VOL. 16, ISSUE 13 • MARCH 28, 2019
There Is Help
Chattanooga has many resources for victims of rape and sexual assault CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
2 • THE PULSE • MARCH 28, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
FROM THE EDITOR VOLUME 16, ISSUE 13 • MARCH 28, 2019
BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL
EDITORIAL Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Jenn Webster City Editor Alex Curry Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors David Traver Adolphus • Adam Beckett Rob Brezsny • Jessie Gantt-Temple Matt Jones • Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib • Michael Thomas Brandon Watson • Jenn Webster Editorial Intern Jason Dale Cover Photo Courtesy Crisis Support Services Cartoonists Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow
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There Is Help It was years ago and I don’t think I’m going to tell you how old I was or what state I lived in, whether I was married or single, fresh-faced college kid or gray-haired professional. The point is, I could have been any of those things. Any race. Any gender. Any age, any sexual orientation.
Director of Sales Mike Baskin mike@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Rick Leavell • Cindee McBride Libby Phillips • John Rodriguez Danielle Swindell
CONTACT Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Emailw info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2019 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
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A NEW BBQ CONTENDER
12
‘E PLURIBUS UNUM’
24
I’m all for a high-end dining experience where chefs push the culinary boundaries of possibility, transforming ingredients into nearly unrecognizable artisanal masterpieces.
It’s been a whirlwind month for the versatile and inventive composer Jonathan B. McNair, whose nuanced and reflective compositions have been performed recently across the nation.
LISA DENNY TALKS RUGS
“Weaving is a very meditative art that takes bits of chaos and creates a calming effect.” Lisa Denny is a full-circle southern gal with a bachelor’s in studio art from West Georgia.
US TRANSCENDS HORROR
The wonderful thing about film is its duality. A good film is always about something, but it’s also about something else. Just like other art forms, there are themes to be found.
4 CONSIDER THIS
17 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
23 JONESIN' CROSSWORD
7 AIR BAG
20 MUSIC CALENDAR
25 NEW IN THEATERS
23 MUSIC REVIEWS
26 GAME ON!
14 ARTS CALENDAR
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 3
CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES
Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick
There's A New Barbeque Contender In Town Charlie’s BBQ & Bakery comes out swingin’ By Alex Curry Pulse City Editor
“Start over, my darling. Be brave enough to find the life you want and courageous enough to chase it. Then love yourself the way you were always meant to.” — Madalyn Beck As women’s history month draws to a close, I will leave you with a few more favorite bits of inspiration. Male or female, may you always be inspired by the wisdom of the woman. “Why do they say we’re over the hill, like it’s a bad thing? When I go hiking and I get over the hill that means I’m past the hard part and there’s a snack in my future.” — Ellen DeGeneres “Women, you are not rehabilitation centers for badly raised men.” — Julia Roberts “I am Crone. In my body is the Maiden and the Mother. See me not as your eyes see me. Rather, see me with your heart; the completion and fulfilment of the Goddess.” — Jade Sword
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As tempting as it is to jump into the deeply complicated history of American barbecue, today we’re focusing solely on my favorite new spot in town.”
— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
4 • THE PULSE • MARCH 28, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
I
’M ALL FOR A HIGH-END DINING EXPERIENCE WHERE chefs push the culinary boundaries of possibility, transforming ingredients into nearly unrecognizable artisanal masterpieces of gastronomy. That’s great…once in a while.
For the rest of the time, a big slab of tender brisket, slowly smoked all night long until it’s almost melting, sliced over a massive baked potato with all the fixins, a side of creamy mac and cheese, and perhaps the best chess pie I’ve ever had in my life, is so much more than good enough. In fact, I would put a well-cooked BBQ meal up against some of the “best” restaurants I’ve ever been to. When judged for focus on integrated depth of flavor and exquisite hardiness, nothing beats this traditional cuisine. As tempting as it is to jump into the deeply complicated history of American barbecue, today we’re focusing solely on my favorite new
spot in town. Charlie’s BBQ & Bakery opened last October in a renovated service station, and from what I can tell, business is booming. In the 45 minutes that I was there, the restaurant was full, the staff accepted at least three catering jobs, and they purchased a new smoker to meet steadily growing demand, all while a crew was outside hard at work building an outdoor seating area and small stage for the eventual live music that’s coming this summer. “We’re going to sod the whole back area and add a bunch of picnic tables. We want to have a place for the community to come and relax,” says pit-master Wes as he steps
EDITOONS
out of his semi-open kitchen. They have used the old clear refrigerator doors from the previous pit-stop establishment as a wall between the dining room and kitchen so people can see all of the magic as it happens. It has a cool effect on the layout of the restaurant and makes it appear more spacious than it actually is. “Don’t be a quitter,” he says in parting, noticing that I’m slowing down on my potato. “That’s going on our next round of t-shirts,” he finishes with a laugh. I assure him that I have no intention of giving up. “I just want to bake Southern grandma dishes,” says co-owner Elizabeth. It is her passion in life and is a wonderful and righteous passion indeed. And boy is she successful at it. A dessert cabinet next to the register is full of a variety of hand-crafted treats. I wish I had the room in my stomach to try more. They have ensured that I will return for the rest. Elizabeth goes on to talk about their new neighborhood and how excited
she is to live here. “Main Street is coming this way. People say it’s a rough neighborhood, but we’ve had nothing but good experiences. If you take care of people, they will take care of you. The people that come in here are Class-A people. We have homeless people that come in and we’re happy to feed them. We take care of our community and they take care of us.” Charlie’s is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Need some brownie points? Pick up a sweet treat from the bakery collection for your significant other on the way home. If you aren’t convinced to give them a try, check out their Instagram at @ charlieschattanooga and I promise you’ll be on your way. Just remember that closing time is a guideline only. “Most of our BBQ has to cook for 14 hours. When we’re out, we’re out!” reminds Elizabeth. Best to come early. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 5
6 • THE PULSE • MARCH 28, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
COLUMN · AIR BAG
More Car For Your Money Our car guy wants you to get off the armchair carback bench
F David Traver Adolphus Pulse columnist
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There was a desire to display their manufacturing prowess to the world, and a middle and upper class with disposable income and an appetite for domestic luxury products.”
David Traver Adolphus is a freelance automotive researcher who quit his full time job writing about old cars to pursue his lifelong dream of writing about old AND new cars. Follow him on Twitter as @proscriptus.
ROM EARLY ON IN THIS COLumn, and early on in my career, I’ve talked up the many reasons to own semi-old German cars, from around 1970 and later. Before that they’re also great, but largely priced out of reach. I owned a couple, kind of. I had a pair of 1973 BMW Bavarias that I never quite got running, so never got to experience them as transportation. By the late 1960s, Germany was emerging from the shattering poverty of the Postwar era and beginning its transformation into the industrial engine of Europe that it remains to this day. There was a desire to display their manufacturing prowess to the world, and a middle and upper class with disposable income and an appetite for domestic luxury products. Combined with the engineering skills of a generation whose talents were once turned towards evil and the corporate will to excel at any cost, the result was the highest quality automobiles ever constructed, particularly those from Mercedes-Benz. The era of what I consider the truly great Mercedes runs from 1965-1996, a period during which engineering uniformly came first, and a number of models were so expensive to engineer and build they were sold at a loss. So naturally, last fall, I bought one from one year after that era, a 1997 E420. What had changed for Mercedes was one sort-of word, Lexus, which was undercutting Mercedes by more than $10,000. The response was a new, less expensive “W210” chassis, anathema to the faithful. However, there was one
solace, the engine in the E420 called M119. The M119 was an all-aluminum, DOHC V-8 operating at 11.0:1 compression that whipped out 275 hp and 295 lbf.ft of torque. That’s not stunning today when you can get that from a Chevy V-6, but in ‘97 it’s the same power you got from the 5.7-liter engine in a Z/28 Camaro. It was absolutely state of the art. Despite the cost cutting, it was still arguably the finest car in the world—or maybe even because of it. Tauter and with styling that graced the cover of the New York Auto Show program that year, it holds the road far better than anything that size should. What it was really designed for, though, was solving the equation where gasoline=distance. The 18-way pneumatic seats in my 22-year-old car may be funky; it may eat brakes and the wiring may be aging; but it remains unpar-
alleled on the highway. I knew what I was getting into with my E420. It’s old and it was very expensive and very complicated in its day. Old, expensive and complicated components are not known for aging well. Nevertheless, it has exceeded all my expectations by being a car with a soul. It’s hard to define how that happens and I’m not entirely sure you can even build that in on purpose. Maybe you need a few flaws and compromises to highlight what’s truly good about a car. Even as the writers of the time were mourning Mercedes’ cost-noobject past, they still heaped praise on it. When Motor Trend concluded their one-year test of the car, their publisher couldn’t let it go—after being hammered on by journalists for 17,000 miles, he bought it. Whatever spirit you can put into a piece of machinery, it’s still got it today.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 7
COVER STORY
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There Is Help Chattanooga has many resources for victims of rape and sexual assault By Jenn Webster, Pulse Assistant Editor
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T WAS YEARS AGO AND I DON’T THINK I’M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW OLD I was or what state I lived in, whether I was married or single, fresh-faced college kid or gray-haired professional. The point is, I could have been any of those things. Any race. Any gender. Any age, any sexual orientation. I was raped. None of this makes me special. Out of the possible writers who could have been assigned to this story, if Chattanooga tracks with the national averages, one in five women has been raped. One in 71 men has been raped. (Seem like a small number? Figure up how many guys you went to high school with. Then do the math.) One in three women and one in six men have experienced sexual violence. Out of multiracial women, almost half have experienced sexual violence. Rates are high for other women of color, too. Forty percent of gay men have experienced sexual violence. Forty-seven percent—you didn’t read that wrong—of transgender men and women have been sexually assaulted. If you’re straight and white, you’re maybe out of the worst of it. But still. Too many of us, too many of our brothers and sisters, are being hurt. Chattanooga’s rates of rape and sexual assault likely track closely with national figures, says Harlee Milligan, sexual violence community educator with Partnership for Families, Children and Adults. Still, she adds, most of those people do not get help. “Our biggest barrier to knowing the number in Chattanooga is that most folks who are assaulted are not reporting it,” she says. “One in 10 may report to law enforcement. But we assume it’s around the national average based on the people who call us or come in for services.” Reporting versus seeking help—that’s a big distinction. If you’re reading this and you’ve been raped
or sexually assaulted, you may assume that seeking help means starting up a big engine of accusation and scrutiny, perhaps risking retaliation by your assailant. But it’s important to distinguish seeking help from turning to law enforcement. Partnership FCA has a host of resources for people who have experienced rape or sexual violence, whether a few minutes ago or years back. The first step is a conversation. “We start by believing,” says Rachel Alonge, sexual assault advocate with Partnership. “The first thing we do is affirm the experience of the person coming to our center. Statistically, there are various responses when people disclose. We want our crisis center at Partnership to be where people can be affirmed and believed. We start with our clients in creating the safe space of belief, then move to the resources that would best benefit them.” The resources at Partnership’s Rape Crisis Center include: • Crisis counseling with an experienced, on-site counselor
• In-person advocacy for people who wish to visit medical providers or report to law enforcement • A medical exam at an on-site clinic with nurses trained in helping sexual assault victims (rape kits can be obtained up to five days after an assault) • In-person support for court appearances and help navigating the court system (though not legal representation) • Assistance in finding safe shelter Anyone age 13 and up can come to Partnership for help. Abled adult victims can rely on complete privacy; abuse of children will be reported to Child Protective Services and abuse of disabled adults to Adult Protective Services. People of any religion, race, sexual orientation, or gender, including transgender and non-binary people, are welcome. The counselors at the Rape Crisis Center at Partnership can’t make the rape or assault not have happened; they aren’t superheroes. But what they can do is stick with someone who’s experienced rape or sexual assault from the initial conversation through the often-daunting interactions with medicine and law enforcement. “There can be shame associated with someone’s assault, and sharing those details can be difficult to do,” Milligan tells me. “Having someone walk
Partnership FCA has a host of resources for people who have experienced rape or sexual violence, whether a few minutes ago or years back. The first step is a conversation. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 9
COVER STORY
Tragically, due to social stigma, Dr. Pimental-Habib says it may not be safe for LGBT people to report sexual assault or rape directly. alongside that [journey] with you can be helpful.” SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THE LGBT COMMUNITY Gay, lesbian, bi and trans people face domestic violence, including sexual assault, at higher rates than the rest of the population, says Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., C.C.H., an author and counselor who works in Chattanooga, focusing on the needs of the LGBT community. Many segments of this group face higher rates of assault by strangers, too, than do straight/cis people. “Societal pressures, especially rejection from family, rejection from churches, and rejection from our administration plays a really strong role in that,” he says, noting that substance abuse is also more prevalent in this community. “Anybody who is facing that much of an uphill battle to be who they are is going to be prevalent for reaching for more crutches, and some of those will be unhealthy. On top of that, think about the trans community and how transphobic our society historically has been. I think right now trans people are more out…they are sort of marked by those who want to do them harm; they are bearing a brunt of what we hear about.” Tragically, due to social stigma, Dr. Pimental-Habib says it may not be safe for LGBT people to report sexual assault or rape directly. This is doubly 10 • THE PULSE • MARCH 28, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
so for trans people. “Trans people in small towns, even in cities, take a big risk in coming out,” he says. “Being that courageous when you’re so vulnerable [means sexual assault] is vastly underreported. That has to change.” Side-by-side with advocating courage, Dr. Pimental-Habib notes that LGBT people should keep themselves safe, taking precautions that might not be necessary for the straight/cis community. It’s a hard balance— courage and caution. When it comes to reporting to police, he again recommends discretion. “Until society’s attitude comes around, until religions come on board, we must be extra careful,” he tells me. “Not all gay people feel comfortable calling the police, and for good reason. We may be targeted by corrupt or homophobic police, we may be taken frivolously and not seriously. Hopefully, that is changing— I’m in East Ridge and our police are great—but we all know it’s not where it needs to be.” Dr. Pimental-Habib suggests turning first to a close friend or family member, someone who will listen with love and respect, if we experience sexual violence. Having an advocate present can make it easier to speak with medical providers and peace officers, especially at a time when it can be hard to come out and share our stories with even the most accepting, compassionate professionals.
WHAT TO DO IF What do you do if you are one of those friends, neighbors, or family members and someone you know tells you that he or she has been sexually assaulted or raped? Rachel Brann, intern at the Rape Crisis Center at Partnership, has solid advice for how to respond when a friend, family member, or acquaintance lets you know they’ve experienced sexual violence. “Start by believing,” she says. “Say you believe them. Say ‘Thank you for sharing.’ Recognize the bravery. It can be the smallest, simplest thing that can skyrocket the trajectory of their healing.” Brann also encourages people to be aware in advance of resources such as Partnership’s Rape Crisis Center, but to also recognize that the survivor is on a healing journey. “You can give them the resource, but let them make the decision to seek out resources,” she says. “Sexual violence is a crime of power and control. We aim to give power and control back to the survivor by empowering them to decide what referrals and what actions to take.” “Follow up with, ‘It wasn’t your fault,’” Milligan adds. “The way you react, especially if you are the first person they tell, can shape whether they ever seek resources or if it becomes their deep and dark secret. It’s important to be supportive in that.” Notice what’s not on this list? Jumping into action mode. Preemptively calling cops or EMS for your friend. Asking a lot of questions. Don’t. Just—don’t. You want to empower survivors to tell as much or as little as they want to tell and to seek the help they want to seek on their own schedule. And if you’re the survivor? Know that you did nothing to deserve this—not where you went, what you wore, who you got involved with. If you are a sex worker, you don’t
Seek out help as it seems right to you. Seek justice according to your personal definition, whether that involves selfhealing or the court system or both. deserve assault. If you are married to your rapist, you don’t deserve assault. If you are a child or a senior citizen, you don’t deserve assault. If you’re fat, you don’t deserve assault. If you’re skinny, you don’t deserve assault. If you’re male and your attacker is female, you don’t deserve assault. Seek out help as it seems right to you. Seek justice according to your personal definition, whether that involves self-healing or the court system or both. And it’s okay if there’s quite a while when you’re still deciding how you feel about things. RESOURCES ALL AROUND Partnership isn’t the only referral center in Chattanooga. Like Alonge and Milligan, Brann has spent time working with people who have experienced rape and sexual assault, and she’s learned a lot through her experience. Experience-backed intuition, she says, goes a long way to identifying safe community partners and
resources. “It’s different for everyone,” she says when asked about confiding in churches or other community groups. “It can be a gut feeling or how they’ve responded to you telling them things in general.” “Look for organizations that have created safe spaces,” Milligan says, adding, “Partnership is always safe.” RESOURCE LIST • Cempa—free, confidential STD testing/ (423) 265-2273, cempa.org • Partnership for Families, Children and Adults—safe shelter, forensic exams, 24/7 crisis hotline, crisis counseling, lethality assessments, court advocacy, community referrals. HOTLINE: (423) 755-2700, partnershipfca.com/109/crisis-services • Second Life—survivor services for those impacted by human trafficking. HOTLINE: (855) 558-6484, secondlifetn.org
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 11
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Lisa Denny Talks Rug Weaving & More Discovering the spiritual in a utilitarian art
By Jessie Gantt-Temple Pulse contributor
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Riviera wanted her to get a more hands-on approach to rugs so they flew her to India for a lifechanging trip.” 12 • THE PULSE • MARCH 28, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
“W
EAVING IS A VERY MEDITATIVE ART THAT takes bits of chaos and creates a calming effect.” Lisa Denny, a full-circle southern gal with a bachelor’s in studio art from the University of West Georgia, is taking her experience with rug design and elevating it to enhance walls with woven fibers. She moved here in 2000 for a career in rug design and, after fourteen years at her dream job, her position was eliminated. “It was a very emotional time but I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason,” Lisa smiles as she alludes to the last few years that have provided so much growth for her both personally and professionally. In 2014, she got a job working for Riviera, an Indian-based rug company
which allowed her to grow her skill while working from home. At her previous rug design job, she was a master at weaving using a machine, but Riviera wanted her to get a more handson approach to rugs so they flew her to India for a life-changing trip. “Weaving found me. In many ways it saved me. It got me through some tough times.” She hashtagged her photos from that trip as “Eat, Pray, Rug” because
it was such an overwhelming experience. In 2014, she also bought her first little toy loom and started weaving artistically. Lisa points to the cute plastic, purple loom that rests against her much larger, more professional wooden loom in her studio. After several years of working and crafting at home, she decided she needed “a place for the glitter to fall and a reason to put on pants.” Who can’t relate to that? So in 2017, she obtained a fourth floor studio at the Chattanooga Workspace with her longtime pal, Janet Campbell Bradley. “Being around artists gave me inspiration to really make art again,” Denny explains. She was so motivated that she wanted to share her woven stories and encourage others to learn how to weave by joining in her workshops. Her beginner or intermediate weave workshops can be customized and host a maximum of eight people. There is a lot of one-on-one and although she says she could teach more, she prefers to keep it intimate. The classes can be in her work space or yours and the pricing varies per size and project. Lisa says that the classes are great for social gatherings like a bridal party or for a group who may need to find healing in creativity, “someone who needs to slow down and weave all their worries and trou-
“
She was so motivated that she wanted to share her woven stories and encourage others to learn how to weave by joining in her workshops” bles into something uplifting.” In her class, you work with a loom kit and a variety of yarn. You learn four stitches, then take your beautiful, one-of-a-kind crafted piece home. Her next class, “Cloud Weaving”, is on April 6th, hosted at The Chattery, which is also located in Chattanooga Workspace. You can take her class as well as check out some of her art that is available for purchase. One of my favorites is her “Four Seasons”, an interactive piece where she allowed passersby to contribute a weave over the duration of a year. It has countless contributors with a single theme of togetherness. She will demo a similar concept on April 7th at the Hunter Museum for their family day. “I don’t have a delicate nature,” she laughs as we talk about the different materials used in some of her designs. “I like stretching and pushing the medium towards the art world.” For instance, she has used wool roving, paper clay, old t-shirts, satin, netting, big spikes from the former
Estate of Confusion, sea shells, and refurbished canvas, some of these elements within the same piece. She has even dipped the weaved fabric into paint. Lisa describes her work as having a more organic feel because she doesn’t really have a set plan for when she starts creating. “I’m so feral since I’ve had a taste of working on my own,” she says with a laugh. During her full-time job, she is required to execute rug patterns and therefore she enjoys the unplanned approach that helps blend her profession with more personal creativity. “I get my inspiration from nature and most importantly, from the common experiences that bind us together as humans.” You can revel in her woven works of art in Studio 4K at each First Friday, hosted by the Chattanooga Workspace. To find out more about her classes or to schedule a private workshop, check out lisadenneyartanddesign.com
THU3.28
FRI3.29
SAT3.30
Kedi Film Screening
The Musical of Musicals
Whats The Big Deal
The Chatt State Film Festival kicks off with a screen and talk with local documentary filmmaker Bo Wheeler. 4 p.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu
A funny, clever parody of the musical theatre styles of Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and more. 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu
Prepare to laugh, be enlightened, be inspired, and be thoroughly entertained with a poetry & comedy showcase. 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 13
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR Big Trouble in Little China
THURSDAY3.28 Festival de Primavera 10 a.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu Eva Kor: Holocaust Survivor Stories 11 a.m. Iles PE Center University Dr. (423) 236-2850 southern.edu Red Wolf Revival Film Screening Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Urban Farmers Market and Marketplace 3 p.m. Miller Park 910 Market St. millerparkmarket.com Kedi Film Screening and Talk with Local Documentarian Bo Wheeler 4 p.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 5 p.m. Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 760-3600
14 • THE PULSE • MARCH 28, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
huttonandsmithbrewing.com Gallery Opening: Senior Art on Display 6 p.m. John C. Williams Gallery University Dr. (423) 236-2850 southern.edu Creative Journaling 101 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Movies with Mat: Big Trouble in Little China 7:30 p.m. Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 760-3600 huttonandsmithbrewing.com Jay Stevens 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Giant Idiot Comedy Tour with Derek Sheen & John Gibson 8 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Alcoholics Not Anonymous Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com
Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m. Westbound Bar 24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com
FRIDAY3.29 Red Wolf Revival Film Screening Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Improv For Grown Folks 6 p.m. RISE Chattanooga 401 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 402-0452 jazzanooga.org Student Film Screening 6:30 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com The Musical of Musicals 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu Jay Stevens 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Improv “Movie” Night
Presents: Natural Disaster Movie 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Video Game Night 8 p.m. Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Good, Old-Fashioned Improv Show 10 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SATURDAY3.30 Spring Cruise In 8 a.m. Camp Jordan Park 300 Camp Jordan Pkwy. (423) 490-0078 eastridgeparksandrec.com Walk A Mile Chattanooga 8:30 a.m. Coolidge Park 150 River St. (423) 643-6311
Aquaman partnershipfca.com Rooted in Color: A Conference on Collecting African American Art 9 a.m. The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Wood Carving 101 11:30 a.m. Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Red Wolf Revival Film Screening Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Launch Party for Natalie Lloyd’s “Over The Moon” 2 p.m. Star Line Books 1467 Market St. (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com Movie Night: Aquaman 6 p.m. Northgate Library 278 Northgate Mall Dr. (423) 643-7785 chattlibrary.org Chatt State Film Festival
Panel Discussion & Awards Ceremony 6:30 p.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu Soiree for the Schools 7 p.m. Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org The Musical of Musicals 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu Jay Stevens 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Your Stories 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Whats The Big Deal Poetry & Comedy Showcase 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Once A Month Comedy Showcase 8 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave.
(423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Unmask 8 p.m. SPOT Arts Venue 3210 Brainerd Rd. spotvenue.co Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SUNDAY3.31 Ballet in the Park Noon Miller Park 910 Market St. millerparkmarket.com Ooltewah Bridal Market Noon Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 531-7754 cambridgesquaretn.com The Musical of Musicals 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu UN//FOLDING 2:30 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Kung Fu Theater Double
Feature 6 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Eric Foster and Friends 7 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY4.1 Spring Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m. Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd. (423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com April Fools’ Day Conversation with George Singleton 6 p.m. Star Line Books 1467 Market St. (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com Beginner Astrology 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Joggers & Lagers 6 p.m. Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. chattabrew.com Archaeology Museum Lecture CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 15
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Main Street Farmers Market 7 p.m. Lynn Wood Hall Chapel University Dr. (423) 236-2850 southern.edu First Monday Improv Comedy 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org
TUESDAY4.2 Wake Up & Run 6 a.m. Fleet Feet Sports 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 771-7996 fleetfeetchattanooga.com Chess K-night 5 p.m. Mad Priest Coffee Roasters 1900 Broad St. (423) 393-3834 madpriestcoffee.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Intermediate Handlettering: Bounce and Serif 6:15 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Paths to Pints along the Riverwalk
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6:30 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com English Country Dance for All! 7 p.m. Heritage House Arts & Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov
WEDNESDAY4.3 Main Street Farmers Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Improv Open House 7 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m. The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Open Mic Night 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse. com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY 3. Nalligijauvutit: You are loved! 4. Kajusitsiatuinnagit: Keep it up! APRIL FOOL! I lied. Now isn’t really a better time than any other to learn the Inuktitut language. But it is an important time to talk to yourself using phrases like those I mentioned. You need to be extra kind and super positive toward yourself.
ROB BREZSNY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Kermit the Frog from Sesame Street is the world’s most famous puppet. He has recorded songs, starred in films and TV shows, and written an autobiography. His image has appeared on postage stamps and he has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Kermit’s beginnings were humble, however. When his creator Jim Henson first assembled him, he consisted of Henson’s mom’s green coat and two halves of a white ping pong ball. I mention this, Aries, because the current astrological omens suggest that you, too, could make a puppet that will one day have great influence. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. Here’s the whole truth: now isn’t a favorable time to start work on a magnificent puppet. But it is a perfect moment to launch the rough beginnings of a project that’s well-suited for your unique talents. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus businessman Chuck Feeney made a huge fortune as the entrepreneur who co-developed duty-free shopping. But at age 87, he lives frugally, having given away $8 billion to philanthropic causes. He doesn’t even own a house or car. In accordance with astrological omens, I invite you to follow his lead in the coming weeks. Be unreasonably generous and exorbitantly helpful. APRIL FOOL! I exaggerated a bit. While it’s true that now is an extra favorable time to bestow blessings on everyone, you shouldn’t go overboard. Make sure your giving is artful, not careless or compulsive. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Now is a perfect time to start learning the Inuktitut language spoken by the indigenous people of Eastern Canada. Here are some key phrases to get you underway. 1. UllusiuKattagit inosek: Celebrate your life! 2. Pitsialagigavit, piggogutivagit!: Because you’re doing amazing things, I’m proud of you!
CANCER (June 21-July 22): When he was twenty years old, Greek military leader Alexander the Great began to conquer the world. By age 30, he ruled the vast territory between Greece and northwest India. Never shy about extolling his own glory, he named 70 cities after himself. I offer his example as a model for you. Now is a favorable time to name clouds after yourself, as well as groves of trees, stretches of highway, buses, fire hydrants, parking spaces, and rocks. APRIL FOOL. I got a bit carried away. It’s true that now is a good time to assert your authority, extend your clout, and put your unique stamp on every situation. But I don’t recommend that you name entire cities after yourself. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Now is an excellent time to join an exotic religion. How about the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which believes that true spiritual devotion requires an appreciation of satire? Or how about Discordianism, which worships the goddess of chaos and disorder? Then there’s the United Church of Bacon, whose members exult in the flavor of their favorite food. (Here’s a list of more: tinyurl.com/WeirdReligions.) APRIL FOOL! I wasn’t entirely truthful. It’s accurate to say that now is a great time to reinvigorate and transform your spiritual practice. But it’s better if you figure that out by yourself. There’s no need to get your ideas from a bizarre cult. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Studies show that people who love grilled cheese sandwiches engage in more sexual escapades than those who don’t gorge on grilled cheese sandwiches. So I advise you to eat a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches, because then you will have more sex than usual. And that’s important, because you are now in a phase when you will reap huge healing benefits from having as much sex as possible. APRIL FOOL! I lied when I implied that eating more grilled cheese sandwiches would motivate you to have more sex. But I wasn’t lying when I said that you should have more sex than usual. And I wasn’t lying when I said you will
What’s the best joke or prank you could play on yourself? Share your personal creativity at FreeWillAstrology.com reap huge benefits from having as much sex as possible. (P.S. If you don’t have a partner, have sex with your fantasies or yourself.) LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): If you ever spend time at the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, you’ll get a chance to become a member of the 300 Club. To be eligible, you wait till the temperature ouside drops to minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When it does, you spend 20 minutes in a sauna heated to 200 degrees. Then you exit into the snow and ice wearing nothing but white rubber boots, and run a few hundred feet to a ceremonial pole and back. In so doing, you expose your naked body to a swing of 300 degrees. According to my astrological analysis, now is an ideal time to pull off this feat. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I’m not really urging you to join the 300 Club. On the other hand, I do think it’s a favorable phase to go to extremes for an authentically good cause. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scientific research shows that if you arrange to get bitten by thousands of mosquitoes in a relatively short time, you make yourself immune. Forever after, mosquito bites won’t itch you. Now would be an excellent time for you to launch such a project. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I don’t really think you should do that. On the contrary. You should scrupulously avoid irritations and aggravations, especially little ones. Instead, immerse yourself in comfort and ease. Be as free from vexation as you have ever been! SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If allowed to do what comes naturally, two rabbits and their immediate descendants will produce 1,300 new rabbits in twelve months’ time. In five years, their offspring would amount to 94 million. I suspect that you will approach this level of fertility in the next four weeks, at least in a metaphorical sense. APRIL FOOL! I stretched the truth a bit. There’s no way you will produce more than a hundred good new ideas and productions and gifts. At the most, you’ll generate a mere 50.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The weather is warm year-round and the crime rate is low on Pitcairn, a remote South Pacific island that is a 30-hour boat ride away from the nearest airport. The population has been dwindling in recent years, however, which is why the government offers foreigners free land if they choose to relocate. You might want to consider taking advantage of this opportunity. APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating. It’s true that you could get major health benefits by taking a sabbatical from civilization. But there’s no need to be so drastic about it. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You don’t have to run faster than the bear that’s chasing you. You just have to run faster than the slowest person the bear is chasing. OK? So don’t worry! APRIL FOOL! What I just said wasn’t your real horoscope. I hope you know me well enough to understand that I would NEVER advise you to save your own ass by betraying or sacrificing someone else. It’s also important to note that the bear I mentioned is entirely metaphorical in nature. So please ignore what I said earlier. However, I do want you to know that there are effective ways to elude the symbolic bear that are also honorable. To discover them, meditate on calming down the beastly bear-like qualities in yourself. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Now is a favorable time to disguise yourself as a bland nerd with no vivid qualities, or a shy wallflower with no strong opinions, or a polite wimp who prefers to avoid adventure. Please don’t even consider doing anything that’s too interesting or controversial. APRIL FOOL! I lied. The truth is, I hope you’ll do the opposite of what I suggested. I think it’s time to express your deep authentic self with aggressive clarity. Be brave and candid and enterprising. Rob Brezsny is an aspiring master of curiosity, perpetrator of sacred uproar, and founder of the Beauty and Truth Lab. He brings a literate, myth-savvy perspective to his work. It’s all in the stars.
The List The Trees Are Not Our Friends Spring is here. Which means, one: pollen. And considering the Tennessee Valley is home to the second largest collection of pollen producing plants in the world, chances are you’re allergic to something. That said, there are probably a few things you didn’t know about pollen. At least until today. • Pollen travels hundreds of miles. Yep, ragweed pollen has been tracked over 400 miles away from its origin. Achoo! • You’re probably not allergic to flowers. It’s the weeds, grasses, and trees the produce the most annoying pollen. Achoo! • Pollen seasons are longer than they used to be. Blame climate change. Really. And yes, it’s real. Achoo! • Thunderstorms worsen asthma. While regular rain helps knock down pollen, lightning rips apart mold and pollen cells, making things even worse. Achoo!
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 17
THE MUSIC SCENE
Get Ready For ‘E Pluribus Unum’
Jonathan McNair comes to the Tivoli Theater Have Bucket, Will Travel There are guitar players. There are peculiar guitar players. But there’s not one guitar player who’s even as remotely peculiar as Buckethead, a 6’6” masked man who performs under an enigmatic persona while donning a chicken bucket upon his head. He’s an instrumental guitarist who doesn’t remain in one genre, maneuvering between various metals including progressive, funk, and even ambient, a genre quite contradictory to his feral stage presence. It’s effortless to note that Buckethead’s music catalog is overwhelming: in 2015 alone, he released 118 albums, averaging an album every three days. These albums, or “pikes” as he refers to them, are typically made up of songs of ten minutes, more or less, which reach a total length of half an hour or so. If you’re seeking an answer as to why Buckethead wears the chicken bucket, it’s a feature of his animalistic persona: a man “raised by chickens” who seeks to “alert the world to the ongoing chicken holocaust in fast-food joints around the globe.” But despite his enigmatic persona and his almost implausible rate of music output, Buckethead’s skill as a guitarist has ultimately led to his fame and collaboration with greats such as Iggy Pop and Bootsy Collins, and, for a time, status as a member of Guns N’ Roses. He may have an eccentric image, but Buckethead’s prowess as a multi-genre guitarist is his most definitive feature. Buckethead will be performing at The Signal this Friday at 8:30 p.m. For tickets, visit thesignaltn.com. — Jason Dale
By Ernie Paik Pulse contributor
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The meaning of the phrase is ‘Out of many, one.’ That certainly fit the ‘melting pot’ notion of American society.”
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T’S BEEN A WHIRLWIND MONTH FOR THE VERSATILE and inventive composer and UTC professor Jonathan B. McNair, whose nuanced and reflective compositions have been performed recently across the nation.
These include the solo piece “Circus of Dreams” (for flute and metal bowls) in Kentucky, the orchestral “Meditation on Mercy” in Texas, and the string quartet piece “All a-Cryin’” at the TUTTI Festival in Ohio—not to mention several Chattanooga performances. McNair took the time to answer some questions for The Pulse in advance of the premiere of his symphonic fanfare “E Pluribus Unum” this Thursday by the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra at the Tivoli Theater. The Pulse: Can you describe the creation of “E Pluribus Unum”? Jonathan McNair: I chose the title “E Pluribus Unum” after having begun the fanfare. This Latin phrase is
on the great seal of the USA, and at one time was also printed on US currency. The meaning of the phrase is “Out of many, one.” That certainly fit the “melting pot” notion of American society being made up of individuals from many places and many walks of life. It also implies a kind of unity in a large sense of the word, a unity that has become terribly fractured in our current political environment, such that we as a nation need to revisit the ideas and ideals behind the choice of the phrase by our early leaders. As I thought about the phrase, it also struck me that it fits the orchestra: out of many individuals, one ensemble.
Out of many instruments, one unified sound. And, it works musically as well: out of many notes, one composition. Music director and Maestra Kayoko Dan proposed the idea of commissioning several Chattanooga-area composers for this season, and she and the Symphony Board were able to find the funding to make it happen. I began working on the musical ideas over the summer of 2018, first by thinking of the nature of the music. What is a fanfare, and what is its purpose? While one could certainly choose to go in a counterintuitive direction with the idea, I chose for this first CSO-commissioned work to let the music be energetic, upbeat, even ebullient at times. TP: You have a diverse body of work—could you describe a few pieces that represent the range of your compositions? Do you have a personal favorite? JM: One of my favorites from my catalogue of pieces is “Digressions” for violin and piano. It has been played a good bit, around the USA and internationally, and now by four or five different violinists. It is based on a collection of intervals (the spaces between notes) that are used freely to create a variety of melodies and accompaniment
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I chose for this first CSOcommissioned work to let the music be energetic, upbeat, even ebullient at times.” figures and harmonies, making a varied surface that has underlying unity. This is an approach I have used many times, in place of writing in a “key”. It gets gritty at times, is humorous at times, and is sweet and lovely at times. I have written a good bit of vocal music (mostly in “keys”), and some of my art-song settings are among my favorites also: using Walt Whitman’s poetry in my “Nocturnal” songs, the third song of the set “This is the hour, O soul...” Simple, and beautiful. A few surprises and a nice build-up. And a setting of Wendell Berry’s “February 2, 1968” for voice and string quartet—such a simple and deeply emotional poem, and the setting is reserved to allow the words to speak. TP: As a professor, how do you help unlock creativity in your students? And yourself? JM: For my students, I endeavor to meet them where they are comfortable, ask a lot of questions, make sugges-
tions, and help them get the first project(s) written and played. Then, we can take on more challenging projects. The goal is to help them discover and develop their own “voices”, not to imitate their teacher. And, to help them develop the ability to ask themselves the questions I would ask them, to think about their music in ways that can help them be independently creative. For myself, I read poetry; when possible, I read fiction. Some non-fiction. I listen to music and sometimes dissect what I am hearing to understand how it was put together—whether it is Duke Ellington, Béla Fleck, or a classical work. I get outside and walk, with my dog, hoping for quiet time with no stimuli other than birds and what we can see (no earbuds). I work in the yard (again, no ear-buds) to maintain a connection to the earth. Time to think is highly valuable and absolutely essential to any creative person.
THU3.28 Open Mic Night Jonathan Wimpee hosts this weekly gathering of the unknown and unexpected in town. 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
FRI3.29 Mustache Friday Sport your best bushy undernose facial hair and enjoy the Unofficial Bob Weir Afterparty with some great local bands. 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
SAT3.30 Max Hatt & Edda Glass Music that stretches from the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the prairies of the American West. 7 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 19
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Bob Weir & Wolf Brothers
THURSDAY3.28 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m. St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Danimal & Friends 6 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Company 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Matt Downer 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Steve Busie 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Amber Fults 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd.
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(423) 296-1073 Owen & Em 7:30 p.m. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Mac Powell & The Family Reunion 8 p.m. Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic Night 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Oweda and The Afternooners 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
FRIDAY3.29 Binji Varsossa 6 p.m. Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Jessie Jungkurth
6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Ryan Oyer 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jason D. Williams 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. events.songbirds.rocks Tim Lewis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Zech Dallas 7 p.m. Oddstory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Bob Weir & Wolf Brothers 7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Steep Canyon Rangers 8 p.m. Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com THE Dubber 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave.
barkinglegs.org Buckethead 8:30 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Maya Trippe and Kyle Littleton 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Lenox Hills with Drumming Bird and Ayla Silver 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. events.songbirds.rocks Caney Village 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com John Carroll 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Joe Finkle & The 7/10 Splits 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Mustache Friday (Unofficial Bob Weir Afterparty) 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd.
Choir of Clare College, Cambridge jjsbohemia.com Mark Andrew 9 p.m. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Rick Byers Band 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY3.30 Binji Varsossa 6 p.m. Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Jimmy Dormire 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Megan Howard 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Eric Baker 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. events.songbirds.rocks Max Hatt & Edda Glass 7 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse
105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Forever Bluegrass 7 p.m. Westbound Bar 24 Station St. westboundbar.com Tim Lewis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Choir of Clare College, Cambridge 7 p.m. Collegedale Church of Seventhday Adventists 4829 College Dr. E. collegedalechurch.com Joe Finkle & The 7/10 Splits 7 p.m. Edley’s Bar-B-Que 205 Manufacturers Rd. edleysbbq.com Aquaducts & Killakeys 7:30 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Company 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com The Beaters 8:30 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. events.songbirds.rocks September Song 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant
2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com David 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Dr. B and the Ease 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Daikaiju, Pinkie Doodle Poodle, Taco Mouth 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Rick Byers Band 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY3.31 Sistren 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Carl Pemberton 11 a.m. Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Stephen Busie
12 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com The Briars 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com The Other Brothers 2 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Company 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Un/Folding: An Immersive Live Performance by Composer Tim Hinck 2:30 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View huntermuseum.org Monthly Jazz Jam 3 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Bluegrass Jam 4 p.m. Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Bach Choir Cantata Concert 5 p.m. Christ Church Episcopal 663 Douglas St. christchurchchattanooga.org CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 21
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Jackson Browne Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Paul Thorn Band and Reckless Kelly 7 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. events.songbirds.rocks Jackson Browne 7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com
MONDAY4.1 Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Psychic Dungeon, LVNDRy 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd.
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jjsbohemia.com
TUESDAY4.2 Danimal 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Space Jam Open Mic with Xll Olympians 7 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Live Jam Session with Freddy Mc & Friends 8 p.m.
Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com The Infamous Stringdusters 8:30 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Glass Mansions, A Sunday Fire 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
LIVE MUSIC SPOTLIGHT A staunch and unwavering commitment to progression is how an unassuming group of five friends can collectively become a Grammy Award-winning force of nature. The Infamous Stringdusters Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com
WEDNESDAY4.3 Jason Lyles 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Randall Adams 8 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 Peelander Z, Toward Space, Shaky’s Bad Knee 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com David Anthony and The Groove Machine 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
ADAM BECKETT'S RECORD REVIEWS
Josh McCausland Unaccompanied Melodies Volume 1
Side Affect Side Affect’s Changes
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the listener and accompany them throughout their daily lives. It is perfect music for sunsets, mornings, car rides, and all beautiful settings. The artist healed himself while creating the music and it has healing properties for those who listen to it. The whole album is meticulously composed with good intentions, and the album was put together for all the right reasons. A start-to-finish honest listen is recommended; however, standout tracks “Hot Chocolate”, “Song for Chels”, “Inner Monologue’s Closing Arguments”, “Nostalgia”, and “Memories in Black and White” all are something truly remarkable. This album is phenomenal and one of a kind. It should be in the music collection of all people. Chattanooga artists are constantly scaling new heights with their capabilities, and McCausland is a hidden treasure for which we should all be grateful.
he Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of music is “vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” When local musician Josh McCausland put together his recently released modern / neo classical album Unaccompanied Melodies Volume 1, he produced an album that matched the definition flawlessly. Tapping into self-expression while simultaneously using music as a tool to heal self-conflict is an aspect of music artists don’t always implement. According to Josh McCausland’s Bandcamp page, “Healing plays a large part in creation as an outward expression for internal struggles,” and “Art is his way of continuing to exist.” It is awesome when an artist can pour their heart and soul into their music and make an album that expresses their feelings, while simultaneously connecting with other humans in the process. That is what music is all about. McCausland is an extraordinarily deep and talented musician, and his music will capture the hearts and minds of anyone who takes the time to listen to it. The uplifting yet ambient Unaccompanied Melodies is a grounding and centering album that will captivate
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he music scene in Chattanooga is an ever evolving and growing entity that is extraordinarily potent. It is comparable to Van Aken’s creation, the Tree of 40 Fruit, that can produce forty different pitted fruits like apricots, plums, cherries, nectarines, etc. Each fruit is delicious in its own right and has an angle that makes it spectacular, but it is an endless discus-
sion among the people who eat from it to say which one is the best and why. One of the tastiest treats from Chattanooga’s exquisite music tree is the short but sweet Side Affect’s Changes by local artist Side Affect. The indie pop / dance pop album is a flavorful album that is multifaceted and far from bland. The intelligent borderline electronic dance music album has a funky vibe to it, and it effortlessly flows. Each track has the ability to grasp the listener and penetrate their bones. The four-track LP will certainly leave listeners wanting more. The powerful and thought-provoking lyrics coincide with a blissful melody. Kicking things off with “Changes”, Side Affect started the LP with a powerful statement, showing that theirs is the best on this tree. It does not mimic any other music on this earth; it is paving its own way and the frequency is next level. The LP is the kind of thing that starts locally in Chattanooga, and before long people are listening to it in France. It truly has a universal sound to it, and musically it is untouchable in terms of purity. While most of the songs have the ability to jump off a dance party, the chilled out “2 A.M.” slows it down and shows the diversity of the artist. The most important thing to remember about music is that there are many different flavors, and while it is easy to get caught up in one particular genre, music exists outside of genre confines. Just because the plum is mouthwateringly good does not take away from the delectable cherry. Chattanooga, let’s taste all the fruit and experience all the local music tree has to offer.
JONESIN' CROSSWORD
“Mighty Good Connections”—two letters in a row. ACROSS 1 Morty’s mom, on “Rick and Morty” 5 Short timetable? 9 Drop knowledge 14 Beige shade derived from “raw” 15 2004 Queen Latifah/Jimmy Fallon movie 16 He wears the horizontal stripes 17 Airline with only kosher in-flight meals 18 Former Israeli politician Abba 19 Word in a 1997 Will Smith title 20 Loss of prestige, perhaps 23 180, slangily 24 “I guess that’s ___” 25 Hair knot 26 Indy 500 unit 29 Fill-up option 33 Throwing ability 34 Fred who sneezed for Edison’s first film 35 Prefix for morph or plasm 36 Le ___ (French port city)
39 Their workers go to blazes, for short 40 He won “The Masked Singer” (sorry for the spoiler) 41 “Pity, that... “ 42 ___ Ranganathaswamy Temple (Hindu pilgrimage destination) 43 “Evita” role 44 Much of their cultivation is in the dark 50 Abbr. on a French envelope 51 True crime author Rule 52 Article in Berlin? 53 Boot part 54 Future aspirations 58 Noun category 60 Meat seasoning mixtures 61 “Boo’d Up” singer Mai 62 “Riptide” singer Joy 63 Cookie with a 2019 “The Most Stuf” variety (around 4x) 64 “Carpe ___!”
65 See-through 66 Exhausted 67 “Your excellency” DOWN 1 Strengthen, as security 2 Custardfilled pastry 3 Ireland’s ___ Bay 4 Boat’s bottom 5 Chest bone 6 Detonation sound 7 Physical, e.g. 8 Pictographical Zapf typeface characters 9 Selena’s music genre 10 Carolina Panthers safety Reid 11 Tommy’s cousin on “Rugrats” 12 Smoke, informally 13 “Over here” 21 Renaissance ___ 22 Sign of oxidation 27 Opposing opinion 28 Serf 30 Boggy area 31 Fizzle out 32 Cartoon skunk Pepé 36 “Mad Men”
star Jon 37 Reunion attendee 38 Petroleum product and longtime pageant secret used on teeth (ew) 39 Prime seating choice 40 Sandal strip 42 Karaoke selection 43 Harvard color 45 Park employee 46 Big name in baby food 47 And others, in footnotes 48 Painter’s purchase 49 TV Street celebrating a 50th anniversary 55 More than enough, for some 56 Currency symbol that looks like a C crossed with an equals sign 57 Some humongous ref. books 58 Electronics dept. displays 59 “You think that’s the right answer??”
Copyright © 2019 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. 929 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 23
FILM & TELEVISION
Us Transcends Horror Our screen critic dives beneath the creepy surface
By John Devore Pulse Film Editor
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There is so much going on below the surface of the film that it requires multiple viewings to effectively describe.”
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T
HE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT FILM IS ITS DUALity. A good film is always about something, but it’s also about something else. Just like other art forms, there are themes to be found, characters to be deconstructed, choices to be analyzed.
One of the complaints about film criticism I frequently hear is that critics can never just let a movie be a movie, e.g. they can’t just disconnect and enjoy what’s happening on screen. It’s a fair complaint, I suppose, but I always wonder about those that can turn off the thinking parts of their brain at will. Why would you want to do that? Thinking is what separates us from the brutality of emotion and allows us to see just how something is constructed and why. It allows us to make judgments and engage with our surroundings. If you turn your brain off when experiencing a piece of art, you’re missing the some very important parts of the it.
Even terrible films like those found in the Transformers franchise can reveal truths about the world—just watch few Lindsey Ellis videos on YouTube. There will be people plenty of people who will enjoy Us, Jordan Peele’s latest film, as a simple horror movie. It is that, in some respects, although it’s a particularly well made horror movie. But there is so much going on below the surface of the film that it requires multiple viewings to effectively describe. Peele’s previous horror film, Get Out, took the common feeling of social anxiety and combined it with the fear of white people in large groups, something that is largely unknown for
anyone not belonging to a traditionally marginalized group. Yet, because of clever filmmaking and script writing, Get Out had a wide appeal and set Peele in motion to be something of an auteur in the horror genre (not that horror is short on auteur filmmakers—horror has long been a standout genre for truly talented directors). By that token, Us has a much broader audience and speaks to a universal truth—not just that mirrors and twins are creepy as hell. Humans are instinctively afraid of the other. In fact, this fear fuels much of Republican policy at the highest levels. Anyone who is different must be dangerous. This idea is highly emotional and easy to exploit, as we can see play out in the news every day. Fanning the flames of this fear has led to a significant increase in white supremacist groups, domestic terror attacks, and detention camps for children. Us very much uses this fear of the other, but combines it with a fear of the self. The doppelgangers in the film look nearly identical to the protagonists, but they are damaged versions whose behaviors and motivations couldn’t be more different.
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Across the board, performances are top notch, with the careful acting by Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, who fall easily into place as both halves of a self.” The characters can see the other in themselves and come to understand that maybe the potential for evil isn’t based on anything inherent, but instead on the circumstances surrounding one’s birth. The other is the self, essentially. What we really fear are the things that we are but can’t admit. This is, of course, just one reading of the film. Others can include warnings about the domination of the underclass by the middle and upper classes or institutional use of our basest selves as a means of control. I’m sure there are others that I haven’t even thought of. These ideas are what makes Us such a fascinating film. Across the board, performances are top notch, with the careful acting by Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke, who fall easily into place as both halves of a self. One of the things I appreciate about Peele’s filmmaking is how he relies
far more on tension than gore to create his scares. Peele is making thrillers in the style of Alfred Hitchcock rather than a Sam Raimi/Evil Dead bloodbath, and while both have their charms, I prefer the former simply because it seems harder to do well. In any event, Us is well worth the price of admission. It’s another entry into the ever-expanding library of artful, prestige horror that has become the norm for horror films. It also bodes well for Peele’s involvement in the 2019 reboot of the famous Rod Sterling anthology series The Twilight Zone. If only CBS would broadcast the series rather than squirreling it away on CBS All Access, a proprietary streaming service known only for a mediocre Star Trek reboot. That’s wishful thinking, I suppose. I guess there are two versions of CBS, too, and the darker one makes you pay for it.
✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴
Dumbo A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus, but when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer. Director: Tim Burton Stars: Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Eva Green
The Beach Bum A rebellious stoner named Moondog lives life by his own rules. Seriously, what more do you need to know? Director: Harmony Korine Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher, Stefania LaVie Owen
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • MARCH 28, 2019 • THE PULSE • 25
COLUMN · GAME ON!
Fluctuation Infinitum Learn D&D, comic creation, and how to be awesome
T Brandon Watson Pulse columnist
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D&D used to be like riding a moped: the best thing ever until your friends finds out. Nowadays mopeds and D&D are the things to do if you’re a cool kid.”
When not vaporizing zombies or leading space marines as a mousepad Mattis, Brandon Watson is making gourmet pancakes and promoting local artists.
HERE’S NOTHING LIKE A DRIVE along Hixson Pike on some odd chance you have a day off and ample fuel to burn for the hell of it. I’m not one to observe anything other than the road; billboards and non-traffic signs are flatly ignored in my Zenlike approach to driving. But the rare occasions I break from my tranquil state and actually notice my surroundings it can be alarming. The stretch of asphalt from Northshore to Lakesite is constantly in a state of flux. Gone is the cool resale shop where I’ve furnished most of my house and gone is the place that served authentic Texas style brisket. It’s now a holistic vitamin shop, a very creepy looking vitamin shop. The pike and the businesses camped along its banks are fluid like the rising wake of a fast-moving river; some things remain while others are washed into the far away deltas of time. Every time I drive it there is something new or something gone. One business that has changed so often that it seems to embody the nature of its company name is Infinity Flux. Infinity Flux—Cards, Comics, & Games started as a humble little storefront next door to Asian Food & Gifts and across from Rice Boxx. The initial floor plan packed gamers and comic books in the same workable space and for a time it was manageable, until popularity grew. Owner Jason Mink, a maestro for space utilization, maximizes usable floor space, never sacrificing the merchandise presentation or the overall shopping experience (a talent highly sought after among Chattanooga’s convention curators). Infinity Flux has taken hold of convention gaming tracks by establishing board game space in exhibit halls for ConNooga and the most recent Metrotham Convention. The store owners have been busy with events lately but they haven’t lost focus
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on their hub of operations. Infinity Flux is still a welcoming nexus for all gamers, comic collectors, and fringe dabblers like me who dwell in both worlds. Recently they’ve established a Dungeons & Dragons instructional gaming event alongside their usual Sunday family board game night. Beginners looking to see what all the fuss is about with the godfather of roleplaying games can discover everything they need in one place. No need to bring dice, figures, cloaks, or tin foil hats; the gamemasters will hook you up. I can tell you that your first D&D game can be a near spiritual experience. Tight bonds can be formed with strangers in mere hours and your imagination will be enriched in ways no other form of gaming can match. It’s worth trying if you’re a person hungry for something different with the promise of endless replay value. D&D used to be like riding a moped: the best thing ever until your friends finds out. Nowadays mopeds and D&D are the things to do if you’re a cool kid. So, drop that controller, get out of the house, and make new friends who won’t judge you for your dirty moped obsession. I think Infinity Flux should just change their tagline to “games and more”. The “and more” would signal the unofficial creative center for artists and writers in the areas of comic book design and
publishing. Chatt Comix Co-Op started in a back corner among the glossy stacks of dust covers and plastic tables. It has since grown into one of the finest networking groups within the city. This group has artists and writers of all ages tweaking their craft, honing their skills, and collaborating on works both personal and collective. Co-Op leader Tara Hamilton has had her work showcased at The Hunter Art Museum and the group had a visit from Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. It’s an exciting place to be every first and third Monday and if you’re looking to get your comic ideas off the ground then you definitely need to hit up Infinity Flux. Infinity Flux has a lot going on and if it wasn’t for the intense love and support from the patrons this amazing comic book/game store could’ve been washed away, along with the constant flow of ever-evolving store fronts prevalent along Hixson Pike. I may be challenged for saying it, but Infinity Flux IS Chattanooga’s premiere nerd haven. It’s a playground for game creators, fiction authors, and artists to shed all pretenses and speak fluent geek to one another. It may be ever growing and changing but at its core it’s an immutable sanctuary of love for gamers, creators, and collectors alike.
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