VOL. 14, NO. 22 • JUNE 1, 2017
TERNATIVE
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VOL. 14, NO. 22 • JUNE 1, 2017
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FROM BARN WOOD TO BEAUTY
Residents couldn’t miss it every time they drove down Cherokee Boulevard: the dilapidated and crumbling eyesore, the former Pruett’s grocery store on the Northshore.
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DANCING WITH THE MOST PRIMEVAL OF ELEMENTS
Through visual art, music, dance, and a million other outlets, humans have found ways to release, connect, and communicate emotions with humanity.
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20 YEARS OF MAKING AUDIENCES CRINGE
If I had a nickel for every word I’ve written about or because of the Subterranean Cirqus, I’d have a big ol’ sack of nickels those kids would inevitably use to do something bizarre and potentially gross
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YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF YAWN
Disney has made five Pirates of the Caribbean movies to date. That’s five blockbuster films based on nothing more than a theme park ride, alebit a quite popular one.
ALSO INSIDE
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Your City Summer Reading Guide It’s almost summer, and that means the days pass lazier than the Tennessee River flowing by Chattanooga’s aquarium. School’s out. The days’ hours grow long. And whether or not you can escape on a vacation to the mountains or the beach, there’s no better time to experiment, try new things, broaden your horizons.
FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS
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CONSIDER THIS
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THE LIST
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SHRINK RAP
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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
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ARTS CALENDAR
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JONESIN' CROSSWORD
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MUSIC CALENDAR
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ON THE BEAT
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MUSIC REVIEWS
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OPINIONS & DIVERSIONS
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NEW IN THEATERS
Daniel Jackson is an independent journalist working in the Chattanooga area. He studied Communications at Bryan College and covered national events at the Washington Times. Follow him on Twitter @jcksndnl
Adam Beckett is a professional writer from the metro Atlanta area. He has been writing professionally for over a decade, and has produced many articles that have been featured on major news networks, online sites, magazines and newspapers.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 3
BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE
From Barn Wood To Beauty An old grocery store eyesore on the Northshore is transformed By Kathie Fulhgam Pulse contributor
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 • Kathie Fulgham Daniel Jackson • Matt Jones Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Alex Teach • Michael Thomas Editorial Intern Lauren Waegele Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow
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Director of Sales Mike Baskin mikebaskin@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Brittany Dreon Rick Leavell • Libby Phillips John Rodriguez • Danielle Swindell Logan Vandergriff
CONTACT
Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2017 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
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HEN TENNESSEE LAW FIRM Davis, Kessler & Davis decided to expand by opening an office in Chattanooga, they considered many things most businesses would consider: location, accessibility, parking and—well— how some old Tennessee barn wood would look on the outside and inside of an old grocery store. Residents couldn’t miss it every time they drove down Cherokee Boulevard: the dilapidated and crumbling eyesore, the former Pruett’s grocery store on the Northshore. Built in 1949, then shuttered for years, most Chattanoogans probably thought the best use of the ugly building was to tear it down and just sell the land. “After searching high and low throughout the Chattanooga area for two years for the perfect location, there was something special about that old building that spoke to me,” said Andy Davis, a former Baylor School student. “And the more I thought about bringing it to life, the more I wondered about how some old barn wood might improve its inner and outer self— maybe give it a more natural personality and fit with the Northshore community.” And so the search began. In small towns across Tennessee, Davis and his family, friends and colleagues started looking for old barns that property owners no longer had a need for. “We asked them if they wouldn’t mind if we tore the barn down for them,” Davis explained. “Some people wanted a fee for tearing down their barns, but most of the property owners were just glad to see them go.” After restoring countless planks of barn wood and painstakingly conducting what sometimes seemed like insurmountable challenges, six months later, the old build-
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ing with the old barn wood is now a new architectural and artistic showpiece. With the help of Roberts’ team and Matt Sears from Sears Haskel, when visitors enter the building they are greeted with walls of richly colored and restored wood in herringbone and geometrical patterns, light fixtures transformed from logs and tree branches, columns of highly polished barn beams and other support structures that still display the cutouts from where they were banded together in an earlier life. “We wanted to respect the character of the Northshore by reusing an existing building that had been around since the ‘40s,” said Roberts. And the natural ambience extends beyond the internal structure. Desks, counters, conference tables, chair rails, ceilings—just about everywhere you look—the
old wood has been given a new life. On the outside of the building, the natural wood influence continues. The two entrances of the building are graced with roughhewn wooden awnings supported with a triad of support beams. The top of the brick façade is lined with horizontal stretches of the naturally brilliant and varied-colored barn wood. “The Northshore community continues to be a burgeoning area of growth for living, working and playing in Chattanooga,” said Honor Hostetler, Community Outreach Director for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited about the beautiful restoration of the old Pruett’s grocery store on Cherokee Boulevard. It’s clear that Davis, Kessler & Davis will take an active and highly visible role as the newest neighbor in North Chattanooga.”
Consider This with Dr. Rick
EdiToon by Rob Rogers
“If all you did was look for things to appreciate you would live a joyous, spectacular life.” — Abraham-Hicks
Discovering The High Cotton Junk Market The saying goes that “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” and the High Cotton Junk Market puts this saying into practice on a large scale. Held four times a year, the High Cotton Junk Market is dubbed the “largest outdoor antique market in the Chattanooga Area” by owner, Mike Crane. With its humble beginnings just three years ago, the High Cotton Junk Market was just a small group of vendors who had some extra treasures that would not fit into the Ringgold Feed
& Seed Antique Store. With a passion for antiques, these vendors took to the parking lot. Now, Crane states, “We attract vendors and customers from all over the Southeast United States” to both an
outdoor festival and 7500 sq. ft. of antiques inside the store. This Friday, and running through Sunday, the market is especially fun: “Our June market is during the Dixie Hwy 90mile Yard Sale. You can start at the High Cotton Junk market and travel the route South along Hwy 41.” Locals looking for a great place to shop for antiques should take advantage of the many treasures at the High Cotton Junk Market. — Lauren Waegele
Gratitude is one of those exceptionally powerful emotions that literally re-wires our brain…for the positive. Anyone can grouse and grumble about the state of their life. And even if our glass is usually half full, there are times when it’s half empty. Or bone dry. But the power of gratitude begins with our intention to be thankful for everything we experience, the easy and the tough. The moment you awaken to another day is an opportunity to be grateful. Getting to work safely. Having people who love you. Good health. Finding a four-leaf clover. The big things and small. The challenging life lessons and the smooth sailing. All of it. Every moment of your life. Think about that. Consider this: The more you practice being grateful, the more grateful you will become. — Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
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COLUMN ∙ SHRINK RAP
“The Control Conundrum” The good doctor on why early affirmations are absolutely vital
Dr. Rick
Pulse columnist
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WISH TO SHARE WITH YOU A STORY about a former patient of mine whom I worked with many years ago in Los Angeles. Let’s call her “Janine.” Throughout Janine’s childhood she received some very powerful, toxic, esteemdamaging messages, especially from her alcoholic father. No matter how hard she tried, she heard, “You’re not doing well enough in school. You’re not helping out enough with your brothers. You’re not making us proud.” These were all, of course, variations on the main theme of “You’re not good enough.” And, in the way that children do, this morphed into “You’re not lovable” and “You’re not wanted”. So naturally, Janine didn’t feel deserving of love for most of her life. This, despite becoming a hard-working, successful professional after many years of being a straightA student at university. Janine didn’t feel “good enough” because it was ingrained into her psyche to believe this. So of course she worked extra hard at everything she attempted—when you start by not feeling good enough, coming home with an “A” becomes urgent. It’s a way to please the voices in her head, and a way to earn herself a shred of self-esteem. Also, this was Janine’s method of attempting to control what had been an uncontrollable childhood: Eternally living in fear of not pleasing Daddy guided all her behavior.
Here’s the big take-away: Each time we act for the approval of others, we put ourselves in a state of anxiety and dependence. We are dependent on others’ acceptance and anxious that we won’t get it. Read that again, please. Now take a moment and think about whom you feel the need to please. Ask yourself: 1. Who is the first person to come to mind? 2. Are you aware of the anxiety you feel when you’re with this person, or even think about this person? 3. Are you aware of your anger toward this person? 4. Are you aware of the ways your dependence upon their approval plays out in your adulthood? 5. Are you aware of how much energy it takes to keep this going? It’s exhausting to feel responsible for the happiness of others, for pleasing others, all the time, because it’s at your expense. It’s a psychological ball and chain, and can even cause people severe depression, and to experience physical effects like ulcers and heart attacks. Eventually, Janine’s anxieties got the best of her. After become ill enough to require hospitalization, Janine knew she had to turn her life around. Her ongoing therapy helped her get in touch with the sources of her issues as she asked herself why she was so dependent
“Each time we act for the approval of others, we put ourselves in a state of anxiety and dependence. We are dependent on others’ acceptance and anxious that we won’t get it.” upon pleasing others. And so fearful of not being able to control that. Ironically, because of all this people-pleasing, most people really didn’t like her very much. Which of course increased her efforts. It became a vicious cycle. Through hard work, Janine made tremendous progress, which not only reduced her own unhealthy urges, but began to open up parts of her life she only feared before, such as socializing and seeking companionship. She’s a good example of believing that there’s always hope, no matter what messages you re-
ceived during the early years. Everyone’s early life situation is different. But only you can make the commitment to grow through that pain, understanding that while healing does not happen overnight, it does happen. And you deserve it. Until next time, a few affirmations: I am not doomed to a life of victimhood. I am not controlled by my past. I am on the road to freedom. 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
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T’S ALMOST SUMMER, AND THAT MEANS THE DAYS PASS lazier than the Tennessee River flowing by Chattanooga’s aquarium. School’s out. The days’ hours grow long.
By Daniel Jackson Pulse contributor
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And whether or not you can escape on a vacation to the mountains or the beach, there’s no better time to experiment, try new things, broaden your horizons. It’s time for one of this season’s sweetest traditions: cracking a book and getting lost in story and idea. What’s better than lingering at a Chattanooga coffee shop, or grabbing a hammock, a bottle of sweet tea, and hanging off the edge of the world soaking in the sun and some text? Locking yourself in your living room away from all the heat is great too. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of books about Chattanooga, titles that explore the city in new ways, that show the deep and dynamic place we call home. Some of these books are fiction, but more of them are nonfiction, and they tell the true stories that made Chattanooga what it is to-
day, of soldiers, businessmen and Cherokee. Altogether, they paint a picture of this city that’s vaster and more nuanced than what a Wikipedia article could tell. To help me compile this list beyond my own experience, I reached out to several of Chattanooga’s book experts—the good people at the Southern Lit Alliance, McKay’s and the Chattanooga Public Library—to find the books on Chattanooga that are worth reading. They did not disappoint. There were more titles than space to examine them all, but the resulting list aims to show the diversity of subjects when it comes to exploring Chattanooga through the pages of a book. And because we’re not rating titles here, we’ve arranged them in alphabetical order by the authors’ last names.
COVER STORY OLD MONEY, NEW SOUTH: THE SPIRIT OF CHATTANOOGA By Dean W. Arnold
To understand Chattanooga, Dean Arnold writes in his 2006 book Old Money, New South, you must understand the family dynasties that made it what it is today. Arnold brings a first-person, exploratory journalism style to the subject. “Since I had resolved to discern the spirit of Chattanooga, I determined to interview as many of the leading families as possible,” writes Arnold. It’s a book that takes readers on a climb up some of the city’s most prominent skyscrapers, and explores the families and the fortunes behind SunTrust Bank and Coca-Cola Bottling, for example. It’s the Chattanooga aristocracy, Arnold says, that helped bring about the oft-told Chattanooga renaissance, including the Aquarium. Lee Jackson, who sits on the board of the Southern Lit Alliance, wrote, “Dean Arnold’s book really helped me understand Chattanooga when I first moved here in 2008.” He’s not the only one who said Arnold’s book is invaluable for learning how Chattanooga works.
STEALING THE GENERAL: THE GREAT LOCOMOTIVE CHASE AND THE FIRST MEDAL OF HONOR By Russell S. Bonds
It’s difficult not to see Chattanooga’s history without looking at the Civil War. And one of the most compelling stories to come out of the conflict was The Great Locomotive Chase, that story of a band of union soldiers and civilians who traveled behind enemy lines and stole a steam engine with the intent to whip the iron horse straight into Chatttown, leaving a trail of cut telegraph wires, blown up bridges and destroyed train tracks in their wake. There’s plenty of pop-culture knowledge of the raid. Both Disney and silent film icon Buster Keaton made movies of the story. But according to Russell Bonds, the author of Stealing the General, fewer books have examined the primary documents and wove together a definitive account of what actually occurred. The book begins with a Union Army moving south from Nashville into Alabama and Union sympathizers destroying rail bridges in Knoxville, thus setting the context of the failed raid that abandoned its locomotive two miles north of Ringgold and earning some participants the first Medals of Honor.
CONTEMPT OF COURT: THE TURNOF-THE-CENTURY LYNCHING THAT LAUNCHED A HUNDRED YEARS OF FEDERALISM By Mark Curriden and Leroy Phillips, Jr.
Knowing that a man was lynched on the Walnut Street Bridge over 100 years ago—one of the most popular locations in the city to take engagement photos these days—is stark enough. To see the story advance chapter after chapter in Contempt of Court, to see every twist and turn of Ed Johnson’s legal case, showed that the justice system then is almost unrecognizable to what it is today. Contempt of Court not only showed the injustice in full, aching detail, but it laid out just why Johnson’s death mattered. For the court case that followed—which put Hamilton County’s sheriff on trial before the Supreme Court of the United States no less— forever changed the legal system in this nation. For the aftermath of that lynching caused the Supreme Court to flex its power, to demonstrate that it was the highest legal voice in the land. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 9
COVER STORY CHATTANOOGA WALKING TOUR & HISTORIC GUIDE By Maury Nicely
Unlike the other books about Chattanooga, Maury Nicely’s book demands you get up, and explore this place, to stand where history happened. Chattanooga Walking Tour & Historic Guide recounts sagas of Chattanooga’s history with more than a dozen walking routes around the city. For example, a walk takes history-lovers to Ross’s Landing, a departure point for the Trail of Tears. This book gets bonus points in this nonranked book list because it can double as a low-cost date, a way to get some fresh air and learning, all at the same time. “It’s the ‘go to’ book to explore Chattanooga,” said Mary Helms, history department manager for Chattanooga Public Library. Executive Director of the Southern Lit Alliance, Lynda LeVan also recommended this book for understanding this city’s history.
THE CHATTANOOGA COUNTRY 15401951: FROM TOMAHAWKS TO TVA by Gilbert Govan and James Livingood
The Chattanooga Country 1540-1951 begins with a scramble up Lookout Mountain to an overlook that showed a mighty river cutting through field and forest, raw and untouched. The year was 1818 and a minister by the name of Elias Cornelius recorded his impression of seeing this land open up below. It was a view that had remained almost unchanged from 1540, the year the de Soto expedition traveled through the area. Thus begins Gilbert Govan and James Livingood’s story into their 436-year history of Chattanooga, exploring how it was the gateway to the early frontier, a border town with the Cherokee nation, an epicenter of the Civil War and a key player in an industrializing South. In short, Govan and Livingood believe Chattanooga’s history is a story of something larger than a city. They tell that story by utilizing a healthy dose of quotes, using the voices of history-makers. Livingood earned his PhD from Princeton and was a longtime history professor at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and this 500-page book is just one of his works on this area. This sweeping epic of Chattanooga’s history that “is a ‘must read’” according to Southern Lit board member Joe Wilferth. 10 • THE PULSE • JUNE 1, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
THE GIRL WHO STRUCK OUT BABE RUTH By Jean L. S. Patrick
A book list isn’t complete if we didn’t include at least one children’s book. It’s 1931 and the Chattanooga Lookouts signed Jackie Mitchell, a 17-year-old girl, to play pro baseball. The Lookouts went up against the New York Yankees with some of its best, most iconic players in baseball and Mitchell was called to pitch. Don’t be deceived by its 48 pages and firstgrade reading level. To create this book, both author and illustrator consulted the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Chattanooga Regional History Museum and the local history department of Chattanooga Public Library. It’s a reminder that history isn’t all grand wars, migrations and great man theory. Instead, broad histories often pass over the ordinary people who did the weird, wonderful and heroic thing in the lot they were placed—and that includes a moment of Chattanooga’s baseball history. This title was only one of the many books recommended by Dan Bockert, nonfiction director of McKay’s Chattanooga.
COVER STORY QUEEN OF WANDS
ST. ELMO
One of the great things about reading fiction about a place you frequent is its ability to infuse the place with a certain quirkiness, transforming the ordinary into something heightened. Queen of Wands by John Ringo is one of those books. Ringo is a New York Times bestselling author with dozens of books to his name, and a Chattanooga resident to boot. Queen of Wands is urban fantasy and it follows the adventures of Barbara Everette, Protestant soccer mom turned demon killer. It’s the second book in a series that started down in New Orleans. This time around, the action moves to Chattanooga where Everette is called in to investigate a series of gruesome murders in Coolidge Park. Her investigation leads her down some very dark pathways…along with visits to a lot of familiar landmarks, including the Bluff View Arts District and a rather well-known girls school just across the river. For fans of The Pulse, this one is of special interest because a certain “Alex Teach” shows up in the pages of Queen of Wands. Yes, the same Alex (in fictionalized form) who has his regular column in this week’s issue of the paper. Have you ever needed a seatbelt to read a book? Because this one is quite the ride.
St. Elmo, by Augusta Evans Wilson (also known as Augusta J. Evans) is a historical artifact, an obscure story and a piece of fiction with scenes set in Chattanooga. Indeed, the novel is why the St. Elmo neighborhood is named St. Elmo. According to the National Register of Historic Places, the original developer of St. Elmo was going to name the place East Side (...yawn) before deciding to name it after the popular novel first published in 1866. St. Elmo is a Victorian romance novel, with the language and plot to match. It follows the heroine Edna Earl, an orphan and aspiring author, as she leaves Chattanooga to live with wealthy benefactors and falls in love with St. Elmo, a duelist and overall bad boy. Wilson was “considered by some literary historians to be the best known Southern female author of the nineteenth century,” the application for St. Elmo’s inclusion on the historical registry said. Today, Wilson is more controversial. An ardent supporter of the Confederacy, her books were banned from Union camps.
By John Ringo
brewer media
By Augusta Evans Wilson
Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits
everywhere. every day.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Dancing With The Most Primeval Of Elements Fire dancing is alive and well...hot in the Scenic City
Miki Boni: From Canvas To Paperback Art is definitely a large part of Chattanooga’s identity. Not only are there several museums in the Chattanooga area, including the famous Hunter Museum, but those that are exploring Chattanooga will also find art in various places around the city whether it be a random sculpture in the art district or graffiti on a brick wall on North Shore. Needless to say, a city filled with art is also filled with artists. One of these artists, Miki Boni, has blossomed since her move to Chattanooga in 2007. A native of New York, Boni began her career in art by drawing street portraits in Manhattan’s East Village. Since then, she has been included in the permanent collection in Mexico’s Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, elected into Washinton DC’s National League of American Pen Women for visual arts, and founded The Village of the Arts in Bradenton, Florida. Now, Boni’s work as an artist continues to grow. She has published her first book, Figments: Visual Magic & Tiny Tales, a book that Boni herself claims is full of “mystery, mischievous wit, and occasional absurdities.” Boni also states that the book appeals to a wide audience: “The young will enjoy the fairy tales, and adult readers will recognize the metaphors.” Pick up Boni’s great book of stories and paintings on Amazon today. — Lauren Waegele 12 • THE PULSE • JUNE 1, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Chattanooga Fire Cabaret
By Adam Beckett Pulse contributor
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EOPLE HAVE BEEN EXPRESSING THEIR artistic selves in a multitude of ways over the years. Through visual art, music, dance, and a million other outlets, humans have found ways to release, connect, and communicate emotions with humanity. Creating art is a universal way to link with others globally, while bashing through language barriers, and connecting straight to people’s hearts. The art form of fire performing includes fire dancing, eating, juggling, manipulating, and spinning; it has been snowballing into popularity over the last few years. The people involved in it have found out that it is a multifaceted artform that combines music, dance, and visual arts into one entity; plus, they get to play with fire. In its progression, the culture, and communities surrounding it
have been growing with it. The mechanisms, styles, and traditions that correlate with fire spinning are advancing at a rapid rate. With more people becoming entranced by this mystical power by the minute, it just makes sense for the likeminded to join forces to learn about new techniques, styles, and to unite to relish in something that they love to do, something that they are very passionate about. Chattanooga has a powerful fire spinning community, and their makeup ranges from rogue solo performers, to groups that constantly practice, and unite at events to captivate audiences of all backgrounds and demographics. Some of the devices that are being flipped, flung, and flailed are mesmerizing to the artists and overseers alike. With a seemingly endless amount of options, objects like the torch, fire poi, fire fans, fire hoop, fusion fire staff, fire dragon staff, and fire knife, all have their own flair, and
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“Chattanooga has a powerful fire spinning community, and their makeup ranges from rogue solo performers, to groups that constantly practice, and unite at events to captivate audiences of all backgrounds and demographics.” require a great amount of focus and technique to conquer. After talking to various people around Chattanooga, it has become clear that the local fire performers are in abundance. They are hidden amongst us during the day, yet they come out at night to demonstrate this beautiful artform that lights up the night sky, and gives them their artistic outlet. It seems as if many of the individuals that are into fire performing are unaware that there are local groups that gather to practice and fire perform. Larger groups such as the Chattanooga Fire Cabaret, Dollies on Fire, and several other unnamed groups frequently gather locally help to strengthen the fire performing community. The Chattanooga Fire Caba-
ret showed up in full force this year at the Uwe Boll all Night Stroll as part of the Chattanooga Film Festival, Chattacon, Nick Lutsko’s Symphonic Sideshow at St. Paddys on the Parkway, the Grownooga event at Mercy Junction, and many other private functions. One example of many of the fire performing artists is Lucy Kelly, a local busker that performs all over town as a professional hooper and clown. She also is a fire performer that is a part of the Chattanooga Fire Cabaret, however, she often will represent the fire spinning community all by herself at large events. She has recently performed as the sole fire performer at the Earth, Wind, and Solar Festival featuring the Squonk Opera,
Dollies on Fire
and the Maypop Festival. Lucy is magnificent with her fire performing capabilities, then typically at the end of her shows, she will eat the fire from her hoops and rings. It is an impressive display. One may never know when the presence of the fire performing community will make a public appearance, however, it is certain when they are on scene, that they have the focus of every single person in attendance. Their wholeness and unity is unmistakable. They all watch and encourage each other, patiently waiting for their turn to demonstrate their individ-
ual flow and style. They light their apparatuses from each other’s flame, and when it is their turn, they step up and demonstrate art at its purest form. It is beautiful to watch. While fire performers have festivals and gatherings all over the country, one of the Southeast’s largest annual fire performing festivals is the Flame Festival at Cherokee Farms in Lafayette, Georgia. This gives the fire performers an outlet to learn how to operate new devices, new techniques, and fire safety. It hosts multiple classes from beginner to advanced, and is the perfect place to network,
and strengthen knowledge and skills. The fire spinning community is ever growing, ever learning, and ever enchanting spectators. The aspect of danger mixed with art is a timeless wonder that will be explored for many years to come. These artists can be found in a wide variety of settings as they sporadically pop up on dance floors, festivals, and local events across the city, and it is fascinating. Do not miss your opportunity to support, join, or spectate in the wizardry that is the Chattanooga fire performing community; it is spectacular.
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SAT6.3
SUN6.4
Gunk Heads Reception
A Midsummer Night’s Disco
“The Virtues of Joy”
Alecia Vera Buckles headlines the first solo exhibition at the new Palace Picture House. 6 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com
Dance, sing, and get caught up in the disco fever with a new look at an old favorite. 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com
Author Joycelyn Wells will host a reading and signing of her new book about the pleasures of jazz. 4 p.m. Mary’s Lounge 2125 McCallie Ave. (423) 493-0246 aboutshape.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 13
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Area 61 First Friday
THURSDAY6.1 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 Landry 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
FRIDAY6.2 High Cotton Junk Market 8 a.m. Ringgold Feed & Seed Antiques 403 High St. (706) 935-7333 ringgoldfeedandseed.com Chattanooga Market at Erlanger 10:30 a.m. Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. chattanoogamarket.com Cambridge Square Night Market 5 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 531-7754
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cambridgesqauretn.com William Parker Arts Reception 5 p.m. Chattanooga Ballet 817B N. Market St. (423) 265-0617 chattanoogaballet.net Open Studio Nights: Bring on the Heat 5:30 p.m. Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Let Me Entertain You Opening Reception 5:30 p.m. In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com First Friday with W. Michael Bush 5:30 p.m.
Area 61 Gallery & Showroom 61 E. Main St. (423) 648-9367 Gunk Heads Opening Reception 6 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Karen Rouse & Russell Whiting Opening Reception 6:30 p.m. River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com CFC Women vs. Alabama FC 7 p.m. Finley Stadium 1826 Carter St. chattanoogafc.com Citizen Jane: Battle for the City
ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT Canadian Landry's charismatic style is kind of what you'd get if you mixed Charlie Chaplin with somebody who spoke; it would be just as physical, but in color. Landry The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
7 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Wide Open Floor 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org “Der Vampyr” 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Landry 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com A Midsummer Night’s Disco 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com
SATURDAY6.3 High Cotton Junk Market 8 a.m. Ringgold Feed & Seed Antiques 403 High St. (706) 935-7333 ringgoldfeedandseed.com National Trails Day 9 a.m. Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 892-1499
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
chattanoogaaudubon.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 a.m. Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-7497 Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogarivermarket.com Brainerd Farmers Market 11 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Divine Dance School Recital 2 p.m. Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 708-7696 divinedancestudio.com Citizen Jane: Battle for the City 6 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Poetic Karma Sutra: Black Carpet 7 p.m. The Chattanoogan 1201 Broad St facebook.com/pkschatt Landry 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch
1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “Der Vampyr” 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Dancing with the Chattanooga Stars 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com A Midsummer Night’s Disco 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com
SUNDAY6.4 High Cotton Junk Market 8 a.m. Ringgold Feed & Seed Antiques 403 High St. (706) 935-7333 ringgoldfeedandseed.com Chattanooga Market 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogamarket.com Der Vampyr 3 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org The Art of Breathing: Clarity
3:30 p.m. The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View huntermuseum.org “The Virtues of Joy” Reading and Book Signing 4 p.m. Mary’s Lounge 2125 McCallie Ave. (423) 493-0246 aboutshape.com Citizen Jane: Battle for the City 4 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Landry 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY6.5 Red Bank Farmers Market 3 p.m. Red Bank United Methodist 3800 Dayton Blvd. (423) 838-9804 First Monday Improv Comedy 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org
TUESDAY6.6 Citizen Jane: Battle
for the City 5 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Comedy Buffet Derek Sheen, Adam Gilbert and Alex Price 8 p.m JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
WEDNESDAY6.7 Chattanooga Market at Erlanger East 10:30 a.m. Erlanger East Hospital 1751 Gunbarrel Rd. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogamarket.com Art of Botany 1:30 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View huntermuseum.org Main Street Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Citizen Jane: Battle for the City 5 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 15
MUSIC
20 Years Of Making Audiences Cringe The Cut Throat Freak Show Tour comes to J.J.'s Bohemia
Flying To Cambridge Square On Paper Wings Many Chattanoogans know about the weekly Chattanooga Market and its many charms, vendors, and yummy food trucks. However, the word is still spreading about the equally charming Cambridge Square Night Market that occurs every Friday evening just up the road in Ooltewah. Cambridge Square is a fast growing development in Ooltewah, and the Cambridge Square Night Market is full of local vendors and great music. This Friday, attendees of the market will have the opportunity to listen to an up-and-coming female duo called Paper Wings. The Paper Wings duo, Emily Mann and Wilhelmina Frankzerda, both grew up in the Pacific Northwest—Oregon and California, respectively—but were increasingly influenced by traditional American music as well as Celtic and classical music. The folk duo presents a new take on old-fashioned acoustics inspired by their love of tradition, old beauty, and the desire to combine those things with new and original sounds. Inspired by great artists such as Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, Paper Wings utilizes classical vocal harmonies, fiddle, guitar, and banjo. With innovative yet timeless music, Paper Wings is sure to aurally please any listener. Come to Cambridge Square for a fun night of corn hole, frozen yogurt, and great music. — Lauren Waegele Paper Wings Friday 6 p.m. Cambridge Square Night Market 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogamarket.com/cambridge 16 • THE PULSE • JUNE 1, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor
I
F I HAD A NICKEL FOR EVERY WORD I’ve written about or because of the Subterranean Cirqus, I’d have a big ol’ sack of nickels those kids would inevitably use to do something bizarre and potentially gross. There are a few reasons though, not the least of which is that they are genuinely a homegrown act that has made the transition from doing stunts in parking lots to achieving national notoriety. They’ve made a name for themselves and in doing so have attracted some of the weirdest and most popular underground acts to the Scenic City to join them on stage.
June 10th is the next installment of shenanigans and it’s going to be a big one, as J.J.’s Bohemia welcomes, in conjunction with River City Rumpus, the 20th Anniversary Tour of the Cut Throat Freak Show. Jeremy “Cut Throat” Kinison is the mastermind/mad scientist behind The Cut Throat Freak Show. For years he has been thrilling (and shocking) audiences around the world with his unique take on classic stunts as well as some truly innovative and original material that has earned him the title of “genital daredevil”. Those of us who grew up in the era of Evel Knievel are left to wonder if this man’s “area” is adorned with a star-spangled jumpsuit and
MUSIC
“I’ve never seen anything that made me want to laugh, vomit and get a degree as much as the Cut Throat Freak Show. Those people are inspiringly weird.” — Denzel Washington cape (if not, it certainly should be.) An insightful summation of Kinison’s act can be found in the words of noted human oddity aficionado Denzel Washington, lovingly quoted on the Cut Throat social media page: “I’ve never seen anything that made me want to laugh, vomit and get a degree as much as the Cut Throat Freak Show. Those people are inspiringly weird.” Kinison may be the eye of the weirdness hurricane, but he isn’t alone. Cut Throat Freak Show also includes Scarlett Storm who has already made a huge impression on our fair city with Thunder Snow Cone. Scarlett manages to combine the genuinely erotic and sensual with the silly and surreal and that is a balancing act of which few are capable. Scarlett is masterful, however, a real life Harley Quinn that makes
Harley Quinn look perfectly vanilla by comparison. Eric Odditorium rounds out the trio. A master sword swallower and snazzy breakdancer, Eric makes his bones on the filthy streets (seriously, if you drop something there, let it go because man, it’s gone) of New Orleans’ French Quarter, the Mos Eisley of street performers. Cut Throat Freak Show will be joined that evening by musical guests Praymantha, one of the few bands qualified to provide a soundtrack to suit the evening’s festivities, and of course Lazarus Hellgate, Pinkie, the Princess of Pain and company will be there providing their own brand of pants soiling deviltry for which that are so beloved (and mildly feared in some circles.) It’s high weirdness at J.J.’s on the 10th starting at 9 p.m. This is a 21+ show, obviously.
Kay B Brown Is Smokin' Hot I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again and I’ll keep on saying because it’s true and needs to be said. Kay B Brown is going to be the next artist to put Chattanooga on the map. His brand of hip-hop drips with authenticity and fire. No pretender or poseur, Brown consistently carves out his own place in the music scene with ferocity. Look no further than his latest release, “Travel Reloaded.” The single features guests Michael Da’Vincia and Booga and was produced by DJ Dee. This piece of music encapsulates everything that is best about Kay B. Powerful, uncompromising and socially conscious, the song delivers a timely and relevant message to today’s youth. In a genre that all too often celebrates “thug life” or crass commercialism, Brown stands out as an exceptional song writer whose work defies those conventions completely and instead produces work that is uncompromisingly real, original and relevant. The instrumental orchestration is flawless to the point Brown could literally say anything and it would still
be a good song. The fact that his songwriting is nothing short of genius makes it a fantastic song and an important one. Brown is easily one of the most outstanding writers and performers in the genre anywhere and once the right people hear it, there is no doubt this young man’s career will skyrocket. Brown isn’t playing at being an artist, he is the real deal and this latest release is the best evidence of that to date. — Marc T. Michael
THU6.1
FRI6.2
SAT6.3
Great Peacock
Hank and Cupcakes
Charge The Atlantic
Take folk, rock, and country and fuse them together with red-blooded country sensibility and you get the Great Peacock. 9 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co
If you've never seen Hank and Cupcakes live, stop what you're doing and do so now. Seriously. We mean it. They're that good. 9 p.m JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
A hot mix of funk, rock and reggae, this Nashville-based foursome is quickly making a name for themselves... and will only get bigger. 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 17
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Maxwell
THURSDAY6.1 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m. St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Rick Rushing 6 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic Night with Megan Saunders 6 p.m. Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com Bands on the Bluff 6 p.m. The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View huntermuseum.org The Living Room 7 p.m. Coyote Jack’s Saloon 1400 Cowart St. coyotejackssaloon.com Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. mexi-wingchattanooga.com Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
18 • THE PULSE • JUNE 1, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Great Peacock, The High Divers 9 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co
FRIDAY6.2 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Paper Wings 6 p.m. Cambridge Square Night Market 9453 Bradmore Ln. chattanoogamarket.com JAKUBI, Trent Williams & the Menagerie 7 p.m. Miller Plaza
850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com Southern Drawl Band 7 p.m. Thunder Creek Harley-Davidson 7720 Lee Hwy. hundercreekharley.com Emerald Butler’s Album Release Party 7 p.m. Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Johnny Balik 7:30 p.m. Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com The Drifters 8 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. (423) 899-4990 cffafundraiser.org
PULSE MUSIC SPOTLIGHT Guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, session-musician... Nashville's own Jack Pearson is a truly gifted performer and an American musical treasure. Jack Pearson Saturday, 7 p.m. Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com
Iron Horse Bluegrass 8 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Walrus & The Afternooners 8 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Teddy Lewis 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Hank and Cupcakes, Side Affect, Icanjapan 9 p.m JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Midnight Promise, Unprotected Rex, Scarlett Revolt 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggys 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.ne Andy Liechty 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Geneva 9 p.m. Coyote Jack’s Saloon 1400 Cowart St. coyotejackssaloon.com Camille Ray 9 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com The Johnny Monster Band
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Toto 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Outlaw 45 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY6.3 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Bluegrass Brunch Noon The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com Julie Gribble 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com RoughWork 6 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com An Evening with Jack Pearson 7 p.m. Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Rock Skool Live 7 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. rockskoolchattanooga.com Cilla Vee, Davey Williams,
Evan Lipson, Bob Stagner 8 p.m. Wayne-O-Rama 1800 Rossville Ave. wayneorama.com Teddy Lewis 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Big Kitty, Mountains of Moss, Skyway Man, Dead Testaments, Old Time Travelers 9 p.m JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Neon Moon 9 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Asphalt Crown, Midnite Rollercoaster, Subkonscious 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggys 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.ne Geneva 9 p.m. Coyote Jack’s Saloon 1400 Cowart St. coyotejackssaloon.com Gino Fanelli 9 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Charge The Atlantic 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com
Kara-Ory-Oke! 10 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Outlaw 45 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY6.4 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Ryan Oyer 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Jennifer Daniels 12:30 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Dana Rogers 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Gopher Broke 2 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Booker T. Scruggs Ensemble 3 p.m. St. Luke United Methodist Church 3210 Social Cir.
stlukechatt.org Bluegrass Jam 4 p.m. Fiddler’s Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Nathan Mell 7 p.m. The BackStage Bar 29 Station St. (423) 629-2233 Heavenly3lues 7 p.m. Purple Sky Healing Arts 625 E. Main St. jeremyarndt.com Maxwell 8 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Toto 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Ashley and the X’s, Pack of Wolves, Alabama Rose 9 p.m JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
MONDAY6.5 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 19
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Shani Palmer 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Open Mic Night 6 p.m. Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com
TUESDAY6.6 Danimal 6 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m. Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Songwriters Night 7 p.m. Heritage House Arts & Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. chattanooga.gov Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com
WEDNESDAY6.7 Noontunes with Magic Birds Noon
20 • THE PULSE • JUNE 1, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Miller Plaza 850 Market St. noontunescha.com Toby Hewitt 6 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com The Other Guys 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Bike Night with Outlaw 45 6 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com Old Time Fiddle & Banjo Show 6:30 p.m. Fiddler’s Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Shani Palmer Electric Band 7 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com 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 Jazz in the Lounge 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Map these locations on chattanoogapulse. com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com
RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ERNIE PAIK
Big Kitty Excelsior Breeze Catchers, Rick Weaver The Secular Arm
Big Kitty Excelsior Breeze Catchers (Teaberry Records)
Rick Weaver The Secular Arm (Hausu Mountain)
B
mer Cole Champion and guitarist William Joseph Johnson) and Grady O’Rear of ADD/C. Williams’ voice, with its distinctive twang, is as inviting as ever among the album’s bouncy, gentle county-folk-pop tunes or its more driving songs, like the upbeat “Johnny Rosemary” (quite literally a driving song), a grim tale involving intense weather and auto mishaps. The sound of “Dr. Harmony” seems to employ an alternateuniverse George Martin for production, with a charmingly lithe mix including euphonium harmonies and Williams’ vocal melodies mirrored by strings and
ig Kitty—the alter ego of former Chattanoogan Clark Williams—has a knack for music-driven storytelling with vivid dreamworld scenarios that bloom in unusual ways from the physical world as we know it. The new Big Kitty album, Excelsior Breeze Catchers, leans more toward the full-band approach of the 2011 album Florence than more stripped-down affairs on recent releases. Although Williams now resides in Sebastopol, California, he still has strong ties to Tennessee-based bands and enlists the help of nine other musicians and singers, including two from Future Virgins (drum-
whistling. A significant part of the album’s richness is the attention to detail, from heavenly keyboard flourishes to ecstatic guitar licks, like the piercing, severely distorted solo on “Body of a Lion, Head of a Man,” and ambient background sounds are plentiful, from nature noises, wave transmissions, chimes or a soft, child’s voice. It’s another consistently strong and engaging album, from the alternate perspective and eccentric interpretation of a biblical account on “Magdalene” to the Johnny Cash-esque “Brian” with a dreamy waltz-time section. The album’s title refers to endangered creatures that are a sort of butterfly/firefly hybrid that have expressive faces and only live in Big Kitty’s isolated sanctuary, and the description sets the perfect tone and offers a fitting parallel: a rare, intimate journey to a musical oasis, with glowing brilliance to inspire and illuminate joy-making and dancing on moonless nights.
T
he off-kilter, often messy brilliance of Rick Weaver is
responsible for a bounty of fascinating material under names such as Four Hands, Dinner Music and Ruined Frame, and although for the time being, he has seemingly settled with his own relatively normal real name, as before, there’s nothing normal about his work. Weaver’s new album The Secular Arm on the label Hausu Mountain (which previously released a split album that featured his 4-track trio Form a Log) wastes no time getting down to business with the opener, “Roy the Rodent,” with Morse-code rhythms tapped out with synthetic scraps; its buzzing tones and keyboard sorcery channel a sort of Goblin/John Carpenter vibe. The brief “Historical Music #1-4” would fit in nicely with the universe of Ralph Records (known as the home of The Residents and Renaldo and the Loaf), and in particular, the icepick stabs from the electric guitar have a Snakefinger feel. With its beat-box rhythm and chimpy keyboard vamps, “Tin Tan (mono)” has a strange primitive momentum to it, with little repeated melodic fragments
smashed together in a mushy ball; if someone told this writer it was Saharan disco exotica, he wouldn’t blink an eye. “Far East” offers scales evocative of the titular region with a menacing, fang-bearing bass line coupled with dramatic, mysterious synth notes. The Secular Arm offers many unsettling moments, from harsh noise to the disturbing stew of noises on “Cause for Alarm,” with what sounds like amplified, buzzing purrs to distant sirens to caustic keyboard acid burns; with ominous synths and bubbling noises, “Lie Detector” could be a horror noir soundtrack. Previously released on his 2014 split cassette with Spiritual Recess (recently reissued), “KO’s Obit” makes an appearance here with an alternate vocal mix, and it’s hard to pin it down, with a vague southeast Asian plucked-string approach, perhaps suggesting Sun City Girls mixed with some lost obscurity on the Nurse With Wound list. Always stimulating, The Secular Arm is a nervous and animated excursion outside of comfortable, climate-controlled regions.
ALL NEW. ALL FOR YOU.
ChattanoogaHasCars.com THE TENNESSEE VALLEY’S MOST POWERFUL AUTOMOTIVE SHOPPING TOOL CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 21
FILM & TELEVISION
Yo Ho Ho And A Bottle Of Yawn
Was anyone really clamoring for yet another Pirates of the Caribbean movie?
Fighting The Good Development Fight In 1960, Jane Jacobs’s book The Death and Life of Great American Cities sent shockwaves through the architecture and planning worlds, with its exploration of the consequences of modern planners’ and architects’ reconfiguration of cities. Jacobs was also an activist, who was involved in many fights in mid-century New York, to stop “master builder” Robert Moses from running roughshod over the city. Citizen Jane: Battle for the City retraces the battles for the city as personified by Jacobs and Moses, as urbanization moves to the very front of the global agenda. Many of the clues for formulating solutions to the dizzying array of urban issues can be found in Jacobs’s prescient text, and a close second look at her thinking and writing about cities is very much in order. This film, helmed by director Matt Tyrnauer, sets out to examine the city of today through the lens of one of its greatest champions. “Mr. Tyrnauer has heightened the human drama by focusing on Jacobs, an improbable David to Moses’s Goliath,” raves Joe Morgenstern in the Wall Street Journal, while Glenn Kenny at The New York Times says, “The movie lights up whenever it shows archival footage of its antagonists: Jacobs is sensible, warm and witty; Moses is cocksure, occasionally truculent, openly contemptuous of the people his big ideas are likely to displace.” Citizen Jane: Battle for the City Opens Friday, 7 p.m. Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 www.chattpalace.com 22 • THE PULSE • JUNE 1, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor
D
ISNEY HAS MADE FIVE PIRATES OF the Caribbean movies to date. That’s five blockbuster films based on nothing more than a theme park ride (albeit a popular one that gave rise to the indispensable pirate anthem “A Pirate’s Life for Me.”) That these films managed to be created from such a simple concept could easily be considered remarkable. The films are creative and whimsical to say the least. They are also highly successful and predictable moneymakers, the type of franchise studios dream about at night. Captain Jack Sparrow is arguably Johnny Depp’s most famous role, which saying something for an actor who has played Edward Scissorhands, Gilbert Grape, Ed Wood,
Donnie Brasco, Raoul Duke, and Sweeny Todd. But despite the success of the franchise, only the first film in the saga is genuinely worthwhile. It was a surprise gem that thrilled audiences with humor and heart. The sequels all suffer from a certain amount of franchise fatigue. This can be characterized as continual diminishing returns that result in overstuffed plots, an excess of characters, and an overreliance on CGI and the charisma of popular characters. The original Pirates of the Caribbean was a breath of fresh air. The sequels are a slowly deflating balloon. The latest film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is much the same. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales picks up a few years after 2011’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, although it only seems to be tangentially related to that film. This
FILM & TELEVISION
“The original Pirates of the Caribbean was a breath of fresh air. The sequels are a slowly deflating balloon.” year’s film is instead a continuation of the original tale featuring Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) and William Turner (Orlando Bloom). This is to the film’s credit, of course, since the only thing memorable about On Stranger Tides is a vague sense of disappointment in Ian McShane. Neither Bloom nor Knightly are in Dead Men Tell No Tales for long—as with lots of sequels, the new film replaces the leads with younger, unknown actors in an attempt to recapture the magic of the original. In this one, the son of William and Elizabeth hopes to free his father from his tribulation aboard the Flying Dutchman by finding the trident of Poseidon, which supposedly has the power to break any curse and give its wielder control of the seas. Through a series of Holly-
wood happenstance, young Henry (Brenton Thwaites) meets Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario) a young woman of science everyone thinks is a witch, even though she clearly weighs more than a duck. Carina happens to have a map to the trident and Jack Sparrow is involved for some reason relating to undead pirates that isn’t sufficiently explained. It’s a nonsensical high seas tale that will likely please audiences who don’t care about competent story telling. Still, the film looks great, and the score swells in all the right places, and there are some decent laughs involving a guillotine that makes the film mostly watchable, so long as the audience isn’t paying close attention to what actually happens. I rewatched some of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End this weekend after seeing the new film, just to remind myself of the narrative in previous installments. I noticed that there isn’t much continuity between the movies as far as the supernatural elements are concerned.
Given that the final film in the corresponding story was completed ten years ago, these incongruities won’t matter much to anyone keeping score at home. It’s all ghost sharks and undead sailors anyway—the piracy has taken a backseat for some time now. The performances in Dead Men Tell No Tales are adequate, and it seems that Depp can slide back into the character of Jack Sparrow at will without missing a beat. That’s something, I guess. It’s a role he was born to play. The question, then, is this: was anyone begging for another Pirates of the Caribbean film? I’d say the answer is “no.” The film doesn’t really justify its own existence beyond cynical franchise dollars and it’s made by a company that already owns the biggest film franchises in history. Star Wars and the Marvel Films are both Disney properties—it’s not far-fetched to think that sometime in the future all Hollywood films will be made by the Mouse. Disney has done well with some films within these properties, of course, but they are clearly fan service films rather than original ideas. If audiences want originality, they’ll need to look elsewhere.
✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴
Wonder Woman Before she was Wonder Woman she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars. Director: Patty Jenkins Stars: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Two overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold, hypnotize their principal into thinking he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants. Director: David Soren Stars: Kevin Hart, Ed Helms, Nick Kroll
The Best Sports Coverage in Chattanooga. Period. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 23
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
The List
with it, go here for tips: tinyurl.com/ lionpose. What else might help you invoke and express the unfettered leonine spirit?
How Much TV Do We Watch? ROB BREZSNY
If there's one thing all Americans can agree on, it's that we love ourselves some television. But how much TV do we really watch? Our friends at the Statistic Brain Research Institute crunched the numbers for us... and the answers are a bit large. • Average time spent watching television: 5:11 hours a day • Years the average person will have spent watching TV: 9 But wait...there's more. • Percentage of households that possess at least one television: 99% • Number of TV sets in the average household: 2.24 • Percentage of homes with three or more TV sets: 65% • Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 67% The most interesting statistic is that 49% of us feel that we watch too much television. Even so, we could say something snarky here, but the new fall season has been announced and we can't wait for The Orville. Source: statisticbrain.com/televisionwatching-statistics/
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “The most intense moments the universe has ever known are the next 15 seconds,” said philosopher Terence McKenna. He was naming a central principle of reality: that every new NOW is a harvest of everything that has ever happened; every fresh moment is a blast of novelty that arises in response to the sum total of all history’s adventures. This is always true, of course. But I suspect the phenomenon will be especially pronounced for you in the near future. More than usual, you may find that every day is packed with interesting feelings and poignant fun and epic realizations. This could be pleasurable, but also overwhelming. Luckily, you have the personal power necessary to make good use of the intensity. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Nobody likes to be scrutinized or critiqued or judged. But we Crabs (yes, I’m one of you) are probably touchier about that treatment than any other sign of the zodiac. (Hypersensitivity is a trait that many astrologers ascribe to Cancerians.) However, many of us do allow one particular faultfinder to deride us: the nagging voice in the back of our heads. Sometimes we even give free rein to its barbs. But I would like to propose a transformation of this situation. Maybe we could scold ourselves less, and be a bit more open to constructive feedback coming from other people. Starting now. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The lion’s potency, boldness, and majesty are qualities you have a mandate to cultivate in the next three weeks. To get in the righteous mood, I suggest you gaze upon images and videos of lions. Come up with your own version of a lion’s roar—I mean actually make that sound—and unleash it regularly. You might also want to try the yoga posture known as the lion pose. If you’re unfamiliar
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VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “What does it matter how many lovers you have if none of them gives you the universe?” French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan posed that question. I invite you to put it at the top of your list of hot topics to meditate on. In doing so, I trust you won’t use it as an excuse to disparage your companions for their inadequacies. Rather, I hope it will mobilize you to supercharge your intimate alliances; to deepen your awareness of the synergistic beauty you could create together; to heighten your ability to be given the universe by those whose fates are interwoven with yours. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): From my study of the lost prophecies of Nostradamus, the hidden chambers beneath the Great Pyramid of Cheops, and the current astrological omens, I have determined that now is a favorable time for you to sing liberation songs with cheeky authority… to kiss the sky and dance with the wind on a beach or hilltop…to gather your most imaginative allies and brainstorm about what you really want to do in the next five years. Do you dare to slip away from business-as-usual so you can play in the enchanted land of what-if? If you’re smart, you will escape the grind and grime of the daily rhythm so you can expand your mind to the next largest size. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “On some hill of despair,” wrote poet Galway Kinnell, “the bonfire you kindle can light the great sky -- though it’s true, of course, to make it burn you have to throw yourself in.” You may not exactly feel despair, Scorpio. But I suspect you are in the throes of an acute questioning that makes you feel close to the edge of forever. Please consider the possibility that it’s a favorable time to find out just how much light and heat are hidden inside you. Your ache for primal fun and your longing to accelerate your soul’s education are converging with your quest to summon a deeper, wilder brilliance. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’re in a phase when you have the power to find answers to questions that have stumped you for a while. Why? Because you’re more openminded and curious than usual.
Your imagination is the single most important asset you possess. Listen to the podcast: http://bit.ly/YourProphecy You’re also ready to be brazenly honest with yourself. Congrats! In light of the fact that you’ll be lucky at solving riddles, I’ve got three good ones for you to wrestle with. 1) Which of your anxieties may actually be cover-ups for a lazy refusal to change a bad habit? 2) What resource will you use more efficiently when you stop trying to make it do things it’s not designed to do? 3) What blessing will you receive as soon as you give a clear signal that you are ready for it? CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A typical Capricorn cultivates fervent passions, even to the point of obsession. Almost no one knows their magnitude, though, because the members of your tribe often pursue their fulfillment with methodical, business-like focus. But I wonder if maybe it’s a good time to reveal more of the raw force of this driving energy than you usually do. It might humanize you in the eyes of potential helpers who see you as too strong to need help. And it could motivate your allies to provide the extra support and understanding you’ll need in the coming weeks. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In accordance with the astrological omens, I invite you to carry out a flashy flirtation with the color red. I dare you to wear red clothes and red jewelry. Buy yourself red roses. Sip red wine and savor strawberries under red lights. Sing Elvis Costello’s “The Angels Want to Wear My Red Shoes” and Prince’s “Little Red Corvette.” Tell everyone why 2017 is a red-letter year for you. For extra credit, murmur the following motto whenever a splash of red teases and pleases your imagination: “My redhot passion is my version of high fashion.” PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “If you want a puppy, start by asking for a pony,” read the bumper sticker on the Lexus SUV I saw. That confused me. Would the owner of a Lexus SUV be the type of person who didn’t expect to get what she really wanted? In any case, Pisces, I’m conveying a version of this bumpersticker wisdom to you. If you want
your domestic scene to thrive even more than it already does, ask for a feng shui master to redesign your environment so it has a perfect flow of energy. If you want a community that activates the best in you, ask for a utopian village full of emotionally intelligent activists. If you want to be animated by a focused goal that motivates you to wake up excited each morning, ask for a glorious assignment that will help save the world. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Life is in the mood to communicate with you rather lyrically. Here are just a few of the signs and portents you may encounter, along with theories about their meaning. If you overhear a lullaby, it’s time to seek the influence of a tender, nurturing source. If you see a type of fruit or flower you don’t recognize, it means you have a buried potential you don’t know much about, and you’re ready to explore it further. If you spy a playing card in an unexpected place, trust serendipity to bring you what you need. If a loud noise arrives near a moment of decision: Traditionally it signifies caution, but these days it suggests you should be bold. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Your body is holy and magic and precious. I advise you not to sell it or rent it or compromise it in any way—especially now, when you have an opening to upgrade your relationship with it. Yes, Taurus, it’s time to attend to your sweet flesh and blood with consummate care. Find out exactly what your amazing organism needs to feel its best. Lavish it with pleasure and healing. Treat it as you would a beloved child or animal. I also hope you will have intimate conversations with the cells that compose your body. Let them know you love and appreciate them. Tell them you’re ready to collaborate on a higher level. 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.
JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES
“You Say You Want a Revolution”—it's your turn. ACROSS 1 Like “der” words, in Ger. 5 “48 Hours Investigates” host Lesley 10 Bus route 14 Palindromic Italian digit 15 Jason who will play Aquaman in 2018 16 Ride-sharing app 17 “Va-va-___!” 18 Bring together 19 “Hercules: The Legendary Journeys” spinoff 20 Character on a cel 23 “Unleaded” drink 24 Maker of Centipede 25 Takes much too seriously, for short? 26 “Carmen” highlight, e.g. 30 Some Italian models 33 Third-generation actress who co-starred in “Jackie Brown” 36 “The Secret ___ Success” 39 “Fences” star Davis 40 “Back in the ___” (Beatles tune) 41 Did some birthday
prep work, maybe 44 Bicycle shorts material 45 Sacred promise 46 Trucker’s compartment 49 Civic’s make 52 Like theremin noises, usually 54 Toys that are making the rounds in 2017 news? 58 Waitstaff’s handout 59 Crowdfunding targets 60 Moore of both “The Scarlet Letter” and “Striptease” 61 Baldwin with a recent stint on “SNL” 62 “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” author Mitch 63 Page for pundit pieces 64 Prior 65 Huge amounts 66 Cubs Hall of Famer Sandberg DOWN 1 Name in men’s watches 2 Made amends 3 Zeno’s followers
4 “Girl, Interrupted” character? 5 Blue matter 6 Quality of voice 7 Enclosed in 8 Labor leader Jimmy who mysteriously disappeared 9 ___ on thick (exaggerate) 10 Extravagant 11 Portuguese, by default 12 “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Leakes 13 “___ Yes!” (1970s political placard) 21 Way out there 22 Angler’s spear 27 Break apart 28 “Oops! ... ___ It Again” 29 Disco-era term meaning “galore” 31 Six-pointers, briefly 32 Saloth ___ (Pol Pot’s birth name) 33 Secondary result of a chemical reaction 34 Film director Kazan 35 The last U.S. president with a prominent mustache
36 X, of Twitch’s “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” marathon, e.g. 37 “Frizzle ___” (1990 Primus album) 38 Electric can openers and pencil sharpeners, e.g. 42 Guilty feeling 43 Nostalgic time, perhaps 46 Like porcelain dolls you just know are staring right at you 47 Fly guys 48 Compared with 50 “L’Absinthe” painter 51 Lagoon surrounder 53 “Return of the Jedi” moon 54 Afrobeat composer Kuti 55 “Quién ___?” (“Who knows?”) 56 “Call Mr. ___, that’s my name, that name again is Mr. ___” (jingle from one of Homer Simpson’s business ventures) 57 Unspecified philosophies 58 It might cover the continent
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. 834 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JUNE 1, 2017 • THE PULSE • 25
COLUMN ∙ ON THE BEAT
Smile...You're On Cop Camera How some “activists” are changing their tune on police body cameras
Alex Teach
Pulse columnist
F
OR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMber, self-appointed watchdog groups, “activists”, and the ACLU have demanded the implementation and use of body worn cameras (or BWC’s) for police officers. Every hour they are on the clock should be recorded and made available for public scrutiny. They pay our salary. They have a right, and we have nothing to hide. The only hiccup I have seen in this process is that they are often confused by some of their fellow advocates for this technology: Police officers. In fact, I would go as far as to say cops have been begging for body cams far longer than the “activists” have. For the same reasons actually, but with one notable difference: the cops’ request is an informed decision. In a shooting, a use of force, or even just a verbal altercation that gets used in a complaint, no matter how experienced a report writer a cop may be there is no way to capture the intangibles of such an interaction. The public and the critics see the results, and not what lead up to them; it’s the beauty of Monday Morning Quarterbacking because you don’t even have to try because you start off with an answer to a question you don’t even have to know how to ask. Now though? People are finally in a position to see just how brutal the job is, and in High Definition no less. They are getting a front row seat to those dark alleys, those repeated refusals to drop a gun (a local record being some-
where around 40), of just what it’s like to be in the center of a crowd of 10, 20, 40 angry people in the projects who don’t want you taking little Jimmy to jail (Jimmy having just stabbed momma), of being pressed up against someone who is trying to get your gun out of its holster to kill you with and the sounds that accompany that kind of fight. People finally get to see what kind of incendiary predators we have to deal with, and it’s finally happened. The ACLU is reimagining its policies on just what video can be released now. “…we knew that our recommendations would evolve as this complex technology works its way into the messy real world. Our view is that for privacy reasons, the majority of body-camera video should not be subject to public release,” said Chad Marlow, ACLU Advocacy and Policy Counsel, and Jay Stanley (Senior Policy Analyst of the ACLU Technology Project) in a January 25th article published on their site. “The exception is where there is a strong public interest in that video that outweighs privacy concerns: where there is a use of force, or a complaint against an officer,” they went on to say. (i.e., it is only releasable if they think it should be releasable.) “In the prior version, we also recommended that any video of a felony arrest be in that category, but we’ve decided that’s too broad, because it would encom-
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“The only hiccup I have seen in this process is that they are often confused by some of their fellow advocates for this technology: Police officers.” pass a wide variety of DUI and other routine arrests that, in the absence of a use of force or complaint against an officer, are not of vital public importance,” said Marlow and Stanley. In other words, no (in fairly specific words), the public doesn’t need to see what cops do and see every day—they should only see what the ACLU determines is “of vital public importance” otherwise the public (and God forbid, the ACLU) would see what cops have to deal with day in and day out and it may give people the idea that this is occasionally a fairly difficult job.
Felony arrests should not be immediately viewable by the public that determines what is and what is not a felony arrest? Now who has something to hide? “…we knew that our recommendations would evolve as this complex technology works its way into the messy real world.” Well put, ACLU. Enjoy your front row seat to the party at very long last. As for myself? This proclamation allows me to go collect on a gentleman’s bet. Thanks. When officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center.
OPINIONS & DIVERSIONS
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