OCTOBER 4, 2018
ARTS · ENTERTAINMENT · CULTURE
“I AM”
the in all of us COMING TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE OURSELVES AND OUR UNIQUE SPIRITS by Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 15, ISSUE 40 • OCTOBER 4, 2018
BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL
EDITORIAL Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Brooke Brown City Editor Alex Curry Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Rob Brezsny • Kevin Hale Matt Jones • Sandra Kurtz Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Michael Thomas • Brandon Watson Editorial Interns Allan Duggar • Ethan Palmer Cartoonists Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow
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The “I AM” In All Of Us If you have studied theology and are somewhat familiar with the major religions of the world; or if you were raised Christian/Muslim/Jew in a family that practiced their faith; or if you are familiar with the New Testament for whatever your own reasons may be; then you are undoubtedly aware of the “I AM” passages that are a centerpiece of the relationship you have with the god of your understanding.
ALL ABOUT THE CENTER CITY
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HANDSOME JACKS
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For so many of us, Chattanooga is synonymous with Home. An undeniable charm exists in the valley surrounded by luscious mountains and a stunning river.
At the height of their popularity, Little Feat had six members. Likewise, the Grateful Dead hovered at around six members for much of their career.
VIOLENCE AND ART
Domestic violence victims and those who live on the street may not evoke thoughts of fine visual art but one Clarksville transplant hopes to use the medium of painting to help them.
A NOT SO SIMPLE FAVOR
Everyone likes a mystery. From Sherlock Holmes to The Big Lebowski, most people enjoy trying to piece together a narrative, to solve some crime before the protagonist.
5 CONSIDER THIS
20 MUSIC CALENDAR
26 GAME ON!
9 SHADES OF GREEN
22 MUSIC REVIEWS
27 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
12 ARTS CALENDAR
23 ART OF BUSINESS
27 JONESIN' CROSSWORD
14 HALLOWEEN GUIDE
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CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES
All About The Center City Keeping up with all the vibrant changes in the Scenic City
By Alex Curry Pulse City Editor
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So much is happening and changing in Chattanooga on a constant basis that we decided to give it its own section here in The Pulse.”
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OR SO MANY OF US, CHATTANOOGA IS SYNONYMOUS with Home. It’s a place that pulls us back time and time again. An undeniable charm exists in the valley surrounded by luscious mountains and a stunning river. The once dismal industry town is now a memory in sleepy history books.
Chattanooga has come a long way from its 1969 accolade of “Country's Most Polluted City” to one of the most critically acclaimed outdoor spots in the USA. Decades of artists, chefs, urban planners, politicians, developers, teachers, athletes, and movers and shakers have incubated the city into a mecca of community driven collectiveness. The city has developed a soul that brings people from all over the world to visit and even start a new life. A booming restaurant scene, a growing infrastructure, and an ever-increasing focus
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on arts and community education are at the forefront of the city’s collective. So we decided to start writing about it. The city between the bridges, the formerly best kept secret around, has risen to take its rightful place on the world’s map. So much is happening and changing in Chattanooga on a constant basis that we decided to give it its own section. But a city isn’t a self-contained entity. Behind everything going on are amazing people that want the best for our budding community. Here, we’ll learn about these people, the places where
they find their fulfillment, we’ll learn about the events that they make happen, and the studios, kitchens, offices, stages, tattoo parlors, and galleries where ideas come to fruition. We’ll explore what makes Chattanooga’s heart beat. We’ll dig in, gloves off, and hopefully learn as much as we can about a city on the rise to stardom. We’ll visit the zoo and find out about exciting new animals coming to our city. We’ll visit the galleries and restaurants and see what’s going on at Chattanooga Workspace. We’ll try to keep up with what’s happening on Main Street. We’ll try to listen and grow along the way. And we’ll also spend some time talking about the people that are helping to counteract the city's adversities. Exciting things are on the horizon for our home. This booming growth is in its infancy. People are gravitating to the city center in droves and new restaurants and businesses seem to open every time I drive downtown. People even like soccer now—you would have never believed it 20 years ago. All of these things and so many more have turned Chattanooga into a powerhouse of creativity, tourism, and adventure. We’ll dive down the rabbit hole and see how deep it goes. Jumping in deep tends to open more and more doors. We’ll open these doors and then see what’s next. If you ask me, I don’t think the doors will ever stop. Someone will always be there with a new idea, a new trend, a new exciting prospect. And we would love to hear from you. Let us know what we’re missing and how we’re doing.
Pickin’ & Grinnin’ The riverfront comes alive with 3 Sisters Festival
Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick
“I have a dream. That one day we will not be judged by what we think happens to us after we die, but by how we treat others while we are alive.” — author unknown
Do you want to dance your britches off down by the river like it’s the days of old? Do you want to do it for free? This Friday and Saturday night is the 12th annual 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival, and it is FREE FOR ALL. If you just give the lineup a listen, then you’ll know why this is a gift to music lovers of this city. Of the few leading acts, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper are the crème de la crème. Cleveland graduated from the Kentucky School for the Blind but has played the fiddle since the age of four.
Having won the Fiddle Player of the Year Award over 10 times, Michael Cleveland is a rockstar of contemporary bluegrass. But don’t get me wrong, Cleveland and Flamekeeper have a classic bluegrass sound and a blistering pace to match. Another act is Della Mae: an allfemale powerhouse of bluegrass jamming and songwriting. Hailing from Nashville but fine-tuned in Boston, these five women still carry the fast rhythm of traditional bluegrass but with a note of modern country songwriting. These headliners qnd over a doz-
en more will be pickin’ and grinnin’ at Ross’ Landing this Friday and Saturday. Shows run from 6 p.m. to after 10 p.m. on Friday night and from noon to after 10 p.m. on Saturday. The festival is made possible through drink and food venders so outside food and drink is prohibited. Expect wine, beer, soft drinks and some finger lickin’ delicacies. And plan to bring your pup as the festival is dog-friendly! For more information about the lineup and schedule visit 3sistersbluegrass. com. —Allan Duggar
The philosopher Osho teaches us that “Life in itself has no meaning. Life is an opportunity to create meaning.” Our choice comes into play with this opportunity. We can choose to be happy. To be kind, nurturing, humorous, mischievous, loving and generous. Not to suggest that this is always easy. But it is a choice. We can also choose the opposite. So consider this: Watch your words…to your kids, parents, friends, sibs, co-workers. And realize that your words are reflective of your inner self—your attitudes, feelings and thoughts. In other words, the life you are creating. And be especially aware of your words about yourself because, well, you are listening. — Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
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COVER STORY
The “I AM” In All Of Us Coming together to celebrate ourselves and our unique spirits
By Rick Pimental-Habib Pulse contributor
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The “I AM” that I want to share with you here comes from a different perspective, a different direction.”
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F YOU HAVE STUDIED THEOLOGY AND ARE SOMEWHAT familiar with the major religions of the world; or if you were raised Christian/Muslim/Jew in a family that practiced their faith; or if you are familiar with the New Testament for whatever your own reasons may be; then you are undoubtedly aware of the “I AM” passages that are a centerpiece of the relationship you have with the god of your understanding. “I am the way…I am the light…” and so forth. If you are one of the above “followers,” then you are no doubt discouraged about the myriad headline-grabbing, tumultuous happenings of organized religion. Serious concerns such as diminishing attendance; younger generations eschewing their parents’ “old school” (Old Testament?) teachings for more relevant and open-minded congregations that teach of God’s love for all living things, including all humans, inclusively, with-
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out judgement; the decades-old and exhausting debates around women’s rights and homosexuality in the church—conversations that always seem to include the intensely judgmental and impossible admonition to “hate the sin but love the sinner.” (Is the holier-than-thou, superior attitude of that phrase completely lost on those who use it?) And of course, the familiar headlinemaking child sexual abuse scandals that
run rampant in, among others, the Catholic church. But the “I AM” that I want to share with you here comes from a different perspective, a different direction. A kinder, gentler direction, if you will. The philosopher Rumi said, “I belong to no religion. My religion is love. Every heart is my temple.” The Dalai Lama said, “My religion is kindness.” For the healers, alternative wellness professionals, non-denominational spirituality followers; those who hug the trees and howl at the moon; people who believe in the energy that is shared by all creatures great and small, especially from Mama Earth herself; and those with the ability to use that energy for healing and peace—for the hurting individual and global well-being alike; and on and on, “I AM” is considered
to be the most powerful phrase in the universe. Consider the following: “I am about love, and the healing power of love. I am in the path of abundant goodness that is heading my way. I am sending my thoughts of care and wellness to friends, strangers and loved ones. I am sitting with gratitude for all the blessings in my life. I am envisioning and co-creating my reality as I go. I am responsible for my own choices. I am available to those in need. I am in love with my dog!” These words, free of religious dogma, are just the beginning of a life ready to be well lived, and the goodness inherent in all human beings, goodness ready to be shared. Without judgement, without condition, and without the prerequisite to “believe as I do.” Many of my own loved ones attend church regularly. They are sure to choose a church that chooses them, and their loved ones. Homophobic? They’re outta there. Don’t allow women to hold high office? Buh-bye. Preach about a punitive god? Movin’ on. Interestingly, all the major religions of the world have, at their core, the same shared values. “Treat your neighbor as you wish to be treated,” for example. And they all share their own particular version of the “I AM” belief. For those staunchly committed to their beliefs, with no room for new information, no permission to question the pulpit, and too much fear to allow themselves to peek, with genuine interest, into someone else’s spiritual window, this must sound like New Age woo-woo, or some sort of hippy paganism, or atheism. Or, as fundamentalist worshippers believe, these are the words of those who are headed for the fiery pits of
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I AM means we all are. I AM means that I am you and you are me, and we are all Spirit. Except for the diverse vessels we inhabit, we are one.” hell, while they, of course, are headed to the pearly gates for the after-life rewards that they, and not the hippies, so richly deserve. To which I say, Good luck, St. Peter. Side note: Paganism, you’ll recall, pre-dates Christian holidays with parallel holidays of their own, celebrating Nature, the seasons, the phases of the moon, and the spirit that dwells within each of us. This was accomplished and celebrated with peace-loving freedom, without judgement or exclusivity. And although gravely misunderstood in modern society, most Pagans will tell you that their spirituality is all about love, diversity and acceptance. No wars were started by Pagans. And so, “I AM” perhaps more than
any other phrase, refers to the connection we all share with our Higher Power. The “God within,” if you will. I suggest to you that it therefore also refers to the connection with each other, with the energy of the universe, with all living things, without exception. I AM means we all are. I AM means that I am you and you are me, and we are all Spirit. Except for the diverse vessels we inhabit, we are one, with many more similarities than differences. We are the universe expressing itself as human. Or as tree. Or as dog, cloud, apple, wind and rain. We are the brothers and sisters from the same Source. We are walking on the ground that our ancestors walked on, and all breathing the same air. All of us, in-
cluding the hippies, unwed mothers, so-called immigrants (aren’t we all?) and gays. The topic of I AM seems timely right now, in our little scenic city, on the morn before our LGBTQ Pride festivities. Because if anyone knows of the pain of not being part of the accepted, celebrated and honored fellowships of the world, it’s gay folks. To brush up on your gay history (and if you’ve missed The Pulse “Pride” articles over the years), here it is in a nutshell: New York City and San Francisco are the LGBTQ civil rights grandfathers. It was a brave and fed-up drag queen at the Stonewall Inn, a Greenwich Village bar, who threw the first fateful punch on the night of Judy Garland’s death in June of 1969. Judy was an icon. Community grief was palpable. And the police had organized yet another raid on gay bars in the city. Enough was enough. Police stormed in, batons swinging, and were met with an angry, grieving bunch of queens. Thus began
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COVER STORY
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We have tremendous power if we choose to use it. Literally and figuratively, we heal one another through community.” the “Stonewall riots” and the modern gay rights movement. Fast-forward a few years and San Francisco saw the election of Harvey Milk, a visionary civil and human rights leader who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. His commitment to authenticity gave never-before-experienced hope to LGBTQ people everywhere at a time when the community was still encountering widespread hostility and discrimination. His career was cut short when he was assassinated a year after taking office by fellow Supervisor (and noted
homophobe) Dan White, who also killed S.F. Mayor George Moscone that same day. White was acquitted of murder charges and given a mild sentence for manslaughter, in what became known as the “twinkie defense”—eating too much junk food that day. It’s interesting to note that in ancient tribal civilizations, gay men and lesbians were considered healers, shamans and sages. What has evolved since those ancient cultures is the painful experience of the gay community knowing full well what it’s like to be wounded on many levels, and to receive messages that foster a lack of self-esteem. The LGBTQ community understands
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the inherent wrongness of being treated as second-class. Gay drums beat differently—more creatively?—out of necessity, and that, perhaps, has always been a saving grace. And thanks to a long history of struggle, we can now look at marriage and the growing voice of the transgender community as examples of positive global change. We mustn’t forget the undulating sea of pink hats, where gay/queer/bi/ trans and allied women hold prominent seats at the table, a round-table of ideas mixed with the fortitude to get greater numbers of progressive-thinking women to run for politics than ever before in history. This despite, or because of, having to deal with a sociopathic administration intent on undoing our nation-wide progress. Two steps forward… Here’s what queer history teaches us: We have tremendous power if we choose to use it. Literally and figuratively, we heal one another through community.
So those so-called “New Age” spiritualities (which are actually ancient), and the tree-hugging, loving and progressive theologies are indeed on the rise, and many of the conservative, non-accepting religions are indeed scrambling to keep their flock, finding themselves falling on the wrong side of history with a loud Biblical thunk. What’s our take-away from all this? Perhaps you can let these ideas provide a springboard for your own spiritual evolution. Let ponderings happen, let conversations commence. Let your own open mind and heart encourage open minds and open hearts to flourish. Let belongingness be the bell that sounds, the ringing in our ears each time we encounter a stranger or loved one alike. Be the change. And above all, I encourage you to know, deep in the center of your being, that no matter what atrocities or rejections, abandonments or abuse you have encountered, “I AM” applies to you, too. I am, we are…and everyone belongs at the table. Until next time, I want to leave you with these further thoughts to ponder: “I’ve been a monk for 65 years, and what I have found is that there is no religion, no philosophy, no ideology higher than brotherhood and sisterhood.” — Thich Nhat Hanh “Family is not about blood. It’s about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it the most.” “Be who you are, not who the world wants you to be.” Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, minister, and educator in private practice in Chattanooga. Contact him at DrRPH.com, visit his wellness center at WellNestChattanooga.com
COLUMN · SHADES OF GREEN
Trees Send Signals In Color The fall leaves are changing...and not always for the good
O Sandra Kurtz
Pulse columnist
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Climate change has warmed up the planet so that there’s not the color peak there used to be, but rather a more drawn out season of drab colors.”
Sandra Kurtz is an environmental community activist, chair of the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway Alliance, and is presently working through the Urban Century Institute. You can visit her website to learn more at enviroedu.net
CTOBER IS HERE! IT’S MY custom at this time to remind you once again of the wondrous seasonal change now beginning and answer that burning question: Why do leaves fall off trees? To quote myself from past writings: “With the tilt of the Earth, it’s clear that there will be less light for photosynthesis for food making, and water will be harder to get. Trees begin to shut down. At the base of each leaf is a small corky layer that swells and cuts off the flow of water. With no access to water, green chlorophyll disappears and we see the color of the leaves underneath. Eventually, the corky layer forms a disintegrating cell line that says ‘tear here’ and so each leaf falls to the ground. It’s a miraculous process.” Now comes a new discovery: Researchers say red is not just hiding behind chlorophyll, like yellow and orange. Red is made from sugars in the tree as it prepares for winter. Around here we can expect an even mix of colors, but go to Vermont to see vibrant, glowing reds and red oranges due to the larger number of red and sugar maples. Bright, dry months inhibit nitrogen uptake, thereby spurring sugars to synthesize red anthocyanin. Since we have had a lot of rain lately and cloudy skies with less light, we can’t expect bright reds this year in our area. Besides rain and less daylight numerous other players are connected to this leaf dropping process in deciduous trees. Heat, freezes, smog, clouds, climate change and species sensitivities all play their parts in whether we have bright colors with many variations of yellow, red, orange, and brown. There are timing factors too. Do the
leaves of the different species turn at the same time or set their own schedules according to their varied preferences? They each have their own timing. Look for tupelo/sourwood first to turn, then come dogwoods, maples, sweetgum, scarlet oak, and sassafras, followed by hickories, oaks, yellow poplars, birch and beech to name a few. This used to happen quickly, but climate change has warmed up the planet so that there’s not the color peak there used to be, but rather a more drawn out season of drab colors. In fact, warmer temperatures and drought may convince trees to drop leaves even before they turn colors. Further, it’s all coming later. Colors are starting at least two weeks later in October and likely will stretch through November. A warmer planet means duller colors, and a longer season gives tropical invasive insects and fungi more opportunities to damage native species. Drought between large storms allows for more forest wildfires too. Well, it is sad to think that in fall we may never again see the brilliant eruption of color we have come to expect.
They are sending us warning signals. Whatever their color, we need trees to absorb carbon dioxide emanating from fossil fuel burning and gas-burning vehicles. We need even more trees given forest destruction from western wildfires. Last week an event at Ocoee Whitewater Center celebrated a Howell family donation of 661 forested acres to Cherokee National Forest. The land contains headwaters of a tributary to the Conasauga River. Several organizations were involved to make it happen: The Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Fund, National Wild Turkey Federation, Lyndhurst Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service. Assuming Cherokee National Forest will keep those trees healthy and growing, this is one way to keep trees working to slow the rate of climate change. Now you may not have a forest give, but you can donate to organizations planting or protecting trees. You can also join Tennessee Environmental Council’s 250K Tree Day project or just plant your own and hope for a colorful fall.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Violence And Art Cassie Joy Terpening uses art for healing
Galleries Galore This Friday There is so much to anticipate heading into the month of October, and I’m here to tell you that the list of things to look forward to keeps getting bigger. A lot, and I mean a lot, of art galleries are opening to start off the autumn season on the First Friday in October here in Chattanooga. First off we have the opening of Clocktoberfest, which goes along nicely with the fall theme. Denice Bizot and Nadine Koski gather found materials and paint in order to construct a wide variety of special and unique clocks. Clocktoberfest will begin at 5 p.m. at the In-Town Gallery on Frazier Avenue. Next up we have the opening of ESTRANGED, which revolves around Chattanoogan artist Grant Wood and his recent works. His oil paintings focus mainly on the contrast of landscapes and the local people from both America and England. ESTRANGED will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Townsend Atelier off of East 11th Street. Last but not least, is the opening of Smoke, Sand and Stars in Your Eyes. The human eye is the focus of this show and the occurrences of hallucinations and illusions are the main topic at this opening. This event begins at 6 p.m. at the Versa Gallery on Union Avenue. And for even more openings and receptions, be sure to check out our Arts & Entertainment calendar. — Ethan Palmer
By Kevin Hale Pulse contributor
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The victims I portray you would never be able to recognize,” says Terpening. “What I try to portray is their resiliency.”
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OMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND THOSE WHO live on the street may not evoke thoughts of fine visual art but one Clarksville transplant hopes to use the medium of painting to help them tell the story of one of Chattanooga’s most vulnerable populations.
Like many who visit the Scenic City, Cassie Joy Terpening fell in love with Chattanooga while a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “I decided to stay after graduation I loved this place so much,” says Terpening and she soon began hosting art expression classes at Hart Gallery with those experiencing homelessness and difference in ability. She also works with children, and those who have gone through the criminal justice system at Salvation Army’s ReCreate Café.
“We ask homeless students we work with ‘What’s your name?’ It’s not ‘homeless,’” says Terpening. “Teaching art to these students is about empowerment, self-empowerment really. Another front line mission she puts to canvas is her work with the victims of domestic violence. “The victims I portray you would never be able to recognize,” says Terpening. “What I try to portray is their resiliency.” Many victims of domestic violence she works with have hit rock
bottom, which is why allowing these artists to feel empowered is such a large focus of Terpening’s work. Leaving behind the mindset of being simply a victim and knowing that their talents can take them to new heights is one of their greatest potential achievements, as well as Terpening’s. “They lose everything then you see them turn it around,” says Terpening. “Whether they have a good attitude or they don’t, we understand the trauma they’ve been through.” Terpening’s pop up show at the Swine Gallery inside Palace Picture Show last year was sort of her visual art coming out party. She also gets invited by local bands to serve as a live painter during their shows. Barking Legs Theatre even presented a pitch black painting show where Terpening created some live pieces. Terpening’s focus on drawing and painting people has always influenced her need to work with others as she used to draw classmates in the first grade. “Straight lines bore me. I’m trying a combination of aesthetics you haven’t seen while maintaining a different levels of realism. I’m a lucky artist since I have a split brain,” says Terpening. “Obviously, I’m going to put all my effort into a commission, but on my own time I don’t paint to sell.” Terpening’s brain duality served her well at UTC graduating with a Bach-
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It’s isolating to live on the streets,” says Terpening. “Not everyone we encounter is into art. Sometimes all they want to do is talk.”
elor’s of Science in Non-Profit and Public Administration, another reason she feels so close to artists in need. And it speaks to Terpening’s commitment to helping others that she has volunteered with the Hart Gallery since the beginning. It’s also her necessity to create where she can tell stories that often times don’t get told. Transportation is always an issue so the people of Hart Gallery have to put boots on the ground and meet their students any and everywhere. “It’s isolating to live on the streets,” says Terpening. “Not everyone we encounter is into art. Sometimes all they want to do is talk.” To see someone who may not have had the opportunity to express themselves otherwise Terpening receives more than she could ever give. “Giving is the most selfish for me,” says Terpening. “Contributing to improve someone’s quality of life is its own gift.” A project she’s currently excited about is the Midnight Sessions hosted by Erika Roberts with Velvet Poetry Productions. In September, she showed
her work at the Palace Theatre while Roberts’ Poetry After Dark monthlythemed show featured artists in poetic ways. She also considers herself lucky to have served as a Wayne-O-Rama exhibition painter and Main X24 Parade participant. Her new series, Planting Seeds, uses blocks of color and Impressionism to show small creatures. A good example would be the painting of a skink that sunbathes in front of her door every day. “The sun was just about to disappear over the tree line, so the skink was catching the last bit of sun it could,” she says. “This is in appreciation of the smaller overlooked creatures in Appalachia.” Lightening bugs and other creatures adorn her studio. “Some visitors say ‘You have a bug on your wall,’” says Terpening. “’Actually I painted that,’” she laughs. She hopes to keep the series together and show at Comfort Skate Shop and other art shows around town. You can find her work at cassieterpening.com
THU10.4
FRI10.5
SAT10.6
“A Doll’s House, Part 2”
Disney’s “Newsies”
Oktoberfest in Ooltewah
A modern sequel to Henrik Ibsen’s beloved 1879 classic play, A Doll’s House. 7:30 p.m. Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre 752 Vine St. utctheatreco.com
The rousing tale of Jack, a charismatic newsboy and keader if a ragged band of teen-aged "newsies", who dreams of a better life. 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theater Centre 400 River St. theatercentre.com
Brats, beer, shopping, and music all come together as we kick off October in style in Ooltewah. Noon Cambridge Square 4362 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • THE PULSE • 11
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR THURSDAY10.4 Artist Reception: Sybil Topel & Lin Prabish 5 p.m. Reflections Gallery 6922 Lee Hwy. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com Disney’s “Newsies” 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theater Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatercentre.com Gallery Opening: Janelle Junn, “Come, Meet Me at the Mirage” 7 p.m. Southern Adventist University 4881 Taylor Cir. (800) 768-8437 southern.edu “A Doll’s House, Part 2” 7:30 p.m. Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre 752 Vine St. (423) 425-4269 utctheatreco.com The Odd Couple 7:30 p.m. St. Luke United Methodist 3210 Social Cir. (423) 877-6447 stlukechatt.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 24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com
FRIDAY10.5 Food Truck Friday’s: CSO String Quintet 11:30 a.m. Miller Park 928 Market St. millerparkplaza.com Artists on the Loose Reception 2 p.m. Chrysalis
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ESTRANGED Recent Works by Grant Wood 1401 Williams St. (423) 521-4731 Clocktoberfest Opening Reception 5 p.m. In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com Out On 8th 5 p.m. West Village 802 Pine St. (423) 424-1831 westvillagechattanooga.com Opening Reception with Scott Hill and Michael Hamlin 5:30 p.m. River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (800) 374-2923 river-gallery.com ESTRANGED Recent Works by Grant Wood 5:30 p.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Smoke, Sand, Stars In Your Eyes 6 p.m. Versa Gallery 1919 Union Ave. versagallery.org Cambridge Square Night Market 6 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us
DéfiléART with Ballet Tennessee 7 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. (423) 661-3185 granfalloonchattanooga.com The Odd Couple 7:30 p.m. St. Luke United Methodist 3210 Social Cir. (423) 877-6447 stlukechatt.org “A Doll’s House, Part 2” 7:30 p.m. Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre 752 Vine St. (423) 425-4269 utctheatreco.com Blayr Nias & Ryan Van Genderen 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com The Floor is Yours 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 wideopenfloor.weebly.com Disney’s “Newsies” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theater Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatercentre.com Improv “Movie” Night: Medical Drama 8 p.m. First Draft Theater
1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Improv Showdown 10 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SATURDAY10.6 Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us The Poetic Still Life with Mia Bergeron 10 a.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Red Wolf Feeding and Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Oktoberfest in Ooltewah Noon Cambridge Square 4362 Bradmore Ln.
the Pulse
Halloween Guide visit dread hollow warning! may cause nightmares! (we promise)
blowing springs farm get into the seasonal spirit with family fun
plus: haunted houses & halloween events WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO SEE, WHEN TO SCREAM
your weekly guide to chattanooga's favorite halloween events
Visiting Dread Hollow By Allan Duggar It’s the most wonderful time of the year, if you ask me: a time of meeting new people and learning about who they are and why they’ve just emerged from the darkness into your life, covered in blood. October’s here, and there are plenty of friends and holiday cheer at Dread Hollow. The award-winning team behind Ruby Falls Haunted Caverns are back with this new haunt, which features three terrifying stories twisted into one horrifying experience. You begin with the paranormal investigate team at the Belle Royal Hotel. As you make your way through the various rooms, ghosts seemingly erupt from nowhere leaving anyone apprehensive to turn any corner. Next is the Brine Brothers Circus
and the Cirque de Fatale. Going into this, I only had one thought in my head: clowns, clowns, and more clowns. When they’re not popping out of the darkness, these “friendly” and hellish characters are in your face and urging you deeper into their story. Finally, there’s the Harley Farm that is a petrifying fest for the senses. Not only do you see and hear each story of Dread Hollow, but you can smell them as well. And of course, there’s a surprise at the end, and it’s…precious. Dread Hollow is a 20,000 square foot blood curdling maze. Todd Patton, a co-creator, said there are 65 actors throughout the haunt. And I can testify that they are all very, very
good at what they do. The level of energy and intensity they bring around every corner makes Dread Hollow an experience to die for. For those who have an extra taste for terror, not only is there the town, but also two escape rooms featuring dirt, blood, slime, and a serial killer. General admission is $20 and tickets and information can be found at dreadhollow.com
Blowing Springs Farm By Ethan Palmer How would you describe Halloween themed corn? To me, it’s just kind of ear-rie. Alright maybe that joke was a little bit too “corny”, but in all seriousness nothing says Halloween like a good old fashioned corn maze. Blowing Springs Farm has just that and much more as they prepare for their grand opening at the beginning of this month. If haunted houses and scary movies give you the heebie jeebies, then Blowing Springs Farm is the perfect alternative for some fallthemed fun. The main attraction of the farm revolves around a newly designed corn maze that will be sure to keep you guessing which way to turn next. The maze might be the center of attention 14 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
but the fun doesn’t stop there. Blowing Springs Farm has something for every age group. Babgby’s Critter Corral will be returning this year giving those who attend a special chance to pet mini Scottish Highland cows, alpacas, and a variety of other furry creatures. Did I mention there is a brand new mini horse this year? Who doesn’t want to pet a mini horse? Kids and adults can also enjoy hayrides, duck races, pedal carts, and the pumpkin market on the farm. There will be tons of corn related events including corn slingshots, the corn crib station, and cornhole. Another new addition to this year’s event is the giant checkerboard and giant dice which is sure to bring even
more fun to the farm. This award-winning event will be celebrating its 17th season every Friday through Sunday up until October 28th. The barn doors open up at 10 a.m. every weekend and close at 7 p.m. Blowing Springs Farm is located at 271 Chattanooga Valley Road and admission is $10 per person. Make sure to stop by for the festivities before fall is over!
Haunted Houses & Events Dread Hollow Thur-Sun & Halloween 321 Browns Ferry Rd. (423) 800-0566 dreadhollow.com Blowing Springs Farm Fri-Sun till October 28 271 Chattanooga Valley Rd. (706) 820-2531 blowingspringsfarm.com Rocktoberfest Fall Festival Sat & Sun in October Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. (706) 820-2531 seerockcity.com Ringgold Haunted Depot Oct. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 155 Depot St. (706) 935-3061 cityofringgoldga.gov Acres of Darkness: Haunted Woods & Family Adventure Fri & Sat in October Audubon Acres 900 North Sanctuary Rd. (423) 892-1499 acresofdarkness.com Escape Experience Chattanooga Daily through Oct. 31
1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 551-3306 escapeexperience.com
(706) 339-4917 postmortem.myfreesites.net
Chattanooga Ghost Tours Nightly through Oct. 31 57 E. 5th St. (423) 800-5998 chattanoogaghosttours.com
Haunted Trail Oct. 26-27, 6 p.m. Enterprise South Nature Park 190 Still Hollow Loop (423) 893-3500 hamiltontn.gov/esnp
Boo in the Zoo Oct. 19-20 & 26-27 Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1322 chattzoo.org
ODDtober Fri & Sat in October Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org
Fall Hayrides & Campfires Saturdays in Oct. thru Nov. 3 Cloudland Canyon State Park 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Rd. (706) 657-4050 gastateparks.org
Mayfield Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch & Haunted Trail Daily through Nov. 3 257 Hwy. 307 E. Athens, TN (423) 746-9859 mayfieldmaze.com
Halloween Eerie Express Fri & Sat in October Tennessee Valley Railroad 4119 Cromwell Rd. (423) 894-8028 tvrail.com Post-Mortem Haunted Trail Fri & Sat in October Tri-State Exhibition Center 200 Natures Trail McDonald, TN
The Haunted Barn Fri & Sat in October, Nov. 3 5017 McDonald Rd. McDonald, TN (423) 396-9790 thehauntedbarnchattanooga.com The Haunted Hilltop Fri & Sat in October & Halloween
8235 Hwy. 58 (423) 488-3956 thehauntedhilltop.com The River Maze Fri - Sun through Oct. 28 1371 Hwy. 64 Cleveland, TN (423) 650-0710 therivermaze.com WinnepeSPOOKah! Fri & Sat in October & Thurs. Oct 25 Lake Winnepesaukah 1730 Lakeview Dr. (706) 866-5681 lakewinnie.com BARKtober Fest and MEOWlloween Party Saturday, October 20 McKamey Animal Center 4500 N. Access Rd. (423) 305-6500 mckameyanimalcenter.org AquaScarium Friday, Oct. 26 Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Big Chill Halloween Bash Saturday, Oct. 27
The Big Chill 103 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 267-2455 thebigchillgrill.com Scary-Oke Contest Saturday, Oct 27 Sing It or Wing It 410 Market St. (423) 757-WING singitorwingitchattanooga.com Killer Prom Halloween Party Oct. 31, 8 p.m. Matilda Midnight @ The Dwell Hotel 120 E. 10th St. (423) 710-2925 matildamidnight.com Halloween Party & Ashley and The X’s CD Release Oct. 31, 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. (423) 531-2473 museum.songbirds.rocks Haunted Hunter Oct. 31, 7 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Wine Over Water (423) 883-5633 cambridgesquaretn.com “A Doll’s House, Part 2” 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre 752 Vine St. (423) 425-4269 utctheatreco.com Wine Over Water 5 p.m. Walnut Street Bridge 1 Walnut St. (423) 265-2825 wineoverwater.org Autumn in West Village 6 p.m. West Village 802 Pine St. westvillagechattanooga.com The Odd Couple 7:30 p.m. St. Luke United Methodist 3210 Social Cir. (423) 877-6447 stlukechatt.org Blayr Nias & Ryan Van Genderen 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Disney’s “Newsies” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theater Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatercentre.com Your Stories 8 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave.
(423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com USA vs. Germany Boxing 8 p.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 chattanoogaconventioncenter.org Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m. First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com
SUNDAY10.7 Chattanooga Market 10 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1826 Carter St. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us The Poetic Still Life with Mia Bergeron 10 a.m. Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Free Fiddle School 2 p.m. Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Disney’s “Newsies” 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theater Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatercentre.com
The Odd Couple 2:30 p.m. St. Luke United Methodist 3210 Social Cir. (423) 877-6447 stlukechatt.org Blayr Nias & Ryan Van Genderen 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY10.8 Autumn 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. chattabrew.com
TUESDAY10.9 Wake Up & Run 6 a.m. Fleet Feet Sports 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 771-7996 fleetfeetchattanooga.com Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Tour 4 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium
Conservation Institute 175 Baylor School Rd. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Working Through Stress With Writing 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Paths to Pints along the Riverwalk 6:30 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com
WEDNESDAY10.10 Middle Eastern Dance 10:30 a.m. Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Main Street Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Creative Journaling 101 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Rapid Learning Kayak Skills + Roll Sessions 6 p.m. Chester Frost Park 2277 Gold Point Cir. N. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m. The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • THE PULSE • 17
THE MUSIC SCENE
Handsome Jacks Everything’s Gonna Be Alright musically
It’s Caney Village, People! I am begging you, imploring you, to go to Barley Taphouse this Saturday night. Caney Village takes the stage, and they bring an upbeat intensity with some dank rifts. They’re pretty much King Midas in band form: they blast out lyrical gold. Band members Barrett Maury (vocals and guitar), Dakari Kelly (bass), Grant Walters (keys), Chris Blankenship (drums) create a jammin’ sound that’s not afraid to kick it up a notch. Blankenship isn’t shy about using the double kick drum much to my own pleasure. And while Maury’s lyrics are smooth, the band merges their sounds of funk with a splash of hard rock. The leadman, Maury, describes their quartet as an “electrifying, moving musical experience.” From what I heard last week at Songbirds, I know these guys feed off the crowd. One moment they’re playing their own songs, then they flow into a crowd favorite by adding in the Dead’s “Fire on the Mountain”. Just check out their song “Fly Away Child” on YouTube. It’s a testament to Caney Village’s versatility and talent, not to mention their wonderful vocals. The show starts at 8 p.m. and has no cover charge. All ages are welcome. For more information, go to chattanoogabarley.com — Allan Duggar
By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor
“
American rock music. That implies, quite correctly, elements of blues and soul, some boogie and a host of ‘secret ingredients’.”
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A
T THE HEIGHT OF THEIR POPULARITY, LITTLE FEAT had six members. Likewise, the Grateful Dead hovered at around six members for much of their career.
Handsome Jack is a trio from Lockport, New York, and with half the members of either the aforementioned bands, they manage to produce a sound that could rival or replace either. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright is the title of their upcoming album, scheduled for release on October 19th from Alive Naturalsound records. The fact that this album was produced by Ben McLeod of All Them Witches is the first hint that the band and its music is something special.
Describing the music of Handsome Jack is a bit like describing a good jambalaya. There are some very recognizable main components, but also a complex array of other influences; a dash of this, a hint of that, all of it very necessary to create the precise result so that ultimately it is easier to just call jambalaya, “jambalaya.” And Handsome Jack? American rock music, baby, through and through. American rock music. That implies, quite correctly, elements of
“
The point in my comparisons is that these guys inhabit the same musical space and, frankly, could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with those older classic bands.” blues and soul, some boogie and a host of “secret ingredients” gleaned from the sounds of Chicago, Memphis and Muscle Shoals. Rolling Stone has likened the band to early Black Crows, an apt comparison, but I stand by own assessment, at least as far as this album goes. By the time I was three songs in, I found myself looking for Tennessee Jed and Dixie Chicken. To be perfectly clear, nothing about Handsome Jack is derivative. The point in my comparisons is that these guys inhabit the same musical space and, frankly, could easily stand shoulder to shoulder with those older classic bands. That being said, there is one striking difference, one I consider a positive. Everything’s Gonna Be Alright is free of the extended musical jams that were a signature of some of the band’s predecessors. I am certain the band is more than capable, and in the right time and place I’d wager they indulge live audiences with extended versions of tunes, but the album itself demonstrates a control and restraint that makes for a much punchier and more dynamic collection.
There are eleven tracks altogether, each one a winner, but certain tracks leap out in a “hot damn, listen to this” sort of way including my personal favorite, track two, “City Girls”. Big, lush, bluesy guitars and a relaxed, headbobbing rhythm section combined with laid back, “front porch” vocals combine to make for a friendly, relaxed “Cripple Creek” kind of jam that single-handedly made me fall in love with the group. If “laid back” describes track two (it does) then the title track, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” demonstrates the band’s ability to be dirty/nasty/grungy with a ripping bluesy tune that is far more complex than any run of the mill blues song. In essence, this one track is the perfect showcase of the genuine badassery of each of the players. The band is Handsome Jack, a phenomenal power trio with serious classic bona fides. The album is Everything’s Gonna Be Alright and it is the perfect representation of what this extraordinarily talented band of musicians is capable of. The band and their music is well-worth your time and comes with as high a recommendation as I can offer.
JJ’s Birthday Bash!
Venues come and go for a lot of reasons, but the best of the best endure. And on Saturday, Oct. 20th, one of Chattanooga’s most beloved venues celebrates twelve years of bringing in the best, the brightest, the weirdest, and the most wonderful. JJ’s Bohemia’s, located at 231 E. MLK Blvd., is not the largest venue by a long shot. And there are plenty of fancy and highbrow accoutrements they simply don’t have. Whatever JJ’s may lack...doesn’t really matter. What JJ’s may lack in value, it makes up in abundance with intangibles that other venues can only dream of. It has a soul. It has character. It is a crossroads of culture where everyone is welcome and idiocy is not. It has a reputation that makes it the prestige venue in the area. If you don’t know JJ’s, you are missing one of the most precious gems Chattanooga has to offer. And the perfect time to acquaint yourself is Saturday, Oct. 20th (mark it on your calendar right now) when the venue will feature twelve bands in twelve hours. And what a lineup it is. Lew Card, Folk Killer, Tourist Trap, Pleezure Management, Justin and the Cosmics, Pinky Doodle Poodle, Handsome Grandsons, Cloak, Shakeys, Bad Knee, Dumpster Babies, Bohannons, and Monomath. In terms of local music, charm and talent, JJ’s 12th birthday is going to be an affair to remember. — MTM
THU10.4
FRI10.5
SAT10.6
Roger Alan Wade
Pains Chapel
Truett
Local legend (and really nice guy) Wade has penned songs for country legends from Johnny Cash to Hank Williams Jr. 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com
All the bluegrass downtown not your thing? Head over to Ziggy's for some ear-drum-bursting in-yourface rock-n-roll instead. 8 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net
Truett is more than the sum of his influences; what he does is unique and spectacular. Find out this Saturday on the Southside. 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com
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LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY10.4 Songwriter’s Stage 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Deaconbluz and The Holysmoke Band 5:30 p.m. Bessie Smith Cultural Center (on the lawn) 200 E. MLK Blvd. jazzanooga.org Bands on the Bluff : The Communicators 6 p.m. The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. huntermuseum.org Amber Fults 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Maria Sable 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Chris Knight 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com La Rumba: Latin Jam Night 7 p.m. OddStory Brewing Co. 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Lou Wamp & the Bluetastics 7 p.m. Greenway Farms 5051 Gann Store Rd. outdorrchattanooga.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Roger Alan Wade 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com The Frtitz 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Royal Thunder, preymantha
20 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Deaconbluz and The Holysmoke Band
9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
FRIDAY10.5 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival 6 p.m. Ross’ Landing 201 Riverfront Pkwy. 3sistersbluegrass.com Butch Ross 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Courtney Holder 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Rick Rushing and The Blues Strangers 7:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Pains Chapel 8 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Ario Gilliam 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com *Repeat Repeat featuring Lenox Hills 9 p.m.
Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Displace 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Turquoise Jeep, Flynt Flossy, JFLO 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Corey Rose 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY10.6 Royalty Brunch & Gay-La: Juicy St. Claire, Tennessee Valley Pride 10 a.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com 3 Sisters Bluegrass Festival Noon Ross’ Landing 201 Riverfront Pkwy. 3sistersbluegrass.com Wyatt Espalin 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. publicmarkets.us Truett 3 p.m.
HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Megan Howard 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com The Briars 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Rik Paliei 7 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Forever Bluegrass 7 p.m. Westbound Bar 24 Station St. westboundbar.com Danimal 7:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Jerry Herman: The Broadway Legacy Concert 7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theater 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Caney Village 8 p.m. Barley Taphouse 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Lee Ann Womack 8 p.m. Walker Theater
Holland Hopson
1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com
WEDNESDAY10.10
399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Wade Henry Sims and The Last Band 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Truett 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com The Velcro Pygmies 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Ark Sakura, SLZY SLZY, Dirty Fuss 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com The Pickup Lions 9 p.m. Trish’s Sports Bar 4762 Hwy 58 (423) 269-8400 Mother Legacy 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY10.7 Mountain Creek House Fire 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St.
flyingsquirrelbar.com Carl Pemberton 11 a.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com David Walters and Rishard 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Bluegrass Jam 4 p.m. Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd. (423) 994-7497 Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Mathis & Martin 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Holland Hopson 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Future Thieves featuring Joel Crouse 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com
MONDAY10.8 Mike Mcdade
6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com
TUESDAY10.9 Eric Kirkendoll 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Danimal 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic with XII Olympians 8 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern
Noontunes: Stringer’s Ridge Noon Miller Park 928 Market St. (423) 265-3700 The Other Guys 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Ryan Oyer 6:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Pete Boubel 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Jazz In The Lounge: Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Ana Popovic 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 John Mark McMillan 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Prime Cut Trio 9 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • THE PULSE • 21
ERNIE PAIK'S RECORD REVIEWS
Albert / Day / Kreimer Mutations (Public Eyesore)
T
here are two completely different ways this writer considered approaching the new album Mutations created by Marco Albert (from Oaxaca, Mexico), Bryan Day (from San Francisco) and Jay Kreimer (from Lincoln, Neb.): 1) find out as much information as possible about the musicians and soundmaking processes, or 2) just “accept the mystery” (to borrow a quote from the Coen Brothers’ film A Serious Man). Day and Kreimer are both instrument inventors and improvisers, while Albert is a vocalist and electronics wiz, and the trio came together for a performance at the 2017 Festival Internacional de Improvisación y Música Extrema in Mexico and subsequently embarked on a long-distance collaboration involving passing around recordings that were ed-
ited and mixed together. Gleaning a few hints from video footage from the Festival—the entire 20-minute set is on YouTube—we see Day and Kreimer striking and scraping their inventions, primarily staying the realm of percussion, while Albert’s words and wordless outbursts are wild and sometimes harrowing. Kreimer seems to hit a sort of amplified hammered dulcimeresque instrument mounted on a tripod, while Day has an entire table full of his creations, including antennas, effects processors, a wooden trapezoid and one instrument that uses five tape measures each extended to a different length. Some similar sounds seem to re-appear on Mutations, but the details are fuzzy. While the Festival performance was a live improvisation, Mutations is a carefully assembled recording, and without delving into background information, one could imagine this music being some kind of fascinating invocation for an arcane, modern ritual with physical and electronic sound-making. Eerie and sinister spell-casting is evoked from windy sounds, while metal bits are rubbed and plucked, resembling kalimba tones. Each track dwells on its own sound-realm; “Mutation 5” has an obsession with springy “boing” noises, while “Mutation
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6” offers aquatic gurgling amid the impulses of synthetic calculations. Albert’s vocals are as enigmatic as the sounds, with both Spanish and English words that are sometimes distorted and sometimes whispered, suggesting secrets that are revealed without giving it all away.
Low Double Negative (Sub Pop)
L
ow is a band that often chooses its words carefully, knowing how a few words can be devastatingly powerful or tragic or provide clever double meanings. The title of the Duluth, Minn. group’s 1995 album, Long Division, ostensibly refers to the math term, but knowing Low’s m.o., there’s an implied melancholia in its second meaning—a lengthy separation. Now in its 25th year, Low has released a revelatory highlight
in its catalog—its new album entitled Double Negative, which perhaps refers to both the grammatical term and a double-dose of despair. These are strange times. One rough week full of outrage is followed by another, seemingly interminably, and one can’t help but feel like Double Negative is a reflection of the troubled zeitgeist, with lyrics like “It’s not the end, it’s just the end of hope” in the track “Dancing and Fire.” In an interview with The Guardian, Alan Sparhawk—one of the two key members, along with wife Mimi Parker—pointed out that the recording of Double Negative spanned the year following the 2016 Presidential election; he also said, “My reaction to a more chaotic world is to fight back with something more chaotic.” Low’s first few albums were simultaneously gorgeous yet unrelentingly somber with a distinctively slow, minimal style using just a guitar, a bass and a stripped-down drum kit. The group has branched out considerably since then, experimenting with intensity, song structures and instrumentation (including electronics and drum machines), and some latter songs are downright upbeat, although Low’s underlying characteristics are typically present: two-part vocal harmonies, a pa-
tient slowburn and impeccable production. On Double Negative, the production is so audaciously intrusive and so strongly tied to the songs, beyond mere notes and words, that this writer wondered, “How are they going to perform this live?” The opener, “Quorum,” immediately takes the listener to the album’s distant plane of existence, with its pulse being a crackly explosion that seems to suck the energy and volume out of the vocals and synth tones, with the regularity of a heartbeat. Producer BJ Burton, who worked on Low’s previous album Ones and Sixes, was a vital contributor to the album’s sound, characterized by a crumbling fidelity and distortion effects that crawl like insects over everything; timbres shift subtly and vocals are sometimes warped, like on “Always Trying to Work It Out.” “Rome (Always in the Dark)” offers a dramatic death march with ardent singing and low frequencies that hang in the air like humidity, but the album’s closer, “Disarray,” offers an escape hatch in its lyrics: “Before it falls into total disarray, you’ll have to learn to live a different way.” It’s an outstanding and striking album that’s a far cry from the band’s sound 25 years ago, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Troy Johnson Embraces Identity C
Brook Brown
Pulse Assistant Editor
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My approach tends to fit well with individuals and couples who are in search of, as they describe it, ‘a therapist who can offer a different perspective on things’. ”
The Scoop Troy Johnson 3085 Broad St. (423) 355-7161 More information about Troy’s work and a link for free consultations can be found on his website at TroyJohnsonCounseling.com
HATTANOOGA IS A VIBRant and growing city that strives to be more inclusive of people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies. With a focus on understanding and fostering diversity, Troy Johnson, LCSW, a psychotherapist with a private practice in Chattanooga, is one such member of our community who has dedicated his professional work to helping people embrace their whole identity. As a psychotherapist, Troy spends his days counseling individuals and couples on a variety of concerns. “Clients often tell me they were looking for someone ‘open-minded’ to help them with anxiety, depression, feelings of inadequacy, and loneliness,” Troy says, when asked why clients seek him out. “My approach tends to fit well with individuals and couples who are in search of, as they describe it, ‘a therapist who can offer a different perspective on things.’ Because of my practice philosophy, people also come to see me to begin a recovery process from harsh religious upbringings, and to seek mechanisms to maintain important relationships in an increasingly unstable political climate.” Troy is a member of the LGBTQ community, and has extensive experience working on LGBTQ concerns around aging, cultural competency, and empowerment. However, while some of his clients are LGBTQ, many are not. Troy works with individuals and couples using a non-conventional and non-religious approach to personal wellness and relationships. Sessions address a wide range of concerns including infidelity, life transitions, and coming out of the closet. “Coming out of the closet is a term that applies not only to the LGBTQ community, but can include anyone who reveals part of themselves that contradict social norms,” Troy says. “In a culture that penalizes differ-
ence, people may feel they can’t be their true self. For some people, in order to embrace their identities, it is necessary to come out as divorcees, women who choose to not have kids, non-theist, non-monogamous, polyamorous, progressive thinkers, global citizens and much more. Many people come to my office to gain a better understanding of how they can be more open and honest about who they are, and to let go of belief systems and behaviors that no longer have any benefit for them.” And that’s precisely what Troy aims to do in his private practice—help clients gain a new perspective and lead more empowered lives. Troy also counsels adults in their 20’s and 30’s on what he thinks could significantly affect the mental health of young adults, the fear of missing out (FOMO). With social media galleries being curated with portraits of perfection, people are cultivating and presenting an idealized, unattainable, version of themselves thereby neglecting their true identities. “Performing to the expectations of others is a common way to seek validation,” says Troy. “Yet, this can render us unaware of our core beliefs and values, and postpone happiness to a future time and place that never seems to arrive.”
Through a person-centered approach, Troy helps clients gain insight into their belief systems and behavioral patterns. He guides client through a process that helps them understand how undesired behaviors have been developed and how they affect them in the present. Troy believes that, “understanding childhood experiences from an adult perspective helps people end an ‘I can’t change because I’m damaged’ mindset that hinders making choices that are good for them.” In addition to being a psychotherapist, Troy’s advocacy on behalf of the LGBTQ community has led him to be a sought after professional to teach, give lectures, and consult with organizations on LGBTQ topics. His efforts to connect personal and community wellness include helping organizations evaluate their policies and practices to become more inclusive of the LGBTQ community. For people who may be uncertain about the experience of being in therapy, Troy offers potential clients a free consultation so they can visit his office, meet him, and get to know his approach before committing to sessions. To give clients more control of their therapy schedule he offers an accessible client portal where they can set sessions at times that fit their busy lives.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • THE PULSE • 23
FILM & TELEVISION
A Not So Simple Favor Director Paul Feig swings...and misses
The Definition Of Cool Over the years, there have been a lot of movies about cars and the people who drive them. Some, like Smokey and the Bandit made stars of both the driver and the Pontiac Trans Am. Others, like The Love Bug were lighter fare that cemented the lovable legacy of the notso-sexy Volkswagen Beetle. But when it comes to the epitome of cool, nothing compares with Steve McQueen's breakthrough role in Bullitt, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this week. The plot is relatively straightforward. Steve McQueen stars as Lt. Frank Bullitt, the hardbitten police detective assigned to protect the star witness in a Congressional investigation. But when the witness is murdered, Bullitt mercilessly tracks a trail of lies and corruption that leads all the way to the halls of power in Washington. Yet while the story is a fairly simple by-thenumbers action-thriller, McQueen's steelyeyed presence was matched by the utter coolness of McQueen's 1968 Ford Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback. And that car chase. Oh, that glorious eleven minute car chase to end all movie car chases (against an equally cool 1968 Dodge Charger 440 Magnum). Come see it for yourself and relive the glory of the American muscle car era this Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. at either East Ridge 18 or Hamilton Place 8...and see for yourself why you can't spell “cool” without McQueen. — Michael Thomas
By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor
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A Simple Favor is Feig’s attempt at directing a psychological thriller and he almost succeeds, at least in some respects.”
24 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
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VERYONE LIKES A MYSTERY. FROM SHERLOCK Holmes to The Big Lebowski, most people enjoy trying to piece together a narrative, to solve some crime before the protagonist, to prove to themselves (or their significant other) that if things have just been slightly different they’d have been standing alongside Columbo waiting to ask “just one more thing” and wrap up the case with a wink and a cigar. Thillers take that mystery one step farther, inserting an creeping sense of danger and darkness. Both are popular genres because of the way they engage our brains and challenge our logic. At least, they are when they’re done well. Filmmakers like David Fincher are masters at this type of storytelling. Films like Se7en and Zodiac, or more recently Gone Girl, are cerebral and complex, often leading
audiences somewhere disturbing or shocking, but always keep audiences on the edge of their seats and transfixed by what happens onscreen. Paul Feig, on the other hand, is not known for his thrillers. He’s mostly known for directing some of the better episodes of The Office, hitting a homerun with Bridesmaids, and completely misunderstanding Ghostbusters. A Simple Favor is Feig’s attempt
at directing a psychological thriller and he almost succeeds, at least in some respects. In others, though, he completely Feigs it up, particularly in terms of tone. Tone is likely the most important part of a thriller. It’s not generally something that lends itself well to jokes. A Simple Favor is very much like Gone Girl—a beautiful, calculating mother (Blake Lively) disappears into the night, leaving behind her husband. In this case, she also leaves behind a young son, under the care of her best friend (Anna Kendrick). Kendrick’s character Stephanie is a single mother living off the insurance money from her late husband, hoping to make a name for herself as a “mommy vlogger”—a slightly more wholesome Martha Stewart type who seems perfectly square in every way. Her involvement with Emily, the vanished, soon becomes deadly as Stephanie begins to unravel the dangerous truth. On the surface, this all sounds good. And mostly, it’s played well and works. That is until Feig decides to throw in some obviously improvised scenes, hoping to catch some comedy magic that shifts the tone of the film entirely. Clearly, Feig is going for something different, which isn’t neces-
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✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴
At times, the film just seems bizarre. Feig makes choices that I frankly don’t understand, particularly in regards to the some of the backstory.” sarily a bad thing. He appears to love the thriller genre and genuinely want to make one of his own. However, he also wants to add his signature comedic touches to the story. It didn’t work for me. At times, the film just seems bizarre. Feig makes choices that I frankly don’t understand, particularly in regards to the some of the backstory. Each of these girls have a past, but one makes complete sense in terms of the story being told while the other is out of left field and adds nothing to the narrative. Performances are good, especially that of Blake Lively, who does a great job imbuing a sense of worldly danger into the character of Emily. Kendrick plays her usual affable self—quirky, goofy, sweet. My favorite part of the film was probably the French Pop soundtrack, but even that might have fit better with a quirky spy
thriller as opposed to a Fincheresque psychological one. But the story, which in my estimation is the most important part of a film, is still pretty boilerplate. The addition of goofy jokes and improv do nothing to enhance it. By the time I realized what the twist was I had lost interest. And yet, A Simple Favor has received mostly positive reviews. I’d imagine most moviegoers will be charmed by Kendrick and the rest of the cast, largely ignoring the more obvious problems. As such, I can’t say that it’s not worth your time. There are worse ways to spend two hours (the Ghostbuster’s reboot comes to mind). Anyone that is looking for a light, goofy mystery will likely enjoy the film. I do think the trailer sold it as more of a thriller and less of a comedy, which is why the film is so odd. It wants to be two things and doesn’t do either very well.
A Star Is Born A musician helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral. Director: Bradley Cooper Stars: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott, Greg Grunberg
Venom When Eddie Brock acquires the powers of a symbiote, he will have to release his alter-ego "Venom" to save his life. Director: Ruben Fleischer Stars: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Marcella Bragio, Woody Harrelson
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • THE PULSE • 25
COLUMN · GAME ON!
Championing The Underdog Why big publishers should be afraid and gamers should be thrilled
I Brandon Watson Pulse columnist
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Out of the depths of this dank cesspool of a marketing trend, valiant developers have emerged to take control in the crowd funding arena to fight back tooth and nail for the video game world.”
When not vaporizing zombies or leading space marines as a mousepad Mattis, Brandon Watson is making gourmet pancakes and promoting local artists.
T’S NO BIG SECRET AMONG gamers that independently produced and published games have quickly outpaced their big box counterparts. It’s a glorious revolution in which the gaming public at large has discovered greater value for their dollar and have gotten more involved with titles before they hit the market. It’s a shadow war, Indie vs. Triple A, and it has been raging quietly for years but with the advent of Kickstarter mixed with a consumer base angry at every rehash of Madden’s Assassin’s Creed of Duty it was destined to happen and it’s a war that may have tipped the scales in favor of the underdog. I’m going to shoot it straight. I often find $65+ dollars a bit too much to gamble on that next installment of overhyped crap that gets served up as only half a game. Tack on DLC, loot boxes, paying more money for stupid vanity items and you lose me. Thankfully out of the depths of this dank cesspool of a marketing trend, valiant developers have emerged to take control in the crowd funding arena to fight back tooth and nail for the video game world. The roster of champions is lengthy but here are my top three that you should pay your money and attention to for good reason. INEXILE ENTERTAINMENT Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s there was a little game developer named Interplay. Interplay created Fallout, Descent, and Balder’s Gate franchises, no big deal. Brian Fargo led Interplay to power through the PC gaming market and in my opinion spawned an entire generation of gamers. But due to a waning PC gaming market and lack of console titles, Interplay went bankrupt and Fargo went into exile. But it didn’t take him long to ninja himself and many others back in the spotlight. InExile has led success-
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ful campaigns to produce Wasteland 2 the true successor to Wasteland, Tides of Numenera, and most recently The Bard’s Tale IV. Bard’s Tale IV is a grueling dungeon crawl that will beat you down. When it comes to PC classic reboots, the brutal difficulty and learning curve is where most of the fun is. My opinion: InExile games are usually $20 to $30 cheaper at retail and will keep you happy for well over 40 hours or in my case several years. KLEI ENTERTAIMENT ADHD takes on many forms and Klei Entertainment is one of those developers that pathologically remain unshackled from creative restrictions. They started off with kinetic platformers to eventually do side scrolling beat-emups, and even survival adventure games. The most defining trait being their eyepopping comic art style that gives each game a character of its own. With only 30 or so people at the company it’s easy to believe that the creators of Mark of the Ninja, Don’t Starve Together, and Oxygen Not Included value quality over quantity. Klei makes games across multiple platforms which all play well, their hit game Don’t Starve has been ported to nearly everything you can imagine. My verdict: Klei Entertainment games are simple yet challenging with great art style and replay value. With games just under $20, you’d be crazy not to give them a try. TELLTALE GAMES It’s bittersweet that I include this developer amidst the recent shutdown of the company in September. Though I won’t go into the gory details of the closure,
I will tell you that Telltale Games was born when a few folks decided to leave Lucasarts back in 2004. Telltale is best known for their Walking Dead series of games. They truly revolutionized the interactive choose your adventure story genre of play and though I hated the Walking Dead as a show, I absolutely loved the games. Nail biting suspense and character driven adventure stories are their bread and butter. With titles like Tales from the Borderlands, Game of Thrones and The Wolf Among Us there is plenty to enjoy for years. With an easy-to-love art style and hair graying choice/consequence narrative system TellTale Games made its mark in the hearts and minds of gamers around the world. I’m hopeful former employees sent home will rise back up and keep this type of gaming alive with future endeavors. Don’t be surprised to see similar games pop up on Kickstarter in the future. My judgement: Story driven single player experiences that hit you in the sweet spot between headspace and heartstrings are more like interactive art than game. If you missed Telltale Games somehow, shame on you and now get to downloading!
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson offers this observation: “When you look for things in life like love, meaning, motivation, it implies they are sitting behind a tree or under a rock. [But] the most successful people in life recognize that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation.” I think Tyson’s simple wisdom is exactly what you need to hear right now, Libra. You’re primed for a breakthrough in your ability to create your own fate. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Japanese entrepreneur Hiroki Terai has created a business that offers crying therapy. His clients watch short videos specially formulated to make them weep. A professional helper is on hand to gently wipe their tears away and provide comforting words. “Tears have relaxing and healing effects,” says an Okinawan musician who works as one of the helpers. Hiroki Terai adds, “It has been said that one drop of tear has the effect of relieving stress for a week.” I wish there were a service like this near where you live, Scorpio. The next two weeks will be a perfect time to relieve pentup worry and sadness and anxiety through cathartic rituals like crying. What other strategies might work for you? SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Fling out friendly feelers! Sling out interesting invitations! Figure out how to get noticed for all the right reasons! Make yourself so interesting that no one can resist your proposals! Use your spunky riddlesolving powers to help ease your tribe’s anxieties. Risk looking odd if that will make you smarter! Plunk yourself down in pivotal places where vitality is welling up! Send out telepathic beams that say, “I’m ready for sweet adventure. I’m ready for invigorating transformation!” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Someone spoke to me last night, told me the truth,” writes poet Doeianne Laux. “I knew I should make myself get up, write it down, but it was late, and I was exhausted from working. Now I remember only the flavor.” I offer these thoughts, Capricorn, in the hope that they’ll help you avoid Laux’s mistake. I’m quite sure that crucial insights and revelations will be coming your way, and I want you to do whatever’s necessary to completely capture them so you can study and meditate on them at length. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): As a young man, Aquarian poet Louis Dudek struck up a correspondence with renowned poet Ezra Pound, who was 32 years older. Dudek “admired him immensely,” and “loved him for the joy and the luminosity” of his poetry, but also resented him “for being so magnif-
icent.” With a mix of mischief and adulation, Dudek wrote a poem to his hero. It included these lines: “For Christ’s sake, you didn’t invent sunlight. There was sun dazzle before you. But you talk as if you made light or discovered it.” I hope his frisky tone might inspire you to try something similar with your own idols. It would be healthy to be more playful and lighthearted about anything or anyone you take too seriously or give enormous power to. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In his book Till We Have Faces, C. S. Lewis writes, “Holy places are dark places. It is life and strength, not knowledge and words, that we get in them. Holy wisdom is not clear and thin like water, but thick and dark like blood.” In that spirit, and in accordance with astrological omens, I suggest you seek out dark holy places that evoke wonder and reverence, even awe. Hopefully, you will be inspired thereby to bring new beauty into your life. You’ll be purged of trivial concerns and become receptive to a fresh promise from your future life. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Electra is an action-packed story written by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles. It features epic characters taking drastic action in response to extreme events. In contrast to that text is Marcel Proust’s novel In Search of Lost Time, which draws from the sensitive author’s experiences growing up, coming of age, and falling in love, all the while in quest for meaning and beauty. Author Virginia Woolfe compared the two works, writing, “In six pages of Proust we can find more complicated and varied emotions than in the whole of the Electra.” In accordance with astrological omens, I recommend that you specialize in the Proustian mode rather than the Sophoclean. Your feelings in the next five weeks could be as rich and interesting and educational as they have been in a long time. Honor them! TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Researchers in Maryland have created a new building material with a strength-to-weight ratio that’s eight times better than steel. It’s an effective insulator, and in some forms can be bent and folded. Best of all, it’s biodegradable and cost-effective. The stuff is called nanowood, and is derived from lightweight, fast-growing trees like balsa. I propose that we make it your main metaphor for the foreseeable future. Why? Because I think you’re primed to locate or create your own version of a flexible, durable, robust building block. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): The U.S. Secretary of Defense paid an official visit to Indonesia early this
JONESIN' CROSSWORD year. The government arranged for him to observe soldiers as they demonstrated how tough and well-trained they were. Some of the troops shimmied through broken glass, demolished bricks with their heads, walked through fire, and bit heads off snakes. I hope you won’t try stunts like that in the coming weeks, Gemini. It will be a favorable time for you show off your skills and make strong impressions. You’ll be wise to impress important people with how creative and resourceful you are. But there’s no need to try too hard or resort to exaggeration. CANCER (June 21-July 22): i confess that i have a fuzzy self-image. With odd regularity, i don’t seem to know exactly what or who i am. For example, i sometimes think i’m so nice and polite that i need to toughen up. But on other occasions i feel my views are so outrageous and controversial that i should tone myself down. Which is true? Often, i even neglect to capitalize the word “i.” You have probably experienced some of this fuzziness, my fellow Cancerian. But you’re now in a favorable phase to cultivate a more definitive self-image. Here’s a helpful tip: We Cancerians have a natural talent for inspiring people to love us. This ability will come in especially handy as we work on making an enduring upgrade from i to I. Our allies’ support and feedback will fuel our inner efforts to clarify our identity. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “I am a little afraid of love, it makes me rather stupid.” So said author Simone de Beauvoir in a letter she wrote to her lover, Nelson Algren. I’m happy to let you know, Leo, that during the next twelve months, love is likely to have the opposite effect on you. According to my analysis of the astrological omens, it will tend to make you smarter and more perceptive. To the degree that you expand your capacity for love, you will become more resilient and a better decision-maker. As you get the chance to express love with utmost skill and artistry, you will awaken dormant potentials and boost your personal power. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your theme in the coming weeks is the art of attending to details. But wait! I said “the art.” That means attending to details with panache, not with overly meticulous fussing. For inspiration, meditate on St. Francis Xavier’s advice, “Be great in little things.” And let’s take his thought a step further with a quote from author Richard Shivers: “Be great in little things, and you will be given opportunity to do big things.” Novelist Tom Robbins provides us with one more nuance: “When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.”
“Gimme One Vowel”—and the rest, consonants. ACROSS 1 Beetle variety 5 Did some community theater, say 10 “Ben-Hur” novelist Wallace 13 Its state song is the creatively titled “The Song of [that state]” 14 Potato often used for fries 16 Spot in la mer 17 Starting at the beginning 19 Element #50 20 “For rent,” in other, shorter words 21 Want ad palindrome 22 Tater ___ 23 1920s mobster who mainly worked in bootlegging and numbers rackets 28 Aries symbol 31 Tie type 32 Voicemail sound 33 All excited 35 What the “J” in TMJ doesn’t stand for
36 German submarine 39 Find a way to make things happen 43 Doctor’s directive 44 Traveling through 45 Like, making your mind blown 46 Obnoxious kid 48 Full pairing? 50 Some NCAA players 51 With “The,” fantasy video game series including “Oblivion” and “Skyrim” 55 Actress Whitman of “Parenthood” 56 Shepherd’s pie tidbit 57 Topple 61 The O. Henry ___-Off 62 “Yeah, pretty unlikely” 66 Jay Presson Allen play about Capote 67 Will’s concern 68 Ireland, in Ireland 69 Thanksgiving dinner item
70 Industrial city of the Ruhr Valley 71 Kit piece DOWN 1 Prepare flour for baking 2 Bull, in Bilbao 3 Gone wrong? 4 Played in Las Vegas 5 Trajectory influenced by gravity 6 Dog, unkindly 7 Gatekeeping org.? 8 “Melrose Place” actor Rob 9 Boil down 10 Kiddos 11 Playwright T.S. 12 Fall Out Boy bassist Pete 15 Words after “on” or “by” 18 Ticket remainder 24 Japanese general of WWII 25 Casino delicacy? 26 In any way 27 Without being asked 28 Does 2 Chainz’s job 29 Freebie at a
Mexican restaurant 30 Element #42 (which for some reason isn’t in as many puzzles as, say, 19-Across) 34 Fierce look 37 Antiquing material 38 Cocoa amts. 40 Permanent marker brand 41 Grain-storage building 42 Like Boban Marjanovic 47 Blood-sucking African fly 49 Musical ligature 51 Like new vacuum bags 52 Michelle’s predecessor 53 Throws, as dice 54 1994 movie mainly set on a bus 58 Start to awaken 59 Hosiery shade 60 The other side 63 Small batteries 64 Sault ___ Marie, Mich. 65 Bill of Rights count
Copyright © 2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 904 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 4, 2018 • THE PULSE • 27