AUGUST 2, 2018
WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
INSIDE CHATTANOOGA'S TECHNOLOGY AND STARTUP ECOSYSTEM
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 15, ISSUE 31 • AUGUST 2, 2018
BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. 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 Rich Bailey • Rob Brezsny Matt Jones • Tony Mraz Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Michael Thomas • Brandon Watson Editorial Interns Libby Gillies • Olivia Haynes Design Intern Kenzie Wrightsman Cartoonists Max Cannon • Jen Sorenson Tom Tomorrow
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Chattanooga Is Miscellaneous It’s been a busy spring and summer in Chattanooga’s technology and startup ecosystem. First of all AOL Founder Steve Case rolled into town with his Rise of the Rest bus tour, showering eight startups in publicity and investing in FreightWaves.
MORE THAN A TEACHER
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HOMETOWN THROWDOWN
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Dr. Sarah Einstein is an essayist, creates memoirs, and writes literary nonfiction. She was born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia with a loving and hardworking family.
There are plenty of things to love about my job. I love that I get to hear new music, constantly, whether it’s a brand new band, or a long time favorite that sends me a few unreleased tracks.
RELOADING THE CANNON
Beloved Chattanooga artist Terry Cannon is back in action after a hiatus, and has set up his new studio two doors down from the old Loose Cannon event space.
ALL ABOUT (KILLING) EVE
With the multitude of streaming services available these days, it’s a wonder any of us still have cable. I for one still pay an ungodly amount of money to EPB monthly.
5 CONSIDER THIS
16 MUSIC CALENDAR
19 JONESIN' CROSSWORD
7 SHRINK RAP
18 MUSIC REVIEWS
21 NEW IN THEATERS
19 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
22 GAME ON!
12 ARTS CALENDAR
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 2, 2018 • THE PULSE • 3
BEGINNINGS · CITY LIFE
Much More Than A Teacher Celebrating the writing and vision of Dr. Sarah Einstein By Libby Gillies
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Pulse contributor
I think there is great value in seeing the world through someone else’s eyes, and that reading creative nonfiction is as close as we can come to doing that.”
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R. SARAH EINSTEIN IS AN ESSAYIST, CREATES MEMoirs, and writes literary nonfiction. She was born and raised in Huntington, West Virginia with a loving and hardworking family.
When she was a young child in the Sixties, her grandfather sent her and her brother to elocution lessons in order for them to not have Appalachian accents, but she regrets this happening. After graduation, she moved to Chattanooga to become a teacher and she was my teacher during my time at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. According to her profile on UTC’s website, “she’s interested in creative writing: nonfiction, fiction, digital rhetoric’s, humanities disability studies, and writing across media publishing studies.” Yep, she likes to write. She teaches Creative Writing: Non-
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fiction and says she is grateful to have the position to influence her students’ writing careers as she believes each of her students has great potential to benefit from the craft. Her passion for teaching comes from knowing she will likely not be the person writing great literature, and instead wants to teach students who may be able to accomplish more. Einstein started writing in her twenties as well as attending workshops. She graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree from West Virginia University (go Mountaineers!) and went on to get a PhD in Creative Nonfiction from Ohio University.
“I think there is great value in seeing the world through someone else’s eyes, and that reading creative nonfiction— particularly personal narrative—is as close as we can come to doing that. I’ve seen some things most people haven’t, and so I write about those things in the hope of expanding my readers’ realm of experience,” Einstein says. She has written nonfiction works such as “Mot: A Memoir” and “Remnants of Passion”. She has quite a bit of essays published and a couple short stories, along with a literary magazine where her writers are “committed to elevating marginalized voices and to literature that explores the experiences of the working class.” “Mot: A Memoir” won the prestigious Pushcart Prize, a literary prize that honors poetry, essays, short fiction, and literary work. It’s published by the Pushcart Press who has been giving this award out for over 40 years. Outside of teaching, Dr. Einstein describes herself as a “big nerd”. Her hobbies include playing video games, cooking, binge-watching Netflix, and occasionally attending a board game night. A fun fact about her is that when she was a college student in West Virginia, she actually lived in a tipi on a commune. “I probably seem exactly like the sort of person who used to live in a tipi on a commune,” she notes in her teacher profile on UTC’s website. I doubt anyone who has met her would disagree. All told, she’s an all-around awesome person to hang around with. Even though I personally didn’t find Creative Writing: Nonfiction to be my niche, she made the classroom more interesting and got all the students involved. She loves teaching and that’s something students can clearly see from being part of her classroom. Not to mention, the stories about her life that she tells in class are beyond interesting.
Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick “Today I choose to be grateful for everything I have, kind to myself and others, happy to be alive, present, here and now.” —Unknown
SharkFest For Shark Week Get up close and personal with our toothy friends In the wise words of Tracy Morgan on 30 Rock, “Live every week like it’s Shark Week.” Every year around July and August, one week takes over everyone’s lives: Shark Week. It’s been airing every year on the Discovery Channel since 1988 and it’s the longest running cable television event in history. It’s even broadcast in over 72 countries. People love themselves some sharks. And thanks to the Discovery
Channel, everyone can watch these sharks breaching out of the water to attack other animals and crazy divers’ swimming alongside them. In celebration of Shark Week, the Tennessee Aquarium is holding an event called SharkFest this Friday at 5 p.m. Guests can enter the shark cage, get shark tattoos, and have their hair done in a spike, just like a shark’s dorsal fin. There will be shark teeth to look at as well as dive shows and
feeding time. Wouldn’t you want to see a shark eating another animal in person? As long as we’re not the bait, right? To make the entire experience even better, Cold Stone Creamery is supplying a special treat at the end of your shark filled journeys. Stop, hammertime! Sharks and ice cream? Can’t get better than that! For more information, you can reach them at tnaqua.org and (800) 262-0695. — Libby Gillies
I’ve had several conversations recently with friends regarding taking responsibility for one’s life, including thoughts, words, actions, certain circumstances. There is a wonderful type of healing and practice of reconciliation and forgiveness that hails from Dr. Hew Len in Hawaii (and throughout the South Pacific), called, Ho’oponopono. It can lead you in a powerful and new direction regarding taking responsibility for your whole life, every bit of it. If you’re interested, I highly recommend you check it out. Meanwhile, back here on the mainland, a friend suggested that “Making amends means much more than saying ‘I’m sorry.’ Without real change, we continue to make the same mistakes.” Another agreed: “Apologizing for past harms begins the healing of ourselves, and a change in our behavior, whether the other person is willing to let it go or not.” Our conclusion: Making amends means exactly that, making a MEND, a repair. Something to consider.
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COLUMN · SHRINK RAP
Mind, Body, And Spirit Tune-Ups The good doctor says it is always time to take care of your spirital self
B Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib Pulse columnist
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Some may disagree, but I’d suggest that your connection to that which is greater than you, if you believe in such a thing, is a personal choice.”
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
Y NOW, I BELIEVE MOST OF you understand the strong connection between the body and mind. For instance, when you feel depressed emotionally, your body is more susceptible to getting ill. When you are anxious, you are out of the present moment, unmindful of the trials of the body, and it suffers. Conversely, if you experience a significant physical accident or illness, you are more prone to depression, helplessness, or perhaps anxiety about how you will heal, and what your future might be. The mind is so powerful that people have been known to send their cancer into remission. And in fact, to send other people’s cancer into remission! And the body has such an effect on our mental and feeling states, that, for instance, a good workout releases the endorphins that give us a natural high, a psychological empowerment, a more positive outlook on life. Now let’s think for a moment about our spiritual well-being. You’ve read in these pages many times that is doesn’t matter if you attend church, mosque or temple. It doesn’t matter if your place of worship is a backyard barn, an idyllic spot on a wooded trail, or at the water’s edge with your feet feeling the cool waves. Some may disagree, but I’d suggest that your connection to that which is greater than you, if you believe in such a thing, is a personal choice. You might embark on a solo path of discovery (Not all who wander are lost.); you might feel that you want the fellowship of others. It’s your life, your road. Church-goer, meditator or treehugger, what matters is what you feel, and finding your place in the universe,
where you are most connected to the God of Your Understanding, your Higher Power, Spirit, Source or Mama Earth. I recently saw a sign—on a church—that said, “God loves kind atheists more than hateful Christians.” It’s up to you to discover (and define?) your spiritual self, in your own time, understanding that it’s a sacred, organic, growing part of you, like mind and like body, to be nurtured and honored. Taking stock of your mind/body/spirit connection is perhaps one of the most important aspects of being a healthy, well-grounded human. It can be challenging to keep it all well-tuned all the time. That’s okay. Stumbling is a natural part of any traveled road. However, paying attention being mindful are ways to understand yourself, provide healthy self-care, and walk through life more consciously. So, now and then (if not more frequently), I encourage you to take yourself in for a tune-up. Meaning, take stock, carve out some quiet time, ponder, perhaps have conversations about this with someone dear to you, and see where you are within your own wonderful mind/body/spirit work in progress. The following are ideas for practicing self-care in each of these areas. Perhaps they will jump-start some ideas of your own, and lead to new ways of enjoying your journey, wherever it may lead:
PHYSICAL Go for a walk; dance; hike; swim; get a hug; give a hug; play with a dog; clean and reorganize your room, your closet, your little sister’s room; volunteer; take a bath. MENTAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL Read a book; learn a new skill like photography or drawing; do a DIY project; color; turn your phone off, create some affirmations. EMOTIONAL Meditate; practice yoga, light a candle; talk with a good friend; go on a date; journal; each morning set your intention for the day; each evening write down what you’re grateful for. As you explore these suggestions, you’ll find your favorites. Let them become a part of your life. See what happens to your sense of peace, well-being, and inner strength by incorporating healthy, positive thoughts and actions into your life. Until next time: “Healing comes from taking responsibility: to realize that it is you—and no one else—that creates your thoughts, your feelings, and your actions.” —Peter Shepherd
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COVER STORY Chris Cummings
Stefanie Crowe
Mike Harrsion
Chattanooga Is Miscellaneous Checking in on our technology and startup ecosystem By Rich Bailey Pulse contributor
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So now seems like a good time to check in with the startup ecosystem, maybe take a snapshot of the growing little ones to share with relatives.”
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T’S BEEN A BUSY SPRING AND SUMMER IN CHATTANOOga’s technology and startup ecosystem. First of all AOL Founder Steve Case rolled into town with his Rise of the Rest bus tour, showering eight startups in publicity and investing in FreightWaves.
Then the Jump Fund, one of our indigenous venture capital funds, raised $5.2 million in a second round of funding to invest in women-led startups. The Enterprise Center released its Innovation District Framework to guide development in those key blocks downtown. And after taking a year off from summer accelerators, CO.LAB came back strong with, not one, but two accelerators: Gig Tank for high-growth potential companies exploiting Chattanooga’s Big Bandwidth and adding a consumer goods accelerator for things like beer, coffee and energy bars. (Hmm. Startups seem to consume lots of that stuff. Maybe the two accelerators are more connected than they thought.) So now seems like a good time to check in with the startup ecosystem,
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maybe take a snapshot of the growing little ones to share with relatives. But snapshots—even digital selfies— are so last year. Even with the world’s widest wide-angle lens, it would be impossible to get everything into the frame. Every snapshot is deceptive. At best, the photo is like an image of a flowing water: It might be beautiful, but the reality will never again look like that. At worst, it’s like a still life: a handful of pieces assembled to make a point or just an interesting visual. But the real problem—at the conceptual level where everything important begins—is that a snapshot is the wrong metaphor. So I’m disrupting it with a new one: welcome to the miscellany. Instead of snapping a metaphorical photo, I talked to five people who represent a sampling of the miscellany that
makes up Chattanooga’s technology/ startup ecosystem. Let me explain. A few years ago, the keynote speaker at Chattanooga’s Startup Week was David Weinberger, an early Internet observer who was one of the coauthors of the book, “The Cluetrain Manifesto”, an attempt in 2000 to help the rest of us not just get one clue, but board the clue train about this web thingy. Since then, Weinberger has dug progressively deeper into the mystery in a series of books with titles that are just as iceberg-tip-ish as they sound: “Small Pieces Loosely Joined,” then “Everything is Miscellaneous,” then “Too Big to Know.” All three titles could double as descriptions of Chattanooga’s community renaissance and tech ecosystem. But “Everything Is Miscellaneous” is the one that went off like a bombshell in my head. Chattanooga’s tech ecosystem—like the urban design renaissance that preceded and paved the way for it—is absolutely miscellaneous. It’s like a database that tells a different story depending on how you query
it. It’s like the complex adaptive systems modeled by chaos mathematics in which easily understood components give rise to emergent effects that are complex and unanticipated. It’s a bubbling stew that has more ingredients than you can get in one spoonful and keeps on cooking while you wait for your bowlful to cool. And that spoonful is just like a snapshot. So this is a not-particularly-random sampling from the Chattanooga miscellany, both a spoonful of the tech/ startup stew and a sampling of what these five people told me. WHY THESE PEOPLE? Like Chattanooga, they and their projects all are in the midst of change—product, company, or career—and each of them has a long personal perspective on Chattanooga and its multiple ecosystems. They are not the usual suspects. None of them work for agencies responsible for growing the startup ecosystem like CoLab or the Enterprise Center. I asked them all what they are working on, what excites them, and what they see in Chattanooga’s future. ELECTRONICS AND BIOTECH AND 3-D PRINTING, OH MY Mike Harrison, co-founder of Ring-u telephone provider, is by far the technologist of the group. Mike is a serious geek with a tech resume a mile long, including starting Chattanooga’s first Internet service provider in 1994. When he talks tech, the atmosphere can get pretty thick, but what he really wanted to talk about was manufacturing. “Part of me thinks that electronics and software are now just about polish,” he said. “The next new wave is going to be biotech: gene splicing, gene hacking, CRISPR.” That’s an arena in which he says Chattanooga is not particularly well suited to play. On the other hand, he’s bullish about advanced manufacturing, where Chattanooga is at the bleeding edge, thanks to 3D printing companies like Collider and Branch
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It’s a bubbling stew that has more ingredients than you can get in one spoonful and keeps on cooking while you wait for your bowlful to cool.”
Technology. “Whether its 3D printing or subtractive manufacturing, CNC machining or whatever, it’s changing the typical “Model A Ford” style of making thousands of the same thing over and over again to ‘I’m going to make 20 of these, push a button and make 50 of these, push a button and make 200 of those. Then repeat the whole cycle if you run out of inventory.” ONE WORD: SPECIALIZE Chris Cummings is also bullish on technology but he’s more excited about the potential of social impact companies like his. Cummings founded digital storytelling company Pass It Down three years ago primarily as a “digital biographer” that anyone could use. This year, the company made a major shift, expanding its focus to include licensing the technology platform it developed to libraries, museums, universities, and cities. “The reason I love platform technology is every client makes your technology better and more efficient and cheaper to run,” he said. “You build one thing that every day gets a little bit better. You get to see your baby grow up.” He is excited about the growth potential of specializing. “I think specialization is the wave of the future for communities,” he said. “We have some of the world’s best 3D printing companies here. I don’t think any small to mid-size city will be able to say ‘we’re Silicon Valley.’ But I do think you could say ‘We’re the best in the world at these three things.’” PEOPLE FIRST Scott Rix also had 3D printing on his
mind, but for a different reason. Rix is a serial entrepreneur who’s worked in startups and for established companies, including PlayCore and EPB. Now he’s consulting for companies ranging from startup to $100 million in revenue. He helps established companies use data to find efficiencies and improve quality and helps entrepreneurs find the right resources to help them grow their businesses. Rix thinks people are more important than technology and cites former CO.LAB executive director Mike Bradshaw’s role in encouraging 3D printing startups as an example of how to grow an industry by cultivating people. “What the next technology idea is I don’t know, but I’m sure there are some really creative people sitting somewhere—around a campfire, a boardroom, lunch, pizza, whatever it is—coming up with some crazy idea that we’re all going to laugh at,” he said. “We have to be smart enough to listen and look to the future and see how those ideas can be turned into life-changing businesses.” INNOVATING FOR IMPACT Stefanie Crowe is a former banker turned financial advisor and a partner in the Jump Fund, which is an impact investor, both because it invests in women-led companies and because of the social impact of the work those companies do. She wants more investing for social good and sees an opportunity for Chattanooga to shine. “As Chattanooga focuses on innovation, we need to make sure we don’t leave sections of the population behind and make sure we are seeking innovation for the right impacts—not just for the sake of something sexy—some-
thing that really enhances well-being and economic stability of people and families and children,” she said. “I feel that Chattanooga can differentiate itself, not by becoming another Silicon Valley, but by becoming something so entrepreneurial and so innovative that also creates an unusual amount of economic, social, and environmental improvement.” INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE After helping to grow Rock Creek into one of the largest outdoor retailers on the web, Mark McKnight did a personal pivot to become chief marketing officer for Roots Rated, then helped it execute two pivots of its own: first from publishing outdoor stories on the web to providing content marketing to outdoor companies, then to becoming a pure software company marketing the content management platform it developed. Aside from his newest professional challenge—working to make the 60plus year old, 317-acre Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center a mainstay of the community again as executive director—what most engages him in the Chattanooga stew pot of bubbling entrepreneurial miscellany is the city itself. “I like to watch this city become a city,” he said, citing how much more livable M.L. King Boulevard has become with the addition of bike lanes and traffic calming. “When I look 5, 10 years down the road, I hope I can say that Chattanooga made the infrastructure investments that all these neighborhoods deserve, these historic neighborhoods that are walkable and convenient to downtown and that make this a vibrant city.” Rich Bailey has been an student of Chattanooga’s changes—especially technology and urban design—since the Tennessee Aquarium and the Internet were new ideas.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Pandas And Fennecs And Lizards, Oh My! Picture the artist in the wild: eyes wild on the prowl for inspiration, waiting for the light to filter through the leaves just right as they mix the perfect green for their surroundings. Now picture the artist in their natural habitat, the Chattanooga WorkSpace, creating companion pieces for the real animals from the Chattanooga Zoo (think red pandas, fennec foxes, iguanas, marmosets). Add to equation real animal ambassadors from the zoo, catering from Milk n Honey and Dish T’pass, and live music from Rick Rushing III and you’ve got Chattanooga WorkSpace’s second annual Artists In the Wild. This zoo-themed open studio night features twnty Chattanooga WorkSpace artists opening their creative spaces to the public as they select an animal from the Chattanooga zoo and craft an art piece inspired by that animal to be sold in a silent auction. Best of all, fifty percent of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the Chattanooga Zoo. Each floor of the former nursing home will be themed differently, and guests are welcome to peruse each floor, meet artists, and enjoy the wild. Artists in the Wild is a family friendly event, open to the entire public from ages one to 100, from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. this Friday. — Olivia Haynes
Reloading The Cannon After a real life emergency, Terry Cannon is back By Tony Mraz Pulse contributor
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I just want to get into the studio, see where the spirit moves me, and see where my imagination takes me.”
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B
ELOVED CHATTANOOGA ARTIST TERRY CANNON is back in action after a hiatus, and has set up his new studio two doors down from the old Loose Cannon event space.
The studio is open to the public by appointment, and will be hosting a series of art & music events in the upcoming months. Cannon is best known for his monumental assemblage/collage paintings, in which he creates images using found objects instead of brush strokes. He starts by constructing a canvas with layers of plywood, foam core, scrap wood, and other basic materials. Using polymer resins, he makes casts of everyday objects and collages them into a larger image. He
then colors the works by painting and dry brushing onto the textured surfaces. Cannon achieved a high level of success with these pieces, quickly rising to the top of the local art world—but all of the triumph in the universe means nothing when tragedy happens. “Four and a half years ago,” he explains, “I was in my studio making art, and my wife, Deanna, called me and told me she had a spot on her mammogram. She was in a panic, so I dropped everything
and went and met her at her doctor’s office. For the next three weeks, it was bad news and more bad news. It was the worst case scenario. “Deanna is a doctor, so she knew that the circumstances were pretty grim. The basic prognosis was that she would only be here for a year. We kind of freaked out—she had just started her business, we had a bunch of real estate, and were out on a limb financially. I knew that with two kids in elementary school, I really had to focus on keeping things afloat, financially, energetically—my gut told me to take care of what is most important.” It’s at times like these when one becomes hyper-focused, even setting aside passions. “I knew that I didn’t have time to make art, because the way I do it, it takes a lot of time—I’m an all or nothing person,” Cannon says. “I packed everything up, put it in storage, and focused on the kids, focused on my wife, and focused on matters at hand. “You just find a new normal. I was sketching all the time, sketching ideas because I knew that one day I would eventually get back to making art. I used art and sketching as my journal going through this horrible, scary time. My friend Seth Champion who owns Champy’s reached out to me to help him design and build a couple of his new restaurants, which was fun and it
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Cannon achieved a high level of success, quickly rising to the top of the local art world—but all of the triumph in the universe means nothing when tragedy happens.”
helped me have a creative outlet.” Thankfully for Cannon and his family, the news is much better now. “Deanna is still here, four and a half years later, and things are good,” he notes optimistically. “I knew for me, and my own psyche, that I needed to start making art again. What is also important for me is showing my kids to be brave enough to use their talents. “That’s what we’re here to do; that’s the lesson that I had to learn when I started making art professionally, and quit my day job 20 years ago—I knew it was time to have the courage to use my gifts and pursue art. Whatever happens financially, I had to push all of that aside and trust the universe that if I honor who I am and make art, it will be a good thing. I have reached that point again.” He believes his hiatus from art was a good thing, in hindsight. “I was all wrapped up with being an artist,” he explains. “I got a lot of my self-esteem from that, a big ego boost.
Artists tend to be somewhat selfish and self-centered in order to do what they do, and I’m sure I was that way. The past four and a half years have helped me to have some humility and realize, it’s not who I am, but what I do that is important. I’m just a vehicle—keeping that in perspective and honoring that is important.” Cannon is once again looking to the future, and the future of his own creativity. “I create art to make people happy. I just want to get into the studio, see where the spirit moves me, and see where my imagination takes me. Whatever happens to the art after I make it isn’t up to me—whether it ends up in a museum or a dumpster, my business is to honor whatever is stirring in my soul. When it is at its best, coming into the studio feels like a dance with the universe.” Cannon's studio is located at 1800 Rossville Ave, Suite 4. You can contact him via text at (423) 320-0905.
THU8.2
FRI8.3
SAT8.4
“Hello, Dolly!”
Art’s Meow Opening Reception
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
It's your last weekend to see the glorius staging of the Broadway musical classic at the Theatre Centre, a don't miss production. 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. theatrecentre.com
A celebration of community cats features cat themed works by local artists. 5 p.m. Exum Gallery at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 305 W. 7th St. stpaulschatt.org
One of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, this whimsical tale will delight. 8 p.m. Northwest Georgia Bank Aphitheatre 220 Catoosa Cir. nwaamp.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 2, 2018 • THE PULSE • 11
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
“Contemporary Mix” First Friday Show
THURSDAY8.2 Paw Pals Storytime 1:30 p.m. McKamey Animal Center 4500 N. Access Rd. (423) 305-6500 mckameyanimalcenter.org “Hello, Dolly!” 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Master Hypnotist Gary Conrad 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m. Westbound Bar 24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com
FRIDAY8.3 “Contemporary Mix” First Friday Show 5 p.m. In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com SharkFest!
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5 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.com Art’s Meow Opening Reception 5 p.m. Exum Gallery at St. Paul’s 305 W. 7th St. (423) 266-8195 stpaulschatt.org Out On 8th 5 p.m. West Village 802 Pine St. (423) 424-1831 westvillagechattanooga.com One Woman’s Viewpoint, Art Exhibit by Janice Kennedy 5:30 p.m. The Creative Arts Guild 520 W. Waugh St. (706) 278-0168 creativeartsguild.org August Exhibit Opening Reception 5:30 p.m. River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com Master Hypnotist Gary Conrad 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com The Floor is Yours
7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org “Hello, Dolly!” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 8 p.m. Northwest Georgia Bank Amphitheatre 220 Catoosa Circle (706) 965-2500 nwaamp.com “Picnic” 8 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars 117 N. Chattanooga St. (706) 996-8350 backalleyproductions.org Improv Movie Night: Superheroes 8 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Improv Showdown 10 p.m.
First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SATURDAY8.4 Chattanooga Big Latch On 9:30 a.m. Red Bank United Methodist Church 3800 Dayton Blvd. (423) 877-2881 rbumc.org Red Wolf Feeding and Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Summer in West Village 6 p.m. West Village 802 Pine St. (423) 424-1831 westvillagechattanooga.com Master Hypnotist Gary Conrad 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “Hello, Dolly!” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com
“Picnic” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 8 p.m. Northwest Georgia Bank Aphitheatre 220 Catoosa Cir. (706) 965-2500 nwaamp.com “Picnic” 8 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars 117 N. Chattanooga St. (706) 996-8350 backalleyproductions.org 1 Star Review: The Show 8 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SUNDAY8.5 National Farmers Market Week 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1801 Carter St. (423) 266-4041 Free Fiddle School 2 p.m. Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.
(423) 994-7497 “Hello, Dolly!” 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com “Picnic” 2:30 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars 117 N. Chattanooga St. (706) 996-8350 backalleyproductions.org Master Hypnotist Gary Conrad 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY8.6 Summer Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m. Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd. (423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com First Monday Improv Comedy 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Service Industry Improve Appreciation Night 8 p.m.
First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
TUESDAY8.7 Wake Up & Run 6 a.m. Fleet Feet Sports 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 771-7996 fleetfeetchattanooga.com Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Tour 4 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute 175 Baylor School Rd. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Kitten Yoga 5 p.m. Barley Taphouse 235 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com Paths to Pints 6:30 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave (423) 682-8234 taphousechatt.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com
WEDNESDAY8.8 Middle Eastern Dance 10:30 a.m. Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m. The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Improv Chattanooga 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Open Mic Comedy 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-1400 jjsbohemia.com Free Improv Night 8 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars 117 N. Chattanooga St. (706) 996-8350 backalleyproductions.org
Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 2, 2018 • THE PULSE • 13
THE MUSIC SCENE
It’s A Two For One DJ Show Ever heard of the phrase, “kill two birds with one stone”? I think that saying applies to The 2 for 1 Show at JJ’s Bohemia this Saturday night as two disc jockeys will take the stage side-by-side, instead of solo as they usually perform. Presented by Goldfinger Production$, which was founded a decade ago here in Chattanooga, their mission is to build a foundation throughout the communities as well as taking over the world. Good luck with the latter—they’ve got the Scenic City’s support! DJ Sleepy and DJ KSTYLZ are the two DJ’s on sound control. DJ Sleepy is from nearby Ringgold while DJ KSTYLZ comes all the way from Brooklyn, New York. The Show is hosted by C-Grimey who is the CEO and founder at Goldfinger Productionas well as being an artist of some renown locally. Come and check out performances by T Rizerz, Smashgang Flock, YKC Nation, Differentdiva, Blasé HiSe, YoungExclu Hymes, Kemo, Cinemati Tha Nganeer, and Slugga G. If you’re interested in this two for one dance party, join JJ’s Bohemia at 10 p.m. this Saturday. The doors open at 9 p.m. and it’s $10 at the door. For more information, you can visit their website at jjsbohemia. com or call them at (423) 266-1400. — Libby Gillies
Photo by Lauren Coakley
A Hometown Throwdown Strung Like a Horse brings music and fun to The Signal By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor
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I always get a kick out of writing about Strung Like a Horse. They are, after all, one of the area’s most beloved acts.”
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HERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT my job. I love that I get to hear new music, constantly, whether it’s a brand new band no one has heard yet, or a long time favorite that sends me a few unreleased tracks. I love the limitless creativity of our local musicians. I love seeing a band grow, develop, mature.
I have a front row seat to an awful lot of that. If I had to pick just one thing, though, one thing that makes me happier than any other aspect of what I do here at The Pulse, it would be this: I love it when a local artist or act is successful, when they move up a rung on the ladder to the big time and get the recognition they deserve.
I always get a kick out of writing about Strung Like a Horse. They are, after all, one of the area’s most beloved acts. They have an abundance of the two qualities I most value in a live band. They are supremely talented, and at least as important, they have a sense of humor and irreverence. There are plenty of talented per-
formers around here, some of whom take themselves a little too seriously I think, and that sense of self-importance is a taint, in every sense of the word. Strung Like a Horse is the opposite of that. They take their craft seriously, make no doubt, but themselves? Whether you see them live, listen to one of their albums at home, or just chat one of them up in the produce aisle, there’s always this feeling that the band is giving you a bit of a smile and wink and that is more than just an endearing quality, though it is certainly that. In an industry where even middling talent can lead to exponential ego, to see a group of players who are among the very best at what they do maintain a down-to-earth “shucks, we’re just some guys who like to play” attitude is more than endearing, more than refreshing; it’s downright inspirational. How can you help but root for a band like that? So when I got the news that Strung Like a Horse had landed themselves a bona fide record deal, well, it was hard not to cheer. They’ve certainly put the work in, they’ve paid their dues, they’ve toured from one end of the country to the other, and they’ve played along-
“
We owe everything to our hometown crowd. Without all the local support from day one we would never be in this kickass situation that we are in right now.”
side some giants like the legendary Sam Bush, Old Crow Medicine Show and many others. The result is that they’ve been signed by TransOceanic Records and to celebrate, they’re hosting their “Hometown Throwdown” Friday, August 10th at the Signal. Clay Maselle had this to say: “We owe everything to our hometown crowd. Without all the local support from day one we would never be in this kickass situation that we are in right now. We are proud of our little town, and we are throwing a celebration!” Those three sentences sum up everything I’ve been trying to say about the band. They will never forget where they came from, they will never forget the fans who supported them in the early days, and, in a way, as they make their way to the top, everyone is invited to come along for the ride.
As if a performance from SLAH isn’t enough, they will be joined by Chattanooga’s newest rising stars, Hive Theory, and the always dapper hometown icon, Lon Eldridge. Any one of those acts would be worth seeing, but the trio performing together for one night under one roof makes it the “can’t miss” event of the summer. If you’re very lucky, SLAH might even offer a sampling of their upcoming album, a few tracks of which I have had the pleasure to preview and will write about in great detail in an upcoming story. For now, suffice it to say that not only are these new tunes as powerful as ever, they come with a degree of musical maturity and polish that demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt why they have been signed with a label, and why they will soon enough be the giants that other up and comers will be opening for.
THU8.2
FRI8.3
SAT8.4
John Carroll
Tomar and the FCs
Waker
Singer, songwriter, and performer who has explored music as his mode of expression for over 25 years. 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
Straight from the innovative Austin, Texas music scene, the band plays highly energetic soul revival music. 7 p.m. Miller Plaza 850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com
Mashing soul, rock & roll and funk into an eclectic, danceable sound, focusing on songs that aim for the heart, head... and feet. 7 p.m. Ross’s Landing Park 100 Riverfront Pkwy. riverfrontnights.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 2, 2018 • THE PULSE • 15
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY8.2 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m. St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com John Carroll 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Cortney Holder 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Bands on the Bluff: Dancing to Embodied Beauty 7:30 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View huntermuseum.org ABBA The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA 8 p.m. Tivoli Theater 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic Night 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Chattanooga All Stars 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
FRIDAY8.3 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens
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Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel
1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Jason Lyles 6 p.m. Slick’s Burgers 309 E. Main. St. (423) 760-4878 Jimmy Dormire’s Peace Merchants 6:30 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. publicmarkets.us Preston Ruffing 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com John Carroll 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Tomar and the FCs with Neshawn Calloway 7 p.m. Miller Plaza 850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com Darrell Wallace 7 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Rick Rushing and The Blues Strangers 7:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Magnificent Lions 8 p.m. Barley Taphouse
235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Velcro Pygmies 9 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Gino Fanelli 9 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Greco 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Sunsap, Sleazy Sleazy, Blonde Bones, Slick Silver 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com The Afternoon 10 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Aunt Betty 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY8.4 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Martin Rodriguez
12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Megan Howard 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Flattop Boxers 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Duet for Theremin and Lap Steel 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Waker, Cany Creek Company 7 p.m. Ross’s Landing Park 100 Riverfront Pkwy. riverfrontnights.com Danimal 7:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Playin Possum Blues Band 8 p.m. The Spot 1800 E. Main St. spotvenue.co The Beaters 33 Year Anniversary Bash 8 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Lucy Isabel 9 p.m.
Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Danimal 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Toby Hewitt 8 p.m. The Casual Pint 5550 Hwy. 153 hixson.thecasualpint.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com
Ryan Oyer Band
Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Cycles 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com C-Grimey, Blake Hise, T Rizer, Sugga G 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Winter Mute 10 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Aunt Betty 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY8.5 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m. Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com The Bird and the Bear 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Marcus White Piano Brunch 11 a.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com
Drakeford 12:30 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Carter St. publicmarkets.us Michael Jacobs 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Von Wamps 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Ryan Oyer Band 2 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Carter St. publicmarkets.us 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 Maria Sable 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Mathis & Martin 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Deceased, Savage Master, Death of Kings 9 p.m.
JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
MONDAY8.6 Mike Mcdade 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Very Open Mic 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Spowder, Bilge Rat 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
TUESDAY8.7 Amber Fults 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m.
WEDNESDAY8.8 No Big Deal 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Erik Kirkendoll 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Naomi Ingram 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Jazz In The Lounge 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 Prime Cut Trio 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 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 2, 2018 • THE PULSE • 17
ERNIE PAIK'S RECORD REVIEWS
Quartet Now! Quartet Now! (Two Rooms)
Lea Bertucci Metal Aether (NNA)
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Stay with me here. That album is one of the handful of albums released by the legendary Detroit label Strata Records in the ‘70s, and the founder of Strata was keyboardist Kenny Cox, whose “Mandela’s Muse” is covered here. Beginning with contrabassist Rocco Popielarski rapping his strings with the wood of the bow and making wispy sounds, the track then locks into nimble patterns with a killer vamp emerging from trombonist Vincent Chandler and baritone saxophonist Alex Harding, who returned to Detroit after a long stint in New York City and has played with the likes of David Murray, Lester Bowie and Sun Ra Arkestra; it wraps up with a spirited shout of “Freedom!” and a chaotic, splatter-filled
he new, self-titled album from the Detroit jazz outfit Quartet Now! is the inaugural release on Detroit label Two Rooms Records, and if you’re looking for a single album that completely oozes Detroit jazz, on several levels, then look no further. Going beyond a cursory listen to this album means delving into jazz history and connecting the dots. Quartet co-founder and drummer Leonard King is known for his band Leonard King and the Soul Messengers, and he took the reins of the Lyman Woodard Organization after Woodard’s passing—original vinyl copies of that group’s obscure classic Saturday Night Special, on which King plays, exchanges hands for hundreds of dollars among aficionados.
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ending. The funk-inflected, swinging opener “Farid” (composed by Luqman Lateef) is heavy with the low-end, with the sax and trombone going tandem on the melody; however, King’s masterful drumming manages to steal the show—his insistent, propulsive and busy rustling is nothing less than a joy to hear. Chandler’s own “Closing Doors” is a welcome turn, with an enigmatic bass line and casual sax/trombone dialogue with a nonchalant swagger, and the standard “You Don’t Know What Love Is” (notably covered by Miles Davis on his album Walkin’) is a cool, smoky ballad delivered with ample soul and a few distinctive interjections— a sax cluck here, a vocalized growl there. Trumpeter Charles Moore— a figure in the ‘60s Detroit jazz scene—penned the album’s closing track “Number Four,” which was featured on Cox’s 1968 debut, Introducing Kenny Cox, and here, the upbeat, post-bop number is given a lively and worthy rendition with a seemingly endless supply of energy, like a perpetual motion machine. Remarkably, it has the aural illusion of continuously speeding up just from the urgent forces it projects—a stirring ending,
and an impressive beginning for a promising record label.
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he new album Metal Aether from composer and saxophonist Lea Bertucci, based in New York City, overlaps the electro-acoustic and modern classical worlds and manages to evoke its own warmth and conscious tension, rather than clinical experimentation, focusing on the sax and enhanced with altered field recordings, prepared piano and vibraphone notes. “Patterns for Alto” features various reverberating alto saxophone jaunts, punctuated with breaks, each centered on a single note, with occasional flutters to other pitches, acting as the sonic equivalent of eye blinks or twitches. While certain sax contemporaries come to mind, including Travis Laplante’s circularbreathing sax quartet Battle Trance and Colin Stetson, Bertucci exists on her own plane with her own approach. When it comes to feeling, perhaps a better point of comparison is Charlemagne Palestine’s immersive, minimalist piano piece “Strumming Music,” but with slight disturbances—imagine river rapids packed with ducks, flapping their wings and quacking as they hurtle down
the not-so-gentle stream. For the 13-minute “Accumulations,” drones linger behind clear sax tones that modulate carefully and expressively; a few minutes in, things become outwardly disquieting, with atonality, and eventually squeaks take over, evoking anxiety and desperate gasps. Field recordings of splashing water turn into disturbing gurgling due to sonic manipulations, as high frequencies are boosted, adding to some obscured, wordless angelic vocals, but all the while, the pure sax tones continue undisturbed, like a peaceful stroll through the remains of a carpet-bombed city street. “Sustain and Dissolve” subtly distorts its long tones, which create tiny beats from phasing; they’re like warning sirens that are oddly cheerful, and about 10 minutes into the 18-minute piece, the track takes a different direction with watery cascades and low tones. The album ends satisfyingly with “At Dawn,” with what sounds like artificial bell tower chimes during a hazy morning as people audibly mill about a town’s square; it’s a strangely cleansing piece that brings clarity to the album, like an abrasive scrub used to get clean.
JONESIN' CROSSWORD
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Sometimes, I feel the past and the future pressing so hard on either side that there’s no room for the present at all.” A character named Julia says that in Evelyn Waugh’s novel Brideshead Revisited. I bring it to your attention as an inspiring irritant, as a prod to get you motivated. I hope it will mobilize you to rise up and refuse to allow your past and your future to press so hard on either side that there’s no room for the present. It’s a favorable time for you to fully claim the glory of being right here, right now. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I’m not an ascetic who believes all our valuable lessons emerge from suffering. Nor am I a pop-nihilist who sneers at pretty flowers, smiling children, and sunny days. On the contrary: I’m devoted to the hypothesis that life is usually at least 51 percent wonderful. But I dance the rain dance when there’s an emotional drought in my personal life, and I dance the pain dance when it’s time to deal with difficulties I’ve ignored. How about you, Virgo? I suspect that now is one of those times when you need to have compassionate heart-toheart conversations with your fears, struggles, and aches. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Do you absolutely need orchids, sweet elixirs, dark chocolate, alluring new music, dances on soft grass, sensual massages, nine hours of sleep per night, and a steady stream of soulful conversations? No. Not really. In the coming days, life will be a good ride for you even if you fail to procure those indulgences. But here are further questions and answers: Do you deserve the orchids, elixirs, and the rest? My answer is yes, definitely. And would the arrival of these delights spur you to come up with imaginative solutions to your top two riddles? I’m pretty sure it would. So I conclude this horoscope by recommending that you do indeed arrange to revel in your equivalent of the delights I named. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Don’t try to steer the river,” writes Deepak Chopra. Most of the time, I agree with that idea. It’s arrogant to think that we have the power to control the forces of nature or the flow of destiny or the song of creation. Our goal should be to get an intuitive read on the crazy-making miracle of life, and adapt ourselves ingeniously to its ever-shifting patterns and rhythms. But wait! Set aside everything I just said. An exception to the usual rule has arrived. Sometimes, when your personal power is extra flexible and robust—like now, for you—you may indeed be able to steer the river a bit. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Dear Astrologer: Recently I’ve been weirdly obsessed with won-
dering how to increase my levels of generosity and compassion. Not just because I know it’s the right thing to do, but also because I know it will make me healthy and honest and unflappable. Do you have any sage advice? -Ambitious Sagittarius.” Dear Ambitious: I’ve noticed that many Sagittarians are feeling an unprecedented curiosity about how to enhance their lives by boosting the benevolence they express. Here’s a tip from astrologer Chani Nicholas: “Source your sense of self from your integrity in every interaction.” Here’s another tip from Anais Nin: “The worse the state of the world grows, the more intensely I try for inner perfection and power. I fight for a small world of humanity and tenderness.” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Time does not necessarily heal all wounds. If you wait around passively, hoping that the mere passage of months will magically fix your twists and smooth out your tweaks, you’re shirking your responsibility. The truth is, you need to be fully engaged in the process. You’ve got to feel deeply and think hard about how to diminish your pain, and then take practical action when your wisdom shows you what will actually work. Now is an excellent time to upgrade your commitment to this sacred quest. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The questions you’ve been asking aren’t bad or wrong. But they’re not exactly relevant or helpful, either. That’s why the answers you’ve been receiving aren’t of maximum use. Try these questions instead. 1. What experience or information would you need to heal your divided sense of loyalty? 2. How can you attract an influence that would motivate you to make changes you can’t quite accomplish under your own power? 3. Can you ignore or even dismiss the 95 percent of your fear that’s imaginary so you’ll be able to focus on the five percent that’s truly worth meditating on? 4. If I assured you that you have the intelligence to beautify an ugly part of your world, how would you begin? PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A scuffle you’ve been waging turns out to be the wrong scuffle. It has distracted you from giving your full attention to a more winnable and worthwhile tussle. My advice? Don’t waste energy feeling remorse about the energy you’ve wasted. In fact, be grateful for the training you’ve received. The skills you’ve been honing while wrestling with the misleading complication will serve you well when you switch your focus to the more important issue. So are you ready to shift gears? Start mobilizing your crusade to engage with the more winnable and worthwhile tussle. ARIES (March 21-April 19): I pre-
dict that August will be a Golden Age for you. That’s mostly very good. Golden opportunities will arise, and you’ll come into possession of lead that can be transmuted into gold. But it’s also important to be prudent about your dealings with gold. Consider the fable of the golden goose. The bird’s owner grew impatient because it laid only one gold egg per day; he foolishly slaughtered his prize animal to get all the gold immediately. That didn’t work out well. Or consider the fact that to the ancient Aztecs, the word teocuitlatl referred to gold, even though its literally translation was “excrement of the gods.” Moral of the story: If handled with care and integrity, gold can be a blessing. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus socialite Stephen Tennant (19061987) was such an interesting luminary that three major novelists created fictional characters modeled after him. As a boy, when he was asked what he’d like to be when he grew up, he replied, “I want to be a great beauty.” I’d love to hear those words spill out of your mouth, Taurus. What? You say you’re already all grown up? I doubt it. In my opinion, you’ve still got a lot of stretching and expansion and transformation to accomplish during the coming decades. So yes: I hope you can find it in your wild heart to proclaim, “When I grow up, I want to be a great beauty.” (P.S. Your ability to become increasingly beautiful will be at a peak during the next fourteen months.) GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “Manage with bread and butter until God sends the honey,” advises a Moroccan proverb. Let’s analyze how this advice might apply to you. First thing I want to know is, have you been managing well with bread and butter? Have you refrained from whining about your simple provisions, resting content and grateful? If you haven’t, I doubt that any honey will arrive, ether from God or any other source. But if you have been celebrating your modest gifts, feeling free of greed and displeasure, then I expect at least some honey will show up soon. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Don’t worry your beautiful head about praying to the gods of luck and fate. I’ll take care of that for you. Your job is to propitiate the gods of fluid discipline and hard but smart work. To win the favor of these divine helpers, act on the assumption that you now have the power and the right to ask for more of their assistance than you have before. Proceed with the understanding that they are willing to provide you with the stamina, persistence, and attention to detail you will need to accomplish your next breakthrough.
“Make Room”—your limbs will thank you. ACROSS 1 “There ___ there there” (Gertrude Stein comment on Oakland) 5 Go to the mat, slangily 11 Dog breeders’ org. 14 Unknown, as a citation (abbr.) 15 Stella ___ (Belgian beer) 16 ___ Locks (Sault Ste. Marie waterway) 17 Amorphous amounts 18 “Oh, crud!” 19 It looks like 2 in binary 20 Tootsie Roll Pop biter, in a classic ad 21 Chops into cubes 22 Word after blessed or catered 24 “Hush!” 26 Ornate 27 Bengal beast 28 Upper limit 30 Milan-based fashion label 31 Got a hold of, maybe 32 1960s campus
protest gp. restarted in 2006 33 Sounding like a complete ass? 35 Tax pro 38 Bluegrass artist Krauss 39 Message on a tablet, maybe? 41 “And Still I Rise” poet 43 Shelve indefinitely 44 Larry, e.g. 45 Vacation vehicles 48 Uniform preceder? 49 Metallic mix 50 Close 52 Singer-songwriter Rita with the middle name Sahatçiu 53 Grocery sign phrase that’s grammatically questionable 55 Steve of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” 56 Elan 57 ___ bag 58 Go around 59 New Orleansto-Miami dir.
60 Equilibrium situations 61 1990s point-andclick puzzle game DOWN 1 Foe of Othello 2 Part-time Arizona resident, perhaps 3 Xenon, e.g. 4 Put-___ (shams) 5 Ulnae’s neighbors 6 “It’s ___ to the finish” 7 Take advantage of room, or demonstrate what four themed Down answers do? 8 Beau and Jeff, to Lloyd Bridges 9 Number in a Roman pickup? 10 She played one of the “Golden Girls” 11 Shipboard direction 12 Chekov portrayer on “Star Trek” 13 “See next page” abbr. 21 Purchases designed to last a long time 23 Null’s companion 25 Math proof ending
26 Sawyer’s friend 27 “Decorates” a house on Halloween, perhaps 29 Irish-born children’s book author Colfer 31 El ___, Texas 34 Provoke 35 Jim Carrey title role, with “The” 36 Some light beers 37 “Cakes and ___” (W. Somerset Maugham book) 38 Intensely eager 40 Ewe in the movie “Babe” 41 Pioneering video game systems 42 Generic 44 Back burner location 46 “Westworld” character ___ Hughes 47 Mr. Potato Head pieces 49 Seaweed plant 51 Body shop challenge 54 Spoil 55 Withdrawal site
Copyright © 2018 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. 895 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 2, 2018 • THE PULSE • 19
FILM & TELEVISION
It Really Ties The Room Together Twenty years ago, an unusual film hit theaters produced and directed by a pair of brothers who had made a name for themselves with odd, character-driven films filled with unusual people and situations. But not even the Coen Brothers could have predicted the long lasting cultural impact of The Big Lebowski, a hilariously quirky comedy about bowling, a severed toe, a stolen rug, White Russians, and a guy named…The Dude. Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski doesn’t want any drama in his life…heck, he can’t even be bothered with a job. But, he must embark on a quest with his bowling buddies after his rug is destroyed in a twisted case of mistaken identity. With career-defining performances by Starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianne Moore, Steve Buscemi, Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Turturro, The Big Lebowski not only has stood the test of time on DVD shelves around the world, it has even spawned annual gatherings (the next one is in September in Chicago, with a December fest in New York City). Now you have a chance to grab your worn out sweaters, your yellow-lensed sunglasses, and your best bowling ball and see it on the big screen in all it's nihilistic glory this Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at East Ridge 18 and Hamilton Place 8. The Dude abides. — Michael Thomas
All About (Killing) Eve A classic cat and mouse drama on the small screen By Brooke Brown
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Pulse Assistant Editor
Within the first three minutes of the pilot episode, Comer’s performance enthralls you as she sits in a Vienna ice cream shop post-kill having a sweet afternoon treat.”
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W
ITH THE MULTITUDE OF STREAMING SERVICES available these days, it’s a wonder any of us still have cable. I for one still pay an ungodly amount of money to EPB monthly (although it’s pennies compared to the bill we used to receive from another company) for my husband to get his fill of sports, but also because of the access I’m granted to stream from network websites through my cable provider.
A&E, TLC, AMC, MTV and more offer the ability to stream full episodes of shows and movies you may have missed or didn’t have room for on your DVR. Add another site to the list because a coworker recently turned me onto BBC America, a channel I’ve always breezed by while searching the guide. British accents abound, I’ve found a new love with an old favorite in the starring role that stole my heart and then massacred it in the most
gratifyingly gripping way possible. Based on the novel “Codename Villanelle” by Luke Jennings, Killing Eve follows MI5 officer Eve Polastri, portrayed by Grey’s Anatomy alum Sandra Oh, as she attempts to track down an assassin played by Jodie Comer. A true game of cat and mouse, Eve becomes increasingly obsessed with catching the everelusive Villanelle just as Villanelle develops a chilling obsession of her own with Eve.
Within the first three minutes of the pilot episode, Comer’s performance enthralls you as she sits in a Vienna ice cream shop post-kill having a sweet afternoon treat. Across the room from her is a little girl she greets with a closed-lipped smile that is not reciprocated. After watching the ice cream shop attendant smile a toothy grin at the little girl, Villanelle does the same, finally gaining a smile from the little girl. A quick glance down at her watch shows a speck of fresh blood that Villanelle casually wipes away before tipping the ice cream attendant and knocking the little girl’s ice cream off the table into her lap as she exits into the title card with a true smile on her face. It’s moments like these that we step briefly into Villanelle’s psychotic mind, but as the show develops we see her character is much more complex than we could have imagined. Each lead’s performance is breathtaking, with Sandra Oh’s portrayal of Eve gaining her a Primetime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, the first Asian woman to do so. Although she gained multiple nominations for her supporting role in Grey’s Anatomy, she kicks ass as Eve Polastri, something that
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Taking bets on the killer’s gender is our first clue into not only how perceptive Eve is, but also just how much wit she is going to supply.”
wasn’t all that unnatural after her time portraying cardiothoracic surgeon Christina Yang. A drama by most standards, Sandra Oh’s dry wit and biting sarcasm give the show a breath of levity not found in most crime-centered dramas. Within the first few minutes of Oh being on screen she is briefed on the murder of a powerful man in Vienna and whispers to her co-worker, “Twenty quid it was a woman.” Taking bets on the killer’s gender is our first clue into not only how perceptive Eve is, but also just how much wit she is going to supply to the story. The first season is a mere eight episodes, not nearly enough for my suddenly spy-obsessed state of mind. And the plot leads us all around Europe, from Vienna to Tuscany, Bulgaria to Russia and often centering around Villanelle’s Parisian flat where her armoire drawers hold boxes of tampons next to boxes of bullets. To me, the show is unlike any other simply because I’m root-
✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴
ing for both the heroine and the villain(elle). The more you get to know Eve, the more enthralled you become with her search for Villanelle and you’re desperate for her to catch the mouse. And the more you get to know Villanelle with her sharp mind and excruciatingly skilled ways to bleed out a man in the streets of Vienna, the more you want the chase to continue. As much as you want Eve to successfully capture her, it’s too much fun watching Villanelle outwit her pursuers and slaughter people across Europe. Killing Eve is a gripping watch and a hilarious time that makes me wonder if I could get away with murder. I’m probably on a watch list now, but maybe Villanelle’s trickery and elusiveness will have taught me a few things should I need them in the future. At least I can revel in the fact that my cable subscription is going to good use, even if it is making me feel a bit murderous.
Christopher Robin A working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-thePooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life. Director: Marc Forster Stars: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss
The Darkest Minds Imprisoned by an adult world that now fears everyone under 18, a group of teens form a resistance group to fight back and reclaim control of their future. Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson Stars: Bradley Whitford, Mandy Moore, Amandla Stenberg, Gwendoline Christie
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • AUGUST 2, 2018 • THE PULSE • 21
COLUMN · GAME ON!
This Is WAAAGH! Warhammer 40k is our favorite xenocidal dystopian miniature game
I Brandon Watson Pulse columnist
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A fantastic game board has been built over at Dicehead Games and Comics with such care and detail it’s like a miniature apocalyptic movie set.”
When not vaporizing zombies or leading space marines as a mousepad Mattis, Brandon Watson is making gourmet pancakes and promoting local artists.
N THE GRIM DARKNESS OF THE future there is only war. It’s the 41st millennium and existence is inundated with over-the-top insanity of a universe in the throes of constant battle and strife. Genetically modified super monks, demonic forces of ravenous monsters, and nasty gene stealing superbugs all clash across burning stars, abandoned space hulks, and dying industrialized planets. This is Warhammer 40k, the dystopian space fantasy epic miniature game known and loved the world over. Strap in gamers you’re about to take a kamikaze ride on the millennial fanboy express! WH40k was born in 1987 by Games Workshop designer Rick Priestley took the core influences of an already established game Warhammer Fantasy Battle and decided to send that sucker into space. From there Games Workshop published WH40K: Rogue Trader which would create the base rule set and initial lore to the 40k universe. Which is currently in its eighth edition providing a more arguably simplified ruleset from its predecessors in order to attract new players to the game but still maintaining its complex mechanics. Gameplay consists of two or more players establishing a pool of points that determine the size and composition of their armies. Each figurine has an established point value based on its use or combat worth. Army composition is typically based on current rule book standards and individual Codex guides for any chosen faction. There are vast numbers of factions that continually evolve along with their codices but they can be broken down into three major groups: The Imperium, Chaos, and Xenos (humans, demons, and aliens). A typical game is played upon 4’ x 6’ or larger game boards depending on the
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number of players, army size, or established scenarios. Gameboards are also built up and crafted with great degrees of imagination. Some range from slap-shod hasty terrain models to elegant installations that could easily be drooled over at the Hunter Art Museum. A fantastic game board has been built over at Dicehead Games and Comics with such care and detail it’s like a miniature apocalyptic movie set. Chad Taylor aka “Chaklagor Bloodbeard” uses it for his live stream broadcasts. I admit WH40k can be a daunting game to learn alone. It’s a very social game that boasts an international cult following with a huge media presence and library that it can make the prefrontal cortex melt. To maintain your sanity, I recommend getting a battle-buddy who already plays to get you acquainted and watch game demos whenever you can. Recently Games Workshop released a skirmish version of WH40K called Kill Team. Kill Team departs from the usual armies-of-scale and focuses on small close quarters style combat with squads of individual specialist. Roleplaying and story arcs play a bigger part in Kill Team allowing players to create diverse and unique commandos that advance and level up as they play. Terrain models and game board interaction is emphasized more because verticality is an important tactic when ranging the enemy or establishing crossing vectors of fire. Folks looking to cut their teeth may find this kit alluring because it’s enough to get started in one package but be warned: it’s still Warhammer and therefore still a beast to tame. There’s lots to get into and not just the lore but also the damned miniatures
themselves. Holy Terra on a biscuit! The figures that comprise Games Workshop’s inventory is massive. Ever wanted to collect models of six-breasted succubae and paint them to the color of your despairingly nihilistic soul? How about collecting large hulking alien monstrosities, demon possessed tanks, and gothic inspired battleships? The gray plastic and resin parts are all out there in buildable kits just waiting to be molded to your heart’s desires. All factions come with fantastic miniatures, artwork, and backstory content which also allows players to create customized sub-factions within their chosen force. You can check out professional miniature paint works at forgeworld.co.uk or stop by any number of local gaming shops in the area to see what others have crafted. The troika of all things Warhammer consist of Dicehead in Cleveland, Infinity Flux on Hixson pike and Game On Chattanooga (no relation) on Lee hwy. You may discover that many seasoned players who speak like dojo masters or battle weary sensei and for good reason. Those involved in WH40K are dedicated to a hobby that tests the very fabric of personal discipline, craftsmanship, and sportsmanship with the added bonus of being so bug-nut-crazy fun it’s almost a sin not to play it.
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