The Pulse 14.14 » April 6, 2017

APRIL 6, 2017

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

is chattanooga a sustainable city ?

SANDRA KURTZ DELVES INTO HOW THE CITY IS GRAPPLING WITH TRYING TO CREATE A GREENER FUTURE

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VOLUME 14, ISSUE 14 APRIL 6, 2017

CONTENTS 4

HOW TO MASTER YOUR GARDEN

The Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, in association with the University of Tennessee Extension, present their 5th annual “Master Your Garden” Garden Expo this weekend.

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DAVE MADE A MAZE KICKS OFF THE CFF

As always, the Chattanooga Film Festival is kicking off this weekend with a truly exceptional film, Dave Made a Maze, which is sure to set the tone for the entire event.

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EARTH, WIND AND...SOLAR?

While Earth Week traditionally is an annually reoccurring catalyst for a variety of riveting and influential events scattered across cities around the globe, we are in for a real treat this year Chattanooga.

HIP-HOP CHA ANNOUNCES A NEW COMPETITION

For twenty-five years I have watched the Chattanooga music scene grow from a trickle of cover bands and a handful of tired venues into a thriving musical community.

ALSO INSIDE

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Is Chattanooga A Sustainable City?

Chattanooga was once known as the dirtiest city in America. The soot in our air caused one wit to say, “We like to see what we’re breathing.”

Clearly, we have come a long way: Our air is clean. Dirty manufacturing is behind us. We have clean drinking water.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

5

CONSIDER THIS

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RECORD REVIEWS

7

SHRINK RAP

26

THE LIST

13

NEW IN THEATERS

27

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

16

ARTS CALENDAR

28

DIVERSIONS

19

MIXOLOGY

29

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

22

MUSIC CALENDAR

30

GAME ON!

Sandra Kurtz has long been active in environmental education and activism. She founded Tennessee Environmental Education Association, and has consulted with National Environmental Trust, Clear the Air, and the Sierra Club.

Longtime crossword creator Matt Jones' first crossword appeared in The New York Times two decades ago. Since then, he has created over 800 crosswords for the syndicated “Jonesin' Crossword”, in fine newspapers across the country.

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BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE

How To Master Your Garden Gardening expo digs in the dirt this weekend at Camp Jordan

By Suzanne Ford Pulse contributor

T BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher & President Jim Brewer II FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Brooke Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Adam Beckett • Rob Brezsny Suzanne Ford • Matt Jones Sandra Kurtz • Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib • Brandon Watson Editorial Interns Addie Whitlow • Alex Plaumann Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

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Offices 1305 Carter St., Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email 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.

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Contents Copyright © 2017 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

HE MASTER GARDENERS OF Hamilton County, in association with the University of Tennessee Extension, present their 5th annual “Master Your Garden” Garden Expo this Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge.

Focusing on gardening and the outdoors, MGHC’s “Mastering Your Garden” Garden Expo brings together an array of exhibits, demonstrations, educational activities, and vendors of interest to experienced gardeners, gardening enthusiasts, browsers, and children.

“Our goal is to bring the latest gardening information to the Chattanooga community,” explains Carol Mathews, 2017 Garden Expo Chair. “For a $5 admission, attendees will experience a wide range of interesting and informative lectures and demonstrations, browse exhibits, talk to knowledgeable vendors about plants, tools and garden art; and purchase a wide range of garden related items. In past years, people attending have stayed for hours partaking of our numerous and varied offerings; many have gone home with something beautiful and lasting for their own gardens.”

Events at the Garden Expo include: • Keynote Speakers: Saturday—Patricia Lanza author of “Lasagna Gardening;” Sunday—Linda Fraser, botanical artist, “Plants of the Bible” • 17 free seminars presented by local and out-of-town experts throughout the 2-day Expo. Topics include: Monarch Butterflies, Daylilies, Hydrangeas, Roses, Conifers, Crepe Murder, Small Trees for Landscaping, Container Gardening, Vegetable Gardening, Straw Bale Gardening, Seed Saving, and more.

• On-going live demos both days: Insects & Butterflies, Proper Mulching, Raised Beds, Composting, Rain Barrels, Therapeu-

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tic Gardening, Straw Bale Gardening • Vendors & Exhibitors featuring: live plants, including flowers, shrubs and trees; landscaping and gardening supplies; as well as, foods, nature-related jewelry and artwork.

Among them: 2 Angels Mushroom Farm, Algie’s Vintage Birdhouses, Bursting Blooms Landscape Design, Dirt Dawg Nursery, Down to Earth Herbs, GreenStalk, Green Thumbs Galore, Hill City Honey, Linda Fraser Botanical Artist, Rosemary Knoll Eatable Delights, Rustic Greenhouse, Orchid Gallery, Stone House Jewelry, TN Naturescapes, White Harvest Seeds, Windy Hill Pottery, Yard Critters, and more.

• “Ask A Master Gardener” Q & A Table: Expert advice on trees and shrubs, flowering annuals and perennials, vegetable and herb gardening, landscaping, mulching, and composting; as well as general guidance on maintaining an attractive and productive garden.

• Children’s Area (ages 2 to 12): Budding gardeners will engage in

hands-on, gardening-related activities with a fun project to take home.

• Bonsai exhibit sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Bonsai Society • Door prizes donated by our Expo Sponsors, Vendors, and Master Gardeners.

• Master Gardeners of Hamilton County is a non-profit, educational, volunteer organization that plays an important role in the civic life of Chattanooga and the surrounding area.

Among the many on-going landscaping and garden partnerships undertaken by MGHC are: Bonny Oaks Arboretum, Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Chattanooga Aquarium Butterfly & Hummingbird Garden, Chattanooga Zoo, McCoy Farm & Garden, Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center, and Siskin Children’s Garden, among others.

Admission is $5 (cash or check only). Children under 12 are free.

Free parking is available. For upto-date information, go to mghc. org/garden-expo.

Consider This with Dr. Rick

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

“May we look toward the wisdom of those around us, young and old, bask in their spirit and follow in the steps they’ve left behind.” —anonymous

Exploring The Mind-Bending Mind On Heaven Events don’t get much more unique than this one. Mind on Heaven is a nearly indefinable event that will bring together many different art mediums, and is described as, “part documentary, part conjuring, and part performance art.”

The Shaking Ray Levi Society presents Mind on Heaven, taking place at Wayne-O-Rama on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m., is a tribute to the late Dennis Palmer and will feature Ben Williams and Brian Cagle.

By using live audio, video mixing, original animation, storytelling, dance, and much more, sound designer Wil-

liams and filmmaker Cagle will be paying homage to musician, artist, and The Shaking Ray Levi Society co-founder, Dennis Palmer.

Mind On Heaven will act as a personal ritual for Williams and Cagle, who will have a serious meditation on death.

They will also explore cultural southern

tropes, and examine both nostalgic and bittersweet stereotypes of the south from 1950-1990.

This event will also take a humorous exploration of an artist’s identity, and will attempt to channel the spirit of creation, generosity, and originality through a very personal feeling associated with a close friend.

Admission for Mind On Heaven is free for students and is “pay what you can” for all non-students. This talented duo will be putting on a unique, and eye opening performance that could truly be a once in a lifetime opportunity.

— Alex Plaumann

And who says that wisdom is only available from other humans? We can learn a tremendous lot by sitting quietly, breathing deeply, and observing all of nature’s lessons. For example, here are some tips our beloved furry household companions teach us, if we’re paying attention.

• Take naps and stretch before rising.

• Play daily.

• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

• Be loyal.

• Don’t pretend to be something you’re not.

• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

• Bond with your pack.

• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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COLUMN ∙ SHRINK RAP

“Betty Lou, We Will Miss You” The good doctor confronts the pain all pet lovers must eventually face

Dr. Rick

Pulse contributor

M

Y BEST FRIEND IS DYING. I refer to my best friend of the furry, four-legged variety. For the past decade, regular Shrink-Rappers have known Betty Lou, my 14-year old loving companion who has filled my household with happiness, belly laughs, and the free entertainment that comes with taking a goofy pup on hikes, or playing in the snow, or going on road trips.

And rarely but sometimes, like now, has filled us with great worry. She has been our example of unconditional love and forgiveness.

The Betty is a southern girl, born in Florida and dragged around the country by her Dad (me), having adventures that many dogs only dream of. She has a “grandma” who provides her with sweaters at Christmas, gourmet bakery treats on her birthday, and the special hugs, kisses and lap-time that are the hallmarks of grandmothers everywhere. Spoiled? Nahhh.

But whatever attentions and affections that have been bestowed on Betty are mere morsels compared to the love she’s freely given since she was eight weeks old.

She’s been as loyal as they come, has always taken her guard-dog duties seriously (even if her hollow bark sounds like it’s coming from a block away, and gives the impression of a greeting more than a warning), and is very much a lover, not a fighter.

Neighbors come out to give her treats

when we walk by, she makes friends with the neighborhood dogs, and the beagle up the street sends her a Christmas card every year. I’m not kidding.

I know it sounds like I’m gushing (my friends gave me a T-shirt that says, “Way too into his dog.”), and I am. This is the pup who selfpotty trained, and after she opened her eyes from any one of her three operations she immediately began kissing on the nurse who was holding her.

Honestly, we’d go to her vet appointments and the techs would come out from the back saying, “Betty Lou is here!” and begin snuggling with her. This happened all the time, wherever we lived. I’d raise my hand and say, hello…um, I’m the one paying the bill. A little sugar for me? And they’d look at me like, who are you, and resume their little love-fest with the princess.

Betty is now under hospice care.

I (with family help) am taking care of her at home. I have great respect for hospice care from my years as the Bereavement Director of a hospice in Los Angeles. But something new is happening.

Something that I can only attribute to yet another gift this wonderful creature is offering my soul; another set of lessons to allow me the opportunity to deepen my spirituality, to wrestle with my beliefs about the afterlife, and to crank up the gratitude that often forms the basis for my daily meditations.

“I am changed for having Betty Lou in my life. And I’m changing again for being with her during her final chapter.

I’ve loved her (as my human best friend would say) to the moon and back.”

Betty is teaching me that loss and grief can hold a certain space in a person’s heart when it’s someone else’s family member who’s dying, and an entirely different space when it’s a beloved family member of one’s own. And make no mistake about it: This gal is family.

A hundred times a day I hug on her, in an attempt to fit in all the love I possibly can in her final… weeks?…days?…hours? And I tell her I love her, I ask for her forgiveness for all the times I wasn’t

as good a human toward her as I could have been, and I thank her for her companionship. For being with me through hard times.

For being by my side her entire life—to her, her main reason for living. I read somewhere that a pet may be just one part of our lives, but to them, we are their whole life.

I also read that dogs have the intelligence, sensitivity and ability to connect with others that’s roughly the equivalent of a four-year old child. Well, I’ll go to my own grave telling of how Betty was ready for med school, was at least as sensitive as any human I know, and connected with me as closely as any two of Mama Nature’s creatures can.

I am changed for having Betty Lou in my life. And I’m changing again for being with her during her final chapter. I’ve loved her (as my human best friend would say) to the moon and back.

Now, my household is preparing to let her go. To set her free to find her next adventure. To support her spirit as it soars away without us. And to be forever grateful that this furry bundle of love touched so many hearts so deeply. ···· Until next time: “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” —Dr. Seuss Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, minister, and educator in private practice in Chattanooga.

Contact him at DrRPH.com, visit his wellness center at WellNestChattanooga.com

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COVER STORY

Is Chattanooga A Sustainable City?

Earth Month is upon us, and we as a community need to work harder than ever to keep Chattanooga going green

By Sandra Kurtz Pulse contributor

C

HATTANOOGA WAS ONCE known as the dirtiest city in America.

The soot in our air caused one wit to say, “We like to see what we’re breathing.”

Clearly, we have come a long way: Our air is clean. Dirty manufacturing is behind us. We have clean drinking water. We have a greenway system for walking and biking. Our forest canopy has significantly increased. Hybrid bus shuttles reduce vehicle emissions downtown. Businesses and residences are reducing waste and using electricity more efficiently. We see more solar panels and green infrastructure in renovations and new designs.

Do our actions so far guarantee us sustainability? On that score, an overview indicates progress is spotty at best.

What does sustainability mean anyway?

It’s an all-encompassing word, but suffice to say, it means don’t use more than you need. Don’t destroy the ecosystem so that the Earth can continue to support life. Save some for others now and in the future.

April is a good time to think about how we depend on the Earth for our very existence and whether we are sustaining or destroying it. It’s time to assess our success.

In April, we celebrate the birthday of John Muir, the Sierra Club founder and Father of National Parks. It’s called Earth Day. Many local outdoor events will occur this month including Earth, Wind & Solar Festival (April 11) at Engel Stadium, MidTown Earth Day Healthy & Green (April 19) at Fam8 • THE PULSE • APRIL 6, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

ily Justice Center, Earth Optimism (April 21) at Coolidge Park, and March for Science (April 22) at Main Terrain Art Park followed by Chattanooga Earth Day Rally-Celebrating Science at Ross’ Landing.

These educational opportunities help participants learn more about sustainability and meet those taking positive action. Getting informed is a good first step. Interface Commercial Carpet, a leading company in sustainable practices, states, “We need to start the path to reversing global warming by changing how we think.”

In 2006, Mayor Littlefield signed the national Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement with a goal of reducing global warming pollution levels to seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. By 2008, a Climate Action Plan outlined local actions. Baseline data for Chattanooga City showed that the transportation sector accounted for 31 percent of our greenhouse gas emissions, residential 14 percent, commercial 13 percent, industrial 30 percent, and the rest twelve percent, including waste.

A 2008 Brookings Institute Report listed carbon footprint levels of 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas with Chattanooga region (six counties) coming in at 13th highest. The 2010 census showed a metro population of 528,143.

Several components of the recommended Climate Action Plan actions have been done, but as to how far we have moved the sustainability needle, little is known. With new mayors, the plan gathered dust. With some exceptions, there have been no measurements or tracking to see whether we met

COVER STORY

the reduction goal.

The plan’s data showed that actions around energy and transportation would prove most fruitful. We have made a good start on the energy piece:

Reduce energy use per capita and create an incentive program to make existing buildings more energy efficient and less consumptive. Make sustainable building practices mainstream and increase the number of green buildings in Chattanooga. Lead by example by making a city commitment to upgrade and build LEED certified buildings.

Each of Chattanooga’s attempts to establish a Sustainability Department fizzled, but finally we have a Coordinator of Sustainability. Erik Schmidt sees measurable success with the Better Buildings Challenge.

The goal is to seek a 20 percent reduction in electric, gas and water use over 10 years in city government buildings (two million

“The City also wants to streamline solar installation permitting, zoning process language, and reduce objections to solar installation.” square feet). EPB, UTC, and the downtown library are partners too.

Any results?

From a baseline established in 2013, there has been an 8 percent reduction from Challenge buildings. That represents huge taxpayer savings. “Let us lead by example,” says Schmidt.

The City also wants to streamline solar installation permitting, zoning process language, and reduce objections to solar installation. EPB, our TVA electricity distributor, is building a Community Solar Station. Soon residents will be able to purchase a panel and

achieve a discount on their electric bills. Final details are being determined. Many businesses and residents have installed solar panels, adding to those at Volkswagen and the airport.

Non-profit Green|Spaces seeks energy efficiency in buildings for businesses and residences. Many educational programs help developers build green and gain LEED or Green|Light certification. NextGen homes being built in North Chattanooga demonstrate net zero building. So far Green|Spaces has achieved 42 LEED Projects and 60 BetterBuilt Green Homes.

Increase public awareness about easy solutions to improve home energy efficiency.

Green|Spaces’ Empower program informs residents in low-income neighborhoods about ways to control their utility bills with simple energy efficiency steps.

Glenda Welcher had lived in her house for 30 years and was paying an average $287 a month for utilities. After attending an energy efficiency workshop, she cut her bill to $50 a month. EPB is a partner in this effort with audits. TVA has Energy Right, Green Power Switch and Green Power Providers programs available for homeowners and businesses.

Strive to obtain the tree canopy

Strive to obtain the tree canopy cover cover in Chattanooga, recomin Chattanooga, recommended by Amerimended by American Forests as a can Forests as a minimum for community minimum for community health. health.

Trees are energy savers. Shade avoids ramping up your air conditioner. Besides, continued on page 11

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COVER STORY trees help absorb greenhouse gas and slow climate impacts. Chattanooga Urban Forester, Gene Hyde, reports that Chattanooga has 51.4 percent healthy tree canopy.

Classes are offered for developers and citizens. Citizens can request tree plantings on city easements. Developers must comply with city tree codes to receive permits.

The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has placed a sustainability section on their website highlighting some sustainable accomplishments that are boosting our economy. Their business directory lists several green businesses and services.

Sandra Brewer, Vice-President of Member Services says, “As a business it’s important to look at your impact and how you can make the world a better place by using less resources.” She adds, “It needs to be actionable and not put your business in bankruptcy.”

There has been less action around sustainable transportation solutions.

Expand the use of alternative modes of transportation. Reduce vehicle miles traveled in order to reduce pollutants being emitted into the atmosphere and to promote healthy communities.

The Climate Action Plan seeks alternative ways to get around, but it’s difficult given urban sprawl and our suburb-laden design.

Electric and hybrid vehicles make a small dent in emissions. CARTA has worked to provide special neighborhood service, but lack of ridership presents economic difficul-

“A real solution lies in reducing urban sprawl and designing areas with zoning that enables walking or biking access to food, supplies, and gathering places. ” ties.

The hybrid shuttles, Incline Railway, and bicycles are prime examples of more sustainable transportation.

The Greenway system has proven to be a valuable economic, transportation and recreational tool for biking and walking. We have a startup Green Commuter system for sharing cars along with many plug-in electric vehicles stations.

What happened to those PedTaxis? None of these actions have helped much with the number of vehicle miles traveled and the resulting emissions.

A real solution lies in reducing urban sprawl and designing areas with zoning that enables walking or biking access to food, supplies, and gathering places. Are there multi-modal hubs and a light rail system in our future?

When it comes to the Climate Action Plan land care objectives, we have not done well.

As development occurs, protect wildlife and native plants. Maintain our ridges and hillsides as forested areas with limited development.

Improve the water quality of rivers, lakes and streams. Protect surface and ground water.

Increase public awareness of local and organic food sources. Increase community farms.

There is a shift in thinking about stormwater retention and green infrastructure reflected in new guidelines and ordinances. Renaissance Park and some city buildings have green roofs. However, habitats for native biodiversity are disappearing along with our ridges, hillsides, forested stream corridors, floodplains and wetlands that contain floods and clean water while providing nature’s nursery space.

Every one of our creeks is on the Tennessee threatened and impaired

streams list. We have at least 34,000 acres of parks, refuges, greenways and set-aside land in Hamilton County, but still there’s a net loss of forests and farmland due to urban sprawl and lax permitting. 34,000 acres sounds big, but none is farmland providing sustainable food.

We do see more farmers’ markets. Purchases from farmers support the local economy while cutting down on food transportation costs and associated emissions.

The environment is our basic support system. Slowly, we are moving toward sustainable living now and for future generations.

Actions are occurring primarily at local levels. Our municipalities and businesses care about waste reduction, recycling, water protection, energy use and transportation issues. THRIVE 2055 is working on a regional plan among 16 counties leaning on community connectedness and environmental protection.

What can individual citizens do? Become as energy efficient as possible; reduce waste through wise purchases with little or no packaging; eat less or no meat; grow food or buy from local farmers; live in a smaller place or share with others; carpool, walk, bike or ride the bus; buy less; and plant lots of trees.

Urge your government to move to 100 percent renewable energy use instead of coal, gas and nuclear. Support incentives for more urban living, farmland preservation, and wildlife corridors. Speak out to halt filling in of flood plains and wetlands. Ask for systems to report on progress toward sustainability goals.

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FILM & TELEVISION

Dave Made A Maze Kicks Off The CFF

✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴

Producer John Charles Meyer sits down with The Pulse to talk about how an adventurous film came to life

By John DeVore Going in Style Desperate to pay the bills and come through for their loved ones, three lifelong pals risk it all by embarking on a daring bid to knock off the very bank that absconded with their money.

Director: Zach Braff Stars: Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Alan Arkin

Smurfs: The Lost Village In this all-new take on the Smurfs, a mysterious map sets Smurfette and her friends Brainy, Clumsy and Hefty on an exciting race through the Forbidden Forest leading to the discovery of the biggest secret in Smurf history.

Director: Kelly Asbury Stars: Ariel Winter, Michelle Rodriguez, Julia Roberts

12 • THE PULSE • APRIL 6, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM heather lee holt

Pulse Film Editor

A

S ALWAYS, THE CHATTANOOGA FILM Festival is kicking off this weekend with a truly exceptional film, Dave Made a Maze, which is sure to set the tone for the entire event (the director says he aimed for “the four Gs: Goonies, Gondry, Gilliam, and Ghostbusters”).

It combines the all the elements of the festival that make the CFF the best single event in the south: inventiveness, humor, character, and style.

Last week, I caught up with John Charles Meyer, producer for Dave Made a Maze, who gave some unique insight into the project itself.

The Pulse: Dave Made a Maze is a fascinating idea. How did it come about?

John Charles Meyer: One day in 2011, Bill Watterson told his friend Steven Sears a story from his childhood: Bill had built what he considered to be a truly epic pillow-and-sheet fort in his bedroom.

Before heading over to a friend’s house for dinner, Bill left a note for his mother, telling her that he was at his friend’s house and that she was not to touch his epic fort. Mom came home, missed the note, panicked when she couldn’t find Bill, and tore the fort apart looking for him.

Three days after hearing Bill’s story, Steve handed over a 60-page script that eventually became Dave Made a Maze. Bill co-wrote it from there, and went on to direct it.

TP: What was it about the project that drew you to it?

JCM: It was ridiculous. I’d never heard of anything quite like it. And the idea alone made me laugh…my first creative project in LA was editing, co-producing, and appearing in a series of short films that Bill wrote and directed.

We have very different tastes in almost everything, we frequently disagree, and we have diametrically opposed skill sets, but we’ve learned to trust that we’re both aiming for the same finish line. So far, it has worked pretty well.

TP: Obviously, the film has a very complex, visual style. What are some of the influences behind the distinctive look?

JCM: Bill had a very specific vision for a lot of the elements he wanted executed, but honestly neither of us had much of a clue as to how we would pull them off. Thankfully, starting with coproduction designer Trisha Gum (whose primary gig in the previous few years had been at the stopmotion animation studio behind Robot Chicken), we slowly built a team of talented artists with specific areas of expertise, and excitement about the

FILM & TELEVISION

project snowballed.

People were drawn in from the worlds of traditional animation, animatronics, puppetry, and even the Cardboard Institute of Technology (the existence of which was news to us).

Every new artist brought fresh ideas and a different perspective on how our movie’s world might appear. Giant credit must also be given to art director Jeff White, and Trisha’s production design partner John Sumner, without whom this film would not be what it is today.

TP: From a technical standpoint, what were some particular challenges that came about as the style was translated from storyboard to screen? What was the hardest thing to get right?

JCM: The biggest challenge during production was keeping the art department ahead of the camera team. We were constructing (and even designing) set pieces every single day of filming, and most sets were assembled mere minutes before they were lit and shot. Very few sets existed for more than 24 hours. This was partly due to the limited space we had in the warehouse where we shot the film, but also a result of too few funds and too few hands.

Cutting and shaping and gluing 30,000 square feet of cardboard

into 26 unique movie sets is a gargantuan undertaking, and we were eternally threading the needle with time management.

We only had access to our warehouse for twenty 12-hour days, so all teams were working at the same time. As soon as the First AD yelled “cut” on a scene, all manner of hammers and saws and staple guns came to life on the other side of the room.

Probably the single most-complicated visual was the final thing we filmed, on a single day of filming more than 18 months after principal photography.

The movie’s climactic scene involves, among other things, a working zoetrope.

Constructing and painting 16 nearly-identical figurines, attaching them to a round motorized platform, and timing the entire mechanism against the shutter speed of a motion picture camera was probably our biggest technical challenge.

TP: Did the original idea evolve or did the film turn out exactly as expected?

JCM: Absolutely. Steve and Bill put words on paper, and those became the images we all dreamed of. But does the movie look like what we expected?

Not in the least. Our art department went so far above and beyond our expectations, in virtually every scene, and the finished sets wowed us over and over. Suffice it to say that Bill and I had no idea what was really possible from our team when we started this film.

Dave Made a Maze premieres this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Majestic Theater to kick off the Chattanooga Film Festival.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Earth, Wind And...Solar?

Celebrating Earth Week with the Squonk Opera

Lyman Kipp - "Hugo"

Fields Of Sculpture Chattanooga’s art scene is impressive and constantly growing, and one of the particularly notable areas for viewing art in the Scenic City is on the Southside. Sculpture Fields is no exception to that, which is why they’re celebrating their one-year anniversary this weekend.

Sculpture Fields is located in Montague Park and was established with the goal of bringing education, cultural awareness, and national recognition to the city’s rich history and present home for innovation.

The park currently contains 32 large-scale sculptures, but the celebration of Sculpture Fields’ anniversary will be adding to that.

Starting at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, the celebration will kick off with the beginning installation of John Henry’s 70-foot high steel sculpture “Publisher” and Andrew Nigh’s 30-foot tall wooden sculpture. There will be live music from the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera wind ensemble, jazz band Charlie the Head, and blues band Rick Rushing and Ryan Oyer.

You’ll also get to see artists at work, drawing and painting throughout the day. There will be food and beverage trucks and a beer tent for adult beverages, too.

The evening will conclude with the burning of Nigh’s wooden sculpture after sunset.

Sculpture Fields’ anniversary is a great way to get involved with the art community in Chattanooga, and it’s guaranteed to be fun for the whole family as well, making it an unforgettable way to spend your Saturday.

— Addie Whitlow Sculpture Fields 1st Anniversary Saturday, 9 a.m.

Sculpture Fields at Montague Park 1800 Polk St. (423) 266-7288 sculpturefields.org 14 • THE PULSE • APRIL 6, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Photo by John Altdorfer

By Adam Beckett Pulse contributor

W

HILE EARTH WEEK TRADITIONALLY is an annually reoccurring catalyst for a variety of riveting and influential events scattered across cities around the globe, we are in for a real treat this year Chattanooga. On April 11th, a premiere Pre-Earth Week event will be featured at the historic Engel Stadium, at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.

UTC, and the City of Chattanooga, are combining forces with sponsors, EPB, the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, and Tennessee Color Solutions, to present the Earth, Wind, and Solar Festival, featuring Squonk Opera, which will be a potent, rocking, pedagogic, family friendly, and inspiring event.

The spectacular musical guests Squonk Opera will be performing a lively and animated outdoor music event about air, made of air, and powered by air, called Pneumatica, which is sure to be a crowd favorite. With three separate performance times scheduled throughout the day, it is certain that people that witness the first performance will do their best to catch all three shows.

According to UTC’s event page, “Squonk Opera pumps up the volume with live original music that permeates the air, while inflatables pump up

and immerse the audience.”

The Pittsburgh based “Squonkers” have played around a large portion of the globe, and much of the United States, mesmerizing large audiences with their shows. They were featured on the hit television show America's Got Talent, where they advanced beyond the top fifty, and played in front of millions of people during a nationwide performance while on the show.

The show will be extravagant, and the stage will be magnetizing. Wind machines associated with Squonk Opera will absorb the crowds. The shows will commence at 4, 6:30, and 8 p.m.; with workshops following the 4 and 6 p.m. shows.

As if Squonk Opera was not reason enough to come venture out, the event is so much more than just a jam session show with gnarly inflatables. The activities and happenings that power this festival will captivate the hearts and minds of everybody in attendance. Though the educational influence will be in abundance, a variety of attributes, interactive aspects, food, and flair, will be extraordinarily engaging to the attendees.

Accompanying the “Squonks” will be silent auctions, workshops presented by the sponsors, along with Hamilton County Schools featuring working displays from their robotics, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) classes.

Local crafters and farmers will have displays set

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“As if Squonk Opera was not reason enough to come venture out, the event is so much more than just a jam session show with gnarly inflatables.” up with items for sale, “local sustainable not-for-profit businesses, and corporate vendors will be on hand to demonstrate products, and educate everyone on making sustainable living practices a viable choice for daily life” Food trucks will be on site containing some of the most delicious food Chattanooga has to offer.

Tree Dimensional, a local digital art production company will be on site projecting brain interactive anaglyphic three dimensional psychedelic fractals. Owner Merrill Val Love creates original mind bending content that is absolutely entrancing, and is a highly anticipated aspect of the event.

Tree Dimensional has been featured at many music and arts festivals around the Southeast, but tradition-

ally has been awesome yet standard fractal lighting. The Earth, Wind, and Solar Festival will be the public unveiling of his mad scientist three dimensional projection masterpiece. The fractals will be displayed inside of the hallways surrounding the stadium.

The office of sustainability at UTC is doing their part to protect the Earth. They are working every day to incorporate energy efficiency and sustainability in construction, renovation, green space projects, operations and maintenance at UTC, while minimizing the use of non-renewable energy sources, and greenhouse gas emissions through green power.

They have a fully functioning aquaponics system that will be on display at the festival, along with the local gardens at UTC, which have been recently revitalized, and are now thriving. Sustainability is vital to humanity, and people should take note at the progressive advance-

ments being made at UTC while at the festival.

Despite recent political abominations that discredit environmental concerns, there has never been a more critical time to take the steps toward sustainable living. The time is now for people to fight for Planet Earth.

At this phase of the “game”, every single day should be Earth Day, and every week should be Earth Week. We the people need to understand that our beloved planet will eventually meet its imminent demise if we do not unite to combat the damage being caused to it.

If hosting a festival with a boisterous music act is a way to gain attention to the necessity of sustainability, then great, we should have one every weekend. Our resources are plummeting, our top-soil is fading fast, mother nature is screaming at us to fight her.

Come to this event not only to see one of the coolest shows in existence, but also to support our local schools, farmers, vendors, businesses; and to gain knowledge of sustainability in order to attempt to reverse the horrendous damage plaguing Earth, and to potentially learn how to eventually survive.

THU4.6 Taste!

Chattanooga’s premier food event, benefiting The Kidney Foundation, returns for another tasty year.

5 p.m.

Stratton Hall 3146 Broad St. (423) 265-4397 kidneyfoundation.com

FRI4.7 Cambridge Square Night Market

Ooltewah's premier weekly market is back for another great season.

6 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogamarket.com

SAT4.8 Chattanooga Zoo Birthday Bash

Come celebrate eight decades of the best small town zoo in America!

10 a.m.

Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1319 chattzoo.org

Follow The Pulse on Facebook (we’re quite likeable) www.facebook.com/chattanoogapulse CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 6, 2017 • THE PULSE • 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

All My Sons

THURSDAY4.6 Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Ooltewah Nursery 5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775 ooltewahnursery.com Signal Mountain Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Pruett’s Market 1210 Taft Hwy. (423) 902-8023 signalmountainfarmersmarket.com Vision + Verse 4 p.m.

Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Taste!

5 p.m.

Stratton Hall 3146 Broad St. (423) 265-4397 kidneyfoundation.com Chattanooga Film Festival Opening Night Party 5:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 201 Chestnut St. (423) 381-0502 chattfilmfest.org April City Sweat: A View from the Top 6 p.m.

Miller Plaza 800 Market St. (423) 265-3700 rivercitycompany.com The World Series of Comedy 7:30 p.m.

16 • THE PULSE • APRIL 6, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com That Other Woman’s Child: A Bluegrass Musical 7:30 p.m.

Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3246 chattanoogastate.edu CSO Masterworks Series Mozart & Mahler 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 267-8583 chattanoogasymphony.org

FRIDAY4.7 Spring Plant Sale & Festival

9 a.m.

Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga 1000 E. 30th St. (423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org Chattanooga Film Festival 10:15 a.m.

Carmike Majestic 12 311 Broad St. (423) 381-0502 chattfilmfest.org 3rd Street Farmers Market 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. lookoutfarmersmarket.com Art to Wear Opening Reception 5 p.m.

In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com Open Studio Nights

ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT 40 Comedians will be competing to win a week of work at The Comedy Catch and a spot in the Second Round of The World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas.

The World Series of Comedy The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com

5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Cambridge Square Market 6 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogamarket.com Four Artists Opening Reception 6:30 p.m.

River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (800) 374-2923 river-gallery.com The BFG 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com West Side Story 7:30 p.m.

Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com All My Sons 7:30 p.m.

Ensemble Theatre 104 N. Tuxedo Ave. (423) 987-5141 A Few Good Men 7:30 p.m.

Mars Theater District 117 N. Chattanooga St. (706) 996-8350 backalleyproductions.org The World Series of Comedy 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Bug-a-Palüza 19 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Wide Open Floor 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org

SATURDAY4.8 Bug-a-Palüza 19 8 a.m.

Camp Jordan 323 Camp Jordan Pkwy. volksfolks.org Sculpture Fields 1st Anniversary Celebration 9 a.m.

Sculpture Fields 1800 Polk St. (423) 266-7288 sculpturefields.org Spring Plant Sale & Festival 9 a.m.

Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga 1000 E. 30th St. (423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org St. Alban’s Hixson Market 9:30 a.m.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 Northside Farmers Market 10 am.

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-7497 5th Annual “Master Your Garden” Garden Expo 10 a.m.

Camp Jordan 323 Camp Jordan Pkwy. mghc.org Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogarivermarket.com Chattanooga Zoo Birthday Bash 10 a.m.

Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1319 chattzoo.org Chattanooga Film Festival 10:30 a.m.

Carmike Majestic 12 311 Broad St. (423) 381-0502 chattfilmfest.org Brainerd Farmers Market 11 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 West Side Story 2 p.m.

Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com The BFG 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com All My Sons 2:30, 7:30 p.m.

Ensemble Theatre 104 N. Tuxedo Ave. (423) 987-5141

Symphonic Tales: The Great Train Race 3 p.m.

Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Chattanooga Latin Nights 7 p.m.

The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 702-8081 thecamphouse.com That Other Woman’s Child: A Bluegrass Musical 7:30 p.m.

Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3246 chattanoogastate.edu A Few Good Men 7:30 p.m.

Mars Theater District 117 N. Chattanooga St. (706) 996-8350 backalleyproductions.org The World Series of Comedy 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Spring Gala Performance 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Dance Theatre 5151 Austin Rd. (423) 760-8808 chattanoogadancetheatre.com

SUNDAY4.9 Bug-a-Palüza 19

8 a.m.

Camp Jordan 323 Camp Jordan Pkwy. volksfolks.org 5th Annual “Master Your Garden” Garden Expo 10 a.m.

Camp Jordan 323 Camp Jordan Pkwy. mghc.org Chattanooga Zoo Birthday Bash 10 a.m.

Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1319 chattzoo.org Chattanooga Film Festival 10:30 a.m.

Carmike Majestic 12 311 Broad St. (423) 381-0502 chattfilmfest.org Spring Plant Sale & Festival 11 a.m.

Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga 1000 E. 30th St. (423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org Chocolate Fling Benefit 1 p.m.

Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 634-1771 epilepsy-setn.org Spring Wildflower Walk 2 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Spring Gala Performance 2 p.m.

Chattanooga Dance Theatre CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 6, 2017 • THE PULSE • 17

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

A Few Good Men 5151 Austin Rd. (423) 760-8808 chattanoogadancetheatre.com All My Sons 2:30 p.m.

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga 104 N. Tuxedo Ave. (423) 987-5141 ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com That Other Woman’s Child: A Bluegrass Musical 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 697-3246 chattanoogastate.edu Joe Lowers 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

MONDAY4.10 Red Bank Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Red Bank United Methodist 3800 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 838-9804

TUESDAY4.11 East Brainerd Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com Squonk Opera 4, 6:30, 8 p.m.

Engel Stadium 1130 E. 3rd St.

18 • THE PULSE • APRIL 6, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

(423) 425-4371 utc.edu/fine-arts-center/ Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Celebrate United 6 p.m.

Waterhouse Pavilion 850 Market St. (423) 752-0300 uwchatt.org

WEDNESDAY4.12 Chattanooga Market at Erlanger East 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger East Hospital 1751 Gunbarrel Rd. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogamarket.com Main Street Market 4 p.m.

325 E. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Homebrewing 101: Make your own Beer 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Open Mic Comedy 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-1400 jjsbohemia.com

Map these locations on chattanoogapulse. com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

FOOD & DRINK ∙ MIXOLOGY

What Exactly Is A Lager, Anyway?

An underappreciated beer with a major brewing difference

By Addie Whitlow Pulse contributor

I

F THERE’S ONE DRINK YOU CAN’T go wrong with, it’s the classic American brew, otherwise known as beer. Whether you like ales, stouts, malts, or even cider beers, there are a wide variety of tastes and flavors that can satisfy just about any beerdrinker, and you don’t have to be an aficionado to enjoy them.

However, if there’s one beer type that’s slightly underappreciated, it’s lagers. I can guarantee that if you’ve ever had a beer, you’ve probably had a lager, but you might not have known it. If you’re not the aforementioned beer aficionado, then you might be wondering what the difference really is between styles of beers, and I’m here to break that down.

Now, I know what you’re thinking; lager beers, like Sam Adams Boston Lager, right?

Well, of course. Sam Adams isn’t the only lager, though, and it may not even be the best. Some other popular brand names include Yuengling (my personal favorite), Budweiser, Bud Light, Coors Light, Busch, Corona, and Heineken, to name a few.

Now, back to the difference: According to Fred Eckhardt from allaboutbeers.com, the main difference between lagers and other types of beers, like ales, is the temperature at which the fermentation process occurs; lagers are fermented at much cooler temperatures.

In addition, bottom-fermenting yeast plays a key role, too, after temperature. Essentially, bottom-fermenting yeast ferments much slower, and with the addition of cooler temperatures, it produces a beer with a more mellow and flavorful taste.

Fun fact: The word “lager”, of German origin, actually means “storeroom”; lagers

tend to be stored longer in order to produce the crispier flavor and mellow taste. Eckhardt explained that lagers originated during the Middle Ages, when Bavarian beer brewers learned that beer continued to ferment when it was stored in ice caves, hence the storagerelated name.

However, it wasn’t until the latter half of the 19th century that scientists began to experiment with different types of yeast in beer, and it was also when lagers really took off. And boy, was it revelatory.

No discussion on lagers would be complete if I didn’t offer some insight into a few different brands, which is precisely what I plan to do.

I stopped by Publix to build my own six-pack in order to sample a few lesser-known lagers to see how the tastes stack up.

The first beer I sampled was New Belgium Black Lager. Appearancewise, this beer holds true to its name; it’s probably the darkest brown beer I’ve seen in my one and a half years of legal drinking.

The taste was extremely crisp, but it was also smooth. It had hints of chocolate, which was surprising but pleasing. New Belgium Black Lager packs a bit more of a punch with almost six percent ABV, but you wouldn’t know it from the taste.

The second beer sampled on my lager expedition was Margaritaville Brewing Co.’s Landshark Lager. It’s extremely yellow in color, almost gold, and it’s packaged in a clear bottle. It was very smooth, but it was a bit too carbonated. It had a

“It wasn’t until the latter half of the 19th century that scientists began to experiment with different types of yeast in beer, and it was also when lagers really took off.”

bit of a hop upon the first sip, but that faded quickly. Overall, it didn’t have a ton of taste, but it is cheap, so that’s a plus.

Guinness Blonde American Lager is the third and final beer on my brief journey. It has a goldamber color, and it almost smells a little bitter, but it certainly doesn’t taste that way. It’s smooth, crisp, and bold. It also has hints of honey and caramel, making the Guinness Blonde my definite favorite of the three.

All in all, the Bavarians were onto something when they stored their beers for longer in cooler temperatures; myself and lager fans everywhere give thanks to that accidental discovery of an age-old style of brewing delicious beer.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 6, 2017 • THE PULSE • 19

MUSIC

Hip-Hop CHA Announces A New Competition Local music collective takes hip-hop to a new level

"Heatherly" Holt

Everyone's Welcome At Everyone East Lake The Everyone East Lake Festival is back and bigger than ever. This Saturday starting at 1 p.m., the East Lake Neighborhood Association will be hosting a festival that has something enjoyable for attendees of all ages including a soccer tournament, Art 120’s Art Bikes, and the Bookmobile Book Fairy.

The East Lake Festival will also have a plethora of talented musicians on hand for entertainment. Musical acts include “Heatherly” Holt, the CSAS Choir, Jazzanooga Youth, The Unstoppable Jamal Traub, Josh Driver & the DLPB, Opera Tennessee, Rafael Amaral-Latin Flavor, Joy Devlin and her Divine Jazz, and more.

According to Buddy Shirk, Vice President of the East Lake Neighborhood Association and the events Chairman for Publicity and Entertainment for EEL, “This year’s event promises to be one of the best yet- we have such a wide variety of musical acts, there is something for everyone.”

With such a rich heritage, the diversity of East Lake Duck Pond is something the East Lake community, and many Chattanooga residents are proud of, and this diversity is worth celebrating.

East Lake’s revitalization is something that is great to see happening in Chattanooga. With the support of organizations such as Lyndhurst Foundation and Empower Chattanooga, this event is all about celebrating the great progress of East Lake. — Alex Plaumann Everyone East Lake Festival Saturday, 1 p.m.

East Lake Park 3000 E. 4th Street (423) 718-7654 www.elakeneighbors.org 20 • THE PULSE • APRIL 6, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

F

OR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS I HAVE WATCHED the Chattanooga music scene grow from a trickle of cover bands and a handful of tired venues into a thriving musical community. The level of talent and diversity of acts is unquestionably the greatest it’s ever been and shows every sign of only getting bigger and better.

For much of that time, however, the hip-hop

genre has gone largely under-represented and under-appreciated but it appears those days are rapidly drawing to a close as more and more artists are emerging and, finally, getting the recognition they deserve. No single entity is doing as much to make that happen as Hip-Hop CHA, the artist collective that is almost single-handedly revolutionizing the local market.

Coming off a string of sold-out shows at the Revelry Room, the group has announced their latest effort in promoting the best and brightest of the

MUSIC

“Remember when MTV showed videos” is as tired a cliché as you’ll hear, but honestly, in this day and age MTV and its ilk are entirely unnecessary. genre here in town, a progressive competition similar to the Road to Nightfall.

The first round takes place at Hush Lounge on April 17th at 6 p.m. for New Music Monday. Artists will be able to submit a single track for the evening with the public voting for their favorite artist and track from the time of the competition until midnight on Wednesday.

The top seven competitors will advance to the final round to be held at the Revelry Room on April 22nd where they will perform the track of their choice live, on stage. Voting will be conducted by attendees with the final winner announced later that night. Afterwards, DJ Shoey of The House will be on hand to spin tunes until midnight.

The overall winner of the competition will receive a free attendance to the SoundCorp Craft Masters course, an opening gig at one of the Levitt Amp Concert Series events at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center lawn this summer, and a headlining appearance at one of the 2017 Hip-Hop Lounge events.

The grand prize winner will also receive four hours of consultation (in two

two-hour sessions) with Codie G of Slow Motion Soundz. The Huntsville based music research and development company has been featured in Forbes, SPIN, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, MTV and BET and has worked with a stable of well-known world class artists.

Rules, registration and instruction for submitting tracks can all be found at hiphopcha. com. Tickets to the event finals can be purchased through the Revelry Room website.

The competition has a lot to offer Chattanooga’s up and comers in the hip hop world, but with the first round less than two weeks away, artists are encouraged to get their submissions in now.

Although this is the first (to my knowledge) competition of its kind in the area, given the professionalism of the folks at Hip-Hop CHA and the wealth of talent in the city, it is a cinch that this yearly custom will soon become an annual tradition. ···· New Music Monday Monday, April 17th, 6 p.m.

Hush Lounge 41 Station St. (423) 521-2929 hiphopcha.com

A Quick Rundown On Upcoming Shows (And More) There’s a lot of exciting stuff coming up in April in the Scenic City.

First up on the list is a performance this Friday, April 7th at J.J.’s Bohemia featuring Aaron Lee Tasjan with Heatherly and Magic Birds. The show starts at 10 p.m.

Nashville based Tasjan, whose single “Florida Man” was featured in Rolling Stone in 2015, cites Guy Clark and John Prine as influences while singer/songwriter Heatherly and Americana duo Magic Birds are already wellknown to Chattanooga locals.

It will make for an outstanding night of acoustic goodness.

Dead Testaments whose latest EP was reviewed in The Pulse a few weeks ago has announced April 30th as the release date for that impressive new entry. There is not show scheduled as yet, but critical reception and eager fans inspired the band to make the EP available asap.

Aaron Lee Tasjan

Elk Milk is likewise releasing a new EP May 20th. More details on that to follow.

The much-loved Chattanooga Film Festival’s opening night is Thursday, April 6th at the Tennessee Aquariums IMAX Theater. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and the opening night film, Dave Made a Maze (reviewed in this issue), will be presented at 7:45 p.m. followed by Puckett’s annual “I’m Ok, You’re Ok” karaoke party at 9:30 p.m.

— Marc T. Michael

THU4.6

FRI4.7

SAT4.8

Steve Moakler

Summer Dregs

Tree Tops

The versatility of Steve Moakler’s music goes beyond his magnetic pull as an artist. You need to see him live to appreciate him.

9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co

Electro-pop met R&B. Celestial bodies manifest in industrial translucent tubes, warped metal and brilliant LED lights.

7 p.m.

The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com

The band finds a great deal of pride in their ability to craft meaningful songs, but is no stranger to the on-stage improvisation.

10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 6, 2017 • THE PULSE • 21

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Kevn Kinney

THURSDAY4.6 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Rick Rushing Blues Jazz N’ Friends 6 p.m.

Bluewater Grille 224 Broad St. bluewaterchattanooga.com Forever Bluegrass 6:30 p.m.

Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Mozart & Mahler 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Bruce Molsky & Molsky’s Mountain Drifters 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Big Jesus, Chillhowie Royal 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Keepin’ it Local 8 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St.

22 • THE PULSE • APRIL 6, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

publichousechattanooga.com Steve Moakler 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

FRIDAY4.7 Gino Fanelli 5 p.m.

Riverside Wine & Spirits 600 Manufactures Rd. riversidewine.com Megan Saunders 6 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln.

chattanoogamarket.com Kevn Kinney 7 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Summer Dregs & How I Became Bomb 7 p.m.

The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Watkins Family and Channing Eleton 7 p.m.

Ringgold Depot 155 Ringgold Depot St. cityofringgold.com The Black Jacket Symphony 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Aaron Lee Tasjan,

PULSE MUSIC SPOTLIGHT Charlsey Etheridge soulfully delivers an exquisite combination of largely acoustic tunes that blend gospel, folk, bluegrass, and a touch of swing and jazz.

Charlsey Etheridge Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Chattanooga River Market 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com

Heatherly, Magic Birds 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Rick Rushing 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Muscadine Bloodline 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Kelsi Westfall 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Arlo Gilliam 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Gino Fanelli 10 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Boy Named Banjo 10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com

SATURDAY4.8 Bluegrass Brunch Noon The Honest Pint 35 Pattern Pkwy. thehonestpint.com

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Blackfoot Gypsies Charlsey Etheridge 12:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Everyone East Lake Festival 1 p.m.

East Lake Park 3000 E. 34th St. elakeneighbors.org Latin Nights 2017 7 p.m.

The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Loretta Lynn 8 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Kanopi, White Violet, Future Elevators 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Mind on Heaven 8 p.m.

Wayne-O-Rama 1800 Rossville Ave. wayneorama.com Taylor Pie 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Rick Rushing 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Blackfoot Gypsies 9 p.m.

Revelry Room

41 Station St. revelryroom.co Campbell Station 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/Chattanooga Moth Face 10 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Tree Tops 10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Hap Henninger 10 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

SUNDAY4.9 Cricket and Snail 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Cannon Hunt with Homesickness 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Mind on Heaven 3 p.m.

Wayne-O-Rama 1800 Rossville Ave. wayneorama.com Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 DAIKAIJU, Pirato Ketchup, Preymanta 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com TAUK 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co

MONDAY4.10 Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. Granfalloonchattanooga.com Old Sea Brigade, Max Fine 7 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic 8 p.m.

The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Bunch, Okinawa, No Thank You John 10 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

TUESDAY4.11 Squonk Opera 4, 6:30, 8 p.m.

Engel Stadium 1130 E. 3rd St. utc.edu/fine-arts-center Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m.

Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com David Dondero, Matt Bohannon 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

WEDNESDAY4.12 Joel Clyde 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 Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 6, 2017 • THE PULSE • 23

RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ERNIE PAIK

TSKF This Saxophone Kills Fascists, Ghost In The House Second Sight

This Saxophone Kills Fascists This Saxophone Kills Fascists / Live Alive (self-released / Fidalgo Island’s Beautiful)

I

n today’s absurd political climate, one of the most absurd episodes has to be the debunked Pizzagate conspiracy theory, which purported that Hillary Clinton was connected to a Satanic child-trafficking ring run out of the Washington, D.C. pizzeria Comet Ping Pong.

Unwittingly caught in the middle of this mess was musician and artist Arrington de Dionyso (of Old Time Relijun and Malaikat dan Singa), who had painted a mural inside Comet Ping Pong and received threats and harassment from credulous trolls.

Ghost In The House Second Sight (Public Eyesore) It’s not surprising, then, that de Dionyso’s new project is pointedly political. Its name, This Saxophone Kills Fascists, is a direct reference to the label that reads “This Machine Kills Fascists” seen on the guitar of folk and protest singer Woody Guthrie.

It also takes inspiration from ‘60s spiritual free jazz, like Albert Ayler and late-career John Coltrane, with de Dionyso channeling the intensity of those saxophonists, often over-blowing and opting for sheer impact rather than nuance.

Although only in existence for a few months, the project already has several physical releases, including a self-titled CD-R and the live cassette Live Alive, both

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of which compile material also available digitally on Bandcamp under different titles.

Side A of Live Alive features a 32-minute set with drummer Sam Klickner and saxophonist China Faith Star, bookended with two spoken-word recitations: de Dionyso’s “This Saxophone Kills Fascists Manifesto” and Martin Niemöller’s poem “First They Came...”

Klickner matches the spirit of de Dionyso’s free-form bleatings with spasmodic bursts, providing space among the fierce blasts, and the set on side B is perhaps even more messy and unrestrained, with a larger 5-piece ensemble.

The 74-minute CD-R begins with de Dionyso borrowing the melody of the French national anthem “La Marseillaise,” an apt quote, considering the anthem’s lyrical themes of revolution and anti-tyranny.

De Dionyso demonstrates his invented instrument the Bromiophone, a contrabass clarinet made from PVC pipe, wrenching out guttural, animalistic sounds atop Klickner’s clanging percussion.

The CD-R ends with an intriguing diversion—a looping, lurching groove recorded using a record lathe cutter onto a

plastic plate, for a unique type of low-fidelity. Just as de Dionyso’s message is not subtle, This Saxophone Kills Fascists is often blunt, swinging its musical arms violently, born from anger and discontent.

A

friend once referred, somewhat comically disparagingly, to the sinister sounds and musique concrète of the British act Nurse With Wound as “haunted house music”.

That came to mind when listening to the new album Second Sight from Ghost in the House, which evokes a sort of playful, eerie mood while providing transportive, experiential qualities— sure, it’s a dark, haunted house but the ghosts are friendly rather than terrifying.

(Simpsons creator Matt Groening once wondered if Casper the Friendly Ghost was once Casper the Friendly Boy, but this writer digresses.)

The core quartet explores the scenarios presented by filmmaker and multi-instrumentalist David Michalak, intended to evoke vivid pictures (with the titular “second sight” being music-invoked visuals) from hard-to-place sounds and occasional storytelling. Michalak (on lap steel, bass, “sonoglyph 2” and “box of junk”

among other things) is joined by oboe and English horn player Kyle Bruckmann, instrument inventor Tom Nunn (who plays instruments including the “friction twister”, “ghost plate”, and “crustacean”) and percussionist Karen Stackpole who employs a number of gongs and metallic and wooden percussion, sometimes suggesting an Asian influence.

Free from the constraints of consistent rhythms, Second Sight oozes freely with a dizzying array of sounds and a fog of mystery.

Various animals make cameos, such as Alaskan seals and penguins on the squeaky “Warning Signs” or bat voices on “The Bats (are hanging upside down)”.

One constant on the album is the melding of dark forces with playful attitudes, like on “Innocence Walks a Dark Path”. which combines ominous drones with the recurring “nanny nanny boo boo” melody.

However, the album takes a grotesque turn with “Dockside Discovery”, with spoken-word vocals that describe a severed head being pulled out of the water, among wispy sounds and disquieting noises.

But, for the most part, the aural variety and mischief on Second Sight make it a welcome experience into unknown depths.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 6, 2017 • THE PULSE • 25

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

The List

why they happened. Here’s another way to FREE YOUR MEMORIES: If you’re holding on to an insult someone hurled at you once upon a time, let it go. In fact, declare a general amnesty for everyone who ever did you wrong. By the way, the coming weeks will also be a favorable phase to FREE YOURSELF OF MEMORIES that hold you back. Are there any tales you tell yourself about the past that undermine your dreams about the future? Stop telling yourself those tales.

Workplace Drug Testing ROB BREZSNY

One of the big political kerfluffles right now is about employment drug testing (and whether it's worth the money).

So we asked our friends at the Statistics Brain Institute for some facts and figures...and the results were enlightening.

• Percent of Federal workforce employees that tested positive for drug use: 1.7% • Percent of U.S. employees that tested positive: 4.3% • Percent of all job related accidents that are drug or alcohol related: 65% • Percent of all drug users who hold a job: 67.9% • Percent of U.S employers that require pre-employment drug tests: 56% • Percent of private employers that conduct random drug screening: 29% • Annual cost to U.S. employers for drug screen testing: $3,750,500,000 • Total cost to employers annually due to employee drug use (lost time, accidents, etc): $85,000,000,000 Feel free to draw your own conclusions from the data.

Source: statisticbrain.com/preemployment-job-drug-testing-statistics

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Be interested in first things, Aries. Cultivate your attraction to beginnings. Align yourself with uprisings and breakthroughs. Find out what’s about to hatch, and lend your support. Give your generous attention to potent innocence and novel sources of light. Marvel at people who are rediscovering the sparks that animated them when they first came into their power. Fantasize about being a curious seeker who is devoted to reinventing yourself over and over again. Gravitate toward influences that draw their vitality directly from primal wellsprings. Be excited about first things.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Are you weary of lugging around decayed guilt and regret? Is it increasingly difficult to keep forbidden feelings concealed? Have your friends been wondering about the whip marks from your self-flagellation sessions?

Do you ache for redemption? If you answered yes to any of those questions, listen up. The empathetic and earthy saints of the Confession Catharsis Corps are ready to receive your blubbering disclosures. They are clairvoyant, they’re non-judgmental, and best of all, they’re free.

Within seconds after you telepathically communicate with our earthy saints, they will psychically beam you eleven minutes of unconditional love, no strings attached. Do it! You’ll be amazed at how much lighter and smarter you feel. Transmit your sad stories to the Confession Catharsis Corps NOW! GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Now is an excellent time to FREE YOUR MEMORIES. What comes to mind when I suggest that? Here are my thoughts on the subject. To FREE YOUR MEMORIES, you could change the way you talk and feel about your past. Reexamine your assumptions about your old stories, and dream up fresh interpretations to explain how and

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CANCER (June 21-July 22): How big is your vocabulary? Twenty thousand words? Thirty thousand? Whatever size it is, the coming weeks will be prime time to expand it. Life will be conspiring to enhance your creative use of language…to deepen your enjoyment of the verbal flow…to help you become more articulate in rendering the mysterious feelings and complex thoughts that rumble around inside you. If you pay attention to the signals coming from your unconscious mind, you will be shown how to speak and write more effectively. You may not turn into a silvertongued persuader, but you could become a more eloquent spokesperson for your own interests.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): We all need more breaks from the routine—more holidays, more vacations, more days off from work. We should all play and dance and sing more, and guiltlessly practice the arts of leisure and relaxation, and celebrate freedom in regular boisterous rituals. And I’m nominating you to show us the way in the coming weeks, Leo. Be a cheerleader who exemplifies how it’s done.

Be a ringleader who springs all of us inmates out of our mental prisons.

Be the imaginative escape artist who demonstrates how to relieve tension and lose inhibitions.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): People in your vicinity may be preoccupied with trivial questions. What’s more nutritious, corn chips or potato chips?

Could Godzilla kick King Kong’s ass? Is it harder to hop forward on one foot or backward with both feet? I suspect you will also encounter folks who are embroiled in meaningless decisions and petty emotions. So how should you navigate your way through this energy-draining muddle? Here’s my advice: Identify the issues that are most worthy of your attention. Stay focused on them with disciplined devotion. Be selfish in your rapt determination to serve your clearest and noblest and holiest agendas.

Homework: Who’s the person you’d most like to meet and have coffee or a drink with? Why? Testify at Freewillastrology.com LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I hope that by mid-May you will be qualified to teach a workshop called “Sweet Secrets of Tender Intimacy” or “Dirty Secrets of Raw Intimacy” or maybe even “Sweet and Dirty Secrets of Raw and Tender Intimacy.” In other words, Libra, I suspect that you will be adding substantially to your understanding of the art of togetherness. Along the way, you may also have experiences that would enable you to write an essay entitled “How to Act Like You Have Nothing to Lose When You Have Everything to Gain.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): If you have a dream of eating soup with a fork, it might mean that in your waking life you’re using the wrong approach to getting nourished. If you have a dream of entering through an exit, it might mean that in your waking life you’re trying to start at the end rather than the beginning. And if you dream of singing nursery rhymes at a karaoke bar with unlikable people from high school, it might mean that in your waking life you should seek more fulfilling ways to express your wild side and your creative energies. (P.S. You’ll be wise to do these things even if you don’t have the dreams I described.)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you’re a Quixotic lover, you’re more in love with love itself than with any person. If you’re a Cryptic lover, the best way to stay in love with a particular partner is to keep him or her guessing. If you’re a Harlequin, your steady lover must provide as much variety as three lovers. If you’re a Buddy, your specialties are having friendly sex and having sex with friends. If you’re a Histrionic, you’re addicted to confounding, disorienting love. It’s also possible that you’re none of the above. I hope so, because now is an excellent time to have a beginner’s mind about what kind of love you really need and want to cultivate in the future.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Your new vocabulary word is “adytum.” It refers to the most sacred place within a sacred place—the inner shrine at

the heart of a sublime sanctuary. Is there such a spot in your world? A location that embodies all you hold precious about your journey on planet Earth? It might be in a church or temple or synagogue or mosque, or it could be a magic zone in nature or a corner of your bedroom. Here you feel an intimate connection with the divine, or a sense of awe and reverence for the privilege of being alive.

If you don’t have a personal adytum, Capricorn, find or create one. You need the refreshment that comes from dwelling in the midst of the numinous.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You could defy gravity a little, but not a lot. You can’t move a mountain, but you may be able to budge a hill. Luck won’t miraculously enable you to win a contest, but it might help you seize a hard-earned perk or privilege.

A bit of voraciousness may be good for your soul, but a big blast of greed would be bad for both your soul and your ego. Being savvy and feisty will energize your collaborators and attract new allies; being a smart-ass show-off would alienate and repel people.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Here are activities that will be especially favorable for you to initiate in the near future: 1. Pay someone to perform a service for you that will ease your suffering. 2. Question one of your fixed opinions if that will lead to you receiving a fun invitation you wouldn’t get otherwise. 3. Dole out sincere praise or practical help to a person who could help you overcome one of your limitations. 4. Get clear about how one of your collaborations would need to change in order to serve both of you better.

Then tell your collaborator about the proposed improvement with lighthearted compassion.

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.

New Look. New Wheels.

Looking for a new vehicle?

Need to sell your old ride?

Buy, Trade and Sell all in one place.

ChattanoogaHasCars.com

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 6, 2017 • THE PULSE • 27

OPINIONS & DIVERSIONS

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JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES

“’SMarvelous”—’smeaningful to the theme, too.

ACROSS 1 Branch offshoot 5 Charlie of “Winning!” memes 10 All-out battles 14 “How awful!”

15 Dance company founder Alvin 16 Creature created

by George Lucas 17 Washington newspaper 18 Take-away signs of happiness?

20 Lhasa ___ (Tibetan breed) 22 Oil transport 23 Casually uninterested 26 Puddle gunk 29 They directed “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

30 1990 Stanley Cup winners 32 Gets warmer 34 Rough purchase at the dairy?

38 One of LBJ’s beagles 39 Anaheim Stadium

player, once 40 “___ little teapot ...”

42 1980s actor Corey hawking some tart fruit candies?

47 Passport endorsements 48 Doughnut shape 49 Goaded (on) 52 “Spring forward” letters 54 Teeming with testosterone 55 Grand Canyon pack animals 57 Burgles 59 “If something can go wrong, Gargamel will never get it right”?

62 Pinball foul 66 “Fashion Emergency” model 67 Slow mover 68 On-screen symbol 69 Employer of Serpico or Sipowicz 70 Road trip expenses 71 Penny value DOWN 1 Outdo

2 One of a reporter’s W’s 3 “Shoo” additions?

4 “You busy?”

5 Backtalk 6 Athlete’s camera greeting 7 The Manning with more Super Bowl MVP awards 8 “Electric” creature 9 Putin turndown 10 Sign your dog is healthy, maybe 11 Got up 12 Seth of “Pineapple Express” 13 Some toffee bars 19 “___ bleu!”

21 Liven (up) 23 NBA great Chris 24 Bartenders’ fruit 25 What a snooze button delays 27 Fashion status in various states?

28 Stuff in an orange-lidded pot, traditionally 31 Adds some seasoning

33 Frank Zappa’s son 35 Aquatic nymph 36 “Hot Fuzz” star Pegg 37 Clickable communication 41 “Toy Story” kid 43 Stated as fact 44 Get ___ (throw away) 45 Bausch & ___ (lens maker) 46 Rigorous 49 “The Beverly Hillbillies” star Buddy 50 Like some kids’ vitamins 51 Cranky sort 53 Hiker’s path 56 Part of iOS 58 Nocturnal rat catchers 60 ___-cones 61 Kobe’s old team, on scoreboards 63 Word before pick or breaker 64 Chaney of “The Wolf Man” 65 C7H5N3O6, for short

Copyright © 2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per3minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 826 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 6, 2017 • THE PULSE • 29

COLUMN ∙ GAME ON!

The Weird, Wild & Wonderful Gaming along with aliens, cartels, and robotic moose…oh my!

Brandon Watson Pulse columnist

I

AM GOING TO BE UP FRONT WITH this folks: it’s been abysmal in the triple A release market. Maybe my time-ingaming-service has rendered me jaded with high expectations, but in my defense when you have watched the game industry evolve from 8 bit to 4k gaming in just three decades you develop some critical evaluations. This time around I have three of the latest games to face my sour scrutiny for better or worse.

Mass Effect: Andromeda. I am going to take a deep breath now and just say it: it’s Mass Effect in skin and combat only. To be honest it barely feels like a Bioware game at all and I’ve been riding the Bioware wagon since Baldur’s Gate and own everything up to Dragon Age: Inquisition. So I know my Bioware, and given the ugly character creation and lack of real dialogue choice in the game, it feels very wrong fundamentally.

I’m a Mass Effect fanboy and have been a supporter of the original franchise since day one. I am not going to hate on Andromeda, I just can’t shell out the money for it, and it’s too silly to take seriously with the glitches,

horrible character animations, and lack of interesting story.

Where it shines is the combat which should have been expanded through multiplayer, or something like Ubisoft did with a persistent campaign in For Honor. Just let me go ape with biotics and three of my friends. It’s not a bad game but I’d move on and wait until a price drop if you really must get this game.

So coming back to Earth a bit is the operator-a-f Tom Clancy game called Ghost Recon: Wildlands. I was given a definitive couch demo in my friend Ian’s living room which I lovingly call ICDs because if not for these couch demos, I’d be completely clueless.

Ghost Recon: Wildlands feels like a serious take on the Mercenaries and Just Cause franchises, it’s not as cartoony as the former or the latter and offers that exhilarating coordinated team effort that is so fun about Tom Clancy ground combat games. I am a Splinter Cell/Rainbow Six fanatic and I always find the little upgrades and tweaks keep these games interesting.

Wildlands has some crazy detail to the character models, weaponry, and tactics that should make those SpecOp wannabees salivate. It’s like

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playing digital G.I Joes in a heavily vegetated backyard with drug cartels.

You can customize your kit and unlock killer swag for your operators.

I believed we spent 30 minutes just looking at all the product placement and items from several real-life tactical equipment companies, it’s quite ridiculous.

Graphics are lackluster for the Xbox One but the solid team gameplay and the varied approaches to mission objectives gives Wildlands a Far Cry and Just Cause flavor. But other than that, Wildlands stands on its own because it’s pretty easy to get into and screw around for gear unlocks and back story content. It’s Tom Clancy, it’s Ghost Recon. Is it ground breaking? No. Is it fun? If you like tactical team shooters and helicopters, then absolutely!

I play games to see and do fantastical things. Videogames are immersive and interactive fiction that allows me to crawl inside a digital novel and play with the universe and its characters.

This year I was and still am blown away by a childhood culmination of my two favorite genres, post-apocalyptic and robot sci-fi. As a kid I had a small collection of Zoids and

Transformers and I remember fondly of days imagining vast open worlds where I would frolic with gigantic ersatz dinosaurs or dragons and witness epic beastly duels with hydraulics, circuitry and violence.

I am going to take a deep breath and close my eyes: Horizon: Zero Dawn delivers those childhood dreams in a package wrapped in wonder and sunshine and yes, I’m a bit misty eyed. I hate to say this, but it’s the game Mass Effect: Andromeda should’ve been.

Hands down it’s amazingly gorgeous and the writing is both compelling and imaginative. It’s a game that will seize you in its metallic jaws and take you on a fantastic ride. I have only begun to scratch the surface of Horizon: Zero Dawn in terms of lore and backstory but I feel no pain investing time and effort looking under every leaf and finding every vantage point.

This game is a joy and I am excited to embrace it as an essential title for any adventure gamer.

When not vaporizing zombies or leading space marines as a mousepad Mattis, Brandon Watson is making gourmet pancakes and promoting local artists.

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