The Pulse 13.35 » September 1, 2016

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

A PARADISE FOR HIKERS OF ALL AGES LACE UP YOUR WALKING BOOTS AND HEAD OUT TO EXPLORE THE BEAUTY THAT SURROUNDS US

By Adam Beckett

BOOKBINDING ART • ROBOT FIGHTING TIME • RYAN OYER BAND

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Contents

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com

September 1, 2016 Volume 13, Issue 35

Assistant Editor Brooke Dorn Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Adam Beckett • Rob Brezsny Hillary Eames • Matt Jones Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Ward Raymond • Alex Teach Michael Turner

Features

Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

4 BEGINNINGS: A Chattanooga robot builder competes on ABC’s BattleBots this Thursday.

FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

ADVERTISING

Director of Sales Mike Baskin mikebaskin@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Rick Leavell Libby Phillips • John Rodriguez Logan Vandergriff • Joseph Yang

CONTACT

Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Fax 423.266.2335 Website chattanoogapulse.com Email info@chattanoogapulse.com BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher & President Jim Brewer II 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 © 2016 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

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A Paradise for Hikers of All Ages

Whether it’s shopping, participating in a community garden, eating at some of our hometown establishments, utilizing our many fitness options, attending a potluck, enjoying nightlife/live music, or just breezing around the city meeting new people, the options are far from limited when it comes to finding things to do.

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The Art and Craft of Bookbinding

Sometimes it’s perfect. Sometimes it’s punch-and-bind, fastback, or even limp vellum. What? We’re talking bookbinding types, of course. Bookbinding as an art form and a practical craft has proliferated over the past 1500 years in the western world.

14

Ryan Oyer Band: So Far, So Good

When I first came to Chattanooga over two decades ago, one of my first jobs was with a landscaping company. The fellow I worked with most of the time once said to me that the real shame with what we did is that few people stuck with the job long enough to see their efforts reach fruition.

7 SHRINK RAP: Reaching out to friends may ward off depression.

12 ARTS CALENDAR 16 MUSIC CALENDAR 18 REVIEWS: Peter Aaron / Brian Chase Duo Purges, Various Artists Continental Drift.

19 MIXOLOGY: A look at the tasty history (and future) of hard cider.

20 SCREEN: VOD and other services reveal a wealth of film choices.

22 ON THE BEAT: Say it with me: nine different hot dog toppings!

23 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY 23 JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • THE PULSE • 3

BEGINNINGS

NEWS • VIEWS • RANTS • RAVES

UPDATES » CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM FACEBOOK/CHATTANOOGAPULSE EMAIL LOVE LETTERS, ADVICE & TRASH TALK TO INFO@CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Hometown Hero Battles The Big Bots A Chattanooga robot builder competes for BattleBots supremacy peting in the fast-growing sport.

If you are a fan of robotic For Jason, it all started with combat, you are likely aware of Atlanta’s monster pop-culture BattleBots. What you may not convention, Dragon be aware of is that a Con. “I saw my first local builder, Jason TECH TV event there back in Brown, is part of the early ‘90s and one of the premier teams on the popu- MICHAEL TURNER I was hooked,” he explains. “I started lar television show. building my first robot immeWe sat down with Jason to diately afterwards, with very talk about how he got started limited hand tools and whatever with robotic combat, what it’s parts I could scrounge up from like to be part of Chaos Corps scrap metal and cordless tool on BattleBots, and how interestmotors. My first bots weren’t ed people can get started com-

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very successful, but as I learned, they got better.”

Over the years, Jason has had ever increasing success with a steady progression of new and improved bots, and has collected a few tournament victories at the various Robot Battles competitions held throughout the Southeast. So when a group of veteran builders based in the South asked him if he wanted to be part of a BattleBots team, he jumped at the chance.

“BattleBots has been amazing,” he says with enthusiasm. “It’s a big team, which I’m not used to, and the best people ever. Our bot, Bombshell, was a very ambitious build that we had to finish in a very short time window, but it was absolutely worth it. It was my first trip to Los Angeles (where the show is filmed), which I got to experience with my family, and the entire process was amazing.”

He can’t tell anyone how far Bombshell advances in the competition, though we do know they will have at least one match this Thursday night in the two-hour season finale.

But while BattleBots may be the most well-known event, there are literally dozens of other robotic competitions around the country. One of the oldest is Robot Battles, which hosts events here in Chattanooga as well as in Nashville and Atlanta, including at this weekend’s Dragon Con. And unlike BattleBots, which features the 250lb heavyweights, Robot Battles focuses on the smaller bots, ranging from one to thirty pounds, which makes

it easier for beginning builders to get involved.

“My advice to new builders is to read and research, seek out online communities, find events close to you and attend them,” Jason says. “Talk to some of the builders. They are usually very approachable and happy to give advice. Be prepared to learn. It doesn’t matter if you are a student or if you hold advanced engineering degrees, you will learn a lot from the sport and have a great time doing it. Just do it!

Chances are your first robots will be terrible, but like any sport it takes practice and perseverance to be successful.”

The BattleBots two-hour season finale airs this Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on WTVCNewsChannel 9.

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

Chatt Town Throw Down Bouldering Competition There are a few things we associate with Downtown Chattanooga. For me and probably most, we think of the Aquarium, Mellow Mushroom, Coldstone Creamery, and so on and so on.

Since the big blue rock wall went up on Broad Street, you can’t imagine downtown without it, but did you know there’s a second High Point Climbing Gym location? Yep, check it out by swinging by the Riverside gym off Amnicola for Round 2 of the Chatt Town Throw Down bouldering competition this Saturday starting at 4 p.m.

Experience bouldering from the ground below as the Round 1 finalists compete in

IN THIS ISSUE

Adam Beckett Adam Beckett is a professional writer from the MetroAtlanta area. He has been writing professionally for over a decade, and has produced many articles that have been featured on major news networks, online sites, magazines, and newspapers. Adam

the next leg of the competition. There’s a cash prize involved for the mens and womens overall winners, but honestly, it’s probably the audience that is the real winner here.

Anybody can rock climb with a belt and an instructor, but it’s an amazing feat some of the things these boulderers can accomplish. Maybe witnessing this event will inspire you to try out your own bouldering skills. Who knows, maybe you’ll be a part of the competition next year.

The only way to know if you’d like it is to try, but we certainly won’t judge if you start out small by spectating. — Brooke Dorn

Marc T. Michael has always had passion for all things music and arts, and thrives when covering stories that relate. He transplanted to Chattanooga about a half a year ago, is in love with the city, and claims it as home.

Adam currently resides on Signal Mountain with his friend and mentor Kyle Combs, and accredits his success and motivation to God, his family, his daughter BethanieJean, and for the Sunshine that brightens his life.

The Pulse's music editor, Marc T. Michael, is a longstanding presence in the local music scene who from an early age had two passions in life: music and writing. Noticeably self-taught at one and educated at the University of Kentucky for the other, Marc

moved to Chattanooga back in the fall of 1993. When not playing with local Irish group the Molly Maguires, Marc can be found hosting trivia matches throughout the city as the regional manager for Challenge Entertainment. An avid supporter of Chattanooga’s burgeoning music scene, he currently resides in Red Bank with his wife Bryanna, his daughter Libby and two cats who, truth be told, are actually in charge of everything.

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COLUMN SHRINK RAP

Managing The Summer Blues Reaching out to friends may ward off depression and other issues

DR. RICK

“

After the treadmill, after the movie’s over and the bag of Oreos is empty, the healthiest tool in your bag may be reaching out to connect with others.”

Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, minister, and educator in private practice in Chattanooga. Contact him at DrRPH.com, visit his wellness center at WellNestChattanooga.com

Editor’s note: the good doctor is out of town this week, so we are running one of our favorite columns that’s perfect for the time of the season.

One of my favorite things to do on a rainy, muggy, summer day is to curl up with a huge glass of iced tea and a favorite book…or watch a classic movie with a big bowl of popcorn, usually a couple of snoring pups by my side hogging the sofa. It doesn’t have to be a cold winter day to crave comfort and isolation. Soaring temps and humidity send many of us inside just as quickly. Lazy daze of summer?

Perhaps you have your own version of curling up on the sofa. For some, it’s lacing up the running shoes or jumping on the bike. A brisk hike in nature might do the trick, too. You fill up on the endorphin surge until the sensations wash over you signaling that all’s right with your world. A friend of mine grabs her sketchpad, a chocolaty gelato, and heads to a nearby park to let her mind clear while she draws for hours, allowing her creative juices flow outward while the sweet indulgence flows in.

Soothing oneself definitely has its place, and you’ve heard me tout those virtues regularly. Not everyone suffers from the typical Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that we tend to think of: The one in winter when the lack of daylight (and vitamin D) encourages a depressed mood and low energy level.

Some folks suffer the blues when the summer seems to drag on and on, and the arrival of cooler weather and fall foliage seems to take forever to get here.

And here we are at the start of September. Yep, it’s been summer for a while now.

Regardless of the kinds of weather or season that may affect your own moods, there is definitely a place for healthy distraction and quiet comfort, and

knowing how to soothe oneself to balance out the busy-ness— or the moodiness—of life is an important, healthy coping skill. It often comes down to simply giving yourself permission to do so, to be someone who learns when to unplug, unwind, and just breathe.

To just be, guiltfree.

Of course, there is an “isolation line” that, when crossed, may look like staying in bed feeling unable to face the world, surrounded by empty diet soda cans and Moon Pie wrappers. And with this depression comes greater vulnerability to illness and accidents.

At the other end of the spectrum, “gym mania” has its drawbacks as well.

The addiction to the endorphin rush is also an addiction to avoidance, and what you’ll find is that, as with overuse of any drug, your relationships and your quality of life will suffer. You may sport some impressive guns and a six-pack, but once your systems calm down, you’re back to feeling whatever it is you’re trying to avoid feeling.

So, along with practicing moderation, perhaps most important to remember is this: After the treadmill, after the movie’s over and the bag of Oreos is empty, the healthiest tool in your bag may be reaching out to connect with others.

I read an interesting article in Men’s Health (“Be As Healthy As the Wealthy”

by Laurence Roy Stains) that explored the connection between good self-care

by way of social interaction, and longevity. While there are many ways to manage health and minimize depression (see above), the article explored the benefits of reaching out to others as a way to stave off depression and maintain overall health. Put bluntly, a person who is socially isolated has a greater risk of deadly disease than one with better social connections. Back in the 1990s, a Harvard study of social integration and mortality supported this notion and found that people who were most isolated were four times more likely to die of cancer as their well-connected peers.

Ouch.

So let’s keep in mind that curling up on the sofa, and curls at the gym, have their benefits. But so does connecting with good friends. My rule of thumb with my own patients is that if it feels at all possible to reach out, then do it.

Even when it’s hard. Make the call. Set the lunch date. Go for a walk together.

It will remind you that you are alive, valued, and loved.

There’ll be time to cozy up with an old Bogey and Hepburn classic later.

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COVER STORY

Chattanooga: A Paradise for Hikers of All Ages Lace up your walking boots and explore the beauty that surrounds us

By Adam Beckett Pulse contributor

T

he array of events and activities surrounding Chattanooga gives residents the option to do something interesting every day and night of the week. Whether it’s shopping, participating in a community garden, eating at some of our hometown establishments, utilizing our many fitness options, attending a potluck, enjoying nightlife/live music, or just breezing around the city meeting new people, the options are far from limited when it comes to finding things to do.

Most locals, or longtime residents know that as beautiful and dominating as the surrounding mountain ranges appear in the horizon, there is an equal amount of exquisiteness settled inside of it all, with countless hiking trails available just a short distance away.

For those that are new, visiting, or simply unware, there are well over one hundred miles of hiking trails located within a fifteen-minute drive from downtown, and seemingly an endless amount of exploration just waiting to be unlocked.

Sometimes it’s good to hike it out, and when looking for an activity to partake in, consider exploring one of these hiking options instead of a social activity.

Stringers Ridge The most convenient and accessible trails to the downtown Chattanooga area are at Stringers Ridge, which is a ninety-two-acre urban wilderness park, that has multiple hiking trails laced throughout.

The trails of Stringers Ridge offer

“

For those that are new, visiting, or simply unware, there are well over one hundred miles of hiking trails located within a fifteen-minute drive from downtown, and seemingly an endless amount of exploration just waiting to be unlocked.”

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many different hiking options, and it is the perfect place to go explore locally. People can go enjoy a taste of the wilderness, without necessarily having to commit much time out of their day at all. The trails vary from easy to difficult, but they are all pretty manageable for even the most novice of hikers.

Though it is located in an urban setting, the trails find a way to whisk people away, and make them totally forget that a city skyline sits just beyond the trees, however, the occasional breathtaking views of it are a solid reminder.

It is important to mention that Stringers Ridge possesses significant historical value, and was the location of educational and housing grounds for the Confederate troops during the Civil War era.

This is the kind of place local people can go to on a daily basis, to escape from their urban surroundings and reconnect with mother nature, while getting a real dose of history.

Read the historical markers posted throughout the area.

Middle Creek Trail (Off Suck Creek Rd. at the bottom of Signal Mountain.)

Calling this trail a hiking trail is a bit of a stretch. It is more like boulder/ rock hopping up a creek with swimming holes located randomly throughout the stretch. It is an invigorating, and slightly challenging adventure that can be completed by novice hikers with enough effort and determination.

It is one of the most beautiful stretches of wilderness available in this entire region. The views and beauty of it is certainly unmatched. Waterfalls, caves, wildlife, and adventure are all a part of this glorious stretch of land.

A natural waterslide that drops into a blue hole awaits at the end of the creek for those enthusiastic enough to get there. There are challenging aspects of it, and not everybody will make it to the prize at the end of the creek, but those that do will be forever grateful that they did.

This is a world class adventure, available every day, right here in our back yard. Families can do it with their children, however, teamwork sections of the trail will certainly arise.

The trailhead is not marked, the entrance is off of Suck Creek Road, and is about a mile past the Industrial Compound on the right hand side of the road. The guardrail on the right hand side of the road is the landmark and trail entrance.

North Chickamauga Creek George Trailhead Nestled roughly twenty minutes away from downtown just inside of the Soddy Daisy city limits is a place where dreams are made of. Often referred to as the Soddy “Blue Hole”, this dynamic destination is a must attend location for local residents, and visitors alike.

As part of the Cumberland Trail, this extraordinarily diverse setting has many options for hikers to take. It is a place that people can go to after work for a quick hour, or make it an overnight camping trip. With various trails that range anywhere from one to roughly fifteen miles, people can go at their own pace, on their own journey. There cannot be too many places in existence that match its awe.

With crystal clear swimming holes located all along the trails, it is an easy place to go unwind.

One swimming hole is a five-minute walk from the parking lot, but the main destination that is often referred to as “party rock”, is about a thirtyminute trek. Once at “party rock” people can enjoy an astounding swimming hole, that hosts a giant boulder, towering twenty-feet above the water which people can jump from.

The experience is simply incredible. Go experience this awesome trail, and the famous “party rock”.

Rainbow Lake from Signal Point Trail Located on top of Signal Mountain is the breathtaking Rainbow lake. A trail that starts at Signal Point leads the way to this hidden treasure.

The hike is often utilized by families due to the relative ease associated with the adventure. It is certainly a trail that families can utilize, and one that beginning hikers can venture on.

As if the view from Signal Point was not worth it in its self, the big money payoff for taking this trail is the trail itself. The views that coincide with it are indescribable, it will take people worlds away, yet it is a fifteen-minute drive to the downtown area. After reconnecting with mother nature on this glorious trail, the hikers get to enjoy all the wonders that Rainbow Lake has to offer. It is kind of a win, win situation.

A part of the trail has a suspension bridge that is always a favorite option for the more adventurous hikers. Do yourself a favor and go hike this trail.

From Cravens House on Lookout Mountain to Sunset Rock This is a very rewarding trail. Where people can certainly just drive to Sunset Rock and walk down some stairs to get to it, there is a much better way to experience it. Taking the trail from the Cravens House to Sunset Rock is a marvelous thing.

The trail starts out very gradual, but eventually

opens up to some pretty intense hiking. The journey up Lookout Mountain can be testing at times, but for those that push through, they can gain a great sense of accomplishment and self-confidence at the end. Once people make it through the burn and arrive to the rock, they get to experience the captivating view that they earned. Nobody gave them that view, they had to fight to see that view.

There is no better way to spend a couple of hours in all of Chattanooga beyond hiking this glorious trail. For those that want to carry on, an option to continue up the mountain is theirs; and it is beyond advisable to do. Just past Sunset Rock is an old civil war fort, that is mostly available to explore. The view from it is a panoramic of the whole city and beyond. With a powerful viewpoint, the mounted cannons are a dead giveaway that it was a pivotal force for the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Even after all the awe, the trail does not stop there, it continues all the way to the top of Lookout Mountain, where views of the city are jaw dropping. This trail is soul medicine, take some.

Stringers Ridge

Middle Creek Trail

The Tennessee Riverwalk The Tennessee Riverwalk is truly amazing.

While it is not the best escape into the wilderness and away from people, it still remains Chattanooga’s champion trail.

A paved trail that runs along the Tennessee River, spanning from the TVA’s Chickamauga Dam, running through Downtown Chattanooga, and going all the way to Saint Elmo near Lookout Mountain, it’s truly magnificent.

With various parks and recreation areas all along the way, opportunities to stop to use the bathrooms, water fountains, and to bask in natural beauty are constant. Signage at entry points, directional, and interpretive signs help people stay on course. Fishing piers, boat docks, boaters navigating the river are available on the route. Security is provided by park rangers that patrol the trail 24/7, so that everybody can feel safe while on their adventure.

The Tennessee Riverwalk is a mesmerizing experience, and something that should be done by any and every one.

It is a very exciting time to live in Chattanooga, with all of the happenings around town, it is easy to fall into the habit of only doing and seeking actions that take place inside of the city. A galaxy of activities is at our fingertips daily, but we must remember that a whole entire galaxy of hiking trails and nature is merely steps away from us.

If there are that many miles of trails and adventures within a fifteen-minute drive of downtown, it is a wonder how many exist an hour away? Let’s all go on a relentless journey to find out.

Rainbow Lake Trail

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ARTS SCENE

The Art and Craft of Bookbinding Chattanooga's Katherine Becksvoort builds on a traditional literary craft

S

Building Artistic Towers Doug McCoy unveils towering works at In-Town Gallery During the month of September, and starting officially this Friday, InTown Gallery will feature the work of artist Doug McCoy. The exhibition is called “Towers” and features pieces that “explore man’s need to create and construct.”

McCoy’s canvas paintings are unique to say the least. Take “Stikmin” for example as it depicts a man made entirely of sticks in acrylic and archival ink. These figure works are made “with multiple layers of white paint on canvas and alternating layers of color with detailed drawings made using archival pigment ink.”

“I want my paintings to convey a feeling, whether introspective or whimsical, but it is important that a work of art have an impact on the viewer,” said McCoy. One painting that won’t fail to

draw your eye is “Menotaur”, with the classical bull-headed figure made new in McCoy’s work as the head, body, and limbs are created entirely of mini, naked men.

If this doesn’t make you the least bit curious, we’re a little concerned.

If it does make you curious, perhaps you’d like to ask the author a few questions at the opening reception this Friday, from 5-8 p.m. Maybe you can gain some insight into McCoy’s process, we’d sure like to.

— Brooke Dorn

Opening Reception: Doug McCoy's Towers Friday, 5 p.m.

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

THU9.1

FRI9.2

SAT9.3

ART WISE

VISIT THE ARTS

TASTY TIME!

Elizabeth Alberding

Open Studio Night

Justin Butts Exhibition Opening

The Distinguished Speakers Series continues with a talk on golden age illustration.

6 p.m.

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

Swing by and visit a building full of some of Chattanooga's best artists.

5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com

Come see his newest creative culture artworks.

2 p.m.

Velo Coffee Roasters 509 E. Main St. (423) 529-2453 velocoffee.com

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OMETIMES IT’S PERFECT. SOMETIMES IT’S PUNCHand-bind, fastback, or even limp vellum. What? We’re talking bookbinding types, of course. Bookbinding as an art form and a practical craft has proliferated over the past 1500 years in the western world. Today, book publishers use heavy machinery to glom together thousands of books an hour, but there are still aficionados who savor the experience of creating a hand-bound, hand-made book.

Arts WARD RAYMOND

“

It’s exciting for me to know a piece of what I have created with my hands has become something that someone else reaches for with joy, to create or share or remember, or to be expressive.”

Katherine Becksvoort is one such person.

“Bookmaking is a very exact art form for me,” Katherine says, “which brings both peace and comfort to my busy world. Balancing a full-time job while running Iron Press Book Company can get quite busy, especially with craft shows or markets most weekends throughout the spring, summer, and fall.”

Katherine founded Iron Book Press in 2014, and a year later she graduated with a nursing degree from UTC. Her day job at Erlanger Hospital, not surprisingly, can sometimes become a day-and-night job.

She spent last weekend at the Summer Shade Festival in Atlanta’s Grant Park, where she sold several sketchbooks to a repeat customer, a happy-looking girl who looked to be about 11. (See for yourself on the Facebook page for Iron Book Press.)

“I am honored to create the template for someone else’s creativity or outlet,” Katherine says. “I often get creative insight from the customers who purchase from me.”

Examples abound of her creations bringing quiet joy to others, or taking a part in someone’s life. “One woman bought a book from me and wrote a letter to her sister on the first few pages,” Katherine says.

“Her sister wrote a letter back on the next few pages. They have done this now for two years, and the book is almost finished.

They bought another book from me and plan to do this again, eventually creating keepsakes for each of them.”

A guest book for a wedding turns into a memoir of the first year of married life,

slowly growing into a family heirloom.

Journals for cancer patients or others going through difficult journeys in life; sketchbooks for young people setting out on an adventure before college; a crop-rotation journal, year by year, for a farmer in tattered overalls—the hand-made books become stories of their own, combining with and transcending the words written inside them.

“I know my books have been carried to far-flung areas of the world as gifts for hosts, or travel journals for the person who bought them,” Katherine says. “I remember a woman who bought a book to carry with her on her first tour of duty in Afghanistan.

“I imagine my books being thrown into bags and carried around the world, or even on everyday adventures at work or at school. It’s exciting for me to know a piece of what I have created with my hands has become something that someone else reaches for with joy, to create or share or remember, or to be expressive.”

Katherine has an online presence “where a customer may contact me to see about my current selection and availability, and then order directly from me. As I make each piece to be one of a kind, the artist and the customer can collaborate together on what they may be looking to purchase.”

How did she arrive at this position of artisanship? Though not formally trained in bookmaking, Katherine says it all began “with a lifelong interest in both book craft and papermaking, and by taking classes at Bookworks in Asheville, NC.” Traveling the country as an outdoor educator and wilderness guide for a decade,

she gained skills by collaborating with other practitioners of book arts in many communities, including Bozeman, MT; Asheville, and Chattanooga.

Born in Geneva, Switzerland, to American parents working abroad, Katherine moved to the United States at age five.

She attended middle school on Signal Mountain in the late 1980s, graduated from Red Bank High School, and took a gap year (somewhat exotic in those days) to hitchhike and backpack around Europe and southern Africa. She has put her earlier UTK degree in geography to good use, traveling the world here and there with backpack and compass, including through-hikes of both the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.

Her love for bookmaking came from both her parents in different ways. “My father is a mechanical engineer—exact, mathematical—who can figure out the puzzle to solve any structural problem,” Katherine says. “My mother is a watercolor artist and loves the vibrancy of the natural world, which is incorporated in her work.

“Both these attributes come into play strongly in my bookmaking craft—being both creative and structurally sound, providing a beautiful handcrafted product that will last as a timeless piece for the client.”

Chattanoogans interested in manual bookmaking arts and crafts should be aware of Book Arts at the Open Press, an affiliation of artists like Katherine who have an appreciation for and skills in traditional, contemporary, or experimental books, sponsoring workshops and events periodically for newcomers to the craft.

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ARTS CALENDAR

Justin Butts Exhibition Opening

THURSDAY9.1 Penguin Keeper Talks 10:30 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Ooltewah Nursery & Landscape Co. 5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775 ooltewahnursery.com Butterfly Releases 3:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Signal Mountain Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Pruett’s Market 1210 Taft Hwy. (423) 902-8023 signalmountainfarmersmarket.com St. Elmo Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Incline Railway 3917 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com Homebuyer Orientation 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise 1500 Chestnut St. #102 (423) 756-6201 cneinc.org Distinguished Speakers Series: Elizabeth Alberding

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6 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Death Cafe Chattanooga 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Wide Open Floor 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Michael Malone 7:30 p.m.

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

SPOTLIGHT: MICHAEL MALONE Michael Malone takes many forms on stage, his intense yet worried persona consistently makes him a crowd favorite.

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

FRIDAY9.2 Otter Enrichment 11 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Michael Malone 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Opening Reception: Doug McCoy's Towers 5 p.m.

In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com First Fridays: Open Studio Night

5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com I Am Not A Serial Killer 11:45 p.m.

Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org

SATURDAY9.3 Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 chattanoogarivermarket.com Northside Farmers Market 10 am.

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-7497 St. Alban’s Hixson Market 10 a.m.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 River Market Yoga 10 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogarivermarket.com Yarn Bombing Meetup Noon

ARTS CALENDAR

TVA River Cruise: Locking Through History Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Justin Butts Exhibition Opening 2 p.m.

Velo Coffee Roasters 509 E. Main St. (423) 529-2453 velocoffee.com Eastgate Saturday Cinema: Beauty and the Beast 2:30 p.m.

Eastgate Library 5705 Marlin Rd. (423) 855-2689 chattlibrary.org Chatt-Town Throw Down 4 p.m.

High Point Climbing 1007 Appling St. (423) 475-6578 highpointclimbing.com Michael Malone 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com I Am Not A Serial Killer 8:30, 10:15 p.m.

Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org

SUNDAY9.4 Penguin Keeper Talks 10:30 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St.

(800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Chattanooga Market 11 a.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. (423) 402-9957 chattanoogamarket.com Butterfly Releases 3:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org TVA River Cruise: Locking Through History 6 p.m.

Tennessee River Gorge Explorer Pier 2, Riverfront Pkwy.

(423) 267-3474 tnaqua.org Michael Malone 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com I Am Not A Serial Killer 8:30, 10:15 p.m.

Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org ComedyFight 10 p.m.

The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com

MONDAY9.5 Otter Enrichment 11 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Red Bank Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Red Bank United Methodist 3800 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com

TUESDAY9.6 Basecamp In Miller Plaza 9 a.m.

Miller Plaza 800 Market St. (423) 265-3700 rivercitycompany.com Delta Bird Program 10:30 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org East Brainerd Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com Intro To Mountain Biking: Core Skills Builder 6 p.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com A Voice 4 Peace 6 p.m.

Second Presbyterian Church 700 Pine St. (423) 634-2299

chattanoogaboyschoir.org

WEDNESDAY9.7 Middle East Dance 10:30 am Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Learning From The Masters 1 p.m.

Art Creations 7351 Commons Blvd.

(423) 531-7606 art-creations.com Main Street Market 4 p.m.

325 E. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Wednesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Rapid Learning Intro To Kayak & Roll Practice 6 p.m.

2318 N. Gold Point Cir. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Don't Look Back 8:30 p.m.

Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • THE PULSE • 13

MUSIC SCENE

Ryan Oyer Band: So Far, So Good Ryan Oyer and company craft a near perfect EP, to the surprise of no one

W

A Magical Night of Music Tim Cofield and Friends party at Granfalloon Wednesday Next Wednesday, Granfalloon is hosting something a bit…unique?

Out of the ordinary? Magical? Let’s go with magical. The Magic Room Sessions with Tim Cofield and Friends is very specifically not a concert, as expressed by the Facebook page, but is rather a party.

A party in which Tim Cofield and some very talented individuals will publically debut something they’ve been working on for a while now. If a “night of culture, good friends, good music, and positive vibes” doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, maybe you haven’t been partying with the right people.

Meeting in private to collaborate for the past year, these folks have created something very rare and have yet to involve outsiders so be a

part of the big celebration. Food will be available for purchase as well as drinks and the doors open at 7 p.m.

Thinking this is mysteriously… mysterious? Well it is, and the fact that the entire focal point of this party has been kept under wraps for over a year, it’s understandable why.

The best advice we can give you is to indulge your curiosities and head over to Granfalloon to see what all the mystery is about for yourself.

— Brooke Dorn

Magic Room Sessions with Tim Cofield and Friends Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. (423) 661-3185 granfalloonchattanooga.com

THU9.1

FRI9.2

SAT9.3

JAZZ-A-KNOX

REDNECK BLISS

STAR SEARCHING

The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra

Upchurch The Redneck

Battle of The Bands

Come see the orchestra in all its power, lead by noted trumpeter Vance Thompson.

7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org

Combining Southern comedy with country tunes for one truly unique show.

9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St. revelryroom.co

My Captain My King, Landfall, Vedra, Antler Hopkins, Divided We Stand, Dr. B and the Ease.

7 p.m.

Mayo's Bar and Grill 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com

14 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

HEN I FIRST CAME TO CHATTANOOGA OVER TWO decades ago, one of my first jobs was with a landscaping company. The fellow I worked with most of the time once said to me that the real shame with what we did is that few people stuck with the job long enough to see their efforts reach fruition. Put another way, when we did an installation, it was attractive enough from the get-go, but it would be years before it finally became what it was going to be.

Music MARC T. MICHAEL

“

I’ve written about the man and his band several times now, and why not? He consistently produces fresh, new, original music”

He was right about that, I only stayed there for a summer, but to this day there are a few houses up on the mountain I drive by from time to time and I see the now massive fruit trees and hedge walls that were twigs and shrubs when I helped put them there twenty plus years ago.

Now I write about music and though I am exposed to a tremendous amount of it, sadly I see a lot of bands come and go.

Often these are bands with great potential that somehow just have a short shelflife. More often than not, they go belly up just as things are getting good.

Then there’s Ryan Oyer.

Ryan is the project you get to see from start to finish, an artist I’ve had the privilege of watching go from “really good” to “even better” and on to “simply the best.” I’ve written about the man and his band several times now, and why not? He consistently produces fresh, new, original music; a prolific songwriter who has surrounded himself with a handpicked lot of some of the best musicians the area has to offer.

The latest and greatest treasure from the man and his band is the EP So Far So Good, slated for release on Friday, Sep. 23rd at Granfalloon. It’s six tracks long, features the efforts of Oyer, Megan Howard, Kelsey Stevenson, Stephanie Brooks,

Matt Shigekawa, Mike McDade, and Todd Garland. Before we even touch on the depth of the songs, it should be noted that this is one of the best sounding releases of the year due in no small part to the artistry of Brett Nolan at the Soundry and Charles Alison at Spanner Sound.

The only real complaint about the EP is that it’s an EP, coming in at six songs beginning to end. Whether by design, or happy accident, the result is that the disc leaves one wanting for more.

The title track, “So Far So Good,” is classic Oyer times ten, with smart, poppy lyrics, neat guitar licks, interesting chord changes and beautiful strings backing the track. There is here, as there often is, an unmistakable Beatle’s flavor that has become one of Oyer’s trademarks. The instrumental balance in the tune is masterful.

Where it would be so easy to overdo it and wind up with a bit of a pretty mess, the band uses a light touch and deft strokes to create a paradoxically minimalist tune using a very broad palette. Restraint is the mark of a professional and Ryan and company are pros to the core.

“Gypsy’s Song” is a slow, minor tune that makes great use of overlapping male and female vocals reminiscent of Nick Cave’s “Where the Wild Roses Grow” duet with Kylie Minogue. Here again, the strings add an element to the tune that bridges the gap between “really good” and “excellent”; a Romany touch for a Gypsy tune.

“Miles Away” is a dreamy road tune, beautifully orchestrated and beautifully written, the delicate interplay of instruments is pure gossamer. For all that Ryan deserves credit for his marvelous writing, there is no doubt that the band itself is absolutely essential to the success of the work. What I mean to say is that this is less “a guy and a backing band” than it is a group of seven excellent musicians working together like organic clockwork to produce some of the finest material available.

There are three more tunes on the EP, tunes I choose to leave to the listener to discover, but suffice it to say that Oyer and friends have once raised the bar for themselves and by all indicators will continue to do so, though it hardly seems possible.

The EP is currently available for preorder on iTunes and through Oyer.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • THE PULSE • 15

MUSIC CALENDAR

Upchurch The Redneck

THURSDAY9.1

APPEARING THIS WEEK Sept. 1-4

 A HIGH-ENERGY EXPERIENCE

COMING SOON

September 8-11

J. Bliss September 16-17

Rodman Chattanooga’s Premier Comedy Club Tickets: (423) 629-2233 1400 Market Street on the Southside thecomedycatch.com

James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

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

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

Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m.

Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. mexi-wingchattanooga.com Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m.

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

16 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Dr B and the Ease 9 p.m.

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

FRIDAY9.2 The Old Time Traveler, Amber Carrington 10 a.m.

Rock City 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Sabrina Murdaugh 6:30 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. chattanoogamarket.com Troy Underwood 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle's Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd.

SPOTLIGHT: MARTIN RODRIGUEZ Nashville-based Martin Rodriguez is a singer/ songwriter/entertainer who writes songs about life, love and emotion and is a crowd favorite.

Martin Rodriguez Sunday, 12:30 p.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com

(423) 892-4960 Roughwork 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Dr. Vibe 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Randy Steele 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Flat Duo Jets, MPH 9 p.m.

JJ 's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Upchurch The Redneck 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St. revelryroom.co Mathias and The Manifold, Vedra 9 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar and Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net

SATURDAY9.3 The Old Time Traveler, AM Radio 10 a.m.

Rock City 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com David Elliott 12:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com My Captain My King, Landfall, Vedra, Antler Hopkins, Divided We Stand, Dr. B and the Ease 7 p.m.

Mayo's Bar and Grill 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com Marshall Allen & Cinema Soloriens 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Curses, Grand Center, Heretics, Thresholds, These Vices, Break & Enter, Jericho Order 8 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar and Grill

MUSIC CALENDAR

SoCro 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Cloudship 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle's Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. (423) 892-4960 Roughwork 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com The Whigs, The Black Mags 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St. revelryroom.co Courtney Holder 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Frazier Band 10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Kara-Ory-Oke! 10 p.m.

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

SUNDAY9.4 The Old Time Traveler, Highbeams 10 a.m.

Rock City 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Drake Freeman,

Chinquapin Duo 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Martin Rodriguez 12:30 p.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Chris Hale 12:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Shooting Squirrels 2 p.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Mark Kelly Hall 5 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775

MONDAY9.5 The Old Time Traveler 10 a.m.

Rock City 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd.

thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic 8 p.m.

The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Open Mic Night 6 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m.

Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com SoCro, Superbody, Tryezz 9 p.m.

The Honest Pint (423) 468-4192 thehonestpint.com

TUESDAY9.6 Tom Cordell Trumpet Improv Ensemble 6 p.m.

SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy.

(423) 834-9300 Jon Steele & Friends 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy, Rock Bottom String Band

9 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar and Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net

WEDNESDAY9.7 Magic Room Sessions with Tim Cofield and Friends 7 p.m.

Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Open Jam 8 p.m.

Raw Dance Club 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com Wednesday Night Jazz 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Wednesday Blues Jam 8 p.m.

The Office @ City Café 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com The Skuds, One Timers 9 p.m.

JJ 's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Cherub, Frenship, Boo Seeka 9 p.m.

Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • THE PULSE • 17

RECORD REVIEWS ERNIE PAIK

Peter Aaron/Brian Chase Duo Purges, Various Artists Continental Drift

Peter Aaron/Brian Chase Duo Purges (Public Eyesore)

Various Artists Continental Drift (Slumberland/Fortuna POP!)

A

lar taps and hi-hat-pedal stomps among scrambling guitar notes.

“Space” offers a growing tidal wave, resembling a complex, hulking and unstoppable maelstrom that lumbers along, burying Chase’s snare drum rolls; perhaps resembling an awe-inspiring UFO takeoff, “Delay” envelopes its surroundings and offers a primitive pounding that increasingly becomes more frantic. The sonic equivalent of a wayward, stained pillow shot in the form of “Purge 4” follows with chaos and demented ride-cymbal tapping and ends with squeals and skeleton-dance snare drum hits.

Free improv fans who are searching for something ferocious or noise-rock fans who are open to something that isn’t rock at all may very well react positively to and tightly bond with the intense synthesis captured on Purges.

fter being acquainted as performers in Kid Millions’ percussion juggernaut Man Forever, guitarist Peter Aaron—best known as the front man of the raw punkblues band Chrome Cranks—and drummer Brian Chase of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs discovered a chemistry together when duetting at the close of a group improvisational show at the Brooklyn space Secret Project Robot. And by “chemistry,” this writer isn’t referring to a comfortable, complacent affinity but instead a violent and explosive chemical reaction.

The blistering 9-track mini-album Purges from the Peter Aaron / Brian Chase duo on the Public Eyesore label alternates between five numbered “Purge” tracks and specifically named pieces from completely improvised sessions recorded in 2013. These “Purge” interludes are nothing like traditional interludes, employing a perverse idea of palate-cleansing—it’s like eating a bit of wasabi instead of sliced ginger between sushi samples.

For example, after the complicated number “Rolling,” with multi-level, facemelting noise with piercing high-frequency shards, ghostly drones and a woozy atmosphere, “Purge 2” emerges with its veil of effects lifted but with a flurry of irregu-

18 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

T

he compilation Continental Drift has a title that perhaps refers to the fact that an ocean sits between its bands and also the two labels that co-released it: Slumberland Records in California and Fortuna POP! in London, which unfortunately recently announced that it is ending its twenty-year run. Both labels share an

underground pop/rock aethestic—raised on C86, Sarah Records and the Jesus and Mary Chain—and have partially overlapping rosters, sharing acts like The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Joanna Gruesome.

Continental Drift manages to hark back to the ‘90s heyday of indie-pop without being a flimsy throwback; the music’s character comes mostly from the delivery and songs themselves, not the production and recording styles, and therefore, it—like the most enduring ‘90s indie-pop—will likely age gracefully. With eight songs from four bands, it could also be seen as four 7-inch vinyl singles but sequenced in a mixed-up order, which is a deal, since the days of $3 singles have long since passed. Pardon this writer as he emits a wistful sigh.

Mercury Girls from Philadelphia bring to mind the tight, spirited pop-punk of Tiger Trap, with surgically precise, on-point drumming and heart-meltingly pretty vocals on a killer pair of tracks, “Beverly” and “Holly,” the album’s opener.

Scotland’s The Spook School’s first offering, “Sometimes I Hide from Everybody,” has a fey fake-out intro before erupting with urgent, punk energy and a wall of sound; its thematic introversion belies the confidence and vigor of its delivery, and the group’s second track, “Gone Home,” has a strum-happy, infectious momentum.

The East London group Tigercats eases into a full, hearty sound with hints of fluid African soukous guitar lines on “Sidney St,” and the meaty chords and melodic punk influences of “Rent Control” provide a simple yet effective pleasure.

The high point of the compilation is “Horror Movie” from the Baltimore band Wildhoney, which literally made this writer tingle, throwing a grappling hook into his pleasure center and transmitting its bouncy, driving goodness; it’s not-quiteshoegaze guitar chords with softened edges and singsongy keyboard and vocal counterpoint are irresistible.

FOOD & DRINK MIXOLOGY

The Apple of America’s Tastebuds A look at the tasty history (and future) of hard cider

HILLARY EAMES

“

Isaac Newton was known to produce hard cider on his family estate, as did George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Before Abraham Lincoln was president, he worked as a bartender serving cider.”

Hillary Eames graduated from Covenant College with a BA in English December 2015. She’s lived in Chattanooga for thirteen years and has strong opinions on F. Scott Fitzgerald and superhero movies.

With the leaves gradating from green to yellow and the summer heat slowly fading away—humor me here, a girl can dream—, fall seems to be just around the corner.

If you’re looking for a festive way to commemorate the changing of seasons that isn’t a pumpkin spice latte, I recommend a glass of hard cider.

Simply stated, cider is made from the fermented juice of apples. Its appearance, taste, and color are classified similarly to white wine. And like all alcoholic beverages, cider carries a rich history, especially in America.

According to Angry Orchard’s “Roots of Cider,” the first recorded sale of an apple orchard is documented on a tablet found in Mesopotamia from 1500 BC, setting the buyer back three prized breeder sheep. Later, in 55 BC, Caesar’s legions carried apple seeds as they conquered Continental Europe, planting orchards to replace the native crab apples.

By the Dark Ages, cider began to grow in popularity in Europe. In the cooler regions of Northern France, grapes didn’t grow as well as apples did, so monastery gardens made changes accordingly. By 1066 AD, the Norman Conquest of England brought several new apple varieties from France, and cider became the second most popular drink in England, only a step below ales.

Cider was so popular, in fact, that Medieval England used it as currency, often used to pay farm workers and typically offering three to four pints per day.

And while the Pilgrims might have been eager to build a New World, there were still a few comforts of home they’d bring with them, including apple seeds and cider-making supplies. Angry Orchard tells the story of the Mayflower getting caught in a storm three days after setting off from Plymouth.

The storm cracked a beam of the ship, and the Pilgrims would have had to turn back had they not found a “great screw” to hold up the beam.

It’s speculated that this great screw was part of a cider press.

So does that make cider responsible for the birth of America? I’ll leave that up to you.

Some of our favorite American heroes were documented fans of cider. Isaac Newton was known to produce hard cider on his family estate, as did George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Before Abraham

Lincoln was president, he worked at Berry & Lincoln, where he worked as a bartender serving cider. In 1840, cider was given at least partial credit for William Henry Harrison’s presidency. While Van Buren did his best to paint Harrison as unsophisticated, Harrison’s image of a down-home, log-cabin, cider-drinking everyman made him universally appealing— but I’m sure the hard cider served during his Whig rallies helped him a little as well.

But by 1900, expansion into barelyfriendly climates made beer easier to produce, and German and Eastern European immigrants brought with them an already-established affection for the beverage. Beer gradually became more popular, and for a brief period cider saw a dip in production.

But with the help of artisanal crafters, like Angry Orchard, a comeback is inevitable—and welcomed.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • THE PULSE • 19

SCREEN SCENE

Find The Hidden Gems Beyond The Metroplex

What Makes A Serial Killer?

I Am Not A Serial Killer finds humor in a strange place Cine-Rama is proud to present a special weekend engagement of one of the funniest thrillers you'll see this year (and featuring our favorite Christopher Lloyd performance since the Back to the Future days).

Sixteen-year-old John Wayne Cleaver (Max Records, Where the Wild Things Are) is not a serial killer—but he has all the makings of one.

Keeping his homicidal tendencies and morbid obsessions with death and murder in check is a constant struggle that only gets harder when a real serial killer begins terrorizing his sleepy Midwestern town.

✴✴✴✴

Now, in order to track down a psychopath and protect those around him, John must unleash his darkest inner demons.

Based on the cult novel by Dan Wells, this twisted, genre-bending thriller co-stars Christopher Lloyd and Breaking Bad's Laura Fraser.

I Am Not a Serial Killer Friday, 11:45 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday, 8:30 & 10:15 p.m.

Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org

NEW IN THEATERS

Café Society In the 1930s, a young Bronx native moves to Hollywood where he falls in love with the secretary of his powerful uncle, an agent to the stars. After returning to New York, he is swept up in the vibrant world of high society nightclub life.

Director: Woody Allen Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart

✴✴✴✴

Morgan From director Luke Scott (Loom, The Hunger) comes this tale of a corporate risk-management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.

Director: Luke Scott Stars: Kate Mara, Anya TaylorJoy, Rose Leslie, Michael Yare

20 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Video On Demand and other services reveal a wealth of film choices

I

F THERE’S ANYTHING TO BE SAID FOR THE CURRENT state of film in the world, it’s that choice is finally beginning to reign supreme. At the multiplexes, often the same old films play— tired, obvious comedies, lackluster action films, uninspired children’s movies, and now, the occasional superhero extravaganza.

Screen JOHN DEVORE

“

Within the videoon-demand library rests an unknown treasure trove of films for those of us that want quality entertainment without the social interaction required in leaving the house.”

There are remakes, some worth seeing, others easily dismissed, a biopic here and there, but some weeks there is simply not much worth leaving the house for.

Chattanooga is lucky in the recent opening of the Cine-Rama, where quality films are now being shown on a regular basis in a venue located just downtown. Last week’s Train to Busan promised thrilling South Korea drama, a fresh take on the overexposed zombie genre for horror fans.

But then sometimes, life gets in the way of the best laid plans. This is where choice matters. Amazon Prime, Netflix, and YouTube offer a wide variety of choice for those that just can’t make it. Within the video-on-demand library rests an unknown treasure trove of films for those of us that want quality entertainment without the social interaction required in leaving the house.

One of these treasures is a film by the Duffer Brothers, of Stranger Things fame, called Hidden. Released to little acclaim in 2015, Hidden an exquisite and clever film that pleases anyone who is a fan of post-apocalyptic horror. If you can’t get out, Hidden is a great film about

staying in.

Zoe (Emily Allen Lynd) has lived underground in a bunker for 300 days with her mother Claire (Andrea Riseborough) and father Ray (Alexander Skarsgard). The film hints at the catastrophe that forced them there, something about a virus, and about creatures that roam the world above known as breathers. Zoe fears them and dreams of a life that she lost so many days ago, but whenever she mentions her displeasure she is reminded of their rules: 1.) Never be loud. 2.) Never lose control. 3.) Never open the door. 4.) Never talk about the breathers. Much of this, it seems, is for their own safety.

As with Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers know how to create striking visuals. None are as terrifying as the chains that hang from the hatch door. There must be something terrible above to require such a stalwart defense.

Much of the film follows their day to day routine. Ray spends most of his days sleeping as he stands guard at night. When he is awake, he playfully maintains his daughter’s sanity through homemade board games and imaginary trips. Claire teaches Zoe math and forces her to eat beans, acting as the stern disciplinarian to keep her wary of the dangers that lurk on the surface. But when a rat begins to steal food from their pantry, circumstances force them to visit the surface, inviting the beings they fear to threaten their existence.

Hidden plays the post-apocalyptic tune well, not straying much outside the norm until the very end, where it strikes a satisfying dissonant chord.

It’s a tone that other films in the genre have thoroughly failed at, making Hidden all the more satisfying and complex.

Had the Duffer Brothers not so fully committed to the story and to the ending they built towards, they might have let the cat out of the bag too early, ruining the effect and thus crippling the movie. Instead, the Duffer Brothers trusted the audience to be enthralled enough by the well-acted and scripted, though somewhat boilerplate, bomb shelter drama to get them to the cleverly crafted denouement.

This isn’t to say there is some out-ofnowhere, M. Night Shyamalan twist at the end. Shyamalan films have sometimes relied so much on the twist that it forgot to tell an evocative story. Hidden does not.

VOD services are full of films like Hidden. Those that rely on major film releases for their entertainment are missing out on truly exceptional experiences. Like in the past, these films must be searched out, found via word of mouth or online forums.

Chattanooga is lucky in that we have an entire group dedicated to finding films like Hidden and showing them to audiences. They can’t show everything, however. It’s a big world out there. You never know when something great will pop up.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • THE PULSE • 21

FOOD & DRINK ON THE BEAT

The Eye Of The Tiger (…Mart) Say it with me, gentle reader: nine different hot dog toppings!

“

ALEX TEACH

Their hot dog station had nine different topping selections in temperature controlled containers next to a half dozen other condiment containers, up to and including spicy mustard.”

When officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center.

I leaned against the counter inside a local Tiger Mart convenience store and nearly fell to the ground.

It wasn’t because it was slippery or anything (or that I was slippery either for that matter), but rather because I was so focused on the quality of their indirect lighting I missed the edge of the counter as I reached out with my hand to steady myself while I gazed aloft.

In fact, it was more than just the lighting that had me star struck. It was the cool earth tones chosen to create a more relaxed atmosphere inside. It was the availability of a sink in the shopping area that didn’t look like something from the set of a Saw movie. It was the fact that their hot dog station had nine different topping selections in temperature controlled containers next to a half dozen other condiment containers, up to and including spicy mustard.

Nine topping selections!

And the grill itself…? We’re not talking about some old school rotating broiler rack here, the kind that almost immediately develops a perpetual squeak on its carousel rack as it manages to only ever sear the top of the frank while leaving the bottom completely uncooked, oh no.

This was a straight-up Gold Medal roller grill from the award winning “Diggity Hot Dog” line. I mean where was I, the Hammacher Schlemmer of convenience stores? Was this the Saks Fifth Avenue Gas-n-Gulp?

Nine different toppings! Are you even hearing me?

Okay…I may have been over-excited about the atmosphere of the place, sure, but you have to understand that the normal office environment for your

22 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

garden variety street cop is a four door car with no standing room, and worse yet, no restroom. Convenience stores have been the solution to this since we finally started getting yelled at for urinating on dumpsters and, well, other cops police car tires.

These are the places where the Academy and field training continue for the rest of our careers. Some of the most important lessons I’d learned on the job had been in the sterile (or filthy) surroundings of a now defunct Favorite Market, and besides gastrointestinal relief and continuing education, they had endless soda fountain reserves and a walk in freezer that would actually blow frozen air down the front of your shirt after working a wreck on the highway in 103 degree temperatures.

These places were more fiercely protected than the Federal Reserve, and if there was a cute sweetie working behind the counter where they would eventually hand out deep fried chicken livers and tater logs at the end of the night as they closed the kitchen? Get out!

As gorgeous as these places were to newly minted sworn officer eyes, however, they often smelled of bleach and sadness…so the gentrification of the

newer designs just leaves me in awe.

Six different flavors of frozen Squishee Drinks to choose from? Is the former Icee Machine now full of semi-frozen mocha flavored frozen coffee?

Before it was over, I didn’t just compare notes with four different co-workers about the recent rash of auto burglaries in the North Shore area. I didn’t just discuss techniques for promotional interview assessments while breaking (banana) bread with my polyester family members, or provide the story about the co-worker that’s the actual reason everyone is getting yelled at for driving policy violations.

Before it was over…I had a hot dog with four different toppings.

Life is good.

Free Will Astrology VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Play a joke on your nervous anxiety.

Leap off the ground or whirl in a circle five times as you shout, “I am made of love!” Learn the words and melody to a new song that lifts your mood whenever you sing it. Visualize yourself going on an adventure that will amplify your courage and surprise your heart. Make a bold promise to yourself, and acquire an evocative object that will symbolize your intention to fulfill that promise. Ask yourself a soul-shaking question you haven’t been wise enough to investigate before now. Go to a wide-open space, spread your arms out in a greeting to the sky, and pray for a vision of your next big goal.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The Illuminati do not want you to receive the prophecy I have prepared for you. Nor do the Overlords of the New World Order, the Church of the SubGenius, the Fake God that masquerades as the Real God, or the nagging little voice in the back of your head. So why am I going ahead and divulging this oracle anyway? Because I love you. My loyalty is to you, not those shadowy powers. Therefore, I am pleased to inform you that the coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to evade, ignore, undermine, or rebel against controlling influences that aren’t in alignment with your soul’s goals.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The dictionary says that the verb “to schmooze” means to chat with people in order to promote oneself or make a social connection that may prove to be advantageous. But that definition puts a selfish spin on an activity that can, at least sometimes, be carried out with artful integrity. Your assignment in the coming weeks is to perform this noble version of schmoozing. If you are offering a product or service that is beautiful or useful or both, I hope you will boost its presence and influence with the power of your good listening skills and smart conversations.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you are attuned with the cosmic rhythms in the coming weeks, you will be a source of teaching and leadership. Allies will feel fertilized by your creative vigor.

You’ll stimulate team spirit with your savvy appeals to group solidarity. If anyone can revive droopy procrastinators and demonstrate the catalytic power of gratitude, it’ll be you. Have you heard enough good news, Sagittarius, or can you absorb more? I expect that you’ll inspire interesting expressions of harmony that will replace contrived versions of togetherness. And every blessing you bestow will expand your capacity for attracting favors you can really use.

ROB BREZSNY

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The fictional character known as Superman has one prominent vulnerability: the mineral kryptonite. When he’s near this stuff, it weakens his superpowers and may cause other problems. I think we all have our own versions of kryptonite, even if they’re metaphorical. For instance, my own superpowers tend to decline when I come into the presence of bad architecture, cheesy poetry, and off-pitch singing. How about you, Capricorn? What’s your version of kryptonite? Whatever it is, I’m happy to let you know that you are currently less susceptible to its debilitating influences than usual.

Why? Well, you have a sixth sense about how to avoid it. And even if it does draw near, you have in your repertoire some new tricks to keep it from sapping your strength.

ate objectivity. 3.) Even as you dig around in the unsightly facts, cherish the beautiful truths you’d like to replace them with.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It’s quite possible you will receive seductive proposals in the coming weeks. You may also be invited to join your fortunes with potential collaborators who have almost fully awakened to your charms. I won’t be surprised if you receive requests to share your talents, offer your advice, or bestow your largesse. You’re a hot prospect, my dear. You’re an attractive candidate. You appear to be ripe for the plucking. How should you respond? My advice is to be flattered and gratified, but also discerning. Just because an inquiry is exciting doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Choose carefully.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): What’s the current status of your relationship with your feet? Have you been cultivating and cherishing your connection with the earth below you? The reason I ask, Gemini, is that right now it’s especially important for you to enjoy intimacy with gravity, roots, and foundations. Whatever leads you down and deeper will be a source of good fortune. Feeling grounded will provide you with an aptitude for practical magic. Consider the possibilities of going barefoot, getting a foot massage, or buying a new shoes that are both beautiful and comfortable.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Would you like to become a master of intimacy? Can you imagine yourself handling the challenges of togetherness with the skill of a great artist and the wisdom of a love genius? If that prospect appeals to you, now would be a favorable time to up your game. Here’s a hot tip on how to proceed: You must cultivate two seemingly contradictory skills. The first is the capacity to identify and nurture the best qualities in your beloved friend.

The second is the ability to thrive on the fact that healthy relationships require you to periodically wrestle with each other’s ignorance and immaturity.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Truth decay is in its early stages. If you take action soon, you can prevent a full-scale decomposition. But be forewarned: Things could get messy, especially if you intervene with the relentless candor and clarity that will be required for medicinal purification. So what do you think? Are you up for the struggle? I understand if you’re not. I’ll forgive you if you simply flee. But if you decide to work your cagey magic, here are some tips. 1.) Compile your evidence with rigor. 2.) As much as is humanly possible, put aside rancor.

Root your efforts in compassion-

Jonesin’ Crossword

MATT JONES

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Are you willing to lose at least some of your inhibitions? Are you curious to find out what it feels like to cavort like a wise wild child? If you want to fully cooperate with life’s plans, you will need to consider those courses of action. I am hoping that you’ll accept the dare, of course. I suspect you will thrive as you explore the pleasures of playful audacity and whimsical courage and effervescent experiments. So be blithe, Taurus! Be exuberant! Be open to the hypothesis that opening to jaunty and jovial possibilities is the single most intelligent thing you can do right now.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): A woman in the final stages of giving birth may experience acute discomfort. But once her infant spills out into the world, her distress can transform into bliss. I don’t foresee quite so dramatic a shift for you, Cancerian. But the transition you undergo could have similar elements: from uncertainty to grace; from agitation to relief; from constriction to spaciousness.

To take maximum advantage of this blessing, don’t hold onto the state you’re leaving behind—or the feelings it aroused in you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In one of my dreams last night, a Leo sensualist I know advised me to take smart pills and eat an entire chocolate cheesecake before writing my next Leo horoscope.

In another dream, my Leo friend Erica suggested that I compose your horoscope while attending an orgy where all the participants were brilliant physicists, musicians, and poets. In a third dream, my old teacher Rudolf (also a Leo) said I should create the Leo horoscope as I sunbathed on a beach in Maui while being massaged by two sexy geniuses. Here’s how I interpret my dreams: In the coming days, you can literally increase your intelligence by indulging in luxurious comforts and sensory delights.

“Ageless”—and hopefully timeless, too.

ACROSS 1 ___ de gallo (salsa variety) 5 Home of the Bills and Chargers, for short 8 Extinguishes birthday candles 13 Federal org. that inspects workplaces 14 Day-___ colors 15 Canadian dollar coin nickname 16 Identical online message, but sent backwards?

18 Fragrant evergreen with starlike flowers 19 “Gangnam Style” performer 20 Did some tricks at a skate park?

22 Biter on the bayou 24 Get out of debt 25 Three-dimensional figures 27 Competes on eBay 29 “A Boy Named Sue” songwriter Silverstein 30 “Für ___” (Beethoven dedication) 32 Misfortune

35 Do some drastic wardrobe reduction?

39 She’s your sibling 40 Die-___ (people who won’t quit) 41 Chichen ___ (Mayan site) 42 ___ mojado (Spanish side of a “wet floor” sign) 43 Drop it already 45 Be in the driver’s seat 48 Hollowcentered muffin 51 With 57-Across, what was always covered with a sock until just now?

53 Org. with lots of clubs 56 Portugal’s part of it 57 See 51-Across 59 Firming, as muscles 60 Suffix for the extreme 61 Choral voice range 62 Benny Goodman’s genre 63 “Dude ... your fly” 64 Bust’s counterpart

DOWN 1 “___ and Circumstance” 2 Spy agency on “Archer” 3 LeBaron and Pacifica, for two 4 Rower’s blade 5 Concurs (with) 6 City with a contaminated drinking supply 7 Count in French?

8 Chef on cans 9 Actor Peter and TV producer Chuck, for two 10 Ready to drink 11 Pebbles Flintstone’s mom 12 Oozing 15 K-O combination?

17 Carried a balance 21 Trips for Uranus, e.g.

23 Narc’s weight 25 Mach 2 fliers, once 26 “Fancy meeting you here!”

28 Somewhat, in suffixes 30 “The Final

Countdown” band 31 British version of Inc. 32 Olympic team game with a goalkeeper 33 Granular pasta 34 “Voice of Israel” author Abba 36 Sounding like a ceiling fan 37 ___ in “Oscar” 38 Buckle under pressure 42 Look through a window, maybe 43 “Kick-Ass” star Chloe Grace ___ 44 Kitchen unit 45 Fits of pique 46 Quarterback known for his active knee 47 “___ wouldn’t do that!”

49 “Masters ___” (Showtime drama since 2013) 50 Verse-writing 52 Reusable grocery purchase 54 Visit 55 Infinitesimal bit 58 Awesome

Copyright © 2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per3minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 795 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 • THE PULSE • 23