VOLUME 17, ISSUE 3 | JANUARY 16, 2020
CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. THE PULSE Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Jessie Gantt-Temple Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore 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 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.
Their Cup Runneth Over A non-profit coffee shop benefits more than customers
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HE WHITE WALLS PEPPERED WITH COMMUNITY FLYERS ARE AS BRIGHT AND CHEERY as the barista Cherise. As I have not always been a lover of coffee, I have always been a lover of growing community and Coffee Community Collective, affectionately referred to as C3, does more than just provide a hot cup of joe. By Jessie Gantt-Temple Pulse Assistant Editor
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Help keep the culture expanding beyond the realms of Chattanooga and visit this cute coffee shop.”
Contents Copyright © 2020 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
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An extension of our amazing local thrift non-profit organization Northside Neighborhood House, every purchase from C3 benefits those in need. First, if you don’t know about Northside Neighborhood House then…where have you been? Seriously though, I’ll explain. Northside Neighborhood House (NNH) has been involved with “promoting independence by providing a hand up through education and assistance” for almost a hundred years! And they keep getting better with age. Relocated from their original Soddy Daisy location just last year, NNH moved to their current set up as it provided more retail space and an opportunity to open Coffee Community Collective. Almost a year old, C3 has made such an impact and as if this place weren’t special enough because of what they do and where they are, they offer specials almost every day of the week. No matter the day, you get a free cup of hot coffee or cold brew when you purchase a bag of Mad Priest Coffee beans. And it’s not like a rinky dink hotel cup of stale coffee, it’s a stout 16 ounces of whole-hearted
local, loving goodness. Every “Terrific Tuesday”, enjoy half off lattes and other select drinks. Since one cannot live on coffee alone, although I do know several small business owners trying to do so, they offer fresh doughnuts, muffins and scones from B’s Sweets. They also carry Chai Tea lattes as well as hot tea for those who aren’t aboard the coffee train and offer almond or soy milk and cane sugar. Randomly located in a shopping center nestled between Food City and Northside Neighborhood House thrift store, C3 is a multitasker’s dream come true. Go purchase a bag of Mad Priest beans (and have them ground which takes one less step out of your workload and brings you one step closer to coffee which is oh so nice) then sit and enjoy your free cup of java while you make a grocery or to do list. Then hit the stores! Grab your essentials at the grocery store or my favorite, grab your not-so-essentials at the NNH Thrift. Just last week, I bought three pairs of name brand corduroys for $7! Tell me that doesn’t sound
EDITOONS
like the most accomplished day! An easy drive on US-27 with beautiful views of Signal and Mowbray mountains, this out of the ordinary drive will provide an exceptional experience with local food and drink, smiling-contagious customer service and the thought that your money is going to something bigger and better than a cold, chain restaurant who doesn’t care for our community. If that wasn’t enough, C3 also holds frequent art exhibits so the reasons to visit this quaint coffee shop are abundant. Play checkers, read a book, create a home office away from home. Follow their Facebook and Instagram, or even better go to the shop at 10161 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy. Open Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., get a firsthand feel for what this
pleasant, caffeine-driven addition provides for the small town of Soddy as well as our entire area. I hope you can smell the desperation in my plea to support this business, like a fresh pot of strong Dark Knight Mad Priest coffee brewing. As I am not one to create anything but warm and fuzzies from an article, I am also one who resides in Soddy just moments from this glorious establishment and wish for it not to go away. There is not much night life (or morning action either) and us folks in the county deserve some culture and C3 provides it so I am gripping onto it with both hands firm like my first cup of coffee. Help keep the culture expanding beyond the realms of Chattanooga and visit this cute coffee shop.
Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick “We need solitude, because when we’re alone we’re free from obligations, we don’t need to put on a show, and we can hear our own thoughts.” — Tamim Ansary So, how are the New Year’s intentions coming along? Still a healthy work in progress, or yikes!—tossed by the side of the road? In thinking about my own intentions for this year, I found myself pondering the importance of quiet time. Creating opportunities to turn inward, breathe, let answers (and questions) arise naturally—without effort, without fear, without pressure. It was, in fact, during meditation when these thoughts arose. British author and mystic, Raphael Hurst wrote “Solitude is strength. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines.” Consider adding the beautiful simplicity of a single, conscious breath at various moments in your day. As Eckhart Tolle teaches, “One conscious breath—in and out—is a meditation.” — Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 16, 2020 • THE PULSE • 3
COLUMN · JUST A THEORY
Me Thinks Methane Too Much Greenhouse gases in all its glory...and a few juvenile chuckles
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Steven W. Disbrow Pulse columnist
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While burning Natural Gas produces about 50 percent less greenhouse gasses than burning coal, a 2018 study found that spills and leaks of Natural Gas cancel out all those savings.”
Steven W. Disbrow is a programmer who specializes in e-commerce and mobile systems development, an entrepreneur, comic-book nerd, writer, improviser, actor, sometime television personality and parent of two human children.
S I WRITE THIS ON SUNDAY, THE temperature here at my home in north Georgia is 60° F. We just went through (yet another) crazy set of storms this last weekend, and there are more storms forecast for the middle of the week. (It might even be storming as you read this on Wednesday or Thursday.) Climate Change is here in the Tennessee Valley and it’s getting worse. In fact if things continue as they are now, some of us can look forward to dying in possibly the stupidest, most hilariously human way possible: fart gas. You heard me: fart gas. You see, one of the gases in human flatulence is methane. It’s a by-product of digestion and something that your body wants to get rid of, so, it expels it when you poot. It’s also highly flammable and makes up a large part of what we call “Natural Gas”. Methane is also very, very good at trapping the heat from the sun. In fact, it’s twenty-three times more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide. So for example, one pound of methane can trap as much heat as 23 pounds of carbon dioxide! Methane is also an asphyxiant. It’s not poisonous which is why farts don’t kill you but it displaces oxygen. (This is one of the many reasons that it’s so difficult to breathe in a “Dutch Oven”.) So, if you happen to find yourself in a closed area full of methane, there’s just not any oxygen to breathe. Stay there long enough and you will die. Fortunately, most of the methane in the world is locked up in the tummies of animals, in Natural Gas and frozen in permafrost around the world. Unfortunately, all that methane might not be locked up that much longer. You’ve probably already heard about “crazy” scientists trying to reduce the methane output of cattle. It turns out that cattle and other livestock account for
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about 14.5 percent of the greenhouse gases that humanity releases each year. (Yes, that’s on us because we farm those animals.) Getting that under control would make a big dent in greenhouse gasses but not enough to turn things around at this point. As for Natural Gas, well, that’s a good thing isn’t it? Ummm, yes and no. While burning Natural Gas produces about 50 percent less greenhouse gasses than burning coal, a 2018 study found that spills and leaks of Natural Gas cancel out all those savings. (The methane only goes away if you actually burn it. If you spill it or it leaks, the methane goes right into the atmosphere and starts to work it’s magic.) Which brings us to the methane locked in the cold places of the world. This is the scary one. For pretty much all of human civilization, there have been really cold areas on the planet. Many of those places contain permafrost which are areas where the ground is so cold, that it’s “permanently” frozen solid. Trapped under the permafrost are dead things. Things that have been dead and rotting for thousands of years, silently creating vast pools of noxious gases, including methane. Those pools are just waiting to be released into the atmosphere when the ground thaws out. (There are also vast pools of methane
trapped under the Pacific Ocean and other bodies of water around the world. Google “Hot Tub of Despair” for info on a really neat one.) And, guess what…that’s happening now. Last year was the second hottest of the 2010’s and the 2010’s were the hottest decade on record. So as the world warms and permafrost melts, more and more of that methane will be released into the atmosphere, in silent (but deadly) events that will speed up warming even further and could possibly kill nearby people and animals. In fact, something similar has already happened at least once. On August 21st, 1986, a carbon dioxide cloud erupted out of Lake Nyos in Cameroon, and killed over 1,700 people as well as countless more livestock and wild animals. There was no warning and everyone died very quickly. So, what can we do? At this point, not much. The problem has become so big and immediate that only governmental action (you know, regulations) has any hope of turning things around. So, call and write your representatives. Better yet, run for office yourself! And, if there are any climate skeptic politicians out there that would like to meet with me to discuss the issue, I’ll bring you something special from my Dutch Oven.
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COVER STORY
There’s More To Coffee Than Meets The Tastebuds
Where your coffee comes from is as important as how it tastes
By Gary Poole Pulse Managing Editor
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When we talk about sustainability in coffee we are really considering what is known as the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit.”
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T’S EARLY ON A SATURDAY MORNING. THE WATER IS BEGINning to boil and I carefully spoon a scoop of freshly ground coffee into my French press. The aroma of the ground beans has pleasing notes of citrus, vanilla, and sweet cream. I pour the now boiling water over the grounds and slowly press down, creating what I feel is the proper beverage for a coffee snob such as myself to greet the day. Yes, I am a coffee snob. And I’m proud of being so. The beans for my morning elixir of life come from the Kibingo Central Washing Station in the Kayanza commune in northern Burundi, which I have been assured is one of the most reputable growing regions of the small African nation. It makes for a superior cup of coffee, at least in my opinion.
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But there’s more to coffee than just some quality beans and a nice French press. For coffee consumers have become increasingly aware—and vocal about—where their coffee comes from. You hear phrases such as “sustainability” and “ethical sourcing” bandied about far more often today than ever before. And there are some very good rea-
sons why all coffee drinkers, be they snobs such as myself or just someone who enjoys their morning stop at their favorite coffee shop, should think about where their coffee comes from. In a small way, your morning cup of joe could help make the world a better place. “Sustainability feels like an ambiguous buzzword,” notes Georgia Morley, the coffee-obsessed creator of the In It 4 The Long Run website. “Like ‘eco’, ‘green’, ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘fair trade’ and more. They sound like nice-to-haves, but when the entire process feels so far away it’s hard to know how or why to care.” So what exactly is sustainability? Generally speaking, sustainable cof-
fee is grown, processed and sold in a way that supports the environment as well as supporting the livelihoods of the people who produce it. “So often the people who work to produce valuable crops cannot afford the very thing that they grow,” Morley explains. “Sustainable practices are important because it ensures workers are fairly compensated.” Likewise, Hazel Boydell of the Perfect Daily Grind website notes the word “sustainability” has been thrown around a lot and the understanding of what it is has changed somewhat over the years. But when we talk about sustainability in coffee we are really considering what is known as the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. “Sustainable development meets the needs of today without compromising future generations,” she says. “Simply put, it is being responsible with the way we use resources to ensure our children and grandchildren have what they need to live comfortably. So in my ongoing efforts to further educate myself about the ethics of coffee, I reached out to several of our local coffee shops and their owners. Their insights were as eye-opening to me as my first cup of coffee. “I have always looked at sustainability in coffee as covering three different areas, the triple bottom line, with all three being equally important,” explains Ian Goodman of
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There are some very good reasons why all coffee drinkers, be they snobs such as myself or just someone who enjoys their morning stop at their favorite coffee shop, should think about where their coffee comes from.” Goodman Coffee Roasters. “In regards to people, we have helped fund a scholarship that helps pay for the schooling of young Guatemalan girls in the community around the farm we work with. We have also helped support woman-owned farms in several countries around the world.” As for profit, Goodman notes the world coffee market is in crisis, with coffee trading at some of the lowest prices in over a decade. This has driven a lot of farmers to get out of growing coffee because they can no longer support their families. “We work directly with several farms which cuts out some middlemen allowing the farms to earn more money per pound,” Goodman says. “We have seen this work very well
with those farms allowing them to put more money back into the farm and build their own washing station or covered raised drying beds. Finding ways to help the farms become more profitable not only helps the families that grow our coffee but can also help the communities around the farm by helping to provide stable jobs.” And when it comes to the planet and the environment, there are a number of different certifications that coffees can have: Rain Forest Alliance, Smithsonian Bird Friendly, Organic, Fair Trade, and so forth. A lot of locally sold coffees have some or all of those certifications. “We look for farms that have shade grown coffee since it is not only bet-
ter for the coffee but keeps some of the native forest intact,” Goodman notes. “A lot of the farms we work with also keep sections of the farm as untouched rain forest. Coffee is almost exclusively grown in poorer third world countries and, as a company, it is extremely important to us that the coffee we are buying are helping in a small way better the lives of the people growing and harvesting it.” Michael Price of Mad Priest Coffee Roasters echoes a lot of the same sentiments and values. We caught up with Price as he was driving to Huehuetenango in Guatemala to visit a local coffee farm. “We are a triple bottom line business, as well,” Price explains. “We focus on the environmental and social aspect on how the business can impact the local and greater international community. From a sustainable perspective, we are 100 percent compostable—everything that goes out of our cafe can be thrown in the compost, which we partner with Compost House.” One of the main reasons he is in Guatemala is to work closely with his importers, in the case Caravela. “The importers we work with are important to the entire process. We work closely with them to ensure that what we are buying is something that is impacting the producers as well as the greater coffee community, particularly with the beans that we carry each season.”
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COVER STORY
Price believes a mutual two-way relationship with an importer such as Caravela, where they work on the ground with the producers and are completely transparent on where the beans are coming from and ensuring that the farmers get paid properly, is very important. And that educational process is something he wants to help spread here in Chattanooga. “One of our goals is to have an educational system to ensure that all the customers we deal with understand how coffee is priced the way it is, what the quality of the beans really means, and how that trickles down all the way to the producers and pickers,” Price says. “We want to help customers to start asking the right questions.” Which brings us to the future of coffee in Chattanooga. Just a few years ago, “sustainability” was a word that was only known to a few forward thinkers. Nowadays, savvy consumers are not only understanding the importance of creating a fair global marketplace for coffee, but also enjoying the very tangible ben8 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 16, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
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I think having a local coffee culture that has a space that is inviting to all people as well as inviting to inclusivity is crucial to the growth of any city.” efits of having local access to some very high-quality coffee beans from around the world. Goodman, who has been in the local coffee business for over two decades, has seen a number of coffee shops come and go. He feels that the companies that promote ethical practices and go the extra mile for their suppliers and their customers will be the ones to thrive and grow. Price, who started Mad Priest just a few years ago, is on the same page. He sees the companies that are really invested in the industry, and believes those are the brands that are going to grow because of a combination of talent and understanding of specialty coffee. “Coffee, like many other beverages such as beer and liquor or even just good food, all are the same in
that they are part of four walls that create a third space for people,” Price says. “Coffee is an important aspect of community. It just happens to be the beverage of choice for people to gather around and make big decisions, or meet an old friend, or whatever it might be. I think having a local coffee culture that has a space that is inviting to all people as well as inviting to inclusivity is crucial to the growth of any city.” As I take my last sip of coffee, I think about how my daily routine is far larger in ways than I had ever imagined. And how a few simple choices on my part can—and do— make a difference for people all over the world. Sometimes the smallest choices can have the biggest impacts. It’s a nice feeling. I think I’ll have another cup.
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THE UGLY TREE CAFE
A new eclectic cafe comes to the heart of Brainerd T
here exists a cool, eclectic café decorated with strange and eclectic things. It has a menu that evolves like a familiar song through space and time. It’s a place well hidden in plain sight; kept almost entirely secret because of its wholesome rarity. The name of the café is taken from a short story fable about how ugly and useless things can become more beautiful and useful over time. The story is titled “The Ugly Tree”, and the wholesomely rare café is known as The Ugly Tree Café. Just out on Brainerd Road, the cute café with the cute name is a local treasure just waiting to be adored. The Ugly Tree is a place where a cold traveler can shake off the winter rains and warm up with a robust cup of coffee and read the news in peace; or have a meetup with a long lost friend over Dirty Chai Tea and a hummus plate. The Ugly Tree Cafe is a haven, one of those remarkable bastions away from the hustle and bustle of the busy four lane modern life, where you can sit back and nourish peace-of-mind as well as the body. I spin an empty porcelain coffee cup between my hands as a patron tickles the keys of a little piano behind me near the entrance. The owner/ operator Richard Lantham and I get heavy into the philosophy of food as the January rain pummels the parking lot. Richard is a kindred seeker and
“The Ugly Tree Cafe is a haven, one of those remarkable bastions away from the hustle and bustle of the busy four lane modern life.” worldly sage that has stories for days and deep roots in the realms of literature and counterculture history. “Our philosophy starts with whole foods, quality foods. We partner as much as we can with local farms to provide sustainable nourishment for anyone,” he said. Richard’s musings are bolstered in kind by his righthand assistant and young java slinger Claire Davis. Claire is the high-speed barista mastermind and guiding rudder for café operations. As she’s experienced in farming, she’s also responsible for the interesting selections on the menu. Claire, like Richard, has a passion for feeding the world with wholesome
and healthful food. But coffee and fantastic conversation isn’t all that The Ugly Tree Café provides. The café has one of the best vegetarian breakfast burritos that this loud mouth Texan has ever eaten this side of Austin. It’s so good in fact that it shut this noisy Texan up for a while. A toasted tortilla graced with black beans, potatoes, eggs and Manchego cheese. It’s simple yet delicious and topped with fresh salsa and organic habanero sauce. It tastes a lot like going back home again. Homesick Texan blues aside, it’s a dang fine breakfast burrito that’s enjoyable anytime during the day. If there wasn’t enough to steep this
ol’ boy’s heart in nostalgia, there is the Southwest Black bean soup. The fresh vegetables tasted as if they were plucked straight from Grandma’s garden. When Richard said they ensure that they will provide quality food he wasn’t kidding. If the taste of the West doesn’t appeal to the buds, I also suggest the Hot Italian Turkey Panini. The marinated onions bring this panini sandwich alive and carries well if you’re in a hurry to get back to the office. The Ugly Tree Café offers Gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan options made to order with care and love. With coffee from Mad Priest and teas from Frontier, there is always something delicious cooking Monday through Saturday. Come for the food but stay for the conversation or just soak up the peace and quiet of a very chill hangout and refuge for a while. Check them out at uglytree.cafe — Brandon Watson
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Master Of The House Home art studio provides a worldly perspective By Adam Beckett Pulse contributor
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From a birdseye view, the house appears to be just another house but in actuality it is a mecca for the art community and a signal of hope for people that want to tap into the creative.”
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HATTANOOGA IS FULL OF LITTLE NOOKS AND CRANnies that contain pleasant surprises. In the city, various alleys that hide in plain sight may be home to some extraordinarily impressive art displays crafted by some of the finest local and regional artists. In the residential world, little side streets that look like turn around areas, cut through the hills of the Scenic City to unlock whole neighborhoods that are seemingly endless. The city is certainly more than meets the eye, and one house in particular off Sherry Lane in Hixson, is a prime example of a hidden magical place the Chattanooga area is lucky to call home. From a birdseye view, the house appears to be just another house but in actuality it is a mecca for the art community and a signal of hope for people that want to tap into the creative person inside of them that is trying to break out. After stepping in from the ordinary, one will find anything but that once inside the realm of the Masters Studio and Art Gallery. It is full of impressive original artwork that was skillfully crafted by the unconventional local artist Larry Bullington, who does things in his own way and
does it well. The multidimensional studio defies the laws of confinement, and demonstrates Bullington’s versatile skillset. Several magnum opuses’ show his masterful ability to wood burn, paint, draw, make jewelry, soap, paper, decopodge, spin art, “taking a line for a walk” (Art style), making functional art, and endless other abilities. Beyond creating art, teaching is one of his specialties. Bullington believes in the power of teaching the differences between value and line, especially for young artists, but he also teaches the importance of perspective, skill and broadening a limited thought process. He can help teach a classic understanding of art and stated “trying to do art without having an understanding of it is like trying to build on a foundation that is missing bricks, which limits potential.” Bullington spoke passionately about
THU1.16
FRI1.17
SAT1.18
Lookout Wild Film Festival
Harlem Globetrotters
Stained Glass One Day Workshop
The three-day film festival celebrating all things outdoors kicks off with a great party. 7 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. lookoutfilmfestival.org
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For the kid in all of us, come down and see the legendary basketball troupe shine on the hardwoods. 7 p.m. UTC McKenzie Arena 720 E. 4th St. utc.edu/mckenzie-arena
If you've ever wanted to learn the art of stained glass, here's a great way to get started. 1 p.m. Reflections Gallery 1635 Rossville Ave. reflectionsgallerytn.com
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “I love to be surprised by something I have never thought of,” declares Capricorn actor Ralph Fiennes. According to my analysis of the astrological aspects, you’ll be wise to make that one of your top mottoes in 2020. Why? First, life is likely to bring to your attention a steady stream of things you’ve never imagined. And second, your ability to make good use of surprises will be at an all-time high. Here’s further advice to help ensure that the vast majority of your surprises will be welcome, even fun: Set aside as many of your dogmas and expectations as possible, so that you can be abundantly receptive to things you’ve never thought of.
taking progression steps for people learning. Instead of first teaching someone to draw “Tom”, “Joe”, or “Suzie”, that first he teaches students the process of drawing “Mr. Egg Head”, which is a template to learn drawing the human head. After they have gained the understanding, they have essentially “earned the right to start attempting to draw individual people.” He can help people of all ages think outside of the box and teach them updated techniques for all artistic outlets. One example is stained glass creation that makes the glass with liquid lead which allows students to tap into a modern approach to creating stain glass, that throughout time has been a daunting task and a known potential health hazard due to the fiberglass used and easy exposure to lead. While taking Bullington’s “fifty cent tour” to view his four-studio operation, he stated, “the beauty of making art in today’s world is the fact that it is limitless, there are no rules or bounds, and I try to iterate that groovy fact to my students.” Some of his pieces are his version of famous artworks that are updated with his personal flair. For example, his “The Scream” is done in melted crayon. He teased the piece made him fully understand patience and at times, made him want to scream him-
self. Bullington joked, “Contrary to what they might think at traditional art centers with conventional thinking minds, if you are going to steal from the art world then do it often, and do it well. I learned very much about art from painting different versions of other artists’ work and it helped me be the artist and teacher that I am today.” There is a functional break room on site, full of his personally crafted art that gives people the opportunity to step away for a few and fuel up with drinks and snacks. Even in the break room, intricate details coalesce to unlock the charm of the Masters Studio. Bullington has a beautiful mind and untamable artistic spirit. Anybody out there who has any interest in art with no traditional training or skillset should spend some time at the Masters Studio and Art Gallery, endless opportunities await. All ages are welcome to visit, and Larry will gladly give his famous fifty cent tour to any interested party. Much of his artwork is for sale at reasonable prices, and all of it is next level quality and will tremendously boost any enthusiast’s collection. Individual and group classes are constantly flowing through the local creative art temple that is the Masters Studio, for more information please visit themastersstudio.com.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “I love fools’ experiments. I am always making them.” So said one of the most famous and influential scientists who ever lived, Aquarianborn naturalist Charles Darwin. In accordance with upcoming astrological factors, I invite you to draw inspiration from his approach. Allow yourself to explore playfully as you conduct fun research. Just assume that you have a mandate to drum up educational experiences, and that a good way to do that is to amuse yourself with improvisational adventures. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “How do you get your main pleasure in life?” That question was posed to Scorpio author Evelyn Waugh and Piscean social reformer William Beveridge. Waugh said, “I get mine spreading alarm and despondency.” Beveridge said, “I get mine trying to leave the world a better place than I found it.” I hope you will favor Beveridge’s approach over Waugh’s in 2020, Pisces—for two reasons. First, the world already has plenty of alarm and despondency; it doesn’t need even a tiny bit more. Second, aspiring to be like Beveridge will be the best possible strategy for fostering your mental and physical health. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Comedian John Cleese has an insight I hope you’ll consider. He says, “It’s easier to do trivial things that are urgent than it is to do important things that are not urgent. It’s also easier to do little things we know we can do than to start on big things that we’re not so sure about.” I hope you’ll make this advice a priority in the coming weeks. You’ll be wise to prioritize important tasks, even those that aren’t urgent, as you de-emphasize trivial matters that tempt you to think they’re crucial. Focus on big things that are challenging, rather than on little things that are a snap. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Author Honoré Balzac (1799–1850) was born with sun and Mercury in Taurus and in the tenth house. Astrologers might hypothesize from these placements that he
was ambitious, productive, tenacious, diligent, realistic, and willful. The evidence supporting this theory is strong. Balzac wrote over 80 novels that displayed a profound and nuanced understanding of the human comedy. I predict that 2020 will be a year when you could make dramatic progress in cultivating a Balzac-like approach in your own sphere. But here’s a caveat: Balzac didn’t take good care of his body. He drank far too much coffee and had a careless approach to eating and sleeping. My hope is that as you hone your drive for success, you’ll be impeccable in tending to your health. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Before he was 21 years old, William Shakespeare and his wife had birthed three kids. When he was 25, while the brood was still young, he started churning out literary masterpieces. By the time Will became a grandfather at age 43, he had written many of the works that ultimately made him one of history’s most illustrious authors. From this evidence, we might speculate that being a parent and husband heightened his creative flow. I bring this to your attention because I want to ask you: What role will commitment and duty and devotion play in your life during the coming months? (I suspect it’ll be a good one.) CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian-born painter Stanley Spencer (1891–1959) didn’t align himself with any artistic movement. Early on, his work was an odd blend of French Post-Impressionism and 14th-century Italian painting. I appreciate his stylistic independence, and suggest you draw inspiration from it in 2020. Another unique aspect of Spencer’s art was its mix of eroticism and religiosity. I think you’ll enjoy exploring that blend yourself in the coming months. Your spiritual and sexual longings could be quite synergistic. There’s one part of Spencer’s quirky nature I don’t recommend you imitate, however. He often wore pajamas beneath his clothes, even to formal occasions. Doing that wouldn’t serve your interests. (But it will be healthy for you to be *somewhat* indifferent to people’s opinions.) LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1440s. In subsequent decades, millions of mass-produced books became available for the first time, making their contents available to a far wider audience than ever before. The printing press caused other changes, too— some not as positive. For instance, people who worked as scribes found it harder to get work. In our era, big culture-wide shifts are impacting our personal lives. Climate change, the internet, smart phones, automation, and humanlike robots are just a few examples. What are doing to adjust to the
many innovations? And what will you do in the future? Now is an excellent time to meditate on these issues. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’re skilled at the art of self-editing. When bright new ideas well up in you, you understand they are not yet ready for prime time, but will need to be honed and finessed. When your creativity overflows, tantalizing you with fresh perspectives and novel approaches, you know that you’ll have to harness the raw surge. However, it’s also true that sometimes you go too far in your efforts to refine your imagination’s breakthroughs; you overthink and over-polish. But I have a good feeling about the coming weeks, Virgo. I suspect you’ll find the sweet spot, self-editing with just the right touch. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Thomas Love Peacock was a Libran author whose specialty was writing satirical novels that featured people sitting around tables arguing about opinions and ideas. He was not renowned for cheerful optimism. And yet he did appreciate sheer beauty. “There is nothing perfect in this world,” he said, “except Mozart.” So much did Peacock love Mozart’s music that during one several-month stretch he attended six performances of the genius’s opera *Don Giovanni*. In this spirit, Libra, and in accordance with astrological indicators, I encourage you to make a list of your own perfect things—and spend extra time communing with them in the coming weeks. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): JeanMichel Basquiat started his career as a graffiti artist. When he evolved into being a full-time painter, he incorporated words amidst his images. On many occasions, he’d draw lines through the words. Why? “I cross out words so you will see them more,” he said. “The fact that they are obscured makes you want to read them.” In the coming weeks, you might benefit from discreetly using this strategy in your own life. In other words, draw attention to the things you want to emphasize by downplaying them or being mysterious about them or suggesting they are secret. Reverse psychology can be an asset for you. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Because of the onslaught of the internet and social media, lots of people no longer read books. But in 2020, I highly recommend that you *not* be one of that crowd. In my astrological opinion, you need more of the slow, deep wisdom that comes from reading books. You will also benefit from other acts of rebellion against the Short Attention Span Era. Crucial blessings will flow in your direction as you honor the gradual, incremental approach to everything.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 16, 2020 • THE PULSE • 11
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Indirect Oil Painting with Susan Budash
THURSDAY1.16 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 Indirect Oil Painting with Susan Budash 1 p.m. Reflections Gallery 1635 Rossville Ave. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com Book Signing with Riley Redgate 4 p.m. Star Line Books 1467 Market St. (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com Morris Mitchell “Pioneering the Edge” Opening Reception 6 p.m. John C. Williams Gallery, Southern Adventist University 4881 Taylor Cir. (800) 768-8437 southern.edu Paint and Sip 6 p.m.
12 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 16, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Personal Finance for Women’s Wellness 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Pop-up Project Dance Classes 6 p.m. D. Williams Dance Academy 1106 McCallie Ave. (423) 838-5907 dwilliamsdanceacademy.com 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 Collaborative Concert: Miami University Men’s Glee Club 7 p.m.
Second Presbyterian Church 700 Pine St. secondpreschattanooga.org Photographic Society of Chattanooga presents Mark Lakey 7 p.m. St. John’s United Methodist Church 3921 Murray Hills Dr. (423) 892-2257 stjohnumc.org Sound & Color: A Musical Art Exploration 7 p.m. Pax Breu Ruim 516 E. Main St. (423) 648-4677 Lookout Wild Film Festival 7 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 lookoutfilmfestival.org Dusty Slay 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till” 7:30 p.m. Iles PE Center, Southern Adventist University 4881 Taylor Cir. (800) 768-8437 southern.edu Alcoholics Not Anonymous
Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com
FRIDAY1.17 All in for ALS 6:30 p.m. Stratton Hall 3146 Broad St. (423) 667-4332 strattonhall.com Harlem Globetrotters 7 p.m. UTC McKenzie Arena 720 E. 4th St. (423) 425-4706 utc.edu/mckenzie-arena Lookout Wild Film Festival 7 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 lookoutfilmfestival.org Dusty Slay 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com
SATURDAY1.18 Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (423) 243-3250 saygrace.net Murals 101 10 a.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Winter Writers Workshop 10 a.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu Coffee Talk with Kreneshia Whiteside: Being a Woman of Color Working in the Arts 11 a.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Stained Glass One Day Workshop 1 p.m. Reflections Gallery 1635 Rossville Ave. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com A Little Me Time: A Half-Day Workshop 1 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Introduction to Fluid Art 1:30 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org RMHC Run4Kids 2 p.m. Camp Jordan Park 323 Camp Jordan Pkwy. (423) 490-0078 rmhc.org Lookout Wild Film Festival 2 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 lookoutfilmfestival.org Dusty Slay 7:30, 9:45 p.m.
The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
SUNDAY1.19 Wooden House Collages 10 a.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Lookout Wild Film Festival 2 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 lookoutfilmfestival.org Lyrics & Libations Poetry and Comedy Open Mic 5 p.m. Chattanooga Cigar Club 1518 Market St. (423) 498-3910 chattanoogacigarclub.com WWE Live 7 p.m. UTC McKenzie Arena 720 E. 4th St. utc.edu/mckenzie-arena Dusty Slay 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY1.20 Intermediate & Advanced Watercolor 1 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Finding Your Creative Self through Expressive Journaling 5:30 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Introduction to Airbnb: Creating a New Income Stream 5:30 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 Shakespeare 2020 Project 7 p.m. The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Values & Defining Your Lane 7 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org
TUESDAY1.21 Chattanooga Self Improvement Meetup 8 a.m. The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Goals and Vision for 2020 2 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Color Chattanooga Pink! 4 p.m. Area 61 Gallery 721 Broad St. (423) 648-9367 area61gallery.com Sew What 4 p.m. Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Introduction to Public Speaking 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org
Silverpoint Drawing 6 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Paths to Pints 6:30 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com
The List
WEDNESDAY1.22 Main Street Farmers Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Beginner’s Stained Glass with Summer Harrison 5:30 p.m. Reflections Gallery 1635 Rossville Ave. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com Improv at Work 6 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Gargoyle Sculpting 6 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Get Started Making Helpful Videos 6:30 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Etta May 7 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Open Mic Comedy 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400 jjsbohemia.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
Fun Facts About Coffee This week’s issue celebrates one of the world’s favorite beverages: coffee. But how much do you really know about this elixir of morning life? • Coffee was originally chewed. The beans were ground with animal fat into tiny edible energy balls. • Instant coffee has been around for nearly 250 years, making its first appearance in England in 1771. • The average American spends more than $1,000 on coffee each year. • Finland is the world’s coffee capital, drinking more coffee per capita than any other nation. • In 1932, Brazil couldn’t afford to send its athletes to the Olympics in Los Angeles. So they loaded their ship with coffee and sold it along the way to finance the trip. • Drinking coffee could extend your cat’s life. The oldest cat ever, who lived to 38, drank coffee every day. • The first webcam watched a coffee pot. So now you know. Drink up!
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 16, 2020 • THE PULSE • 13
THE MUSIC SCENE
Skip To The Devil’s Music Sinister sounds ring out on new rockabilly album By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor
“ Used Books, CDs, Movies, & More
7734 Lee Highway • McKayBooks.com Mon-Thu 9am-9pm • Fri-Sat 9am-10pm • Sun 11am-7pm
There is a purity to the music that hearkens back to a time when rock and roll was defined by attitude and passion rather than stomp boxes and gimmicks.”
E
VER SINCE ROBERT JOHNSON SUPPOSEDLY MADE HIS way to the crossroads, the notion of a young musician trading his immortal soul for talent has been a staple of music lore. With his latest entry, the delightfully devilish Holy Smokes!!, Skip Frontz Jr. flips the myth. He ain’t sellin’, he’s buyin’. That’s tongue in cheek of course as Skip is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet, but he has a knack for evoking joyfully sinister sounds on par with Nick Cave. Sometimes rockabilly, sometimes surf, sometimes something else less easy to define, the album as a whole is a shining example of the power of stripped down, raw rock. Some artists opt for loopers, delays, processors galore, and forty kinds of distortion, all of which can be used to great effect when applied skillfully but they can also be a crutch, a musical band-aid for otherwise lackluster playing. Skip takes the opposite approach, utilizing a relatively simple rig to achieve a sound that no amount of digital processing can replicate. As a result, there is a purity to the music
that hearkens back to a time when rock and roll was defined by attitude and passion rather than stomp boxes and gimmicks. It takes nerve and talent to pull that off but Skip, along with a little help from Dylan Bales and Dan Wamp, pulls it off and then some. That should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the reputations of any of the three men, but surprise or not, it’s still a thing of beauty to actually hear. There are eleven tracks altogether including two live recordings and three instrumentals. The instrumentals are especially choice. The first two, “Get 3 Coffins Ready” and “Surf Noir”, have a downright spooky vibe reminiscent of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, while the third, “Hammer Down”, could be the illegitimate child of Chet Atkins or Jerry Reed.
THU1.16
FRI1.17
SAT1.18
Keller Williams
Diamond Dogs: A David Bowie Tribute
Grandpa’s Stash
Acoustic dance music that combines jazz, funk, reggae, electronica, and bluegrass all into one toe-tapping experience. 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks
14 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 16, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
If you ever wanted to see a David Bowie concert but didn't get the chance, here's the next best thing. 10 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com
A high energy, gloves off rock & roll show coupled with a lyrical, heart-onthe-sleeve sincerity that'll keep you on your feet. 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com
JONESIN' CROSSWORD
“GHOULHARDI”, the opening track, might be psychobilly, though honestly there are so many subgenres of rockabilly that it seems easier to describe the music than to pick the right label to slap on it. The vocals deliver both the characteristic whoop/hiccups of Buddy Holly and “chin in the chest” bass of Elvis, and the lead lines evoke a late night horror show, making for a tune that is pure fun however you choose to classify it. “Al Swearangen” is a wicked little ballad, a personal favorite that compels me to invoke Nick Cave a second time. This could easily have been a track on Murder Ballads. “Razorback Holler (pumpkinhead)” is by no means out of place on the album. It belongs exactly where it is but it is a standout as perhaps the most modern sounding of the lot having as much in common with early eighties thrash punk as it does with early, high energy rock and roll. “ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!!” delivers exactly what it promises and would lead the good Reverend Horton Heat to say, “Damn son, where do you find time to breathe?!” Short, punchy, powerful, if it doesn’t make you move, you may need to check your pulse. The same
may be said for “Luck”, another toe tapper that may get you a speeding ticket if you listen to it while driving. The two live tracks, “Boogie Funk” and “Goin’ Down”, are all the convincing anyone ought to need that, as kick-ass as the album is (and it is), you really need to see these cats live. You can practically hear the sweat flying from the stage, the energy is so palpable. Over the years I’ve gotten to hear Skip in a number of projects and in every case he never fails to impress but the evolution of his solo work is nothing short of exciting. The takeaway is if you need a sideman or guest artist, you can count on Skip, the consummate professional, to deliver precisely what you need. Set him loose on his own, however, and you had better buckle in because the pedal is going to the floor and the brakes are long gone. The aptly titled Holy Smokes!! is a high energy romp, great spooky fun, and a reminder of how over half a century ago rock and roll captured one generation and scared the hell out of the other. Pick it up, take it home but for god sakes, catch these boys live the first chance you get.
“Decade in Review, Part 1”—fun stuff from 2010 & 2011. ACROSS 1 Part of PSL 6 Henna, e.g. 9 Bean that goes in bars 14 Make up (for) 15 Fish eggs 16 Ivy League sch. 17 Game show legend who, in his late 80s, returned to host “Let’s Make a Deal” for a week in 2010 19 Heavy weight, in France 20 Health stat that can be misleading 21 Farm grunt 22 Billboard’s Hot 100 #1 song of 2010 (originally a limited-time free download on Kesha’s MySpace page in 2009) 23 Black Widow portrayer, in tabloids 25 Forest growths 26 Neptune’s home 27 “Good Will Hunting” director Gus Van ___ 28 Break down 31 Shareable PC files 34 Veteran actress who got to host “Saturday
Night Live” in 2010 after a grassroots campaign 37 Red-headed Disney princess 39 AI game competitor 40 ___ Boogie (“The Nightmare Before Christmas” character) 41 A cappella group formed in 2011 that won NBC’s “The Sing-Off” 44 Part of RPI 45 Do some math 46 Elizabethan collar shape 47 Dorm leaders 49 Regrettable 51 Kind of poster 54 IBM computer that beat two humans on “Jeopardy!” in 2011 56 “___ oughta!” 57 Templeton, in “Charlotte’s Web” 59 “Cast of thousands” films 60 Only one of 2011’s top 10 highest-grossing films that wasn’t a sequel 62 Broad, flat beans 63 Long-handled farm tool
64 Thrown for ___ 65 Farm machinery manufacturer 66 ___ Poly (West Coast school) 67 Temptations DOWN 1 Gyro ingredient, often 2 Smashable items 3 Gin complement 4 Crate contents in “Angry Birds” 5 Friend of Roo and Pooh 6 Brand used in pipes 7 Form of the Sanrio character Gudetama 8 Predatory fish 9 Bifurcate 10 Pig in ___ 11 Symbol that’s a lowercase letter split by a vertical line 12 Part of A.D. 13 1,024 bytes, briefly 18 Hair-covering garment 22 Like nanotechnology’s scale 24 It’s on the plus side 25 “Lady Marmalade” singer LaBelle 27 Ring setting 29 Songwriter Redding
30 Round red root 31 Bear whose chair was too hard 32 1857 litigant Scott 33 Works into the schedule, with “for” 35 Magazine first published in 1945 36 Give a lift 38 North America’s oldest sport 42 In shreds 43 Inside looks? 48 Drummer in the Electric Mayhem 50 Award for Alfonso Cuarón 51 Potter’s device 52 Misjudgment 53 “Finding Dory” actor Willem 54 Join metal to metal 55 “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in ___” 56 “Hold up!” 58 Amts. in recipes 60 Active chemical in cannabis 61 Mauna ___ (former Hawaiian erupter that’s neither one you’re probably thinking of)
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. 971 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 16, 2020 • THE PULSE • 15
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY1.16 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 Randy Steele 6:30 p.m. The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 991-8876 thewoodshop.space Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Webb Barringer Band 7 p.m. Edley’s Bar-B-Que 205 Manufacturers Rd. edleysbbq.com Uptown Big Band 7 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. facebook.com/TheHonestPint Ryan Oyer 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Ariel 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Dallas Walker 9 p.m. Westbound Bar 24 Station St. westboundbar.com Keller Williams 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Mother Legacy 10 p.m.
16 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 16, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Trailer Hippies
The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com
FRIDAY1.17 Courtney Holder 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com The High Divers and Cicada Rhythm 7 p.m. The Bicycle Bar 45 E. Main St. (423) 475-6569 Jason Lyles Duo 7 p.m. Oddstory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Gino Fanelli 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Dallas Walker 8 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Airshow + Joel Forlines and The Best Case Scenario 8 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. stonecupcafe.com Slark Moan 8 p.m. The Woodshop Rehearsal Space 5500 St. Elmo Ave. thewoodshop.space
The Adjective Trio 8 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Dr. B and the Ease 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Ire & Uprise, Praymantha, Meduhsin 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Tim Starnes 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Stairway To Zeppelin 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Joey Winslett 9 p.m. Big River Grille 222 Broad St. bigrivergrille.com Dead End Friends 9:30 p.m. The Brew & Cue 5017 Rossville Blvd. (423) 867-9402 Diamond Dogs: A David Bowie Tribute 10 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Throttle 21
10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY1.18 Danimal 10:30 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Joe Jam Noon Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Trailer Hippies 6 p.m. Mad Knight Brewing Company 4015 Tennessee Ave. madknightbrewing.com Naomi Ingram 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Etowah Jacks 6:30 p.m. 309 E. Main St. slicksburgers.com The Mailboxes, Terror Pigeon, Dalahäst 7 p.m. The Bicycle Bar 45 E. Main St. (423) 475-6569 Billy Kemp 7 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Alex Williams Band
7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Megan Howard 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 Maya Trippe 8 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Paper Mache, Courtney Holder, and DJ Eric Spear 8 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Grandpa’s Stash 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Toadsmoke, Gools, Chester, Rough Dreams 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Ran Adams 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Lenox Hills with Drumming Bird and Megan Kerr 9 p.m.
Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks DJ Ramsey K, DJ JLettow, Mystery Box 9 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. stonecupcafe.com Marty Manus CD Release Show 9 p.m. Trish’s Sports Bar 4762 Highway 58 (423) 269-8400 Stringer’s Ridge 9 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. facebook.com/TheHonestPint IronChief and Friends 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 265-8711 John Lathian 9 p.m. Big River Grille 222 Broad St. bigrivergrille.com Throttle 21 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY1.19 The Daly Special 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.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 The Wallens 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Octo Claw, Veronika Winters, WohlgleMut 3 p.m. Mad Knight Brewing Company 4015 Tennessee Ave. madknightbrewing.com Monthly Singing Circle 3 p.m. Center for Mindful Living 400 E. Main St. (423) 486-1279 centermindfulliving.org Mark Kelly Hall with Tim Starnes 6 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Toward Space, Slz Slz, Subkonscious, Good Grief 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
MONDAY1.20 Eli Ensor 6 p.m. Blue Orleans 1463 Market St.
blueorleansdowntown.com 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
TUESDAY1.21 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 An Evening with YARN 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Eric Kirkendoll 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Citizen Cope 8 p.m. Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com
Ran Adams & Friends 8 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
WEDNESDAY1.22 Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Visions Of A Dream 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org An Evening with Joe Robinson 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks John Carroll 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Why Not, Dook Walt Jr., El Rocko, O Summer 8 p.m. The Spot of Chattanooga 1800 E. Main St. facebook.com/1800EMain Zech Dallas 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 16, 2020 • THE PULSE • 17
ERNIE PAIK’S RECORD REVIEWS
New Music From Kouns & Weaver, Gauxe
Kouns & Weaver The Transmogrification of Mr. Claus (Team Capra)
T
he new perennial chestnut “Guys, guys, listen, Die Hard is a Christmas movie!” awakes from its hibernation every December to appear on social media, seemingly heralded as a Nobel Prize-worthy revelation and discovery. Despite centering on Santa Claus, the new album The Transmogrification of Mr. Claus is not exactly a Christmas tale—hence the postChristmas January 1 release date—but it is a revelation of sorts. Billed as “an exploration of the last days of Santa Claus as we know him” and a “wholesome little psychodrama / feel-good family comedy for the whole fam-
Guaxe Guaxe (OAR)
ily, provided that everybody in your family is over the age of 18”, the album’s story is surreal and grotesque with an uneasy sense of humor— an epic fantasy with random situations and characters, including Chevy Chase on the set of Three Amigos and an anthropomorphic sun. Perhaps more akin to an audiobook than a conventional album, the album’s script was written by Zack Kouns, who rapidly unwraps the tale in disturbing detail as the narrator, and the keyboard-centric score was composed and recorded by Rick Weaver—two stalwarts of the “no-audience underground”. Wasting no time in painting a vivid and troubling picture,
the story begins with Santa in squalid conditions, facing the plague and an infestation of mice, attracted by the crumbs left by Santa’s habit of eating in bed. Later on, Santa is attacked in his underwear by a starving polar bear and fills a mass grave with bones. Throughout the album, the soundtrack doesn’t babysit the listener but offers a constant source of adaptive artificiality, magnifying the already absurd proceedings; one minute, there can be doleful keyboard melodies before going to plinky guitar sounds or demented nurseryroom music or moody and tense atmospheric synthetics. Without revealing too much about its twist ending, it offers a takeoff of the narrative trope where the storyteller is revealed to be the subject of the story, which folds in on itself, easing the listener back to reality from its wild heights, like an episode of E! True Hollywood Story mixed with a Jodorowsky-esque fantasy and a bizarro-world hero’s journey of Greek mythology.
T
he Brazilian duo Guaxe (pronounced “gwah-
shee”), formed by Pedro Bonifrate (of Supercordas) and Dinho Almeida (of Boogarins) carries the torch of playful psychedelic rock/pop on its debut self-titled mini album. While its inspirations are often apparent, its charm is natural and unforced even when adding unconventional sounds to its pop-rock frameworks. One might immediately want to compare Guaxe with Os Mutantes; however, Gauxe is perhaps more subtle and less outwardly eccentric. The opening track, “Desafio do Guaxe”, will immediately bear a resemblance to the Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” for the listener, with its reversed sound samples, Indian-inspired drone and sonic oddities—some obvious and some not as obvious, like the drum beat loop that has been slightly detuned to give it a meatier sound. It works, though. The word “inspired” comes to mind, rather than “derivative”, and the listeners are kept on their toes as parts cut in and out. “Pupilxs” offers some of the album’s best pop hooks, pushed along with a slightly
gritty garage-rock drum beat and carefully placed peculiarities. The song’s breakdown bridge leads to a celebratory integration after disintegration. Even a seemingly throwaway track like the one-minute interlude “Rio Abaixo” has its own personality, going beyond a drunken campfire hippie jam with strums and harmonica notes by being warped and woozy, as the track’s speed varies to disorient. The vague Spanish guitar strums and a regal Mellotron-like keyboard on “Nilo” are whipped together into a spellbinding mix, and on “Onda”, which uses a relatively normal song structure, all the character is conveyed in the timbres of the instruments. “Avesso” floats a gentle acoustic guitar strum among its breezy vocals and whooshing background, contrasted with the final track, “Povo Marcado”, one of the album’s high points, with a big, lumbering juggernaut beat (think John Bonham on “When The Levee Breaks”) and a guitarinduced junkyard clang.
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CEMPA COMMUNITY CARE
Community health center goes mobile, expands their reach C
empa Community Care, formerly known as Chattanooga CARES, is an important health resource for the scenic city. From HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) treatment to STI testing and expanding to become a community health center offering primary care, Cempa provides a lot to help Chattanooga residents in need of care. More recently, Cempa has expanded their reach outside the city to serve some of the Southeast’s more rural counties, so they can provide care in places where access to medical treatment may not be readily available. Last August, Cempa unveiled their Mobile Clinic, which is exactly what it sounds like: a health clinic on wheels. The Mobile Clinic aims to provide care to those in rural counties who may not have access to doctors or transportation to get to a doctor. “I’m a huge advocate for the Mobile Clinic. I feel like it’s going to be such a positive asset in all these communities, and every county is so excited to have us. We’ve been in Bradley [County] since August, and then in January, we’ll start visiting other counties,” explained Loni Howard, Cempa’s Mobile Clinic Coordinator. This past Monday, January 6th, the Mobile Clinic began visiting rural counties outside of Bradley, where they’ve been stationed while getting the clinic underway. Howard explained the Mobile Clinic will be in Bledsoe, Rhea, McMinn, Marion, and Bradley counties twice a month
“The Mobile Clinic aims to provide care to those in rural counties who may not have access to doctors or transportation to get to a doctor.” in January. Moving forward, the Mobile Clinic aims to serve Franklin, Grundy, Sequatchie, Meigs, and Polk counties as well. The Mobile Clinic will be offering many of the same services already available in Cempa’s downtown clinic on East 3rd Street. These services include, but are not limited to, HIV and HCV treatment, diagnostic and laboratory testing, primary care, PrEP, behavioral risk assessment, subsequent counseling and referrals, preventive care and screening, prescription and management of medication therapy, and more. In addition to the variety of services available on the Mobile Clinic, How-
ard explained they will also utilize a telehealth system, meaning that patients on the Mobile Clinic will be connected with a doctor in Cempa’s downtown clinic, regardless of what county they’re in. “We’re implementing a telehealth program, so the patient will come on the Mobile Clinic in their county and be connected via video conferencing to our provider in Chattanooga. We’ll have televisit equipment that will allow the provider to hear into a stethoscope, as well as see into a patient’s ears or throat if needed. Then the patient will receive all blood work and other services as usual on the Mobile Clinic,” Howard said.
In order to see the maximum number of patients, Howard explained the Mobile Clinic will typically be scheduling patients every 15 minutes. The Mobile Clinic arrives in the specified county in the morning, between 8 and 10 a.m., and typically stays on-site until 2 or 3 p.m. The Mobile Clinic is grant-funded, so much like the clinic downtown, they see patients both with and without insurance. Because the Mobile Clinic has had such a great turnout in Bradley County, Howard explained that Cempa is also looking forward to making a difference in other counties where transportation and access to care are harder to obtain. For a full list of services available on the Mobile Clinic or to view the January calendar, which lists times and locations for the Mobile Clinic, visit Cempa’s website at cempa.org. — Addie Whitlow
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 16, 2020 • THE PULSE • 19
FILM & TELEVISION
A Story We Sadly Know All Too Well Racism can be more dramatic in real life
We'll Always Have Paris One of the classic film styles since the dawn of sound cinema has been the musical. Taking the popular stage and vaudeville musicals of the early 20th century and bringing them to the big screen has delighted audiences for nearly a century. And one of the best is 1951’s An American In Paris, which comes to AMC Chattanooga 18 on South Terrace on Sunday for two showings at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. (and a third on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.) Winner of six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, the classic stars Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron as they sing and dance to the music of George and Ira Gershwin. The plot is not groundbreaking, as is the standard for musicals of that era. When exGI Jerry Mulligan (Kelly) remains in Paris to pursue life as an artist, he is discovered by a wealthy patroness interested in more than his art. But Mulligan falls in love with a French shop girl (Caron) who is engaged to his best friend. Some of the more interesting facts about the film was that Gene Kelly ended up directing a good bit of the film himself, as credited director Vincente Minnelli was often tied up with his divorce from Judy Garland and other directing projects. Even more impressive is the 17-minute dance sequence at the end which has no dialogue, took a month to film, and cost half a million dollars, which when adjusted for inflation, would cost nearly $5 million today. And when you see it, you understand why it was worth every penny. — Michael Thomas
By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor
“
It’s a complex story that’s well told. But it still feels like a very standard lawyer drama set in the South.”
20 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 16, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
T
HERE IS CURRENTLY AN OP-ED IN A LOCAL PAPER about a proposed rezoning for schools describing students at Calvin Donaldson Elementary as “sluggards” and claiming that “goats and sheep” don’t mix. It’s important to note that Calvin Donaldson serves primarily students from Alton Park and nearly 95 percent of its students are people of color.
We are less than a month into a new decade, a time when we thought there might be flying cars and colonized planets, but instead the South remains covered with old racist white men who cannot hide their derision at the idea of “those people” attending an affluent school. It doesn’t matter that the author is incorrect—the students rezoned for Lookout Mountain will overwhelmingly come from the wealthier sec-
tions of St. Elmo. Articles like this one, and others which seem to flow like sewage from that publication, should anger all of us. But most will ignore it. Some will shout about it online before moving to some new outrage. But none will challenge the ideas in any meaningful way. Just Mercy is a film about that silence, more specifically the pervasive silence we all share in the face of in-
justice, and how a small group of people can challenge it. Bryan Stephenson (Michael B. Jordan) is young man from Delaware, a new graduate from Harvard Law School, who has passed the Alabama State Bar and set up a foundation to assist death row inmates who have never had adequate legal representation. Just Mercy is a film that challenges the very ideas behind the death penalty and those that seek to use it a means to punish men for the color of their skin. The story follows Stephenson as he works to free Walter “Johnny D” MacMillian (Jamie Foxx), who was convicted in 1982 for killing a white woman in a laundromat in Monroeville, Alabama. For those unfamiliar, Monroeville was the home of Harper Lee, who wrote “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The residents are quite proud of this, frequently prompting Stephenson to visit the Mockingbird Museum with no small sense of irony. MacMillian was convicted solely on the testimony of felon Ralph Barnard Myers (Tim Blake Nelson), despite having been at a fish fry with dozens of witnesses at the time of the murder, one of whom was a police officer. Over the course of the film, Stephenson
“
The subject is an important one. Be it the death penalty, the economy, housing, or yes, even school zoning, every aspect of life in the South is affected by race.” must confront the hopelessness of the situation and the blindness of the system to its own injustice. Performances are exceptional all around. Tim Blake Nelson in particular, who has deserved all the acting awards for years. Jordan and Foxx continue to shine, as they always do. In terms of filmmaking, the movie plays it safe. It’s feels very by the numbers and is, of course, elevated by the cast. Destin Daniel Cretton has a smattering of shorts under his belt and a lone feature, The Glass Castle, from 2017. This means that he’s ripe for the picking for direction of a Marvel film and is in fact slated for one—Shang-Chai and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021. Here’s hoping he takes a few risks in his next film. This isn’t to say Just Mercy is average. It’s a complex story that’s well told. But it still feels like a very standard lawyer drama set in the South. We’ve seen it before.
Perhaps some of this feeling is because the film is based on actual events but more than likely it’s because we’ve seen many movies like this one. Still, the subject is an important one. Be it the death penalty, the economy, housing, or yes, even school zoning, every aspect of life in the South is affected by race. To claim that it isn’t, to claim that this separation no longer exists, or isn’t valid, is ignoring the very foundations on which American society was formed. America was borne of both darkness and light. The consequences of that darkness still exist today in every corner of the country. Those that fought against equal rights are still here. Some of them write opinion articles for local papers. Some of them actively work against equality. Luckily, there are people like Bryan Stephenson. His story is one to emulate.
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CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 16, 2020 • THE PULSE • 21
COLUMN · ON THE BEAT
An Astute Stroll With A Twist & Roll The signs say long haired freaky people weed not apply
F Alex Teach
Pulse columnist
“
What interested me was him slowly raising his left hand and pointing to my lips—nearly touching them in fact— and going ‘Shhhhhhhh’ with closed eyes, before slowly turning back around.” When officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center.
OOT PATROL. AS COUNTERINtuitive as it may seem for those who know me, it has always been a highlight of The Job. Meeting people in good situations or bad is the essence of police work in my meaningless opinion. The further you get from the human element, the further you get from core mission and once the joy of the job exceeds the paychecks, you need something to hang on to. I would bear this in mind when the weather was crappy, or I was out and about while trying to tuck away some mental luggage from the call before. I was doing just this while walking down East Main Street on a tepid spring evening. I was killing time on a power shift that gave me the run of the city and I wanted to see something other than red brick projects for a while, so downtown it was. I intentionally sought out areas I once considered “the frontier” when my leather was still new and I still had cartilage in my knees, and I was not disappointed in the least. Some people complain about gentrification but I could change some minds with before-and-after pics had I snapped any back in the day. There were no trees growing out of the red brick walls I was passing, no visible signs of Steel Reserve malt liquor cans strewn about. And I’ll be damned, but there was no one asleep on the sidewalk! Just…people. Probably with jobs, and smiling whether employed or not. And what was that…? I paused to inhale deeply, head tilting back and eyes closed. Not even a hint of urine in the air? I was flabbergasted. Not “Hillary Clinton November 9th 2016” flabbergasted, but still experiencing a healthy degree of shock at this also-unexpected development. East
22 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 16, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Main in the 1990’s…you just don’t understand. Alas, the pause for cause was short lived as another old familiar smell hit the scene: Sweet, sweet weed. At this moment, this was the worst problem I’d encountered in the last hour and I was okay with it. This town, you see, does not have a “weed problem” (in proportion to the “crack/meth/shooting/homelessness/ad nauseam” problems I prefer to focus resources on), but still…you can’t be smoking the ganja in public without putting Officer Friendly on the spot. And I’ll be damned, there the culprit is about twenty feet ahead of me. I fast walked along the nearly empty sidewalk, passing only a young couple who knew what was up but were unable to signal the Burning Man up ahead as they watched me pass and close the distance. “Excuse me,” I said to the young man with the dirty blonde manbun and the fluffy black Patagonia jacket. He was still ahead of me a few feet but I may as well have been a mile back. I put a hand on his shoulder—finger-
tips only really—and repeated myself, this time catching his attention. He turned around, eyes barely open, and I let him take a moment to drink the situation in (with an intentionally friendly smile) since his brain was on a two-hour snow delay. He managed to squint even more than he already was, and as he scanned my garb I believe the contrast of the brass badge against the nearlyblack polyester behind it finally triggered something, and he brought up his right hand, still holding the joint. He slowly looked at it and dropped it into the gutter (though this was only coincidentally where it landed). It was barely visible and by this point likely only paper but that’s not what interested me. What interested me was him slowly raising his left hand and pointing to my lips—nearly touching them in fact—and going “Shhhhhhhh” with closed eyes, before slowly turning back around. My smile never left, and I watched my Ganjanaut sail off into his own starry night, my job being concluded in my mind. Have I told you how much I love an occasional walking beat…?
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JANUARY 16, 2020 • THE PULSE • 23