The Pulse 12.39 » September 24, 2015 by Brewer Media Group

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

the ironman

beyond the finish line drew streip faces the ultimate challenge

music

arts

screen

susan alcorn

line & structure

american mob

pedal steel elegance

gangland

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ChattanoogaHasCars.com THE TENNESSEE VALLEY’S MOST POWERFUL AUTOMOTIVE SHOPPING TOOL 2 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

Contents

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole Contributing Editor Janis Hashe

September 24, 2015 Volume 12, Issue 39

Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors David Traver Adolphus • Rob Brezsny Kevin Hale • Matt Jones • Louis Lee Tony Mraz • Zach Nicholson • Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib • Drew Streip • Alex Teach Editorial Interns Brooke Dorn • Sam Hilling Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

Features 4 BEGINNINGS: Downtown icon Rhythm & Brews prepares to end its run.

Cover Photo Courtesy Drew Streip Founded 2003 by Zachary Cooper & Michael Kull

ADVERTISING

9 AIR BAG: Now’s the time to go looking for the dreaded minivan.

Director of Sales Mike Baskin Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Linda Hisey Travis Jones • Angela Lanham • Rick Leavell Kyle Richard • Stacey Tyler

CONTACT

Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 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 © 2015 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

When The Finish Line Isn’t The End

Ironman Chattanooga is just a few days away, and I’m in no shape to contest the 144.6-mile race. I’ve only swum a handful of times in 2015. My running buddies think I’ve skipped town. I still can’t decide which Gatorade flavor I like best.

The Elegance of Line and Structure

Some unique educational opportunities are coming soon from The Goldsmith Collaborative, a new jewelry studio/gallery in St. Elmo. Lead jeweler and owner Ben Sault will be offering classes and workshops dedicated to this ancient art form.

Not Preset To A Certain Pitch

Some would say that the distinctive gliding, glossy sounds of the pedal steel guitar are suited for both kinds of music— country and western—and in the pantheon of great pedal steel players, Susan Alcorn is a rarity...

12 ARTS CALENDAR 16 MUSIC CALENDAR 18 TECH TALK: The GENI research network points toward a new Internet. 19 DINING OUT: The Brewhaus Gastropub celebrates another fantastisch Oktoberfest. 20 SCREEN: Johnny Depp chills as Boston ganglord in “Black Mass”. 22 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY 22 JONESIN’ CROSSWORD 23 on the beat: Officer Alex offers some increasingly esoteric thoughts on his world.

Brand New Home Same Great Music brewer media everywhere. every day.

chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 3

news • views • rants • raves

BEGINNINGS

updates » CHATTANOOGApulse.com facebook/chattanoogapulse EMAIL LOVE LETTERS, ADVICE & TRASH TALK TO INFO@CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

The Last Week (Before The Last Weekend) Downtown icon Rhythm & Brews prepares to end its long run Since Rhythm & Brews announced it was closing its doors, a generation of club-goers are reflecting and reminiscing about the good times they had there. Trying to sum up those stories, the hiskevin tory of the club, and the career of Mike Dougher can be a daunting task. “There are hundreds of stories I can’t tell you,” says Dougher. “Especially from the Sandbar days.” He is referring to his previous 15-year stint at the bar and music

venue located where The Boathouse restaurant is now. There Dougher was booking acts early in their musical careers, including Hootie and the Blowfish and the Dave Matthews Band. It prehale pared him to manage a venue that was successful from the start. R&B’s humble beginnings began when the club replaced the dueling piano bar “Sing Sing” in 1999. Early on, the club hosted mainly country acts looking for

News

4 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

“Notable artists who played the club over the years include Cracker, Blind Melon, Frank Black, Gillian Welch, Ani DiFranco, Nickel Creek, The Fixx and Todd Rundgren.” their big break. Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and the Zac Brown Band graced the stage in those early days and with those musicians Dougher solidified his connections. Dougher remembers a time when he was surprised to learn friend and guitarist Kristian Bush had just joined an up-and-coming band...called Sugarland. “We were putting on a Johnny Cash birthday tribute around the time “Walk the Line” came out, and we booked Sugarland before I knew Kristian was in the band. This whole business ends up being a small circle of friends, and of course you want to see your friends succeed.” R&B became the destination for college kids and young adults alike throughout the 2000s. Local music venues came and went during those times, but the first question asked by many concertgoers on the weekend was, “What’s going on at Rhythm & Brews?” Dougher started to book more alternative, indie acts like The Hopsing Project, Up with the Jones and reggae band Milele Roots. “Some of the concertgoers at that time have recently told me they met their spouses at R&B and now they have kids who come to the club,” he says. “Definitely makes you feel old.” Other notable artists who played the club over the years include Cracker, Blind

Melon, Frank Black, Gillian Welch, Ani DiFranco, Nickel Creek, The Fixx and Todd Rundgren. One of Dougher’s new favorites has to be St. Paul & the Broken Bones. “They remind me of a modern day Here Come The Mummies,” he says. “Any band with those horns…man, I’m a sucker for that sound.” But the group Dougher values more than any other at Rhythm & Brews is the staff, some of whom have been there since the beginning. “They really make me look good,” he says. “In a business like this, you can either stand up or wilt. This crew has pulled me through more times than I would like to remember.” Dougher will take those memories along on his next adventure. “I’m proud of what we have done,” he says. “We just wanted anyone who walked through our doors to hear some great music and have a great time.”

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

Learning A Catch-All Pollution Solution The Tennessee Aquarium continues its tradition of promoting environmental awareness in the Chattanooga area with a repeat of its Rain Barrel Workshop this Saturday at the Aquarium. Runoff from driveways and roads is one of the biggest causes of pollution in area creeks and waterways, and the Tenneessee Aquarium is holding a workshop on how people in the community can help reduce the pollution levels from home. The workshop will feature educational information on the presence

IN THIS ISSUE

Drew Streip Drew Streip is a writer, musician, triathlete, coffee enthusiast and general skeptic— especially of people who call themselves enthusiasts. As a lifelong Chattanooga resident, he accepts the town’s superlative status but hopes that it doesn’t

and effects of area pollution, and a hands-on project with Ace Hardware to turn old Coca-Cola syrup drums into rain-catchers, complete with hose adapters, spigots, and debris collectors. The Rain Barrel Workshop will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, at 10 a.m. at the Tenneessee Aquarium, located at 1 Broad St. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time at tnaqua.org and participants should bring a vehicle capable of transporting a 55-gallon rain barrel. — Sam Hilling

10 Lanes of Bowling Fun Family Friendly until 9pm

David Traver Adolphus become the “Portland/Boulder/Austin of the East.” He graduated from CSAS and UT-Knoxville, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and electronic media. Currently, Drew enjoys the perks of living and working downtown. He’s fortunate to be centrally located in relation to hundreds of miles of singletrack mountain bike and running trails. His work has previously been featured in Get Out and RootsRated.

David Traver Adolphus is our resident car geek, covering all things automotive for us on a monthly basis. David is a freelance automotive researcher who recently quit his full-time job writing about old cars to pursue his lifelong dream of writing about old AND

new cars. David occasionally contributes to Road & Track magazine and often to roadandtrack.com and elsewhere. He is also the founder of The Road Home, a nonprofit benefitting post-9/11 veterans. Learn more about it on Facebook @theroadhomeusa. As far as his automotive writing, he welcomes the inevitable and probably richly deserved kvetching about Airbag and anything else on Twitter as @proscriptus.

1818 Chestnut St Chattanooga contact events@thesouthsidesocial.com for reservations and corporate events

chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 5

COVER STORY

When The Finish Line Isn’t The End Ironman Chattanooga through the eyes of a competitor By Drew Streip, special to The Pulse

ronman Chattanooga is just a few days away, and I’m in no shape to contest the 144.6-mile race. I’ve only swum a handful of times in 2015. My running buddies think I’ve skipped town. I still can’t decide which Gatorade flavor I like best.

That would be bad news—except I’m not even registered for this year’s event. Nope: I raced last September in the inaugural IMChoo, and I think I’m still recovering. This year, my only job is to help people learn from my experience—comical at 27 years old—and watch them accomplish their dream. Many athletes disagree on the hardest part of being an Ironman. In fact, this debate is how the event came into existence: Big talents with big egos organized one big competition to crown one big winner. However, those were brash, experienced athletes. For mortals like me, I’d suggest that signing up a year in advance to the tune of $700 is as daunting as anything. It’s an expensive contract, with little chance of a refund if plans change. But Ironman has always been, and continues to be, a powerful motivator. It inspires entrants to turn down one type of six-pack in hopes of gaining another. To train in the dark early morning, during lunch, and after the kids are asleep. To finish at all costs, even (especially) if it means peeing on yourself. Me? I wasn’t even thinking about going the distance. I’ve been running and bicycling my whole life, but the Ironman bug hadn’t bitten me yet. I did my first sprint triathlon in 2008, working up to the Half Ironman distance by 2010. However, when they announced an Ironman in my backyard, I had little choice but to surrender my credit card. I couldn’t just admit that I wasn’t the best, could I? Whoever says “It’s about the journey, not the destination” obviously has a better sense of humor than I do. My journey was littered with injuries, unattractive tan lines and obscenities hurled from car windows. Eleven months out from the race, during an unnecessary 18-mile run, my left leg became 6 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

what can only be described as “floppy.” It didn’t heal quickly, and I hobbled through winter. The floppy leg made me lopsided from compensating, which led to back pain on bike rides longer than an hour. The Ironman bike ride takes over five hours. But with some physical therapy, tweaks to my bike, and a new strength and stretching regimen, I entered one of the biggest training blocks of the year. I was exercising 15 to 20 hours a week. However, I was seeing results. In a sport where people spend hundreds of dollars to save a few seconds, I was shedding minutes. I drove home from the Mach Tenn Triathlon on June 7 eager to show off my new trophy. Instead, I returned to find my mom in the hospital. What had started as a stomach ache was soon diagnosed as something far more insidious. Though they weren’t my ovaries or my cancer, nobody would have blamed me for backing out of the race on the spot and spending more time with my family. Nobody except for my mother. She made it abundantly clear that not only would I finish the race, she would be waiting at the finish line. And only a fool argues with Patty. I was privileged to attend a breakfast with pro athletes and coaches the day before the race, hosted by Chattanooga-based bike manufacturer Quintana Roo. Though our race strategies should’ve already been set in stone, the presenters emphasized the importance of pacing. There are plenty of tools to help with pacing, none of which I use (I’m either a Luddite or a purist, depending on your perspective). They asked who was racing purely by feel. In a room of 60 athletes, only one hand, mine, went up. But what scared me most about the race wasn’t the distance, or the hills, or the threat of rain. I was much more concerned about really critical things, like where to find a porta-potty,

or whether anti-chafing balm would wash off while swimming. Race day began at 4 a.m. with a carefully planned breakfast. Then my friends and I caught a bus to the swim start. Though we arrived an hour before the starting gun, we still found ourselves near the back of 2,400 racers. We lost a prime starting position, but also saved ourselves some of the stomach-churning anxiety of being first into uncharted territory. Suddenly the line was moving. We were herded onto the temporary dock, with little time to see which way to swim. Luckily, the river only flows one direction. I used the 2.4-mile swim as a “warm-up,” occasionally passing swimmers who were inexplicably perpendicular to me. The swim took me 50 minutes, about 10 minutes quicker than expected because of the current. After getting slathered with sunscreen by amazing volunteers, I was on the bike. My second-greatest Ironman fear almost came true when another rider crashed directly in front of me, less than 50 yards into the ride. Miraculously, I avoided injury and embarrassment, and steadied myself for the next 116 miles. (He was fine; I checked.) The first hour was a blur. It felt like I didn’t even pedal, which was my general plan. Seeing friends from the Chattanooga Triathlon Club further lifted my spirits. And trying to nail my nutrition (the “fourth discipline”) took most of my brainpower. In fact, I’d made a spreadsheet of what to eat and when. Between hydration and solid food, I had plenty to think about. I never expected booby-traps, though. When police routed us around the first oil slick, I assumed it was an accident. However, upon seeing dozens of athletes with flat tires—victims of a thumbtack spill—I realized we’d been targeted.

My tires stayed inflated. I worked the familiar course to my advantage, even finishing 30 minutes faster than expected. Before I knew it, I was back on Riverfront Drive, spinning easy gears to give my legs a brief respite. Normally, I catch quite a few competitors on the run. With a marathon ahead of me, I had plenty of time to gain ground. Running by feel got me through the first mile in an easy 7:50. The goal was 3:20 (7:37/mile), assuming no floppy leg. An experienced Ironman advised me not to push the pace yet, so I settled in for the long haul. It was then, between miles two and three, that I realized I hadn’t thought about run nutrition at all. The fundamental key of finishing this race, which I’d so meticulously calculated for the bike, had completely slipped my mind. Though it wasn’t terribly hot, I used iced sponges to keep cool, even putting cubes under my tongue and on my wrists. When I saw my parents at mile eight, I received a massive surge of energy. And at the Riverview Park aid station, I got word that I was in 12th in my age group. I took a celebratory shot of beer from a Dixie cup and began climbing Barton Avenue. Though my legs grew heavier every mile, you could have set a clock against my pace. When it started to rain, I took it in stride, barely noticing the weight of my waterlogged shoes. Volunteers started distributing popsicle sticks with thick dollops of Vaseline, which I regrettably ignored. Just because you can’t feel the chafing doesn’t mean it’s not happening. Adrenaline took over as I crossed Walnut Street Bridge the second time. I sprinted to the finish arch, high-fiving strangers, trying not to trip over the rainsoaked, Ironman-branded red carpet. I had a moment of clarity long enough to hear legendary emcee Mike

Reilly say, “Drew Streip, from here in Chattanooga, YOU are an Ironman! A first-time Ironman!” Once my “catcher” (a coveted volunteer position) made sure I was coherent, volunteers thrust chocolate milk into my hands and placed a medal around my neck. After the obligatory finisher pictures, they draped a space blanket over my shoulders. As it turns out, you get chilly when you turn off a furnace that’s been burning for 10 hours. I stumbled into an embrace from my mother. That moment—a lifetime, really—continues to live in a simple 4” x 6” photo on my desk. So what’s changed? Nothing, and everything. I still train, but I don’t race as much. My triathlon bike is gathering dust. Instead, I reach for my mountain bike. I’m no longer afraid of crashing and undoing a year’s worth of work. The attire also just looks cooler, if we’re being honest. My mom died in July. We each spent a year fighting our separate battles, though she didn’t get to choose hers. The race fully consumed me for a time, but at least it gave me back. In hindsight, the hardest part of Ironman is something you can’t measure by time or distance. It’s not waking up at 4 a.m. or running a marathon or choking down pre-packaged energy bars. It’s choosing to struggle while knowing how many others don’t have a choice. And it’s finding the will to finish, no matter what is (or isn’t) waiting for you at the end. Will I do another Ironman? Definitely. I’d like to earn my way to Hawaii, home of the original race, now the world championships, even though it will mean many more hours of hard work. However, come September 27, I’ll only be watching as friends and strangers alike are changed forever by four simple words: You are an Ironman.

chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 7

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8 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

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Bargain Car Buyers’ Guide, Part III: People Movers Now’s the time to go looking for the dreaded minivan

“

There are four models in particular that are either being discontinued or replaced with an all-new model, making them real bargain leftovers.”

David Traver Adolphus is a freelance automotive researcher who recently quit his full time job writing about old cars to pursue his lifelong dream of writing about old AND new cars. He welcomes the inevitable and probably richly deserved kvetching about Airbag and anything else on Twitter as @proscriptus.

In this third and final inHowever, by “minivanstallment of “The Cheaplooking,” I mean in a 1980s skate’s Guide to New Cars,” sense. It didn’t look great. it’s time for the vehicles Or good. But it was a deyou hate to love: Minivans. cent vehicle; all came with If you’ve playing along at a 269hp (!) V-6 and sixhome, you’ll remember this speed automatic, full powisn’t about er, standard quality, but Bluetooth quantity: and like 15 How much airbags plus can you get five-star DAVID TRAVER for your moncrash rating. ADOLPHUS ey? T h e s e A lot, is the things were answer. The minivan as we seriously decked out and knew it is almost entirely probably a good deal, even gone—there were 25 modwith an average $25,000 els at one point but by next price paid. year, there won’t be more Now, however, you’re than six. If you think that looking at offers of $22,000 means they’re selling like for a base LX, and $25,000 mud, you’re right: You can (original sticker was find a 2014 model of almost $32,000-plus) for an EX, any minivan hanging out many of which were highly on a dealer’s lot somewhere optioned up. Consider curwithin a few hours of you. rent prices highly flexible. Heck, there are unsold, brand-new VW Routans 2014-2016 Dodge Grand out there. Even among that Caravan class, however, there are One of the oldest minisome stragglers. There are van nameplates, Dodge has four models in particular been talking about killing that are either being distheir minivan for a couple of continued or replaced with years. One month it’s dead; an all-new model, making the next it’s back for anoththem real bargain leftovers. er year. As Dodge said, “While 2014 Kia Sedona we’ve announced the Grand Before it got Kia’s new Caravan will eventually be corporate face in 2015 and a the minivan that goes away, body vaguely trying to look we’re not going into more like a crossover, the 2014 detail…” In other words, Sedona was the last minianything could happen. van-looking minivan. What we do know is that

Air Bag

Fiat-Chrysler America has zero interest in selling an affordable minivan, because what they really like is their (excellent) Chrysler Town and Country, which starts at about $10,000 more than a Grand Caravan. The Dodge hasn’t and isn’t about to change before an all-new (or no) model appears, which makes it hard to tell one year from another. Usually, that’s bad for leftover prices but in this case, it’s in a shrinking market segment. Lower trim models are generally advertised at $5,000 under MSRP, and you should easily be able to find a base (“America’s Value Package”) ’16 under $20,000. 2014-2015 Mazda5 After getting one last year out of the old Mazda5, it’s finally whimpering off into the sunset, as Mazda gives up on the “anything other than a crossover for five people” idea. There’s no question it is a niche vehicle, but it’s a super-versatile and tidy one. It has two rows of captain’s chairs, along with a small plus-two rear bench seat. It all folds in every conceivable configuration, which I think is literally about 15 different ways. America has not turned out to be the market for a mini-minivan, though, and it’s done. It wasn’t very expensive to begin with—you can’t pay over $26,000 for a top-

trim 2015 Grand Touring— and some wheeling and dealing should see you in a base Sport in the $17,000 range, maybe less, especially if you find a leftover (but identical) 2014. Honorable Mention: 2014-2015 Dodge Durango Like so many SUVs (looking at you, Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer), the once very tough Durango has slowly softened into a pile of goo. After this year, though, it will dissolve entirely. Like so much of the Chrysler line, no one seems to know what actually happens to the Durango, but it’ll surprise me if there was a ’16. It did get a major refresh for 2014, including 3.6-liter Pentastar power and an eight-speed automatic. It’s selling well, actually, and starting MSRPs run from about $31,000 for a RWD SXT; to $43,000 for a 4WD V-8 Hemi R/T. Realworld prices start $5,000 less and when it’s officially killed, they’ll drop even more.

A Note From Dave Volkswagen’s EPA fiasco broke too late for me to write about it. If you’re at VW and want to talk with me off the record, I’d like to hear from you. Message me @proscriptus, or drop me a line via The Pulse.

chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 9

ARTS SCENE

The Elegance of Line and Structure New Goldsmith Collection offers jewelry and, soon, classes

Sarah Einstein

Memories and Memoirs Star Line Books hosts an afternoon of nonfiction on Saturday If you haven’t had a chance to stop in to the new Star Line Books, this Saturday might be just the day. Two regional women authors will be reading from their newest nonfiction works and signing. Sarah Einstein is the author of Mot: A Memoir, which tells the story of her meeting with Mot, “a homeless veteran who lives a life dictated by frightening delusion. She is drawn to the brilliant ways he has found to lead his own difficult life; traveling to Romania to get his teeth fixed because the United States doesn’t offer dental care to the indigent, teaching himself to use computers in public libraries, and even taking university classes while living out of doors. Mot: A Memoir is the story of their unlikely friendship and ex-

plores what we can, and cannot, do for a person we love.” Jessica Handler’s Invisible Sisters “is Handler’s powerfully told story of coming of age—as the daughter of progressive Jewish parents who move south to participate in the social justice movement of the 1960s; as a healthy sister living in the shadow of her siblings’ illness; and as a young woman struggling to step out of the shadow of her sisters’ deaths, to find and redefine herself anew.” Authors Sarah Einstein and Jessica Handler Saturday, 4 p.m. Star Line Books 1467 Market St. (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com

Thu9.24

fri9.25

sat9.26

nun-sense

party time

good dog(s)

“Sister Act: A Divine Musical”

Best Town Ever Celebration Party

Skyhoundz Canine Disc Championship

You've seen the movie, now come see the musical. 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com

Celebrate the city being named the "Best Town Ever" by Outside Magazine with a party! 5 p.m. Miller Plaza 850 Market St. (423) 265-3700

Do you like dogs? Do you like to see dogs having a great time? Then come down to Coolidge Park this weekend. 9 a.m. Coolidge Park skyhoundz.com

10 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

ome unique educational opportunities are coming soon from The Goldsmith Collaborative, a new jewelry studio/gallery in St. Elmo. Lead jeweler and owner Ben Sault will be offering classes and workshops dedicated to this ancient art form.

Arts Tony mraz

“

In my personal experience and work, I find beauty from the natural world. Seeing patterns and designs echoed from life creates my aesthetic.”

The Pulse: Who are some of your influences? Ben Sault: SEVEN might have been the first artist to have a major impact in the way I viewed the world. In the early ’90s, I was breakdancing and writing graffiti. When I saw SEVEN, AWR and Dave Kinsey down in the 40 Yard in Atlanta, I realized that my environment could be channeled into a beautiful expression. Doh-Ho-Suh, Zaha Hadid, Peter Gric and Peeta FX came to me at separate times in my life, but showed me the elegance of structure for its own sake; the curve of a surface will dictate the composition. Louis-François Cartier, Ersy Schwarts, Dalan Hargrave, Ser OFA, Kent Raible and JAR illuminated the craft I’d chosen. They are masters of my field. I am constantly inspired by their work. Dewa Danu Saputra, Franz Mucha, Aaron Horkey and Luca Barcellona are the world’s foremost experts on the art of line work, in my opinion. Whether it be engraving or calligraphy, these artists have made an indelible impression on the way I deal with the basic idea of medium to surface and handling a single line. Most recently, Dan Chambers has been a wealth of knowledge in my field. I’m constantly amazed at how much I have to learn. I’m blessed to have him working beside me.

GET ON THE LIST TODAY! Located on the Historic Chattanooga Choo Choo campus in Chattanooga’s entertainment district, Passenger Flats is an independent lifestyle community recently completed in 2015.

TP: How did you get your start making jewelry? BS: My grandfather was a welder, so I found a torch in my hand at an age that would be frowned upon nowadays. I enrolled in college as a 28-year-old freshman. I loved working metal. Progressively, as I honed my skills, the size of my work shrank in proportion to the detail of the finished product. I followed suit and began working in commodities. TP: What materials and processes do you use? BS: The metals I find myself using tend to be silver, gold and platinum. Finding ethically sourced stones has become a priority for me. I want to know where my rocks are coming from. TP: What is beauty? BS: Beauty is inherently subjective. To quote Roger Scruton, “Beauty can be consoling, disturbing, sacred, profane; it can be exhilarating, appealing, inspiring, chilling. It can affect us in an unlimited variety of ways. Yet it is never viewed with indifference: beauty demands to be noticed; it speaks to us directly like the voice of an intimate friend. If there are people who are indifferent to beauty, then it is surely because they do not perceive it.” In my personal experience and work, I find beauty from the natural world. Seeing patterns and designs echoed from life creates my aesthetic. TP: Can you tell us about the classes you’re offering? BS: We will be offering three different tiers of classes.

Beginning in October, we will be offering our introductory workshop. This allows an individual to familiarize him or herself with the composition and design of a piece. We will focus on cold connections and beading. In November, we will begin a month-long intensive course for a very limited number of individuals. This program will be a guide to the “Fundamentals of Metalsmithing.” We will discover the fundamental techniques of working with copper, brass, and sterling silver as an introduction to jewelry fabrication. Techniques covered include sawing, filing, surface finishing, soldering, cold connections, scoring and bending. At the first of the year, we will be looking for three individuals interested in acquiring the skills necessary to become bench jewelers. This will be an intensive six-month course guiding the individual through all of the basic facets of the industry. At the end of the program, the apprentice will be a viable candidate for a bench jeweler position. TP: Any observations about Chattanooga’s art scene? BS: After leaving for two decades and coming home, I’m amazed at the strides this city has taken to foster the arts. There are new avenues for emerging artists to get their work out to the public and be seen. I’m excited to add to the growth by building an environment that facilitates an education in a creative field. •••• For more info on classes and workshops, visit goldcolab.com

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Passenger Flats features newly renovated residences in a studio or one bedroom option, along with exceptional amenities like a resort-style pool, clubhouse,laundry facilities, and free WIFI located on premises. In the center of the Southside community, just steps away from downtown, Passenger Flats is comfort and accessibility all at an affordable price. For more information visit PassengerFlats.com.

Dine-in, catering, parties, and preparing food for pick-up or home delivery.

118 Cross Street · 423.634.0772 · bigtable.net chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 11

Enjoy a day full of fall fun: get lost

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Visit: BlowingSpringsFarm.com for hours and activity times. ...and on Fri & Sat nights in October, Blowing Springs Farm becomes Blowing Screams Farm!

Make Plans! Weekends in October

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ARTS CALENDAR

Sept 24 - Nov 1

thursday9.24 Homeschool Science Club 1 p.m. Creative Discovery Museum 321 Chestnut St. (423) 756-2738 cdmfun.org Artful Yoga by the Moon 6 p.m. The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org “Sister Act: A Divine Musical” 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com SF Ballet’s “Romeo and Juliet” 7 p.m. East Ridge 18 5080 S. Terrace (423) 855-9652 carmike.com “Violet” 7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga 107 N. Tuxedo Ave. (423) 602-8640 “A Streetcar Named Desire” 7:30 p.m. Ringgold Playhouse 155 Depot St., Ringgold (706) 935-3061 Etta May 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 3224 Brainerd Rd.

12 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

Skyhoundz Canine Disc Championship (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

friday9.25 Best Town Ever Celebration Party 5 p.m. Miller Plaza 850 Market St. (423) 265-3700 Etta May 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “A Streetcar Named Desire” 7:30 p.m. Ringgold Playhouse 155 Depot St., Ringgold (706) 935-3061 “Violet”

Pulse Pick: ETTA MAY What’s the best way to describe Etta May? “Minnie Pearl with a migraine.” She is the reigning Queen of Southern Sass. Etta May The Comedy Catch 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga 107 N. Tuxedo Ave. (423) 602-8640 “Sister Act: A Divine Musical” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com

saturday9.26 Skyhoundz Canine Disc Championship 9 a.m. Coolidge Park skyhoundz.com Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium

1 Broad St. (423) 267-3474 chattanoogarivermarket.com Riverfront Yoga with Maggie White 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 267-3474 chattanoogarivermarket.com Rain Barrel Workshop 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 267-3474 chattanoogarivermarket.com Art Access: Making Old Things New 10 a.m. The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Highland Park Basic Energy Efficiency Workshop 10 a.m. Sacra Coffee 801 S. Orchard Knob Ave. (423) 802-1600 greenspaceschattanooga.org “A Streetcar Named Desire” 2 p.m. Ringgold Playhouse, Ringgold 155 Depot St. (706) 935-3061 Authors Sarah Einstein and Jessica Handler 4 p.m. Star Line Books 1467 Market St. (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com “Dare to Dance” Fundraiser

ARTS CALENDAR

"Our Town" 7 p.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1100 Carter St. (423) 265-4397 Etta May 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 3224 Brainerd Rd. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “Violet” 7:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga 107 N. Tuxedo Ave. (423) 60-8640 ensembletheatreofchattanooga.com “Sister Act: A Divine Musical” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com

sunday9.27 Skyhoundz Canine Disc Championship 9 a.m. Coolidge Park skyhoundz.com Chattanooga Market 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Reggie White Blvd. (423) 266-4041 chattanoogamarket.com Cut Up for Life 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion

1826 Reggie White Blvd. (423) 266-4041 chattanoogamarket.com “Sister Act: A Divine Musical” 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com “Violet” 2:30 p.m. Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga 107 N. Tuxedo Ave. (423) 60-8640

monday9.28 One Step at a Time 6 p.m. Shepherd Community Center 2124 Shepherd Rd. (423) 999-7958 Vintage Swing Dance 7 p.m. Clear Spring Yoga 17 N. Market St. (931) 982-1678 clearspringyoga.com

tuesday9.29 “Our Town” 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center Vine & Palmetto Sts. (423) 425-4371 utc.edu/fine-arts-center “Roger Waters: The Wall” 8 p.m. East Ridge 18

5080 S. Terrace (423) 855-9652 carmike.com Majestic 12 311 Broad St. (423) 826-2375 carmike.com

wednesday9.30 Middle East Dance 10:30 a.m. Jewish Cultural Center 5461 N. Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Green Drinks at Green’s Eco Build & Design 5 p.m. Green’s Eco Build & Design 1510 Riverside Dr. (423) 551-8867 greenspaceschattanooga.org Rapid Learning: Intro to Kayak & Roll Practice 6, 7 p.m. Chester Frost Park 2318 Gold Point Cir. (423) 842-0177 “Our Town” 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center Vine & Palmetto Sts. (423) 425-4371 utc.edu/fine-arts-center

ongoing “Abstract Paintings” In-Town Gallery 26A Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214

intowngallery.com Jim Kransberger/Margaret Couch Cogswell River Gallery 400 E. Second St. (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com “A Tribute to Roland Hayes” Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 266-8658 bessiesmithcc.org “Fall Color and Action” The Gallery at Blackwell 71 Eastgate Loop (423) 344-5643 UTC Art Faculty Exhibition Cress Gallery of Art 752 Vine St. (423) 304-9789 “Serpentine Chain Collection” Shuptrine’s 2646 Broad St. (423) 266-4453 alanshuptrine.com “Verdant” The Exum Gallery 305 West Seventh St. (423) 266-8195 stpaulschatt.org/ the-exum-gallery “Imagining American Girlhood” The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

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chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 13

MUSIC SCENE

Not Preset To A Certain Pitch Susan Alcorn’s pedal steel guitar playing is uniquely her own

How Do You Define Unique? Strung Like a Horse fiddles with it at R&B this Friday This Friday, Strung Like a Horse will bring their jumping “garagegrass” style to Rhythm & Brews. The band sounds like its name; its surprising, robust sound gallops through a range of emotional subjects, from the freedom you feel after a good break-up to the frantic joy of love at first sight. Even the band members themselves have a bit of difficulty in describing their sound, labeling themsleves as a "Gypsy-Punk-Garage-Grass" band. The five members of the band create a lively pseudo-punk sound played in the country tones of the fiddle and the banjo.

It’s a strange combination that sounds just a half beat off from its more mainstream cousin, folk rock, but the result is a raunchy, footstomping good time in which fans of bluegrass and fans of pop-punk will find common ground. Their upcoming LP, Free, is available for preorder now on their Bandcamp page and will be released on Oct. 10. — Sam Hilling Strung Like A Horse Friday, 9:30 p.m. Rhythm & Brews 221 Market St. rhythm-brews.com

thu9.24

fri9.25

SAT9.26

the champion

dynamic duo

benefit night

Champian Fulton Quartet

Luke Combs & Jacob Powell

Layla Shook Benefit

Her crowd-pleasing, effortless and awardnominated voice is supported by equally impressive piano chops along with a killer backing band. 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org

Luke Combs is a 25-yearold musician with his sights set on making good music. Jacob Powell is one of Music Row’s most talented new singer/songwriters. 9 p.m. The Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St. revelryroom.co

The annual benefit concert for Baby Layla features Robby Hopkins, Davey Smith, Nathan Farrow and more in the final night of live music at the venerable Rhythm & Brews. 8 p.m. Rhythm & Brews 221 Market St. rhythm-brews.com

14 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

ome would say that the distinctive gliding, glossy sounds of the pedal steel guitar are suited for both kinds of music—country and western—and in the pantheon of great pedal steel players, Susan Alcorn is a rarity: an eclectic musician with the mastery of the instrument who goes far beyond country and western genres, influenced by such sources as the modern classical music of Krzysztof Penderecki, Indian ragas, visionary composer Pauline Oliveros’ “Deep Listening” and Indonesian gamelan music.

Music ernie paik

“

I try to get out of the way and let the musical direction speak for itself...to speak to an audience in a commonly understood language that is beyond words.”

Alcorn took the time to answer a few questions for The Pulse in advance of her Oct. 1 concert at Barking Legs Theater, supporting her new album Soledad which spotlights the tango music of Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla. The Pulse: You played various instruments before concentrating on the pedal steel. What drew you to the instrument? Susan Alcorn: One night at Alice’s Revisited in Chicago, I saw Muddy Waters perform, and it struck me like a lightning bolt: the power of one note played with a slide on an electric guitar and the constellations of sounds and emotions in vibrato, in that space sliding between two notes. So I started playing slide guitar which eventually led to dobro and bluegrass. I loved the emotive quality and the ability to phrase in a certain way on the dobro, but I got frustrated that I wasn’t able to get bigger chords and more complex ideas; so I started thinking about the pedal steel guitar. The first time I saw the pedal steel live was at a nightclub in the early 1970s. A shiny metal bar seemed to float over the strings, and the sound made a deep and visceral impression on me. The next day I made it my business to

find one to buy and to somehow learn how to play it. TP: How would you describe the instrument’s appeal? SA: All instruments have their own exquisite sound, unlimited possibilities, and their own innate qualities that touch the human heart, but to me there’s something about notes that aren’t preset to a certain pitch— the only determinant of pitch being a steel bar, sitting and gently moving, often in microtonal increments, on top of the strings—that appeals to me; expressive like a bowed instrument, but with the ability to play chords. It can play a single part, or it can be an orchestra in itself. It’s a baby of an instrument, really, so we are just seeing the beginnings of what this marvelous instrument can accomplish. TP: Can you describe the path between hearing Astor Piazzolla’s tangos live in 1987 and releasing Soledad in 2015? SA: A friend of mine sent me a copy of Astor Piazzolla’s album Tango Hora Cero which I liked quite a bit, so when I saw that Piazzolla and his quintet would be performing in Houston, where I was living at the time, I made

sure to get tickets to see him perform. Nothing prepared me for the experience of a live concert by Piazzolla and his group. His live performances ran the gamut of ideas, emotions, strong defiant passages, milongas, ballads, elegant counterpoint, hints of jazz, African, and classical music, and incredible virtuosity, often within the space of one song. I told myself that night that somehow I would find a way to learn to play and then record an album of Piazzolla’s music. That opportunity came 26 years later when I suddenly found myself with a great deal of time on my hands, so I started until I finished. My feeling at the time was whether anybody every heard the recording or not, at least I had done it. It was truly a labor of love and I didn’t think there’d be much interest in an album of nuevo tango music on the pedal steel: not quite experimental, and not pure tango. TP: What are some things that have inspired your favorite improvisations? SA: In the musical world I inhabit, there are two kinds of improvisations, both closely related. If I’m playing a written piece of music, something I’ve written, Piazzolla, jazz, or whatever, I improvise, hopefully, with a sense of freedom, though with an understanding of the thematic, melodic, and harmonic structures of the piece. Free improvisation is similar, though there is no text or fixed idea to reference. At its best, a sense of meaning, a structure, and sense of movement will develop naturally on their own. I usually begin improvisations with no conscious thought or musical intent. I try to get out of the way and let the musical direction speak for itself, to enable it to tell a story, to speak to an audience in a commonly understood language that is beyond words.

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chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 15

LIVE MUSIC

SEPT

NATHAN ANGELO

FRI with TIM HALPERIN & BRAD PASSONS 9p

As a seasoned performer, Nathan Angelo has captivated audiences across the country with his tight band and high-spirited live show.

STRUNG LIKE A HORSE FRI 9p

with MEGAN JEAN and the FAMILY BAND Your first taste of SLAH is like that first sip of moonshine—it will blow your hat off your head and it's far more intoxicating than you expected!

LAYLA SHOOK BENEFIT SAT 8p 26

ANNUAL BENEFIT TO ASSIST BABY LAYLA Featuring REMEMBERING JANUARY, ROBBY HOPKINS BAND, NATHAN FARROW, DAVEY SMITH and an All Star classic rock jam to end the night.

Thanks for 16 great years of fantastic music and being part of the incredible rebirth of downtown Chattanooga and the music scene! We couldn’t have done it without you!

MUSIC CALENDAR

CHATTANOOGA

thursday9.24 Jazzanooga’s Juke Joint Sessions 6 p.m. Memo’s Grill 430 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 267-7283 Cody James Harris 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. (423) 266-3366 Southlander 8 p.m. Mayo’s 3820 Brainerd Rd. (423) 624-0034 Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear 9 p.m. The Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St. revelryroom.co Nathan Angelo, Tim Halperin, Brad Passons 9 p.m. Rhythm & Brews 221 Market St. rhythm-brews.com Open Mic with Mark Andrew 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

friday9.25

ALL SHOWS 21+ UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED • NON-SMOKING VENUE

221 MARKET STREET HOT MUSIC • FINE BEER • GREAT FOOD

BUY TICKETS ONLINE • RHYTHM-BREWS.COM

Dana Rogers 5:30 p.m. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 2107 Gunbarrel Rd.

16 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

Cherub chattanooga. firebirdsrestaurants.com Champian Fulton Quartet 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Dallas Hollow 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Hazmat 8 p.m. Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 265-8711 Logan Murrell 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Cherub 9 p.m.

Pulse Pick: Martin Rodriguez Martin has worked with and shared the stage with such notables as Widespread Panic, The Nighthawks, Jack Pearson and Moe Denham. Martin Rodriguez Sunday, 12:30 p.m. Chattanooga Market 1 Broad St. chattanoogamarket.com

Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co Emily Robinson 9 p.m. Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Kyle Tallman 9 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pk. tremonttavern.com Luke Combs & Jacob Powell 9 p.m. The Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St. revelryroom.co Jerry Fordham 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

Strung Like A Horse, Megan Jean and the Family Band 9:30 p.m. Rhythm & Brews 221 Market St. rhythm-brews.com

saturday9.26 Martin Rodriguez 12:30 p.m. Chattanooga River Market 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Jenny & Tyler 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Annette Conlon 8 p.m. Charles and Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Beats Antique 8 p.m. Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co Fly By Radio 8 p.m. The Revelry Room 201 W. Main St. revelryroom.co Killing Grace, Pains Chapel, Doc Sinister 8 p.m. Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 265-8711 Layla Shook Benefit: Robby Hopkins, Davey

Smith, Nathan Farrow 8 p.m. Rhythm & Brews 221 Market St. rhythm-brews.com Logan Murrell 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com The Bicho Brothers 9 p.m. Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 Aquarium Wy. puckettsgro.com Waxfang, Bohannons, Mother Nurture 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com She She Dance 10 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

sunday9.27 Martin Rodriguez 12:30 p.m. Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Blu Moonshine 2 p.m. The Brew and Cue 5017 Rossville Blvd. (423) 867-9402 Metro Musicians 2 p.m.

Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Chattanooga Symphony & Opera: “The Tabasco Opera” 3 p.m. Volkswagen Conference Center 7351 Volkswagen Dr. chattanoogasymphony.org Gospel on Glass 3 p.m. Corner of Glass and Wheeler 2409 Glass St. (423) 402-0565 Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Preston Parris 6:30 p.m. Sugar’s Downtown 507 Broad St. sugarschattanooga.com Teaspoon Sun, Steve Burks, The Vansaders, Sam Killed the Bear 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

monday9.28 Dr. B and the Ease 6 p.m. TerraMae 122 E. 10th St. (423) 710-2925 Sonny Vincent, Zin Vetro

and the One Timers 6:14 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. # 8 wellonthesouthside.com

tuesday9.29 Dana Rogers 5 p.m. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 2107 Gunbarrel Rd. chattanooga. firebirdsrestaurants.com Bill McCallie & In Cahoots 6:30 p.m. Southern Belle Riverboat 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

wednesday9.30 The Other Guys 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites

MUSIC CALENDAR

Cornmeal

495 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 834-9300 John Mark McMillan, The Brilliance 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Dan Sheffield 7:30 p.m. Sugar’s Downtown 507 Broad St. sugarschattanooga.com Cornmeal 8 p.m. The Revelry Room 201 W. Main St. revelryroom.co The Skulx, Kerchief 8 .m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Wednesday Night Jazz 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Blues Night with Yattie Westfield 8 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Deaf Kings 10 p.m. Sluggo’s 501 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 752-4730

901 Carter St. Inside City Café (423) 634-9191

Thursday, September 24: 9pm Open Mic with Mark Andrew Friday, September 25: 9pm Jerry Fordham Saturday, September 26: 10pm She She Dance Tuesday, September 29: 7pm Server/Hotel Appreciation Night $5 Pitchers $2 Wells $1.50 Domestics ●

●

Wednesday, September 30: 8pm Blues Night feat. Yattie Westfield

#1 Desserts! Voted “Best of the Best” 901 Carter Street

citycafemenu.com/the-ofﬁce

Thursday • September 24 Comedy Buffet with Louis Katz

Friday • September 25 David Libre Hart

Saturday • September 26 WAXFANG

Sunday • September 27 Marlow Drive · Steve Burks The Vansaders

Monday • September 28 Sonny Vincent · One Timers

Tuesday • September 29

Altercation Punk Comedy Tour Map these locations on chattaJJ’s Bohemia • 231Blvd. E MLK Blvd. noogapulse.com. Send event list-JJ’s Bohemia • 231 E MLK ings at least 10 days in advance to: 423.266.1400 • jjsbohemia.com 423.266.1400 • jjsbohemia.com calendar@chattanoogapulse.com chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 17

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The GENI research network points towards a brand new Internet I’ve touched on GENI (Global Environment for Network Innovations) a few times in this column, mostly regarding its significant to Chattanooga’s bandwidth mastery of the universe. It extends EPB’s one-gigabit-per-second Internet speed, still the biggest community-wide ultrahigh bandwidth rollout, despite Comcast’s recent announcement of RICH two-gig service in some cities, by connecting UT-Chattanooga to 60-plus research universities who make up their own ultra-high bandwidth network through their connection to GENI. GENI has fascinating implications about a potential role for Chattanooga as a test kitchen for new bandwidthintensive applications that need a working network for testing. But until I heard Andrew Armstrong, technologist-inresidence at Co.Lab and the Enterprise Center, speak about GENI at the inaugural Chattanooga Salon last month at Lamp Post Group, I was a little fuzzy on the actual technology of GENI. Here’s how Armstrong explains it... filtered through my nontechnical understanding, of course. Any errors are definitely mine. GENI is a platform for researching new methods of networking. As technical as that might sound, the crux of the need for a new Internet—which is what GENI is pointing toward, eventually—is that many of the features that made the Internet possible when it was created have become weaknesses as it’s grown to be vastly larger than any of its creators ever imagined. In the old Internet model, when you click on a link, communication between your computer and the server hosting what you want to see is mediated by infrastructure computers called routers. “Your” information—whether it’s a

18 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

150-word book description on Amazon or a streaming video or a CT scan of your heart—gets broken up into smaller “packets” of data that include their ultimate destination (the web server you’re connected to) and instructions for reassembling the pieces. None of the millions of routers on the Internet know the route to your computer. They only BAILEY know the routers near them and how to move data. “When you push data on to the Internet, there’s immediately so many different routes it could travel,” says Armstrong. “That’s the first decision it makes. At each one of those next nodes, it has an equal number of decisions, and it grows so exponentially that it’s really hard to reason about where your data is going and how its being switched. It’s more ‘let’s see what happens’ than ‘this is what I think will happen.’” If that sounds suspiciously like a bunch of stupid people getting together to do something smart, that’s not far from the truth. Remember: the Internet was created in 1969. Computers couldn’t do anywhere near what they can do now. A computer network of any kind was unusual, not the office staple it is now. The genius of the Internet was figuring out how to make widely distributed computer networking happen with extremely limited resources. “When the Internet was built, this was the only way to make that work,” says Armstrong. “There just weren’t the tools, the computing, even the ability in silicon build switches that could take instructions from the outside. It was hardware. A switch took the traffic and did with it what it was supposed to, according to burned-in-silicon instructions. That was the only thing that could do it fast enough.”

Tech Talk

The problem now is scale, because of the Internet’s explosive growth. “Individual slices of technology have been upgraded to handle the scale but you still have approximately the same model,” says Armstrong. “Nobody had time to stop and say ‘we should be rethinking the fundamentals.’ They were so busy building the incremental technologies.” Those non-deterministic packet pathways cause problems like video stuttering during video conferencing because packets are taking circuitous routes, plus lack of security because no one plans where the data will go—it may even be impossible to know where data has gone after the fact. It’s also inefficient. GENI, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is a test bed for researchers to build and test experimental network protocols and applications that use of them. When the network is defined by software, not hardware, all the mystery is gone. From a distributed network in which data follows unknown—even unknowable—paths out of necessity, it looks like the Internet is heading toward an orchestrated state, in which a software defined network can determine the most efficient data pathway and send data more securely. But Armstrong hedges his bets. “I don’t want to go on record saying an orchestrated Internet would be better, or the future will be this way,” he insists. “I don’t want to predict. I’ll be wrong. But these are the types of experimentation this platform will enable.”

Rich Bailey is a professional writer, editor and (sometimes) PR consultant. He covers local technology for The Pulse and blogs about it at CircleChattanooga.com. He splits his time between Chattanooga and Brooklyn.

Four Years of Great German-Inspired Food The Brewhaus Gastropub celebrates another fantastisch Oktoberfest When it was announced that enjoy a taste of home...and Volkswagen was going to build their new home. an assembly plant here in Chat“A mixture of German tanooga, it was cause for celebrafood with kind of a Southtion. Lots of construction jobs ern American twist,” is would be created, how Nolan lots of well-paid describes Dining Out auto assembly the offerjobs would be ings at Brelouis lee created, the local whaus. “We real estate market would see imhave fun with it.” provement, area retailers would An example of that fuhave more customers—and the sion of cuisines is the list Scenic City might finally get an of entrees. There’s the authentic German restaurant. Schnitzel Weiner Art, a traFour years ago this week, that ditional pork loin, pounded last prediction came to fruition thin, breaded and sauteed, with the opening of the Breand then there’s the Roostwhaus on Frazier Avenue on the er Schnitzel Art which is North Shore. The restaurant has the same, but with a fried a rustic feel, similar to an old Baegg on top. varian pub, with bench seats and And one of their appetizrough-hewn tables. ers is the Southern-style The patio out back has one of Obatzada, house-made pithe best views of the Tennessee mento cheese served with River and Lookout Mountain sour dough and sweet pickin the city. Dinner at sunset is a led beets. real feast for the eyes as well as On the libation side, the palate. Brewhaus has a number General Manager Michael of draft beers on tap, from Nolan, who has been with the American craft beers to a eatery since it opened its doors, rotating selection of imsays German executives relocatported German brews. ing here from Wolfsburg needed “The beers we keep in a great place to eat, drink and are Kromebacher, Schnei-

Brewhaus Gastropub 224 Frazier Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37402 (423) 531-8490

Mon-Thu: 11 a.m. - Mid Fri-Sat: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

www.brewhausbar.com

“The patio out back has one of the best views of the Tennessee River and Lookout Mountain in the city. Dinner at sunset is a real feast for the eyes as well as the palate.” derweiss, Appleweiss, a pilsner and a hefe,” says Nolan. “Bottles are constantly rotating as well.” Along with German cuisine, the Brewhaus also serves up a fair share of German culture. In fact, this Saturday they’ll be celebrating their Fourth Annual Oktoberfest. From 11 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. enjoy brats, beer and polka music. Then on Sunday come our and watch Ironman athletes pass by on Frazier Avenue with even more great food and drinks. Starting at 5 p.m., enjoy classic German polka music from the Wurst-

brats, a band made up of select members of Sweet Georgia Sound… the ones that look good in lederhosen. After that, Dan Pinson of The Communicators and Danimal Planet takes the stage at 8 p.m. The Brewhaus has even created a special new dish that will be offered during Oktoberfest: Brewhaus Shanks. Imagine two 4-oz. smoked pork shanks served over a bed of sauerkraut and topped with caramelized onions, served with German potato salad and bier cabbage. To make it even more of a treat, Nolan says you

can get this plate of food, your first beer, a souvenir Oktoberfest stein and a T-shirt for only $40. For the Oktoberfest celebration, the parking lot will be roped off, there will be beer trucks serving and games to play, including one called Hammerschlagen. Hammerschlagen? Yes, large nails are placed in a log and players all have a hammer. In succession, each player gets one whack at their nail. The first one to drive their nail all the way into the log wins. Prizes will consist of half-liter boots, steins and other items.

chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 19

SCREEN SCENE

The Monster Living Next Door Johnny Depp chills as Boston ganglord Whitey Bulger in “Black Mass”

Wherefore Art Thou Romeo? Ballet meets Shakespeare in special big screen event It may well be the most famous boy-meets-girl story in the world. And no matter how many times (and in how many different variations) you’ve seen the tale of star-crossed young lovers, it never gets old. The timeless story of William Shaekespeare’s classic “Romeo and Juliet”—as performed by the San Francisco Ballet—will be shown on the big screen at Carmike’s East Ridge 18 as a special presentation of the Lincoln Center on Thursday, Sept. 24 for a one-night event. With its passionate choreography, spine-tingling swordsmanship, and

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celebrated score by Sergei Prokofiev, this colorful and emotional retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” has packed houses around the world. In addition, the audience will be treated to a behind-the-scenes look of the acclaimed company and exclusive interviews with the artists. Lincoln Center SF Ballet's “Romeo And Juliet” Thursday, 7 p.m. Carmike East Ridge 18 5080 S. Terrace (423) 855-9652 carmike.com

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Hotel Transylvania 2 Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis from leaving the hotel in the family-freindly followup. Director: Genndy Tartakovsky Stars: Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James

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The Intern 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. He becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin. Director: Nancy Meyers Stars: Anne Hathaway, Robert De Niro, Rene Russo, Nat Wolff

20 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

he identities of American gangsters have shifted in recent years. It’s no surprise that Martin Scorcese’s latest crime-inspired film wasn’t about back alleyway shakedowns, but white collar short selling and excess greed. Violent crime has dropped in recent years, and ever since “The Sopranos” faded to black, the fascination with organized crime has also faded.

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One of the major differences between ‘Black Mass’ and one of the more well-known gangster movies is how Bulger’s personality is developed in a whisper.”

Last year’s “A Most Violent Year” was not very violent, but it did feel like it took 12 months to reach the conclusion. A few years before that, Brad Pitt tried to breathe life into the genre with “Killing Them Softly,” a film that suffered from an abundance of theme and a scarcity of story. Every Mafia movie can’t be “Goodfellas” or “Casino,” but it has seemed for years that the genre has played itself out. However, genre films have a way of sticking around. If “Black Mass” has anything to say about it, it’s not quite time to take the cannoli. There’s plenty of corruption, plenty of murder, plenty of sociopathic personalities to go around. The history of America is full of it. “Black Mass” is the story of James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp), a Boston crimelord who ruled the 1980s through drug trafficking and extortion, while eradicating his enemies by informing on them to the FBI. Bulger was no John Gotti or Al Capone—he was far too secretive and cunning to live out his fantasies in public. If there is a difference in the character of Bulger and the typical Mafioso, it’s that Bulger appears to have lived simply, in the Southside of Boston, surrounded by close friends and tending to his aging mother, rather than loudly in expensive mansions taking care of pregnant strippers. His brother Billy Bulger (Benedict Cumberbatch), state senator during much of Bulger’s reign and chancellor of

the University of Massachusetts while Whitey Bulgar was a fugitive from justice, lived the high life of dinner parties and government connections. Whitey, it seemed, was content to haunt dark Irish bars, make occasional trips to Miami, and quietly supply the IRA with weapons. As much as “Black Mass” is a character-driven story, the motivations and drive of Bulger remain a mystery. He is a commanding presence onscreen, due to an excellent performance by Johnny Depp, who proves here that he can still play a character rather than a caricature when he’s in a non-Tim Burton film. But one of the major differences between “Black Mass” and one of the more well-known gangster movies is how Bulger’s personality is developed in a whisper. This may be due to his Irish background. Bulger is far different than the usual Italian mobster stereotype. But then, Jack Nicholson’s Frank Costello from “The Departed” could easily be described as theatrical, despite being based on Bulger as well. Depp, to his credit, takes a much more understated approach to the role, which makes the film dramatically different in tone. One might argue that many gangster films are celebrations of the criminal lifestyle. Scorcese, the master of the genre, walks that very thin line carefully in his films; he is exceptional at showing

both sides and allowing the audience to make up their minds. “Black Mass” director Scott Cooper never makes an attempt to show these men as anything but criminals. However, he doesn’t stoop to removing their humanity. Bulger is deeply affected by the loss of his son and his mother. His FBI cohort John Connelly (Joel Edgerton) is driven by an inflated sense of loyalty and a quasi-Boston Southside nationalism. The characters are not monsters in the traditional sense, but men with individual desires and goals. The film loses its way somewhat in these characterizations by relying too much on minor reactions of the actors to tell the story. Bulger is certainly unsettling, but an actor of Depp’s talents might have been better served by having more opportunities to chew the scenery, allowing him to move beyond creepy into classic villain territory. Still, it would be hard to classify “Black Mass” as anything but a successful film. It relies heavily on realism and fact-based storytelling to send its message. Each performance is nuanced and the film never seems overlong or dull. It is not likely to reinvigorate the genre, but it is one of the better entries in recent memory. Just when we thought we were out, there’s always going to be one more film about gangsters to see. chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 21

Free Will Astrology LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I feel like a wet seed wild in the hot blind earth,” wrote author William Faulkner. Some astrologers would say that it’s unlikely a Libra would ever say such a thing—that it’s too primal a feeling for your refined, dignified tribe; too lush and unruly. But I disagree with that view. Faulkner himself was a Libra! And I am quite sure that you are now or will soon be like a wet seed in the hot blind earth—fierce to sprout and grow with almost feral abandon. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You and I both know that you can heal the sick and raise the dead and turn water into wine—or at least perform the metaphorical equivalent of those magical acts. Especially when the pressure is on, you have the power to attract the help of mysterious forces and unexpected interventions. I love that about you! When people around you are rendered fuzzy and inert by life’s puzzling riddles, you are often the best hope for activating constructive responses. According to my analysis of upcoming cosmic trends, these skills will be in high demand during the coming weeks. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Some astrologers regard the planet Saturn as a sour tyrant that cramps our style and squelches our freedom. But here’s my hypothesis: Behind Saturn’s austere mask is a benevolent teacher and guide. She pressures us to focus and concentrate. She pushes us to harness and discipline our unique gifts. It’s true that some people resist these cosmic nudges. They prefer to meander all over the place, trying out roles they’re not suited for and indulging in the perverse luxury of neglecting their deepest desires. For them Saturn seems like a dour taskmaster, spoiling their lazy fun. I trust that you Sagittarians will develop a dynamic relationship with Saturn as she cruises through your sign for the next 26 months. With her help, you can deepen your devotion to your life’s most crucial goals. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming weeks will be a favorable time to break a spell you’ve been under, or shatter an illusion you have been caught up in, or burst free from a trance you have felt powerless to escape. If you are moved to seek help from a shaman, witch, or therapist, please do so. But I bet you could accomplish the feat all by yourself. Trust your hunches! Here’s one approach you could try: Tap into both your primal anger and your primal joy. In your mind’s eye, envision situations that tempt you to hate life and envision situations that inspire you love life. With this volatile blend as your fuel, you can explode the hold of the spell, illusion, or trance.

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Go to the edge of the cliff and jump off. Build your wings on the way down.” So advised author Ray Bradbury. That strategy is too nerve-wracking for a cautious person like me. I prefer to meticulously build and thoroughly test my wings before trying a quantum leap. But I have observed that Aquarius is one of the three signs of the zodiac most likely to succeed with this approach. And according to my astrological calculations, the coming weeks will be a time when your talent for building robust wings in mid-air will be even more effective than usual. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You are being tempted to make deeper commitments and to give more of yourself. Should you? Is it in your interests to mingle your destiny more thoroughly with the destinies of others? Will you benefit from trying to cultivate more engaged forms of intimacy? As is true for most big questions, there are no neat, simple answers. Exploring stronger connections would ultimately be both messy and rewarding. Here’s an inquiry that might bring clarity as you ponder the possibility of merging your fortunes more closely with allies or potential allies: Will deeper commitments with them inspire you to love yourself dearly, treat yourself with impeccable kindness, and be a superb ally to yourself? ARIES (March 21-April 19): You are destined to become a master of fire. It’s your birthright to become skilled in the arts of kindling and warming and illuminating and energizing. Eventually you will develop a fine knack for knowing when it’s appropriate to turn the heat up high, and when it’s right to simmer with a slow, steady glow. You will wield your flames with discernment and compassion, rarely or never with prideful rage. You will have a special power to accomplish creative destruction and avoid harmful destruction. I’m pleased at the progress you are making toward these noble goals, but there’s room for improvement. During the next eight weeks, you can speed up your evolution. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus-born physicist Wolfgang Pauli won a Nobel Prize for his research. His accomplishment? The Nobel Committee said he discovered “a new law of nature,” and named it after him: the Pauli Principle. And yet when he was a younger man, he testified, “Physics is much too difficult for me and I wish I were a film comedian or something like that and that I had never heard anything about physics!” I imagine you might now be feeling a comparable frustration about something for which you have substantial potential, Taurus. In the spirit of Pauli’s perseverance, I urge you to keep at it.

Jonesin’ Crossword

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GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 1921, the French city of Biarritz hosted an international kissing contest. After evaluating the participants’ efforts, the panel of judges declared that Spanish kisses were “vampiric,” while those of Italians were “burning,” English were “tepid,” Russians were “eruptive,” French were “chaste,” and Americans were “flaccid.” Whatever nationality you are, Gemini, I hope you will eschew those paradigms—and all other paradigms, as well. Now is an excellent time to experiment with and hone your own unique style of kissing. I’m tempted to suggest that you raise your levels of tenderness and wildness, but I’d rather you ignore all advice and trust your intuition. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The astrological omens suggest you could get caught up in dreaming about what might have been. I’m afraid you might cling to outworn traditions and resuscitate wistful wishes that have little relevance for the future. You may even be tempted to wander through the labyrinth of your memories, hoping to steep yourself in old feelings that weren’t even good medicine for you when you first experienced them. But I hope you will override these inclinations, and instead act on the aphorism, “If you don’t study the past, you will probably repeat it.” Right now, the best reason to remember the old days is to rebel against them and prevent them from draining your energy. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): You may laugh more in the next 14 days than you have during any comparable 14-day period since you were five years old. At least I hope you will. It will be the best possible tonic for your physical and mental health. Even more than usual, laughter has the power to heal your wounds, alert you to secrets hiding in plain sight, and awaken your dormant potentials. Luckily, I suspect that life will conspire to bring about this happy development. A steady stream of antics and whimsies and amusing paradoxes is headed your way. Be alert for the opportunities. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s a favorable time to fantasize about how to suck more cash into your life. You have entered a phase when economic mojo is easier to conjure than usual. Are you ready to engage in some practical measures to take advantage of the cosmic trend? And by that I don’t mean playing the lottery or stealing strangers’ wallets or scanning the sidewalk for fallen money as you stroll. Get intensely real and serious about enhancing your financial fortunes. What are three specific ways you’re ignorant about getting and handling money? Educate yourself.

22 • The Pulse • september 24-30, 2015 • chattanoogapulse.com

“Up With People!”—no, not the halftime show group. ACROSS 1 Curly-tailed Japanese dog 6 Bit of turf 10 Bone with teeth 13 Gets back to full strength 15 Debtor’s loss 16 Fireplace accumulation 17 Overcharge for a cigar? 19 Show set in Las Vegas 20 Bygone oath 21 Big name in oats 23 Los ___ (“La Bamba” group) 26 Public expressions of thanks 28 Bit of wishful thinking 30 Before, for poets 31 Stacks of wax 32 Bit of hair gel 33 “___ my keep” 35 Society page newcomer 36 Extinguished, as a candle

38 Meet in the middle? 42 Dessert often served a la mode 43 Many, with “a” 45 Prefix for pressure 46 “Honest” guy 47 Address from a rev. 48 Skyping accessory, maybe 50 Hay dummy? 53 Giant from Finland? 54 Louisiana subdivision 55 Blue movie material, slangily 57 “Ew!” 58 Program that just notifies you without blocking? 63 Mendacity 64 “Strange Condition” singer Pete 65 Like Aconcagua 66 Old salt 67 Downhill runner 68 Former Russian sovereigns DOWN 1 Radius setting 2 Mauna ___ (Hawaii’s

highest peak) 3 German pronoun 4 Adopt 5 Pixar movie with an entomological theme 6 Can recycler, sometimes 7 Beirut’s country: Abbr. 8 Not at all transparent 9 It may start as a flat ring 10 Hoist one player in a chess game? 11 Balance sheet heading 12 Helicopter sounds 14 Place for relaxation 18 Descendants of 31-Across 22 “You’ve got mail” hearer 23 Pot tops 24 In the blink ___ eye 25 Carnival announcer that surfaces from the water? 27 “Ready ___ ...” 29 “___-haw!” 34 Austrian

psychiatrist Alfred 35 The accused 37 Guy who might try to put whiskey in your meal 39 “I shall return,” e.g. 40 Antioxidantrich berry 41 Mountain cat 44 Full-voiced 46 Tree in a giraffe’s diet 47 It may “let out” in the afternoon 49 Gets on the plane 50 Knocked over, as milk 51 Annual sports awards since 1993 52 “Trap Queen” rapper Fetty ___ 56 Focus of “Straight Outta Compton” 59 Start to exist? 60 Jazz Masters org. 61 Word with plug or bud 62 Some hosp. employees

Copyright © 2015 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 0746

The Cop As Hollow Man Alex offers some increasingly esoteric thoughts on his world

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“We passed upon the stair, we spoke of was and when Although I wasn’t there, he said I was his friend Which came as some surprise I spoke into his eyes I thought you died alone, a long long time ago…” — David Bowie, “The Man Who Sold The World”

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.

“Pushing rope.” That’s what I’ve been doing for weeks now. Months. Maybe years. I show up to work and I’m not even there. I do what I do and I provide the services expected, from dealing with people one on one to returning phone calls to the ones I can’t meet, but it’s an empty suit. Well appointed and ready to go, but…Empty. Hollow. So I continue this existence as a Hollow Man and I do what all cops do and hope it passes…that it just gets better, that it goes away. Because it always does, and it always has, but

So I continue this existence as a Hollow Man and I do what all cops do and hope it passes…that it just gets better, that it goes away.”

But getting in the car, setting foot on the pavement that surrounds HQ? That nausea…that nausea is quite different from the stomach yet here I am. Ignoring the annoyances listed above. column I tried to write and Here’s what I’ve never just punching through the written about before in this one I’m actually putting on years-long effort to humanpaper now, because—why ize my pronot? fession, to I feel like explain the I’m chopparts that ping wood. ALEX TEACH the popular Not hackmedia won’t: ing my way That this job is a journey— through a jungle, but activeand that journey comes with ly cutting down one tree at a a price. time in order to get from one Oh, you can touch the top foot to the next, sweaty and of Mt. Everest, but getting bug- and bark-riddled. I’m a back down the mountain? racist by default and full of Two different stories. Literprivilege? Fine. I’m a tool ally. for the tax base, funding the This is not a first. Not for city (but not myself)? Fine. me, and certainly not for my I’m a liar and a leak based profession, but it’s truly horon the words of one agendarible to be in this position. driven and poorly-thoughtNew promotees? New of and obviously fair-willed “Lifers”? Read slowly. As sycophant? Fine. Again, not in, line by line, not the foldmy first rodeo. I’ve dealt ed-up version you’ll be hanwith back-stabbers and the dled when the “Alex Teach bosses that actually beGone Get Fired” groups get lieved them before, and I’m excited again. No. (It’s more still here while they are not. regulated now, relax.) “Welcome to America,” as And you here, too, you most would say.

On The Beat

still wish to visit Macrodiff? “I too had to be reminded that cars and trains kill, too, but why bother with the mundane work of a solitary officer out there—but until then, you contradict every order I have met regarding the boys so no further questions—just less clothing for those Surgically Impaired.” Guys, bid them up. If it’s secret, well, it’s not now, but it’s a start. Let’s take some of this vicious time off Echo. You are always on the side of justice—but we’ll only be for a MINUTE though, OK? See? Who cares. (Editor’s note: At this point, we gave up on trying to figure out what Officer Alex was talking about. Please draw your own conclusions.) At the end of the day, what have to us suspended to me Prison. That’s a lot of flower vases and (speech recently), but text…we write about the world we live in, and not in violation of policy as we hope. ;-) ’Night y’all. I’m DONE.

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chattanoogapulse.com • september 24-30, 2015 • The Pulse • 23

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