The Pulse 13.40 » October 6, 2016

OCTOBER 6, 2016

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

COVER STORY

pride in the scenic city HOW PROGRESSIVE IS CHATTANOOGA WHEN IT COMES TO ACCEPTANCE OF ALL LIFESTYLES?

By Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib

BEAUTY & THE BEAST • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • BLOOD ON THE KEYS

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VOLUME 13, ISSUE 40 OCTOBER 6, 2016

CONTENTS 4

FIGHTING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS

October is here and The Pulse took some time to speak with Gayle Lodato at the Helen Ross McNabb Center to discuss mental health, as the United States Congress has declared the first week of October mental health awareness week.

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‘TWAS BEAUTY THAT TAMED THE BEAST

Closed Door Entertainment wants to invite you to be their guest at their first mainstage show of the season. “Disney’s Beauty & the Beast is a tale that everyone loves,” says director JC Smith.

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JAMES LEG BLOOD ON THE KEYS, PART TWO

A few weeks back I wrote a piece on the new album by James Leg. In it, I gave the obligatory nod to his background material and only wound up with space to address a few of the tracks.

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LUKE CAGE AN EDGY SMALL SCREEN SUCCESS

With the release of Luke Cage on Netflix, one thing is certain: the small screen Defenders series, like Daredevil and Jessica Jones, have far surpassed any of the other Marvel properties.

ALSO INSIDE

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Pride In The Scenic City There are all sorts of ways to keep a finger on the pulse of our culture. Perhaps most simply is to let the morning and evening news provide the info. My problem with that is letting the talking heads decide what goes in to my talking head, and sometimes subtly.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

5

CONSIDER THIS

25

OPINIONS & DIVERSIONS

7

SHADES OF GREEN

27

NEW IN THEATERS

14

ARTS CALENDAR

28

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

15

HALLOWEEN GUIDE

29

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

22

MUSIC CALENDAR

30

SUSHI & BISCUITS

24

RECORD REVIEWS

Columnist Dr. Richard L. Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., C.C.H., better known as “Dr. Rick”, is an author, psychotherapist, educator and minister, and holds a doctorate in clinical hypnotherapy with an emphasis in mind/body wellness.

Columnist Sandra Kurtz has long been active in environmental education and activism.

She founded the Tennessee Environmental Education Association and created the first educational programs at the Chattanooga Nature Center.

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BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE

The Stigma of Mental Illness Educate yourself on the importance of mental health treatment

By Brooke Dorn

Pulse Assistant Editor

BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher & President Jim Brewer II FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Brooke Dorn Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Rob Brezsny • Matt Jones Sandra Kurtz • Mike McJunkin Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Stephanie Smith Editorial Interns Alyson McGowan • Colin Moran Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

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CONTACT

Offices 1305 Carter St., Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Fax 423.266.2335 Website chattanoogapulse.com Email info@chattanoogapulse.com 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.

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Contents Copyright © 2016 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

Believe it or not, October is here and The Pulse took some time to speak with Gayle Lodato at the Helen Ross McNabb Center to discuss mental health, as the United States Congress has declared the first week of October mental health awareness week.

“We want to reduce the stigma of mental illness,” says Lodato. “We want as many people as possible to access services, and not to feel ashamed or embarrassed in doing so.”

The stigma for those affected by mental illness is that they are damaged, but that is clearly not the case. Think of mental illness as a cancer we don’t understand. Cancer is simple; it’s bad and it tries to take your life. Mental illness is like a cancer no one can see, a cancer that people think you shouldn’t talk about, a cancer that breaks you down mentally rather than physically. It is not something to be ignored, cast aside, or judged, but aided.

In our chat with Lodato, we discussed the statistics: 1 in 5 children ages 13-18 will experience a serious mental illness, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, or conduct disorders, while 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness. 1 in 25 adults have a mental illness that causes a significant functional impairment such as a psychotic disorder.

For those of us 4 out of 5 who don’t understand what it’s like to deal with anxiety, depression, or the multitude of other things associated with mental illness, it can be difficult to know what to do to help someone in need. A good way to be helpful is to point out to your friend, family member, co-worker, whoever it may be, what it is you’ve noticed differently about them lately.

Sometimes, asking “are you okay?” is the tipping point to an individual trying to deal with their emotions. Instead, try telling them that you’ve noticed they looked upset, and

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“People are slowly beginning to understand that mental illness is a medical diagnosis, and that it impacts not only our brain, but our very way of life." ask if there is something you can do for them. How can you be helpful to them rather than condescending?

Monitor your family, friends, and yourself for any changes in mood, sleep, appetite, any increased spending, or reckless behavior. If what you or someone else is experiencing lasts a couple weeks or longer, seek medical help. A high number of individuals who don’t get treatment try to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol, which can exacerbate symptoms and lead to a harder road.

Our world is slowly changing, be-

coming more knowledgeable about such issues as well as becoming more accepting towards mental illnesses the more they’re understood.

Mental health issues can arise in anyone, sometimes from loss, stress, predisposition.

People are slowly beginning to understand that mental illness is a medical diagnosis, and that it impacts not only our brain, but our very way of life. It is not always seen on the outside, but it is very much a real thing on the inside for those affected. Be kind, reach out to those around you.

Helen Ross McNabb Center: (423) 266-6751 Mobile Crisis for Adults: Volunteer Behavioral: 1-800-704-2651 Youth Villages: 1-866-791-9225 National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI): 1-800-771-5491

Consider This with Dr. Rick

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

“An optimist is someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s more like a cha-cha.”

Going Owl Prowling And Frog Walking As you walk along a body of water during the evening, can you identify a frog by its ribbits and croaking? Can you tell if it’s the deep baritone call of the Bull Frog, or does the ribbit belong to the red eyed Tree Frog?

During a walk and presentation at the Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center this Friday, starting at 7 p.m., you will learn how to tell the difference and more.

UTC’s Paul-Erik Bakland will teach you how to identify frogs by the calls they make. On top of that you will learn key information on how important

frogs are to our ecosystems and you’ll be taught how to help frog populations grow and flourish.

That night you will be given the opportunity to learn and identify owl calls as well as UTC professor (and owl enthusiast) Dr. David Aborn takes you for a beautiful evening walk and helps you learn the different and special call of each species of owl.

Don’t let this unique learning opportunity pass you by. Next time you are with a group of friends you can impress them with your incredible frog and owl knowledge. — Colin Moran

Those steps backward are not only natural, they’re important!

We learn a great deal from the stumblings in life if we are open to them.

The stumblings teach us what is needed for the next step forward. And the next, and the next.

Want to be more optimistic?

Consider This: Ask for your best compassion to arise, and work on giving yourself permission to forgive. Forgiving yourself can be a tough one, but it holds the key to peace of mind.

Remember: You’re not perfect.

You never will be. And that isn’t the goal, anyway.

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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COLUMN ∙ SHADES OF GREEN

Changing Leaves, Political Musings The turn of the season brings questions about nature’s future

Sandra Kurtz

Pulse contributor

“DINOSAURS FACED SOMETHING similar and they also did nothing. If we don’t act, who will?” —seen on a Climate Coalition 21 poster in Paris In the October 2010 “Shades of Green” column, I wrote about how trees produce fall colors. I advised leaf peepers to emerge from air conditioning and enjoy autumn.

Once again it’s time to appreciate the wondrous way in which deciduous trees prepare for winter. So, here’s that same information: 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.

In that column I further explained that climate change brings negative changes to planetary ecosystems. With fall and spring lasting longer, animal and plant patterns are out of sync. Tree nuts don’t fall when they used to, preventing usual spring sprouting and animal storage abilities. Migration and egg laying times are confounded by extreme temperatures and catastrophic weather events. Insect pests have more time and places to invade. Suffice to say we are

losing diversity of species, habitat, and available water.

A Tennessee River Basin Biodiversity Network website shows our usual bird populations moving north along with some hardwood species that contribute to a strong state economy. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency conducted a scientific review and produced a report titled Climate Change and Potential Impacts to Wildlife in Tennessee. Findings have led to a Wildlife Action Plan.

Drought causes an earlier leaf drop. Warmer temperatures delay and shorten foliage season. Further, trees depend on day length as a cue to prepare for winter. The greater the discrepancy between day length and winter temperatures, the more confused trees become as to when to start their fall process. Cloud cover has an effect too.

Which brings me to the weather in 2016. Tennessee temperatures have been the hottest ever since humans have been around. They continue to rise. Especially this year there’s been an H-U-G-E amount of hot air. It’s an election year! How will you vote?

We have two main candidates: This short-term thinker believes that we do not want to change anything for the future. Instead we need to restore what (he believes) we once had, i.e. a narrowly defined monoculture of people living in isolation, keeping the bad guys away, and measuring success

“Vote for a leader that believes in biodiverse solutions. Walk in the woods to ease election anxiety.” through business profits based on a fossil fuel economy. In that scenario, climate change action is unneeded, but loosening up on environmental/health and business regulations is. Just keep things the way they were except not that Statue of Liberty promise part.

This longer-term thinker sees value in a diverse population working together both locally and on a global scale for solutions that fit the changing environment and demographics. Good futures require climate change action and the Paris Agreement, signed by 190 countries, is only a start. For those displaced in the fossil fuel industry as we move to a cleaner economy, jobs will be available in building green infrastructure,

creating energy efficient and less wasteful products, plus new technology education through business and government programs.

As leaves turn different colors each according to their species, it reminds us of the strength and beauty in biodiversity. An acre of land containing just one type of tree is not a forest. USA too is strong because of its biodiversity in cultures and faiths. There has always been change on Earth. Either we adapt or become extinct. Vote for a leader that believes in biodiverse solutions. Walk in the woods to ease election anxiety.

Sandra Kurtz is an environmental community activist and is presently working through the Urban Century Institute. You can visit her website to learn more at enviroedu.net

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COVER STORY

Pride In The Scenic City How progressive is Chattanooga really when it comes to acceptance of all lifestyles?

By Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

T

Pulse contributor

HERE ARE ALL SORTS OF WAYS to keep a finger on the pulse of our culture. Perhaps most simply is to let the morning and evening news provide the info. My problem with that is letting the talking heads decide what goes in to my talking head, and, sometimes subtly, sometimes not, how I’m supposed to feel about it. And while I want to be on top of what’s important and timely in our culture, from trends to politics, current events to spirituality, and okay I admit it, what’s new in the Brangelina saga, I usually want to absorb those issues at my pace, and to the degree I choose.

So I use the Internet. I take in what I want while keeping in mind that it’s important to absorb the news in manageable doses. This is widely acknowledged in mental health fields: Don’t glue yourself to the tragedies… take breaks, take deep breaths, ponder and have conversations, but don’t obsess till you give yourself nightmares.

I find, however, that there are even more immediate, interesting and creative ways to check the pulse of this life, just by getting out on the streets and mingling. For instance, what’s on the T-shirts of the college kids? “Legalize it.” “Love is Love.” “Got Pride?” And how about on bumper stickers: “I’m a Democratic Interracial Lesbian War Veteran Mother and I vote!”

Unfortunately, I don’t find a lot of progressive signage here in our neck of the woods. But because I like to travel, and I’ve

lived on the coasts, I do find that coastal and larger cities choose which side of history they want to be on, and are not afraid to announce it.

Upon arriving back home to a land where churches rent electronic billboards along the Interstate, and where the most common bumper stickers seem to be stick figure families, those progressive communities that are willing to stick their necks out and declare what they stand for, even if it isn’t popular, warm my heart.

And given that this is Pride season in our little hamlet (and in other southern cities now that the weather has cooled), and having just returned from a road trip to other corners of the country, I want to share some of these right-to-free-speech, burn-your-bra, All Lives Matter sentiments with you. I spotted them in diverse places: on cars,

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highway signs, T-shirts, church signs, college campuses, and more. Here are some LGBTQ and Human Rights examples worth pondering.

“So same-sex couples don’t make good parents? When was the last time a gay couple disowned their child for being straight?”

Thousands gathered downtown on the rivefront for this past weekend's PRIDE 2016 festival.

When I was a therapist working at free clinics in Los Angeles in the ‘80s and ‘90s, it was not uncommon to find a malnourished, unwashed homeless youth knocking on my office door looking for services of the most basic nature: housing, food, clothing. You see, many youths are thrown out of their households, left to live on the streets, when it is disclosed to the parents that the child is gay. Disowned and discarded.

While folks are often appalled upon hearing this, here’s the reality: it’s still happening in many parts of the country, our country. We’re not talking about fundamentalist third-world religion-crazed cultures. We’re talking about right here, at home. And even if one isn’t kicked to the curb, there are many ways to freeze someone out of feeling that they belong to their tribe.

“For those who think sexuality is a choice: Choose it. Right now.

Choose to be gay. Oh…you can’t do it? Why not? It’s your choice, right?”

I’ve written two books, gone on two cross-country book tours, facilitated countless support groups, and counseled literally thousands of individuals, couples and families. And do you know what the primary sticking point to understanding sexual identity is? It’s the belief that it is a choice. And where do they first absorb this belief? The pulpit.

My suggestion is this: If you want to know if being gay is a choice or not, then ask a gay person. Open your mind to really hear the answer, and you’ll find that the majority of gay people knew about “being different” early on, during the wonder years. And, unfortunately, this also means they learned about fear early on.

And you know what? Even if being gay was a choice—which it is not, as I have hopefully made clear—what would be wrong

with that? Why aren’t we celebrating the loving choices of others? Why does everyone have to believe like you do? And judge like you do?

During my travels, this was but one notable bumper sticker: “Claiming that someone else’s marriage is against your religion is like being angry at someone for eating a doughnut because you’re on a diet.”

And on a T-shirt from FCKH8: “Tell me again how you think God will judge others for who they love, and not judge you for hating someone you’ve never met?”

On a highway billboard, there was a picture of an African American man holding his infant son, with this caption: “I don’t know what my son’s sexual orientation is going to be, and because I don’t know, I am about the business of continued on page 10

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COVER STORY

creating a world where he can express himself in ways that are healthy and where he is safe to be who he is.”

On another billboard: “Gay people getting married? (Next they’ll be allowed to vote and pay taxes.)”

I saw this on an 18-wheeler (driven by a big, burly guy I would not want to tangle with): “Homosexuality is found in over 450 species. Homophobia is found in only one. Which one seems unnatural now?”

I spotted this in a store window: “Same-sex marriage is not gay privilege, it’s equal rights.

Privilege would be something like gay people not paying taxes. You know, like churches don’t.”

And this has become one of my favorites: “It’s about bathrooms?

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water fountains.”

Let me be clear: this is not a story only for LGBTQ folks. Look, you don’t have to be an animal to support animal rights, and you don’t have to be gay to support gay rights. Non-gay celebrities seem to have plenty to say about this.

For instance, from Anne Hathaway, actress and human rights advocate: “In my household, being gay was, and is, no big deal.

When my brother came out, we hugged him, said we loved him, and that was that. We’re openly supportive of gay marriage and gay adoption. We’re not being ‘brave’. We’re being decent human beings. Love is a human experience, not a political statement.”

From Kurt Cobain: “I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved

“Progressive parents might use this as a teaching tool to keep your own kids from becoming bullies, or from becoming a young person who is ashamed of who he or she is.” for who I am not.”

From Lady Gaga: “Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.”

From Meryl Streep: “Whatever makes you different or weird— that’s your strength.”

I have a friend here in town who can often be seen wearing her favorite T-shirt: “I’m not gay, lesbian, transgendered or bisexual. I am an ally. I just support this crazy thought that everyone should have equal rights.”

Another friend here told me that the equality symbol on her vehicle that signifies her support for all human rights, is sometimes a bone of contention. She said that at least once a week someone at the gas station, grocery store, or at her place of business will question her about it with hostility, as if she not only shouldn’t believe in equal rights, but is crazy for doing so.

I know many people believe that Chattanooga is a progressive city. And, by comparison to most southern cities, it is. I know that I especially enjoy Chattanooga’s support of the Arts, its abundant natural beauty and all the healthy outings that go with that, the beautiful riverfront. I support the diverse restaurants, pubs, galleries and shops thriv-

ing downtown, north shore and Southside. There’s a youthful, dynamic, entrepreneurial spirit here.

So in many ways, it’s a progressive town. But are attitudes toward LGBT citizens (and other minorities) also progressive?

I know for some of you this is a lot to take in. Maybe you’ll share this article with relatives and co-workers. Progressive parents might use this as a teaching tool to keep your own kids from becoming bullies, or from becoming a young person who is ashamed of who he or she is.

And some of you may hide this in a National Geographic under the bed.

So before we get too self-congratulatory, let me suggest that you ponder the following during this year’s Pride celebrations, as it still rings true in many parts of our country, including our own back yards.

“Pride was not born out of a need to celebrate being gay, but instead the right to exist without persecution. So maybe instead of wondering why there isn’t a Straight Pride movement, straight people could be thankful they don’t need one.”

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Twas Beauty That Tamed The Beast Local theater group stages Disney’s classic musical

Roller Girls Skate A Spooky Doubleheader This Saturday, at 4 p.m., the Chattanooga Convention Center will be hosting a never-before-seen roller battle to remember between, not two, but four undead roller derby teams.

It is the last fight of their session and these Chattanooga Roller Girls are going all out with two action packed, blood thirsty, spookified games!

Dress up like a zombie and show your support for the B-Railers as you cheer them on to a “ghoul-ing” victory against the Appalachian Booneshiners on the track for the second time this year.

After the thrilling match, the frighteningly fabulous Allstarts will be bringing out their best vampire vixen attire as they take on the Appalachian Rollergirls during a nail biting rematch starting at 7 p.m.

Dracula will be proud to know that all this spilled blood will not be in vain. These matches will be used to benefit Chattanooga’s Blood Assurance, who will have a Blood Mobile on-site for anyone wanting to donate to the local vampires before the matches begin.

Discounted tickets will also be offered to anyone who donates a week before or on the day of the event.

— Alyson McGowan Blood Bath & Body Works Double Header Saturday, Doors open at 4 p.m.

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 www.chattanoogarollergirls.com 12 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6,, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Stephanie Smith Pulse contributor

C

LOSED DOOR ENTERTAINMENT wants to invite you to be their guest at their first mainstage show of the season.

“Disney’s Beauty & the Beast is a tale that everyone loves,” says director JC Smith. “It’s fun for the whole family. Even if you’ve seen it before— even one of our previous productions—we’ve designed new sets and costumes and with the new people playing characters, it’s an entirely different show than people have seen before.”

“We did the show in 2011,” says Smith. “It is a classic that never gets old. We wanted to do a family show that would bring people in and also provide a challenge for the creative team. A lot

of musicals you get the same thing—you make a house or a room, you make four windows and a door. This show gave all of our creative staff a challenge to think outside the box.”

Towards that end, Smith designed a very different set—and without giving anything away all he’ll say is it’s designed to look like an old children’s storybook. The sets have been predominantly built by Kevin Mullins and David Riall. The three people in charge of costumes are Sherrie Taggart, Joyce Trabue, and Randy Forester. They’re the main costumers of the show and Smith gave them free reign to do new takes on the designs.

Music Direction is by Terry Sanford and Sarah Pearson and choreography is by Jessica Laliberte Bowman.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“It is a classic that never gets old. We wanted to do a family show that would bring people in and also provide a challenge for the creative team.”

For those unfamiliar with the tale, Beauty and the Beast is the story of Belle, a French provincial girl who loves to read and loves adventure. She meets a Beast, really a young prince trapped in a spell, and falls in love with him. If the Beast can learn to love her and be loved in return before time runs out, the curse will be lifted off him and those in his castle.

The leading lady is Kandace McInturff. “This is her first time as a leading lady,” explains Smith, “and we’re very happy for her. Belle has been a dream role of hers since she was a young girl. She brings a zeal to the role that people who are auditioning just for fun may not.” Beast is played

by Bo Calloway, who has been in multiple shows with CDE and is no stranger to the stage.

Rounding out the cast of 26 are Zane Grennell as Gaston.

“This is Zane’s first time on-

stage in any acting capacity. He’s just that guy born to play this role. I don’t think he has to act, he can just stand there,” jokes Smith. Lumiere is played

by Andrew Boone and Cogsworth by Doug May. CDE veteran Tonya Lively portrays Mrs. Potts.

Beauty and the Beast was Disney’s first animated film to be made into a Broadway musical. The live stage show is mostly the same as the Disney movie and contains a lot of the songs that were in the original movie. Fans will recognize the Oscar-winning “Beauty and the Beast”, “Be Our Guest”, “Belle”, and “Gaston”. And the show has plenty of dancing china to spare.

“Having the personification of different things as far as animated objects, I think Beauty and the Beast has the monopoly on that,” laughs Smith.

For the little girls there’s a little something extra. “We’re doing a Belle’s Royal Tea on the Sunday after the first weekend. You can see Belle and other royal princesses there along with Mrs. Potts,” says Smith. Belle’s Royal Tea will be held at the ICCM Theatre on Lee Highway. Sunday, Oct.

9 at 2 p.m. Purchase tickets from the website.

There are six opportunities to see Beauty and the Beast. The show runs Oct. 7 & 8 and 14 & 15 at 7:30 p.m., with matinees on Oct. 8 & 15 at 2 p.m. Purchase tickets from cdoorent.com/ boxoffice or at the Tivoli Box Office or at the door.

The shows will be performed inside the Robert K. Walker Memorial Theatre at 399 McCallie Ave. Closed Door Entertainment is a nonprofit based out of Rossville, Georgia.

They have an orchestra of 60 members and everyone working on the production is a local volunteer. “This is our 10th anniversary season this year. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for 10 years but we have.”

CDE is hitting a lot of anniversaries this season. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the animated film. The spring CDE production of West Side Story will mark the 50th anniversary of that landmark musical as well. For more information on the CDE season, visit cdoorent.com.

THU10.6 The Human Library

Take advantage of extended one-on-one sessions for Start Up Week with the 4th Floor Creative Specialists.

1 p.m.

Downtown Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org

FRI10.7 FACES UnMasked Public Preview Reception

Get an advance look at the upcoming arts event.

5:30 p.m.

Hart Gallery 10 E. Main St. (423) 266-1632 faces-cranio.org

SAT10.8 Prater’s Mill Country Fair

Mountain music, Southern foods, living history exhibits and the handmade crafts.

9 a.m.

Prater’s Mill 5845 Highway 2 (706) 694-6455 pratersmill.org

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

An Evening of Abstraction

THURSDAY10.6 Diverse Business Owners Breakfast at City Hall 8:30 a.m.

Chattanooga City Hall 101 E. 11th St. (423) 643-7300 chattanooga.gov The Human Library 1 p.m.

The Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Ooltewah Nursery 5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775 ooltewahnursery.com Signal Mountain Farmers Market 4 p.m.

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

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

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise 1500 Chestnut St. #102 (423) 756-6201 cneinc.org Drew Thomas 7:30 p.m.

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

FRIDAY10.7 Cambridge Square Night Market 5 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 531-7754 cambridgesquaretn.com Out of Town 5 p.m.

In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423)488-0981 intowngallery.com Open Studio Nights 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace

SPOTLIGHT: DREW THOMAS The comic stylings of Drew Thomas draws his audience in with his accounts of relationship follies and keen retorts on everyday life and current affairs.

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

302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com An Evening of Abstraction 5:30 p.m.

Area 61 Gallery 61 E. Main St. (423) 648-9367 facebook.com/ area61Chattanooga FACES UnMasked Public Preview Reception 5:30 p.m.

Hart Gallery 10 E. Main St. (423) 266-1632 faces-cranio.org Tennessee Watercolor Society Biennial Exhibition Opening Reception 5:30 p.m.

AVA Art Gallery 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282

avagallery.org Yoga on the Square 6:30 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 531-7754 cambridgesquaretn.com Hand Crafted Wishes 7 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Owl Prowl & Frog Walk 7 p.m.

Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Drew Thomas 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com The Floor is YOURS 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Author: The JT Leroy Story 8 p.m.

The Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org The Greasy Strangler 10:15 p.m.

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

the Pulse

Halloween Guide the haunted cavern 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 haunts

Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern

By Colin Moran

(Warning! May Cause Nightmares!) There has been a monster outbreak at the Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern. The area’s top haunt has been turned into a Flesh Farm! Terror is lurking around every corner of one of Chattanooga’s most scenic attractions.

Your experience begins 26 stories underground where no one can here you scream, with only one way out. And once the Hellevator brings you to the surface, you are then treated with a scene that is equally horrific, and includes a mysterious van ride up the mountain.

Upon entering the Flesh Farm you are exposed to a world torn by infection and chaos, zombies and freaks. Inside the farm, the haunt will tingle all of your senses. Touch, sight, smell and hearing. Watch out, because you just never know what is going to be right around the corner.

This is the 13th year of the Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern. They pride themselves on terrifying their world-record breaking crowds each year. This prestigious haunt has won several awards over the years, and is listed as number four on Buzzfeed’s national list of “19 Terrifying Haunted Houses You Should

Experience Before You Die”.

The fun (or not so much fun) begins as soon as you exit your vehicle with the freaks lying in wait.

The attention they pay when it comes to details in the haunt, and in the makeup on the actors, is breath taking. So much work and effort goes into the making of this haunt that as soon as one year ends, they get to work planning the next one almost immediately.

The event is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night through October 30th. Your dark evening begins with a freak parade at 7:30 p.m. The mob of freaks and zombies then accompany and mingle with you in line to help set the mood and go ahead and get your heart racing. Parking is very limited and it is encouraged for you to come early and witness the parade, if only to mentally prepare yourself for the terror you’re about to endure.

There are some discounts and other advantages to come on a Friday or Sunday night. Discounts can be obtained on online along with a list of other specials.

Every year the Haunted Cavern brings you a new theme, new characters, and new fear factors along with returning favorites like the Hellevator, chain-

saws, and fire-breathing freaks. To follow along with this year’s story line and to read up on all the characters go to the Haunted Cavern website for all the information your soon to be racing heart could desire.

The Haunt also would love for you to stay engaged on social media by liking their Facebook Page and also using the hashtag #HauntedCavern when posting pictures or videos.

The Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern doesn’t have an age restriction and they leave it up to parental discretion, but this attraction is recommended for teenagers and above.

Blowing Springs Farm Fall Festival

By Alyson McGowan

F

ollow Tennessee Avenue into Flintstone, Georgia and you’ll eventually see billboards for the Blowing Springs Farm. This annual attraction which is hosted by Rock City is more exciting than your average “Old McDonald Farm.” Here, you’ll find a variety of fun family-friendly games and activities everyone is sure to enjoy.

Duck races, pumpkin carvings and the famous enchanted corn maze are just a few of the fun activities going on at the farm. Returning attractions include the cow train, hay ride, corn crib station, corn slingshot, and pumpkin painting. And if you find yourself peckish, you can enjoy a yummy treat of fried Oreos or boiled peanuts, along with other snacks.

There’s also new activities to enjoy like pedal carts, corn hole and brand new baby animals to love on in the new petting area. Get up close and personal with newest additions to Bagby’s Critter Corral. Goats, alpacas, miniature bulls and huge fluffy rabbits are all guests of honor in this tiny petting zoo that visitors can pet, play with, feed and even get photos with.

Every year the Enchanted Maze designs a new track to ensure every adventurer never takes the same path twice; and this year is no different. You can look forward to enjoying hours of fun “getting lost” with family and friends as you use the new pop culture text game to find your way out of the seemingly endless rows of corn.

The farm will be up and operating for a whole month from September 30th until October 30th every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p,m. For more info on farm activities and operating times, go to blowingspringsfarm.com or call (706) 820-2531.

If you’re still looking for more adventures after exploring the farm, there are other attractions like; Rock City and the Incline Railway just six miles away, located on top of Lookout Mountain. There’s also the Battles for Chattanooga Museum along with daily reenactments of the battle of Lookout Mountain.

The Blowing Springs Farm is listed as a 2016 “Top 20” event by the Southeast Tourism Society. Admis-

16 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

sion to the farm is only $10 a person for ages four and up. Upon admission, you will receive four unique wooden tokens that can be exchanged to take part in the games and activates on the farm or kept as keep sakes. Also, the option to purchase more tokens is always available if you find yourself running low. The farm is owned and operated by See Rock City (SRC) Inc. The SRC is a hospitality and entertainment company that features the world-renowned Rock City Gardens, high atop Lookout Mountain.

Haunted Houses & Events Acres of Darkness: Haunted Trail & Family Adventures Chattanooga Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 892-1499 Fridays & Saturdays, starting Oct. 14 Tickets: $15; $5 off for CAS members acresofdarkness.com Asylum’s CarnEvil 527 W. Inman Rd. Cleveland, TN (423) 473-9668 facebook.com/asylumcleveland Blowing Springs Farm 271 Chattanooga Valley Rd., Flintstone, GA Fridays-Sundays, through Oct. 30 Tickets: $10 all ages, Free ages 3-under blowingspringsfarm.com Boo in the Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. Fridays & Saturdays, starting Oct. 21 Tickets: $9.95 adults, $6.95 children, free ages 2-under, Half off for members chattzoo.org Fall Hayrides & Campfires at Cloudland Canyon 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Rd. Saturdays, starting Oct. 8 Tickets: $6 adults, $3 children, free 2 and under gastateparks.org Halloween Eerie Express 4199 Cromwell Rd. Oct. 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, & 29 Tickets: $22 ages 2 & up tvrail.com The Haunted Barn 5017 McDonald Rd.,

McDonald, TN Fridays & Saturdays in Oct. Tickets: $20 all ages thehauntedbarnchattanooga.com Haunted Cavern Ruby Falls 1720 South Scenic Hwy. Fridays-Sundays in Oct. Tickets: $25 (Fri.), $30 (Sat.), $20 (Thurs/Sun) hauntedcavern.com Haunted Hilltop 8235 Hwy. 58, Harrison, TN Fridays & Saturdays in Oct. Tickets: $20 for everything or $15 per attraction thehauntedhilltop.com Lake WinnepeSPOOKah 1730 Lakeview Dr. Fridays & Saturdays in Oct. Tickets: $22 ages 3-54 lakewinnie.com/spookah Mayfield Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch 257 Hwy 307 E. Athens, TN Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31 Tickets: $13 mayfieldmaze.com Post-Mortem Haunted Trail 200 Natures Trl SW Cleveland, TN Saturdays & Sundays through Oct. 31 Tickets: $15 teamtwiste5.wix.com/post-mortem Ringgold Haunted Depot 155 Depot St., Ringgold, GA Oct. 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 Tickets: $15 for all ages cityofringgold.com The River Maze

1371 Hwy. 64 Cleveland, TN Friday-Sunday through Oct. 31 Tickets: $10, 3 & under free therivermaze.com Rock City Gardens’ Rocktoberfest 1400 Patten Rd. Saturdays & Sundays in Oct. Tickets: $22.95 for adults, $12.95 for kids seerockcity.com Shocktober Nights 490 County Rd. 67 Riceville, TN Friday & Saturday, opens Oct. 15 Tickets: $16.50 shocktobernights.com Tennessee Aquarium’s AquaScarium & ODDtober Events 1 Broad St. Oct. 28 Tickets: $40 for adults, $30 for children tnaqua.org McKamey BARKtober Fest and MEOWlloween Party 4500 N. Access Rd. Oct. 22 Tickets: Free ($13 cat adoptions and $31 dog adoptions) mckameyanimalcenter.org Trick or Treat at Hamilton Place 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd.

Oct. 31 Tickets: Free hamiltonplace.com Trick or Treat at Northgate Mall 271 Northgate Mall Oct. 31 Tickets: Free visitnorthgatemall.com

THE PULSE • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • OCTOBER 6, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • 17

18 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Eurydice

SATURDAY10.8 Chattanooga Tour de Cure 7 a.m.

Enterprise South Nature Park 8015 Volkswagen Dr. 423-893-3500 tour.diabetes.org Rucknooga Memorial March 8 a.m.

6219 Lee Hwy. rucknooga.org Prater’s Mill Country Fair 9 a.m.

Prater’s Mill 5845 Highway 2 (706) 694-6455 pratersmill.org Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Northside Farmers Market 10 am.

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

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 Blood Bath & Body Works Double Header 4 p.m.

Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 chattanoogarollergirls.com Chattanooga Navy Ball 6 p.m.

Marriott Hotel Downtown

2 Carter Plaza (423) 756-0002 Chattanooga Head Race 6 p.m.

Ross’s Landing 100 Riverfront Pkwy. lookoutrowingclub.com Eurydice 7:30 p.m.

UTC Theatre Company UTC Fine Arts Center 752 Vine St. (423) 425-4374 utctheatreco.com Drew Thomas 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Author: The JT Leroy Story 8 p.m.

The Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org The Greasy Strangler 10:30 p.m., Midnight The Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716

SUNDAY10.9 Chattanooga Market 11 a.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. (423) 402-9957 chattanoogamarket.com Drew Thomas 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch

1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Author: The JT Leroy Story 8 p.m.

The Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org The Greasy Strangler 10:30 p.m., Midnight The Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716

MONDAY10.10 Red Bank Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Red Bank United Methodist 3800 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com One Step at a Time 6 p.m.

Shepherd Community Center 2124 Shepherd Rd. (423) 855-2697 Author: The JT Leroy Story 8 p.m.

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

TUESDAY10.11 East Brainerd Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 838-9804

lookoutfarmersmarket.com Author: The JT Leroy Story 8 p.m.

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

WEDNESDAY10.12 Middle East Dance 10:30 a.m.

Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Main Street Market 4 p.m.

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

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Beginner’s Meditation 6 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Author: The JT Leroy Story 8 p.m.

The Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. (423) 521-1716 thecinerama.org Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • THE PULSE • 19

MUSIC

James Leg Blood on the Keys, Part Two Further inside one of the best local albums of the year

CSO Teams Up With The Mambo Kings The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera are proud to present the Mambo Kings as their first opening performance of Luken Pops Series this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Tivoli Theater.

The Mambo Kings are a Latin jazz ensemble made up of five extremely talented musicians who have individually toured around the world with other great jazz artists such as; Aretha Franklin, Johnny Rivera, and El Cano.

They describe their unique musical sound as Afro-Cuban meets contemporary jazz. They preform much of their own music but also take elements from Dave Brubeck, Tito Puentes, and even The Beatles.

The group is headed by musical director and pianist Richard DeLaney, who was raised in Peru and moved to the U.S. to earn his Masters’ degree in music. Percussionist Freddy Colon, saxophonist John Viavattine, bassist Hector Diaz, and second percussionist Tony Padilla make up the remaining four members of the assembly. All of which are brilliant musicians in the top of their fields.

The Mambo Kings are sure to bring a new and energetic sound to the Tivoli. Normal ticketing prices range from $21 to $83. Also, tickets starting at $15 will be offered to student and educator with valid identification.

— Alyson McGowan Luken Holdings Pops Series: Mambo Kings Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 702-4064 www.chattanoogasymphony.org 20 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6,, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Photo by Martial Morvan

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

A

FEW WEEKS BACK I WROTE A PIECE on the new album by James Leg, Blood on the Keys. In it, I gave the obligatory nod to his background material and only wound up with enough space to address a few of the tracks but promised to revisit the album in the weeks leading up to his return to Chattanooga (for one night only) after his extended six-month tour of Europe.

The time has come, the show is right around the corner, and you need to know why you should be there.

I’ve already touched on four tracks in the previous article; the ballsy “Human Lawn Dart”, the frenetic “Hugging the Line”, “St. Michel Shuffle” which is surely haunted by the ghost of Screamin’

Jay Hawkins, and “Tao Te Leg” which I consider to be the signature (although not the titular) track of the album. That leaves six more tracks, all lovingly crafted, all knocking it out of the park, every time.

“Mighty Man” is both raw and minimalist blues, similar to ZZ Top at the top of their game in the early seventies. Don’t roll your eyes, children. If the radio hits are all you know, you’ve never really heard ZZ Top or Billy Gibbons, the man Hendrix dubbed, “the next hottest guitar player.” That Leg captures some of that flavor in his own work is a firm indicator that here is a man who owns the blues.

“I’ll Take It” is a change of pace from the earlier tracks on the album. Gentle, wistful, laid-back blues that evokes classic Motown with a quasigospel sound that almost makes me want to find religion, at least whatever religion Leg is ped-

MUSIC

“The time has come, the show is right around the corner, and you need to know why you should be there.” dling. The raspy vocals, soothing organ and tasty piano riffs gracefully impart soul to the most white-bread among us, if only for four minutes and fourteen seconds.

“Ain’t You Hungry” is another one of those tunes where I feel Leg is sharing some commonalities with a musician I reference all too often, Tom Waits. It’s true, I mention the man more than I should, but there’s a reason. Ask me my favorite band and I couldn’t give you less than a dozen answers. Ask me my favorite singer/songwriter and it’s the same, I can’t name just one. Ask me my favorite musician over all of all time and there is only one answer, Waits.

Love him or hate him, the man is a genius and when I say that another musician reminds me of him, it is meant as the highest praise I have to offer.

Leg certainly shares some growling vocal qualities with Waits, as well as his mastery of the piano, but the greatest

comparison is his ability to deconstruct and then rearrange a piece in unexpected but brilliant ways. I said it before, this is blues, but it isn’t a standard blues album. Leg makes use of effects, instrumentation and arrangements that are simply unexpected and yet so beautifully combined that he breathes new life in to a genre that so many less talented musicians have practically beaten to death. It is in this way more than any other that Leg reminds me of my favorite musician of all time and why I think it’s a comparison worth making.

“Dogjaw” is just a marvelous upbeat little blues tune that seems like a respectful tip of the hat to John Lee Hooker. If the song doesn’t lead to involuntary toetapping and head-bobbing, you may well be a lizard person and the music of the hu-MANS is beyond your ken.

Good lord, “Blood on the Keys,” the title track to this album, is so soulful, so moving, it ought to come with a glass of rye whiskey and a cigarette. In a way, it does, albeit sonically. There’s no doubt that Leg chose wisely in making this the title track because while the rest of the album showcases his range and phenomenal talent for composition, this is

Songwriter Kate Klim Continues To Impress

the one that seems to emanate straight from the heart and soul of the man himself.

To bookend the album, perhaps to sum up what the whole thing is about, Leg ends with “Should Have Been Home with You,” which brings in to play everything that came before it on the album. The combination of the purely traditional with the altogether unexpected is, I think, the key to his genius. For all his prodigious talent as a player, it is his ear for composition and arrangement that puts him in a league all his own.

Hear these tracks live, Oct. 17th at JJ’s Bohemia.

It’s a Monday night show, but it’s worth doing whatever you have to do to get there as Leg (known to his hometown friends as John Myers of course) will be joined by the nigh-legendary Mark “Porkchop” Holder and MPH as well as Dirty Deep, all the way from France.

It’s hard to say if and when this combination of pure talent will be under the same roof again. Missing them this time around would be a mistake.

Kate Klim was five years old when her family inherited a piano, nine years old when she received her first lesson, and 11 years old when an unsuccessful audition for the film Life with Mikey caused her to rethink her career as a movie star. This was fortunate, because the singer/ songwriter the Boston Herald has called a “best best for folk-pop stardom” then turned to music.

With roots in Palatine, Illinois and Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Kate was raised on a steady diet of Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel and John Lennon. Later on, her influences grew to include Patty Griffin, Jonatha Brooke, and Chris Trapper. Kate’s musical success in her hometown led her to Berklee College of Music in Boston.

It was there that Kate worked on her skills as a writer and performer, and became involved with the music community that had produced icons like Bob Dylan years before, and Tracy Chapman and Patty Griffin in the recent past. Within a few years of her debut as a singer/songwriter, she was opening for artists like Shawn Colvin, Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell and Ollabelle.

Kate has been recognized by some of the country’s premier songwriting contests. She won the 2010 Kerrville New Folk competition, and was a finalist in the 2005 and 2006 Mountain Stage Newsong Contests.

You can see for yourself why she’s one of the hottest young singer/songwriters touring the country when she headlines the Chattanooga Market at the First Tennessee Pavilion this Sunday at 2 p.m.

THU10.6

FRI10.7

SAT10.8

The Dead Deads

Rick Rushing

The Courtney Daly Band

Catch them while you still can up close and personal, as they are about to make the big jump to stardom. Trust us.

9 p.m.

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

In the need for some old-fashioned, down and dirty blues guitar? Look no further than the man in the moccasin boots.

8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com

A soulful powerhouse voice and one tight band make for a great show.

9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • THE PULSE • 21

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

THURSDAY10.6 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

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

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

Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com The Von Wamps 7 p.m.

Greenway Farms 5051 Gann Store Rd. outdoorchattanooga.com Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

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

Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. mexi-wingchattanooga.com The Black Lilies 8 p.m.

The Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com

22 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6,, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com The Dead Deads, Hill Billy Casino 9 p.m.

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

FRIDAY10.7 The Molly Maguires 6:30 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. chattanoogamarket.com The Dave Matthews Tribute Band 8 p.m.

Revelry Room

SPOTLIGHT: NICK HICKMAN Nick can perform multiple genres of music ranging from country to pop and rock, but he has found his home in country music.

Nick Hickman Friday, 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com

41 Station St. revelryroom.co Bone Thugs-N-Harmony 8 p.m.

Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co Rick Rushing 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Instant Replay 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanoogahotel.com Jack Kirton 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Nick Hickman 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Normal Knees, Go Home, Smallville 9 p.m.

JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Captain & The Kid 10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Chase Martin 10 p.m.

Raw Bar & Grill 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com

SATURDAY10.8 Harvest Concert 5 p.m.

Georgia Winery 6469 Battlefield Pkwy.

Ringgold, GA georgiawines.com Wet Nurse, One Timers, Lucifer Sam, Teresa Rose 6 p.m.

JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Switchfoot & Relient K 8 p.m.

Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co CSO Pops Series Mambo Kings 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theater

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Permagoove 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Caroline Cotter 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Permagroove & The Iscariots 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Zagers, Tsarlag, Rhody, Superbody, All Girl Chorus Line 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Instant Replay 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com The Courtney Daly Band 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Charge The Atlantic,Sam Killed The Bear, Subkonscious 10 p.m.

JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Vegabonds 10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Live Music 10 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe

901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Chase Martin 10 p.m.

Raw Bar & Grill 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com

SUNDAY10.9 Jim Pankey & Ron Curry 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Stratoblasters 11:30 a.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Kara Claudy 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Kate Klim 2 p.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Jennifer Nettles with Zach Seabaugh 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theater 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com BBMUTHA, Abdu Ali, Joey Postell

9 p.m.

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

MONDAY10.10 Caney Creek Company 7 p.m.

Greenway Farms 5051 Gann Store Rd. Outdoorchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com What So Not 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Very Open Mic 8 p.m.

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

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

Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Universal Sigh, Charlie the Head 9 p.m.

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

TUESDAY10.11 Tom Cordell Trumpet Improv Ensemble 6 p.m.

SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkw. (423) 834-9300 Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

WEDNESDAY10.12 Eddie Pontiac 5:30 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonrestaurant.com Open Jam 8 p.m.

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

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Blackfoot Gypsies, Catl, Sweet Ga Brown 9 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 • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • THE PULSE • 23

RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ERNIE PAIK

Battle Trance Blade of Love, Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Wede Harer Guzo

Battle Trance Blade of Love (New Amsterdam/NNA Tapes)

A

NY IN THIS DAY AND age, when a mind-boggingly immense amount of music can be heard for free, in an instant, on Spotify, YouTube and other sources, it’s certainly a valid thought to question the role of a music critic—where’s the need to read a text explanation when a person can simply listen to a song right then and make her own critical decisions?

This thought came to mind when listening to the intensely emotional instrumental album Blade of Love by the tenor saxophone quartet Battle Trance, led by Travis Laplante, the composer of the album’s three movements; this is music that must be felt, and over explaining wouldn’t do justice to its ineffable power.

A critic can be a guide, providing context and perspective, but in this case, it might be more appropriate to offer some kind of Lester Bangs/ Molly Bloom-inspired cathartic reverie, which this writer wouldn’t dare attempt. Some kind of existential self-questioning meltdown would be pretty awkward, so let’s just

24 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6,, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Hailu Mergia & Dahlak Band Wede Harer Guzo (Awesome Tapes from Africa)

try our best here.

Written as a physical and spiritual intersection, Laplante explained that he had to tap into non-traditional saxophone tones in order to generate the desired sounds— “sounds like arrows flying through the air, birds singing or flying overhead, bombs, water running” and so on. It’s uncanny just how well Laplante and his talented cohorts— Patrick Breiner, Matt Nelson and Jeremy Viner—are able to articulate their mimickry; in fact, when listening to the album before reading Laplante’s explanation, this writer envisioned many of the things listed, like birds, bombs and rushing water.

A human aspect is present at times on Blade of Love through the use of melancholic humming/singing and intense blowing without vibrating a reed, making the instrument an extension of the player’s lungs. Moments of warm tenderness lead to chaotic rushes and violent bleating, directed like machine gun fire. This writer’s favorite piece is the second part, which of-

fers the album’s most overwhelming emotional moment, with piercing divebombing notes, followed by slowly descending pitches not perfectly in unison, resembling violin glissandos.

Blade of Love can make the listener think about the possibilities of stimulating an emotional response from a sound—it’s not always a melody or an imitation of an existing sound. It’s often about taking a musical instrument to its limits, wringing out every last drop of its spirit, and nobody else in the world is making music quite like it.

O

NE OF THIS WRITER’S favorite moments from the 2014 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville was a mesmerizing late-night set of Ethiopian funk from keyboardist Hailu Mergia—who took a 30-year hiatus before returning to live performances—with the Brooklyn backing band Low Mentality.

When browsing others’ recollections of the show to help piece together his own, he came across an article for Vice by Grayson Currin—who is admired by this writer—that faulted the set; he had wanted something more driving and dance-inducing, rather than something like “a complacent Sunday afternoon score.” This writer does not share his disappointment, respectfully, but really, it all comes down to expectations.

With this line of thinking, Currin might not share this writer’s admiration for the new

reissue of Mergia’s 1978 cassette-only, hour-long album Wede Harer Guzo, featuring takes on Ethiopian standards along with two Mergia originals. It has a gentle funk undercurrent without in-yourface, ocean-deep grooves that some might favor. Horns aren’t present to blare and blast but to slither in and deviously infect, like on the track “Sintayehu.”

There’s a simple explanation for this lightness, compared with some other work from Mergia, like the outstanding album Tche Belew recorded with the Walias Band, the house band for the Hilton hotel in Addis Ababa. Seeking a different kind of sound, Mergia recorded Wede Harer Guzo with the Dahlak Band, the house band for a different hotel (the Ghion) in town, which had a sound that leaned on soul and Amharic sources.

This is not soul-funk to make your pulse race, but instead, it serves as comforting divertimentos. Actually, it reminds this writer of the definition of ambient music offered

by Brian Eno, who said that it must “be ignorable as it is interesting.”

Wede Harer Guzo doesn’t scream for attention, but details are present for those who seek them, like the spirited, flowing guitar lines on the album’s closing track and particularly in the compelling organ melodies from Mergia, with his characteristically reedy timbre and calm, purposeful wandering.

OPINIONS & DIVERSIONS

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • THE PULSE • 25

FILM & TELEVISION

Luke Cage An Edgy Small Screen Success A superhero grounded in reality—and the gritty city

The Greasy Strangler Walks The Streets It melted brains at this year's Chattanooga Film Festival and the good folks at Cine-Rama couldn't resist letting The Greasy Strangler stalk the streets of Chattanooga once more.

The Los Angeles-set tale follows Ronnie, a man who runs a Disco Walking tour along with his browbeaten son, Brayden.

When a sexy, alluring woman comes to take the tour, it begins a competition between father and son for her attentions. It also signals the appearance of an oily, slimy inhuman maniac who stalks the streets at night and strangles the innocent, soon dubbed “The Greasy Strangler”.

In addition, starting Friday and running through next Thursday, Cine-Rama presents Author: The JT Leroy Story, one of the most fascinating and incredible documentaries of 2016.

In 2006, The New York Times sent shockwaves through the literary world when it unmasked "it boy" wunderkind JT LeRoy, whose tough prose about a sordid childhood had captivated icons and luminaries internationally.

It turned out LeRoy didn't actually exist. He was the creative expression of 40-year-old San Francisco former phone-sex operator turned housewife, Laura Albert.

The film takes us down the infinitely fascinating rabbit hole of how Laura Albert—like a Cyrano de Bergerac on steroids—breathed not only words, but life, into her avatar for a decade.

The Greasy Strangler Friday: 10:15 p.m., Saturday: 10:30 p.m. & Midnight, Sunday: 10:30 p.m.

The Cine-Rama 100 W. Main St. ∙ (423) 521-1716 www.thecinerama.org 26 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6,, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

W

ITH THE RELEASE OF LUKE CAGE on Netflix, one thing is certain: the small screen Defenders series, like Daredevil and Jessica Jones, have far surpassed any of the other Marvel properties in terms of quality. ABC has tried admirably with Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter but the small screen, prime time format has its limits not found in shows produced by the popular streaming service.

The quality of these series can, in some respects, be attributed to the episodic nature of comic books, which translates well to a 13-episode series. It allows for the writers to spend less time throwing punches and saving damsels and more time developing characters and creating a world. Beyond that, however, is the control given to the show runners.

The films are highly controlled and packaged.

Despite the talented directors attached to the films, from Jon Favreau to Joss Whedon, none of the Marvel films feel distinct (James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy is the exception). They each feel like one film, cut into chunks and released every few years. While the films are good, they are also disposable, not unlike most of the weekly comics released by DC or Marvel.

The Netflix series, however, feel more like a graphic novel. Each series is distinct, with unique themes and looks that fit their specific hero like a glove. Daredevil features The Raid style action and choreography, not shying away from strong visuals and long camera shots. Jessica Jones is uniquely dark, exploring themes of abuse and power in complex and powerful ways.

Luke Cage continues this tradition by taking traditional superhero tropes and using them to explore common issues within black communi-

FILM & TELEVISION

“By allowing the show to be true to its roots and giving the audience a chance to connect with it on its own terms, Luke Cage becomes a stronger representation of the comic book than any of the Avengers style films.” ties, peppering the narrative with nods to Blaxploitation films without turning into parody. The result is a solidly executed show that makes Netflix the go-to destination for superhero fare.

Luke Cage is a super strong, bullet proof hero with a past and a desire to keep his head down. First shown in last year’s Jessica Jones, a standalone series with Cage was a necessity.

With Marvel, we know that this was the plan all along—fans might call for it, but Marvel knew what it was doing long before it debuted the character.

Luke Cage is moved uptown in this series, abandoning the down and dirty streets of Hell’s Kitchen for the historic neighborhood of Harlem.

Harlem faces many of the same issues found elsewhere in NYC—“the incident” (the alien invasion from 2012’s

The Avengers) has led to a downturned economy and an uptick in thrilling heroics. Street salesmen hawk DVD’s featuring footage of green skinned monsters and mobsters threaten to take what little the Harlem residents have in the form of King John style “taxes.”

Most of the crime is done through gun running, supplying local gangs with weapons. When a shooting at a barbershop leaves a local legend dead, Luke Cage faces off against the underworld and their shady political connections to make the neighborhood safe for those who live there.

The casting of the show sets it apart from others of its kind. In order to effectively portray a believable Harlem, the show needs a comprehensive and capable stable of black actors. Where else would the showrunners look than David Simon’s The Wire? Actors from The Wire have popped up in a variety of Marvel properties, but Luke Cage seems to have tapped more than the others.

The series features Frankie Faison (“Pop” Hunter), Michael Kostroff (Dr. Noah Burstein), S. Robert Morgan (Oliver), and Sonja Sohn (Captain Betty Audrey), and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more show up as the series progresses. Beyond just The Wire alums, the cast is strong throughout, led by the talented and believable Mike Colter as Luke Cage.

The show is also frequently underscored by R&B and hip-hop artists, further solidify the show with its Blaxploitation roots and setting it further apart from the previous shows.

It’s this distinction that makes the series work so well. Luke Cage was created to be a very different superhero than Spider-Man. By allowing the show to be true to its roots and giving the audience a chance to connect with it on its own terms, Luke Cage becomes a stronger representation of the comic book than any of the Avengers style films.

It might not have the flashy special effects but it’s got the soul of the original work.

✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴

The Birth of a Nation Set against the antebellum South, the film follows a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, accepts an offer to use Nat's preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities, Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom.

Director: Nate Parker Stars: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Mark Boone Junior

The Girl on the Train A divorcee becomes entangled in a missing persons investigation that promises to send shockwaves throughout her life.

Director: Tate Taylor Stars: Haley Bennett, Emily Blunt, Justin Theroux, Rebecca Ferguson

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • THE PULSE • 27

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ous? Now is the time.

ROB BREZSNY LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “It isn’t normal to know what we want,” said psychologist Abraham Maslow. “It is a rare and difficult psychological achievement.” He wasn’t referring to the question of what you want for dinner or the new shoes you plan to buy. He was talking about big, longterm yearnings: what you hope to be when you grow up, the qualities you look for in your best allies, the feelings you’d love to feel in abundance every day of your life. Now here’s the good news, Libra: The next ten months should bring you the best chance ever to figure out exactly what you want the most. And it all starts now.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Practitioners of the Ayurvedic medical tradition tout the healing power of regular self-massage. Creativity expert Julia Cameron recommends that you periodically go out on dates with yourself. Taoist author Mantak Chia advises you to visualize sending smiles and good wishes to your kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, and other organs. He says that these acts of kindness bolster your vigor. The coming weeks will be an especially favorable time to attend to measures like these, Scorpio. I hope you will also be imaginative as you give yourself extra gifts and compliments and praise.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The coming weeks will be one of the best times ever for wrestling with God or tussling with Fate or grappling with karma. Why do I say that? Because you’re likely to emerge triumphant!

That’s right, you lucky, plucky contender. More than I’ve seen in a long time, you have the potential to draw on the crafty power and unruly wisdom and resilient compassion you would need to be an unambiguous winner. A winner of what? You tell me. What dilemma would you most like to resolve? What test would you most like to ace? At what game would you most like to be victori-

28 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6,, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Are you grunting and sweating as you struggle to preserve and maintain the gains of the past? Or are you smooth and cagey as you maneuver your way towards the rewards of the future? I’m rooting for you to put the emphasis on the second option. Paradoxically, that will be the best way to accomplish the first option. It will also ensure that your motivations are primarily rooted in love and enthusiasm rather than worry and stress.

And that will enable you to succeed at the second option.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Do you believe that you are mostly just a product of social conditioning and your genetic make-up? Or are you willing to entertain a different hypothesis: that you are a primal force of nature on an unpredictable journey? That you are capable of rising above your apparent limitations and expressing aspects of yourself that might have been unimaginable when you were younger? I believe the coming weeks will be a favorable time to play around with this vision. Your knack for transcendence is peaking. So are your powers to escape the past and exceed limited expectations.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In one of your nightly dreams, Robin Hood may team up with Peter Pan to steal unused treasure from a greedy monster -- and then turn the booty over to you. Or maybe you’ll meet a talking hedgehog and singing fox who will cast a spell to heal and revive one of your wounded fantasies. It’s also conceivable that you will recover a magic seed that had been lost or forgotten, and attract the help of a fairy godmother or godfather to help you ripen it.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): At a recent party, a guy I hardly know questioned my authenticity. “You seem to have had an easy life,” he jabbed. “I bet you haven’t suffered enough to be a truly passionate person.” I didn’t choose to engage him, but mused to myself, “Not enough suffering? What about the time I got shot? My divorce? My five-year-long illness? The manager of my rock band getting killed in a helicopter crash?” But after that initial reaction, my thoughts turned to the adventures that have stoked my passion without causing pain, like the birth of my daughter, getting remarried to the woman I divorced, and performing my music

Homework: What is the best gift you could give your best ally right now? Testify at FreeWillAstrology.com for excited audiences. I bring this up, Aries, because I suspect that you, too, will soon have experiences that refine and deepen your passion through pleasure rather than hardship.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s the Frank and Focused Feedback Phase, Taurus—prime time to solicit insight about how you’re doing. Here are four suggestions to get you started. 1. Ask a person who loves and respects you to speak the compassionate truth about what’s most important for you to learn. 2. Consult a trustworthy advisor who can help motivate you to do the crucial thing you’ve been postponing. 3. Have an imaginary conversation with the person you were a year ago. Encourage the Old You to be honest about how the New You could summon more excellence in pursuing your essential goals. 4. Say this prayer to your favorite tree or animal or meadow: “Show me what I need to do in order to feel more joy.”

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Many of my readers regard me as being exceptionally creative. Over the years, they have sent countless emails praising me for my original approach to problem-solving and art-making.

But I suspect that I wasn’t born with a greater talent for creativity than anyone else. I’ve simply placed a high value on developing it, and have worked harder to access it than most people. With that in mind, I invite you to tap more deeply into your own mother lode of innovative, imaginative energy. The cosmic trends favor it. Your hormones are nudging you in that direction. What projects could use a jolt of primal brilliance? What areas of your life need a boost of ingenuity?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Love wants more of you. Love longs for you to give everything you have and receive everything you need. Love is conspiring to bring you beautiful truths and poignant teases, sweet dispensations and confounding mysteries, exacting blessings and riddles that will take your entire life to solve. But here are some crucial

questions: Are you truly ready for such intense engagement? Are you willing to do what’s necessary to live at a higher and deeper level? Would you know how to work with such extravagant treasure and wild responsibility? The coming weeks will be prime time to explore the answers to these questions. I’m not sure what your answers will be.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Each of us contains a multiplicity of selves. You may often feel like there’s just one of you rumbling around inside your psyche, but it’s closer to the truth to say that you’re a community of various characters whose agendas sometimes overlap and sometimes conflict. For example, the needy part of you that craves love isn’t always on the same wavelength as the ambitious part of you that seeks power.

That’s why it’s a good idea to periodically organize summit meetings where all of your selves can gather and negotiate. Now is one of those times: a favorable moment to foster harmony among your inner voices and to mobilize them to work together in service of common goals.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Pike’s Peak is a 14,115-foot mountain in Colorado. It’s not a simple task to trek to the top. Unless you’re well-trained, you might experience altitude sickness. Wicked thunderstorms are a regular occurrence during the summer. Snow falls year-round. But back in 1929, an adventurer named Bill Williams decided the task of hiking to the summit wasn’t tough enough.

He sought a more demanding challenge. Wearing kneepads, he spent 21 days crawling along as he used his nose to push a peanut all the way up. I advise you to avoid making him your role model in the coming weeks, Virgo. Just climb the mountain. Don’t try to push a peanut up there with your nose, too.

Rob Brezsny is an aspiring master of curiosity, perpetrator of sacred uproar, and founder of the Beauty and Truth Lab. He brings a literate, myth-savvy perspective to his work.

It’s all in the stars.

JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES

“One 800”—-freestylin’ for puzzle #800!

ACROSS 1 Versifier, archaically 6 Pharisee whose meeting with Jesus inspired the phrase “born again” 15 Florida lizard 16 Still 17 Not going anywhere 18 Docked 19 Right a wrong 20 Comedian with an eponymous show on Adult Swim 21 Trap bait 22 Busted 23 Show on Showtime, for instance 24 Officially approved, as a campus 26 Numerical IDs 27 Shape-saving inserts 28 Bond maker 29 Birth announcement abbr.

30 Roman numeral that almost spells

a man’s name 31 Reed evoked in “Eats, Shoots & Leaves” 35 Bridges in Hollywood 37 Hebrew song whose title is a repeated name 38 Dove 42 “When ___ Lies” (R. Kelly single) 43 Corrupt person 45 Drab 46 Support system?

47 51-Across player 48 Widebottomed glass 50 Island castle on Lake Geneva 51 Tidwell’s agent, in a 1996 film 52 “Purple drank” component 53 Science that may study migration 54 Like a blue jay DOWN 1 Some hotels

2 Company that burns down at the end of “Office Space” 3 Country on the Strait of Gibraltar 4 1968 hit for the Turtles 5 Photoshop feature that remedies some flash effects 6 Table linens 7 Go over 8 A few pointers to check during an exam?

9 Tripping 10 McDermott of “American Horror Story” 11 Oscar-winning role for Julia 12 CX-5 or CX-9, e.g.

13 IUD component 14 Some ceremonial dinners 25 Shipmate of Hermes and Fry 26 Analog computers once used for trigonometry

28 Ester found in vegetable oils and animal fats 30 Strong position until 2014 31 “Hell if I know” 32 Fact-finder’s volume 33 Friend’s address in Acapulco?

34 Nestle Purina Petcare line 35 Organization that recognizes the Ricoh Women’s British Open 36 “If You’ll Let This Fool Back In” singer Greenwood 39 Perform perfectly 40 Part of a late-night noise complaint, maybe 41 Lamented loudly 44 Longtime NHL left wing Bob 49 Reunion de la familia attendee 50 300

Copyright © 2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per3minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 800 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • THE PULSE • 29

COLUMN ∙ SUSHI & BISCUITS

The Misunderstood Condiment Turning soybeans, water and salt into a delicious elixir

Mike McJunkin Pulse columnist

GROWING UP, MY MOTHER ALWAYS kept a bottle of La Choy soy sauce in the door of our harvest-yellow Frigidaire refrigerator. Like so many home cooks in the 70s, she would clip the occasional fried rice or stir-fry recipe from Good Housekeeping magazine in an attempt to introduce variety into our Southern-fried dinners and her Frances Bavier style cooking routine.

These recipes would inevitably call for “soy sauce,” and the brevity of that twoword description never once struck me as problematic—that is, until I escaped the tiny, Southern, suburban bubble that ensconced the pantry of my childhood.

Soy sauce is not a singular product, devoid of variation. In many ways, it’s a lot like wine. There are many varieties, each with its own texture, flavor, and appearance; the longer it ages, the deeper and more complex the flavor becomes; and there are devotees that will not hesitate to cut you if you think that acrid, brown liquid that comes with your Asian takeout is anything other than tiny packets of watered down motor oil.

There are two primary ways of turning soybeans, water, salt, (and sometimes wheat) into soy sauce—natural brewing or chemical processing. Naturally brewed soy sauce ferments for months or even a couple of years to produce a rich and complex flavor like a fine wine or whiskey, all while avoiding chemical additives that give chemicallyproduced sauces a sharp, saline aftertaste.

Non-brewed, chemically-produced soy sauce is manufactured in mere days, mixing hydrolized soy protein and flavorings such

as corn syrup and caramel together into a thin, sad, shadow of what could have been.

In short, naturally brewed soy sauces have a discernibly rich aroma, complexity of flavor and are blacker than Pete Wentz’s eyeliner.

Industrial soy sauce is a one trick pony, and that trick is giving you hypernatremia.

Among brewed soy sauces there are many styles that vary from cuisine to cuisine. Visit a well stocked Asian market and you’ll find an array of styles such as Indonesian, Thai, Korean, and Filipino, while the average American grocery store will typically only stock Japanese or Chinese styles.

Japanese soy sauce, or shoyu, is brewed with roasted wheat. Chinese soy sauce was traditionally made without wheat, but modern varieties have begun to use wheat flour as well as added sugar. These differences in ingredients and different brewing times give Japanese soy sauce a milder, more rounded flavor, while Chinese soy sauces have a saltier finish and thicker, darker texture. Shake a bottle of each and you’ll notice the Chinese soy sauce will coat the inside of the bottle, while Japanese styles are lighter and more delicate.

The third variation within the panoply of soy sauces is the distinction between light or dark. This variation is produced primarily as a result of how long the sauce is aged. Light Japanese and Chinese soy sauces are thinner and (obviously) lighter in color than the dark versions, but oddly enough, they have a more intense flavor than dark soy sauces.

30 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 6,, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

“Naturally brewed soy sauces have a discernibly rich aroma, complexity of flavor and are blacker than Pete Wentz’s eyeliner.”

The soy sauce you have in your pantry or refrigerator at home is probably dark Japanese soy sauce, known as koikuchi. These dark sauces are the most widely distributed in the U.S. and Japan and are the quintessential soy sauce you see from brands like Kikkoman and Yamasa. If a recipe simply calls for “soy sauce,” this is probably the type they mean for you to use.

In Chinese cooking, however, light soy sauce is more common.

The bottle will usually say “light” “thin” or “superior” along with a brand name such as Lee Kum Kee or Pearl River Bridge.

One final note about tamari.

Tamari is a thick, almost syrupy soy sauce that originated in central Japan. It is traditionally used as a dipping sauce for sashimi or as a finishing sauce for grilled meats or teriyaki. Tamari became popular

with the gluten-free crowd because it was supposedly made without wheat. While there are some tamari’s that are made with 100% soy, tamari made the traditional way can contain wheat. If you have medically diagnosed celiac disease, please check the ingredients before ingesting tamari. If you do not have celiac disease, just eat the damn tamari.

The key thing to remember in all of this is to look for bottles that say “brewed” or “traditionally brewed.”

Take a peek at the ingredient list too so you’ll know if you’re getting the good stuff or a beaker’s worth of chemicals. The fewer ingredients, the better.

Longtime food writer and professional chef Mike McJunkin is a native Chattanoogan currently living abroad who has trained chefs, owned and operated restaurants. Join him on Facebook at facebook. com/SushiAndBiscuits

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 6, 2016 • THE PULSE • 31