34 minute read
LOCAL RAPPER YM HEADS FOR THE BIG TIME
A thirteen-year-old with a lifetime of skill
The Phoenix Of Rock ‘N Roll
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If you like bluesy rock, feminism, and vocals that demand your attention, then Emily Wolfe is the perfect storm. Wolfe effectively mixes rapier wit and self-reflection to create provocative lyrics accompanied by guitar riffs that make you sway.
And while you’re listening to her shred, make sure to get a look at Wolfe’s signature Epiphone guitar prototype—that she helped design herself—in case you want to get one of your own when it’s released next year.
So it’s only appropriate her performance be at Songbirds Guitar Museum on February first, which comes the day after she releases her new single “Ghost Limb Gambler”. Concertgoers will even get a sneak peek at some previously unreleased songs that just might appear on her next LP.
The songs on Wolfe’s latest, self-titled album demonstrate her range of musicality and emotion, and you can hear a sampling of each at emilywolfemusic.com. With songs from the spirited “Holy Roller”, to the deliciously seductive “Bad Behavior”, to the heart-melting “Steady”, everyone will have a different favorite.
After overcoming her struggle with addiction that resulted in a terrifying brush with death, Emily Wolfe has become more powerful and more creative than ever. You don’t want to miss her hair-raising live performance! — Halley Andrews
By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor
THERE IS A RECURRING THEME IN THE LOCAL MUSIC scene that I address from time to time. I’ve written whole features about it and as I’ve sat here outlining today’s entry it occurs to me that I may do so again, soon.
It goes something like this: A local band or artist, having achieved some small degree of recognition, whines and moans about the lack of opportunity. Crowds, bars, owners, the city, the angle of the sun in the afternoon and every other conceivable target is blamed for why they aren’t making a thousand dollars a gig playing downtown on a Thursday night.
Bold declarations are made about the need to go “somewhere else,” a bigger city with greater opportunity where they will be appreciated for their genius. Away they go, to swiftly develop a newfound respect for how large the food chain is by finding themselves suddenly at the bottom of it.
The point of all that is opportunity is anywhere you are, if you’re willing to look for it or, if necessary, to create it. I can think of no better example than this week’s subject.
YM (Yung Mann) is a 13-year-old rapper from Chattanooga, and all
the long years I’ve been in the business, I can’t remember the last time I met anyone of any age who was as on the ball as he.
In the first place, he is wickedly talented. Thirty seconds into his debut single, “Fortnite”, and there’s no question that his flow is on par with any pro working today. Stylistically he’s like a junior version of Childish Gambino, a bold comparison and one I do not make lightly.
Lyrically, he accomplishes something I don’t think I’ve heard before. He writes about his world and peers with an awareness an older person simply could not have, with a level of skill far beyond his years. The result is a much higher caliber of relatable music than the demographic typically gets to enjoy.
Frankly, it is exciting to see that level of ability at such a young age and it commands respect and admiration. He is going to be a star. There is no question, it is a given, and I’m not the first person to make that observation, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
So he’s talented, remarkably so, but talent alone isn’t enough to make it in the music business as
a million guitar gods no one has ever heard of will attest. Without motivation, determination, innovation, intelligence, and a touch of luck, talent is just a fruit left to wither on the vine, but YM is no mere musical prodigy. He has just as keen an instinct for the business side of the music business.
The opportunity to open for Curly Head Monty, a YouTube sensation and influencer with a reach of over a million fans, was his first break.
That success led to a series of speaking engagements at area middle schools which he was then able to parlay the speaking engagements into a bona fide tour of those same schools, the “Splatt” tour. Consider that carefully, but it is the crucial point to his success.
He did not wait to be discovered. He created his own opportunity and it was a stroke of genius. His social media presence soared, leading to more and more appearances until he caught the eye of the right man in the right place.
That man is Nick Cannon, who began his own career as a teenager, racking up a list of credits as an actor, comedian, writer, rapper, producer, and these days it appears, star maker. Nick Cannon has signed YM to his N’Credible label as a member of the up-and-coming boy band, NCK and it is now a matter of when, not if, the band becomes a household name. Odds are it won’t be long.
It seems like a fairytale story of success, and perhaps it is, but it never would have happened if a talented young man from Chattanooga hadn’t created his own path to stardom. Opportunity is wherever you are, and if you can’t find it, create it.
The Bob Marley Birthday Bash
It's time once again for the annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash, a tradition that started back in 1998 at Rhythm ‘N Brews.
It has rightfully earned the reputation of being one of the biggest and best celebrations of its kind as friends, fans, family and musicians make the pilgrimage back to the yard to honor the memory and living legacy of one of the most popular, beloved, and influential musicians of the 20th century.
Hosted by Chattanooga’s own beloved Milele Roots at J.J.’s Bohemia, the party will see the return of many Milele alumni as well as last year’s guest of honor, Ras James Shield (the original singer and frontman for Irie Nation) who reportedly had so much fun last year that before the night was done he had already said, “Sign me up for next year!”
A celebration of Bob, love, and Milele, it’s the reunion of your chosen family, all happening this Saturday at J.J.’s Bohemia.
Doors open at 8 p.m., music starts at 10 p.m., and the good vibes go on forever. — MTM
THU1.30
Indigo Girls From suburban Atlanta to conquering the world, Amy & Emily have blazed many musical trails and show no sign of stopping. 8 p.m. Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com
FRI1.31
Jerre Haskew Co-founder of the legnedary Cumberland Trio, the Music Man has been entertaining audiences for decades. 8 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com
SAT2.1
Chef Neville Forsythe: An Eclectic Celebration Come celebrate the life of a great spirit in the way he would have wanted. 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org
THURSDAY1.30
16 • THE PULSE • JANUARY 30, 2020 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM 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 Open Mic Poetry & More 6:30 p.m. Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. stonecupcafe.com Randy Steele 6:30 p.m. The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. thewoodshop.space Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Winter Music Series: Catfish & The Bottom 7 p.m. Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. chattabrew.com Songwriter’s Competition 7 p.m. Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Ultrafaux with Jason Anick 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Amber Fults 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com New Grass Express 7:30 p.m. The FEED Co. Table and Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Indigo Girls 8 p.m. Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Sandy Ewen: Solo Guitar Improvisations 8:30 p.m. Exile Off Main Street 1634 Rossville Ave. Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
FRIDAY1.31
Jimmy Dormire 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com B/Chriss EP Release Show 7 p.m. City Church of Chattanooga 7122 Lee Hwy. thecitychurch.cc Stringer’s Ridge 7 p.m. OddStory Brewing Co. 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Forever Bluegrass 7:30 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com A Golden Wire 7:30 p.m. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 305 W. 7th St. stpaulschatt.org The Briars 7:30 p.m. Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Webb Berringer 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com The Adjective Trio 8 p.m. Pax Breu Ruim 516 East Main St. pax-breu-ruim.business.site Jerre Haskew 8 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Stacy Wilson & The Band Raven 8 p.m. Fireside Grille 3018 Cummings Highway firesidechattanooga.com Trey Binkley 9 p.m. Big River Grille 222 Broad St. bigrivergrille.com Eric Turner 9 p.m. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Mia Treadwell and Friends 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Reflect ft: Moniker Encryption Tour 9 p.m. Music Box Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 265-8711 Jess Goggans Band 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com In The Pines, Sleazy Sleazy, Ashley and The X’s 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 84 - Van Halen Tribute 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Stephen Busie 10 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Aunt Betty 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY2.1
Danimal 10:30 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Chattanooga Singing Circle 1 p.m. The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. thechattery.org Ryan Oyer 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Emily Wolfe 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Glass Caps, Behold The Brave, Lewis and Clark 7 p.m. Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com The 9th Street Stompers 7:30 p.m. Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Chef Neville Forsythe: An Eclectic Celebration 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Courtney Holder 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Parker Gispert (of the Whigs) + TJ Greever 8 p.m. The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. thewoodshop.space Teni Rane 8 p.m. Charles and Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. (423) 892-4960 Nikki Michelle and the Cosmic Collective 8 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Paul Smith & Sky High Band 8 p.m. Eagles Club 6128 Airways Blvd. foe.com Walk Or Row
Mitch Rossell Band
8 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Six Shooter 8:30 p.m. Fireside Grille 3018 Cummings Hwy. firesidechattanooga.com The Power Players 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Windhorse, RoguePoet 9 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Peace Merchants 9 p.m. Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd. huttonandsmithbrewing.com Coathanger Abortion, Basstrount, Taverns 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 265-8711 Bob Marley Birthday Bash 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Mitch Rossell Band 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Windhorse, RoguePoet 9 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Aunt Betty 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com PBR Band 11 p.m. SkyZoo Chattanooga 5709 Lee Hwy. (423) 521-2966
SUNDAY2.2
Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Songwriters Week Qualifying Round 6 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Even Kennedy 8 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
The Smoky Nights 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com 9th Street Stompers 11 a.m. STIR 1444 Market St. stirchattanooga.com Carl Pemberton 11 a.m. Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com My Name Is Preston Noon Southside Social 1818 Chestnut St. thesouthsidesocial.com Nikki Michelle and the Cosmic Collective 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Free Fiddle School 2 p.m.
MONDAY2.3
Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m. Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Blues Night Open Jam 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Percussion Professor Richard Henson Faculty Recital 7:30 p.m. Ackerman Auditorium 4881 Taylor Cir. southern.edu
TUESDAY2.4
Tyler Martelli & Maria Jordania 5 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Acoustic Bohemian Night 6:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing IX 6925 Shallowford Rd. mexiwingix.business.site Danimal 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Ran Adams 8 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Live Jam Session with Freddy Mc & Friends 8 p.m. Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com
WEDNESDAY2.5
Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com
Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
New Music From JJM3, Old Souls
JJM3 The Expanse (jjm3.bandcamp.com)
This writer’s recent favorite music-related book is “Lexicon of Musical Invective”, a collection of hilariously scathing (and sometimes misguided) contemporaneous reviews of 19th and 20th century classical music.
It was compiled by Nicolas Slonimsky, who provides an enlightening preface entitled “Non-Acceptance of the Unfamiliar” discussing such criticism usually born from prejudiced and closed minds. Ironically, these writers show imagination in their entertaining and colorful put-downs, like one review of Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony that calls its finale “a horde of demons struggling in a torrent of brandy”.
“Catastrophe in a boiler factory”, “crime against music”, and “curiosity shop of tangled harmonies” are just a few descriptions in the “C” section of the book’s index of vitriol, Various Artists Old Souls Volume VIII (Musicophilia)
called the “Invecticon”. However, while intended to repulse and humiliate, instead, these “insults” are intriguing more often than not and sound like they describe the music this writer has an affinity for.
This comes to mind when absorbing the sprawling, 80-minute new album The Expanse from JJM3, one of many monikers adopted by Chattanooga musician Joseph J. Micolo III. Micolo, while most visible as the bassist in the heavy shoegaze quartet Lacing, as a solo artist has a diverse catalog under different names, including GTRUK (instrumental hip-hop), SEGAWORMS (noisy “soilcore”), Vaus (sinister beats), JJEMMEIII (organ meditations) and more.
With JJM3, Micolo uses field recordings that are processed and edited, often heavily, to make evocative pieces where the mood and atmosphere are crucial, while hummable melodies are not. Sometimes the field recordings feature recognizable sounds, like birdsongs, bringing the listener back to reality after voyages to unknown locales, among engulfing hazes of drones and textures.
As one struggles to find apt descriptions, as a disgruntled 19th century classical music reviewer might, one’s mind can wander in creative ways to fill in the blanks. “MMY” offers unnerving ceremonial music, perhaps for some unholy ritual like a cross between an H.P. Lovecraft story and Eyes Wide Shut. At first, “The Structure” is meandering and a bit perplexing, with beats that conjure images of a mob trying to beat down a castle door, and it ends with a cathartic yet disturbing cacophony.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the closing track “Peace” has a peculiar kind of soothing warmth with a cloud of static, cricket chirps and chimes. And “The Expanse”— well, its beginning sounds like a horde of demons struggling in a torrent of brandy, and this writer means that in the best possible way.
The most concise advice about cultural pursuits this writer has read actually came from a wine expert, Harvey Steiman: “Drink what you like and keep trying new things.”
That one sentence will get you pretty far. However, wine (and music) enthusiasts should realize that the first part isn’t just about relying on habits— it’s about understanding and articulating what you like and dislike.
It can be challenging enough for a person to acutely understand their own tastes, so it’s even more special when another person understands your tastes. It’s a little sad when giftgiving is a soul-less, obligatory activity but it has the potential to be profoundly meaningful when it expresses “I know you, and here’s something I think you’ll enjoy”.
Years ago, one trusted music enthusiast made a personal recommendation based on his knowledge of this writer’s tastes: a 12-CD boxed set from electro-acoustic artist Bernard Parmegiani. Without hesitation, and without prior familiarity with Parmegiani, this writer purchased it and as expected, it was deeply appreciated and enjoyed.
Which brings us to the compilation at hand, Old Souls Volume VIII, an unsanctioned digital download from Musicophilia run as a labor of love by Ian Manire, the aforementioned trusted music enthusiast. His impeccable taste and brilliant graphic design talents have combined on previous, often mammoth collections, focusing on various themes: post-punk/new wave (“1981”), library music (“Les Bibliothécaires”), Afrominimalism, funk (“Le Monde du Funk”) and many more. With the Old Souls series, Manire spotlights new, eclectic directions coming from strains of soul, hip-hop and jazz, seemingly with a common thread of honoring musical history by expanding upon it, not mimicking it.
The latest installment centers on one spot (London) but covers a lot of ground and runs the emotional gamut with biting passion and fun, slithering grooves. It’s thoughtfully sequenced to provide a flow that makes aesthetic sense, and beyond its utility, as a stepping stone for further musical exploration, it works perfectly as a nourishing standalone experience.
Alas, non-dire circumstances have behooved this writer to take a break from writing, after 14+ years of weekly submissions, so this is a good opportunity to say thank you to all past and present esteemed colleagues at The Pulse (a publication that has never said, “Ernie, that’s just too weird/obscure/etc.”), readers (Hi Dad!), trusted sources of musical discoveries, and of course, the talented artists this writer has had the privilege to cover, who have fed his appetite for new things.
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Please don’t imitate or repeat yourself in the coming weeks. Refrain from relying on formulas that have worked for you before. Resolve to either ignore or rebel against your past as you dream up fresh gambits and adventures. Treat your whole life like an improvisatory game that has just one purpose: to attract and stir up useful novelty. If you do these things, Aquarius, I can practically guarantee that you will win the game. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Poet Robert Bly believes that each of us has a special genius, and the key to understanding and fully activating that genius is in our core wound. In other words, the part of us that got hurt the worst is potentially the generative source of the best gifts we have to give. Do you know where that is in yourself: the wound that could be the source of your blessing? Now is a great time to investigate this tantalizing mystery. ARIES (March 21-April 19): My favorite ancient Greek philosopher was the rascal Diogenes. As a joke, he carried around a lantern during the daytime, proclaiming, “I am just looking for an honest man.” When Alexander the Great, the most powerful man in the world, came to meet Diogenes while he was relaxing outside and asked him if he needed any favors done, he replied, “Yeah, stop blocking my sunlight.” As for Plato, Diogenes complained that the famous philosopher talked too damn much and misinterpreted the teachings of Socrates. I encourage you to borrow some of Diogenes’ attitude in the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it’ll be healing for you to experiment with being brassy, saucy, and sassy. Emphasize what makes you most unique, independent, and self-expressive. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus author Anthony Trollope (1815–1882) published his first novel at age 30. During the next 37 years, he completed 48 additional novels and 18 works of nonfiction. Critics liked his work well enough, but were suspicious of his prodigious productivity. When they discovered that one of Trollope’s motivations for writing was to make money, they disapproved. Then they found out that Trollope kept a watch nearby as he worked, determined to generate 250 words every 15 minutes. The critics hated that even worse. Creative artists are supposed to court inspiration, not adhere to a schedule— at least according to the critics. But I approve of and recommend Trollope-like behavior for you in the coming weeks, Taurus. Cosmic forces will be on your side if you do. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In accordance with the astrological indicators, I invite you to rise and soar and glide during the coming weeks. I encourage you to expand and enlarge and amplify. Don’t wait around hoping to be asked to explore and experiment and improvise—just do those things. It’s high time for you to enjoy stirring quests and research projects and missions dedicated to discovery. Be a fun-loving pioneer. Sample the joys of being a maverick and outlier. CANCER (June 21-July 22): I love living in the material world. Its crazy-making demands and exhilarating rewards are endlessly entertaining. Despite having been born as a fantasy-prone, overly sensitive Cancerian, I’ve become fairly earthy and well-grounded. I have a good job, a nice house, a smart wife, and an interesting daughter. On the other hand, I also love living in the soul’s realm. I have remembered and recorded an average of three dreams per night for many years. Although I don’t take drugs, I cultivate alternate states of consciousness through meditation, prayer, and ritual. I’ve long been a student of depth psychology, which has trained me to be as focused on my soul as my ego. In accordance with current astrological omens, my fellow Cancerian, I urge you to hang out more than usual in the soul’s realm during the coming weeks. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Can I talk you into being more tender and open-hearted toward the people who care for you? I don’t mean to imply that you are currently too hard and closed. But all of us can benefit from enhancing our receptivity, and the coming weeks will be prime time for you Leos to do just that. I think you’ll find it easier than usual to deepen your listening skills and intensify your sensitivity. You’ll have an acute intuitive grasp of the fact that you can earn yourself huge blessings by expressing love and compassion in very practical ways. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): All of us are in service to someone or something—to certain people or ideas or situations. We provide them with help or energy or mirroring or love. We are dutiful in attending to their needs and wants. For some of us, our service feels like a burden. It’s grating or humbling or inconvenient, or all of the above. For others of us, being of service is fulfilling, even joyful. We find a rich sense of purpose in our devotion to a higher cause or deeper calling beyond our selfish concerns. Among the 12 signs of the zodiac, you Virgos are more likely than most to carry out the latter kind of service. I bring these thoughts to your attention because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to re-evaluate, reconfigure, and reinvigorate your own service. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Author David Markson imagined what it would be like to write a novel that lacked conflicts or confrontations—in other words, a novel unlike any ever created. Libran author Ursula Le Guin also fantasized about stories with plots that weren’t driven by strife and struggle. Since many of us are addicted to entertainment that depends on discord to be interesting, we might find it hard to believe Markson’s and Le Guin’s dream would ever happen. But I’m pleased to inform you, Libra, that your life in the coming weeks may be exactly like that: a fascinating adventure with few hassles and wrangles.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): According to Scorpio painter Georgia O’Keeffe, success is irrelevant. The most crucial life-long effort that anyone can be devoted to is “making your unknown known.” Did she mean making your unknown known to yourself? Or making your unknown known to other people? Or both? According to my analysis of the astrological omens, the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to do both. So I hope you will tease out your best and biggest mysteries from their hiding places. Give them expression. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You Sagittarians have a talent for burning bridges that really do need to be burned. Your intuition often guides you to assess when the time is ripe to withdraw from connections that no longer benefit you. On the other hand, you sometimes burn bridges prematurely. You decide that they are in such disrepair that they’re of no use to you, even though it might serve your ultimate interests to fix them. I offer these thoughts as a preface for my advice: 1. Refurbish rather than burn a certain bridge you’re a bit disenchanted with. 2. Build at least one new bridge that will be valuable in the future. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The shape of the planets’ orbits around the sun is elliptical, not circular. Capricorn astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) was the first person to figure this out. He didn’t like it. He really wanted the orbits to be circular. That would have been more satisfying to his aesthetic and spiritual sensibilities. Explaining the arduous labor he did to arrive at his conclusion, he wrote, “Take pity on me, for I have repeated these calculations seventy times.” In the big picture of our understanding of the universe, of course, his discovery was felicitous. It’s not a problem that the orbits are elliptical, merely the truth. In the coming weeks, Capricorn, I foresee you engaging in a process that’s metaphorically comparable to Kepler’s. Hard work will yield useful, if unexpected results.
“Decade in Review, Part 3”—fun stuff from 2014 & 2015. ACROSS 1 Archipelago components 7 NBA or NHL stats 10 [We meant it this way] 13 Prepare to serve, as a pizza or pie 15 French street 16 Sheep’s mother 17 Country that Conchita Wurst represented in the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest 18 Fairway club not often found in a bag 20 ___ Martin (sports car) 21 Her self-titled album was named the best of 2014 by The Guardian and Entertainment Weekly 23 John of 2020’s “The Grudge” 24 Fire pit leftovers 25 Some endoscope users 26 Dorothy of the “Road” pictures 28 Buenos Aires loc. 29 TV show whose climactic episode “Ozymandias” was turned into a mini-opera premiering in 2014 33 Slippery ___ (herbal remedy source) 36 Teddy ___ (1980s bear that played cassettes) 37 Baby’s slipper 39 Music booster 40 Late night host who filmed in Cuba in 2015, the first to do so since Jack Paar in 1959 44 Biblical preserver 46 Battery terminals 47 Trig curve 49 Beam of happiness? 50 Robin’s “Mork & Mindy” costar 53 Hit indie RPG of 2015 with notable music, jokes about puzzles, and multiple endings 55 Miller who played the younger daughter in “The Descendants” 57 Tarantulas, e.g. 58 Award-winning 2015 movie whose title is Spanish for “hitman” 60 “Chicken Run” extra 61 Night flyer 62 Soccer forward 63 Amsterdambased financial co. 64 “Wow” feeling 65 Highest North American peak DOWN 1 “I, Robot” author Asimov 2 Semi-wet snow 3 Ready, in Spain 4 ___-1 (“Ghostbusters” car) 5 Migratory seabird 6 Fashion designer Anna 7 “Ignorance is bliss,” e.g. 8 North African capital city 9 No longer hidden 10 National park in Tanzania 11 “___ let you down!” 12 They’re shown after the decimal 14 Hand down 19 Writer on a birthday? 22 Criminal tough guy 24 Acid class 26 Resting cat’s spot 27 “I Get ___ Out of You” 28 Acrobat software company 29 Word after sports or training 30 Zombie spirit 31 Like the universe, cosmologically 32 Domicile 34 Finch’s creator 35 Game pieces 38 Hosp. areas 41 Yoga studio greeting 42 Indigo dye source 43 At a minimum 45 Lou of the Velvet Underground 47 Food on a belt 48 Show-offy way to solve crosswords 49 A metal one is reusable 50 Heavy jacket 51 The Little Mermaid 52 Haka dancer 54 “Fancy” singer McEntire 55 Nice-sized lot 56 Principal 59 “___ be my honor”
A Love Story Of Fantasy And Reality
A familiar tale of woe presented like a tall tale
Summertime In The Winter
If you know anything about music, you’ve probably heard the song “Summertime” at least 200 times in your life. Summertime, And the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ And the cotton is high But how many are familiar with the opera from which it comes? Ira and George Gershwin’s great American opera classic Porgy and Bess comes to the big screen this Saturday at 12:55 p.m. at AMC Chattanooga 18 theaters as part of the fantastic The Met: Live in HD series.
Porgy and Bess tells the story of Porgy, a disabled black street-beggar living in the slums of Charleston, South Carolina. It deals with his attempts to rescue Bess from the clutches of Crown, her violent and possessive lover, and Sportin’ Life, her drug dealer.
It’s been nearly three decades since The Met has staged the Gershwins’ modern American masterpiece, starring bass-baritone Eric Owens and soprano Angel Blue in the title roles. Director James Robinson’s stylish production transports audiences to Catfish Row, a setting vibrant with the music, dancing, emotion, and heartbreak of its inhabitants.
And if you can’t make it this Saturday, there will be an encore screening next Saturday, February 8th, again at 12:55 p.m. — Michael Thomas
By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor
It’s a common story, one that most people have some experience with, but somehow, the movie pulls away from it, likely due to the extreme privilege of the characters.
It’s a celebrity divorce, after all. The costs are astronomical, many of the problems are absurd, but the characters are undeniably human. I suppose there are elements of Marriage Story in the end of every relationship. A friend of mine mentioned to me that the film reminded him of his divorce, which is strange considering neither of them were wealthy, entertainers, or parents.
I’ve been quoting Roger Ebert a lot lately but he once said, “it’s not what movies are about, it’s how they are about them.” The exact elements may not line up for most people but they can remember how they felt in the moment. In his endless fount of wisdom, Ebert also said, “Entertainment is about the way things should be. Art is about the way they are.” M ARRIAGE STORY IS SOMETHING OF AN ANOMaly. It is, at times, infuriatingly slow and unrelatable, and at others, engrossing and heart wrenching and hysterical. The film isn’t about a marriage, so much as the end of one.
Marriage Story is certainly art. Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) have fallen out of love at the beginning of the film. Voiceovers tells us how they once felt about each other, as we watch vignettes of their lives and their work. Nicole is an actress who found some success in a Hollywood teen comedy when she was young, and later fell in love with Charlie, an up-and-coming theater director in New York.
They spend some of their lives together as Charlie builds his theater company and name, but Nicole longs for the West coast where her family lives and her career was left. She continued to develop her craft in New York as a mainstay of Charlie’s casting. Charlie calls her his “favorite actress.”
But they grow apart, as Charlie is focused on his work and Nicole becomes focused on their young son. Eventually, they decide to separate. Of course, they initially agree to be amicable, but after Nicole returns to Los Angeles with their child to work on a television show, she is given the name of a lawyer, who convinces her to serve Charlie with papers. A difficult divorce soon ensues.
The biggest strength of the film is the screenwriting. Everything is
set up and paid off in a satisfying, capable manner. None of the characters behave out of character, nothing they do is inherently irrational. The film shows two imperfect people making poor choices, sometimes in retaliation for an unintentional slight.
Because the script gives us such an intimate look at the characters, we understand how their story could come to each point in the story. But the film also feels long. This might be intentional as watching the characters struggle as they do is difficult, and we want the ordeal to be over because they want the ordeal to be over, and it does help us relate more to the characters.
But there is an inherent distance. Most of the country could not afford the lawyers, the plane tickets, the realities of living on two separate coasts. In the hands of a lesser cast and director, this could make the film feel a lot more out of reach. The fact it doesn’t is a testament to everyone involved in the project. This is also bitterly funny, in ways that are often unexpected. The film could easily have been an opportunity to wallow in misery, but it isn’t thanks to the levity included in the script.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the film, besides that lawyers are the worst kind of people, is that good intentions don’t amount to much when goals are so disparate. Sometimes there’s nothing to be done, and no amount of flexibility will change reality.
Even the best of relationships are trying and if both members aren’t actively working for the other person, eventually the relationship will end.
The end isn’t always the end, of course. It’s just the beginning of something new, something different, something harder. As is said throughout the film, divorce is terrible.
But it will be over eventually.
✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴
Gretel & Hansel A long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil. Director: Oz Perkins Stars: Sophia Lillis, Alice Krige, Jessica De Gouw, Charles Babalola
The Rhythm Section A woman seeks revenge against those who orchestrated a plane crash that killed her family. Based on the bestselling novel by Mark Burnell. Director: Reed Morano Stars: Blake Lively, Jude Law, Sterling K. Brown
Harnessing The Power Of Flavor
A classic Thai palate pleaser that is not much on the eyes
Mike McJunkin Pulse columnist
Mike McJunkin is a native Chattanoogan who has traveled abroad extensively, trained chefs, and owned and operated restaurants. Join him on Facebook at facebook.com/SushiAndBiscuits
CHICKEN AND RICE. IT SEEMS SO simple, almost too simple to be mentioned in the same breath as complex, in-your-face Thai dishes such as face-meltingly spicy papaya salad or rich, aromatic green curry.
But when I first came to Thailand, kâao man gài or Thai chicken and rice was on my list of “must try” Thai foods only by virtue of its position as one of the world’s most delicious foods—certainly not based on the lackluster name. I found a small, four table restaurant in one of Bangkok’s famous food-lined soi’s (streets) that claimed, among a dozen others, to sell the best kâao man gài in the city. Walking into the small shophouse, Bangkok’s inescapable smell of incense, grilled pork, sewage, and tuk-tuk fumes was quickly replaced by a heady aroma of cooked chicken and sweet jasmine rice. “Ao kâao mun gài nùeng nkáp.” (One kâao man gài please.) The shopkeeper nodded almost imperceptibly and lifted one of the whole, cooked chickens hanging by a hook in a glass case onto her cutting board and began removing the breast meat from the carcass with a huge cleaver so quickly and masterfully it bordered on wizardry.
Pulling the lid off of a car tire-sized rice cooker, she spooned steaming rice into a small bowl and inverted it onto a pink melamine plate, creating a perfect mound of jasmine scented grains that acted as a pillowy bed for the sliced chicken breast she gently placed on top. To her right was an enormous pot of simmering, not-quite-clear broth dotted with chunks of garlic, cilantro root, and ginger. As she ladled out a bowl of broth, still-cooking chickens breeched the surface like pale beige whales coming up for air.
To finish the plate, a small dish of dark brown sauce flecked with chilis,
garlic, and ginger was perched on the rim and a sprig of cilantro provided a touch of color to the mostly pale, white plate of food.
When the plate was placed in front of me, I honestly wasn’t expecting much. It looked like a plain plate of white rice, poached chicken and some sauce. Then I took a bite.
Just like when Dorothy got her first glimpse of Oz and everything changed from black and white to color, that first bite of kâao man gài transported me from the pale, colorless image on the plate to a rich, stunningly beautiful world of chicken and rice flavor I would have never thought possible from such a simple set of ingredients.
The chicken was juicy, tender, seasoned perfectly, and had the most pure chicken flavor of any dish I’d ever tasted. Likewise, the rice was shockingly flavorful with the slightest fragrance of galangal, garlic, and ginger and had the perfect texture, both a result of the chicken fat and broth it’s cooked in.
The accompanying soup was rich and fragrant—like the most comforting chicken soup you’ve ever eaten. And the sauce (nam jim) masterfully balanced sour, spicy, salty and sweet, adding a punch of flavor and spice to everything it touched.
This simple plate of chicken and rice was anything but simple, and the techniques for extracting every bit of flavor out of a handful of ingredients was nothing short of masterful. Kâao man gài is the Thai version of Hainanese chicken rice, brought to Thailand by immigrants from Hainan Island, China and quickly became one
of the most popular breakfast and lunch foods across the country but rarely appears on Western Thai restaurant menus because of the time and skill it takes to prepare properly.
The right chickens (non-egg-laying female chickens are preferred) must be cooked perfectly in a light broth scented with the right combination of aromatics. Carefully selected rice (many shops prefer Thai Hom Mali rice) is cooked in a perfect ratio of chicken broth to chicken fat, making each individual grain glisten with chickeny deliciousness. There are as many sauces for kâao man gài as there are cooks, but a perfect balance of sweet, sour, spicy, and salty is paramount.
This is where I typically include a recipe but this is a case where the simplicity of the dish makes a worthy recipe extremely difficult to find. Imagine trying to share your grandmother’s biscuit recipe—no matter how precise you recorded the recipe, there’s no substitution for grandma’s experienced touch.
If you want to make this at home, I’d start with a good kâao man gài recipe from a Thai native and make it until you get it right—100 to 200 times should do it. It’s just chicken and rice, right?
