VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1 | JANUARY 2, 2020
2 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr.
Contents
VOLUME 17, ISSUE 1 • JANUARY 2, 2020
General Manager Kira Headlee THE PULSE Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com
6
THE LIBRARY IS SO MUCH MORE THAN BOOKS This city of ours is something truly special, right? It’s the greatest secret in the world that Chattanooga is one happening place. The city has a vibe that is quite unlike anything else. It’s alive. It has a heartbeat. The energy that pulsates throughout is felt by the locals and tourists alike.
Assistant Editor Jessie Gantt-Temple Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Art Director Kelly Lockhart
10
Director Of Sales Mike Baskin mike@brewermediagroup.com Office 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse Founded 2003 by Zachary Cooper & Michael Kull THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2020 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
MURAL ARTIST EXPANDS HER REACH BEYOND WALLS Nestled in the heart of downtown, McCallie Avenue may seem like an ordinary street, but many of the buildings feature a variety of full-scale murals, all of which are arguably fantastic. These murals are part of the McCallie Walls Mural Project.
14
SAX IN THE CITY I first heard Swayyvo at STIR’s Sunday brunch and his skills on the sax elevated my slow-moving mentality more than my biscuits and gravy. As refreshing and intoxicating as my day drink, Swayyvo on the saxophone was an unexpected audible pleasure. Often when I see solo artists, it is a guitarist with a harmonica or a drummer rocking out.
4 CITY LIFE
12 ARTS CALENDAR
18 MUSIC REVIEWS
5 EDITOONS
14 THE LIST
19 MIXOLOGY
9 SHRINK RAP
16 MUSIC CALENDAR
20 FILM & TELEVISION
17 JONESIN' CROSSWORD
22 GAME ON!
11 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 3
CITY LIFE · FROM THE EDITOR
Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick “When you see something beautiful in someone, tell them. It may take but a second to say, but for them it could last a lifetime.” — The Mind’s Journal The new year and new decade are upon us! Have you set your intentions? Do they include a healthy, fulfilling, joyous relationship? Whether you’re in one or desire one, consider this thought-provoking passage from Andre Aciman, author of “Call Me by Your Name”: “You had a beautiful friendship. Maybe more than a friendship. And I envy you. If there is pain, nurse it, and if there is a flame, don’t snuff it out, don’t be brutal with it. Withdrawal can be a terrible thing when it keeps us awake at night. We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster than we should…that we have less to offer each time we start with someone new. But to feel nothing so as not to feel anything—what a waste!”
Rollergirl Bootcamp A rather unique way to get in shape for 2020
A
S MOST NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS FOCUS AROUND HEALTH AND PERsonal development, we wanted to highlight a local program that will help light a fire under your eggnog-ladened lazy butt. This unusual bootcamp can provide more than just an increased heart rate and decreased pant size. By Jessie Gantt-Temple Pulse Assistant Editor
“
With the change in this year’s bootcamp, novice skaters can engage more with all aspects of the Chattanooga Rollergirls.”
— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
4 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
It can offer opportunities to make new friends, uncover strengths that you never knew you had and grow your confidence in wearing spandex and crop tops everywhere. The Chattanooga Rollergirls (CRG) are rolling into the season with their yearly bootcamp starting February 25th. Although they are making big changes this year, some which will be announced later this month, yet some core things are not going to change. The bootcamp, like previous years, is going to be a five-week program that gives its participants the basic skating skills and gameplay knowledge to hopefully join the league at the end of the program. “Unlike prior seasons, we are going to incorporate the bootcamp into our regularly scheduled practice space and time,” said bootcamp coordinator Tipsy McStaggers (aka Cris Armstrong) who has been skat-
ing with the league for six years. “However the goal remains the same which is to start a newbie from the ground up, no skating experience required, and have them hopefully passing tryouts to join the team for full contact.” Before, bootcamp was on nonpractice days and therefore created a slight separation between the oncoming potential skaters and the existing team. With the change in this year’s bootcamp, novice skaters can engage more with all aspects of the Chattanooga Rollergirls including but not limited to skaters, referees, non-skating officials, volunteers and more. Classes are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from February 25th until March 26th. Tuesdays (6-9 p.m.), bootcampers will start with an off skates workout followed by a hands on tutorial of the rules and inner workings of the actual sport.
EDITOONS
Yes, roller derby is a sport. Let’s make sure that everyone knows long gone are the days of fishnets and banked tracks. Roller derby bouts (a bout by definition is a short burst of energy) are frequently aired on ESPN3. Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) requires skates and is led by a charter skater such as Rocket Kitty, current CRG skater and former professional ice skater, who will go into details regarding form and technicalities. Thursdays (7-9 p.m.) is also a skaterequired class which is taught by a member of the CRG training committee such as Goldie Knocks who was made famous for being, besides one of the nicest and most fiercely feared skaters, a 2016 participant on the Fox reality show with Jon Cena, American Grit. She almost won by the way, but she won our hearts long before it aired so anything taught by her is an enriching experience. Tuesday and Thursday classes are at Orange Grove on, ironically, Derby St., and Wednesday classes are at the North Chattanooga Rec Center at 406 May St. Although any skating experience is not required, skates are an absolute must in order to participate.
Skate starter kits may be purchased from Nashville neighbor Asphalt Beach or our gal pal SueElla Deville in North Carolina at Derby City Skates. You must be 18 years or older to participate in this bootcamp. If you know someone between the ages of 10-17 who would excel in a similar environment, lead them in the direction of CRG’s junior league, the Ruby Regulators. As a former skater myself, of seven years between two leagues in two states, I never thought I would be an athlete in my adult years since I didn’t participate much in sports in my younger years but I found roller derby and it changed me. I took a boot camp course in 2011 when I was at my prime of 31 years young. I cried and sweated. I was hooked. I highly recommend giving it a try to anyone who is looking for a challenge, a workout or just some awesome exhilarating life changing activity that you can do while raising money for local nonprofits and raising your level of badassery. For more information or to register for this FREE five-week class, email JoinCRG@chattanoogarollergirls.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 5
COVER STORY
So Much More Than Books The Chattanooga Library is planted firmly in the 21st Century
By Adam Beckett Pulse contributor
“
The flourishing arts and entertainment scene continue to blossom year after year, and my how it has permeated.”
T
HIS CITY OF OURS IS SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL, RIGHT? It’s the greatest secret in the world that Chattanooga is one happening place. The city has a vibe that is quite unlike anything else. It’s alive. It has a heartbeat. The energy that pulsates throughout is felt by the locals and tourists alike. One thing is for certain, anybody that comes through Chattanooga will speak on its “it” factor, whatever “it” is. And this city has “it”. It is full of passionate, kind, hardworking people that are on the relentless pursuit of happiness. The flourishing arts and entertainment scene continue to blossom year after year, and my how it has permeated. Top that off with some of the breathtaking views that surround the Scenic City and you have what seems to be paradise, which it mostly is. Let’s face it. There is a part of Chattanooga that is not so beautiful in terms
6 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
of struggle and way of life. Chattanooga overall is basically a safe city but danger lurks out there, and so do gangs and dire straits. Yes, Chattanooga is relativity safe but it also has some rough edges. Certain areas of Chattanooga are like the wild wild west and it is hard for young people that grow up in that type of environment to rise above it. People that do not come from there, or grow up in it, will never understand what it is really like. Being a child of poverty anywhere, especially in Chattanooga, is a struggle. It takes a special kind of person to not get caught up in the mix of it all.
For purposes of perspective, imagine growing up in a neighborhood where poverty was king and where drugs and gangs ruled the lands. Now imagine being a young person living in that environment, with no choice, and having the courage to not get involved with easy money-making tasks. You are starving and have not had any food in a few days because you have no way to get to the community kitchen that gives out three meals a day downtown except walking for a few hours, but you do not want to sell drugs or join a gang so you stand tall and be strong and resist; which is next to impossible, and by the way you are still a child, remember? Walking is not always very safe for children especially through rough neighborhoods that are definitely gang-related. (Sorry if you are feeling
uncomfortable, however, this is actually happening in Chattanooga right now.) To make a long story short, what is the one thing that people in that situation cling on to rise up? Hope. Today we are going to spell hope L.I.B.R.A.R.Y because that is what Chattanooga’s downtown library (and its subsidiaries) is; amongst other things. Now, let’s forget everything I just said for a moment and talk about the library. People think library and they think books. Well that’s great because reading is brain food but it goes way beyond that. While the books are bountiful, opportunity and hope flow through the many amenities that are available to the public so people can elevate their lives to a completely different level. For the bookworms out there, one can get their fill of reading at the public library with a seemingly endless selection of hard-copy books on the first floor and the selection is only going to continue to grow. The downtown Chattanooga Public Library offers free notary services, meeting rooms, and a tool library that contains hand tools, power tools, extension cords as well as yard
“
One can get their fill of reading at the public library with a seemingly endless selection of hard-copy books on the first floor and the selection is only going to continue to grow.” and garden tools. They can help you with your garden beyond tools as we cannot forget about the seed exchange they offer. People can pick up seeds, donated by local growers, and learn all about them in one quick swoop through the library. They can then go home and see just how awesome it is to grow something. How incredible is that? Additionally, their online media presence is amazingly potent. It gives library cardholders access to streaming and downloading audio and eBooks from OverDrive Media, RBdigital and also Hoopla. Hoopla, a major perk of being a library cardholder, is accessible on smartphones, tablets, and computers, and provides the opportunity to unlock digital content such as movies, television shows, music, ebooks, com-
ics, and additional audiobooks. DVD’s and CD’s are also available for rent and can even be placed on hold. The second floor is for “kids and teens” and is a safe haven giving them the opportunity to be kids especially when they might not have the opportunity at home. It hosts premium gaming equipment, instruments and craft areas to allow kids to be hands on. Librarians are there to keep everybody in check as well as uplift the youth in a positive direction. While there, the kids have an opportunity to interact with their peers in a unique setting and can also get live online homework help from skilled tutors as well as tap into many educational resources. Lessons and tutorials are a widely overlooked aspect of the library. On the third floor, people can take every
learner’s and driver’s license test infinitely there. Interactive Gale Courses with live instructors, run for six weeks and begin the start of each month. The Testing and Education Reference Center lets users tap into over 300 practice tests and courses as well as hosts a scholarship search that features $8 billion in available scholarships. If that is not enough, they also give library cardholders access to Transparent language, the online learning platform that teaches over 100 languages. The third floor is also where the extraordinary genealogy department calls home.The staff-compiled index of all obituaries published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press will keep the legacy of our lost souls intact. Their records are in accordance to date since 1897. To coincide with the obituaries, they have one of the largest family history collections online with Ancestry Library Edition (in-library use only), as well as an additional database called Gale Genealogy Connect which includes reliable sources from Genealogical publishing and Clearfield Company. Additional services include Heritage Quest, American Ancestors, Tennessee
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 7
COVER STORY
Death Records, Tennessee Maps 18851955, Tennessee Virtual Archive, Tennessee’s Landmark Documents, Volunteer Voices, and Archives Unbound, which all give the people the essences of Chattanooga and how it came to be what it is today. Have I mentioned the fourth floor yet? Well, now that we are on the fourth floor, welcome to the Makerspace where dreams and thoughts erupt from the minds of creative people. The fourth floor of the downtown Chattanooga Public Library is my favorite place in all of Chattanooga, and that is saying a lot because I have seen the surrounding sights and prefer to be outdoors. Any person in this world that has any kind of vision whatsoever would benefit their lives just by stepping foot onto the fourth floor of the public library in downtown Chattanooga. It is the Hackerspace/Makerspace for a reason. What the librarians on the fourth floor want people to know is the amenities available take time to learn. Where the readily available cutting edge, technological outlets do have the capability to do extraordinary things, they are not going to just do it for them. Please do not come in without any
“
Empowering the people with hope and resources is what the downtown Chattanooga Public Library is doing while giving all people a platform to rise up. ” knowledge whatsoever and expect them to just do it. Just because the tools are there, does not mean that a person can go to the library and have someone make something for them. People have to apply themselves and they will learn something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. If they have extra time, the staff will assist accordingly but be patient and kind. Equipment learning sessions can be scheduled with the faculty and it is recommended for people without prior knowledge to schedule a session in advance. Fourth floor amenities include a 3D printer and laser cutter, a vinyl plotter to make stickers, CNC Router (by appointment only), full-blown photography studio (by appointment only), 4k monitor, virtual reality booth, screen printer and heat press, zine-making lab, button maker, floor loom, sewing lab with sewing, serger, and em-
8 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
broidery machines, power tools, hand tools, soldering bench, Arduino and electronics project kits, Adobe Creative Cloud, Agile co-working spaces with whiteboards, projectors, couches, tables, event space with sound system, stage, and presentation equipment. It is ever-evolving and the best place in all of Chattanooga to go to spark creative energy. MIDI keyboards and mini music studio areas where artists can input/output and save their sound(s) are also available. The sky is the limit on the fourth floor, they even have a piano so that people can learn, tune, or play. The industry-standard music studio that is equipped with state-of-the-art technology is available to utilize for all library cardholders. It has all of the bells and whistles. Three-hour time blocks are available for scheduling during regular business hours. The unaware need to tap into the potential. It
will take their breath away. Again, people must apply themselves accordingly when in the studio. The staff Sound Engineer will be a helpful guide but not the maestro. People must fend for themselves while being open to some tutelage during sessions. Empowering the people with hope and resources is what the downtown Chattanooga Public Library is doing while giving all people a platform to rise up. The world is impactful, and it is easy for people to get caught up in some less than favorable situations. When there are things to look forward to, people act accordingly. I see both sides of Chattanooga, and I know that there are not many places that are better for growth, development, and opportunity than right here in Chattaboogie. Have you been neglecting the next-level resources that are available to you at the downtown Chattanooga Public Library? Well, stop it. The time is now. Put those resolutions to work and take time this year to read, play, create, learn, elevate, dominate, integrate and educate others. Carpe Diem, Chattanooga. See you at 1001 Broad Street. Bring a friend.
COLUMN · SHRINK RAP
Judging A Book By Its Cover? The search for expression in the express lane
T Dr. Rick
Pulse columnist
“
Do we go about our days with impatience and hostility? Or can we live, regardless of the effort required, with a commitment to be present for each other?”
Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, minister, and educator in private practice in Chattanooga. Contact him at DrRPH.com, visit his wellness center at WellNestChattanooga.com
HE LINE WAS LONG. FOR SOME reason the store was overly warm and humid. It was just a few days before Christmas, and my arms were starting to ache under the weight of the full wicker basket I was holding. I’d picked up some holiday gifts for my nearest and dearest, and now I was wondering if this was such a good idea. I turned around and the man behind me, growing frustrated, said, “Holy Christmas!” In fact, it seemed all the folks waiting in the excruciatingly long line behind me were looking grumpy. I feared I may be joining their ranks any minute. The grumblings started. A woman behind me wondered aloud, “Where is the manager?” The gal next to her was scowling, shook her head and said, “Uhhuh. This is ridiculous.” I saw eye-rolling. I sensed a mob mentality was starting to take over. The customer at the front of the line was elderly. She was putting her purchases on the counter one…item…at…a… time. And you could tell the cashier was doing her best to be patient. My focus was starting to dull, my arms hurt, and dear Buddha that nearby Snickers looked good. No, no. Patience. I heard that little voice in my head. Or was I starting to hear voices brought on by hunger and fatigue? The guy behind me was now groaning audibly, loud enough for the rest of us to hear. (Why do we think this helps?) The gal running the cash register heard him, too, and looked up with an apologetic smile. I saw her smile and thought, good grief…such a First World problem! The checkout line at my favorite, groovy, Chattanooga gift store was taking too long. Get a grip, I said to myself. Just breathe. Go to your happy place. Okay,
now I could feel myself settling down, numb arms and all. Then it was my turn. Her name tag said “Darlene”. I’ve seen her at this store several times, and we always take a minute to exchange pleasantries. Darlene is probably 70-ish or older, has a stooped posture and some trouble walking. I doubt her first choice was to be standing on her feet all day trying to please hordes of holiday shoppers. She struck me as a real Southern woman: big, teased hair, serious bling and always a kind word for her customers: “Hey sweetie, how you doin’ today?” or “Y’all have a good one now!” My guess was that it hadn’t been an easy life for Darlene. She had one of those faces that shows, beneath the southern sweetness, her close acquaintance with suffering and perseverance. A true steel magnolia was my impression. Finally, finally, it was my turn. We had only a few minutes to chat, as clearly the natives were growing restless. Here’s how my brief conversation with Darlene went: “Hey honey!” “Hey Darlene. You hanging in there?” “Best I can. But sugar, it ain’t easy.” “Yeah, I understand,” I said with a glance over my shoulder. “You ready for Christmas?” she asked. “Just about. How about you?” There was a pause. “I’m not doing much this year.” “Oh, keeping it simple?” “Well,” and here her voice dropped to a whisper. I leaned in closer. “My daughter recently attempted suicide. She’s at
the hospital, and I don’t know what to do.” She looked at me with clear but pained blue eyes and reached for my hand. All I could do right then was be as fully present with her as possible. “I’m so sorry, Darlene.” “Thank you, honey,” she said as a tear began running down her cheek. “Darlene, all you can do is be there for her and if you need help, please ask for it.” Her smile was warm. “I appreciate that advice, honey. I really do.” And then the moment passed. Darlene had no choice but to dry her eyes and move on to the next customer. I was starkly reminded how we cannot know the pain, the grief others carry. Do we go about our days with impatience and hostility? Or can we live, regardless of the effort required, with a commitment to be present for each other? I’d suggest this calls upon our better selves. You may recall Michelle Obama saying, “When they go low, we go high.” We stand at the doorway to a new year, a new decade. If anything about our connection with each other is to improve, then we know, deep in our hearts, where that connection must begin. Until next time: “We have art so that we shall not die of reality.” ~ Nietzche
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 9
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Mural Artist Expands Her Reach Beyond Walls
N
Ali Kay shares her craft online and in person
ESTLED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN, MCCALLIE Avenue may seem like an ordinary street, but many of the buildings feature a variety of full-scale murals, all of which are arguably fantastic. These murals are part of the McCallie Walls Mural Project, which is an artist collaboration that created Chattanooga’s first drive-thru art gallery. By Addie Whitlow Pulse contributor
One of the most eye-catching murals is the little airplane boy. Donned in pilot’s goggles and a toy airplane at his side, his arms are outstretched, ready for flight. This particular mural was created by Ali Kay, a Chattanooga-based artist who’s had a paintbrush in her hand since she was old enough to grasp it. Ali Kay, who was born and raised in West Bend, Wisconsin, received her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in 2006. She also started her own art business, Positive Space, at the age of
19. A year after graduating from college, Kay got married and she and her husband moved to Houston, Texas in 2010 before relocating to Chattanooga in 2013. “I do a lot of different things. I kind of started out as more of a muralist, and I was doing a lot of decorative painting in homes and wall finishes and stuff, too. I used to live in Houston, and so there, I did a lot of that,” said Kay. “Since I’ve been here, it’s kind of changed a little bit and I’m doing a lot more teaching. A lot of the artwork I create are samples designed for classes and then I do a lot of custom artwork for businesses or homes; a lot of it’s really kind of specialized.”
While Kay’s art career may have started with a focus on murals, she’s branched out to create both portraits and her reactive series as she’s delved further into her work; all of which utilize her expressive brush strokes and beautiful arrays of color. Kay explained that her reactive series involves a type of paint that goes on black but changes in form to create actual rust, which she uses to layer in her paintings. She also utilizes a green patina, which mimics oxidation you see on old metals. Some of her most popular reactive series paintings include intricate florals and trees. “There’s a rust paint that has iron particles on the paint and it goes on black. Then we spray it with this activator and it turns to real rust so it’s embedded in the paintings. There’s also a copper one that turns to the green patina. I kind of teach that process [in my classes], like how to incorporate those paints into their artwork,” Kay said. “It’s super cool because the paint goes on totally black
THU1.2
FRI1.3
SAT1.4
Miller Park Farmers Market
First Friday Exhibition
First Look Comic Showcase
Come say hello to your favorite farmers and local makers and enjoy your lunch break. 11 a.m. Miller Park 910 Market St. millerparkmarket.com
10 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Join them to toast to the New Year, a new decade and christen their new location along with their local artists. 5:30 p.m. Area 61 Gallery 721 Broad St. area61gallery.com
Didn't get all the comics you wanted over the holidays? It's a one-of-akind comics experience! Noon Infinity Flux 3643 Hixson Pike infinityflux.net
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I'm going to speculate that sometime in the next six months, you will experience events that years from now you'll look back on as having been the beginning of a fresh universe for you. What should you call this launch? I suggest you consider elegant terms like "Destiny Rebirth" or "Fate Renewal" rather than a cliché like the "Big Bang." And how should you celebrate it? As if it were the Grand Opening of the rest of your long life.
then they create the paintings on top of it then we spray it. The iron paint will turn to rust in about five to six hours; usually, we let it go overnight. That’s a fun class and fun process to teach.” In addition to her commercial, residential, and commissioned pieces, Kay has also spent the past six years hosting workshops at her studio, Positive Space, in the Chattanooga Workspace. She explained that she typically hosts about six workshops a year, and she has students who come from all across the country (and even Canada) to learn about her process in the intense two to three day classes. More recently, Kay has ventured into teaching online, where she posts instructional videos on a teaching website, Zenso Creative, and on her YouTube channel. Because of where she’s at in her life right now, Kay said she enjoys studio work a little more than she used to. She has two children in elementary school so the flexibility of creating art in her own studio and the flexibility of designing and posting online classes and videos works really well for her and her family.
“I think my long-term goal is to really broaden my reach with my online classes because it’s so fun for me to be able to reach students all over the world. And that’s really cool because those are people that would probably never be able to come here, like how we have a student in Australia,” explained Kay. “I try to stay really connected, so we have a private Facebook group for all the students. When people are working on a class, they can post pictures and get my feedback and then other people in the class can comment on it, too.” If you’re interested in signing up for one of Kay’s upcoming workshops or in checking out her online instructional videos, visit Kay’s website at postivespaceart.com where you can also view her portfolio and learn more about her painting style. Her YouTube channel, Ali Kay, is where she posts short videos that allow you to sample her teaching before purchasing the class. Kay has a truly unique painting style and she’s certainly made a career out of doing what she loves, which is why she’s really excited to be teaching her passion to others who share her love of painting.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In 2020, I believe you will be able to summon the insight and kismet necessary to resolve at least one long-running problem, and probably more. You'll have an enhanced ability to kick bad habits and escape dead-ends and uncover liberating truths about mysteries that have flustered you. Frustrations and irritations you've grudgingly tolerated for far too much time will finally begin to wane. Congratulations in advance, Aquarius! The hard work you do to score these triumphs won't always be delightful, but it could provide you with a curiously robust and muscular kind of fun. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Let's say you wanted to dress completely in silk: shirt, pants, vest, scarf, socks, shoes, hat, underwear all made of silk. And let's say your dream was to grow and process and weave the silk from scratch. You'd start with half an ounce of silkworm eggs. They'd hatch into 10,000 silkworms. Eventually those hard-working insects would generate five pounds of silk—enough to create your entire outfit. So in other words, you'd be able to generate an array of functional beauty from a small but concentrated amount of raw material. By the way, that last sentence is a good description of what I think your general approach should be in 2020. And also by the way, dressing in silk wouldn't be too crazy an idea in the coming months. I hope you'll have fun cultivating your allure, style, and flair. ARIES (March 21-April 19): "We are all hostages of the joy of which we deprive ourselves,' wrote poet Odysseus Elytis. Isn't that an astounding idea? That we refuse to allow ourselves to experience some of the bliss and pleasure we could easily have; and that we are immured inside that suppressed bliss and pleasure? I call on you, Aries, to rebel against this human tendency. As I see it, one of your main tasks in 2020 is to permit yourself to welcome more bliss, to aggressively seize more pleasure, and thereby free yourself from the rot of its nullification. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): At age 22, Taurus-born Dutch citizen Willem de Kooning sneaked into the
United States. He was a stowaway on an Argentina-bound freighter, and stealthily disembarked when the ship made a stop in Virginia. As he lived in America during subsequent decades, he became a renowned painter who helped pioneer the movement known as abstract expressionism. His status as an illegal immigrant rarely presented any obstacles to his growing success and stature. Not until age 57 did he finally became an American citizen. I propose we make him one of your role models in 2020. May he inspire you to capitalize on being a maverick, outsider, or stranger. May he encourage you to find opportunities beyond your safety zone. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): When British novelist E. M. Forster was in his late 30s, he had sex with another person for the first time. Before that he had published five novels. After that, he produced just one more novel, though he lived till age 91. Why? Was he having too much fun? Looking back from his old, age, he remarked that he would "have been a more famous writer if I had published more, but sex prevented the latter." I suspect that sensual pleasure and intimacy will have the exact opposite effect on you in 2020, Gemini. In sometimes mysterious ways, they will make you more productive in your chosen sphere. CANCER (June 21-July 22): "Every part of our personality that we do not love will regress and become hostile to us," wrote poet Robert Bly. I don't know anyone who doesn't suffer from this problem at least a little. That's the bad news. The good news for us Cancerians (yes, I'm a Crab!) is that 2020 will be a favorable time to engage in a holy crusade to fix this glitch: to feel and express more love for parts of our personality that we have dismissed or marginalized. The result? Any self-sabotage we have suffered from in the past could dramatically diminish. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): As a young adult, Leo-born Raymond Chandler worked as a fruit-picker, tennis racquet-stringer, and bookkeeper. At age 34, he began a clerical job at the Dabney Oil Syndicate, and eventually rose in the ranks to become a well-paid executive. The cushy role lasted until he was 44, when he was fired. He mourned for a while, then decided to become an author of detective fiction. It took a while, but at age 50, he published his first novel. During the next 20 years, he wrote six additional novels as well as numerous short stories and screenplays—and in the process became popular and influential. I present this synopsis as an inspirational story to fuel your destiny in 2020. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The fame of Virgo-born Italian poet
Ludovico Ariosto (1474–1533) has persisted through the ages because of Orlando Furioso, an epic poem he authored. It tells the story of the Christian knight Orlando and his adoration for a pagan princess. This great work did not come easily to Ariosto. It wasn't until he had written 56 versions of it that he was finally satisfied. I suspect you may harbor an equally perfectionist streak about the good works and labors of love you'll craft in 2020. May I suggest you confine your experiments to no more than ten versions? LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Leonardo da Vinci worked on his painting The Last Supper from 1495 to 1498. It's a big piece—about 15 by 29 feet. That's one reason why he took so long to finish. But there was another explanation, too. He told his patron, the Duke of Milan, that he sometimes positioned himself in front of his paintingin-progress and simply gazed at and thought about it, not lifting a brush. Those were times he did some of his hardest work, he said. I trust you will have regular experiences like that in 2020, Libra. Some of your best efforts will arise out of your willingness and ability to incubate your good ideas with concentrated silence and patience. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): By 1895, Henry James had already published 94 books. He was renowned in the U.S. and England, and had written the works that would later lead to him being considered for a Nobel Prize. Then, at age 52, although he was not physically fit, he decided to learn how to ride a bicycle. He paid for lessons at a bicycle academy, and cheerfully tolerated bruises and cuts from his frequent falls as an acceptable price to pay for his new ability. I admire James' determination to keep transforming. Let's make him a role model for you in 2020. May he inspire you to keep adding new aptitudes as you outgrow your previous successes. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When Sagittarian composer Ludwig van Beethoven created the Eroica symphony in the early 1800s, many observers panned it. They said its rhythms were eccentric, that it was too long. One critic said it was "glaring and bizarre," while another condemned its "undesirable originality." This same critic concluded, "Genius proclaims itself not in the unusual and fantastic but in the beautiful and sublime." Today, of course, Eroica has a different reputation. It's regarded as a breakthrough event in musical history. I'll go on record here, Sagittarius, to say that I suspect you created your own personal version of Eroica in 2019. 2020 is the year it will get the full appreciation it deserves, although it may take a while. Be patient.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 11
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
River Runners
THURSDAY1.2 Miller Park Farmers Market 11 a.m. Miller Park 910 Market St. millerparkmarket.com MAC Fursday Thursday Adoption Special 11 a.m. McKamey Animal Center 4500 N. Access Rd. (423) 305-6500 mckameyanimalcenter.org Throwback Thursday 4 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org River Runners 6 p.m. Basecamp Bar and Restaurant 346 Frazier Ave. (423) 803-5251 basecampcha.com Life Drawing Open Studio 6 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Open Mic Poetry & More 6:30 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Jeff “D” 7:30 p.m.
12 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Alcoholics Not Anonymous Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com
FRIDAY1.3 First Friday Exhibition 5:30 p.m. Area 61 Gallery 721 Broad St. (423) 648-9367 area61gallery.com
Jeff “D” 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com The Floor Is Yours 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Drag At The Palace: Nebula Majors, Ophelia Cox, Gin Von
ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT Comedian Jeff D has brought houses down all over the country with his unique Southern-style humor, riotous stories, hilarious characters, and satiric point of view. Jeff D connects to audiences and keeps them wanting more! Jeff "D" Thursday-Sunday The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com
Tonic 11 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com
SATURDAY1.4 Creating a 2020 Vision Board 10 a.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (423) 243-3250 saygrace.net Gnome Workshop 11 a.m. AVA Gallery 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282 avarts.org First Look Comic Showcase Noon Infinity Flux 3643 Hixson Pike (423) 591-5689 infinityflux.net Soap Making 101 1 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Japanese Traditional Calligraphy 2 p.m.
The List
Introduction to Calligraphy I Go Tokyo 205 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 541-1214 igotokyostore.com Jeff “D” 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
SUNDAY1.5 Doctor Who Live Q&A and Screening 2 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 5080 South Terrace (423) 855-9652 fathomevents.com Candlelight Epiphany Journeydance 3 p.m. Center For Mindful Living 400 E. Main St. (423) 486-1279 centermindfulliving.org Wheel 1 with Paul 4 p.m. Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org Bach Choir Cantata Concert 5 p.m. Christ Church Episcopal 663 Douglas St. (423) 266-4263 christchurchchattanooga.org Jeff “D” 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch
1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY1.6 Lid Workshop with Loren 1 p.m. Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org Beginner Cake Decorating 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Winter Belly Dance Session 6 p.m. Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd. (423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Joggers & Lagers 6 p.m. Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. (423) 702-9958 chattabrew.com Beginner Handlettering 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org First Monday Improv Comedy 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org
TUESDAY1.7 Chattanooga Self Improvement Meetup 8 a.m. The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Handbuilding 1 with Carrie Anne Parks 1 p.m. Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org Sew What 4 p.m. Chattanooga Public Librarym Downtown Branch 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Draw Me Closer: An Introduction to Drawing 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Wheel 1 with Lolly Durant 6 p.m. Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org Mocktails 101 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org
Paths to Pints 6:30 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Mystify: Michael Hutchence 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 5080 South Terrace (423) 855-9652 fathomevents.com
WEDNESDAY1.8 Intermediate & Advanced Watercolor 1 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Main Street Farmers Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Introduction to Calligraphy 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org No Pressure: Instant Pot 101 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
New Year's Resolutions By The Numbers It's that time of year again when people make all sorts of resolutions in an effort to make the new year better than the last. The top three resolutions are to lose weight, to get more organized, and spend less while saving more money. But how good at we are making (and keeping) our resolutions? • Percent of Americans who usually make New Year's Resolutions: 45% • Percent of Americans who infrequently make New Year's Resolutions: 17% • Percent of Americans who absolutely never make New Year's Resolutions: 38% • Percent of people who are successful in achieving their resolution: 8% • Percent who have infrequent success: 49% • Percent who never succeed and fail on their resolution each year: 24% But whether or not you make (or keep) your resolutions, we wish you a safe and happy new year. Bottom line: just have fun.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 13
THE MUSIC SCENE
Sax In The City Jfest Announces 2020 Lineup Chattanooga has seen a number of new music festivals plant roots in the city, while some of our longer running festivals have seen changes. And one of the longest running Christian music festivals contnues to grow. After much success at their new location in the Tennessee Riverpark in 2019, with over 9,600 in attendance for the one-day festival, Jfest 2020 is headed back to the river. Artists scheduled to perform will include Grammy Award winner Zach Williams, GMA Dove Award winner Danny Gokey, Unspoken, The Afters, Caitie Hurst, We The Kingdom, Cain, and The Union Chattanooga. They will also close out the night with fireworks and an after party that will include hiphop artists Aaron Cole and Nobigdyl. Jfest will be held on May 9. The gates will open at 11 a.m. with the first band, The Union Chattanooga, on stage at 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit jfest.com — Michael Thomas
Local musician mixes saxophone into rap
I
FIRST HEARD SWAYYVO AT STIR’S SUNDAY BRUNCH AND HIS SKILLS ON THE SAX elevated my slow-moving mentality more than my biscuits and gravy. As refreshing and intoxicating as my day drink, Swayyvo on the saxophone was an unexpected audible pleasure. By Jessie Gantt-Temple Pulse Assistant Editor
“
Swayyvo is a triple threat as he can also produce and rap. His versatility in songs range from head-nodding, concise choppy rap to steady suave sax.”
Often when I see solo artists, it is a guitarist with a harmonica or a drummer rocking out by themselves but it is rare, for me anyways, to have the pleasure to hear a talented artist in the spotlight killing it on the saxophone. “I played saxophone since the eight grade at Tyner Academy,” said Swayyvo Morton who simply goes by Swayyvo, “I have never been classically trained on saxophone and I still can’t read music to this day but I gained improvisational skills from playing at Rock Island Baptist Church every Sunday since I was a teen.” His goals for the new year include learning to play the bass and collaborating with as many major artists as possible. “I want to throw more shows as well as produce music for
more artists and TV shows,” he said, “I just want to double what I did in 2019!” Having already worked with THE FLOCK, Elijah Dax, Johnny Balik, LRNZ, Phil Mcclain, Johnny Smathers, Maria Jordan, Negtetanana-a, Jared White the producer and Dalton Davis, he is working on some big things right now with YGUT, Michael Da Vinci, Cinematic, Carl Cadwell and Blu Rollin. Able to play the piano, Swayyvo is a triple threat as he can also produce and rap. His versatility in songs range from head-nodding, concise choppy (in a good way) rap to steady suave sax. “I have always had good mentors like Frank Bumpass and Alfred Barnes,” he said and some of his influences range from John Coltrane and Boney James to
THU1.2
FRI1.3
SAT1.4
Ryan Oyer
Megan Jean & the KFB
New Grass Express
Come out to Chattanooga's coolest almost rooftop bar and check out one of the city's best musicians. 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com
14 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
It's a great night of local music along with Scarlet Love Conspiracy and Mark “Porkchop” Holder. 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
What do you get when you combine the soul of gospel with inspired bluegrass? You get the New Grass Express. 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com
JONESIN' CROSSWORD
Tupac and Kendrick Lamar. His song “It’s Written” is dedicated to his roommate and friend Taedoe who “was a really genuine person but lived a lifestyle that brought a lot of danger.” Taedoe was shot and killed. Swayyvo explains how the song is about a conversation they had before he moved out. “I still have regrets about my lack of words during that conversation.” Like many lyricists before him, Swayyvo tried to provide some closure and said everything he didn’t that night in his multifaceted mix. I was surprised to hear how such a smooth sound like saxophone could be mixed into a fast-paced rap song but Swayyvo does it. He has the talent to exude these different energies to where I never would have thought the guy in the dinosaur Christmas sweater jamming at The Moxy was the same guy in the “Drill” video. But with Eric Cromertie and Kendra Simons collaborating with him on
ideas for branding, there is no telling what Swayyvo will conjure up next. “Trunk Therapy” is a slower jam with piano and sax and is the lead track of his same named album that came out this past April. Currently with two albums in circulation, Cornucopia and Trunk Therapy, you can find his songs on any streaming platform like Pandora, Spotify, and Tidal. Get the visuals and check out his YouTube channel or on Facebook at “Swayyvo” for videos. Having residency at STIR Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 1p.m., he’ll also be playing sax at The Moxy twice a month. He has performed at Poetry vs Hip Hop at The Camp House, but no dates have been confirmed for that showcase for 2020. Open for gigs, producing and collaboration, you can reach him at swayyvo1@gmail.com or, better yet, I would suggest to fill up on some waffle encrusted chicken and his savory songs live every Sunday at STIR.
“You Turned Up”—I’m just following directions. ACROSS 1 Coat of arms inscription 6 Dir. from NYC to Seattle 9 Sibilant sound 13 In the vicinity of 14 “The Beatles at ___ Stadium” (music documentary) 15 Minimal amount 16 ?keep a kaenS 19 Collapsible shelter 20 Paleozoic and Cenozoic, e.g. 21 What baby shampoo avoids 22 Hybrid citrus from Jamaica 24 Propped open 26 ?loot s’tsirucinaM 30 “___ a Rainbow” (Rolling Stones tune) 34 ___ apso (dog breed) 35 Prescriptions, briefly 37 “Mixed-ish” network 38 “You’ve Got Mail” ISP 39 With 49-Across, ?retsis s’anereS 42 Blazers’ org.
43 Unhealthy 44 High or low cards 45 “Li’l” guy in the comics 47 Take five 49 See 39-Across 52 “___ be surprised” 54 “... ___ it seems” 55 Birch of “Ghost World” 58 “Flashdance” director Adrian 60 Paintball mark 64 ?rekrowoc s’rotcudnoC 67 Precious metal sources 68 “Eat, ___, Love” 69 ___-Whirl (amusement park ride) 70 Second to ___ 71 Wood used to make baseball bats 72 Fabled tale-teller DOWN 1 Beer ingredient 2 Symphony orchestra woodwind 3 “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” character
4 Onomatopoetic name for motorized rickshaws 5 First N.L. player to hit 500 home runs 6 “Hold up!” 7 Company’s bottom line 8 When doubled, a guitar effect 9 Job opening fillers 10 Only state name starting with two vowels 11 Head the cast 12 Reports 14 Feature of a font 17 Assist 18 Sched. guess 23 Tropical fruit with pink flesh 25 Baby Yoda, eventually (one presumes) 26 Prime minister between Major and Brown 27 “Head Like ___” (Nine Inch Nails song) 28 They may be recorded for quality and training purposes
29 “Hello, ___ Be Going!” (Phil Collins album) 31 Barbera’s animation partner 32 Diminished 33 Do a haunted house job 36 Catches 40 Raw silk shade 41 Annoying ones 46 “Two-bite” bakery item, maybe 48 Actor Gibson of “2 Fast 2 Furious” 50 “The Daily Show” correspondent Chieng 51 Neighbor of Nev. 53 Rafter’s need 55 Disney movie about computers 56 Lifesaver, maybe 57 Subway fixture 59 “I know” 61 Wriggly tankful 62 “Dallas Buyers Club” Oscar winner Jared 63 Sandy golf hazard 65 Hotel offering 66 “Give ___ go!”
Copyright © 2020 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 969 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 15
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Webb Barringer Band
THURSDAY1.2 Danimal & Friends 6 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com David Anthony & Paul Stone 6 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Webb Barringer Band 7 p.m. Edley’s Bar-B-Que 205 Manufacturers Rd. edleysbbq.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Ryan Oyer 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Nana Grizol, Maggie Carson, Tourist Trap, 2 Lazy Boys 8 p.m. Sluggo’s Vegan Cafe 505 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 752-5224 Ryan Ramey 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m.
16 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Blake Hornsby And Wohglemut 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
FRIDAY1.3 Tyler Martelli 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com The 9th Street Stompers 7 p.m. Oddstory Brewing Company
336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Jesse Jungkurth 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Mark Andrew 8 p.m. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Ayla Sylver 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com The Afternooners with Handlines and Hari 9 p.m.
LIVE MUSIC SPOTLIGHT
When Theo Hilton formed Nana Grizol in Athens, Ga., in 2007, he secured an outlet for expressing how confusion and constant pining became ingrained
into a young, queer male in a small town. Nana Grizol Thursday, 8 p.m. Sluggo’s Vegan Cafe 505 Cherokee Blvd.
HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Luke Simmons 9 p.m. Public House 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Megan Jean & the KFB, Scarlet Love Conspiracy, Mark “Porkchop” Holder 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Joey Winslett 9 p.m. Big River Grille & Brewing Works 222 Broad St. bigrivergrille.com Tim Starnes 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Ultra DMx: The Music of Depeche Mode 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Misfit Toyz 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY1.4 Chattanooga Singing Circle 10 a.m. The Chattery
Alan Wyatt Quartet 1800 Rossville Ave. thechattery.org Danimal 10:30 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Preston Ruffing 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Webb Berringer 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Paul Smith & Sky High Band 8 p.m. Eagles Club 6128 Airways Blvd. foe.com New Grass Express 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com The Matt Stephens Project 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com The Eraticator and Shehehe 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Caleb Folk 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
Katrina Barclay 9 p.m. Big River Grille & Brewing Works 222 Broad St. bigrivergrille.com Interstellar Echoes: A Tribute To Pink Floyd 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Misfit Toyz 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com Porch Boy Rebels Band 11 p.m. Sky Zoo 5709 Lee Hwy. (423) 521-2966
SUNDAY1.5 The Bird and The Bear 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com The 9th Street Stompers 11 a.m. STIR 1444 Market St. stirchattanooga.com Carl Pemberton 11 a.m. Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com My Name Is Preston Noon Southside Social
1818 Chestnut St. thesouthsidesocial.com Von Wamps 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Free Fiddle School 2 p.m. Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Bach Choir Cantata Concert 5 p.m. Christ Church Episcopal 663 Douglas St. christchurchchattanooga.org
MONDAY1.6 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Blues Night Open Jam 7 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks
TUESDAY1.7 Tyler Martelli & Maria Jordania 5 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Danimal 7 p.m.
Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Randall Adams 8 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Bitter Calm, Prayer Circle, Matthew Bohannon 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
WEDNESDAY1.8 Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Alan Wyatt Quartet 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Black Tusk, All Hell, Taverns 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 17
ERNIE PAIK’S RECORD REVIEWS
New Music From Andrew Norman, Sault
Andrew Norman Sustain (Deutsche Grammophon)
Sault 7 (Forever Living Originals)
T
movie/soundtrack tie-ins, symphonic pop/rock showcases or collaborations with pop/rock stars, and even performances featuring music from video games. This critic doesn’t blame anyone for trying. But stepping back from the situation, perhaps one facet can be explored with regards to the modern perception of classical music and from where appeal and curiosity can germinate. This idea comes to mind when absorbing the 33-minute piece Sustain from composer Andrew Norman, who was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in music last year and performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel. While certainly non-traditional, Sustain has the ability to conjure pure, yet abstract
his writer doesn’t envy those on symphony boards with the challenging task and eternal struggle of attracting new generations of listeners in the realm of classical music. One would hope enjoyment and appreciation come from a persuasive stoking of curiosity, without a whiff of the “eat your vegetables” type cultural supervision or conspicuous (and possibly guilt-ridden) obligation of certain social classes. The classical canon expands seemingly reluctantly, which is one issue—how long did it take Charles Ives, Clara Schumann, and Astor Piazzolla to gain acceptance? Then there’s the fact that a chunk of programming often relies on what could be perceived as orchestral gateways such as events that are aimed specifically toward childfriendly repertoire, Hollywood
feelings and ineffable emotions without being schmaltzy or saccharin; it feels novel, sure, but free from the notion of cheap spectacle, being its own sublime thing. Comparisons to flowing water are seemingly inevitable, with cascades and waves of strings, sometimes slightly reminiscent of the overlapping phases of Steve Reich’s work; motifs build and eventually churn, transforming into roaring swirls that could be the sound of galaxies expanding. The composer has explained that Sustain is a “contracting spiral”, using a repeated section that gets exponentially faster, as if sucking listeners into a black hole, for tense climaxes. At times, it sounds like the orchestra is trying to replicate synthetic sound processing in clever ways—in particular, the “extreme sound stretch” effect and also pitch shifting. Even listening to a recording at home can be an overwhelming thing, engulfed by foreign sounds, and Sustain is an intriguing and nourishing experience that can haunt a listener in ways not expected.
L
ike a juicy secret, the mysterious band Sault is one of those groups that, upon hearing, you feel particularly com-
pelled for multiple reasons to tell your friends about. The music itself has a groove that is easy to like, coming from a base of funk and soul and anchored by a rhythm section that is tight and economical. The opening track “Over” from 7, Sault’s second album released in 2019 after its impressive debut 5, uses simple yet effective melodies which have led to comparisons to the post-punk dance band ESG, but there’s more at work. The overall vibe is reminiscent of the oft-sampled Incredible Bongo Band and the contemporary Budos Band, but there are extra elements fluttering around playfully like a buzzing tune on a keyboard. “Feel So Good” sports a sing-songy lightness among spacey synths and a spirited, perhaps mischievous attitude, while the track “Smile and Go” even has some downright cute “be dee be dee” vocal interjections. Multiple female singers show their stuff on 7, with vocals that can be silky and spry, firmly rooted in the soul-funk realm, and male backing vocals sometimes reveal hip-hop influences in delivery. One thing that makes 7 sound so striking is the amount of care and attention that clearly went into the recording,
Pulse on Facebook Follow The Pulse on FacebookFollow (we’reThe quite likeable) (we're really quite likeable)
Follow The Pulse on Facebook (we’re quite likeable)
www.facebook.com/chattanoogapulse
Follow The Pulse onwww.facebook.com/chattanoogapulse Facebook (we’re quite likeable) 18 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
www.facebook.com/chattanoogapulse
offering somewhat peculiar choices at times. Notably, there’s often a slight distortion added to the vocals, to provide a bit of dirt and roughness. To perhaps heighten the album’s sense of artificiality (i.e. apparent stylistic decisions), there is a complete lack of congruity regarding how each individual instrument is recorded. For example, a track may feature stark, dry vocals with percussion that reverberate richly, offering a disconnect. At the beginning of “Waterfalls”, a bass riff is sampled and repeated, although it could’ve easily been played live, and it’s not even a cleanly edited sample. It’s a small detail but this writer believes it’s intentional, putting this small piece in the age of sampling rather than being, say, a ‘70s funk purist. Finally, it’s obligatory to mention that Sault has yet to reveal the names of its members, thus liberating it from any personal baggage associated with individuals. This critic is reminded of the actor Peter Sellers, who insisted that he was a character actor with “no personality of my own whatsoever”; like with Sault, the performance is what matters and with the album 7, a rich personality is on display.
FOOD & DRINK · MIXOLOGY
Stout It From The Rooftops The story behind those delicious, creamy milk stouts By Hillary Eames Pulse Contributor
W
ITH THE COLD WINTER months upon us, our tastes change a bit. Especially when it comes to beer. Gone are the hot summer days when we like refreshingly light, fruity beers that cool us down. And now that we’re though the holidays, all those strange Christmas-themed beers can be dispensed with as well. For the time has come for the perfect winter beer. It’s rare that distinctions in alcoholic beverages can be relative to the brewer’s discretion, but such is the case between stouts and porters. The two brews form a continuum with such nebulous nuance that one style or sub-style may be virtually indistinguishable from another. Even rarer, however, is a drink that rises above this spectrum, making itself known through an unorthodox brewing process and instantly recognizable taste. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the milk stout. The practice of adding whole milk to already-brewed beer was common practice in the UK during the 1800s. Milk beers were served during lunchtime to laborers, in hopes that the brews would give them added strength to make it through their day. Eventually brewers began experimenting with adding milk to the fermentation process. Most notable of these experimenters was John Henry Johnson, who envisioned the potentially nutritious beer in 1875. He pat-
“
It’s rare that distinctions in alcoholic beverages can be relative to the brewer’s discretion, but such is the case between stouts and porters.”
ented his idea, which remained unfinished, by proposing a milk beer made with barley, hops, whey and lactose. Unfortunately Johnson never saw his dream come to fruition but fortunately for us, his idea was picked up by others who saw its potential. In 1907, Mackeson of Kent brewed the first lactose stout in 1907, and sent it off to market in 1910, boasting that “each pint contained the energizing
carbohydrates of ten ounces of dairy milk.” Soon Mackeson licensed the beermaking to others and, within a couple years, a rough dozen of milk stouts became available, each making similar claims. Milk stout was believed to be so nutritious, doctors prescribed it as the cure for various ailments even offering it to nursing mothers to increase their milk production.
The promise of milk stout’s nutritional benefits was the early 20th century version of Don Draper’s branding of toasted cigarettes: nevertheless, it was effective but 100% false. Eventually, the health claims of milk stouts fell under the scrutiny of British authorities and by 1946 any mention of milk was deemed misleading. Especially worrisome was the concern that children might believe the milky beverage was safe for their consumption. As a precaution, breweries were required to remove any mention of milk from their products. Comparatively, breweries outside of England don’t fall under this jurisdiction and lactose-enhanced brews may still be referred to as milk stouts. Besides the brewing process, what separates milk stouts from regular stouts? The lactose used in the brewing process of milk stouts is actually unfermentable, resulting in a creamy, full-bodied product with heightened mouthfeel and a burnt-sugar flavor. In addition, lactose knocks off some of the bitter edge associated with stouts, making the end result strikingly similar to your friendly neighborhood latte. Lancaster Brewing Company brewmaster Christian Heim explains, “Do you drink coffee? Then think of this as a new coffee flavor sensation. I mean, if you like coffee, you’d like stout, and if you put milk or sugar in your coffee you’re going to really like milk stout.” So who knows? Maybe a nightly milk stout will become as irreplaceable as your morning cup of joe.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 19
FILM & TELEVISION
Pigeonholing With A Fox News Crew
Bombshell limits its grasp with an expansive cast
It's TARDIS Time Once Again After travelling through space and time, the TARDIS is returning to movie theaters nationwide for a special one-day-only appearance. This Sunday at 2 p.m. at AMC Chattanooga 18, Whovians can gather together with sonic screwdrivers in hand to see the Doctor Who Season 12 premiere episode, followed by an exclusive early unveiling of the new season’s second episode. The Doctor is back and resuming her travels through space and time for a brand-new set of action-packed epic adventures with friends Ryan (Tosin Cole), Yasmin (Mandip Gill) and Graham (Bradley Walsh), in this, her second season as the Doctor. This series will delve deeper into the hearts of the Thirteenth Doctor, with cinematic visuals, compelling characters, and a host of alien threats all tied together with Doctor Who’s trademark warmth, humor and heart. The return of Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and friends is set to thrill, scare and delight audiences. After the feature content, for the first time ever, audiences will be treated to a live Q&A with Thirteenth and current Doctor Jodie Whittaker and companions Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill. This exclusive fan experience will be moderated by Terri Schwartz, Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment at IGN, and transmitted live from The Paley Center in New York to big screens across the country and right here at home. — Michael Thomas
By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor
“
Film has long been a collection of values for audiences to identify with, which often drives viewership.”
20 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
T
HERE IS AN INTERESTING HABIT IN MEDIA CONSUMPtion right now, brought on by the intense fracturing of the media landscape. It’s been happening for years now, likely since the beginning of cable television, but an abundance of choice has caused audiences to seek out art that reflects their own reality in order to justify their worldview. To a certain extent, this is what art is supposed to do. Film has long been a collection of values for audiences to identify with, which often drives viewership. But it’s also challenged commonly held ideas, allowing audiences to grow and change with characters on screen. The divided nature of both our political landscape and our media consumption has led to something of a new phenomenon, something that seems to be a combination of the two. It’s an illusion of a challenge, one that
simultaneously justifies beliefs, but makes the audience feel that they are experiencing something difficult. You can see this in effect with the release of films like Richard Jewell and perhaps to a larger extent, Bombshell. Both films have a commentary on the media. Both fall in line with typical left/right thinking. And while Richard Jewell has suffered justifiable criticism due to accuracy, it tells an important story with that careful, Clint Eastwood eye. Bombshell tells an important story
as well, with less style perhaps, but with as much empathy as it can muster. It is unlikely that the audiences for these films will cross over, which is probably more interesting than either film is on their own. Bombshell, in particular, isn’t especially great filmmaking, but it has a solid cast. It just seems to tell an incomplete story. The film shows the downfall of Roger Ailes (John Lithgow), the brains behind the conservative Fox News network. Fox has been excoriated in countless films and books, examined and re-examined, and understandably demonized at every turn. Bombshell places these ideas—the management style, the misogyny, the “balance” as it were—very much in the background. The audience for the film already knows much of this. Instead, the film is character driven, looking directly at the women who work for the agency and their treatment at the hands of the chairman and CEO. More specifically, it focuses on Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman), Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), and a fictionalized newcomer named Kayla (Margot Robbie) as they come to terms with standing up for themselves. Both Carlson and Kelly are well known former Fox personalities,
“
Bombshell sort of plods its way through the plot points, things the audience already knows, without revealing much we didn’t.” each having been highly criticized by the left for their contributions to the degradation of public discourse we now enjoy. But Bombshell isn’t interested in demonizing them. There’s a section of the audience who undoubtedly feels self-satisfaction at the way these women were treated. They were working for the enemy after all. But as we’ve seen over the past few years, Fox is not alone in its culture of harassment. It’s an industry wide problem. This again makes the topic more compelling than the film itself. Bombshell sort of plods its way through the plot points, things the audience already knows, without revealing much we didn’t. Given the insular nature of the Fox apparatus, it’s unlikely that the characterizations of the main characters are exact and it’s hard to know where the inventions are found. As I said, the film goes easy on Carlson and Kelly. Maybe too easy. But their politics should be beside the point. Neither has had
a strong career after this incident. Kelly in particular, had a very public flame out at NBC. Some of this can be attributed poor editorial choices on her show, like giving Alex Jones a platform, but there were other stories. Stories about her rudeness. Her likability. The way she treated staff and crew. The film reinforces Ailes habit of leaking stories to make himself look better. There’s no question that he would leak stories to make his enemies look worse. Does anyone really think that he stopped after being removed from his position? Do we really believe that NBC was above the same behavior? The film doesn’t touch on the aftermath, on the future of its characters. Bombshell shouldn’t have been just a Fox story. It feels too limited in scope. It is only elevated by the actors themselves. The filmmakers wanted to have something to say, but they were too short-sighted to see what it could have been.
✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴
Little Women Four sisters come of age in America in the aftermath of the Civil War in the retelling of the classic literary tale that has delighted and entertained readers for generations. Director: Greta Gerwig Stars: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen
The Grudge A house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death. Because the holidays are past and we're all tired of feel-good family movies. Director: Nicolas Pesce Stars: Tara Westwood, Junko Bailey, David Lawrence Brown, Zoe Fish
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 21
COLUMN · GAME ON!
The Long Road Back To Hell Can Blizzard bring back a franchise nearly destroyed by vanity?
B Brandon Watson Pulse columnist
“
I played Diablo III for a week then deleted it shortly after and vowed to never again touch Blizzard Entertainment games. That was seven years ago and the hate is still there, albeit faded some.”
When not vaporizing zombies or leading space marines as a mousepad Mattis, Brandon Watson is making gourmet pancakes and promoting local artists.
ACK IN NOVEMBER COSPLAY fodder Blizzard dropped a demonic bombshell with the announcement of Diablo IV. I’ll confess that I’m not a fan of Blizzard Entertainment or their past business practices. Keep in mind that I was a Blizzard fan boy many moons ago in a land far, far away. Back then PC games came with manuals and lore books along with installation disks. Installation didn’t require an internet connection and the lore books served as a way to get into the back content of the game while you waited for the insert next disk prompt. I remember digging into the black inked macabre sketches and art that sucked me into the lore of Sanctuary and the Burning Hells. For all its roughness Diablo was the definitive hack-slasher-loot-orgy that many tried (and failed) to emulate over the years. The only game that managed to out-do Diablo was Diablo II. A bigger world, a bigger more coherent story, more classes, and epic loot. Everything Diablo started was redefined by its very own sequel! Then came 2012, the year that Diablo died. Blizzard was, at this time, a MMORPG powerhouse with World of Warcraft still draining wallets and Starcraft owning Korean E-sports. Blizzard’s monster-slaying looter Diablo II was still played by the entire world sometimes non-stop at the risk of death (it was just that good). Surely Diablo III would break the mold and set new trends in the genre and steal our hearts, time, and lives like the first two. That was the ideal but what we got were broken servers at launch, mandatory internet connections to play and blatant greed traps (Real Money Auction House) that it took all my power to not shell my hard drive with C4.
22 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 2, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
I played Diablo III for a week then deleted it shortly after and vowed to never again touch Blizzard Entertainment games. That was seven years ago and the hate is still there, albeit faded some. With the cringe announcement of that mobile thing that nobody wants I was convinced that Diablo would be an abandoned IP forever. Then Blizzard went and paraded a sexy announcement trailer full of grotesque blood sacrifices and the rebirth of a great horned demonic goddess. Lilith you say? Druids and Barbarians? Darker tones, better character mechanics? Okay Blizzard, what you selling me here? Will Diablo IV be the great redeemer for Blizzard Entertainment? I doubt anything could be that good. Maybe my stubbornness to hang onto my hatred is starting to wear down but from what I’ve seen, it looks promising. Of course we may have to wait a whole year but my guess is that the release will be near November of 2020. Still a long way off and ample time to get totally wrecked by the marketing hype-train. So, for once I’ve heeded the mostly ignored advice of my friends and went back to see what was fixed with Diablo III. And I’ll tell you what: whatever tragic dumpster fire that was Diablo III at launch has been reworked into something playable and enjoyable. Also this game is a joy to play on a console, matter-of-fact, I like Diablo III better on the console than on the PC. Having skills and spells mapped to distinct buttons keeps me focused when the screen diarrhea prevalent isometric
hack/slashers become intense. Inventory management on the console version is annoying but workable over time and with some repetition, it becomes second nature. My favorite feature is the right stick dodge option as it enhances survivability tenfold; I’m not sure how I played this game without it. I also like the Necromancer and Crusader classes. Experimenting with skill builds isn’t as punishing as the first version of this game so there’s no reason to fear tinkering with builds that fit your playstyle. Diablo III-Eternal Collection is loaded to the teeth with features and seasonal content. Couch Co-Op on the console is amazing and can really get good when you’re introducing the game to the uninitiated and it’s available for the Nintendo Switch. It’s a blunder-to-wonder game that has come a long way despite a catastrophic release. There’s nothing wrong with getting back into a game that has become better over time. At least it’s a perfect primer for the upcoming sequel which I hope will redeem Blizzard for its past sins. Of course it could also utterly destroy the franchise and send it to die a fiery death. That being said, I think I’ll just preorder marshmallows for when the time comes.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 2, 2020 • THE PULSE • 23