MUTE0N MURALS • BOHANNON ROCK • LOOKOUT WILD FILMS
JANUARY 7, 2016
CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
THE YEAR OF THE DRONE THE HOTTEST HIGH-TECH TOY IS DOMINATING THE SKIES ABOVE US Jenn Webster takes a look at local hobbyists who are on the leading edge of the UAV revolution
Sit Back. Relax. Enjoy The Music.
2 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Contents
CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor Gary Poole Contributing Editor Robin Ford Wallace
January 7, 2016 Volume 13, Issue 1
Editorial Assistant Stephanie Smith Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Rich Bailey • Rob Brezsny Matt Jones • Kevin Hale Mike McJunkin • Tony Mraz Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Jenn Webster
Features
Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow
4 BEGINNINGS: Some helpful advice on how to start the new year positively.
Cover Photo bladehelis.com
4 THE LIST: The top ten New Year's resolutions...can you keep yours?
FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL
ADVERTISING
Director of Sales Mike Baskin Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Robyn Graves Linda Hisey • Rick Leavell Stacey Tyler • Logan Vandergriff
CONTACT
Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Website chattanoogapulse.com Email info@chattanoogapulse.com BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher & President Jim Brewer II 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 © 2016 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
8
High-Tech Chattanooga at Play
Lydia Graham Jones arrives at a Dungeons & Dragons session laughing. In the trunk of her car, she has several assorted unmanned aerial vehicles—UAVs (or drones, they’re often called). She’s been kicked out of Camp Jordan for flying them, she tells us.
10
Bold Colors, Strong Lines, Good Taste
They could be portraits from another dimension, dreams from the unconscious, or the hallucinations of a shaman—the psychedelic illustrations, paintings, and murals of J.W. Butts (aka mute0n) are clearly the work of a visionary.
14
The Bohannons Need Your Help
Ah, the Bohannons. This write-up has been a long time coming. When I started at The Pulse three years ago, the Bohannons were one of the first groups I wanted to cover. But I was told (correctly) that they had been getting a lot of press already and it would be better to look at some other options for the time being, so I did.
6 SHRINK RAP: Start off the new year with beauty, hope and empowerment. 12 ARTS CALENDAR 16 MUSIC CALENDAR 18 REVIEWS: An Iconic American rock album revisited, a glance at Finnish Lau. 19 MIXOLOGY: Our lady on the barstool has advice for leftover champagne. 20 DIVERSIONS 21 SCREEN: Lookout Wild Film Festival returns with another great collection. 22 JONESIN’ CROSSWORD 22 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY 23 SUSHI & BISCUITS: In the end, we’re all just “long pig,” says Chef Mike.
LIVE COMEDY ON THE SOUTHSIDE! Chattanooga’s Premier Comedy Club 1400 Market Street Chattanooga, TN Tickets: (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
A TRUE BLUE COLLAR COMEDIAN
A CONTAGIOUS LAUGH AND FRIENDLY, ALMOST INTOXICATING DEMEANOR CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 3
NEWS • VIEWS • RANTS • RAVES
BEGINNINGS
UPDATES » CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM FACEBOOK/CHATTANOOGAPULSE EMAIL LOVE LETTERS, ADVICE & TRASH TALK TO INFO@CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
The Holidays Are Over. Now What? Some helpful advice on how to start out the new year positively The holiday season with all its excitement has come to a close, leaving you feeling a little down. Take a deep breath; you’re not alone. Now is the time to take on those positive projects you’ve been putting KEVIN off and pull yourself out of the post-holiday doldrums. The holidays are traditionally a time you think of your friends and family and focus on spending quality time with them. Now that that’s all over, this is a perfect time to focus on yourself. Don’t worry. I’m not going to
talk to you about exercise; most of those “new year’s resolutioners” have left the gym by February anyway. Exercise is beneficial but I’m talking about positive things you might stick to past Groundhog Day. HALE Such as changing your eating habits. You’ve made it through Thanksgiving and Christmas. We all overindulge at these family get-togethers so don’t feel guilty, but the time to start more mindful eating is now. Cut yourself some slack but remember that you will have plenty of temptation with
HEALTH
Photo by Selena P.
“Now is the time to take on those positive projects you been putting off and pull yourself out of the post-holiday doldrums.” the Super Bowl coming up in February— more food is eaten during the big game than on Turkey Day—so January really is a great time to refocus on nutrition. You’re doing the diet and exercise thing. What’s next? If you’re an NFL fan, this is actually the most wonderful time of the year. The playoffs can provide more real drama than the The Real Housewives of Wherever. But assuming most women don’t like football, that suggestion doesn’t work for everyone. Another great thing to do during this time is to plan something for the future. I’ve always loved going to concerts. Since shows are scheduled so far in advance, getting your tickets now will give you something to look forward to. Or if you’re a film buff, most of the Oscar contenders are released at this time. Catch up on nominees when they are announced in mid-January. Or think about your next vacation spot. It’s never too early to think about the places you want to visit this year. Here’s a suggestion for nature lovers: My neighbor borrows an RV every year around this time and takes his wife camping. All
4 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
their kids are grown and they don’t like to sit around the house after the holidays. If you’re a property owner, this is a great time to knock out some painting, repair or landscape projects. Finally, I’m a big fan of decluttering. It allows you to physically part with tangible stuff while letting go of the materials mentally. I’m then able to refocus on new projects. The holidays coming to a close doesn’t mean all the fun is over. You can still accomplish tasks you put off last year by taking them on in the new one. Finding interesting ways to complete mundane tasks can help, like asking a friend to pitch in or throwing a painting party. Just make sure you take the time to take care of yourself. It can pay dividends toward a happy and healthy new year.
The List
EdiToon
The Top 10 New Year's Resolutions
by Rob Rogers
Every year, a large number of folks start off the new year by making solemn resolutions that this year will be different. According to the folks at the Statistic Brain Research Institute (yes, there really is such a place), 45% of you have made a resolution this year. Of the most popular resolutions, here are the top 10:
Fresh Eggs With A Side Of The Spiritual If you like your eggs with a side of spiritual, you’ll want to attend the Brunch on the Bluff series this Sunday at the Hunter Museum of American Art, you can enjoy a catered brunch by Dipped Fresh as you experience live music and art in a relaxed, beautiful setting. While you’re eating, enjoy the sounds of singersongwriter Courtney Holder, a 17-year-old up-and-coming prodigy who is making waves in the Chattanooga and Nashville country
music scene and beyond. She’ll play covers and original songs that will brighten the brunching experience anwd make Sunday breakfast at home look positively stale by comparison. When you’ve finished eating, you’ll also want to tour the galleries, of course. The newest exhibit, “Seeking the Spiritual: The Visionary Art of Elliott Daingerfield” is on view through Feb. 21. The artist’s work, says the Hunter, is characterized by
IN THIS ISSUE
Jenn Webster Our cover story this week on the proliferation of drones in our skies—and the local hobbyists who fly them—is by Jenn Webster, a new member of The Pulse writing family. Webster is a dancer and writer who works in Chattanooga. Now
“rich, brooding colors, definitive brush strokes, and one man’s quest to find the unseen in the midst of quickly-advancing technology and industry.” The collection is a colorful addition to the other exhibits, including “Imagining American Girlhood” and “Japonisme and America.” — Stephanie Smith
Brunch on the Bluff 11 a.m. Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org
Kevin Hale a technical writer, she has also written for marketing, educational, and consumer publications. She’s an Army veteran and a member of WEAVE: A Conceptual Dance Company. Jenn is fascinated by hobbyists, fans, aficionados, obsessives, geeks, and fetishists of all kinds. She also has a few hobbies of her own: Dungeons & Dragons, urban hiking, cosplay, and collaborative storytelling.
Kevin Hale is a freelance journalist and experienced internet and television marketer living in North Chattanooga. Kevin is a student of human behavior and enjoys people-watching all over the Scenic City. He is currently working on his first how-to
book, “A Million Ways to Market.” Kevin’s Rolling Stone subscription doesn’t run out until 2055, at which time the collection will be up for sale. In the meantime, you can find him molding and shaping America’s next generation of movers and shakers, mainly his 3-year old son. And unlike Brian Williams or President Obama, he is not an expert at reading the teleprompter, but he does like chasing flying saucers.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Lose weight Get organized Spend less, save more Enjoy life to the fullest Stay fit and healthy Learn something exciting Quit smoking Help others in their dreams Fall in love Spend more time with family
That said, The List is all about statistics. Diving into the numbers, one thing that really stood out was people who explicitly make resolutions are ten times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions. Of those who did make a resolution last week, 75% of you haven’t broken it yet. Congrats. Looking ahead, though, only 71% of you will still be on the high road by the end of next week, 64% will last to the end of the month, and just 46% will have kept your resolution by Independence Day. And one final note: the age group that had the highest success rate? Millennials. Way to go! Source: statisticbrain.com/new-yearsresolution-statistics/
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 5
COLUMN SHRINK RAP
Shoring Up Our Inner Strength How to start off the new year with beauty, hope and personal empowerment
24 Years of Local Foods & Certified Green Practices Solar, & Bicycle Friendly Business 423.265.1212 www.212MARKET.com
6 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
212 Market Street Chattanooga, TN
Those of you who are regular Shrink Rappers know that this is DR. RICK the time of year when we look at setting goals for the year ahead, exploring the power of intentions (over resolutions), and discovering ways to begin (or continue) a journey of true change—for mind, body and/ or spirit. And while these examinations offer myriad benefits, especially at the start of a new year, a very timely piece came across my desk recently that I’m excited to share with you. Called, “We Were Made For These Times,” it is written by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, a poet, author and Jungian psychoanalyst. She writes with a passion and clarity about strength and perseverance that I believe offers a beautiful, hopeful, empowering start to a new year. About the state of affairs in our world now, which has many of us deeply concerned, she writes, “My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment over the latest degradations of what matters most
to civilized, visionary people. The hubris some have aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous is breathtaking. Yet I urge you, please do not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training to meet these challenges.” You have often read in this column how helpful it is to understand that we are not alone with our struggles, that we are all connected all the time. To see—and feel—the connection we share with each other, and to all living things, is an act of empowerment. About this Dr. Estes writes, “If we are seaworthy vessels of awakened souls, there have never been more able vessels in the waters than there are right now across the world. Look out over the prow; there are millions of boats on the waters with you. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. One of the most powerful actions is to intervene in a stormy world—stand up and show your soul, a lantern on deck, shining like gold in dark times.” When we come together with both passion and compassion, we help each other defend against despair. Together we can resist
INDIE ROCK
YOUR ROCK FAVS
Illustration by Davide Guglielmo
“My wish for you this year: Rightfully proclaim your intentions; awaken that often-sleeping place within, which is the seat of your power; and start walking forward, one step at a time” depleting our energy—the result of focusing on the negative (which, as we know from the Law of Attraction, would only bring about more of the negative) —and channel our energies toward positive change, toward growth. One small step at a time can make all the difference. In Dr. Estes’ words, “In any dark time, there is a tendency to veer toward fainting over how much is wrong or unmended in the world. Do not focus on that. Do not fall into being weakened by dwelling on what is outside your reach, by what cannot yet be. Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely.” I hope this inspires you to keep on keeping on, whether for your own internal struggles, the strug-
gles of your neighbor, or to create positive change on a global scale. While it is natural at times to become discouraged, to feel alone or weakened, perhaps, after we’ve had a good cry, our work is to seek out the limitless healthy possibilities. My wish for you this year: Rightfully proclaim your intentions; awaken that often-sleeping place within, which is the seat of your power; and start walking forward, one step at a time. Perhaps this is the year to shore up our strength, our connection, and most of all, our hope. Until next time: “When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe. But that is not what great ships are built for.” — Clarissa Pinkola Estes Dr. 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 and follow his daily inspirations on Twitter: @DrRickWellNest
MUTEMATH
SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 13 $22 ADVANCE • $25 DAY OF
FLY BY RADIO
FRIDAY • JANUARY 15 $12 ADVANCE & DAY OF
FALL CONCERT CALENDAR 1/8
REV
MITCH ROSSELL
1/9
REV
SOUL MECHANIC
1/13
T29
GRACE POTTER
1/15
REV
FLY BY RADIO
1/16
REV
STEEP CANYON RANGERS
1/21
REV
JOSH ABBOTT BAND
1/22
REV
SOCRO WITH DJ SPOON
1/23
T29
jamey johnson
1/23
REV
MARC BROUSSARD
1/29
REV
THE MATT STEPHENS PROJECT
1/30
T29
JOSH GARRELS • JOHN MARK MCMILLAN
2/4
REV
whitey morgan
2/4
REV
BREAKFAST CLUB
2/5
REV
graveyard
2/8
T29
madeon
2/11
T29
tesla
2/13
T29
MUTEMATH
4 WAYS TO PURCHASE TICKETS TRACK29.CO • REVELRYROOM.CO • (423) 521-2929 BOX OFFICE IS OPEN 10AM - 6PM EVERY FRIDAY CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 7
COVER STORY
High-Tech Chattanooga At Play...High Up In The Air Happily weird, Chattanooga is blessed in its fandoms. Case in point: drones. by Jenn Webster, Pulse contributor
L
ydia Graham Jones arrives at a Dungeons & Dragons session laughing. In the trunk of her car, she has assorted unmanned aerial vehicles—UAVs—or drones, as they’re often called. She’s been kicked out of Camp Jordan for flying them, she tells us.
What’s so exciting about drones that you’d get kicked out of Camp Jordan for flying one? I wonder. I imagine little remote-controlled airplanes. What Lydia removes from her trunk is a lot more interesting: an arm-length, remote-controlled quad copter—that is, a rotary-wing aircraft lifted by four rotors. It’s distinguished from a typical remotecontrolled plane largely by its independence; guided by GPS, it can travel beyond the operator’s line of sight and even take simple actions in the absence of instructions. Outside, Lydia pilots the craft around the East Ridge Municipal Building parking lot and zips up and down the Tombras Avenue sidewalk, coming to a delicate landing after hovering an inch or so from the ground as long seconds accumulate. So Helpless Drone capabilities are impressive, and pilots can have high degrees of skill. Think podracing on Star Wars, but with a remote-control pod. “I like to show off,” Lydia confesses. “In Florida, I would fly my Blade 350 QX3 upside down and cut the grass with it.” Lydia’s Blade 350 QX3 is a striking
“
Realtors fly to photograph houses for their websites. Roofers look for problem patches of shingle. Schools use drones as teaching tools. ”
8 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
GPS-controlled machine. White with two gray and two red rotors, it sports red, green and blue lights and audible alarms, including a beep that indicates a GPS lock. It’s also wrapped in a lot of duct tape. “I’m embarrassed how much money I spend on these,” Lydia says. The drone, like many, has limited self-regulation capability, including PID (proportional–integral–derivative) control. It can hover without pilot input once the throttle is set. It also has a GPS-driven return-home function. If the pilot turns off the radio controller, it will fly back to its starting point to land. “Will it fly back without the GPS?” I ask. “No,” says Lydia affectionately. “It’s so helpless.” The copter, which out of the box—that is, including a camera but minus the duct tape—weighs about 955 grams, doesn’t look helpless as it disappears into the evening sky. Soon we can only see its constellation of colored lights. “I can’t go too high because of the rules,” says Lydia. According to FAA regulations, drones flown by recreational pilots cannot exceed 400 feet in altitude. She lowers it slowly onto
its landing struts, but in a few minutes it’s airborne again, chasing my 8-yearold down the alley in defiance of the operator manual, which reads, in part: “Keep people and pets at least 35 feet away when the battery is connected.” This quad copter has a beginner mode, too, Lydia says, toggling a control from red to green. “Now it knows I am here, and no matter which way I rotate it, it will still go the direction I push, because it is modifying the instructions relative to where I’m standing.” She toggles back to red. “It’s boring to fly that way. I like to fly normally!” An alarm signals that the battery is 60 percent expended. “It will sacrifice battery to save itself,” Lydia explains, starting to land. The Blade 350 QX3 bounces into my ankles. “Did that hurt it?” my son asks. “No,” says Lydia, “but it probably hurt her.” It did, a little. Hands-on Happiness At HobbyTown USA, Radio Control Manager Jake Lewis not only connects drones with customers, he builds UAVs and has been flying them for the better part of 21 years. Like Lydia and other hobbyists I interview, he has many drones. His favorite just now is his DJI Flame Wheel 450, run by a NAZA-M V2 control platform. It took him two days to build, including soldering and controller setup. At $300 to $500 off the shelf, says Jake, the DJI Flame Wheel represents
a median cost and time investment. Small, ready-to-fly drones may cost no more than $20, while high-end models can set you back $1,500 or more. The less toy-like, more-assembly-required drones are more rewarding, according to just about everyone I ask. “You put a lot more time and effort and love into them than if you buy toys,” Jake says. He explains that, while DIY kits are for devotees, the required skills aren’t hard to learn. “I learned to solder on YouTube,” he notes. While some drone functions are managed by PID controller, which is also used in industrial systems such as temperature or pressure controls where overcorrection can be a problem, you don’t have to be an engineer to get your system running smoothly. Analog lovers can tune their drones manually, by trial and error, while digital fans can use computer interfaces that run on PC or even Raspberry Pi. Either way, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials out there. Buy. Practice. Make Friends. To get started with a UAV, Jake says, pick something you like and buy it. Then practice. “Anything that goes up in the air is going to take a good bit of practice,” he says. “It’s okay to be a klutz at first.” Drones let hobbyists do just about everything you do with model trains, bicycles, guns or D&D, all in one package. Think about it: they’re at the sweet spot. You build them. Remember HO or S-scaled railroads running on intricate railways through lush landscapes with painstakingly painted sponge trees? Asking around at work, I find trainlovers, drone-lovers and aficionados of both. When I ask Jake at HobbyTown about the attraction of so much time spent in construction, he says, “Flying can be frustrating. A propeller or radio glitch can end your day in a bitter man-
ner.” On the other hand, he tells me: “Building can be more fun than just about anything to me.” You race them. Radio-controlled UAV races are becoming popular, particularly FPV (first-person view) races, where pilots experience the course through their drones’ cameras. Races may be judged for speed and agility or for style. How long are the races? “Until everyone crashes, usually,” says Lydia. Batteries may last six minutes on full throttle, so races are short. And when I check out the individual race finalist results for the Drone Nationals last summer, sure enough, half the participants recorded a time of “DNF”: did not finish. You talk politics about them. When I asked my work colleagues about their drones, the most common answer was: “Yes, and did you hear about the new registration law?” UAVs, like guns, are constrained by a variety of regulations. Whatever your beliefs, there’s a debate
rather than recreational fliers, the Chattanooga drone pilots I spoke with seemed to know each other by name. I didn’t find my sources in a daisy chain; rather, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Lydia knew Jake. And Jake knew my drone-loving work colleagues. And so on. Yet drones are far from a niche hobby. Recreational UAV builders and pilots span communities and overturn expectations. Lydia flies wearing a Minnie Mouse dress and brushedsuede ballet flats. Jake sports a D20 tattoo. Other pilots I meet are young men in baseball caps or grandfathers in button-down shirts and neatly pressed jeans. Realtors fly to photograph houses for their websites, roofers to look for problem patches of shingle. Schools use drones as teaching tools. In 2014, for instance, Girls Preparatory School debuted the Bruiser Drone, a DJI Phantom II ViThe Blade 350 QX3 in flight sion. “It’s a big community, a big flying community in Chattanooga,” for you. You can even debate guns and says Jake. “You can find a friend anydrones together, in the case of the Kenwhere.” tuckian who shot down a drone flying over his property. Or the newly proFairy Lights posed Tennessee law that would forbid Now, just past the Christmas giving mounting guns or grenades on drones. season, many dozens of small people The latest contentious developaround Chattanooga are meeting their ment: Since Dec. 15, any small UAV first drones. We’re sitting around the weighing more than 250 grams must table, dice and minis scattered in disarbe registered with the FAA. The cost ray. The dragon has won. is $5 and the process can be completed Upstairs, the little boys look over the online. The registration number will banisters. Aren’t those grownups done belong to the pilot, not the drone; the gaming yet? same registration number can be reLydia gets out her purse and removes used for any qualifying UAV owned by a 19-gram Blade Inductrix, a palm-sized that pilot. According to the FAA webquad copter with a name that sounds site, registrations completed by Jan. 20 like it should belong to an anime girl will have their fees refunded. If your with fuchsia-colored hair and a big kadrone weighs more than 25 kilograms, tana. though, you must register it as an airWe turn off the lights. The Blade Incraft. ductrix lifts away from Lydia’s fingers. You build communities. Other fanIt hovers fairylike above the landing, doms have conventions; drone pilots its lights illuminating two tiny faces congregate, too. While the big UAV turned up in wonder. cons, for now, seem to cater to B2B CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 9
ARTS SCENE
Bold Colors, Strong Lines...And Very Good Taste Artwork by Edie Maney
"Calm vs. Chaos" On The Bluff Kauffman, Maney and Klick featured at the River Gallery Visions of nature can be calm and soothing. Photographs and paintings of flowers and trees evoke a sense of calm in the chaotic daily grind. At least, that is the theme of the latest exhibit to grace the River Gallery. Judy Klick has always been fascinated by “calm versus chaos,” and the concept features prominently in her work. She uses an ancient technique called encaustic painting, in which a blend of beeswax and resin is used to set the paint, making for an organic painting that is pleasant for both gallery viewers and the environment. Kim Kauffman has a passion for her camera and a passion for gardening. The passions combine in “Florilegium”, her latest contribution of work to the River Gallery. It is a visual expression of the dialog
between humans and plants, a culmination of more than 16 years of discovery behind the lens. Edie Maney’s work focuses on color. Using many different painting mediums, she splashes and scrapes color onto the canvas to create bold expressions of the nature around her. Together, the works of all three artists combine to make a bold, colorful and aesthetically pleasing interpretation of the calm of nature in the chaos of life. — Stephanie Smith Opening Reception for Kim Kauffman, Edie Maney & Judy Klick Friday, 6:30 p.m. River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033, ext. 5 river-gallery.com
THU1.7
FRI1.8
SAT1.9
ARTISTIC FUN
GOOD 'SHROOMS
VROOOOOOM!
Ambi Artists Meetup
Soul Mates for Life: Mushroom Lecture
World of Wheels
Do you like to hang out with other creative people? Then this is the place for you. 6 p.m. Heritage House 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov
Mycologist Tradd Cotter shares his mushroom love. 6 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org
If it has wheels, chances are you can see it here. 10 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 worldofwheels.net
10 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
mute0n (yes, spelled with a zero) embraces a new dimension of art
T
HEY COULD BE PORTRAITS FROM ANOTHER DImension, dreams from the unconscious, or the hallucinations of a shaman—the psychedelic illustrations, paintings and murals of J.W. Butts (a.k.a. mute0n) are clearly the work of a visionary.
Arts TONY MRAZ
“
In the past years, I’ve really embraced visions, whether it be looking at a wall and thinking of something different, or looking at a blank canvas and already seeing what I want to be there”
His art is defined by bold colors, strong line work and an incredible sense of good taste. The characters and surrounding imagery have an animated style, but the subject matter pushes them into a different realm—as if the cartoons grew up into cubist masterpieces, getting a few tattoos along the way. The Pulse: How did you get your start? J.W. Butts: The first time I remember consciously making art was in the blizzard of ‘93. I was 5, staying with my grandparents. My grandmother has always been a creative type, writing and doing pencil drawings of old actresses and actors. She pulled out some pencils, paper and some pictures of Mickey Mouse and Pluto and got me to copy them. Drawing them was my first conscious memory of making art. I owe that to my family. TP: What is your preferred media? JWB: I have a few. Definitely acrylic paints, I’ve grown accustomed to and love them. Pen and ink have always been something I’ve been drawn to, as far as getting really detailed. I am always searching for new mediums to develop and work with; recently spray paint is one I’ve learned. I’d like to give some props to Seven, who helped me develop my aerosol skills. TP: If you could go see the new
Photo by Jessica Bartet
“Star Wars” movie with some of you favorite artists, who would you choose? JWB: I think I’d want to hang out with Keith Herring, he would be a funny person to see “Star Wars” with—or Basquiat, because that guy would have some interesting things to say. I would also love to see a movie with Howard Finster. TP: What inspires the images you create? JWB: The inspiration to make art in general comes from life experiences, the struggles of life, the beauty in life. I started making art in my early 20s because I was going through a big transformation as a person. I felt out there, alone, maybe a little depressed, and art became an outlet that made me feel good. I never thought it would be something that I could live off of, or make money from professionally, but people were encouraging and nurtured it. The characters come from everyday life, things I see. I’m definitely inspired by all of the art in the world, people I meet—and people I want to meet that I make up in my head. TP: What do the extra eyes mean? JWB: I like to think you have your normal eyes that you see everyday life with, that you walk through every day with—and then I think there’s another set, especially as an artist or creative type. In the past years, I’ve really embraced visions, whether it be looking at a wall and thinking of something different, or looking at a blank canvas and already seeing what I want to be there. The eyes represent everybody’s differ-
ent perspective and vision.. TP: What is the symbolism in your work? JWB: Some of the symbols have meaning, but I’m not really sure where some of these things are coming from. It’s almost like something I’m revealing to myself as I go, and then I find meaning in it at a later time—it’s a strange manifestation of myself. There’s a crescent moon that I use pretty often. I like to put three on the canvas if I use them, because it represents the past, present and future to me, usually the biggest meaning the future. TP: How do you paint? JWB: Firstly, I like to set something up symmetrically, then I put down all of the base colors in the shapes that I need them to be, and then from there I do all of the detail work. I apply it all with a brush, nothing too abstract, just straightforward stuff as far as process.. TP: Do you prefer to work big or small? JWB: The bigger, the better for me. I want a massive canvas. If I could do a skyscraper, that would be ideal. I recently wrapped a mural up at Humanaut over on East Main, and I’m about to begin one on Glass Street. I’m also working on an installation at The Coin Op. J.W. Butts’ artwork is currently on display at GranFalloon, Greyfriar’s, Luminara, Mainline Ink and Coin Op. You can visit his online store at squareup.com/store/mute0nart and follow him on Instagram at “mute0n”.
Ambition Great Chambers help make great cities and the Chattanooga Chamber is committed to making our city a great place to do business.
Join us today at...
C h a t t a n o o g a C h a m b e r. c o m
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 11
ARTS CALENDAR THURSDAY1.7 Penguin Keeper Talks 10:30 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m. Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co. 5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775 ooltewahnursery.com Ambi Artists Meetup 6 p.m. Heritage House 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov Reno Collier 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
FRIDAY1.8 Sandhill Crane Cruise 10 a.m., 2 p.m. River Gorge Explorer Sale Creek Marina 3900 Lee Pike (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Delta Bird Program 10:30 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium
Ooltewah Farmers Market 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Kids Lego Club 4 p.m. Northgate Library Branch 278 Northgate Mall Dr. (423) 870-0635 chattlibrary.org World of Wheels 5 p.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 worldofwheels.net Soul Mates for Life: Mushroom Lecture 6 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Opening Reception for
PULSE PICK: RENO COLLIER
With a contagious laugh and friendly, almost intoxicating demeanor, Reno's observations often find him recalling mishaps of his West Virginia cousins, his Scottish heritage, unruly in-laws and alien abductions. Reno Collier The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2333 thecomedycatch.com
12 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Kim Kauffman, Edie Maney & Judy Klick 6:30 p.m. River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033, ext. 5 river-gallery.com Reno Collier 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
SATURDAY1.9 Mushroom Cultivation Workshop 9 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St.
(423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Sandhill Crane Cruise 10 a.m., 2 p.m. River Gorge Explorer Sale Creek Marina 3900 Lee Pike (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (423) 698-0330w saygrace.net World of Wheels 10 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 worldofwheels.net Penguin Keeper Talks 10:30 a.m.
Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Etsy Success Workshop Noon Downtown Chattanooga Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 757-5310 chattlibrary.org Science Demo: Liquid Nitrogen 3 p.m. Creative Discovery Museum 321 Chestnut St. (423) 756-2738 cdmfun.org Saturday Chess Club 3 p.m. South Chattanooga Library 925 West 39th St. (423) 825-7237 chattlibrary.org Reno Collier 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
SUNDAY1.10 Sandhill Crane Cruise 10 a.m., 2 p.m. River Gorge Explorer Sale Creek Marina 3900 Lee Pike (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Delta Bird Program 10:30 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium
1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Brunch on the Bluff with Courtney Holder 11 a.m. Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org World of Wheels 11 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 worldofwheels.net Out of the House Family Shows: TJ Greever 2 p.m. Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. (423) 661-3185 granfalloonchatt.com CSO: Gems from CSO Principals 3 p.m. Sheraton Read House 827 Broad St. (423) 266-4121 chattanoogasymphony.org Science Demo: Liquid Nitrogen 3 p.m. Creative Discovery Museum 321 Chestnut St. (423) 756-2738 cdmfun.org Reno Collier 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY1.11 Penguin Keeper Talks 10:30 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Learn to Ride A Bicycle 4 p.m. Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m. Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. (423) 661-3185 granfalloonchatt.com Vintage Swing Dance 7 p.m. Clear Spring Yoga 17 N. Market St. (931) 982-1678 clearspringyoga.com
TUESDAY1.12 Delta Bird Program 10:30 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Chattanooga Public Library Board of Directors meeting Noon Downtown Chattanooga Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 757-5310
chattlibrary.org Rapid Learning Intro to Kayaking and Skills Practice 7 p.m. Southern Adventist University 4870 University Dr. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com
WEDNESDAY1.13 Penguin Keeper Talks 10:30 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Middle East Dance 10:30 a.m. Jewish Cultural Center 5461 N. Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Main Street Farmers Market 4 p.m. 325 E. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Acupuncture Happy Hour 4 p.m. Center for Mindful Living 400 E. Main St. (423) 486-1279 centerformindfulliving. wildapricot.org Chattanooga Track Club: Fit MIND equals Fit BODY 6 p.m. Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Wednesday Night Chess Club
6 p.m. Downtown Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 757-5310 chattllibrary.org Landry 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
ONGOING “Japonisme and America” The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org “Seeking the Spiritual: The Visionary Art of Elliott Daingerfield” The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org “Sweet Sixteen” In-Town Gallery 26A Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com “Works by Kim Kauffman, Edie Maney & Judy Klick” River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033, ext. 5 river-gallery.com “Serpentine Chain Collection” Shuptrine’s 2646 Broad St.
ARTS CALENDAR
Rapid Learning Intro to Kayaking
(423) 266-4453 alanshuptrine.com “Trees and Skies” Reflections Gallery 6922 Lee Hwy. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com “Biblical Wood Panels” by Bernard Gore Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-8658 bessiesmithcc.org “How to Close Your Eyes” by Carmen Papalia Cress Gallery of Art 752 Vine St. (423) 304-9789 William Parker Exhibit Shuptrine’s Gold Leaf Designs 2646 Broad St. (423) 266-4453 shuptrines.com AVA Juried Member Exhibition AVA Gallery 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282 avarts.org Multiflections: Senior Art Exhibit John C. Williams Art Gallery 632 Vine St. (423) 236-2732 Jewish Geography Jewish Cultural Center 5461 N. Terrace Dr. (423) 493-0270 Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 13
MUSIC SCENE
The Bohannons Need Your Help Come out and be a part of the Bohannons rich musical history The Wolfhounds
Getting Your Celtic On, Musically A trio of killer Celtic bands set to grace city stages While Chattanooga is just a few miles away from the green hills of Ireland and the rock shores of Scotland, lovers of Celtic-style music have plenty to enjoy here in the Scenic City. Jim Ramsey, recently reviewed here in The Pulse, is pleased to announce his first full-length live performance this Saturday at the Wired Coffee Bar in Ooltewah. Lovers of progressive folk with a tinge of Celt thrown in would do well to catch the show. Then on Sunday, the Honest Pint welcomes back local favorites The Wolfhounds. The Celtic duo have been making quite a name for themselves with a series of shows that have caused their fan base to explode. In response, Davis and Armstrong are currently engaged in
recording a five-song EP scheduled for release St. Patrick’s Day. And in keeping with a theme, the following Sunday, Jan. 17, will see the return of The Secret Commonwealth to the Honest Pint. The outstanding and beloved Celtic act from Middle Tennessee is arguably one of the oldest and best of its kind in the southeast and the fact that they play regularly at the Pint with no cover charge ought to delight fans of the genre. — Marc T. Michael The Bohannons with Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires Saturday, 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
THU1.7
FRI1.8
SAT1.9
BEEP BEEP!
DRIVING MUSIC
TEXAS LEGEND
The Roadrunners
Amber’s Drive
Eric Taylor
Come out for a night of outlaw country, blues, southern rock, pop and more. And beer, of course. 8 p.m. World of Beer 412 Market St. wobusa.com
A blend of pop, R&B, country and blues that is their own Americana style. 9 p.m. Puckett’s Chattanooga 2 W. Aquarium Way #110 puckettsgro.com/ chattanooga
A major part of the Texas music scene history, Eric is always a popular draw. 8 p.m. Charles and Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org
14 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
A
H, THE BOHANNONS. THIS WRITE-UP HAS BEEN A long time coming. When I started at The Pulse three years ago, the Bohannons were one of the first groups I wanted to cover. But I was told (correctly) that they had been getting a lot of press already and it would be better to look at some other options for the time being, so I did. Still, those boys have been a part of this music scene for as long as I can remember, certainly as long as I’ve been here.
Music MARC T. MICHAEL
“
Known for their clever lyrics, infectious hooks and straightforward ass-kicking rock and roll, the Bohannons bring their considerable talent to the table.”
Now, finally, I get to sit down and say a few words about them, and it couldn’t come at a better time. There are two major points to cover this week, and of the two I’m going to mention the more time-sensitive point first. This weekend on Friday and Saturday, the Bohannons will be playing two shows at JJ’s Bohemia. On Friday they will be joined by Al Scorch and Richie, and on Saturday they will share the stage with Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires and One Timers. That, in and of itself, is exciting news, but there is a greater significance to this back-to-back set of shows. They will both be recorded to serve as primary source material for an upcoming live album, scheduled for release in late 2016. In a phone interview, Marty Bohannon explained that for years the guys have maintained a small recording facility above JJ’s—Tiny Buzz Studio—and with the resources so close at hand, it was decided that JJ’s would make the perfect location for recording a live album. It also doesn’t hurt that JJ’s
Photo courtesy The Bohannons
has a solid reputation as one of the top music venues in the area with a fiercely loyal fan base. Marty went on to say that these two sessions will likely be followed by a number of others throughout the spring and summer in order to generate the best material for the album. That means a release date some time next fall, which brings us to the second point. The Bohannons have a new album currently in the final stages of mixing that should be available by spring or early summer. Given the reception
“Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a little part of Chattanooga music history by making your way to the live recording sessions at JJ’s this weekend.” and rave reviews of their last entry, the “Classic College Alt Rock” album Black Cross/Black Shield, this new disc, Luminary Angels, should be nothing short of phenomenal (at
least it will have to be to follow Black Cross/Black Shield.) Known for their clever lyrics, infectious hooks and straightforward asskicking rock and roll, the Bohannons
not only bring their considerable talent to the table, they add to it the polish and perfectionism that only years of road-dogging can bring. Rest assured, the new album will receive a full review here as soon as it available. In the meantime, don’t miss out on the opportunity to be a little part of Chattanooga music history by making your way to the live recording sessions at JJ’s this weekend. Both shows are slated to start at 8, are 21+ and $10 at the door. You really need to be there. Trust me.
The Best Sports Coverage in Chattanooga. Period. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 15
MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY1.7 Rick Rushing with Dakari & Friends 6 p.m. Bluewater Grille 224 Broad St. bluewaterchattanooga.com James Crumble Trio 6 p.m. St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Bluegrass and Country Jam 6:30 p.m. Grace Church of the Nazarene 6310 Dayton Blvd. chattanoogagrace.com Live Bluegrass 6:30 p.m. Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com The Hotwire Band 7 p.m. American Legion 13207 N Main St, Trenton, GA (706) 657-5275 Jesse James & Tim Neal 7 p.m. Mexi Wings VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m. Feed Co. Table & Tavern
Mitch Rossell 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com The Roadrunners 8 p.m. World of Beer 412 Market St. wobusa.com Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Mothers 10 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
FRIDAY1.8 Eddie Pontiac 5:30 p.m.
PULSE PICK: JOHN COWAN BAND Legendary vocalist, bassist and bandleader John Cowan returns to Barking Legs to get 2016 off to a musically spectacular start. An evening with John Cowan is never anything less than remarkable. John Cowan Band Friday, 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theatre 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org
16 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
El Meson 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd. elmesonrestaurant.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m. Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Lounge (423) 266-1461 Tim Lewis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com John Cowan Band, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Shad Cobb 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theatre 1307 Dodds Ave.
barkinglegs.org The Bohannons, Al Scorch and Richie 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com David Ingle 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Mitch Rossell featuring Dean Fields 9 p.m. Revelry Room 1400 Market St. revelryroom.co The Roadrunners 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
Amber’s Drive 9 p.m. Puckett’s Chattanooga 2 W. Aquarium Way #110 puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Cousin Curtiss 9 p.m. World of Beer 412 Market St. wobusa.com Ragdoll 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY1.9 Eddie Pontiac 5:30 p.m. El Meson 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd. elmesonrestaurant.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m. Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Lounge 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Butch Ross Mountain Dulcimer 6:30 pm Rock City 1400 Patten Rd. Lookout Mountain, GA seerockcity.com Tim Lewis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Jimmy Harris
7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com The Bohannons, Lee Bains III, The Glory Firez 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Eric Taylor 8 p.m. Charles and Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org David Ingle 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Jim Ramsey 9 p.m. Wired Coffee Bar 9447 Bradmore Ln. thewiredcoffeebar.com Eric Heatherly and the Continental Kings 9 p.m. Puckett’s Chattanooga 2 W. Aquarium Way #110 puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Alex Guthrie Band 9 p.m. World of Beer 412 Market St. wobusa.com Soul Mechanic, Little Raine Band 9 p.m. Revelry Room 1400 Market St.
revelryroom.co Joel Clyde 10 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Ragdoll 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY1.10 Brunch on the Bluff with Courtney Holder 11 a.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View huntermuseum.org Out of the House Family Shows: TJ Greever 2 p.m. Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchatt.com CSO: Gems from CSO Principals 3 p.m. Sheraton Read House 827 Broad St. chattanoogasymphony.org Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m. Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchatt.com Sunday Sessions 6 p.m. Home Plate Pub & Grill
5611 Ringgold Rd. facebook.com/ homeplatepubandgrill Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Sidewalk Prophets 7 p.m. McKenzie Arena 720 E 4th St. utc.edu/mckenzie-arena The Wolfhounds 8 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com
MONDAY1.11 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com
TUESDAY1.12 Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com
MUSIC CALENDAR
Grace Potter
901 Carter St. Inside City Café (423) 634-9191
Thursday, January 7: 9pm Open Mic with Hap Henninger Friday, January 8: 9pm The Roadrunners Saturday, January 9: 10pm Joel Clyde Tuesday, January 12: 7pm Server/Hotel Appreciation Night
WEDNESDAY1.13 Eddie Pontiac 5:30 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonrestaurant.com No Big Deal 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites Chattanooga Downtown 495 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 834-9300 Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Concert for a Cause featuring Charles Kelley 7 p.m. Revelry Room 1400 Market St. revleryroom.co Courtney Daly Band 7 p.m. End Zone 3658 Ringgold Rd. (423) 661-8020 Grace Potter 8 p.m. Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co
Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
$5 Pitchers • $2 Wells ! • $1.50 Domestics
Wednesday, January 13: 8pm Wednesday Blues Night
#1 Desserts! Voted “Best of the Best” 901 Carter Street
citycafemenu.com/the-office
$10 Ladies Day Special every Monday 4115 Shallowford Rd www.superiorhandcarwash.com
Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits brewer media everywhere. every day.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 17
RECORD REVIEWS ERNIE PAIK
Paying you the most...
over 40 years & counting!
DIAMONDS DIAMONDS DIAMONDS
eed It
Now When You N
Historic Fleetwood Mac, Hem. Någonstans Is Music To Be Felt An Iconic American rock album revisited, and a glance at Lau Nau
FF 50% to 70% O Direct er
Total Store - Deal
$100 to &10,000
RILCD AKNDDDIAAMVONIDSS GO
RickDavisGo
ldandDianmo
nds.net
62 423-40919B-ra9in1 erd Rd
$$ $$ $$
$ $ 53
is looking for a few good
writers
Can you craft a compelling 650-word short feature or profile—and a longer, in-depth feature worthy of our cover? If so, let’s talk. The Pulse is seeking a few good freelance writers to join our stable of news, feature, music, political, fashion and arts writers. We reward our writers with fair pay and a showcase for their skills. If you’ve got the “write stuff,” we want your voice in The Pulse. Email samples of your best clips along with a brief bio to: creative@chattanoogapulse.com
Fleetwood Mac Tusk: Deluxe Edition (Rhino)
I
t’s difficult to comprehend that in 1979, one album that sold two million copies in the U.S.A. was considered a disappointment. You see, that album – Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk–followed the group’s mega-hit Rumours, which has sold over 20 million copies domestically. However, Tusk was only disappointing from a sales standpoint. In this writer’s opinion, it is the peak of creativity for the post1975 incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, due in no small part to Lindsey Buckingham’s contributions and sometimes off-kilter methods. Tusk even has a bit of a cult following; for example, Camper Van Beethoven covered it in its entirety, Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields had plans to write an entire book about it and the band Ida performed most of it at one special live show. At times, Tusk is just plain weird for a largely middle-of-the-road group; the album’s unconventional first single was the title track, with multiple lead vocalists singing simultaneously and a backing marching band. At the time, Tusk was the most expensive album ever made, and prominently placed as
18 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Lau Nau Hem. Någonstans (Fonal)
the album’s second track is “The Ledge,” Buckingham’s oddball homemade-sounding cow-punk indie-rock prototype. (Dolly Parton’s quote “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap” comes to mind.) Now we have the Deluxe Edition of Tusk, which is more illuminating than the two-CD edition from 2004 by showing how certain tracks evolved over months of studio experimentation. On CD 2, “Singles, Outtakes, Sessions,” the six versions of “I Know I’m Not Wrong” show how every little detail developed. However, a more dramatic transformation happened with “Out on the Road”; it sped up, muted its pronounced country-western feel and was re-titled “That’s Enough for Me.” Christine McVie’s “Never Make Me Cry,” sung as a patient and persevering lover, originally was primarily a piano song. CD 1 features a new remastered version of the 20-track album – also included on two vinyl discs and as a 5.1 surround-sound DVD – and CD 3 offers alternate versions of those 20 songs in the same order. Standouts include the nine-minute version of the devastating “Sara,” about Ste-
vie Nicks’ and Don Henley’s aborted lovechild, and “Storms” with a solo guitar backing. (CDs 1 through 3 are also available as a new “Expanded Edition.”) The fourth and fifth CDs include previously unreleased live material from various 1979 and 1980 concerts, stitched together in a sensible order, with excellent sound quality. “Oh Well” isn’t as tight and furious as it could have been, but other renditions, like the 9-minute “Rhiannon,” are more charged, with meatier drums, than their studio counterparts. Tusk is a singular album not only in Fleetwood Mac’s catalog but also in the history of rock, and although it has numerous moments of beauty, it’s easy to see why its more peculiar details caught people off-guard. If you have to ask, “Do we need another edition of Tusk?” then this deluxe set is not for you.
T
he previous album Valohiukkanen from Finnish musician Lau Nau, a.k.a. Laura Naukkarinen, came out over three years ago, but don’t think that she’s been slacking since then. Residing on the fringes of Finnish folk music, with an embrace of sonic exploration and both acoustic and electronic instruments, Lau Nau’s evocative sounds have accompanied more than a handful of silent film screenings (including, most recently, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Fall of the House of Usher), installations, and theater and dance performances. Her ensemble Maailma released the album Speculum in 2014, and after scoring her first feature film, Silmäterä in 2013, her second feature film
soundtrack, for the documentary Hem. Någonstans (“Home. Somewhere” in English), serves as the fourth proper Lau Nau album. With the exception of “Kuoleman laiva,” with Lau Nau acting as a scattered angelic choir, the album is a largely instrumental ambient album. This seems to retreat from certain recent paths she has taken, such as forming a backing band with a rock slant in 2012 and including a 4-on-thefloor dance number on Valohiukkanen. This writer prefers her more playfully strange, alchemic work and considers 2008’s Nukkuu to be her masterpiece, but Hem. Någonstans obviously serves a different purpose; with fewer details to process, it is music to be simply felt, to help set a mood and not distract. The documentary–unseen by this writer–apparently is a meditation on how people in Finland are connected with their surroundings, including the ocean and also things like fish, and Lau Nau’s score perhaps intentionally allows viewers to let their minds wander. The gentle, exhaling instruments of “Genesis” lead to “Koti” with world-weary strings engaging in a multi-generational call-and-response with faint, tender, ringing piano replies. “Luotsilaiva” serves up placid tones and drones, primarily relying on subtle volume variations to be expressive, and “Kiikarit” uses the eerie sounds of a bow being pulled across the bars of a glockenspiel. As a Lau Nau album, it isn’t her most rich, intricate or mindexpanding music, but as an ambient soundtrack album, its understated beauty works.
FOOD & DRINK MIXOLOGY
Champagne: A Girl’s Best Friend Our lady on the barstool has advice for leftover champagne “Champagne can serve you in many capacities after its number-one night of the year has passed. You just have to think outside the box, er, bottle.” Photo by Nadine Wegner
So the ball dropped. The new year has begun. You survived both the toasts and the hangovers. Now it’s time to move into 2016 with some new drink ideas to start off fresh. The problem is you have booze to spare (is this a problem?) and a bunch of leftover champagne bottles… And I just lost half my audience. The ones who are saying, “Leftover champagne? Is she joking?” These are the people who toasted through the night and into the next day, making sure no bubble was left undrunk. After all,
champagne is the quintessential celebratory drink, right? The other group of skeptics, while willing to concede that there just may be champagne left in the world after the new year, are saying they threw out the bottles that had gone flat and saved the unopened ones for the next celebration. Both groups have valid points. But what if you are that rare bird that didn’t down all the bubbly? Or, worse yet, found your carpet littered with halffilled bottles after New Year’s Day? Or you just really can’t stand to drink the
stuff except on a celebratory occasion? Have no fear. Champagne can serve you in many capacities after its numberone night of the year has passed. You just have to think outside the box, er, bottle. The obvious recycling uses involve other food and beverage items, of course. Some of the most popular drink options are mimosas and champagne cocktails. These items can be made more thirstquenching when you freeze the flat champagne and float the resulting ice cubes in your brunch beverages. You can even take a backwards step and congeal the champagne to make Jell-O shots, if you so desire. There are also a number of sauces that use champagne, plus poaching liquids
for fish and basting brines for turkeys, soups with fruit and glazes for ham. You can make “beer” bread using champagne instead, or try some in a light vinaigrette for your favorite salad. Champagne pairs well with citrus in a sorbet and can elevate a simple risotto. And it will do wonders for your eggs— make fluffy scrambled ones or use the bubbly to make a fantastically flavorful and light French toast. But I think the most interesting uses for leftover champagne are the nonedible recycling options. Aestheticians and movie stars alike have extolled the virtues of the antioxidant properties of the fermented bubbly grape juice. You can make any number of homemade beauty products, from clay face masks that pull out skin impurities to hair tonics that pump up color treatments, particularly for blondes. Marilyn Monroe used to bathe in bottles of the stuff—it’s good for exfoliating dry skin—and a simple cotton ball soaked in bubbly and applied to the pores is said to tighten them and provide an instant mini-boost to the skin. Another odd use is scrubbing some bubbles on your newly-shined shoes for a topcoat-like shoe-shining agent that really brings out the grains in natural leather. So trot out the leftover bubbly. It seems a shame to waste it when clearly it can do so much more than perhaps even its creators intended! — Stephanie Smith
DAILY WINE TASTINGS 20 BEERS ON TAP COMPETITIVE PRICES UNRIVALED SERVICE PROVISIONS & GIFTS 1616 BROAD STREET | CHATTANOOGA |37408 423.777.4820 MON - THURS 10a - 10p FRI - SAT 10a - 10p THE PULSE • NEW YEAR'S EVE GUIDE • DECEMBER 24, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • 19
Diversions
Consider This with Dr. Rick by Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
Live the life you’ve imagined. Possibility begins with imagination. Encourage your hopes, not your fears. Embrace imperfection. Know in your heart you are loved. If you’re trying to jump-start your intentions for the New Year, one way to begin is with a mantra, or saying, that resonates with you. Write it down. Begin your day with it. Keep it on your night stand so it’s the last thing you put in your brain at night. Meditate with it and see what happens. Another helpful motivator is an affirmation. Word it as though it is already happening: “This year I am a sober person.” “I am committed to nurturing my relationship.” “I am a successful student/ businessperson/parent/health nut.” Words matter. And by choosing the ones that really clear away your mental block and help you feel excited about your future, you are setting yourself up for limitless, positive growth. 20 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
SCREEN SCENE
Looking Out For The Wild Side Lookout Wild Film Festival returns with another great collection
T
HE BEGINNING OF A NEW year has become an exciting time for film fans in Chattanooga. Finally, the Scenic City has a film festival season, a time when there is an abundance of film news and press releases all leading to some of the best events in the South. JOHN This year, the season kicks off with the Lookout Wild Film Festival, Chattanooga’s first successful film festival. While Chattanooga has recently become a technology darling, dubbed Gig City by those who sell us highspeed internet, the city has a longer reputation as a haven for people drawn to the outdoors. Where better to see a collection of short and feature-length films about the wild places of the world than in a city that celebrates a deep connection with nature? The festival is now in its fourth year, and each year it seems the LWFF grows in popularity. “Audience members have let us know how much they’ve enjoyed the LWFF films in the past three years,” said Andy Johns, LWFF festival director. “That history puts a lot of pressure on this year’s films but I think they live up to it. The audience is going to love them.” What began as a simple film festival has expanded into a full-on cel-
ebration of nature filmmaking, allowing audiences to experience places and activities that cannot be found elsewhere. Perhaps the best part of the LWFF is how eclectic the selections are. Starting on Thursday Jan. 28 and continuing through DEVORE that Sunday, the festival will show a whopping 31 films, each exploring a different aspect of the outdoor lifestyle. The films will take viewers on a trip down Louisiana’s Atchafalaya River, balloon skiing through some of the world’s tallest mountains, trekking through the Arctic to see a solar eclipse, and wandering the wilds of North Carolina to learn about conserving the native ginseng plants. There is truly something to see for anyone, from greenhorn to mountain man. However, as with every festival, there are films that should not be missed. Festival director Andy Johns gives us a list of his favorites below: Operation Moffat “Operation Moffat” takes inspiration and wit from the colorful climbing life of Britain’s first female mountain guide, Gwen Moffat. Writer Claire Carter and filmmaker Jen Randall scramble, swim and barefoot-climb through Gwen’s most
Screen
“ Starting on Thursday, Jan. 28 and continuing through that Sunday, the festival will show a whopping 31 films, each exploring a different aspect of the outdoor lifestyle.”
The ladies of “Operation Moffat”
cherished British landscapes, grappling with her preference for mountains over people, adventure over security, wilderness over tick lists. With new takes on landscape photography, archive footage and action sequences, this is a film rooted in a real love of wild places. Johns says: “This one got a rare “Yay! Yay! Yay!” from one of our judges, so you know it’s something special. I love the way the film introduces us to Gwen Moffat and through her gives us a glimpse of rock-climbing history.” Unbranded 3,000 miles, 16 wild horses, five states, four men—“Unbranded” is the journey of a lifetime, riding from Mexico to Canada through the deepest backcountry in the American West to see our remaining open spaces and prove the worth of 50,000 wild horses and burros currently in holding pens. Johns says: “Simply put, ‘Unbranded’ is one of the best three outdoor movies I’ve ever seen. The story follows some really likeable guys on a gorgeous, winding trip from Mexico to Canada. After just having won some big awards at big festivals, this
is one not to miss.” Sharing the Secrets After millions of years in the making, Alabama has over 4,000 caves that are explored and beloved by spelunkers from all over. With caves’ diverse array of underground plants, animals and other organisms, conserving these massive underground formations and their delicate ecosystems is crucial. “Sharing the Secrets” follows some of the most enthusiastic and daring cavers into the breathtaking hidden treasures of northeast Alabama, an area that boasts one of the highest concentrations of caves in the U.S. and supports incredible cave biodiversity. Johns says: “LWFF loves films shot in the Southeast, including ‘Sharing the Secrets’ from north Alabama. The cave photography and video work are really stunning and I think people will be shocked to see what’s underground right here in the Tennessee Valley.” For more information about the LWFF, visit lookoutfilmfestival.org. Buy tickets now and take a walk on the wild side.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 21
Jonesin’ Crossword
Free Will Astrology
MATT JONES
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In her poem “Tree,” California poet Jane Hirshfield speaks of a young redwood tree that’s positioned next to a house. Watch out! It grows fast—as much as three feet per year. “Already the first branch-tips brush at the window,” Hirshfield writes. “Softly, calmly, immensity taps at your life.” I suspect this will be an apt metaphor for you in 2016. The expansion and proliferation you have witnessed these past few months are likely to intensify. That’s mostly good, but may also require adjustments. How will you respond as immensity taps at your life? AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Centuries ago, lettuce was a bitter, prickly weed that no one ate. But ancient Egyptians guessed its potential, and used selective breeding to gradually convert it into a tasty food. I see 2016 as a time when you could have a comparable success. Look around at your life, and identify weed-like things that could, through your transformative magic, be turned into valuable assets. The process may take longer than a year, but you can set in motion an unstoppable momentum that will ensure success.
“Let Free Entertain You”—you know the freestyle drill. ACROSS 1 DIY handicrafts site 5 “If things were to continue like so ...” 15 “The Clothed Maja” painter 16 “Taken” guy 17 Beach bird 18 Tow-away zone destination 19 “10 Items ___” (checkout sign that drives grammarphiles nuts) 21 Ardent admirers 22 They may be collateral when buying new wheels 28 Recede gradually 30 Long-hitting clubs 31 Word before Jon or Wayne 32 No pro show, yo 36 Vigoda who’s still alive 37 Big name in toothbrushes 38 Vaccine target 39 Chuck an attempted threepointer into the stands, e.g. 43 Former British Poet Laureate
Hughes 44 Multi-layered dessert popularized in 2015 45 Abbr. after a proof 46 “Go ahead, don’t mind me” 49 11th-graders’ exam (abbr.) 50 Carter and Spelling, for two 53 Cheat 59 Lying over 60 Gambles 61 “Desperate Housewives” actress Hatcher 62 Summer dress uniform component, maybe 63 Cut down to size DOWN 1 Brand in the frozen breakfast section 2 Go from gig to gig 3 They’re represented by fingers in charades 4 Conn. school 5 Half of the ‘80s synth-pop duo Yaz 6 Comedian Minchin 7 Savion Glover’s specialty 8 PPO alternative
9 ___ START (Tobias’s oftmisinterpreted license plate on “Arrested Development”) 10 Highest Scrabble tile value 11 Animal in a Dr. Seuss title 12 “Chronicles of Narnia” lion 13 Adult Swim fare, for short 14 “Lord of the Rings” tree creatures 20 Ancient Greek portico 23 Place to keep your Tetleys and your Twinings 24 “Mrs. Murphy Mysteries” author ___ Brown 25 Simile segment, maybe 26 Annoys by staying outside the lines? 27 NYSE symbol for the company that keeps going ... and going ... 28 “Support Your Local Sheriff!”
actor Jack 29 Benjamin Netanyahu’s nickname 33 Full of memorable lines 34 “Gold”-en role for Peter Fonda 35 Paul of “Anchorman” 40 Weight training partner 41 Bargainbasement unit 42 “The Memory of Trees” Grammy winner 46 1990 NBA Finals MVP ___ Thomas 47 Nutcase 48 Give a longwinded talk 49 Sgts.’ underlings 51 Edible seaweed used for sushi 52 Roasting device 54 “Was ___ das?” 55 Treasured document? 56 “A Kiss Before Dying” author Levin 57 California red, briefly 58 Suffix with winning
Copyright © 2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 0761
22 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 7, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Imagine that a beloved elder has been writing down your life story in the form of a fairy tale. Your adventures aren’t rendered literally, as your waking mind might describe them, but rather through dreamlike scenes that have symbolic resonance. With this as our template, I’ll predict a key plot development of 2016: You will grow increasingly curious about a “forbidden” door—a door you have always believed should not be opened. Your inquisitiveness will reach such an intensity that you will consider locating the key for that door. If it’s not available, you may even think about breaking down the door. ARIES (March 21-April 19): John Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962. His novel Of Mice and Men helped win him the award, but it required extra persistence. When he’d almost finished the manuscript, he went out on a date with his wife. While they were gone, his puppy Toby ripped his precious pages into confetti. As mad as he was, he didn’t punish the dog, but got busy on a rewrite. Later he considered the possibility that Toby had served as a helpful literary critic. The new edition of Of Mice and Men was Steinbeck’s breakout book. I’m guessing that in recent months you have received comparable assistance, Aries—although you may not realize it was assistance until later this year. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Remember back to what your life was like during the first nine months of 2004. I suspect that you
ROB BREZSNY
fell just short of fulfilling a dream. It’s possible you were too young to have the power you needed. Or maybe you were working on a project that turned out to be pretty good but not great. Maybe you were pushing to create a new life for yourself but weren’t wise enough to make a complete breakthrough. Almost 12 years later, you have returned to a similar phase in your long-term cycle. You are better equipped to do what you couldn’t quite do before: create the masterpiece, finish the job, rise to the next level. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): To become a skillful singer, you must learn to regulate your breath. You’ve got to take in more oxygen than usual for extended periods, and do it in ways that facilitate rather than interfere with the sounds coming out of your mouth. When you’re beginning, it feels weird to exert so much control over an instinctual impulse, which previously you’ve done unconsciously. Later, you have to get beyond your self-conscious discipline so you can reach a point where the proper breathing happens easily and gracefully. Although you may not be working to become a singer in 2016, Gemini, I think you will have comparable challenges: 1. to make conscious an activity that has been unconscious; 2. to refine and cultivate that activity; 3. to allow your consciously-crafted approach to become unselfconscious again. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Ancient humans didn’t “invent” fire, but rather learned about it from nature and then figured out how to produce it as needed. Ropes had a similar origin. Our ancestors employed long vines made of tough fiber as primitive ropes, and eventually got the idea to braid and knot the vines together for greater strength. This technology was used to hunt, climb, pull, fasten, and carry. It was essential to the development of civilization. I predict that 2016 will bring you opportunities that have metaphorical resemblances to the early rope. Your task will be to develop and embellish on what nature provides. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): British author Anthony Trollope (1815-1882) had a day job with the postal service until he was in his fifties. For years he awoke every morning at 5:30 and churned out 2,500 words before heading to work. His goal was to write two or three novels a year, a pace he came close to achieving. “A small daily task, if it really be daily,” he wrote in his autobiography, “will beat the labors of a spasmodic Hercules.” I recommend that you borrow from his strategy in 2016, Leo. Be regular and disciplined and diligent as you practice the art of gradual, incremental success.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Umbrellas shelter us from the rain, saving us from the discomfort of getting soaked and the embarrassment of bad hair. They also protect us from the blinding light and sweltering heat of the sun. I’m very much in favor of these practical perks. But when umbrellas appear in your nightly dreams, they may have a less positive meaning. They can indicate an inclination to shield yourself from natural forces, or to avoid direct contact with primal sensuality. I hope you won’t do much of that in 2016. In my opinion, you need a lot of face-to-face encounters with life in its raw state. Symbolically speaking, this should be a non-umbrella year. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Around the world, an average of 26 languages go extinct every year. But it increasingly appears that Welsh will not be one of them. It has enjoyed a revival in the past few decades. In Wales, it’s taught in many schools, appears on road signs, and is used in some mobile phones and computers. Is there a comparable phenomenon in your life, Libra? A tradition that can be revitalized and should be preserved? A part of your heritage that may be useful to your future? A neglected aspect of your birthright that deserves to be reclaimed? Make it happen in 2016. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Fourteenth-century author Geoffrey Chaucer produced a collection of stories known as The Canterbury Tales. It became a seminal text of English literature even though he never finished it. The most influential book ever written by theologian Thomas Aquinas was a work he gave up on before it was completed. The artist Michelangelo never found the time to put the final touches on numerous sculptures and paintings. Why am I bringing this theme to your attention? Because 2016 will be an excellent time to wrap up longterm projects you’ve been working on—and also to be at peace with abandoning those you can’t. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A bottle of Chateau Cheval Blanc wine from 1947 sold for $304,000. Three bottles of Chateau LafiteRothschild 1869 went for $233,000 apiece. The mystique about aged wine provokes crazy behavior like that. But here’s a more mundane fact: Most wine deteriorates with age, and should be sold within a few years of being bottled. I’m thinking about these things as I meditate on your long-term future, Sagittarius. My guess is that your current labor of love will reach full maturity in the next 18 to 20 months. This will be a time to bring all your concentration and ingenuity to bear on making it as good as it can be. By September of 2017, you will have ripened it as much as it can be ripened.
COLUMN SUSHI & BISCUITS
Home Is Where The Ham Is In the end, we’re all just “long pig,” says Chef Mike
Editor's note: Chef Mike is under the weather this week, so we are running one of our past favorite columns of his. MIKE “What is a MCJUNKIN ham, anyway?” a voice asked me with a casual tone that belied the gravity of the question. A bearded, 20-something stranger stood beside me in the grocery store meat aisle clutching a gold foilwrapped ham and smiling the smile of a man gleefully unaware of the sad question that just spilled out of his mouth. “What is a ham?” he repeated, “I’ve never seen a picture of one when it’s alive. What kind of animal is a ham?” His equally bearded shopping companion chimed in, “I think ham comes from either pigs or cows, it’s not its own animal...is it?” My mind reeled at the very idea that this was a serious question, but the sincerity in their bright, round eyes made it clear they were looking for answers. “Pig.” I replied, “Ham typically comes from the butt end of a pig.”
“Oooh, sweet,” he replied before turning to his friend. “Let’s go get some pineapple, cherries and cook this bitch up!” They thanked me and moved on while I stood motionless in the meat aisle, still in disbelief that there could actually be people walking the streets of Chattanooga without the most basic understanding of the glorious curedmeat wonder that is ham. To help combat this scourge, I will briefly explain ham as a public service announcement—because it is unfair to the youth of our fair city to grow up without a basic understanding of cured meat. Ham refers to a specific cut of pork that comes from the back thigh or haunch of a pig. It is usually dry-cured, like country ham, or wet-cured, like city ham, and then boiled or smoked. If you’re still having trouble picturing where ham comes from, here’s a mental picture to help. Imagine a pig twerking…yep, those are the hams. The basic idea behind curing is that the salt used in the process preserves animal proteins by constraining microbial growth through dehydrating the flesh as well as the cells of the molds
“The climate conditions necessary for curing meat require that it is not so cold that the ham freezes, or so warm that the ham spoils. These requirements have produced distinct areas around the world celebrated for their ham.” and bacteria that feed upon it, which unchecked would cause the meat to spoil. The meat is then hung to dry in fresh air or in some cases, smoke. Smoke, in fact, is a very complex substance that includes carcinogens, which inhibit microbial growth; phenolics, which retard fat oxidation; and a collection of sugars, acids and particulates that give smoked meat the beautiful color and flavor that launched a thousand BBQ stands. The climate conditions necessary for curing meat require that it is not so cold that the ham freezes, or so warm that the ham spoils. These requirements have produced distinct areas around the world celebrated for their ham. Spanish Jamón ibérico, Italian prosciutto and Virginian country ham are all produced in what is known as the world’s Ham Belt—a global, geographic area bound by latitude that has historically produced the world’s best
ham. Technology and climate control have made geographic factors less important for the production of ham, but these original ham Meccas are still considered to be the finest ham-producing regions today. In the South, we traditionally enjoy baked ham during the holidays. No Christmas table would be complete without a glazed ham, dotted with cloves and topped with pineapple rings and maraschino cherries at the center. It’s hard to say who first began to use pineapple with pork, but a traditional Fijian recipe for “long pig” may be the earliest mention of pineapple being used as a tenderizer and flavor enhancer for meat, and it makes great Christmas dinner table conversation. In the islands of Fiji, where cannibalism was practiced, human flesh was known as “long pig.” Beautiful young girls were tenderized for days in pineapple juice and ginger, then rubbed with coconut oil, wrapped in kava and lotus leaves, garnished with more pineapple, and roasted all day in a fire pit. While this practice predates by centuries the first known written recipe using pineapple with ham, it’s unlikely that the writers of the 1935 edition of “My Better Homes & Gardens Lifetime Cookbook” were thinking about cooking up little Sally from down the street when they were creating “Baked Ham with Pineapple Glaze.” I sometimes think about those two guys I encountered in the meat aisle that day. I wonder if I should’ve taken them aside and given them the ham lecture their daddies obviously never did. But I realize I can’t save everyone, so I’ll just fry up some ham steaks with pineapple rings and see if “Keep the River on Your Right” is on Netflix. Don’t judge me. Longtime food writer and professional chef Mike McJunkin is a native Chattanoogan who has trained chefs, owned and operated restaurants. Join him on Facebook at facebook.com/ SushiAndBiscuits
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 7, 2016 • THE PULSE • 23
New Look. New Wheels. Celebrate the new year with a new ride. ChattanoogaHasCars.com