The Pulse 16.31 » August 1, 2019

VOL. 16, ISSUE 31 • AUGUST 1, 2019

Singing In The Sunshine Chattanooga’s buskers take musical art everywhere

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE • WWW.CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 16, ISSUE 31 • AUGUST 1, 2019 BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Jenn Webster City Editor Alex Curry Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Adam Beckett • Rob Brezsny Matt Jones • Tony Mraz Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Michael Thomas • Brandon Watson Editorial Interns Kelsey Fox • Ensley McFarland Cartoonists Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow Cover Photo Rick Rushing by Tony Mraz

ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin mike@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Rick Leavell • Cindee McBride Libby Phillips • Lisa Roche John Rodriguez • Danielle Swindell

CONTACT 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.

The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors.

Contents Copyright © 2019 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

Photo: Jeremy Riemer

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Singing In The Sunshine Chattanooga is in full bloom right now in the realms of art and entertainment.

As the city continues to grow towards its transition into the new Silicon Valley, its gravitational pull is drawing in people from all over the world.

SCENIC CITY CLAY ARTS

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GARAGE BAND MAJESTY

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The arts scene in Chattanooga is continuously evolving, and the clay arts have recently made a major comeback. There are various ceramic studios scattered across our local area.

Listening to a new Mythical Motors release is a lot like finding a rare, vintage import tucked away in the back of a record shop. There is an initial joy of discovery—hey, something new!

ROGER HARVEY'S SLOW ART

Roger Harvey combines a lifetime of woodworking experience with local lumber, innovative processes, and lots of patience. The resulting pieces are elegant marriages of form and function.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BOYS

A trope is a commonly overused theme or device in a text of some sort, be it literature, film, or television. For instance, the systematic elimination of teenagers in a horror movie.

5 CONSIDER THIS

16 MUSIC CALENDAR

22 GAME ON!

9 SHRINK RAP

19 MUSIC REVIEWS

23 JONESIN' CROSSWORD

21 NEW IN THEATERS

23 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

12 ARTS CALENDAR

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 3

CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES

Behind the Scenes At Scenic City Clay Arts

Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” — Oscar Wilde “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell are you gonna love someone else?” — RuPaul Buddhist monk, author, and Nobel Peace nominee Thich Nhat Hanh teaches that love is the capacity to take care, to protect, to nourish.

And if we are not capable of generating that kind of energy toward ourselves, if we are not capable of taking care of ourselves, nourishing ourselves, protecting ourselves, then it is very difficult—if not impossible—to take care of another person.

So how can we improve our ability for healthy self-care, self-nourishment, protection of our heart?

Consider this: Begin right now, simply by pondering that question. Try focusing every day, first thing in the morning, on improving your health and happiness. And every evening, be grateful for the day’s experiences. I call this “book-ending” your day.

It will take time—and mindful, conscious pondering—but you can make it happen.

Where everyone can get their hands dirty

By Ensley McFarland

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Pulse contributor

Their thriving membership program is ideal; even if you are not experienced all you need is a love for ceramics.”

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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HE ARTS SCENE IN CHATTANOOGA IS CONTINUously evolving, and the clay arts have recently made a major comeback. There are various ceramic studios scattered across our local area, but Scenic City Clay Arts has a much bigger purpose.

Not only is it a nonprofit focused on education and giving back to the community, but its main goal is to make the clay arts accessible to anyone who wants to give ceramics a try.

Today, Scenic City Clay Arts is located on the lower level of ArtsBuild in the heart of downtown, but it wasn’t always in a spacious studio filled with giant blocks of clay and beautifully decorated ceramic pieces. It was first started in 2007 as a project for the city of Chattanooga in a small closet at Warner Park.

After the zoo was developed, the studio moved to another closet in John A. Patten Recreation Center until their funding was pulled in 2014.

The potters at Scenic City Clay Arts

believed in their growing community and applied for nonprofit status.

Ten years after their creation, they moved into their current location and shifted their focus to education, community access, and outreach.

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of making my way to Scenic City Clay Arts and meeting with their executive director, Joy Key. Joy has an admirable appreciation for the ceramic arts and our local community. She plays a huge role in raising money to allow the studio to do outreach programs.

Her face lit up as she told me about a full class Scenic City Clay Arts held last spring where they worked with our local Y-CAP program for at-risk middle school boys. The boys abso-

EDITOONS

lutely loved the class and Joy told me, “There is something very therapeutic and calming about working with clay and getting your hands back in the earth.”

This therapeutic aspect is a key part of the work SCCA does. Their upcoming open studio night for veterans is the perfect example of the therapeutic connection they aim to provide. On August 9th from 6 to 8 p.m. all veterans are invited to the studio free of charge to create pieces or watch the entire process.

This event has no specific outcome other than helping veterans connect with our local community. Scenic City Clay Arts is focused on providing events like this in order to create a platform where everyone feels included.

In addition to outreach programs, Scenic City Clay Arts offers membership programs and classes at all levels.

Their thriving membership program is ideal; even if you are not experienced all you need is a love for ceramics.

Joy said it best when she told me, “Membership welcomes people of all skill levels—it’s a time for you to come in and work on your own pieces. The program provides you with a thriving community of members who work to make you better.”

Through their membership you have access to everything in the studio, including ceramic supplies and teach-

ers. If you want to try something new before becoming a member, their beginner level class is the perfect opportunity.

It is appropriately named “Get Your Hands Dirty” and beginners have the chance to start getting comfortable with clay while creating five unique pieces. The classes for more experienced artists range from Mug Making and Dinnerware to Wheel 3 where you can practice your technique.

Scenic City Clay Arts truly encompasses what it means to be an art studio devoted to giving back to the community. The potters who work there are passionate about sharing the entire ceramics process from the moment they open a bag of clay all the way through firing.

They believe creating functional pottery is a traditional craft and it is their responsibility to share it with others. Although Scenic City Clay Arts appeals to a special audience, they are focused on expanding the clay arts to more people on a local scale and to absolutely anyone who wants to try it.

They have recently updated their hours and their class list is impressive.

If you are interested in helping sponsor camps, taking classes, purchasing a membership, or receiving updates, you can do so through their website, sceniccityclayarts.org, or on their Facebook page.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 5

COVER STORY

Singing In The Sunshine Chattanooga’s buskers take musical art everywhere

By Adam Beckett Pulse contributor

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With the diversity of people coming to Chattanooga, a wider range of interests and cultures is converging here.”

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HATTANOOGA IS IN FULL BLOOM RIGHT NOW IN THE realms of art and entertainment. As the city continues to grow towards its transition into the new Silicon Valley, its gravitational pull is drawing in people from all over the world, and each day the Scenic City is experiencing a constant influx of tourists, visitors from the business and tech worlds, and new residents.

As the popularity of the city continues to grow, the many talented artists spread throughout the area have gained a new platform to showcase their art for their masses. While the local music and arts scene has always been on the map due to the endless talented humans who have been rocking Chattanooga for years, the lionhearted street performers, also known as buskers, are out there getting the most

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exposure, and making a difference in the world by spreading love through music and the art of performance.

With the diversity of people coming to Chattanooga, a wider range of interests and cultures is converging here, giving artists a larger playing field and more opportunities to stimulate a crowd. There are no limitations on age, race, or gender for street performers. Men, women,

children, and people of all ages are all out there doing various forms of street performance.

Busking is a worldwide tradition that has been around for centuries and dates back at least to medieval Europe.

Then, buskers would get invited to various storefronts, markets, or events because the street performers would draw in a large crowd, which would help with sales at booths and storefronts.

In America, our busking roots can be traced back to a time when carnivals were highly celebrated from coast to coast. One the craze started to fade out, many of the performing artists were without work, so they changed up their acts and started performing

on street corners and in towns. Over time, street performers have become a huge part of American culture. Every day people all over the country flock to bustling downtown areas to shine their light, hoping to razzle-dazzle the audience, or at least brighten somebody’s day.

Historically, busking has included acrobatics, animal tricks, balloon twisting, caricatures, clowning, comedy, contortions, escapology, dance, singing, fire skills, flea circus, fortune-telling, juggling, magic, mime, living statue, musical performance, puppeteering, snake charming, storytelling or reciting poetry or prose, street art such as sketching and painting, street theatre, sword swallowing, and ventriloquism.

Different street performers have different reasons for busking. Some do it for necessity; they do not want to beg people for money, so they do things like write songs for people, juggle, bang on buckets like a drum, play guitar, tell jokes, dance, or dress up in funny clothes and freeze in place for hours at a time. They often have a clever or flashy tip jar and spend most of their free time perfecting their craft(s) and doing their best to earn some money.

This particular type of street performer knows that there is an art to approaching people. While performing in front of an audience, successful buskers know that connecting with the crowd is critical for success. Watching seasoned buskers in the zone is something truly remarkable. They have it down to an

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performances both in broad daylight as well as incognito. Some toptier celebrities have been exposed for doing surprise public performances while hiding their identity.

The magic of Google will guide to anybody to videos of celebrities busking in disguise. Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus, and Maroon 5 are the top searches that pop up, but there are countless examples of it.

Photo: Jeremy Riemer Some street performers have maximized their potential and become a master of their trade.

Many of them use busking as a platform to be noticed and to perhaps move up the ladder towards the mighty music happens frequently, and there is footindustry. Not that busking was the sole age of people just whizzing past them, factor in any of their professional sucpaying them no mind whatsoever, while cess, but famous former street performlater that day they will be performing ers include Rod Stewart, Tracy Chapfor an elite audience that pays hefty man, Robin Williams, Eddie Izzard, ticket prices for admittance.

B.B. King, Pierce Brosnan, Bernie Mac, It always spills out after the fact, preJewel, Ed Sheeran, Passenger, Steve sumably to help guide humanity to stop Martin, Beck, and George Michael. and smell the roses, or in this case, Chattanooga’s local artists are dostop to listen to the music. Sometimes it ing a great job of getting out there may be just a person named Chad who and blessing the streets with music and has been practicing for years and feels other forms of entertainment. While like playing for the public; other times it buskers are doing a bit of everything, may be a living legend breaking down street performers playing music are barriers so regular people can enjoy the dominating force around the city. the sounds of the symphony. Either way, Random magical music moments can, there is beauty in it as long as people have, and will continue to power the slow down long enough to soak it in. energy of the streets of Chattanooga.

It seems as if street performing as Street musicians range from unnamed a star has been trending over the last local artists to some of Chattanooga’s couple of decades. Famous people well-known performers like Swayyvo have been increasingly doing street and Rick Rushing, Jr. Regardless of

The purest form of busking is when lesser-known-byappearance artists who often perform at some of the finest symphony halls and stages in the land take time out to bless the general public with an extraordinary sound.” exact science and sometimes can make decent wages in the process.

Some street performers are simply passionate about certain artforms and have spent multiple hours practicing.

They want to see how they will stand up in the public eye before attempting to play at public venues or to see if they are ready to take their skills to a professional level. These street performers rely less on working the crowd and focus more on doing their thing. Where they still do have a tip jar, and appreciate any monetary love shown by the passers-by, that is not the point of their street-performing journey.

The purest form of busking is when lesser-known-by-appearance artists who often perform at some of the finest symphony halls and stages in the land take time out to bless the general public with an extraordinary sound. This

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COVER STORY stature, Chattanooga-based street performers can steal the hearts of the surrounding audience with powerful, captivating vocals and instrumental skills.

A local 501c(3) nonprofit organization, SoundCorps is helping to put local street performers to work through their Sidewalk Stages program. According to their official webpage, Sidewalk Stages is geared to “activate Chattanooga’s streets with live, local performances.” SoundCorps works in cooperation with the City of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Folk School of Chattanooga and other community partners to develop the program, which incentivizes 25–35 buskers every weekend around Chattanooga.

SoundCorps Sidewalk Stages should be a huge motivation for all of the bedroom performing artists. Sometimes just getting up and getting out to perform on the street can be a bit intimidating for people without some guidance, especially for the newbies.

The unaware artists who are not tapping into this fierce local entity should reach out them immediately for guidance. With a mission far wider than just

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Busker should be spelled c-ou-r-a-g-e because that is what it takes for a person to post up in high traffic areas to display their specific art form(s) for the often scrutinizing public eye. It takes guts for people to put themselves out there and perform art on the street.

It is easy to get caught up in everyday life and swiftly walk past the artists who fill the streets of Chattanooga with arts, harmony, love, and light; but it is just as easy to stop and watch a person doing what they love.

It is amazing to watch the street artists tap into their flow state and get in the zone. Instant connections are formed and people get filled up with warmth as they listen, watch, and engage with the buskers.

Slow down from time to time, Chattanooga, and show the street performers some love. They are not very hard to find. Just telling them they are doing a great job could be enough to keep them coming back. To all of you bold humans out there who busk for fun, necessity, love, or a living, thank you very much for all that you do. You are making a difference individually and collectively.

Instant connections are formed and people get filled up with warmth as they listen, watch, and engage with the buskers.”

Sidewalk Stages, SoundCorps aims to “re-establish Chattanooga as a music mecca with a healthily growing cultural economy. Success for us means Chattanooga has more music venues, sound recording studios, record labels, record stores, retail outlets, music industry professional services firms and more.” To find out more about their programs, visit soundcorps.org

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For the people out there who have never taken part in busking (myself included), let’s take a moment and imagine hauling an instrument to a busy area like the walking bridge, setting up in a specific area, and jamming on it in front of everybody, for all to see. Just the thought of it is a little bit nerve-racking. Kudos to those who can focus and present their art publicly.

COLUMN · SHRINK RAP

Sharing Our Collective Wisdom The good doctor updates his life lesson list

I Dr. Rick

Pulse columnist

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It’s been a while since we’ve shared lessons from our collective experiences, and I figure there’s no time like the present.”

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

T’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE’VE shared lessons from our collective experiences, and I figure there’s no time like the present.

Beginning with an article from a friend, and adding lessons from my own life, as well as input from you—thank you, contributors!—I’m bringing this topic back around with some new and thought-provoking wisdom. I hope you enjoy.

I have learned … that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.

I have learned … that no matter how good a partner or friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and will need forgiveness for that.

I have learned … that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for “true love”.

I have learned … that it is important to leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you speak to them.

I have learned … that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I have learned … that it’s taking a lifetime to become the person I want to be.

I have learned … that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I have learned … that everything begins with the energy of a thought.

I have learned … that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I have learned … that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I have learned … that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I have learned … that when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

Ditto for depression.

I have learned … that maturity has more to do with what you’ve learned from your experiences and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I have learned … that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. It’s important to learn to forgive yourself.

I have learned … that no matter how badly your heart’s been broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I have learned … that it’s always okay to ask for help.

I have learned …. that our background

and circumstances have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I have learned … that your life can be changed in a matter of moments by people who don’t even know you.

I have learned … that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you—you will find the strength to help.

I have learned … that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I have learned … that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon. ∙∙∙∙ Until next time, for parents and grandparents: “Take care with how you speak to your children, for your words will become the voices in their heads.” — J.L. Maciek

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Roger Harvey's Slow Art Wood sculptures that are years in the making

Finding A Piece Of Your Hart Today the Hart Gallery is a well-established and respected art studio in Southside, but it started as a much simpler idea. Ellen Heavilon came across a mosaic sculpture in downtown and it gave her a unique idea.

She wanted to give the homeless community access to art supplies, but she wasn’t quite sure how.

In 2010 her idea came to life when she bought and began renovating an abandoned building in Southside, which is where the Hart Gallery resides to this day.

The Hart Gallery has grown to include non-traditional and homeless artists who are interested in creating pieces and selling them. The gallery features eight art classes a week at various local non-profits to give artists of all types the opportunity to express themselves.

This weekend is your chance to support the Hart Gallery as they feature their first ever Hart of the Southside Pop Up Market.

This pop-up is going to be a completely interactive experience for people of all ages.

There will be crafts, local vendors, and plenty of snacks. But the coolest part of this pop-up is the mural painting.

The gallery is letting anyone and everyone participate in the creation of a mural on the side of their building. This is your way to make a lasting impact on our local community and enjoy some crafting while you do so.

Grab a few friends and don’t miss the Hart of the Southside Pop Up this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Ensley McFarland

By Tony Mraz Pulse contributor

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I work mostly with found wood— I find things on Craigslist, or through tree cutting companies.”

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A

MAGNIFICENT COLLECTION OF FINE WOOD FURnishings is currently on display on Chattanooga’s North Shore, at the In-Town Gallery. Roger Harvey combines a lifetime of woodworking experience with local lumber, innovative processes, and lots of patience. The resulting pieces are elegant marriages of form and function.

Harvey began his career as an engineering student at the University of Texas, where he discovered the arts and crafts center of the student union.

He became interested in pottery, and got a part time job at the union.

“I was losing interest in engineering,” he says, “so I switched to art and later became the director of the craft center. I wound up there really focusing on pottery—I took 11 semesters of pottery classes.”

After college, he lived in Cape Cod for 11 years, during which time he worked with a friend who was a goldsmith. He pursued jewelry making, moving to Boston and opening a custom jewelry store.

After eight years of operation, and being held up a gunpoint a few times, he took an opportunity to sell his store.

He moved to Chattanooga, and began working for his brother, who had opened a jewelry factory.

His brother sold the company, but Harvey stayed on, and was in the business for more than 27 years before retiring. In 2007, he took a pottery course at Chattanooga State and was inspired to build a studio and resume his practice. He made pottery for several years, and became a member of the In-Town Gallery.

He has always done woodworking on the side, but in recent years it has become his primary medium.

“When I would get tired of something, I always found a way to move to something else. I really enjoy the early parts, where you’re learning really fast and being very creative—and I’m very happy with wood for now,” he explains.

“I expect to be doing this for a while,” he continues. “I work mostly with found wood—I find things on Craigslist, or through tree cutting companies. I keep an eye out for interesting things. Most of what I do is made with wood that would be firewood otherwise—it’s amazing what we burn.”

Right now Harvey is mostly turning pieces on a lathe, a process that requires a lot of patience.

“One of my favorite species to work with is hackberry, which is a tree that most people want to get rid of,” he

“

I keep an eye out for interesting things. Most of what I do is made with wood that would be firewood otherwise—it’s amazing what we burn.” says. “It’s not very interesting when you cut it—it has a nice background grain, but it is a very light colored wood—but if you take log of it, seal the end of it, and stand it up outside for a few months, the organisms that cause it to rot get into the wood, stain it, and cause really beautiful patterns.

Maple and pecan also work well for that process. I will sometimes enhance the color of the grain with stain, or if a piece is really bland I will paint on it.”

Some of the pieces of wood he uses take more than a year to prepare before the crafting process begins. The goal is to keep the moisture in the wood, to make it much easier to turn on a lathe—the easiest piece of wood to turn is a fresh-cut tree.

“It works really well,” he says, “it has so much water in it that it actually sprays water out when you cut it.”

As the wood dries, it shrinks and warps. He compensates for this by making each piece thicker than the final product will be, and then slowly

drying it for a period depending on the size and thickness—from a few months to six months.

He soaks the wood in alcohol right after turning it, which displaces some of the water—then he wraps it in a paper bag, creating an atmosphere around the piece that gradually lets the moisture out, making it less likely to crack.

Once the wood is dry, he puts it back on the lathe for the final turning.

After sanding and polishing, he adds a coat of polyurethane, or a combination of linseed oil and beeswax for food-grade dishes.

“It is a long process, and can take a few years to turn a log into a finished piece.”

Harvey also fabricates a variety of small furniture, including jewelry boxes, clocks, mirrors, stools, and music stands. His work can be found at InTown Gallery, and he is available for commissions. See more of his work at intowngallery.com/roger-harvey

THU8.1

FRI8.2

SAT8.3

Bridging Arts & Culture

First Friday’s Gallery Open House

Jaws on the Lake

Come meet the artists behind the newest exhibition at the Northshore gallery.

6 p.m.

AVA Gallery 30 Frazier Ave. avarts.org

Mingle with great local artists in the brand new Southside home of Reflections Gallery.

5 p.m.

Reflections Gallery 1635 Rossville Ave. reflectionsgallerytn.com

Have you ever seen a shark movie while floating on the lake?

Now's your chance for a fun-filled evening.

8 p.m.

Chester Frost Park 2277 Gold Point Cir. parks.hamiltontn.gov CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR THURSDAY8.1 Wheel 1 with Victoria Kile 1 p.m.

Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org Paw Pals Storytime 1:30 p.m.

McKamey Animal Center 4500 N. Access Rd. (423) 305-6500 mckameyanimalcenter.org Urban Farmers Market and Marketplace 3 p.m.

Miller Park 910 Market St. millerparkmarket.com Throwback Thursday 4 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 5 p.m.

Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 760-3600 huttonandsmithbrewing.com Alley Hour 5:30 p.m.

Cooper’s Alley 10 E. 7th St. Bridging Arts & Culture: Meeting the Artists 6 p.m.

AVA Gallery 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282 avarts.org Email Marketing 101 6 p.m.

The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Films with Friends Volume 4 7 p.m.

Deer Run Media 1428 Williams St. (423) 708-4716 deerrunmedia.com Little Shop of Horrors 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534

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Little Shop of Horrors theatrecentre.com Mr. Showtime, David Scott 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Alcoholics Not Anonymous Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m.

Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m.

Westbound Bar 24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com

FRIDAY8.2 Arts Meow & More 5 p.m.

The Exum Gallery 305 W. 7th St. (423) 266-8195 stpaulschatt.org BookMarks: A Library of Line, Shape, Value, Color, & Texture 5 p.m.

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

First Friday’s Gallery Open House 5 p.m.

Reflections Gallery 1635 Rossville Ave. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com Artists in the Wild: Open Studio Night 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Brianna Bass 7 p.m.

Frequency Arts 516 Tremont St. facebook.com/frequencyarts Mr. Showtime, David Scott 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Little Shop of Horrors 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com “Metropolis!” Live Film Score 8 p.m.

Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Improv “Movie” Night

8 p.m.

Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Video Game Night 8 p.m.

Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m.

Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Good, Old-Fashioned Improv Show 10 p.m.

Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SATURDAY8.3 Superhero Sprint 8 a.m.

Tennessee Riverpark 4301 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 842-0177 hamiltontn.gov/tnriverpark Maps of the Mind: Drawing Hard to See and Invisible Places

10 a.m.

Daily Practice Altar Art 1322 Dodds Ave. (423) 322-2514 jasmilam.com Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Hart of the Southside Pop Up Market 11 a.m.

Hart Gallery 110 E. Main St. (423) 521-4707 hartgallerytn.com Beginner Bonsai 11 a.m.

The Chattery at Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 521-2643 chattanoogaworkspace.com Bobby Stone Film Series: Ben-Hur 3 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Get Your Hands Dirty 6 p.m.

Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org A Rose Is Still A Rose 6 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Paws on the Pitch: Chattanooga Red Wolves SC 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Christian School 3354 Charger Dr. (423) 541-1660 chattredwolves.com Mr. Showtime, David Scott 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Little Shop of Horrors 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com

Chattanooga’s Secret History 8 p.m.

Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Jaws on the Lake 8 p.m.

Chester Frost Park 2277 Gold Point Cir. (423) 842-0177 parks.hamiltontn.gov Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m.

Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SUNDAY8.4 Chattanooga Market 12:30 p.m.

The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Bobby Stone Film Series: The Wizard of Oz 2 p.m., 6 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Little Shop of Horrors 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Mr. Showtime, David Scott 7:30 p.m.

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

MONDAY8.5 Summer Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m.

Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Beginner Astrology 6 p.m.

The Chattery at Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 521-2643

chattanoogaworkspace.com Joggers & Lagers 6 p.m.

Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. chattabrew.com First Monday Improv 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Comedy Open Mic 9 p.m.

The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com

TUESDAY8.6 Wake Up & Run 6 a.m.

Fleet Feet Sports 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 771-7996 fleetfeetchattanooga.com Chess K-night 5 p.m.

Mad Priest Coffee Roasters 1900 Broad St. (423) 393-3834 madpriestcoffee.com Introduction to Sushi Making 6 p.m.

The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 521-2643 chattanoogaworkspace.com Draw Me Closer: An Introduction to Drawing 6 p.m.

The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 521-2643 chattanoogaworkspace.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Paths to Pints along the Riverwalk 6:30 p.m.

The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Poetry, Pups, & Pints 7:30 p.m.

Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com

WEDNESDAY8.7 Extruded Forms with Mark Issenberg 1 p.m.

Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org IPMS National Model Show 3 p.m.

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 ipmsnationals.com Main Street Farmers Market 10 Year Anniversary Party 4 p.m.

522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Wheel 3 with Mark Issenberg 6 p.m.

Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org Improv Open House 7 p.m.

Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Open Mic Comedy 7 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m.

The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Free Kittens Comedy Show 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 13

THE MUSIC SCENE

The Garage Band’s Garage Band Mythical Motors drops lo-fi excellence

Getting Nostalgic With Switchfoot It’s time to pull out your jelly sandals and butterfly clips! The early 2000’s are making a comeback in many ways, including Switchfoot coming to The Signal this week.

If the name of this band sounds familiar, it might be because they have been making radio-worthy hits since 1996, and after a small hiatus from 2017 to 2018 they are officially back again.

Switchfoot is a San Diego-based band known for consistently serving up alternative rock and post-grunge melodies that have survived the test of time like their songs “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move”.

Just to prove how Californian this band is, their name comes from a surfing term meaning to switch your feet and take a new stance while on a surfboard. The surfer boys currently have eleven studio albums released, including one as recent as January 2019 titled Native Tongue.

If you’re interested in hearing some great sounds to bring you a sense of nostalgia as well as some new hits you didn’t know you needed, head over to The Signal on Tuesday, August 6th at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance or $33 the day of the show and are available for purchase at thesignaltn. com — Kelsey Fox

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

“

Mythical Motors have mastered the art of retro New Wave power pop, similar to Nick Lowe or Elvis Costello.”

14 • THE PULSE • AUGUST 1, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

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ISTENING TO A NEW MYTHICAL MOTORS RELEASE IS A lot like finding a rare, vintage import tucked away in the back of a record shop. There is an initial joy of discovery— hey, something new!—swiftly followed by the realization that the album in your hands is something quite special.

Plenty of people, myself included, have spilled hundreds of words describing the sound of Mythical Motors.

For brevity’s sake, we’ll leave the thesaurus on the shelf this time and just say that MM have mastered the art of retro New Wave power pop, similar to Nick Lowe or Elvis Costello, with the rawer edge those two well-known artists had lost by the time they hit mainstream success.

A garage band’s garage band (of a certain era), Mythical Motors has developed a reputation for short, punchy

tunes with a hook. Truthfully, the hook is less often a part of the song than the entire song itself. Whatever label you want to hang on it, their music is catchy earworm material that will echo in your head long after the record is over.

Their latest effort, This Is What the Twilight Zone Was Preparing Us For, is scheduled for release by Fall Break records on September 20th. The album was engineered by Todd Tobias, of Guided by Voices fame. The addition of Tobias as engineer is a stroke of genius; his ability to coax the full richness

“

What you see is what you get, a highly skilled group of artists creating rock music for the sake of rock music, recording tunes that are just a pleasure to hear.”

of a recording without stepping on its minimalist approach goes hand in hand with MM’s vintage lo-fi approach.

Short song length means large track listing for Mythical Motors and This Is What the Twilight Zone Was Preparing Us For is no exception. With 22 tracks overall, the longest (“Go Outside and See”) weighs in at just over two minutes long; the shortest (“Ivy Sees You”) is a scant 19 seconds and were it not individually designated, might be considered an interstitial between tracks.

On the one hand, no one can ever accuse the band of the bloated, overproduced “one song is half an album long” tomfoolery of the early to midseventies.

On the other hand, the “punk rock” length of most of their tracks doesn’t leave a lot of room for analysis.

Maybe that’s the point, though; maybe these songs don’t require analysis.

Maybe the point, after all, is to create a series of impressions that together create a mood, a tone, a feeling while the faux-deep messaging is best left to the “too serious” three chords and the truth set, feverishly scribbling away in their

Reggae At Smooth Rapids 2019

moleskins at the coffee shop.

There is no pretension in Mythical Motors, no latent desire to hide a new age manifesto in the lyrics of their songs. What you see is what you get, a highly skilled group of artists creating rock music for the sake of rock music, recording tunes that are just a pleasure to hear and enjoy without the need or desire to shoehorn in some ham-fisted philosophy.

Knowing the intelligence of the individuals in the group, there is no doubt any and all could explain at length their views on life, the universe, and everything, and perhaps they would, over a cold beer or two. What they will not do, however, is cram it down your ears, choosing to focus their energy instead on creating great music equally at home on stage, in the car, on the radio, or on the turntable.

This Is What the Twilight Zone Was Preparing Us For is the latest (and most impressive to date) example of Mythical Motors doing what they do best and if there’s any love in your heart for authentic, gritty, post-punk New Wave, you’re going to want this album.

Hey kids! Do you hate to see summer go? Do you love jamming to cool Caribbean sounds while enjoying the great outdoors? Reggae at Smooth Rapids 2019 has it all and more and it’s this Friday at 245 Durham St. in McMinnville, TN. Promoted by Whyte Noyse Entertainment and Smooth Rapids, the event—now in its fifth year—is billed as “Two days of music, dancing, camping, swimming, kayaking, food, brews, and friends,” and is an ideal way to cap off a long, hot summer.

Featured artists include: E.N. Young and Imperial Sound, Resinated, Elusive Groove, Nomadic Culture, Plainview Vibes, Natty’s Common Roots, Whyte Noyse, Sopoz, Milele Roots, Natti Love Joys, Joey Harvey Band, Silas and more!

Jam packed with the most Irie music this side of Jamaica, and featuring a whole host of vendors of food, drink, and other, it’s the “can’t miss” event of the summer season!

For more information, find Reggae at Smooth Rapids on Facebook.

— MTM

THU8.1

FRI8.2

SAT8.3

Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash

Overland Express

The Afternooners

One of the best bands to ever come out of the Sceni City, OE melds together southern and country rock.

8 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co

This is what you get when you combine the vocals of Jack Johnson and the funky sounds of Vampire Weekend.

9 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com

Break out your tie-dye and get your dancing bears ready for a night of Dead-related rock.

9 p.m.

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

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 15

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY8.1 Alessia Cara 4 p.m.

Hamilton Place 2000 Hamilton Place Blvd. hamiltonplace.com James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Danimal & Friends 6 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Thursday Night Jazz 6 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Open Mic Thursday 6 p.m.

Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. stonecupcafe.com Megan Howard 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Bluegrass and Country Jam 6:30 p.m.

Graze Nazarene Church 6310 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 842-5919 Bluegrass Thursdays 6:30 p.m.

Whole Foods 301 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 702-7300 Open Mic Night 7 p.m.

Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Gino Fanelli 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

The FEED Co. Table and Tavern 201 W. Main St.

16 • THE PULSE • AUGUST 1, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Tameca Jones feedtableandtavern.com Jesse Jungkurth & Friends 7:30 p.m.

Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Webb Barringer 8 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic Night 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash with The Other Brothers 9 p.m.

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

FRIDAY8.2 Summer Music Weekends 8:30 a.m.

Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m.

Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Jimmy Dormire 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jason Lyles 7 p.m.

Mash & Hops 168 1st St. NE mashandhops.com Tameca Jones 7 p.m.

Miller Plaza 850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com Tim Lewis 7 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Maria Sable 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Brandon Green 7:30 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com “Metropolis” Live Film Score featuring RE: Send 8 p.m.

Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Overland Express 8 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St.

songbirdsguitars.co E.T. 9 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Misfit Toys 9 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Mother Legacy 9 p.m.

The FEED Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Rockabilly 9 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Magnificent Lions, Good Grief, & Luke Simmons & The Lovestruck 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Roughwork 9:30 The Brew & Cue 5017 Rossville Blvd.

(423) 867-9402 Misfit Toys 10 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com

Travers Brothership Throttle 21 10 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SATURDAY8.3 Summer Music Weekends 8:30 a.m.

Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Spinster Noon The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com Martin Rodriguez 12:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Binji Varsossa 6 p.m.

Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Ryan Oyer 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com AJ Ghent 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St.

songbirdsguitars.co Bronte Fall 7 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Forever Bluegrass 7 p.m.

Westbound Bar 24 Station St. westboundbar.com Gino Fanelli 7 p.m.

Edley’s Bar-B-Que 205 Manufacturers Rd. edleysbbq.com Jason Lyles 7 p.m.

Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 760-3600 huttonandsmithbrewing.com Tim Lewis 7 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Travers Brothership 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Riverfront 201 Riverfront Pkwy.

(423) 756-2211 Dustin Concannon 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Dairy Daughters

7:30 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com IronChief 8 p.m.

Mayo’s Bar & Grille 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com Spinster 8:30 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Up the Dose 9 p.m.

Trish’s Sports Bar 4762 Highway 58 (423) 269-8400 The Afternooners 9 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Throttle 21 10 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SUNDAY8.4 Summer Music Weekends 8:30 a.m.

Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com

Carl Pemberton 11 a.m.

Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Ayla Sylver Noon 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Butch Ross 12:30 p.m.

The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Danimal and Friends 12:30 p.m.

The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com The Other Brothers 2 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Gopher Broke 2 p.m.

The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Bluegrass Jam 4 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Justin Symbol, Angel Nightmare, Requiem Rust 7 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy's 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Up the Dose 9 p.m.

Trish’s Sports Bar 4762 Highway 58 (423) 269-8400 Throttle 21 10 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

MONDAY8.5 Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 17

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Blues Night Open Jam 7 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co Open Mic Night 7 p.m.

Fiddler’s Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile 8 p.m.

The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com

TUESDAY8.6 Gino Fanelli 6 p.m.

1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Acoustic Bohemian Night 6:30 p.m.

Mexi-Wing 9 6925 Shallowford Rd. (423) 468-3366 Danimal 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Space Jam Open Mic with Xll Olympians 7 p.m.

Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Pickin’ N Pints 7:30 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Company 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Live Jam Session with Freddy Mc & Friends 8 p.m.

Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com North Shore Jazz 8 p.m.

18 • THE PULSE • AUGUST 1, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Flying Squirrel 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Switchfoot 8 p.m.

The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com

WEDNESDAY8.7 Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Rhythm & Brews Open Mic Jam 7:30 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co Jazz in the Lounge 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m.

Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 Dirty Honey 8:30 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co Gin Blossoms 8:30 p.m.

The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Eric & Eric 9 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse. com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

ERNIE PAIK’S RECORD REVIEWS

Ashtray Navigations & Anla Courtis, Tennis Club

Ashtray Navigations & Anla Courtis Protozoic Rock Express (Public Eyesore)

W

Tennis Club Pink (Elefant)

hile most musicians measure time with beats, for the duo of Phil Todd—known as the main force behind the prolific Ashtray Navigations— and Anla Courtis (known as a member of Reynols), their complicated, collaborative drones have their own subtle rhythms that slowly form crests and dips; it’s more like the breathing patterns of whales instead of the hummingbird’s heartbeat of, say, pop music.

The new album Protozoic Rock Express was compiled from recordings made between 2004 and 2010 in Leeds (U.K.) and Buenos Aires, Argentina, which are the respective homes of Ashtray Navigations and

Courtis.

The gentle unraveling and slow reveals provide a soundtrack for strange meditations and also aural Rorschach inkblot test mind-movies; armchair psychologists doing self-analysis can likely amuse themselves by trying to understand why these sounds inspire the personal, fabricated visions that they do.

For example, the 22-minute “Part III” uses tones that resemble the rising and falling pitches of disaster sirens, like those that provide warnings for tsunamis and tornadoes. Interestingly, when these tones are overlaid, they create tension, but there’s enough space to zoom in on individual tones,

which have their own odd tranquility to them.

Atop the drones are some lightly popping sounds—exploding transformers, miles away?—distorted guitars, ominous rumbling and synthetic non-human yells that evolve into screams. Just a few peaks emerge within the long piece, like when the tone pitches climb to their highest notes (an old musical trick for representing an emotional peak) or when there are quicker variations in tones.

On “Part I”, there’s a blurry sound-fog, made with drones or vibrating pieces of metal, with a few sharp details that sparkle—tinny tinkles, squeaks or shakes of hand-held percussion—like potentially salvageable shards, temporarily illuminated in a giant landfill trash heap being manipulated by bulldozers.

“Part II” could be a bizarro universe raga, with what sounds like harmonium drones along with string and oscillator drones, with a slow envelope effect being just one driver for its atypical cycles. Things happen on both a micro and macro level, and regarding the

album’s immersive experience and potential psychological mirror, your results may and should vary wildly.

W

hat the hell, people—this writer was a bit shocked to hear that summer break is almost over for Hamilton County Schools students and parents, and he hasn’t even gone swimming or had an outdoor grill-cooked burger once this season. This is pathetic, and clearly, this writer’s priorities are out of whack.

Maybe that’s why the new mini-album Pink from the Joplin, Missouri trio Tennis Club is hitting the spot right now, for the inner child that is kicking and screaming and trying to extend carefree summer vibes and fruitlessly postpone the inevitable.

Led by the guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Wilson Hernandez, Tennis Club plays unfussy indie-pop with surf-rock flourishes—you’ve heard all the elements before, from the triedand-true basic three-chord pop progressions, the nostalgic ‘60s garage-rock reverb, the jaunty beats and unabashed tambourine shakes.

The songs are typically short and to-the-point, with only one song lasting more than three minutes; the 60-second “Mexico City (Rich Girls)” is sung in Spanish, and right when the song is over, you want to hear it again. “Ghost Cops” is pretty darn irresistible, with sung “ooohs,” handclaps and jangly accents, and although the drums sound a bit like cardboard, that doesn’t stop drummer Sean O’Dell from recreating a “Wipe Out”-esque fury.

The lyrics are almost hilariously juvenile on purpose, expressing the limited, somewhat awkward emotional sophistication of an 8th grader with broad strokes and basic phrases, like “she treats me bad” and “don’t hurt me again” and “I can’t dance” and “I wanna die!”

However, on “Baby”, Hernandez sings of a girl with “champagne colored eyes,” offering an odd type of affection: “My baby spends her drug money on me.” Back in eighth grade, that would have been lunch money; now that we’re adults, some things have changed, but the root emotions haven’t.

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CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 19

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FILM & TELEVISION

Superheroes Plus Late-stage Capitalism Taking caped crusaders to a very dark place Movies In The Great Outdoors With August now upon us and school getting back into session next week (!!), it may feel like the summer is almost over. But it’s not for the movie-loving folks at the Chattanooga Film Festival.

Earlier this week, they kicked off their Summer Film Series, a series of free screenings of classic films shown in the great outdoors.

The films curated for this series will make movie buffs rejoice and delight casual movie fans. Each film will feature a special introduction that will give attendees a bit more context as to why what they’re about to see is so special.

Next Wednesday, they are showing the Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck 1944 classic Double Indemnity, a quintessential example of film noir directed by the legendary Billy Wilder.

The following week, it’s the ultimate car movie with Steve McQueen’s unforgettable 1968 thriller Bullitt.

This special outdoor, free screening series is made possible by Open Spaces Partnership in Animation and Community Enhancement Program (OS-PACE), which helps to expand Chattanooga’s resources for recreation opportunities.

Make plans to head down to Miller Park for some great films (and some great local food trucks). Each film starts at 7:30 p.m.

RSVP via Eventbrite at http://bit.ly/2LL7es8 — Michael Thomas

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

“

There’s been a pattern of subverting expectations in film and television recently—almost to the point that this subversion has become a trope itself.”

20 • THE PULSE • AUGUST 1, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

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OR THOSE UNAWARE, A TROPE IS A COMMONLY overused theme or device in a text of some sort, be it literature, film, or television. For instance, the systematic elimination of teenagers in a horror movie based on their Breakfast Club-inspired clique (cheerleader, jock, stoner, clown, etc.) or the way couples in romantic comedies break up over simple misunderstandings that could be solved by a thirty-second conversation.

Some tropes are more obvious than others, of course, but the more media you consume the more obvious they become. If you want to go down the rabbit hole, check out tvtropes.org, although that particular website seems to exist to argue that everything that’s been repeated more than once is a trope.

Still, it’s fun to spend a few hours looking through it. Stories repeat because while audiences want to be surprised, they also want to be

comforted. We like what we know and reject what we don’t. It’s important to weave the two together in a satisfying way. There’s been a pattern of subverting expectations in film and television recently—almost to the point that this subversion has become a trope itself.

Subverting expectations for a narrative purpose is fine, but doing it for its own sake can lead to a frustrating viewing experience. Think Star Wars: The Last Jedi or “The Long Night”

episode of Game of Thrones. Narrative arcs have to effectively close following the logic dictated by the story in order to be satisfying.

The Boys, a new superhero show on Amazon Prime, does a lot of subversion in its short eightepisode season, but nothing feels out of place in the world they’ve created. Instead, the show is a tremendous amount of fun, even for those of us who might be a little tired of the superhero genre.

Based on a comic series by Garth Ennis, of Preacher fame, and Darick Robertson, the show follows Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid), a young man who works in an electronics store. After his girlfriend Annie is killed by superhero A-Train in a horrific accident, Hughie becomes frustrated by the seemingly insincere response from A-Train and his handlers, the Vought corporation.

It seems in the world, superheroes are less like vigilantes and more like reality stars. Frequently, non-powered people become collateral damage as these “supes” carelessly flaunt their powers around the globe. Hughie is approached by a man named Butcher who claims to be an FBI agent investigating the supes, with the purpose of holding them accountable for their actions. Butcher

“

Frequently, non-powered people become collateral damage as these ‘supes’ carelessly flaunt their powers around the globe.” takes Hughie to superhero-only club, where he sees a video of ATrain laughing about having killed accidentally killed Annie. Hughie decides to join Butcher to spy on the heroes and learn as many secrets as he can.

Obviously, the show is interested in pulling back the curtain on empty heroism and showing the corruption that exists among the powerful. It focuses intently on Homelander (Anthony Starr), the show’s Superman stand-in, as the leader of the Seven, earth’s most powerful heroes. The writers also want to take shots at the hypocrisy surrounding America’s version of evangelical Christianity, introducing Ezekiel, a closeted superstretchy pray-away-the-gay style minister.

This is par for the course for anyone familiar with Garth Ennis’ work. What really sets the show apart, besides the fairly strong writing and humor, is that the production design is really top notch.

The world feels lived and real. It’s

easy to believe that this is how our society would react to the presence of superheroes. Everything else is corporate controlled, why not vigilante justice?

The B-story focuses on Vought’s desire to place more superheroes into the military arena, giving the company a leg up into the defense contracting business. It’s obvious that indestructible superhumans would render most of the products used for national defense obsolete.

The dark nature of war profiteering is great for a show like this one and the conspiracies woven into the narrative are realistic enough to be entertaining, so long as you can effectively suspend your disbelief.

The Boys is as entertaining as it can be, darkly funny, and a good distraction from some of the other conspiracies playing out in real time on the news. If you’re looking for something to take your mind off our everyday atrocities, The Boys is a good bet.

✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cybergenetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.

Director: David Leitch Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba

The Nightingale Set in 1825, Clare, a young Irish convict woman, chases a British officer through the rugged Tasmanian wilderness, bent on revenge for a terrible act of violence he committed against her family.

Director: Jennifer Kent Stars: Damon Herriman, Sam Claflin

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 1, 2019 • THE PULSE • 21

COLUMN · GAME ON!

Local Esport Dojo Turns One Gig City Games celebrates birthday amidst global esport popularity

O Brandon Watson Pulse columnist

“

I really felt nostalgic for places that gave social videogame culture a place to live. I wanted to give a place for esports to take hold in the city as well as to offer a chill place for gamers to hang out and connect.”

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

n July 26 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York, $30 million was on the line as a monumental event in gaming history kicked off to an excited and bewildered world. Esport fodder Fortnite attracted gamers from around the globe to compete in head-to-head combat for team, solo, and duo tournaments.

It was a weekend onslaught of pro sponsored gamers against obscure underdogs, and once the dust settled a few kids walked away a few million richer than before. But the Fortnite World Cup isn’t the biggest cash pool for an international esport event. No, at the end of August an international Defense of The Ancients (DoTA) 2 flagship tourney will have $100 million in cash prizes.

I can barely get my head around it, but lo-and-behold I’ve become a believer. Esports is a thing and the promise of wealth and glory for the next level of gamer may be here to stay.

So, if you’re a competitive or cooperative gamer looking to break into the esports community I’ve got amazing news for you. Right here in our lovely city, right off MLK and near the UTC campus, exists a PC gaming haven and quite possibly the doorway to becoming a true contender in the digital sports arena.

Gig City Games is a LAN gaming center geared for plugging clients in to the large world of esports and competitive gaming. For seven days a week, twelve hours a day, you can drop into this gaming café for a quick match or to get in on several tournaments and events happening throughout the month.

Owner Joseph Card has taken a dated form of early social networking and upgraded it to a more streamlined and gamer friendly environment. Twenty-five

22 • THE PULSE • AUGUST 1, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

hotrod PCs are spaciously arranged along sleek counter spaces and each PC is paired with a luxurious swiveling command throne. GCG internet is powered by EPB’s The Gig and from the time I started watching a few gamers square up with League of Legends I didn’t see a hitch or stutter—not for the entire two hours I spent geeking out on the place.

Joseph Card beamed with pride as he showed me around. This is a young man who is clearly in this for the passion of gaming and connecting with the community at large.

“I really felt nostalgic for places that gave social video-game culture a place to live. I wanted to give a place for esports to take hold in the city as well as to offer a chill place for gamers to hang out and connect,” Joseph said.

From Fortnite, DoTA, and League of Legends, Gig City Games runs the full gamut of popular competitive multiplayer games. You can win prizes in the form of expensive game controllers, digital currency, and real-life currency. The last type of prize is my favorite.

When was the last time you played a video game that paid you for your time and effort? Coming up on the 17th, GCG will host a League of Legends tourney that will pay top prize of $250 for 1st place teams.

And if MOBA strategy or PUBG shooters aren’t your speed, don’t fret— GCG have added fighting games to their portfolio. This Saturday, a Street Fighter V event will go down and only the best of the best will walk away with $50 and city

bragging rights to boot. So, if you’re at home and know you are an outright badass at videogames, seize the day and take things to the next level.

GCG can also be rented out for events and parties by the hour. Let me tell you: competitive videogames are amazing team-building tools and probably safer than a paintball course. There is also a dedicated team room for serious players seeking to hone their skills for the next big event. With the knowledgeable staff and high-speed tech at the heart of GCG, this is Chattanooga’s esport dojo, local arena, and training center.

For those of you savvy entrepreneurs looking for the next big thing to put Chattown on the map, esports is a billion-dollar baby and GCG is a nice comfy crib to nurture it in. For you regular gamers looking for fun remembering the great times of a true “LAN party” with a few beers, come on down. And if you’re a serious esport hopeful with big dreams to rule the world as a mousepad Mattis, then get connected, build a team, and dominate!

I’ll write it here folks, my vote for Chattanooga’s first esport team: Gig-City Giggitys.

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Let’s check in with our psychic journalist, LoveMancer, who’s standing by with a live report from inside your imagination. What’s happening, LoveMancer? “Well, Rob, the enchanting creature on whose thoughts I’ve been eavesdropping has slipped into an intriguing frontier. This place seems to be a hot zone where love and healing interact intensely. My guess is that being here will lead our hero to breakthrough surges of love that result in deep healing, or deep healing that leads to breakthrough surges of love—probably both.”

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo figure skater Scott Hamilton won an Olympic gold medal and four World Championships. He was a star who got inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and made a lot of money after he turned professional. “I calculated once how many times I fell during my skating career—41,600 times,” he testified in his autobiography. “But here’s the funny thing: I also got up 41,600 times. That’s the muscle you have to build in your psyche—the one that reminds you to just get up.” In accordance with current astrological omens, Virgo, I’ll be cheering you on as you strengthen that muscle in your psyche during the coming weeks.

“Inseparable”—almost always one with the other.

ACROSS 1 Take quickly 5 Jackson who was a guest judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” 11 IRA type 14 Senator’s assistant 15 Words after bump or ants 16 Dr. Zaius, e.g.

17 Classic roleplaying game 20 Fourth letter of two alphabets 21 Drag around 22 “All right, I get it” 23 Humanities major 24 Ladder rung 26 Lost in thought 28 Barnyard noise 29 San Francisco Bay structure 30 Team behind “The Mikado” 38 Muscat’s location 39 Highland Games gear 40 “The Andy Griffith Show” boy 41 2000s series with Sally Field and Calista Flockhart

44 1/2/34, for instance 45 Part of UNLV 46 “The Lorax” voice actor 49 “Go ___” (Pet Shop Boys song) 51 BB___ (English pop group behind “Back Here”) 54 MLB Triple Crown stat 55 It may go for a long swim 56 Mirror reflection 58 Subject of some educational museums 62 Queen ___ (pop music nickname) 63 “Just a Friend” rapper Biz ___ 64 Skin breakout 65 Show with a cold open, for short 66 Organizer’s area of focus, maybe 67 Alternative to fries, in some restaurants DOWN 1 “In-A-___-Da-Vida” 2 Motorcyclist 3 Ticket price category

4 Muppet who turned 50 in 2019 5 Mauna ___ (macadamia nut brand) 6 Geometry calculation 7 Prepare to score on a fly ball 8 Couturier Cassini 9 ___-hoo (drink brand) 10 “... long, long ___” 11 Decaf brand that once sponsored “I Love Lucy” 12 Type of bath salts 13 Annoying, like tiny insects 18 Like Ray Romano’s voice quality 19 Flawless solving result?

25 Converses with 26 Some trains in the Thomas the Tank Engine universe 27 Hit the gas pedal 28 Small ‘90s-era storage medium 29 Type of helmet 30 Emote on stage, say 31 Ball club VIPs 32 Egypt’s org., once

33 Lo-cal, in ads 34 Simple sandwich 35 May preceder (abbr.)

36 “___ the season to be jolly” 37 “Castlevania” gaming platform 42 Cookie bit 43 First Top 40 hit for “Weird” Al 46 In ___ and drabs (sporadically) 47 “The Beverly Hillbillies” star Buddy 48 LPs 49 Best-seller list heading 50 “Westworld” character Hughes 51 First name heard at pools?

52 Hollywood power player 53 Alan who lost to Obama in 2004 55 100 cents, for some 57 Aspiring MD’s hurdle 59 Hip-hop’s Run-___ 60 Suffix for senator or president 61 Volleyball divider

Copyright © 2019 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 947

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): What’s the story of your life? Psychologist James Hillman said that in order to thrive, you need to develop a clear vision of that story. How do you do that? Hillman advised you to ask yourself this question: “How can I assemble the pieces of my life into a coherent plot?” And why is this effort to decode your biography so important? Because your soul’s health requires you to cultivate curiosity and excitement about the big picture of your destiny. If you hope to respond with intelligence to the questions and challenges that each new day brings, you must be steadily nourished with an expansive understanding of why you are here on earth. I bring these ideas to your attention, Libra, because the coming weeks will be an excellent time to illuminate and deepen and embellish your conception of your life story.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Artists are people driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide,” wrote psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott. I think that description fits many people born under the sign of the Scorpio, not just Scorpio artists. Knowing how important and necessary this dilemma can be for you, I would never glibly advise you to always favor candid, straightforward communication over protective, strategic hiding.

But I recommend you do that in the coming weeks. Being candid

and straightforward will serve you well.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian poet Aracelis Girmay writes, “How ramshackle, how brilliant, how haphazardly & strangely rendered we are. Gloriously, fantastically mixed & monstered. We exist as phantom, monster, miracle, each a theme park all one’s own.” Of course that’s always true about every one of us. But it will be extraordinarily true about you in the coming weeks. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, you will be at the peak of your ability to express what’s most idiosyncratic and essential about your unique array of talents and specialties.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Sometime soon I suspect you will arrive at a crossroads in your relationship with love and sex—as well as your fantasies about love and sex. In front of you: a hearty cosmic joke that would mutate your expectations and expand your savvy. Behind you: an alluring but perhaps confusing call toward an unknown future. To your left: the prospect of a dreamy adventure that might be only half-imaginary. To your right: the possibility of living out a slightly bent fairy tale version of romantic catharsis.

I’m not here to tell you what you should do, Capricorn. My task is simply to help you identify the options.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): How many handcuffs are there in the world? Millions. Yet there are far fewer different keys than that to open all those handcuffs. In fact, in many countries, there’s a standard universal key that works to open most handcuffs. In this spirit, and in accordance with current astrological omens, I’m designating August as Free Yourself from Your Metaphorical Handcuffs Month.

It’s never as complicated or difficult as you might imagine to unlock your metaphorical handcuffs; and for the foreseeable future it will be even less complicated and difficult than usual for you.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): People who sneak a gaze into your laboratory might be unnerved by what they see. You know and I know that your daring experiments are in service to the ultimate good, but that may not be obvious to those who understand you incompletely. So perhaps you should post a sign outside your lab that reads, “Please don’t leap to premature conclusions! My in-progress projects may seem inexplicable to the uninitiated!” Or maybe you should just close all your curtains and lock the door until your future handiwork is more presentable.

P.S. There may be allies who can provide useful feedback about your explorations. I call them the wounded healers.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Dear Diary: Last night my Aries friend dragged me to the Karaoke Bowling Alley and Sushi Bar. I was deeply skeptical. The place sounded tacky. But after being there for twenty minutes, I had to admit that I was having a fantastic time. And it just got better and more fun as the night wore on. I’m sure I made a fool of myself when I did my bowling ball imitation, but I can live with that. At one point I was juggling a bowling pin, a rather large piece of sweet potato tempura, and my own shoe while singing Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”—and I don’t even know how to juggle. I have to admit that this sequence of events was typical of my adventures with Aries folks. I suppose I should learn to trust that they will lead me to where I don’t know I want to go.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In his poem “Wild Oats,” poet W. S. Merwin provided a message that’s in perfect alignment with your current astrological needs: “I needed my mistakes in their own order to get me here.” He was not being ironic in saying that; he was not making a lame attempt to excuse his errors; he was not struggling to make himself feel better for the inconvenience caused by his wrong turns. No! He understood that the apparent flubs and miscues he had committed were essential in creating his successful life. I invite you to reinterpret your own past using his perspective.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Even if you’re an ambidextrous, multigendered, neurologically diverse, Phoenician-Romanian Gemini with a fetish for pink duct tape and an affinity for ideas that no one has ever thought of, you will eventually find your sweet spot, your power niche, and your dream sanctuary. I promise. Same for the rest of you Geminis, too. It might take a while. But I beg you to have faith that you will eventually tune in to the homing beacon of the mother lode that’s just right for you. P.S.: Important clues and signs should be arriving soon.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): What would a normal, boring astrologer tell you at a time like now? Maybe something like this: “More of other people’s money and resources can be at your disposal if you emanate sincerity and avoid being manipulative. If you want to negotiate vibrant compromises, pay extra attention to good timing and the right setting. Devote special care and sensitivity to all matters affecting your close alliances and productive partnerships.” As you know, Cancerian, I’m not a normal, boring astrologer, so I wouldn’t typically say something like what I just said.

But I felt it was my duty to do so because right now you need simple, basic, no-frills advice. I promise I’ll resume with my cryptic, lyrical oracles next time.

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