VOL. 16, ISSUE 39 • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019
SALUTING OUR UNSUNG HEROES
JUST HOW PREPARED IS CHATTANOOGA FOR A DISASTER? FREE
CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
2 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 16, ISSUE 39 • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL
EDITORIAL Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Jenn Webster Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors David Traver Adolphus Rob Brezsny Kim Teems Fox Matt Jones Ernie Paik Alex Teach Michael Thomas Brandon Watson Editorial Interns Lauren Justice • Mackenzie Wagamon Cartoonists Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow
ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin mike@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Rick Leavell • Cindee McBride Libby Phillips • Lisa Roche John Rodriguez • Danielle Swindell
CONTACT Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2019 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
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Saluting Our Unsung Heroes Let’s have an honest talk about just how prepared we are for when all hell breaks loose. Or better yet, a small piece of hell breaks loose and goes undetected for any length of time.
SWIM. RIDE. RUN. WATCH.
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MAKING A MUSICAL RACKET
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It’s that time of the year when a hint of Fall is in the air, though this year, Mother Nature seems to be wanting to keep the thermostat set a bit higher than normal.
After launching last fall with the release of Telemonster’s album Introspecter, Chattanooga’s Yellow Racket Records has maintained its creative momentum with two digital singles.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
This Thursday evening will be a hive of activity when supporters of FACES: The National Craniofacial Association come together to eat, drink, play, and make a difference.
BETWEEN TWO FERNS
As a general rule, turning short sketch comedy into feature length film isn’t a great idea. If “Saturday Night Live” has taught us anything (and I’m not sure it has) it’s this.
4 CONSIDER THIS
16 MUSIC CALENDAR
19 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
9 AIR BAG
18 MUSIC REVIEWS
20 NEW IN THEATERS
19 JONESIN' CROSSWORD
22 ON THE BEAT
12 ARTS CALENDAR
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 3
CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES
Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick “We are all visitors to this time, this place… we are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love...and then we return home.” — Aboriginal Proverb Whatever your beliefs about the afterlife, or about our purpose here on the blue marble, the fact remains that we are here now. Consider these gems about living a good life, an interesting and purposeful life: 1. Spend time with interesting people. 2. Do what you are passionate about, whether as a career or a hobby. 3. Say “yes” to new and different opportunities, adventures. 4. Embrace the motto, “fail forward”. 5. Travel, travel, travel. 6. Allow yourself to be curious, silly, childlike. 7. Learn something new every day. 8. Promote kindness through words and deeds. And, from Eckhart Tolle: “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” — Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
Swim. Ride. Run. Watch. A how-to guide on Chattanooga's IRONMAN
I
T’S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN A HINT OF FALL IS IN THE AIR, THOUGH THIS year, Mother Nature seems to be wanting to keep the thermostat set a bit higher than normal. And one of the very first signs of the approaching change of seasons is when downtown fills with incredibly fit athletes running, riding, and swimming as they prepare for the biggest race of them all: the IRONMAN. By Michael Thomas
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Pulse contributor
The annual event offers a professional prize purse of $40,000 and 40 coveted age-group qualifying slots to the 2020 Vega IRONMAN World Championship,”
4 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
One of more than 40 events in the global IRONMAN Series, the 2019 Little Debbie IRONMAN Chattanooga leads athletes along a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run throughout downtown Chattanooga and surrounding areas in Northern Georgia. The annual race offers a professional prize purse of $40,000 and 40 coveted age-group qualifying slots to the 2020 Vega IRONMAN World Championship, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Chattanooga mayor Andy Berke didn’t need to tell us this, but he does well in reminding the wider world that the city is already home to a thriving athletic community. “Chattanooga was a natural fit for this event,” he says, commenting
that the race will attract a whole new breed of athletes to a city already lauded by hang-gliding and rockclimbing aficionados. Berke looks forward to watching the IRONMAN event continue to grow over the next few years as it builds upon the city’s reputation as an outdoor adventure paradise. The up-stream swim in the Tennessee River, which kicks off the race this Sunday at 7:20 a.m., takes place along Chattanooga’s Riverwalk, where athletes will then exit the water at Ross’s Landing Park. The scenic two-loop bike course takes athletes 11 miles out of town and into the rolling hills of North Georgia, where competitors can expect incredible views as they parallel Lookout Mountain before riding
EDITOONS
through historic Chickamauga. The two-loop, 26.2-mile run course through downtown Chattanooga will cover the city’s most desirable attractions from the Tennessee Riverwalk to the Veterans Bridge. The final stretch will bring athletes down Riverfront Parkway to finish at Ross’s Landing along the Tennessee River. So where’s the best place to see all the action? SWIM: There is an opportunity to walk down the swim course and watch the entire swim along the Chattanooga Riverwalk. Organizers will shuttle athletes and spectators to the swim start from the transition point, or they may walk the 2.6 miles up the river along the trail. The swim start has several nice viewing areas. Do be aware that there is no parking at the swim start. BIKE: This beautiful course heads south of town for 11 miles before making two loops in North Georgia. There will be free shuttles down to Historic Chickamauga from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the transition area at Ross’s Landing.
RUN: The run will offer up plenty of viewing areas on the two-loop course. If you want to relax at the transition area, Ross’s Landing has a park and several water features for both young and old to play in—and, if need be, get cooled off. From there, a quick walk up Riverfront Parkway will get you to the area where athletes come through to start their second lap. Right around the corner from there is the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge, which will no doubt be lined with spectators. The view from here is not one to miss, and you might want to come early to claim a spot. Across the bridge on the North Shore, Frazier Avenue is full of eclectic shops and places to grab a bite to eat or a drink while cheering on athletes during the run. Barton Avenue, within walking distance and locally known as “The Hill”, will surely provide another fun perspective on the race. To get more information about the race, including a full schedule of weekend events, head over to ironman.com. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 5
COVER STORY
Saluting Our Unsung Heroes Wildfires, floods, tornados, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
By Brandon Watson
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Pulse contributor
On the night of September 12th, one of the city’s main water arteries ruptured, leaving some 35,000 connections without water.”
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ET’S HAVE AN HONEST TALK ABOUT JUST HOW PREpared we are for when all hell breaks loose. Or better yet, a small piece of hell breaks loose and goes undetected for
any length of time. Chattanooga is an undeniably unique city in many regards, but as far-out as our beloved town is, it still resides on a chaotic pale blue ball hurdling 67,000 mph through an infinite void and is therefore subject to the same laws of physics and phenomena as any other place. As a child of the ‘80s I’ve grown up with many large-scale disasters that arguably could have pushed humanity to the brink and signaled the apocalypse countless times over. Atomic Communism gave way to holes in the ozone layer, which took a backseat to
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Y2K, and then international terrorism. Now it’s global climate change, mass shootings, and past pop-up scares every time the president makes a tweet. Given the past three decades of near-catastrophic global calamity predictions, it’s a wonder we’ve not all been transformed into doomsday kooks with lead-lined bomb shelters underneath every house. I believe this is why zombie apocalypse scenarios are so appealing: a disaster that can be fended off with a rake or powerwalk seems much more manageable than, say, a total col-
lapse of infrastructure, or even basic utilities...a thing that Chattanooga experienced very recently. On the night of September 12th, one of the city’s main water arteries ruptured, leaving some 35,000 connections without water. This included the Aquarium, the UTC campus, and thousands of residents across the city. Marc Ericson walks us through what happened that night: “Response operations started one hour after the initial incident Thursday night. Key members of our office and Chattanooga Emergency Response agencies began addressing the issue at 11 p.m. and worked through the night to ensure fire suppression could be met throughout the affected area. “As the scope of the incident unfolded and expanded, we realized the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) would have to be activated. We activated the EOC about 7:30 a.m. on Friday and remained operational until 4 p.m. Monday, when it was reported that all areas were returned to normal service.” Ericson is the deputy director of the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. The retired Air Force tactical controller carries himself with an easy calm similar to that of a hurricane’s eye. A few minutes in a room with Ericson and it’s evident that he is a person you want smack dab in the center of any storm, fecal or otherwise. I watched firsthand as the mobilization of water distribution points kicked into overdrive throughout the day fol-
lowing the event. The police and fire training cadets on Amnicola unloaded tractor trailers by hand and off-duty police officers and firefighters came in to assist with bottled water transportation to numerous neighborhood distribution points around the city. Many of them stayed on throughout the weekend to ensure bottles of water made it to those who needed it. Army ants couldn’t have organized as fast— it was impressive. “This was a multi-jurisdictional effort encompassing local, regional, and state assets. Fire apparatus was brought in from twenty-five agencies that extended out as far as Knoxville and the Cumberland Plateau. Toilet facilities were brought in from areas as far away as Memphis. Water was provided by TEMA (Tennessee Emergency Management Agency), Coca-Cola, and Tennessee American Water,” Ericson explains. “Five hundred thousand bottles of water were distributed to the affected areas and five tanker strike teams consisting of thirty-four tankers were established to ensure fire suppression throughout all of the affected areas. Hundreds of toilet facilities were located as needed throughout the affected areas.”
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Given the past three decades of nearcatastrophic global calamity predictions, it’s a wonder we’ve not all been transformed into doomsday kooks with lead-lined bomb shelters underneath every house.” Just about a week prior to the water outage I was honored to have a conference with Hamilton County’s Emergency Management team. Let me give it to you straight: as I interviewed the team, I realized that I was in the presence of the real-life Avengers. These men and women have over fifty years collective experience with disaster response and preparedness. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to those kids who took being prepared a little too seriously…well, they may be sitting up at all hours ensuring our butts are thoroughly covered for just about every major event that could come our way. Ericson beams with pride as he gestures to the team of experts around him, something that strikes me as a mixture of fraternal bond and genuine admiration. The five-person team all have diverse backgrounds in disaster planning, firefighting, hazmat, and
public health; each member bringing a wealth of skills and knowledge to support Hamilton County and beyond. This disaster dream team is staffed by Greg Helms, lead EMA planner, Greg Smith, EMA planner, Amber Randolph, fixed nuclear facility planner, and Fire Lieutenants Jody Clift and Nick Wilson. Together they are regularly adapting new technologies, training, and resources to keep our communities proactive instead of reactive to any disaster situation. Greg Helms serves Hamilton County as lead emergency management planner. The quiet, no-nonsense man chuckles as I asked him why he made a career out of planning for the worsecase scenarios. To which he replied, “I was a Boy Scout and I loved always being prepared.” But really Greg Helms is a silent chaos theorist who is one part Boy Scout
and two parts psychic Jedi master. Helms ensures that disaster mitigation plans are relevant, informative, and cohesive for all players in the response process. He also ensures that the county is compliant in order to receive Federal grant funds that keep response functions equipped and running. “The planning process is really the most valuable part of a plan; if something happens, we can’t just pull out a five-hundred-page handbook for a step-by-step solution while a disaster is ongoing,” Helms notes. “The process of working a plan and training and exercises that integrate all the agencies within Hamilton County is crucial.” To clarify this: Chattanooga resides in a very rich environment for disasters both man-made and natural. There exist two nuclear power facilities, several manufacturing sites, a hydroelectric dam, and active transportation operations on land, air, and river. Under the unified Hamilton County Emergency Services umbrella each largescale function, be it commercial or communal, is informed and trained alongside the county to really drive home the concept of cohesion. Let’s say a barge capsizes near the North Shore. Not only will the uni-
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 7
COVER STORY
formed first responders be there, but so will Hamilton County Emergency Services and any commercial entity that holds responsibility in that area. HCES will collect data, formulate planning, and ensure execution of plans with the assets and resources available, all while keeping John Q. Public and support departments informed. Usually the average person will only see the frontline responders when it comes to anything emergency related. Yet there is a complex network of communication at the local, state, and federal levels, including interdepartmental training and fast real-time communication with redundant systems to ensure the backup will have a backup. Emergency communication facilities have multiple locations just in case of power outages or damaged primary facilities. There always seems to be a plan for a plan, with back-up plans for how our neighboring counties and states can help or can be helped. This teamwork mentality extends to many distant cities as well, so it’s not uncommon for members of Hamilton County’s Emergency Services to go elsewhere to help a sister city in times of need. But the fun doesn’t end there. After 8 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
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Rest assured that long after the news crews move on to the next potential disaster, our emergency service heroes are still working previous events into training and operational doctrines.”
every event, data is collected, analyzed, and sourced to specialized groups in the area. Currently Helms is working with UTC’s Department of Geology to put together information regarding landslides. So, rest assured that long after the news crews move on to the next potential disaster, our emergency service heroes are still working previous events into training and operational doctrines. But here’s the million-dollar questions: How prepared is Hamilton County? Should we lose sleep? “I have a lot of confidence with the agencies in this area; the key resource is its people [and] everyone that I’ve dealt with here, from leadership to the boots on the ground, and for me personally, the person who overwatches all of it, I’ve got no worries,” Ericson says. “It’s all about the public staying safe, everybody here, and the entire area is
willing to assist each other. We’ve built connections, we’ve trained together, and we’ve evolved together as a community to face anything.” Lt. Jody Clift, Hamilton County fire training instructor, leans towards the conference table to drive this point home with his explosive personality that could make aged nitroglycerin jealous. “I think the bottom line is that everybody in this room and all the people we work with are doing this because we give a damn.” Truer words couldn’t be articulated any better. As I leave Hamilton County’s Avengers at the 911 Center I walk away with a feeling of genuine ease. Allstate Insurance should take a page from HCES playbook because when it comes down to facing emergency situations of any proportion, I believe we are all in very good hands.
COLUMN · AIR BAG
Yes, Cool Cars Are Still Being Made Clebrating cars from the Miata RF to the Morgan Three Wheeler
Y David Traver Adolphus Pulse columnist
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You might think regulations actually force automakers to produce boring cars, but that’s not true—there are plenty of fascinating supercars.”
David Traver Adolphus is a freelance automotive researcher who quit his full time job writing about old cars to pursue his lifelong dream of writing about old AND new cars. Follow him on Twitter as @proscriptus.
OU DON’T HAVE TO BE INTERested in cars to figure out that they are a homogenized commodity. All you have to do is look around at the sea of black and white and silver lozenges to recognize products being built to the same identical standard. No one is competing to see who has the highest tailfins or who can go lowest and widest. Power is hardly ever mentioned and interiors are generally plasticky beige or black utility areas. How much advertising mentions styling at all, or power? Cars are sold on mileage, infotainment, and driver aids and I just fell asleep. You might think regulations actually force automakers to produce boring cars, but that’s not true—there are plenty of fascinating supercars. Like anything, it’s a matter of willpower, and sometimes, money. But you don’t have to spend six, seven (or eight, looking at you, Bugatti) figures to end up with a vehicle that stirs you—a Mazda MX-5 Miata RF starts at $31,000 brand new. And how about that Miata? Every time I see the little folding hardtop RF I stop in my tracks. Who makes something like that? Just the funky dudes from Hiroshima who have always gone their own way. But no, you say. That 37-pound Mazda is far too big—and has far too many wheels. Then you want the 82 thundering horsepower of an M3W—the Morgan Three Wheeler. They will sell you one from the factory with a WWII-style pinup girl painted on the hood. You don’t have to buy an impractical
sports car or spend much money, however. Daihatsu may have left the US 25 years ago but they’re alive and well and kooky elsewhere, with products like the seven-passenger Move Canbus (actual Daihatsu quote: “Canbus is made up of the words ‘Can’—representing that anything is possible—and ‘Bus’.”) with an MSRP of about $14,000. While we’re in Japan, how about a nice Mitsuoka Viewt Nadeshiko (actual Mitsuoka quote: “Just the right size for a woman to drive”)? I could say a lot about its intended classic Jaguar-esque neoclassical styling or Nissan microcar underpinnings. But I’ll just let you bask in this, the least odd car Mitsuoka makes. OK, one more from Japan’s thriving wackycar market (and I’m not even mentioning Mazda’s Bongo!), a Nissan DAYZ ROOX (actual Nisan quote:
“Gives you a sense of spaciousness and individuality and thickness”). ALL CAPS BECAUSE THAT’S HOW NISSAN WANTS IT. More actual practicality, you say? Then the eternal Lada is for you, in 4x4 Bronto spec (actual Lada quote: “Bright and Strict: A new combination”). I’m sure 61hp from 1.7 liters will get you somewhere, eventually. Probably anywhere, actually. There are dozens more, but interesting doesn’t have to equal strange. There’s nothing odd about a Volvo V90 wagon, especially in R-Design trim, just one of the most striking vehicles on sale in America. Volvo and a few others show that there’s nothing holding us back from having all the heated cupholders we want, and something beautiful to get us around.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 9
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Eat. Drink. Party. Make A Difference.
Celebrating five decades of helping children
Inside The Art Of Fashion The Association for Visual Arts (AVA) immerses visitors in the wonders of artistic talent, and this Friday evening will be no different as they host the “Art of Fashion” opening reception to showcase fashion as an art form at their gallery on Frazier Ave. in the heart of the North Shore. This event will highlight the creative ability of professional artists and students in Chattanooga. Fashion photography, sculpture paintings, manipulated fabrics, and original clothing designs will all be presented at the reception. To demonstrate their creative process, artists who choose to do so will bring sketches and rough drafts of their project to show alongside the finished work. Art manifests itself in many methods and fashion is just one of the many ways artists express themselves. For centuries, designers have celebrated the human body as a canvas that can display works of fine art. Dedicated to connecting visual arts and community, AVA takes advantage of every artistic outlet so they can offer something for everyone. According to their mission statement, they do this because they “believe that art makes people and communities better”. An off-site fashion event will also be held during the exhibition, which is a precursor to the Fashion Fundraiser taking place on October 10th at the Moxy. This is the association’s most trendy exhibit yet. Don’t miss it. — Lauren Justice
By Kim Teems Fox
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Pulse contributor
The evening will be filled with good food, drinks, games for prizes of wine and more.”
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HIS THURSDAY EVENING WILL BE A HIVE OF ACTIVity when supporters of FACES: The National Craniofacial Association come together to eat, drink, play, and make a difference at the 50 Years of FACES charity fundraiser. The evening will be filled with good food, drinks, games for prizes of wine and more, a marvelous silent auction, aerial acrobat performances by Sora Sol, and music by hometown hero Roger Alan Wade. The gala event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall on Riverfront Parkway. Although FACES is a national organization, it began locally. Debbie
Fox, a young girl from Soddy Daisy, was born in 1955 with a facial cleft. When she was 14 years old, Dr. Milton Edgerton at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Medical Center created a new face for her. Many people involved in Debbie’s care began thinking “beyond the local horizon” and were interested in extending services to other children with like facial malformations.
Her family and teacher, along with a group of physicians, lawyers, and philanthropists, formed The Debbie Fox Foundation, now called FACES: The National Craniofacial Association. Currently headquartered here in Chattanooga, FACES makes facial surgeries possible for children and adults across the nation by financially assisting with travel costs for specialist care. The stories of the children helped by FACES are the stuff to warm your heart. Take for example Elena, who went from speaking by sign language and eating entirely by g-tube to talking and getting a fair portion of the calories she needs each day by “eating by mouth”, as her family calls it. Thanks to surgeries that were not possible when she was born, the tracheostomy tube that was vital to her early survival has been removed, she chews and swallows and speaks (eventualities that were not guaranteed), the health of her eye has been maintained despite a detached retina last year, and most recently she has the help of a new generation of hearing aids that brings her hearing almost to normal range. “To be honest, when Elena was born, we never could have foreseen
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Over the years, artists, entertainers, local celebrities, and caring residents of the city have come together to help support this amazing organization and wonderful cause.” the brilliance that has greeted us in her team of doctors, nor the kindness of people we don’t even know helping us with all the expenses we’d never imagined,” her mother Amy recalls. “Just when I couldn’t figure out how to pay for a return flight and rooms for a surgery complication, I discovered that FACES helps families with travel costs, room and board. You, and all the people who have kindly donated to FACES, have been at our side ever since and we thank you.” FACES also organizes and runs a summer camp for kids with facial differences. FACES Camp is designed for children with any type of craniofacial anomaly such as cleft lip and palate, Apert syndrome, Crouzon syndrome, Pfeiffer syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, Goldenhar syndrome, etc., as well as from accident, burn, or disease. The camp encourages children with facial differences to gain indepen-
dence by being social and making friends with other kids who have similar medical issues. The FACES Camp Director, Ashley Rhodes, was born with Crouzon syndrome and also has a child with Crouzon syndrome. Young adults with facial differences volunteer as camp counselors. The camp features typical camp activities including talent nights, arts and crafts, archery, canoeing, ropes course, zip line, rock wall climbing, hiking, swimming, and horseback riding. Over the years, artists, entertainers, local celebrities, and caring residents of the city have come together to help support this amazing organization and wonderful cause. Although a child may look different, he or she is still just a child who wants to be accepted by peers, loved, and encouraged to succeed. You can help change lives by attending the fun and uplifting event, or by donating to FACES at faces-cranio.org
THU9.26
FRI9.27
SAT9.28
Eric Foster and Friends
“Matilda”
Week In Review
The beloved story of a young girl with psychokinetic powers, an incredible imagination, and a very strong will. 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. theatrecentre.com
It's a night of comedy and improv as the talented cast takes on the week that was here in Chattanooga. 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. improvchattanooga.com
Big 95.3's own morning man headlines a night of great comedy featuring Mike James and more. 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 11
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR THURSDAY9.26 Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 5 p.m. Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 760-3600 huttonandsmithbrewing.com 50 Years of FACES Celebration 5:30 p.m. Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall 890 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 760-4333 celebrationoffaces.org Alley Hour 5:30 p.m. Cooper’s Alley 10 E. 7th St. Death Over Dinner 6 p.m. The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Open Mic Poetry 6:30 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com “Matilda” 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Eric Foster and Friends 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Shostakovich & Rachmaninoff 7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 chattanoogasymphony.org Alcoholics Not Anonymous Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m. Westbound Bar
12 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com
FRIDAY9.27 An Evening with Austin Channing Brown 6 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 702-8081 thecamphouse.com Tara Hamilton 7 p.m. Frequency Arts 516 Tremont St. facebook.com/frequencyarts Reno Collier 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Spark! 7:30 p.m. The Mill Chattanooga 1601 Gulf St. (423) 634-0331 sculpturefields.org Improv "Movie" Night Presents: Femme Fatale Film 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
“Matilda” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Video Game Night 8 p.m. Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Good, Old-Fashioned Improv Show 10 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SATURDAY9.28 Paint Making with Natural Earth Pigments 9 a.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Wags N’ Wheels Car Show 9 a.m.
ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT Reno has built a reputation by selling out comedy clubs and colleges nationwide. He has performed at the prestigious HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, CO and the Montreal Comedy Festival, and taped his own “Comedy Central Presents” special. Reno Collier Friday-Sunday The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com
TVA Park at Chickamauga Dam 3020 Kings Point Rd. petplacementcenter.com Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us West Village Green Farmers Market 10 a.m. Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Paper Sculpture Demo 11 a.m. River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com “Matilda” 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Get Your Hands Dirty 6 p.m. Scenic City Clay Arts 301 E. 11th St. (423) 883-1758 sceniccityclayarts.org Friends 25th: The One With The Anniversary 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Reno Collier 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “Matilda” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Week In Review 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Once a Month 9 p.m. Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. #118 (423) 803-6578
chattpalace.com Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SUNDAY9.29 IRONMAN Chattanooga 7:30 a.m. 201 Riverfront Pkwy. ironman.com Paint Making with Natural Earth Pigments 9 a.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Collegedale Market 11 a.m. Collegedale Commons 4950 Swinyar Dr. collegedalemarket.com Chattanooga Market 12:30 p.m. The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com The Secret World of Arrietty 12:55 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com “Matilda” 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Reno Collier 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY9.30 Beginning Watercolor 9 a.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Intermediate Watercolor 1 p.m.
Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Letting Go of Perfectionism: Understanding Shame 5:30 p.m. The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Fall Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m. Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd. (423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Joggers & Lagers 6 p.m. Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. (423) 702-9958 chattabrew.com Meditative Art: Introduction to Zentangle 6 p.m. The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com The Secret World of Arrietty 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com River City Dance Club 7:45 p.m. Peace Strength Yoga 3800 St. Elmo Ave. (813) 731-9581 rivercitydanceclub.com Comedy Open Mic Night 9 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192 thehonestpint.com
TUESDAY10.1 Chess K-night 5 p.m. Mad Priest Coffee Roasters 1900 Broad St. (423) 393-3834 madpriestcoffee.com Home Buyer Happy Hour 6 p.m. The Chattery at Chattanooga
WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com AVA Critique Workshop 6 p.m. AVA Gallery 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282 avarts.org Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Introduction to Sushi Making 6 p.m. The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Paths to Pints 6:30 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Open Mic Comedy 7 p.m. Common General 3800 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 521-0065 Poetry, Pups & Pints 7:30 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Comedy Tap Takeover 8 p.m. Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 760-3600 huttonandsmithbrewing.com
WEDNESDAY10.2 Raise the Roof Luncheon 11:30 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 habichatt.org Goals: Finish 2019 Strong Noon The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750
chattanoogaworkspace.com Main Street Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Exhibit Reception 5 p.m. Arts Build 301 E. 11th St. (423) 756-2787 artsbuild.com Artist Talk at Townsend Atelier with Kirsten Stingle and Christine Kosiba 6 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Artsperiences! 6 p.m. Mad Knight Brewing Company 4015 Tennessee Ave. (423) 825-6504 madknightbrewing.com Asia Travel Skills 6 p.m. The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.come Improv Open House 7 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Friends 25th: The One With The Anniversary 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m. The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Open Mice Comedy 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 13
THE MUSIC SCENE
Making A Musical Racket Yellow Racket Records has some big plans
Synchronicity EDM Pre-Party Are you ready for some EDM? The annual Synchronicity Festival is just around the corner, and the folks at Soundsystem Cultures have decided to throw a Synchronicity PreParty this Thursday night at JJ’s Bohemia. One of the longest-running grassroots EDM festivals, Synchronicity Festival is local to Chattanooga and will be celebrating its tenth year with a program featuring many local, regional, and national artists in genres including electro, drum and bass, house, and dubstep. To tease the upcoming festivities, the PreParty will also host a range of EDM bands and sounds in an exciting lineup including Wreckno, Sound System Dub Collection, M3WT, and Era-Step. Wreckno will be headlining the party, which features powerful Funktion-One sound by Chattanooga production studio Soundsystem Cultures. The EDM musician, based out of Los Vegas, is known for his originality, individuality, and shining performances. His talent and charismatic nature have made Wreckno one of EDM’s most popular practitioners. The Pre-Party will be held at JJ’s Bohemia this Thursday and starts at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $10 and can be bought online at theticketingco.com/event-synchronicityfestivalpreparty To attend the party, you must be 21 years old, so make sure to bring ID. For more information, call Soundsystem Cultures at (561) 314-9826 or JJ’s Bohemia at (423) 3625695. — Mackenzie Wagamon
By Ernie Paik
“
Pulse contributor
The label’s plan is to open a new 2,000-squarefoot record store and coffee bar in Chattanooga next April.”
14 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
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FTER LAUNCHING LAST FALL WITH THE RELEASE of Telemonster’s album Introspecter, Chattanooga’s Yellow Racket Records has maintained its creative momentum with two digital singles. First comes the lush strum-pop of “Half the Day” from El Rocko (a.k.a. Chase Waller) and the misty calm of “Rabbit Hollow” from Joel Harris, followed by the domestic release of the full-length album I Was Told to Be Quiet from the Portugal-based Brazilian artist MOMO, whose work has been praised by the likes of Patti Smith and David Byrne. Yellow Racket’s latest news comes at a time when the revenue from vinyl record sales is projected to surpass that of CD sales for the first time since 1986, according to the Recording Industry Association of
America. The label’s plan is to open a new 2,000-square-foot record store and coffee bar—in partnership with Goodman Coffee—in Chattanooga next April, which will host events such as in-store performances, artist meet-and-greets, and listening parties. Label founder Ben VanderHart (also a member of Telemonster) answered some questions about this news for The Pulse. The Pulse: Did you have some specific stores in mind as models for Yellow Racket’s upcoming store?
Ben VanderHart: Grimey’s in Nashville is a great example of a store that keeps customers coming back with the curation of their collection, the vibe of the space, and the appeal of regular in-store events. I think a great record store is one that offers an experience you can’t get online. The type of events and the space itself act as a lightning rod for music lovers of all kinds—even ones who don’t buy vinyl. TP: As creative director of Yellow Racket, what goes into the artist selection process? BV: I would say that I’m most drawn to music that feels immediately familiar, but offers a new take on an old sound. I think nostalgia appeals to our hearts and originality appeals to our brains. So great music will resonate with me emotionally, but challenge my expectations of what’s possible. Practically speaking, when an artist sends me a new release, I listen for both those things, and if it hooks me, I usually share it with the artists on the label and ask for their opinion. If everybody digs it, we start talking about adding them to our roster. In the case of El Rocko, the music appealed to my love of ‘80s pop and new wave, but it also had the honesty and lo-fi sensibilities of ‘90s acts like Elliott Smith or Red House Painters. When I first heard MOMO’s album, I
“
We can adapt to the times while also advocating for fair compensation and encouraging people to be educated about their listening habits.” was blown away with how it was immediately accessible and extremely catchy, even though I am not wellversed in Latin music, and I don’t speak French or Portuguese (which makes up half the album). It also incorporated elements of bossa nova and psych folk in a way that I hadn’t heard before, so it had both a cerebral and a visceral appeal. TP: A new promo video about the upcoming store mentioned the “physicality of listening” regarding physical media; what are your own listening habits and favorite ways to share and discover music? BV: I don’t demonize Spotify or Apple Music or other streaming services. I think it’s better to roll with the punches and try to adapt, rather than fighting tooth and nail against the inevitable changing of the tides. The writing is on the wall: streaming is here to stay. But we can adapt to the times while also advocating for fair compensation and encouraging people to be educated about their listening habits. I use Spotify, YouTube and Band-
camp on a regular basis—primarily as a way of discovering and sharing new music or as a way of listening to music on the go (driving, exercising, working remotely, etc.). But when I fall in love with an album, I want to add it to my vinyl collection. I listen to records as a reminder to be intentional about listening to music—that sometimes it’s best to sit down and give an album your undivided attention the way you would a movie or a TV show. Because only then can you experience all the subtlety and nuance of this work of art that took hundreds of hours to create. And by buying the record, you show the artist that you really care about the effort they put into making it, and you can support them financially to make the next one. As I mentioned before, I love the immediacy of sharing a new discovery on Spotify or Apple Music, but it doesn’t compare to the joy of giving or receiving a favorite record as a gift that says, “I know you; I know what kind of music you enjoy; and I think you’ll dig this.”
THU9.26
FRI9.27
SAT9.28
Jyemo Club
Beppe Gambetta & Rusty Holloway
WOW Chatt Concert
This powerhouse project brings together musicians from five different countries, each serving their own flavor. 6 p.m. Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org
The superb Italian acoustic guitarist, Beppe Gambetta, teams up with bassist Rusty Holloway. 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org
The Abbey Road and Satisfaction tribute bands face off to benefit the Women’s Oncology Warriors Foundation. 6 p.m. Miller Park 928 Market St. millerparkplaza.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 15
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY9.26 Jyemo Club 6 p.m. Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org John Carroll 6 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Danimal & Friends 6 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Logan Wilson 6 p.m. Charlie’s BBQ & Bakery 2309 E. Main St. charliesbbqandgrille.org Gino Fanelli 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Billy Cobham 7 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St songbirds.rocks Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Webb Barringer Band 7 p.m. Edley’s Bar-B-Que 205 Manufacturers Rd. edleysbbq.com Naomi Ingram 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Blue Ridge Grass 7:30 p.m. The FEED Co. Table and Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Jesse Jungkurth & Friends 7:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Shostakovich & Rachmaninoff 7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St.
16 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
chattanoogasymphony.org Grizzly Fowler 7:30 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com Keepin’ it Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Wreckno 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Marty Manus 10 p.m. Westbound Bar 24 Station St. westboundbar.com
FRIDAY9.27 Kimmie J. Soul Noon Miller Park 928 Market St. millerparkplaza.com Nick Williams 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Lord Kitchener’s Valet with Victoria Priest 7 p.m. Frequency Arts 516 Tremont St. facebook.com/frequencyarts Captain and the Kid 7 p.m. OddStory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Larry Fleet 7 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Generations Feat. Ryan Oyer & Jeff Hoffinger 7 p.m. Heritage House Arts Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. chattanooga.gov The Remedy 7:30 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com
Jessie Jungkurth 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Beppe Gambetta & Rusty Holloway 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Calee 8 p.m. The Spot of Chattanooga 1800 E. Main St. facebook.com/1800EMain Yearløve, One Caged Tiger, Class War, Kamikaze Zombie 8 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Lucy Isabel 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Randall Adams 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Lee Bainsiii, Glory Fires, Bohannons, Trillbillies, Country Wstrns 9 p.m. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Cafe 505 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 752-5224 Forever Abby Road 9 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St songbirds.rocks Lenox Hills with Behold the Brave 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Mark Andrew 9 p.m. The FEED Co. Table and Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Shehehe, The Tunnels, One Timers 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Dead End Friends
9:30 p.m. The Brew & Cue 5017 Rossville Blvd. (423) 867-9402 Stephen Busie Band 10 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixon Pike tremonttavern.com Wasted Riffs 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY9.28 Danimal 10:30 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Abigail Flowers 11 a.m. Cadence Coffee Company 11 E. 7th St. cadencecoffeeco.com Michael Jacobs 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Chickstock 3 p.m. Coolidge Park 150 River St. northchick.org Input/Output, Why Don’t We 4 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co The Black Jacket Symphony: The Eagle’s Hotel California 5, 9 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Ben Honeycutt 6 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com Etowah Jacks 6 p.m. Slick’s Burgers 309 E. Main St. slicksburgers.com David Anthony 6 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton
6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com WOW Chatt Concert 6 p.m. Miller Park 928 Market St. millerparkplaza.com Flattop Boxers 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Heatherly 7 p.m. Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd. huttonandsmithbrewing.com Amber Fults 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com TNT 7:30 p.m. Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Bands Together Benefit Concert 8 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Buzzard Cult, Stoned Cold Fox, The Breaknecks 8 p.m. The Spot of Chattanooga 1800 E. Main St. facebook.com/1800EMain Steven J. Williams and Will Nance 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com David Ingle 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Fun Isn’t Fair, Subkonscious 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Diamond Dogs 9 p.m. Mayo’s Bar & Grill 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com Josh Gilbert 9 p.m.
HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com jjsbohemia.com Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St songbirds.rocks Wasted Riffs 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY9.29 The Close 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Mark Andrew 11 a.m. The Edwin Hotel 102 Walnut St. theedwinhotel.com Carl Pemberton 11 a.m. Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Ayla Silver Noon 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com My Name is Preston Noon Southside Social 1818 Chestnut St. thesouthsidesocial.com Danimal and Friends 12:30 p.m. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Brandon Maddox 12:30 p.m. The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Cannon Hunt 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com The Other Brothers 2 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co.
1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Lon Eldridge 2 p.m. The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Monthly Jazz Jam 3 p.m. Barking Legs Theatre 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Ken Stringfellow 7 p.m. The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 641-0030 Lucinda Williams 7 p.m. Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com The Molly Maguires 7 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com
MONDAY9.30 Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Blues Night Open Jam 7 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co
TUESDAY10.1 Acoustic Bohemian Night 6:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing IX 6925 Shallowford Rd. mexiwingix.business.site Danimal 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Tre Powell 7:30 p.m.
Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Pickin’ N Pints 7:30 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Midnight Rollercoaster 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
WEDNESDAY10.2 Webb Berringer 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Alan Wyatt Quartet 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Hayseed Dixie 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St songbirds.rocks Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com John Carroll 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 Randall Adams 8 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 17
MARC T. MICHAEL’S RECORD REVIEWS
New Music From Daniel Martin Moore, Jerry Leger
Daniel Martin Moore Never Look Away (Sofaburn)
Jerry Leger Time Out for Tomorrow (Latent Recordings)
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had eight albums to his credit when he partnered with multiinstrumentalist Seth Kauffman to “have some fun” creating Never Look Away. Each of the ten songs on the album began with a basic rhythm to which they added either guitar or piano along with a scratch vocal. From there it was a matter of collaboratively adding bits and pieces, tweaking here and refining there, layering instruments and experimenting with harmonies (with the help of Moore’s usual gang of musical conspirators) until the end product burst forth as though it had been birthed whole and complete from the start. To the non-musician, such a process sounds like “how it is done,” but that is less true than you might think. Much music, perhaps most, is built in an almost assembly-line manner.
hen I was a young fellow I attended an event in which a group of fantasy illustrators, for the amusement of their audience, competed in a game of Win, Lose, or Draw. It was played for humor (to great success) but what was more striking was the way that they, armed only with magic marker and big sheets of paper, created beautiful works of art. Even more stunning was that they did so with speed and ease, with nonchalance. It seemed like wizardry. I came to realize, of course, that this was the result of years of hard work and dedication to their craft, decades of refining talent, and that the exhibition was like play for them. It was a profound and heartening revelation. Daniel Martin Moore, an artist hailing from my old hometown in Kentucky, already
That is not a disparagement of that technique, even it sounds like one. Building songs, even if following tried and true processes and templates, is still a highly creative endeavor and only the most callous “assembly line” music sounds so, but there is a recognizable difference in songs that are organically grown. Lovingly crafted one at a time, there is a warmer, gentler sincerity present and one is left believing that the tunes guided the artist in their creation as much as the other way around. This music is gentle, thoughtful, mostly acoustic I suppose; the nearest contemporary I can think of is Damien Rice who is sometimes described as “indie folk rock,” but even that seems like a cheapening of the beauty and subtlety of Never Look Away. Best then to leave it unlabeled except to say that it is a thoughtful exploration of shared experiences. Titles like “Drift of Autumn”, “We Will Know”, and “Real Love Song” may give a glimpse into the soul of the record, but the only way to know and understand it is to hear it. Fortunately, you can do that on October 4th when the album will be released via Sofaburn Records and OK Recordings. Suffice it to say that Never Look Away is, so far, the high-water
mark of a career defined by an ever-expanding repertoire of soul-soothing, spiritually moving music.
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art Springsteen, part Townes Van Zandt, part Dylan, part Lennon, Jerry Leger is a songwriter’s songwriter and the truth of it is born out utterly by the upcoming November release of his newest album, Time Out for Tomorrow. Smart lyrics coupled with exquisite music makes for an album that is pure braintickling ear candy. Hailing from Ontario, Leger the songwriter, singer, guitar player and pianist, is joined by “The Situation” , an absolutely stellar collection of musicians consisting of James McKie on lap steel and vocals (and a host of traditional instruments,) Dan Mock on bass and vocals, Kyle Sullivan on drums and percussion, and guest artists Tim Bovaconti on autoharp and vocals, Aaron Comeau on piano and Alan Zemaitis on organ. Whether the aforementioned singer/songwriters were a particular influence on Leger is unknown and a moot point anyway. Influence or no, his musical, vocal, and lyrical sensibilities echo the qualities of those legends so well and so naturally that I am inclined to believe it far less a matter of influence than a simpler truth
that this is what great singer/ songwriters sound like. The comparison to great artists pervades the album, including elements of Elvis Costello in “Read Between the Lines”, Todd Rundgren, in “Tell a Lie”, and a somewhat less dark touch of Nick Cave on “Survived Like a Stone”. Keep in mind, I’m suggesting “elements of” rather than “sounds like,” because frankly, Jerry Leger and company sound like Jerry Leger and company, but if you have any love for the growing list of famous musicians mentioned so far, Leger’s music will speak to you in a most profound and moving way. Yes folks, he, his band, and his music are really THAT good. Leger’s music is readily accessible online, and I have no doubt that if you take just a few moments to breeze through his catalog, you will pre-order the new album now. It is a treasure, a sure sign that for all the mediocrity polluting the airwaves, music still has a soul and a generation has its own voice as clear and relevant and powerfully moving as any that preceded it. Time Out for Tomorrow will be available in all formats on November 8th via Latent Recordings.
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JONESIN' CROSSWORD
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I just cut my bangs in a gas station bathroom,” confesses a Libran blogger who calls herself MagicLipstick. “An hour ago I shocked myself by making an impulse buy of a perfect cashmere trench coat from a stranger loitering in a parking lot,” testifies another Libran blogger who refers to himself as MaybeMaybeNot. “Today I had the sudden realization that I needed to become a watercolor painter, then signed up for a watercolor class that starts tomorrow,” writes a Libran blogger named UsuallyPrettyCareful. In normal times, I wouldn’t recommend that you Libras engage in actions that are so heedlessly and delightfully spontaneous. But I do now.
“The Name Game”—maybe it’s a mean name, amen. ACROSS 1 ___ gow poker 4 “The Godfather” actor James 8 Highest peak in New Zealand 14 Twilight, poetically 15 “Clair de ___” (Debussy work) 16 “___ divided against itself, cannot stand”: Lincoln 17 Small complaint 18 “The Facts of Life” mentor ___ Garrett 19 Gossipy sorts 20 Comedian currently copresenting “The Great British Bake Off” 23 Latvian currency 24 Pet lizards 28 “Downton Abbey” countess 31 SpaceX founder 32 “Evita” narrator 34 Go for a stroll 36 “What ___ can I say?” 37 With it, when “with it” meant something
38 Former latenight host 41 Evanescence vocalist Amy 42 Commedia dell’___ 44 Triglyceride, for one 45 Part of D.A. 46 “Exodus” author 49 Swiss capital 51 “Melancholia” star Dunst 52 5 to 2, e.g. 55 Tennis superstar, as nicknamed by his Serbian fans 60 Buffet bit 63 Like octuplets 64 “Blueprint for a Sunrise” artist 65 ___ and Guilder (rival nations in “The Princess Bride”) 66 More than enough, for some 67 The Lightning Seeds lead singer Broudie 68 Forewarning 69 Ardor 70 “Black-ish” father
DOWN 1 Pasta in casseroles 2 “Wheel of Fortune” purchase options 3 Defense missile used against other missiles 4 F or G, e.g. 5 “Vorsprung durch Technik” automaker 6 Ben Stiller’s mom 7 Curly of the Harlem Globetrotters 8 Request to be excused 9 2018 horror movie and spin-off of “The Conjuring 2” 10 Swindle 11 Not closeted 12 Mama bear, in Madrid 13 Jennifer Lien’s “Star Trek: Voyager” role 21 Head of Hogwarts? 22 Actor Rao of “Drag Me to Hell” and “Avatar” 25 Invalid 26 Money in the bank 27 Sport with
clay pigeons 29 Literally, “reign” in Hindi 30 M.D.’s group 31 Island off Manhattan 32 Pool hall supply 33 “Ready or not, ___ come!” 35 Story credit 39 Calligrapher’s tip 40 Honorary poem 43 Suck in 47 Place of perfection 48 Give in 50 Hundred Acre Wood resident 53 Iranian coin 54 Pastry with some Earl Grey 56 Controversial TV health adviser 57 “Emma” novelist Austen 58 Marine predator 59 Ship’s bottom 60 Ozone layer pollutant, for short 61 Words with king or carte 62 NaNoWriMo, er, mo.
Copyright © 2019 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 955
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You could call the assignment I have for you as “taking a moral inventory” or you could refer to it as “going to confession.” I think of it as “flushing out your worn-out problems so as to clear a space for better, bigger, more interesting problems.” Ready? Take a pen and piece of paper or open a file on your computer and write about your raw remorse, festering secrets, unspeakable apologies, inconsolable guilt, and desperate mortifications. Deliver the mess to me at Truthrooster@gmail.com. I’ll print out your testimony and conduct a ritual of purgation. As I burn your confessions in my bonfire at the beach, I’ll call on the Goddess to purify your heart and release you from your angst. (P.S.: I’ll keep everything confidential.) SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Two hundred years ago, Sagittarian genius Ludwig Beethoven created stirring music that’s often played today. He’s regarded as one of history’s greatest classical composers. And yet he couldn’t multiply or divide numbers. That inability made it hard for him to organize his finances. He once wrote about himself that he was “an incompetent business man who is bad at arithmetic.” Personally, I’m willing to forgive those flaws and focus on praising him for his soul-inspiring music. I encourage you to practice a similar approach with yourself in the next two weeks. Be extra lenient and merciful and magnanimous as you evaluate the current state of your life. In this phase of your cycle, you need to concentrate on what works instead of on what doesn’t work. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “When you hit a wall—of your own imagined limitations—just kick it in,” wrote playwright Sam Shepard. That seems like a faulty metaphor to me. Have you ever tried to literally kick in a wall? I just tried it, and it didn’t work. I put on a steel-toe work boot and launched it at a closet door in my basement, and it didn’t make a dent. Plus now my foot hurts. So
what might be a better symbol for breaking through your imagined limitations? How about this: use a metaphorical sledgehammer or medieval battering ram or backhoe. (P.S. Now is a great time to attend to this matter.) AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): In 1965, Chinese archaeologists found an untarnished 2400-yearold royal bronze sword that was still sharp and shiny. It was intricately accessorized with turquoise and blue crystals, precision designs, and a silk-wrapped grip. I propose we make the Sword of Goujian one of your symbolic power objects for the coming months. May it inspire you to build your power and authority by calling on the spirits of your ancestors and your best memories. May it remind you that the past has gifts to offer your future. May it mobilize you to invoke beauty and grace as you fight for what’s good and true and just. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “All human beings have three lives: public, private, and secret,” wrote Piscean novelist Gabriel García Márquez. I will add that during different phases of our lives, one or the other of these three lives might take precedence; may need more care than usual. According to my analysis, your life in the coming weeks will offer an abundance of vitality and blessings in the third area: your secret life. For best results, give devoted attention to your hidden depths. Be a brave explorer of your mysterious riddles. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Comedian John Cleese speaks of two different modes toward which we humans gravitate. The closed style is tight, guarded, rigid, controlling, hierarchical, and tunnel-visioned. The open is more relaxed, receptive, exploratory, democratic, playful, and humorous. I’m pleased to inform you that you’re in a phase when spending luxurious amounts of time in the open mode would be dramatically healing to your mental health. Luckily, you’re more predisposed than usual to operate in that mode. I encourage you to experiment with the possibilities. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Upcoming adventures could test your poise and wit. They may activate your uncertainties and stir you to ask provocative questions. That’s cause for celebration, in my opinion. I think you’ll benefit from having your poise and wit tested. You’ll generate good fortune for yourself by exploring your uncertainties and asking provocative questions. You may even thrive and exult and glow like a miniature sun. Why? Because you need life to kick your ass in just the right gentle way so you will become alert to possibilities you have ignored or been blind to.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Novelist John Irving asked, “Who can distinguish between falling in love and imagining falling in love? Even genuinely falling in love is an act of the imagination.” That will be a helpful idea for you to contemplate in the coming weeks. Why? Because you’re more likely than usual to fall in love or imagine falling in love—or both. And even if you don’t literally develop a crush on an attractive person or deepen your intimacy with a person you already care for, I suspect you will be inflamed with an elevated lust for life that will enhance the attractiveness of everything and everyone you behold. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You know your body is made of atoms, but you may not realize that every one of your atoms is mostly empty space. Each nucleus contains 99 percent of the atom’s mass, but is as small in comparison to the rest of the atom as a pea is to a cathedral. The tiny electrons, which comprise the rest of the basic unit, fly around in a vast, deserted area. So we can rightfully conclude that you are mostly made of nothing. That’s a good meditation right now. The coming weeks will be a fine time to enjoy the refreshing pleasures of emptiness. The less frenzy you stir up, the healthier you’ll be. The more spacious you allow your mind to be, the smarter you’ll become. “Roomy” and “capacious” will be your words of power. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “We don’t always have a choice about how we get to know one another,” wrote novelist John Irving. “Sometimes, people fall into our lives cleanly— as if out of the sky, or as if there were a direct flight from Heaven to Earth.” This principle could be in full play for you during the coming weeks. For best results, be alert for the arrival of new allies, future colleagues, unlikely matches, and surprise helpers. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In North America, people call the phone number 911 to report an emergency. In much of the EU, the equivalent is 112. As you might imagine, worry-warts sometimes use these numbers even though they’re not experiencing a legitimate crisis. For example, a Florida woman sought urgent aid when her local McDonald’s ran out of Chicken McNuggets. In another case, a man walking outdoors just after dawn spied a blaze of dry vegetation in the distance and notified authorities. But it turned out to be the rising sun. I’m wondering if you and yours might be prone to false alarms like these in the coming days, Virgo. Be aware of that possibility. You’ll have substantial power if you marshal your energy for real dilemmas and worthy riddles, which will probably be subtle.
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FILM & TELEVISION
What Really Lurks Between Two Ferns?
✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴
Sketch comedy film needs more sketch
Judy Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts. Director: Rupert Goold Stars: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock, Rufus Sewell
The Day Shall Come An impoverished preacher who brings hope to the Miami projects is offered cash to save his family from eviction. He has no idea his sponsor works for the FBI who plan to turn him into a criminal by fueling his madcap revolutionary dreams. Director: Christopher Morris Stars: Anna Kendrick, Danielle Brooks
A
S A GENERAL RULE, TURNING SHORT SKETCH COMEDY INTO FEATURE length film isn’t a great idea. If “Saturday Night Live” has taught us anything (and I’m not sure it has) it’s this. Beyond 1980’s The Blues Brothers and 1992’s Wayne’s World, you’d be hard pressed to find a feature length film that works. By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor
“
Trying to stretch a single joke across ninety minutes is nearly impossible. That doesn’t stop filmmakers from trying. ”
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Sure, we might vaguely remember MacGruber or The Ladies Man, but I bet you’ve completely forgotten films like It’s Pat or Stuart Saves His Family. Part of this might be because most of these sketches were only mildly amusing to begin with. They managed to gain some popularity with fans, being repeated a few times on air, and Lorne Michaels saw dollar signs. They don’t work, however, because their humor is almost always one note. It’s a premise, not an idea, and most of the time a premise is short on development. Truthfully, The Blues Brothers only really works because of the music scattered throughout and Wayne’s World rests entirely on the performance of Mike Myers and Dana
Carvey. Trying to stretch a single joke across ninety minutes is nearly impossible. That doesn’t stop filmmakers from trying, however. The latest of these attempts is Between Two Ferns: The Movie, a film based on the popular Funny Or Die web series of the same name starring Zach Galifianakis. It’s a film that almost works, and like Wayne’s World, does so because of the strength of Galifianakis. For those unfamiliar with the series, it involves Galifianakis playing an exaggerated version of himself— a fat, angry, sarcastic man who doesn’t belong on television awkwardly interviewing celebrities by asking hilarious, mean questions. The interviewees, who range from
celebrities like Michael Cera to Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton, often improvise their responses, adding to the authenticity of the sketch and creating some of the best humor around. A good example of this is when, during his interview with Barack Obama, he asked him what it was like “being America’s last black president?” Over eleven years, Galifianakis has gotten in slap fights with Bradly Cooper, spanked Justin Bieber for his attitude, and in the new film, drowned Matthew McConaughey. Somehow, the episodes never wear out their welcome. This is likely due to the relatively sparse nature of their release. There’s no set season, no studio expectation, no advertisers to please. It’s 100 percent the brainchild of Galifianakis and his partners Scott Aukerman, who also directs the film, and writer B.J. Porter. Between Two Ferns: The Movie is as much a spoof on sketch comedy films as it is on celebrity interviews. The filmmakers put the barest of plots in motion—Galifianakis has to make ten more episodes of his show in two weeks, travelling across the country, and deliver them to Will Ferrell, who founded the Funny or Die website and production company with Adam McKay. If he does this, Galifianakis will be given his own late night talk show on Lifetime. The bulk of the film is comprised of
interviews, interspersed with scenes of him and his crew making their way to California. These parts drag a bit, but there are enough interviews to keep the film moving. To be honest, the whole thing might have worked better if the story was dropped and the interviews had just been part of a collection on Netflix. As it is, some of the interviews seem truncated, and if there’s anything Between Two Ferns is good at, it’s leaving the audience wanting more. I could have easily done without the movie part of the film. I suggest having something else to do while watching—look up for the interviews, but don’t worry much about missing anything story wise. It doesn’t matter anyway. Still, uneven Between Two Ferns is better than no Between Two Ferns. I can say that the film is worth your time, particularly if you’re a fan of the web series. Hopefully, this isn’t the end of the series itself. It really does seem like a premise that won’t even wear out its welcome. There is seemingly no end to American celebrity culture. When Galifianakis asks Jon Hamm if he thinks Bradley Cooper’s Oscar-nominated role for A Star is Born will “open doors for other hot idiots,” we all know that hot idiots are not in short supply. We need Zach Galifianakis to keep pointing this out. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 • THE PULSE • 21
COLUMN · ON THE BEAT
A Glimpse Into The Abyss On a grim anniversary, a struggle to step back from the edge
S Alex Teach
Pulse columnist
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I witnessed the tears on my shoulder patches and badge while they embraced me, their bodies heaving as they struggled for air, literally racked with grief.”
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.
UICIDE. IT ETERNALLY COMPETES with “child rape” for the top spot in the darkest of themes possible for me, but if volume is a factor the former surpasses the latter by far. An uncomfortable anniversary of such is coming up and I’m struggling to write about this at all for fear of upsetting or offending the rest of the family, but at the same time it’s all that’s on my mind and actually talking about it is both what needs to be done to combat it, and the subject of the anniversary would want this written for just that reason. Suicide used to make me mad—and it still does—but that’s evolved over the years. I saw it as the most selfish act a person could commit, an act whose only result is a wake of destruction for the friends and family left behind. I see now that my judgement was based on dealing exclusively with that one part: The aftermath. I witnessed the tears on my shoulder patches and badge while they embraced me, their bodies heaving as they struggled for air, literally racked with grief. I heard the young children of the decedents comforting me (ME!) when they saw my tears of frustration and empathy in response. I had to hide the remains from view as best possible to preserve memories, and occasionally used my pocket knife to cut away carpet (and wallpaper and pictures) covered in remains. Yes. Suicide pisses me off. That said? It never really truly struck home until just a few years ago in the comparable twilight of my career when a family member joined the sad ranks. I’d looked in from the outside for so long, it never occurred to me to consider it from the inside out. Sure, I gave it a
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cursory thought (I DO possess empathy, however inconvenient it may be) but as a rule I only saw it as a foolishly permanent solution to what is a temporary problem. At those points in my life, however, I never considered the utterly crushing weight of depression or the terror of true anxiety, and what it’s like to live with them. This clear moment also made me realize how I suffered from both of those as well. I mean, I’ve known for some time, but not really known, if that makes sense. It’s safe to say I gave pause to reflect. There is an abyss, and it has an edge. I now find that most people don’t know they’ve been at this edge for some time until something finally causes them to look down and either take a few steps back, or to stare into it a bit until it indeed stares back at you and Decision Time comes. In my case? I’ve talked to some people. Not just friends, but in windowless offices with lots of books and very comfortable chairs and lots (and lots) of documented Q&A forms. There’s a stigma that goes with this, make no mistake—but now that I realized I’d been introduced to the same demons that the decedents mentioned
above had with firm, uncomfortably long handshakes (and the occasional vile embraces), I came to prefer the awkward discomfort to the alternative. To becoming a two-page police report and a call to “ServePro” like so many other souls I’d encountered. Talk. Take a pill. Know that there’s no happy ending to not considering such, and know what it does to those you care about all the same. And if anything? You can take comfort (if not humor) in seeing the face of a true PhD’d professional making an “Oh S**T” expression despite all their training when you relay such awful truths that even doctors themselves wait for you to leave so they can quietly lock their office door and pull out a bottle of red label Johnny Walker to help THEM cope with what’s in your head. It really is therapeutic to know it’s okay to be a little crazy after seeing reactions like these. (Note I spoke of that in the plural.) Talk. Or at least recognize it’s okay to be feeling these feelings if you can relate. And know there is a way out, no matter your proximity to either side of that edge of the abyss. It’s anniversary time, so hugs. (And as long and uncomfortable as you’d like.)
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