

And the Chicken Marsala was two pieces of unappealing meat thrown onto noodles and smothered in mushrooms and sauce.

And here these people had won an award put to a county-wide vote? Get out.

Having never tried a cannoli, I order one. This is a dessert that many have hyped up. Much to my confusion, it tastes like an ice cream taco.

Are they supposed to taste that way?

Now, fast-forward almost a year later, I go back. Within moments, I had my bread again. It tasted just like Little Caesars bread. My salad came out. Thank goodness I had ordered ranch dressing, because that’s all I could taste. The lettuce did not taste fresh, and my suspicions were confirmed when I found a piece or two that appeared brown from early stages of rot.

I held my tongue and pushed the salad away, waiting for the Chicken Marsala. The meat on the dish didn’t even taste like chicken. The noodles reminded me of lo mein you would get at a cheap buffet, and the mushrooms and sauce on the dish were still below quality. I ordered a cannoli; it still tasted like an ice cream taco.

Now, I don’t really consider myself a serious food critic. I’m also not a doctor. So, saying that I had food poisoning might be questionable. But I can certainly say that I had food poisoning-like symptoms after dining at Gondolier.

So what can you take away from all of this?

Well, be your own critic. Make your own assessments of what you like and don’t like.

Question everything. Just because a restaurant received awards does not mean it will offer you a good meal. It simply means they won an award. Based on having two identical experiences a year apart, I question the effectiveness of the Ruthie Awards.

Since the community uses the Ruthie Awards as a compass to worthwhile businesses, I would argue that the folks who put it together have a moral obligation to re-assess their criteria. boropulse.com

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sounds

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music on the mountain

1Space Capone 2Sugar Lime Blue 3The Great Barrier

Short Mountain Distillery hosts Music in the Middle

Reefs

4Aeroplane

story by andrea stockard

If you are anything like me, the

thought of an upcoming music and arts festival makes every fiber in your body tingle with the anticipation and promise of an amazing weekend alongside a life-changing experience. Over the past decade Tennessee has become one of the most successful music and arts festival hosts in the country. From Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival to Fly Free Festival, Muddy Roots and more, who can resist the luscious green fields and forests of the sweet South? That is why many of my friends and I were so excited when we heard about Music in the Middle Modern Arts Festival.

Murfreesboro residents Cameron Sloan and Stephen Masterson, founders of Heady Vibes

Mini Music Festival and other events, have put together an amazing and diverse lineup of about 75 local and mainstream bands to form a music festival of electronic, funk, folk, reggae, rock, indie rock and everything you can imagine on the beautiful 300-acre farm of Short Mountain Distillery in Woodbury, Tenn. Who would have thought a music festival could be made more interesting by being on a moonshine distillery?

“We love going to Bonnaroo and other music festivals, but if you have ever been to a large festival, you know that sometimes you want something a little more personal,” said Sloan.

“What we want to do is to create a music festival with a really close community vibe.”

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The guys predict the festival to be made up of around 5,000 people with around 75 bands. The lineup for the first Music in the Middle Modern Arts Festival consists of The 1975, Aeroplane, Blue Sky Black Death, Gigamesh, Space Capone, Sky Hi, Ghost Beach, Zoogma, and many more. Sloan and Masterson are sincerely passionate about this festival, and the two have managed to overcome their fair share of trials and tribulations this year to make Music in the Middle possible.

With the help of Earmilk Presents, Full Spectrum Events and others, three main stages (and smaller stages) will showcase bands throughout the day and night. The fields of Short Mountain Distillery will give a home to decked-out lights in the trees (creating an Electric Forest Festival vibe), shows taking place in the perfectly spacedout woods, smaller stages for acoustic improv shows and more. Guests can enjoy yoga in the morning time, hula hooping areas, a bonfire at night, EDM laser tag, glow and regular Frisbee and more! Attendees are encouraged to bring instruments so they can jam out at their leisure, and spray cans for graffiti walls, paint or anything artistic. Performance art is also encouraged.

“We have done everything we can to make this enjoyable for our guests,” said Masterson. “A lot of planning has come with our frustration from other festivals we enjoy. We don’t want people to have to wait forever to go to the restrooms, we don’t want anyone to feel crammed in. We also wanted to create a symbiotic relationship with production

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companies and businesses so that everyone is getting along and working together.”

The festival will begin Friday, Oct. 4, with music beginning at 9 a.m. and lasting until around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. There will be an option for outdoor camping or day parking with shuttle service. Among many of the wonderful things going on that weekend, attendees can enjoy local food, music and art vendors such as Enchanted Planet, Auroravizion Diffraction Glasses, Hippie Hill Snowcones & Smoked Goods and more.

The Craft American Beer Tour will be there for anyone interested in 100-plus quality beers, and of course, moonshine will be available.

“What we are doing out here really is extraordinary,” said Ben Kaufman, one of the founders of Short Mountain Distillery. “Liquor-making really has been the pinnacle of the agriculture business.

Short Mountain has their own recipe special to the area, and everything we grow is organic and heirloom corn. I was looking for something to bring people out here, and with the founders [of Music in the Middle] being from Murfreeboro, the festival seemed like a great fit. MTSU college students connecting with other college students is something we would like to involve here.

“Anything we can do to get people to come out here helps this farm grow. I predict us to host many things in the future to help put this town on the map,” Kaufman continued. “I’m trying to make moonshine cool. It’s already cool, but it’s not young. We’re just trying to think outside the box.”

For more information on Music in the Middle, visit musicinthemiddlefest.com or like their Facebook page. Stay tuned to Nashville’s 102.9 The Buzz radio, where one of the festival bands will be chosen for their Acoustic Den. For more on Short Mountain Distillery, visit shortmountaindistillery.com.

album reviews

by jessica pace

Dead soldiers

billy jones bluez

All the Things You Lose

I'm a Bluesman

The South is the gift that keeps on giving, a boundless I’m gonna buy you a bottle of Easy-Off/And girl you know source of romance and mystique to artists of all forms just what I mean/Fish love underwater/Worms love unthat prompts outsiders to relocate and natives to return derground/Let’s make love in a garbage can/And you can’t to all the intrigues encapsulated within Memphis band turn me down, Arkansas-based Billy Jones Bluez sings on Dead Soldiers’ All the Things You Lose. his recent release, I’m a Bluesman.

The 12-track LP, released last March, starts off with the Indeed he is. And the above, sung on opening track cascading flow of violin on “Teddy Gene Mountain.” Rol“The Iceman,” is an A-plus proposition, made better by licking and bittersweet, it sounds like leaving home.

Jones Bluez’ firm and stylized grasp on the art of funk, Dead Soldiers hide black pearls of wisdom in their traditional blues and hip-hop. songs, like on “A Matter of Blood,” which offers the The record begins with “The Iceman,” a prime efobservation, It’s a matter of blood/It makes the world go fort in traditional blues, which transitions to the slow round. Or “It All Goes Black,” which is a reminder of the hip-hop and funk bass of “I’m Yo’ Freak” to the guitar certainty and equity of death: When you die it all goes blistering through an industrial sounding rhythm on black/It don’t matter if it’s murder “Nothin’ but the Blues.” or if you had a heart attack.

The title track has a limber, We’re working hard Given the South’s rich geostructured rhythm section with a to promote good music in Middle Tennessee. graphic imagery, earth and water melty melody that draws a loose run rampant through All the Things line over disgruntled distortion, Bands: Send your albums and You Lose, like on “Wicked River” creating a vibe with Highway promotional materials to or “Willow Tree,” which starts off 61 roots. A 7-minute mood-setter The Murfreesboro Pulse, 116-E North Walnut St., Murfreesboro, TN 37130. sung a cappella. midway through the record, “Somebody’s Darlin’” is a scene“I’m a Bluesman” is where Jones setting attempt to capture love obliterated by warfare, Bluez makes a statement as the bass’s redundant roll while “Don’t Let the Fever Take Me” is riddled with of thunder and the answering clap of percussion resohaunting vocal harmonies. nate even as the guitar peters out.

“Church” conjures the image of drinking rotgut “Do Right Baby” channels a sort of Billie Holiday whiskey in the neon light and a character drinkbrand of misery and emotiveness, and “Love Noing gasoline and spitting fire with an auditory and body Else” has an air of apprehension as the artist emotional resonance created by surfy guitars and early sings, She said all I wanted was for you to love me/But rock ’n’ roll influence. you only love yourself/And you’re so wrapped up in your And “Martyr’s Peak” is a lovely birdsong of soft-breeze own ego/That you can’t love nobody else.” harmonica and a banjo weeping over the words: In the By the time the record ends with “You And Me,” tall grass down by the riverside/She’s got flowers growing out Jones Bluez has moved back toward vintage hip-hop of her skull . . . her pale lips won’t tell no more lies/Because with distorted guitars and ’80s-sounding synthesizers, she’s got flowers growing out of her eyes. though whatever the genre, the artist’s voice is earnest All the Things You Lose—and the South is irrefutand palpable, hovering in the air over the music like ably, historically a land of loss—has well-written, fading smoke long after the lyrics are sung, and he well-played songs of the Southern gothic variety that manages to home in on some of the best from blues wouldn’t be out of place sound-tracking an intentionaltorchbearers like Parliament and Jimi Hendrix—and ly campy indie film adaptation of a Flannery O’Connor there’s even some Prince in there. story made by an arty director.

For more information on Billy Jones Bluez, find Find the album at deadsoldierstn.bandcamp.com. him on Facebook and Reverbnation.

RATINGS: AVERAGE

A CLASSIC BELOW AVERAGE

OUTSTANDING AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD boropulse.com

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Kansas Bible Company Traveling circus of a 12-piece releases video game, opens for Panic story by jessica pace

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he Nashville-by-way-of Indiana band Kansas Bible Company is actually more like a traveling circus in size, eclecticism and theatrical appeal. And because it’s difficult to ignore the glory of 12 instrumentalists onstage mashing together a potpourri of musical genres and blasting it into the faces of show-goers with a sort of sybaritic abandon, Kansas Bible Company, who moved from Goshen, Ind., two years ago, seem like they’ve been a Middle Tennessee fixture all along. This summer they’ve been on the road touring, scored a gig opening for Widespread Panic and are now thinking about their next record, which will follow up 2012’s Hotel Chicamauga. Bassist Nathan Morrow tells the Pulse what it’s like to be onetwelfth of Nashville’s favorite soul-punk-rockhip-hop . . . whatever.

Pulse: Tell me about your recent tour and opening for Widespread Panic.

Nathan Morrow: Our manager helped set us up with opening for Widespread Panic.

We’ve done three tour runs this summer and opening for Widespread in Pelham, Ala., was the first show on our second run.

Just to clarify, how many are in your band at present?

We have 12 members.

Why name your house and latest album Hotel Chicamauga?

The street we live on in East Nashville is called Chicamauga Avenue. The album title is also a reference to the Battle of Chickamauga, one of the bloodiest Civil War battles.

Do you all still live together?

Nine of us live in the house we call Hotel Chicamauga. Two other members live in a house a couple blocks down. We’re still in the process of getting our twelfth member, Rafael, down to Nashville. He currently lives in Goshen, Ind. What is the dynamic like at the house, with so many people who make music together all in one place?

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There’s a lot of jamming and offshoot projects.

We have a room in the house bathed in red light and filled with red decor that we call the “Red Room.” And every couple of weeks or so, or sometimes once a month, we will hold a Red Room where anyone who wants to perform can showcase something, whether it’s a song, poem, artwork, etc. It’s open to friends and strangers. There’s no judging—just watching and listening.

What impact does that have on making music? Is there constant collaboration, or time set aside for music?

There’s definitely constant collaboration, at least in terms of ideas. We’re always hanging out with each other, so it’s kind of hard not to be constantly coming up with ideas together.

We also set aside practice time where everyone meets and we work on stuff, whether new or old. Bringing a song to the band is still difficult though, because you have to present it to so many people.

How large was your band when you first started out? How and why did it expand?

The band started out with seven members in Goshen, Ind. It was basically a college party band, and disbanded when a bunch of its members graduated. However, Jake Miller, our lead vocalist and primary songwriter, decided to reform the band after going through a summer of post-college soul-searching. Four more members were added. I don’t think there was any intensive searching; Jake just had more friends who could play instruments, so why not add them? Then when they decided to move to Nashville, the bass player, Rafael Chavez, stayed back, so they added me on bass. But now Rafael is back with the band playing keys, so we’ve moved up to 12 members.

I’m guessing with so many people, there are a lot of musical influences that go into this project. How do you incorporate them? Do they ever clash?

Yeah, everyone has their own type of musical style they’re into, whether it’s punk-rock,

hip-hop or prog-rock. They get incorporated pretty organically. We might have a musical genre in mind before we start writing, but then everyone’s individual techniques and influences come forth and mesh into an auditory orgy of different styles, and it morphs into something new and original. It’s an ongoing process, however. Of course we sometimes disagree, and sometimes songs don’t turn out the way certain people want them to. We’re still figuring out the best ways for us to write songs. We’ve been working on new material utilizing a new method of writing where each band member writes and directs a song.

What sparked the idea for a video game to go with your song “Jesus the Horse Thief?” Who designed it?

A couple of us were just joking about making a music video game one day, and then we realized that we could very easily make that idea a reality. One of our good college friends, Michael Neumann, is a video game developer, so we asked him to create a video game for one of our songs. We gave some input here and there, but mostly just let him do his thing. You can find his games at dream-bot.com.

What are you working on now, and when do you expect to make another record?

We want to take our time with this next record. Our last two records were pretty rushed.

They were also made without producers. It’s difficult having 12 people produce a record.

This next record is going to be very focused, because each band member is going to be in charge of one song. A lot has happened between Hotel Chicamauga and now. We have

a better idea of the recording process now, we have a manager, we’ve toured more, and we’re just a lot more open with each other when sharing ideas and criticisms.

How was Hotel Chicamauga different from previous recordings?

The first album, Ad Astra per Aspera, was just a collection of songs KBC had at that point.

With Hotel Chicamauga, we were trying to make a concept album. There are themes and characters that tie songs together. We also started experimenting more with song formats and time signatures as the songwriting process became more democratic.

Your sound varies so much from song to song. What are your favorite songs to play onstage together?

Everyone in the band has their own favorite KBC songs. But I think we all love playing the three songs in the Surf Rock Trilogy. I’m actually kind of upset that I wasn’t around when it was written, because it is so much fun to play.

At the last KBC show I saw in Nashville, I witnessed a sort of water-bottle baptism followed by everyone putting their instruments down and dancing. Are the theatrical aspects of your stage performance premeditated, or do they just develop spontaneously on their own?

Most of it is spontaneous. The horn line comes up with dance moves during practice sometimes, and sometimes we decide before the show that we’re going to do something weird.

For example, we played the Communion show at the Basement in Nashville and decided beforehand that we were going to serve communion. So we brought little communion cups and wine. For another show we all wore dresses.

Honestly though, most of the time I won’t even know about the shenanigans that other bandmates are doing until after the show.

Your horn section gets hired out. Is KBC the top priority in relationship to other musical collaborations?

Some of the horn guys get hired out for other

projects, but KBC is definitely top priority. There is no question about that. Nobody gets paid in this band, although we’re currently working towards getting the band to cover our rent. For now, we’re just doing this for the love of the craft and community.

With such a large lineup, you’ve got to all be able to work together and bring something. What do each of you bring to the table that’s vital to KBC? Some people are great at starting the songwriting process, some people write cool parts, some people are really good at booking shows, dealing with the band’s money or doing maintenance on the vans. And some people are just positive influences to have around.

Everyone is influential musically, but everyone also has personality quirks that keep the band ticking.

Tell me more about your songwriting process.

It’s an evolving process. We’re still working out how to do it. Early on, Jake Miller wrote all the songs and acted as the bandleader. With Hotel Chicamauga, things became pretty democratic, which led to some very different and interesting places, but it was also frustrating when everyone was trying to voice their opinion at once. Recently, we’ve moved on to having everyone take turns being the bandleader. It’s kind of an anarcho-syndicalist method of being a band. Kind of like the type of government Dennis the Peasant describes inMonty Python and the Holy Grail. It’s been working well.

Is handling the business side of things easier with so many band members, or more difficult?

We have a manager now, and he is awesome. He’s been helping us with all aspects of band business.

All of us contribute to the band management as well. Having 12 members makes it easier to pass out various job assignments, but it can also be very difficult to get something done when people start assuming that because the band is so big, someone will take care of a problem. We’re working on getting some booking agents. Currently, our manager and a couple of our band members do all the booking.

For more on the KBC, visit kansasbiblecompany.com. boropulse.com

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September 2013

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sounds In the annals of music history, few people have contributed as much as Joe Satriani. A legend’s legend, Satriani’s love affair with music began in the 1970s with the death of Jimi Hendrix, and to study music under jazz influence Lennie Tristano. Sharing his knowledge as a guitar instructor and teaching some very famous students how to play—including Kirk Hammett, Charlie Hunter, Steve Vai, Alex Skolnick, Kevin Cadogan, Andy Timmons and Larry LaLonde, to name a few—his innovative playing techniques and musical style have branded him as a virtuoso.

With 15 Grammy nominations, 5 live albums, 4 compilation albums, and now 14 studio albums with the recent release of Unstoppable Momentum, Satriani has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with. His collaborations include works with Alice Cooper, Brian May, John 5, the Steve Miller Band, Blue Öyster Cult, and his own supergroup project Chickenfoot and tour project G3. He has also worked with several music instrument companies to create signature instrument items, further pushing the envelope in music. A rock ’n’ roll demigod, Mr. Satriani was kind enough to talk with the Pulse about his Nashville appearance at the War Memorial Auditorium on Sept. 17.

Murfreesboro Pulse: Mr. Satriani, thank you for chatting with us. It’s an incredible honor. Now, Unstoppable Momentum is your latest album. In terms of both inspiration and emotion, where were you when you conceived the album?

Joe Satriani: Well, I was all around the world, I guess. I mean technically, I start thinking about making new records kind of like once I finish the one before it. I feel the need to just kind of move forward. Last year, I did three G3 concerts on three different continents, we did a bunch of Chickenfoot tours and some Montrose benefit/ memorial shows. I guess by the time I came home last October, I had about 60 pieces of music to sift through that I had been writing.

MP: Did you say sixty?

JS: Yeah.

MP: Oh, wow (laughs).

JS: Yeah, and some of them were completed, some of them were just in their infancy. Quite a few in-between . . . and that process of editing down is my most important part. That’s where the conception of the record happens, because I purposefully keep the idea of the album [as a whole] out of my mind until the last possible moment.

That way I can compose freely, without any restrictions of style or logistics. That’s what it’s all about when you make a record. It’s just how, and where, and who, and how much time have you got, and how much money have you got, and that sort of thing. And I don’t like that to affect my writing, so I spend all that time while I’m touring, coming home, and resting writing material. And then two months leading up to a studio session, that’s

24 * September 2013 * boropulse.com

when it’s really crunch-time. And I try to figure: “Are there 20 or 15 songs that really stand out, or belong together? Do they represent a new direction for me that I’m excited about?” I guess what clinched it was that I had started writing this song a few months earlier called “Unstoppable Momentum” that was really about just putting a song to that feeling inside of me that I get—that inspiration—that makes me so excited about my guitar, my pickups, my strings, my amps, my pedals, the chords. You know, what can I do with chords that no one’s done before? What kind of harmonies can I put together that no one dare try? How can I make it sound really easy and fun to listen to? It’s those things, and I’m always excited about trying to find a spot for a beautiful melody.

MP: That brings us to a question from one of our readers submitted. Local reader Cody Moffitt wanted to ask: “Do you ever hit plateaus when you’re playing or writing, and how do you overcome them?”

JS: I think so. I think it’s natural. I think there are those big ones, where you start to write a song, and then all of a sudden you don’t know where you’re going to get the rest of it. You may find it ten minutes later, ten days later, ten years later, 20 or 30 years later, that it suddenly makes sense to you. I’ve certainly had songs do that—take a decade or two to make sense. And sometimes it’s just because you gotta meet the right people, or you have to experience some more stuff around the world. Or in life. And suddenly it comes into perspective. It’s sort of like a comedian learning exactly how to tell a joke, or a writer finally figuring out how to approach a particular subject and create a wonderful story around it. And so with the musician, it’s not all about “I think about it now, it works, I put it on a record and off we go.” Sometimes, they take some time. So there are those kinds of plateaus. And then I think the microplateaus are inevitable. You’re onstage, you’re playing, everything is going great, and suddenly you’re going, “Wow, I hit a brick wall.” It could be physically, you know. That day, you’re tired ’cause you didn’t get any sleep, or you got a stiff neck from sleeping on the bus or something. And then you feel like “I can’t physically get over this plateau that I’m on.” I’ve heard a lot of words of wisdom from different people I’ve worked with, and one of them sticks with me very often, which is something that legendary producer Glyn Johns said.

He said, “Your job is just to play. To create and play music. And don’t ever worry about whether people are going to like it or not. In the long term or in the short term.” And that echoed something that [late jazz pianist] Lennie Tristano taught me many years ago when I was still just a 17-year-old guitar player. Lennie had said to me that, “Kids in the suburbs had a disease called the subjunctive disease. Which is they’re always worrying about what they should have done, could have done,

Curing Subjunctive Disease An interview with Joe Satriani story by justin stokes

and would have done, and they never do what they want to do.” Of course, this was all related to improvisation—he was a bebop wizard, and just a giant of a musician. But the two pieces of advice go together very well. And it relates to this idea of plateaus, and whether or not you should even worry about it. It’s not really the artist’s position to worry about how the plateau gets recognized. We should just keep moving forward. That’s how you get over the plateau. You just not think about it.

MP: In addition to being a guitar virtuoso, you’ve also taught some very famous students as a guitar instructor. Do you find yourself wanting to help other musicians learn? If so, how do you approach that without hurting their feelings?

JS: My experience as a teacher has always been that if a student comes in to learn something that it’s gonna work out really well. There’s a lot of self-discovery that goes on there. But if a student comes in with an an overall desire to become rich and famous, that’s gonna be a problem. Or if they haven’t really taken stock of their abilities, if they’re asking for something that they can’t possibly perform, then there’s gonna be some problems. The typical thing would be someone who doesn’t know how to play a scale wants me to turn them into Yngwie Malmsteen. The people I was lucky enough to teach that went on to be successful all have very different personalities and varied amount of physical talent that they were drawing upon. A young Steve Vai or Alex Skolnick had incredible technique, being able to play almost anything physically. Kirk Hammett was pretty much almost the same way. I had other players that were either real beginners or had no interest in like shredding or anything. David Bryson from Counting Crows was all about chords and writing music. The scale thing was kinda cool, but he really wasn’t interested in soloing at all. It was very interesting to redirect lessons towards that space.

Young Charlie Hunter, who has gone on to become

a jazz innovator, he started out also not being into the whole shredding thing at all. He wanted to know more about chords and rhythm, and the music theory behind it. He wasn’t interested in the flash aspect of it, really. You can see how each of these guys wound up turning into such different musicians, but they are unique. They brought out into the music world some very interesting and unique personalities. It’s their own. They’re bringing out their true personality through their music.

Usually when lessons go bad because people get their feelings hurt, it’s generally because they come in with misguided expectations about the teacher.

MP: That brings us to our next question, which you have answered in part. What mistakes do you see a lot of young musicians making, and what advice would you offer? From what we’ve gleaned from you, all students should keep an open mind.

Is there something you would add to that?

JS: We all make mistakes. Every night. All of us do. We forget. We space out. Our finger goes to the tenth fret instead of the ninth. It’s kind of humorous. I don’t know what it is. But humans just make mistakes. Things don’t go as planned. That’s OK. So, the first thing I would say is don’t worry about the mistakes. That’s not what turns people off. I think that what turns people off are boring performances. Performances that are not uplifting.

Records that don’t transport them anywhere, that don’t help them in life, you know? All of us use music for good times and bad times. We need that accompaniment to be the soundtrack of everyday existence. So when you keep that in mind, you realize, “Wow, this whole thing about making a mistake here and there is OK.” The big, real mistake is not really trying to be original. But it’s a bit of a problem for the musician starting out. It’s very easy for me to spit out that advice because I have a worldwide audience that’s accepted my eccentricities. I can put out records. But I clearly remember up until when I was 30, the pressure was on me

as (an unknown, working guitar player) to actually imitate other players. I did not get work by being original. I got work by being able to emulate or imitate the most popular guitar players. That’s how all of us get work.

Playing clubs, parties, dances, whatever kind of gig is out there. It’s being able to play a huge repertoire of music, and being able to replicate all the different players from all these past decades. And that takes a lot of time, and it’s a problem. When do we get to work on our own stuff? So that when someone comes around and says, “Hey, what have you got that’s special?” you’ve gotta say, “Wow! Haven’t had time. Too busy imitating Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen so I can get work and pay rent.” I don’t like to say it’s a mistake, but I like to remind young players that yeah, you somehow gotta figure out time to develop your own stuff and an original sound. That’s what people buy tickets for. They’ll come to see you if you’re something special. Not if you’re a clone of somebody else.

MP: On the topic of reinvention, how much room for improvement is there with instrument technology? Do you think that the majority of what’s been figured out with a guitar has already been invented? Do you feel that there’s always room to grow?

JS: I think that if you look at a new player on the scene, like Tosin Abasi, you go, “Oh my God, this guy’s just taken a whole different way of playing out in a direction no one thought of ” . . . let’s say when they were listening to me on my six-string, two-hand tapping stuff, or earlier versions of that. Or Wishbone Ash, guys like that. In the fifties, there were a lot of acoustic guitar players doing two-hand tapping stuff. But Tosin, and that band Animals as Leaders, they’ve taken it to a whole new level with their stuff.

I think that’s a good example of what can happen. I would mention at the same time, you look at someone like Jack White and go, “Wow, here’s the total opposite approach of someone like Animals as Leaders.” Where Leaders and Abasi are looking way forward and saying, “What hasn’t been done before?”—technically, as well as musically. Or, “What can we achieve musically that is completely brand-new?” and they’re willing to sacrifice all their time to learn an entire music technique to play a seven- or eight-string guitar. But, to me, it’s equally valid as artists that lean heavily on style, entertainment and show. I mean, it is showbiz after all.

MP: Let’s talk about your book. Scheduled for a release in April 2014, it’s titled Strange Beautiful Music: A Musical Memoir. Could

you to offer a few details about the book?

JS: It’s an interesting thing. I started working on a biography years ago, and it went nowhere. I just found it too unnerving, to sit down, and start writing about your past.

And then out of the blue, Jake Brown called me. I think he’s got about 30 or so published books out, all centered around musicians, engineers, producers, etc. He came to me . . . and said “Let’s start out just talking about the music.” Because he was thinking, and correctly so, that the fans are really interested in the work, and everything that went on in creating those records—song by song—and the people who helped me create them. And now I guess I’ve got 14 studio records to talk about. So we went through this process where he interviewed me just forever, it seemed, just about every single record, every song on the record. Then he went and interviewed all of my producers, co-producers, engineers, all the musicians, just to get the full background.

Read more of this interview, including Satriani talking about his touring stint with Deep Purple, at boropulse.com. Tickets for great shows, such as Satriani’s Sept. 17 appearance, can be found at wmarocks.com. Be sure to check out satriani.com as well.

Local Music Video

Scan Here 

to view a video of Murfreesboro band Penicillin Baby’s song “Private School Kids.”

Be on the lookout for more videos from Hoy Poloy in the Pulse and on BoroPulse. com.

Bands, if you are in need of mobile recording and video services, find out what the Hoy Poloy can do for you.

Find Hoy Poloy Productions on Facebook and Hoy Poloy noise on YouTube.

boropulse.com

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September 2013

* 25

IF YOU GO:

sounds September Concerts

Send your show listings to listings@boropulse.com

Thurs, 9/5

Thursday, 9/12

Bunganut Pig Martin Rodriguez Trio JoZoara Rik Gracia The Boro Redstone

JoZoara Rik Gracia

Fri, 9/6 Bunganut Pig Reckless Fanatics Miranda Louise Georgia’s DJ Mikeymike Main Street Live Molly Hatchet, Cereus Bright, Island Wren, The Harmaleighs, Plow’d, Kris Bell Mayday Brewery The Two Tones Murfreesboro public Square Entice

Sat, 9/7 Bunganut Pig Stones River Pilots Fairways Pick’n Party Fanatics Ivan LaFever Georgia’s My July Main Street Live Jacob Powell, East Main Mayday Brewery The Wooly Mamas Readyville Mill Johnny B & The Balladeers The Boro The Electric Hearts, Nixon’s Widow, Aye Mammoth Wall Street Night of the Living Cover Bands

Tues, 9/10 Bunganut Pig John Hayes

Wed, 9/11 3 Brothers Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night Bunganut Pig Franklin & Farris Rooster’s BBQ Writers Night with Mike Short & Lindsay Jurek The Boro Dixie Duncan

Fri, 9/13 Bunganut Pig Far Cry Fanatics Junkbox Georgia’s DJ Mikeymike Gregory Mill Park Top Tier Main Street Live 33, Dirty Silver, Silent Monolith Mayday Brewery Scale Model, Creature Comfort The Boro Zach Hogan, Chronicles of Submission, Doom Factor, Behold the Slaughter, Anal Domination, Rising from Ruin, Now the Never Wall Street Tuscarora, Ashes to Folly, Haunted Device

Sat, 9/14 Bunganut Pig Zone Status Fanatics Mike Oldham & the Tone Rangers Georgia’s Monkey Wrench Main Street Live Smooth Dialects, Afro Mayday Brewery Mayday Malone, Them Vibes, Gravel Road Gypsies, Wheathouse Readyville Mill Johnny B & the Balladeers The Boro Iraconji, Death Before Dying, Animality

Tues, 9/17 Bunganut Pig CJ Vaughn Trio

Wed, 9/18 3 Brothers Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night Bunganut Pig Humble Creek Main Street Live OG Status

View Concert Listings Online: 26 * September 2013 * boropulse.com

3 Brothers 114 N. Church St. 410-3096 Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy., Woodbury 563-2787

Rooster’s BBQ Writers Night with Mike Short & Lindsay Jurek The Boro House Pride Party

Bunganut Pig 1602 W. Northfield Blvd.

893-7860

Thurs, 9/19 Bunganut Pig Julie Gribble Duo First United Methodist Church Murfreesboro Symphony JoZoara Rik Gracia

Fri, 9/20 Bunganut Pig Karl & the Undertones Fanatics Zone Status Georgia’s DJ Mikeymike Main Street Live Copper Into Steel Mayday Brewery Bennington The Boro Armed Ideas Wall Street Shy Guy

Sat, 9/21 Bunganut Pig Casual Exchange Fanatics Greez Monkeez Georgia’s Citizen Rejects Main Street Live Dodge & Fuski, Mitis, Foam Party Mayday Brewery Crazy Aces Music Readyville Mill Johnny B & The Balladeers The Boro Boo Boo Bunny, Wolf Sisters, Skullkin Wall Street Mojo Rose

PUL SE PICK

molly hatchet Friday, Sept. 6 @ Main St. Live

I can’t think of Molly Hatchet, among the Floridian trailblazers of hard Southern rock, without hearing Drive-By Truckers’ Patterson Hood singing on Southern Rock Opera’s “Let There Be Rock,” an ode to his early influences: “Well I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd/But I sure saw Molly Hatchet.” Be like Hood and see them tonight at Main Street Live.

Fri, 9/27 Bunganut Pig Marshall Creek Band Fanatics Pimpalicious Georgia’s DJ Mikeymike Hippie Hill Jerry Good Vibes Liquid Smoke Saul Zonana Main Street Live Downlink Mayday Brewery Chris Ray, Elle Bijet The Boro The Electrics, Sammy Baker

Main Street Live The Home Grown Band Incredible Heat Machine, Sky Hi, A La Carte, Soul Mechanic Mayday Brewery The Stoves Readyville Mill Johnny B & the Balladeers The Boro A Secret Policeman’s Ball Wall Street Whyte Noise

Sun, 9/29 The Boro Crawl, Black Tar Prophet

Sat, 9/28

Wed, 10/2

Bunganut Pig Nite Traxx Fanatics Blues Fever Georgia’s Mesa Project Band Hippie Hill Goons Gettin Paper, Karim

3 Brothers Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night Rooster’s BBQ Writers Night with Mike Short & Lindsay Jurek

Mon, 9/23

Bunganut Pig Delyn Christian

PUL SE PICK

Wed, 9/25

JoZoara Rik Gracia

First United Methodist Church 265 W. Thompson Lane 898-1862 Georgia's Sports Bar 577 S. Lowry St. , Smyrna 267-0295 Gregory Mill Park 390 Enon Springs Road, Smyrna, 459-9773 Hippie Hill 8627 Burks Hollow Rd. (615) 796-3697 Ignite 810 NW Broad St. 962-8352 JoZoara 536 N. Thompson Ln. 962-7175 Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 217-7822 Main St. Live 527 W. Main St. 439-6135 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 479-9722

Readyville Mill 5418 Murfreesboro Road, Readyville 563-MILL

The Avenue 2615 Medical Center Pkwy.

893-4207

Tues, 9/24

Thurs, 9/26

Fanatics 1850 Old Fort Pkwy.

494-3995

Rooster's Lonestar BBQ 223 W. Main St. 867-1836

The Boro Stop the Presses, Human Eject Button

3 Brothers Ryan Coleman’s Writers Night Bunganut Pig Franklin & Farris Rooster’s BBQ Writers NIght with Mike Short & Lindsay Jurek

Fairways Golf & Grill 127 SE Broad St. 962-7853

Sky Hi, The incredible heat machine, homegrown band Saturday, Sept. 28 @ 3 Brothers

Sky Hi has been a favorite of the Pulse over the years as they’ve released a handful of neo-funk and soul infused gems, and they aren’t messing around with their live show either.

Catch them at Main Street Live tonight along with trippy jams from The Incredible Heat Machine and The Homegrown Band’s funk rock mash-up.

The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 895-4800 The Pour House 2404 Halls Hill Pike 603-7978 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 867-9090 Willie’s Wet Spot 1208 S. Lowry St., Smyrna 355-0010

games Reviews

BY NADER HOBBALLAH

Metro Last Light Metro 2033 was a very mixed game. On one hand, it had astoundingly terrifying atmosphere and interesting characters. On the other hand, it was broken, with terribly frustrating stealth and combat. Its sequel, Metro Last Light, fixes all of that, and is one of the better games I have played this year.

(Caution: I am about to spoil 2033, so if you have not played it yet, stop reading if you do not wish to be spoiled.)

Last Light picks up a year after the events of 2033. You play as Artyom, the protagonist from 2033, who is now an elite ranger.

He sets out to find the last of an alien species that was supposedly wiped out at the end of 2033. Along the way he meets several quite interesting characters and becomes involved in an intricate, even intriguing, political conspiracy that threatens all of Metro.

Last Light is an audiovisual feast for the ears and eyes. From the sharp character animations to the wonderfully detailed environments, the game is visually stunning. On the audio side, the voice acting has noticeably improved over 2033, the soundtrack is surprisingly immersive, and the best news is that the dread-inspiring atmosphere that 2033 was known for has survived here, abounding with the some of the most tense and

downright scary environments I have ever had to go through.

The big draw for me, though, is that combat and stealth are no longer broken. The game does seem to lean more on the combat-heavy side, but at least stealth is fun now, not frustratingly mandatory to the point that if you are caught you may as well reload the game, since your enemies have telepathic vision and aim, as was the case with 2033. Level design has also improved to accommodate these improvements, allowing you much more flexibility in how you approach situations.

I will admit that these improvements do make Last Light easier. However, the lack of frustration also allows me to spend more time soaking up the great atmosphere and very engross-

ing story. The ironic thing is that although Last Light feels easier, it is much more enjoyable for it.

Last Light is a prime example of how sequels should be done.

Take what was good and amp that up, while throwing out the bad and fixing what, literally, was broken. It reminded me of Uncharted 2 in many ways, and that is one of the highest compliments I can give. Do yourself a favor and pick up Last Light.

The game suffers from some major problems though; first and foremost is that it is trying too hard. I understand the developers want to compete with the likes of Uncharted, but this is just ridiculous. The sheer amount of stunts, explosions and destruction is frankly too much. It gets exhausting and honestly boring when you have back-to-back-to-back set-pieces without some decent breathing room (read: pacing). It also does not help that the camera is not your friend in many cases, particularly a parachute flight sequence that left me frustrated.

Where Tomb Raider really goes off the rails though, has

to be the combat sequences, and it is here where it borrows the wrong things from Uncharted.

See, one of Uncharted’s infamous flaws has always been its enemies who just seem to suck up bullets, and Uncharted 3 made a major mistake by upping the sheer amount of enemies you had to gun down in environments that were ill-suited for the numbers.

Tomb Raider makes both those mistakes. Not only do you have to face hordes of armed men, both ranged and melee, but often times you encounter them in ridiculously close quarters. Couple that with the camera again failing you, and having to juggle rotating it while molotovs, dynamite, bullets and swords descend around you, will not only leave you frustrated, but again, exhausted and utterly bored. When the combat is manageable though, it is fun and satisfying, and I had particular fun with stealth killing using the bow and arrow, but such fun is few and far between.

Thankfully, the game’s pacing improves substantially in the second half, where things quiet down and the game spends less time trying to be Uncharted and more time being Tomb Raider.

The second major problem permeating Tomb Raider is the writing. It is forced, ham fisted, and fails to make an emotionally engaging character story aside from some brief moments. Character motivations and introductions are presented after the fact in most cases, and often serve to force an emotionally connection with Lara that never feels genuine. Lara herself is shafted as well, and the writing feels more like it is relying on your knowledge and connection with her in her previous games rather than a standalone character. The whole thing just felt backwards, and made it really hard to get involved with her arc, or find it believable.

Finally, do not even bother with the multiplayer. It is not terrible, but it feels tacked on.

However, there is enough genuine fun in Tomb Raider to at least recommend it as a rental or purchase on a discount sale. While it is not something I am likely to repeat anytime soon, I do not regret playing it. However, let this be a lesson to developers, you do not have to try so hard to get me to like your game. It can have the opposite effect.

Tomb Raider Poor Lara Croft, her name is one of the first things people think when you say gaming, alongside names like Samus, Mario and Link. Yet ever since her introduction in 1996, she has had a very rough ride, with some great titles, decent titles and some pretty bad ones, along with a decent movie and a terrible sequel to it. Though I have never played a Tomb Raider title, I have kept up with the history and the repeated attempts at rebooting her over the years. The irony is that in a sense Tomb Raider was rebooted successfully with the Uncharted series of games, which many people considered to be Tomb Raider’s spiritual successor.

However, you cannot keep a good girl down, and now comes 2013, and Lara Croft is back to reclaim her title, this time in a prequel reboot that has us go back to her origins and see just how she become the rough and tough adventurer.

The plot goes that Lara and her crew are on a ship searching for a lost Japanese civilization. However, the ship is quickly ripped apart, and she and the crew are trapped on a mysterious island. Using her wits, Lara must learn to survive, and even kill, in order to rescue her friends, and get off the island.

The game shares a lot in common with the Uncharted games.

Big spectacle, lots of shooting and traversing the rugged and rough terrain, and a lot of puzzle solving. It even borrows from Far Cry 3 in terms of hunting animals, character and weapons upgrades, and the ever so wonderful bow and arrow.

All this comes together though, in a very uneven package.

On the positive side, the game looks absolutely beautiful with a mostly excellent audiovisual presentation. The environments are gorgeous, the animations are realistic, and the audio does a great job of giving you environmental awareness, plus hearing your enemies talk actually adds humanity, good or bad, to them. You can also explore optional tombs, which are actually pretty creative in their puzzle design, and grant you additional experience and bonuses that you feel like you truly earned upon completion.

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sports MTSU Football

2013 Begins with Win Blue Raiders Head to North Carolina with a Victory Under Their Belts

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The MTSU Blue Raiders opened the 2013 football campaign with a win at home over the Western Carolina Catamounts.

Senior quarterback Logan Kilgore started the season opener for the fourth straight season, and his squad came out on top in a 45-24 victory. The bad news is that he left the game with a shoulder injury, but freshman Austin Grammar filled in capably, throwing 7-for-9, and rushing for a touchdown.

Contributing to the winning effort, running back Jordan Parker rushed for 156 yards, while Kyle Griswould registered his career-first punt return for a touchdown when, late in the first quarter against WCU, he brought one back 57 yards.

“I thought we played well,” said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill. “Our defense had a little lapse in the second half, but overall we got the win and that's what counts.”

Who will be behind center in the contest on Saturday, Sept. 7, against North Carolina remains to be seen, but the Blue Raiders are rolling into Chapel Hill 1-0, while the Tar Heels are looking for their first victory after falling to South Carolina in the opening weekend.

That Sept. 7 contest, featuring the Blue Raiders taking on ACC opponent North Carolina, will be carried on WKRN Channel 2 beginning at 11:30 a.m.

MTSU will then return to Murfreesboro to face Memphis on Sept. 14.

(Left) Kenneth Gilstrap on kickoff return duty.

(Below left) Coach Stockstill.

(Below) The Band of Blue.

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sports

lady football must be from Tennessee

A

ttention good people of the ‘Boro, the Train Daddy is ready to roll out the station. I have a gift for my loyal fans, right now! The Z-Train is handing out boarding passes like the government hands out food stamps, free of charge and everyone is invited, so all aboard the Z-Train, destination set for Football Paradise, and yes, Lady Football will be there.

In a past article, I explained why the beautiful Lady Football will never let you down. Lady Football has the bodacious bust of Katy Perry, the gorgeous face of Megan Fox, the classy, elegant body of Jenifer Aniston, and the survival skills of Katniss Everdeen; she is a full-bodied women. Some say Lady Football is a myth, but unlike Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, I have seen and partied with this beautiful Lady Football. The story starts back in 1890 where alien forces came to earth, and harvested the best features from women on earth, and created the first Lady Football. The Aliens enslaved Lady Football

on a distant planet named ball season; it’s up there with Football Paradise, where only Christmas and Thanksgiving, the truest of football fans can and I love the holidays. The enjoy her company. Every 60 excitement of being at a live years the Aliens come back to game tailgating with friends earth and create a new Lady and family, the food, the football as time progresses, drinks, the jerseys, the smell of back in 1950 the second excellence on a fall day as you Lady Football was created, wear your team’s colors and and now, here after 2010, the cheer ’til you lose your voice. third Lady Football is real This is America baby, this is and lives on. Believe me or America’s game, America ’s fanot, I speak the truth. vorite pastime and if you can’t column by Z-TrAIn This article hits the stands respect that, then you should titanman1984@ yahoo.com on Sept. 5, the same day the pack up and head north to NFL kicks off the regular seaCanada, maybe hockey is your son. College ball is also underway and as exciting thing; here in Tennessee, we do football. as ever, with Johnny Football stirring up the pot The Me-Ma knows this; she knows what and signing dollar, dollar bills ya’ll. a new football season means. Even with the Since Lady Football is still on your mind it’s assistance of an oxygen tank, the Me-Ma is as time to talk actual football talk. Not much of anypassionate and dedicated as any fan. For those thing gets me as excited as the start of a new footwho don’t know the Me-Ma, she is the most dedicated Titans fan I know, she bleeds code blue, and has a special double bump-bump dance that she believes has magical powers and helps propel the Titans to victories. So what am I getting at here? I am telling you that football brings together friends and family and that a passionate fan like the Me-Ma is the kind of person who makes this game so excellent, and why football plays such an important part in the lives of myself, my friends and my family.

You can think I am crazy, but I tell you there are many people out there who think the same, and football brings them closer to their loved ones.

I may always talk NFL football, but I love Must Be college ball almost as much as I do the pros.

21 & up The Tennessee Vols kicked off their 2013 Season with a 45-0 win vs. Austin Peay, and while everyone knows Austin Peay is garbage, it was impressive the way the Vols defeated them with zero penalties in the season opener. With the win the Vols became only the second team in SEC history to reach 800 total wins and only the Murfreesboro • (615) 867-9893 eighth team in all of college football to hit that mark. Tennessee is 87-24-6 in season openers and it’s refreshing to see new excitement in Big Orange country. Butch Jones says he is determined to rebuild the once-proud college football program from the bottom up. I hope Jones is ready to bring Big Orange back to the promised land; it’s been a long wait. I like what I saw from the Vols, a lot of fresh young talent. Good things will come to the Vols in the coming years.

It was once unthinkable that Vanderbilt would be the program to beat in Tennessee; well, that has been the case as of late. Coach James Frank-

Sports talk

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$3.50 fireball shots • $1.75 bud light drafts $3 wells ‘til 10 p.M.

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The Titans wanted to keep former UT Vol Justin Hunter in Tennessee

lin has Vandy making great strides and with the program making two consecutive bowl game appearances, they’re heading in the right direction.

Although Vanderbilt did lose their season opener vs. Ole Miss—in one of the best games I have ever watched, a true classic this early in the season—a college football season can take many crazy turns, so you never know what will happen.

So let’s wrap this thing up with a little Titans talk (always wrap it up gentlemen!). I can read the Titans like a classic novel. It’s simple for me, it is all up to Jake the Snake Locker and Coach Munchak, everything else is in place. Jake really needs to be a leader and I need to see smart passes and true grit from the kid. Coach Munchak, I need some fire and passion. The offensive line is the most improved area for the Titans, and it is a wall that not even a group of Mexicans could get over. This O-Line will do wonders in the running game and I expect Chris Johnson and Shonn Greene to be a classic smash and dash combo.

The Titans receivers also have been put into place with talent up and down. Veteran Nate Washington may not be a superstar, but he is a solid veteran who makes big plays and helps these young kids out. With a healthy Kenny Britt the possibilities are endless; he has the talent to be a household name and true star. I am so excited to watch Kendall Wright, a 2012 first-round pick, and Justin Hunter, this year’s second-round pick; I hope they breakout. The receivers are primed to make big plays this season; once again, it’s all up to Jake Locker!

The defense looked rough in their first couple pre-season games, but have come alive here down the stretch. They are quick, they get to the quarterback and they cause offensive lines to fall apart. I am worried about the run defense, and week 1 vs. The Steelers will show us a thing or two about the run defense for the Titans.

Besides that, Rob Bironas will make his kicks and the fans will do their part also. I am hoping for an improved, and possibly playoff, season for a team I believe has the talent to get there.

So spark up the grill, host a party, invite friends and family, go to live games, enjoy America’s greatest game. I know I will. The Z-Train is rolling out the station. Choo choo!

Run Strong

Run everywhere: road races held each weekend You know you’re a runner when one of your first thoughts after learning where you will go on vacation is “I can’t wait to run there!”

A trip to the Great Smoky Mountains means uphill (and downhill!) time; a trip to the beach means barefoot runs in the sand; a trip to Chicago, New York, or name your Metropolis could mean it’s time The top 3 finishers in the Fenton for an on-foot exploration of an unfamiliar urban Payne & Fred 5K: JustusDavid, environment; trails for off-road runs are all over the Festus Chemaoi and Jacob Carrigan place in the state and national parks.

If a change in terrain, incline, distance or scenery gets you excited about your jogging routine that week, go with it. Run in the desert, run in a field, run in the water, run everywhere!

Last month, at the Fenton Payne & Fred 5K beginning and ending on the MTSU campus, Justus David led the pack, clocking in at 16:17. Lydia Kosgei led the ladies, with a time of 17:55.

Later in the month, at La Vergne’s Howl at the Moon 5K, Timothy O’Leary took first place with a 18:45 time, while Bekah Carroll posted the best time among the females at 22:19.

Just as last month, there are Rutherford County road races every weekend in September.

September

Races

 Character Chase 5K Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7 a.m.

New Vision Baptist Church, 1750 N. Thompson Ln., Murfreesboro $25 for adults $15 age 17 and under characterchase5k.com  Dairy Hill Stampede Saturday, Sept. 14 5K starts at 8 a.m., Family Fun Run starts at 9:30 a.m.

MTSU Dairy, 3211 Guy James Road, Lascassas $35 for 5K $25 for Family Fun Run Register at active.com  Dr. David T. Dodd Memorial Rally for Recovery Saturday, Sept. 21 5K starts at 7:30 a.m.

Fun Run starts at 8:30 a.m.

Gateway Trail Reception Center, Medical Center Parkway, Murfreesboro $30 for Adult 5K $15 for age 17 and younger $10 for Fun Run recoverysupportfoundation. .org/race  Wash Me Pink Sunday, Sept. 22 5K starts at 8 a.m.

1-mile starts at 10 a.m.

Middle Tennessee Medical Center, 1700 Medical Center Pkwy., Murfreesboro $40 for the 5K $30 for the 1-mile washmepinkkomen.com  Cradle of the Tennessee Walking Horse 5 & 10K Saturday, Sept. 28 5K starts at 8 a.m.

10K starts at 8:30 a.m.

Jernigan Field, Wartrace

$25 for 5K; $30 for 10K Register at active.com  Smyrna Depot Days 5-Miler Saturday, Sept. 28 7:30 a.m.

Downtown Smyrna $20 smyrnadepotdays.com  St. Luke International Festival 5K Saturday, Sept. 28 8 a.m.

St Luke Church, 10682 Old Nashville Highway, Smyrna, $25 saintlukesmyrnatn.com  MTSU Homecoming 5K Sunday, Sept. 29 at 8 a.m.

5K Run/Walk MTSU Student Health, Wellness and Recreation Center, $20 mtsu.edu/camprec/events.php

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movies

September releases

Reviews

Playing this month:

The WOrld's End Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Martin Freeman Directed by Edgar Wright

Rated R

There seems to be a rash of above average comedies and action flicks this summer involving world-ending scenarios. Whether the cause is zombies, the Christian rapture, or giant monsters from another dimension, 2013 has been the year to take the piss out of the apocalypse and make it fun (and funny) again. The third installment in what some fans have dubbed the “Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy” (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and now The World’s End), sticks to the trend of the world ending, this time by blue-goo-filled robots.

The title The World’s End doubles in meaning as both the apocalypse and the name of the twelfth and final stop on an epic

pub crawl that five high school chums failed to complete after graduation. Cut two decades ahead and the leader of the pack Gary King (Pegg), who still wears the same clothes, drives the same car, and acts the same way, convinces his four now-professional former friends with wives and lives to return to their home town and finally complete the fabled Golden Mile drinkathon. As the four squares (played pitch perfect

by Cornetto alums Nick Frost, Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marsan) follow their burnout beer buddy through their old haunts-turned-McPubs, the five of them begin to notice something weird going on among the familiar faces.

Though on paper this recalls Shaun of the Dead with robots instead of zombies, the similarities are strictly superficial. The blue-goo “blanks,” as they’re

Kick-ass 2 Starring Aaron TaylorJohnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloë Grace Mortez, Jim Carrey Directed by Jeff Wadlow

Rated R

Ah, hyperviolence. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. . . .

Revisiting the crew from the 2010 superhero action-comedy Kick-Ass, which asks the question “What if superheroes actually existed?” this sequel picks up where we left off, following the prominence of the superhero after Kick-Ass has set the example for others. The mean streets are now walked by those in colorful garb who aren’t afraid to fight back against the criminal element, taking out the trash of the city and making it a safer place.

Sore from the death of his kingpin father, the Red Mist has decided to match the example set by Kick-Ass and Hit Girl by becoming the world’s first super-

RATINGS:

villain, creating his own league of deadly bad guys to destroy the heroes that have banded together.

All the while, Kick-Ass and Hit Girl are seriously re-thinking their places in the world, wondering if the game of crime-fighting is still for them.

I really liked this film. It was fast fun with moments that make you laugh and make you cringe.

The action and jokes hit the mark, and it’s a neat wrap-up to a story, even if it does tie up too many loose ends while still

A CLASSIC

32 * September 2013 * boropulse.com

trying to leave it open for a third installment. Mintz-Plasse, Carrey, Moretz and Taylor-Johnson all make for a really great cast, with the subtle-yet-welcome editions of John Leguizamo and Clark Duke, as well as a few others.

Carrey absolutely steals the show as a former mob enforcerturned-born-again-Christianturned-superhero Colonel Stars and Stripes, the head of a newly formed league of capes called “Justice Forever.”

Nothing to do with the movie,

OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

called, make for some exciting and splattery fight sequences in a film that’s more sci-fi/action than zombie horror, with a matured story about adulthood rather than the aimless twenties (fret not, the humor hasn’t matured). But the common threads throughout all of the Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost collaborations— drinking, hilarity, homage and a smidgen of heart, are all there in spades, and The World’s End feels like a natural progression from their previous films, to which references abound—he most famous being the falling fence gag, but the jokes go much deeper than that, leaving a treasure trove of chuckles to be unearthed upon subsequent viewings, like the hilarious tavern names and their special significance. And as with the previous two films in the Cornetto Trilogy, I’m sure there will be many subsequent viewings of The World’s End in my house.

Sept. 5: Riddick

Sept. 13: The Family

— Jay Spight

but the controversy surrounding Carrey’s public disowning of the film during the film’s promotional campaign seems even odder after viewing the movie and taking his character into context. (After filming, and receiving a hefty paycheck for, Kick-Ass 2, Carrey Tweeted “in all good conscience I cannot support that level of violence,” a move that may have actually brought more publicity to the movie than a rash of television appearances could have.)

Carrey plays a good-guy superhero with a strong moral fiber who doesn’t believe in guns. So, why the switch? It doesn’t seem to have won him any real political favor, any more than criticizing animal mistreatment after playing Ace Ventura.

But back to the movie, it’s a fun re-creation of the world comic books have brought to the table. I would ignore the reviews from aggregate critic-sites on this one, and check it out for yourself.

— justin stokes

BELOW AVERAGE

Sept. 20: The Wizard of Oz

IMAX 3D

Sept. 27: Metallica Through

The Never

Sept. 27: Baggage Claim

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

Living Room Cinema column by Norbert Thiemann

facebook.com/livingroomcinema

Who Is Harry Nilsson?

H

arry Edward Nilsson III was a singer/songwriter who enjoyed success during the late 1960s and the 1970s. He wrote songs such as “One” (a 1969 hit for Three Dog Night) and “Daddy’s Song,” recorded by The Monkees, and is also remembered for the animated 1971 film The Point, which he conceived and scored. He sang “How About You” for the Fisher King soundtrack, and Aimee Mann’s cover of “One” appeared on the Magnolia soundtrack. His list of credits runs deep.

 Midnight Cowboy (1969) is directed by John Schlesinger, and stars Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman. After a short opening montage, the song “Everybody’s Talkin’” (sung by Nilsson) sets its iconic tone and permanent marriage to the movie. Midnight Cowboy was originally rated X for its raw depictions of life in New York City. Voight’s character, Joe Buck, travels to NYC to follow his dreams, while his newfound friend, Ratso Rizzo (Hoffman), only dreams of getting away. Despite the rating, it won Best Motion Picture. It’s a bucket-list movie for sure.

Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)? (2010) is directed by John Scheinfeld. The documentary gives a thorough account of Nilsson’s life and struggles. His friendships are enviable, and many people speak candidly about his life. His music gets play throughout, and is the icing on the cake. boropulse.com

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theater

September Performances

 Putting It Together cast members Joe Shirley, Emily Dennis, Elizabeth Boston-Bennett and Matthew Hayes Hunter.

Putting it together (Stephen Sondheim revue) 6:30 p.m., Sep. 13–15, 17–22, 24–29; 2 p.m., Sep. 16 and 23 Murfreesboro Center for the Arts 110 W. College St. boroarts.org Morning’s at Seven 7:30 p.m., Sept. 20, 21, 27 and 28 and Oct. 4 and 5; 2 p.m., Sept. 22 and 29 and Oct. 6 The Arts Center of Cannon County 1424 John Bragg Hwy. artscenterofcc.com Seussical the Musical 7 p.m., Sep. 6–8, 13–15, 20–22; 2 p.m., Sep. 9 and 16 Murfreesboro Little Theatre 702 Ewing Blvd. mltarts.com Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20–21, 27–28 and Oct. 4–5 Springhouse Theatre 14119 Old Nashville Hwy, Smyrna springhousetheatre.com 34 * September 2013 * boropulse.com

Arwen Jones plays Cinderella

seussical the musical

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