The Pulse 16.41 » October 10, 2019 by Brewer Media Group

VOL. 16, ISSUE 41 • OCTOBER 10, 2019

BLAK ORIGIN MOMENT AT THE HUNTER ARTIST NOEL W. ANDERSON EXPLORES BLACK MALE IDENTITY PLUS: CHATTANOOGA MOTORCAR FESTIVAL ▪ TORI PARRISH ▪ THE NIM NIMS

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CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 16, ISSUE 41 • OCTOBER 10, 2019 BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Jenn Webster Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Rob Brezsny Matt Jones Mike McJunkin Tony Mraz Ernie Paik Judy Stropus Michael Thomas Editorial Interns Lauren Justice • Mackenzie Wagamon Cartoonists Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin mike@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Rick Leavell • Cindee McBride Libby Phillips • Lisa Roche John Rodriguez • Danielle Swindell

CONTACT Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2019 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

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Blak Origin Moment At The Hunter From this Friday through January 12, The Hunter Museum of American Art will host a profound critique of cultural images of black masculinity: a solo exhibition by artist Noel W. Anderson.

MOTORCAR FESTIVAL

NIM NIMS DELIVER

What separates the inaugural Chattanooga MotorCar Festival from other car shows is the diversity of its program. It’s the only car event to offer a Concours, a Rallye, and Time Trials.

On October 9th, 1940, John Lennon was born. October 3rd, 1990, East and West Germany were reunited as the Federal Republic of Germany.

DAZZLING WORKS

American Impressionism is alive and well in Chattanooga. Artist Tori Parrish captures scenes with quick, energetic brushstrokes, translating and encoding moments of her life.

IMPOSING ORDER

In the graphic novel “The Killing Joke” by Alan Moore, the Joker tells Batman that “if [he’s] going to have a past, [he] prefer it be multiple choice.”

5 CONSIDER THIS

13 HALLOWEEN GUIDE

25 JONESIN' CROSSWORD

7 SHRINK RAP

20 MUSIC CALENDAR

25 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

22 MUSIC REVIEWS

26 SUSHI & BISCUITS

12 ARTS CALENDAR

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE PULSE • 3

CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES

Chattanooga MotorCar Festival Revs Up

Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick “It’s okay if the only thing you did today was breathe.” — HealthyPlace. com We are such doers. It is said that the busy person gets more done. And we humans certainly like to get things done. We like to feel productive, successful, capable of taking care of our loved ones whether we are the hunters or the gatherers, the doers, nesters, or nurturers. We like to have purpose—a reason for waking up in the morning. And this is very important. Our self-esteem depends upon purpose. And our wellness—psychological, spiritual, and physical—depends upon balance. There is doing, and more doing, and there is the space in between. Too often we forget about that space, or don’t honor it, even though it is our “recharging” place, our centering place. Consider this, from e-buddhism.com: “Everything heals. Your body heals. Your heart heals. The mind heals. Wounds heal. Your soul repairs itself. If we simply allow space to do so.”

It’s a classic car lovers’ dream weekend

HAT SEPARATES THE INAUGURAL CHATTANOOGA MOTORCAR FESTIVAL from other car shows is the diversity of its program. It’s the only car event to offer a Concours, a Rallye, and Time Trials on a closed circuit, plus myriad family activities. And it all takes place on the Tennessee Riverfront and West Village in the heart of the city this Friday through Sunday. By Judy Stropus Pulse contributor

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Auto racing and automotive celebrities will be on hand for autographs, photo ops, and one-on-one chats.”

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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The festival borrows from the style of its European counterparts by incorporating unique classic car events tailored to the vintage/historic car collector and racer, combined with the welcoming hospitality that is the trademark of the American South. Each day will provide spectators different ways to enjoy the experience. The Chattanooga MotorCar Festival is a concept originated by Byron DeFoor, regarded as a visionary in local real estate development and the healthcare industry, a philanthropist, “car guy” and race-car driver, along with IMSA racing champion Jim Pace. The Festival will benefit Chattanooga’s Erlanger Neuroscience Institute, the region’s only certified academic neuroscience center. It focuses on a

collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that enhances quality of care for patients and families. “As developers of the Westin Hotel in Chattanooga and, of course, die-hard fans of all things automotive, my brother Ken DeFoor and I were thinking ahead to the future and added green grass pads on the north plaza of the hotel, perfect for showing cars,” DeFoor said. “Holding this event in the heart of the city, with the full support of Chattanooga’s mayor Andy Berke and the Chattanooga Visitors Bureau, provides an inviting venue for families and car fans to enjoy the city and see a great car show.” Hundreds of exotic, significant, one-of-a-kind cars, some from as far back as the early 1900s, will compete

EDITOONS

in the Time Trials and/or be shown in the Concours on the grounds of the Westin Chattanooga Hotel. Expect to see a 1928 Isotta Fraschini 8A Super Sprinto, a 1966 McLaren M1B Can-Am race car, an ultra-rare 1952 Porsche 356A 1500 Super America Roadster, Wayne Carini’s Moal Speedway Special, and many more. The Time Trials on the 1.5-mile circuit will provide drama and excitement, as drivers compete against the clock at high speeds along the Riverfront. Auto racing and automotive celebrities will be on hand for autographs, photo ops, and one-on-one chats. Famous racing drivers such as NASCAR’s Bill Elliott, sports-car champions Brian Redman, David Hobbs and Alain de Cadenet, as well as global automotive personalities Wayne Carini and Donald Osborne, will take part in the festivities. Also on the celeb roster are Linda Vaughn, famous for her role as Miss Hurst Shifter, and Rallycross star Tanner Foust, who’ll perform drifts on the Time Trials circuit in a high-powered

VW Passat. The Antique Boat Show at the pier will display antique and classic boats, and hold a parade on the river. There will be free access to the street party Friday night with live music by the Malemen Show Band, along with food trucks, laser shows and the public unveiling of the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Kids’ Zone will have face painting, balloon artists, inflatables, Herbie the Love Bug, special appearances by Professor Gig-A-Watt and Looie the Lookout, Disney movies shown, plus activities from the Creative Discovery Museum. The shops in West Village will be open during the Festival, including Antibes Boutique, an upscale shop for men and women; Alimentari Cucina e Bar, offering a spin on standard Italian fare; and Old Gilman Grill, ideal for gourmet patio dining. “We are excited to help bring a unique celebration of cars and fun family activities to the Scenic City,” DeFoor said. “It truly is a happening that should not be missed.” For ticket information, go to chattanoogamotorcar.com/tickets CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE PULSE • 5

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COLUMN · SHRINK RAP

Breathe Your Way Through Stress The good doctor has some helpful tips on coping effectively

Dr. Rick

Pulse columnist

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When we learn to manage our own responses, our stress levels decrease. It’s about knowing—and accepting— what you can change and what you can’t.”

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

S WE ALL KNOW, STRESS IS A part of life, and while there are many types of stress, as well as healthy and unhealthy ways to cope, let’s face it: We know what it feels like, and it doesn’t feel good. For many of us, recent times have been quite stressful. Political strife and divisiveness in our country, concerns over healthcare, employment, education, human rights, and much more are often on our minds and in our conversations. And, as we slowly segue into the cooler, colorful days of Fall, other potential stressors loom on the horizon. For instance, the upcoming holidays and perhaps pressure around family and obligations. Additionally, for some, the shorter days contribute to seasonal depression. This can all feel like a lot to manage. However, being forewarned is forearmed. Planning for what you know is coming up is a healthy tool to have in your bag. Consider the following: ▪ Physical symptoms are the body’s way of communicating to you that you’re under too much stress. Stress is linked to just about all causes of illness and discomfort, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, a depressed immune system, insomnia, migraines, anxiety and depression, and more. ▪ The highest rated stressors are the death of a loved one, divorce/break-up, illness, a move, and job change. But of course, we suffer smaller-scale stressors all the time in our day-to-day lives. An accumulation of these smaller stressors can be just as debilitating as a major stressor. ▪ You’ve read in this column before that while we cannot always control external events, we can control—or learn to control—our response to those events.

When we learn to manage our own responses, our stress levels decrease. It’s about knowing—and accepting—what you can change and what you can’t. ▪ Not all stress is the same. Consider the difference between an unwanted break-up with your sig other (“distress”) and winning a promotion at work (“eustress”). But regardless of stress type, talking through stressful feelings, and making time to take good care of yourself, is so very important. Here are some practical ways to manage stress more effectively: 1. Become aware of what causes you stress on a daily, weekly, and/or seasonal basis, and keep a diary of these situations as well as your responses to them, both physical and emotional. Bring this list to your therapist or physician for guidance. 2. Use your support system. Know when to turn to your friends, family, mentor, online buddy/support program… even your beloved pet can be a good listener! Remember: You don’t have to handle everything alone.

3. Learn to say “no”. This can be quite a challenge, especially if someone is not used to setting limits with others. But, like any skill, it can be learned and used effectively—and guilt-free—with practice. 4. What’s really important? I suggest to you that there is “real drama” (like the stressors mentioned earlier), and “created drama”. Learn to distinguish between the two, and consider which require your attention and energies, and which are not yours to fret over. Ask yourself: “Do I really need to engage in this?” 5. Mind-body exercises such as deepbreathing, meditation, and yoga are wonderful ways to relieve stress. I highly recommend these techniques, as well as physical exercise, rest, and good nutrition. 6. Laugh. Lastly, I tell my patients that when you can get to the point of laughing at a stressful situation, laughing at yourself, and gaining a new perspective, you’re coping well! Until next time, from poet Mary Oliver, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE PULSE • 7

COVER STORY

Blak Origin Moment At The Hunter Artist Noel W. Anderson explores black male identity

ROM THIS FRIDAY THROUGH JANUARY 12, THE HUNTer Museum of American Art will host a profound critique of cultural images of black masculinity: a solo exhibition

by artist Noel W. Anderson. By Jenn Webster Pulse Assistant Editor

Anderson’s work is stark, intriguing, and profoundly moving. It’s also occasionally funny in a way that makes you look over your shoulder to see whether that laugh was inappropriate, a reaction he says is entirely what he’s looking for. Anderson describes the “origin moment” of the exhibition’s title as a philosophical point in time in which blackness comes into existence through the dominant culture’s presupposition of white authority, and the urgent need to

interrogate and deconstruct that moment. “The exhibition is called Blak Origin Moment,” Anderson says. “It’s not to locate the beginning of blackness, but to understand blackness only existed as other forces in the world that define it. To have a black origin moment… part of that moment seems to regulate black and brown bodies, but it seems to me that power is already assumed, and because it’s assumed it’s already there—if someone’s already born into it you already have it. It’s the way philosophy deals with presuppositions of knowledge, the idea of the knowledge

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is already there, but the philosophical position is we have to break that thinking of a presumed position of a certain kind of white masculinity.” Anderson takes images you’ve probably already seen—those terrible ones, too common in our history, where white cops intimidate or attack black men—and distorts them, weaves them as jacquard tapestries, and then picks them to bits. In other approaches, he whitewashes pages from Ebony or other magazines, leaving only an eye or mouth peeking out. He uses a variety of media and vectors of approach, all circling around the central theme of representation versus reality. What does the tapestry tell us that the newspaper photo does not? What does it mean when a takenin-a-second, realistic camera shot is reproduced by the slow art of hand weaving? What does it mean when a

historically feminine art—textiles—is adopted by a male artist to tell stories about men? And who ultimately has control of these representations of black men and their lives? With Anderson, there are no easy answers. “[Weaving] is a way of playing with the stereotype of woman’s work,” explains Anderson. “And the woman as caregiver and laborer is an attempt to sympathize or empathize in some regards with the plight of men of color. So it’s a way of me as an artist, a maker, producing or challenging the illusion of black men as always aggressive.” Anderson’s process of weaving is complex, including many hands, though the artistic vision is completely his. The work that goes into the art, he says, is in itself part of the meaning. “A certain kind of labor needs to occur to right the ship we’re on right now, so I’m trying to…materially do that,” he says. “I work with weaving guilds, I work with archives, I’m constantly adding to it. I manipulate images by analogue and digital means, often using a photocopy machine or digital software. I work with the weavers to plan out the image and explore the limits of the medium. “It’s not a collective process—I am the artist—but I have found a collective of people who can help me materialize my vision. They weave and send [the tapestry] back to me and then then my labor goes into it, the hand work, repicking, stitching. I am literally picking cotton when I rework the image.” In other works, especially the reworkings of fashion images, the oddness of some of the juxtapositions or

the weird palimpsests may evoke a gasp of shocked laughter. Distortion and departures from the expected, after all, are a very basic source of humor, as is the exposure of uncomfortable truths. “My mentors are either musicians or comedians and, in my experience of color, black people are good comedians because we have so much charged material to work with,” Anderson says, referring to Richard Pryor as an example. “Comedy works best with making people deal with stuff, and I go for that.” He elaborates, taking his theory of juxtaposition beyond simple laughter to a larger one of creating deliberate dialectic between images—even within images. “It’s the same relationship with the beauty of weaving with the charged nature of the image,” he says, referring back to the tapestries based on photos encapsulating a racist history. “It’s putting things together that nobody wants to…that people usually don’t put together. The great comedians do that.” When he’s putting together an exhibit, Anderson says, he shows up to the space and (“it’s kind of nerdy,” he interjects) puts on some jazz albums and tries to juxtapose the images in the space. “I believe in a certain kind of spatial logic that informs our emotional responses,” he says. “My sense is if I can get into a space and have time to stare at the objects, I’ll weave together a considered narrative about anything I’m working on. Sometimes I come with a plan; other times I just have the elements and I get there and figure what I can do through [listening to] jazz, improv, my mentors, even though I’ve never met them.” The exhibition at The Hunter, then, is going to be unique, even if the individual works appear elsewhere in other arrangements. And it’s part of a tradition the museum has already

“

My mentors are either musicians or comedians and, in my experience of color, black people are good comedians because we have so much charged material to work with.” started, one Anderson is glad to continue, of placing newer works by African-American artists beside traditional ones by white artists, especially when themes are similar—plantation life, for instance—and forcing them into dialogue with each other. Anderson is lecturing at The Hunter Thursday at 6 p.m. at Blak Origin Moment’s opening reception, and that event promises to be one of the most exciting aspects of the exhibition. He is a professor as well as an artist (he’s currently at NYU, and has held appointments at Vanderbilt University and the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris), and even from a short interview I’m eager to hear more of his approach, which is engaging and questioning, like a teacher who creates a space for dialogue rather than simply addressing a crowd. Anderson describes his dialectic style as call-and-response, a tradition

in African-American music in which one phrase both echoes and answers back to the preceding phrase. Guests can expect to be engaged as well as to listen, to be drawn into conversation about the meaning of the art on exhibit. It’s an approach that informs his art, too, as one piece responds to another, adding new layers of meaning. And ultimately, despite the heavy themes, it’s a welcoming approach, inviting every viewer to become part of the dialogue. “I was raised in the black church— my uncle was a bishop in the black church—so I am familiar with call and response,” he says. “My comedian and musician mentors play the game of call and response. So there will be a lot of that, discussing a few pieces in the show as well as those that led up to it, and requiring the audience to participate. I don’t want to be the authority on stage; I’m not interested in that. I’m someone who has ideas and is interested in others’ ideas so we can grow together.”

Anderson makes one process echo another: the dialectic of conversation resembles the call-and-response in how his works of art both mimic and challenge their originals. “We don’t progress without a teleological loop,” he explains. “I hope I can open my ideas up to scrutiny, not as a pejorative term, but a creative technique and a collaborative technique. I find ways to negate my ideas or expand on them. That is how philosophical pursuit seems to help.” Though I don’t ask the question, Anderson raises it: why make art at all? It seems to be a puzzle he’s finding multiple solutions for. For one thing, he wants viewers to realize that the images we see aren’t real; they’re illusions that he’s trying to expose for the collection of molecules they are. “My Ebony works are hand-erased,” he explains. “I don’t think the image is real. The image is nothing but molecules and ink. They are the ground in which this image is made. We need to question the pre-supposed knowledge of the image, expose the image as a collection of ink dots. The same thing with the tapestries. I pick some threads to challenge the accuracy of the representation.” This isn’t a nihilistic position, but a creative one. Pulling away threads to reveal the artificiality of one image leaves room to create new meanings. “I’m advocating changing the reality of the image,” Anderson says. “Instead of having the images define who we are, why don’t we come together oneon-one for conversation? That’s realer! That’s why I open myself to discourse through call and response. The image is just a backdrop…I’m of the opinion that art serves an extremely necessary role in bettering the world.” That work of betterment, of dialogue, of unweaving and refashioning the images and assumptions we’ve been given, is a process Anderson invites all of us to join.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE PULSE • 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Dazzling Works Of Impressionism Tori Parrish shines at Chattanooga WorkSpace

Celebrate Thirty Years Of Art A celebration is in order for The Association of Visual Arts, because this month marks 30 years they’ve been dedicated to inspiration and art. An extension of last month’s “The Art of Fashion” exhibition at AVA is coming to Moxy Chattanooga on Thursday. This event, the “Fall Fashion Fundraiser”, will be a spin-off of the first. The event is totally non-profit and entirely meant to raise money and awareness for AVA. All funds raised from drinks will go towards the Association for Visual Arts so that they can continue their work of bringing art to Chattanooga. Indie art pop band The Mailboxes will be playing while guests mingle and drink. The band will surely attract passersby to join in the fun, as the event is open to the public. While the event is free, donations are encouraged. After all, the idea is to support the world of art in Chattanooga. Guests are encouraged to wear the iconic sky blue to represent AVA and show support. AVA’s mission is to connect visual arts with the community in personal, handson ways, such as by providing workshops and classes. They’re responsible for some of the city’s most prestigious and delightful events, but they cannot do it without you. Come show your support for the lovely people of AVA and their dedication to making Chattanooga beautiful. — Lauren Justice

By Tony Mraz Pulse contributor

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A lifelong creative devotee, Parrish has been making art since she was big enough to hold a paintbrush.”

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MERICAN IMPRESSIONISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN Chattanooga. Award-winning artist Tori Parrish captures scenes with quick, energetic brushstrokes, translating and encoding moments of her life into dynamic oil paintings. Starting in November, her work can be seen at the Chattanooga WorkSpace, where she has become one of the studio/gallery’s newest members. A lifelong creative devotee, Parrish has been making art since she was big enough to hold a paintbrush. She tells us, “I remember visiting a friend’s house in kindergarten. She asked what I wanted to do and I asked where her art cart was...and she had no idea what I was talking about. I was horrified when the only

art supplies she could find were pens and printer paper from her dad’s office—I made it work though.” She studied art practice at Stanford University in the honors program. “It was an amazing experience,” she says. “I had the opportunity to work with contemporary artists all across the Bay Area and beyond.” “One of my favorite memories from college,” she continues, “is collaborating with contemporary performance artist Cassils (they/

them) on a performance titled ‘Sweat Paintings’ in which we choreographed self-defense movements on a large Yves Klein Blue gym mat, accompanied by a violin and viola performing Yves Klein’s Monotone Symphony and texts read aloud about the causes and impacts of sexual assault.” Parrish is primarily a painter, but she also enjoys woodworking and musical performance. “I am a woman of many trades,” she says. “Mostly you’ll see oil paintings painted with thick, loose, and gestural brush strokes and vibrant color palettes. I have surprisingly little patience for an oil painter, which gives my works an impressionist feel. I hope to merge these processes together more in the future—creating full environmental performances with paintings and music.” She is currently working on a series of “Corporeal Paintings”, which are painted on three-dimensional stretched canvas sculptures (about the size of a human body). “I am working to combine all my various creative trades, and this is one of those,” she says. “I want to create paintings that make people interact with them in an unexpected way. I am also working on some experiential painting and music environments—figuring out how to use paintings in a way that creates a vibe

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Painting has always been vital for my own mental health, and it’s often the one thing that can get me out of some sort of spiral.” in a space to match and enhance the story of a song.” The subject of her work often has to do with mental health and healing. In her most recent series, “PAUSE”, she painted moments that caused her to stop and take a breath. She explains, “I have been creating pieces that take little, quiet moments and I depict them with my impatient and frantic style. I think that creates an irony that I am still unpacking. “Much of my work comes from a place of processing memories, emotions, and trauma. Painting has always been vital for my own mental health, and it’s often the one thing that can get me out of some sort of spiral. If you boil everything about my practice down, the core of it all is finding joy and healing through creativity.” Parrish teaches private individual and group lessons in art and harp performance. “I love to work with artists and musicians of all levels,” she says. “I want to make art accessible to anyone and everyone who wants it. My goal as

a teacher is to spread the pure joy of creative expression with as many people as possible—so I work with my students to pinpoint what their specific goals and hopes are and we build a lesson plan from there. Nourishing my students’ relationships with art is at the core of my teaching, so all my lesson planning and assignments revolve around that goal.” She stays inspired by working with her students—or anyone who is new to art. “Every time I feel stuck or bored or frustrated, working with one of my students in painting or drawing and hearing their perspective on art gets me excited again,” she says. “It helps me remember why I make art in the first place—because I enjoy it. Teaching also consistently reminds me of core techniques and skills that can help nourish my creative practice— my students bring me fresh perspectives and reminders of what is really important about making art.” To schedule a studio visit or inquire about lessons, contact her online at toriparrish.com

THU10.10

FRI10.11

SAT10.12

Comedy Open Mic

“House On Haunted Hill”

Tennessee Whiskey Festival

Are you ready to get into the Halloween spirit? 7:30 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA bapshows.com

It’s the perfect opportunity to sample the best whiskey offered right here in Tennessee. 6 p.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St. tnwhiskeyfestival.com

Some of Chattanooga's funniest people gather together for a night of unexpected hilarity. 8 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE PULSE • 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR Good, Old-Fashioned Improv Show 10 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

THURSDAY10.10 Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 5 p.m. Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. 431 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 760-3600 huttonandsmithbrewing.com Alley Hour 5:30 p.m. Cooper’s Alley 10 E. 7th St. Noel W. Anderson: Blak Origin Moment Opening 6 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org City Sweat: SWAT In The City 6 p.m. Miller Park 910 Market St. millerparkmarket.com AVA Fall Fashion Fundraiser 6:30 p.m. The Moxy 1220 King St. (423) 664-1180 avarts.org Open Mic Poetry 6:30 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com “Matilda” 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Erik Meyers 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “Silent Sky” 8 p.m. Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy. Lookout Mountain, GA (706) 820-1560 covenant.edu Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd.

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SATURDAY10.12 “Silent Sky” (423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m. Westbound Bar 24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com

FRIDAY10.11 Live2Lead Chattanooga 8:15 a.m. Marriott Hotel Downtown 2 Carter Plaza (423) 756-0002 glynnhodges.com Chattanooga Motorcar Festival 10 a.m. West Village 200 W. 8th St. chattanoogamotorcar.com Ashley Hamilton 7 p.m. Frequency Arts 516 Tremont St. facebook.com/frequencyarts “Denim and Rhinestones” FUNdraiser 7 p.m. The Colonnade Center 264 Catoosa Cir. Ringgold, GA (706) 935-9000 colonnadecenter.org Nature Boyz: Season Two Premiere 7 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Mozart’s Don Giovanni 7 p.m. Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave.

(423) 266-1766 northsidepresbyterian.org Erik Meyers 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com “House On Haunted Hill” 7:30 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA (706) 996-8350 bapshows.com Improv “Movie” Night Presents: Vampire Romance 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com “Matilda” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com “Silent Sky” 8 p.m. Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy. Lookout Mountain, GA (706) 820-1560 covenant.edu Video Game Night 8 p.m. Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com

Chattanooga Motorcar Festival 10 a.m. West Village 200 W. 8th St. chattanoogamotorcar.com Chattanooga Oktoberfest 10 a.m. The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com The Met Live in HD: "Turandot" 12:55 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Paint Making Demo with Amanda Brazier 1 p.m. River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com Try it Out! Stained Glass 1 p.m. Reflections Gallery 1635 Rossville Ave. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com “Silent Sky” 2:30 p.m. Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy. Lookout Mountain, GA (706) 820-1560 covenant.edu Tennessee Whiskey Festival 6 p.m. Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St. tnwhiskeyfestival.com “House On Haunted Hill” 7:30 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA (706) 996-8350 bapshows.com An Evening with Bernadette Peters

the Pulse

Halloween Guide Dread Hollow are you brave enough to visit the haunted town?

Blowing Springs Farm halloween classic with fun for the entire family

plus: haunted houses & halloween events WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO SEE, WHEN TO SCREAM

your weekly guide to chattanooga's favorite halloween events

Dread Hollow—A Town Divided By Lauren Justice Over 20,000 square feet of pure terror is deceptively hidden in a seemingly innocent location. What used to house a grocery store is now home to the #1 fan-voted haunt in the nation on scurryface.com. It’s election season for mayor in the eerie town of Dread Hollow. Rikketts the Clown and Mayor Al run against each other in a bloody race. “There’s a new regime in town: it’s the Rikketts regime!” is the bold statement from the clown himself. It’s a town divided. Visitors to Dread Hollow get the chance to cast their vote in the election upon arrival and before entry to the haunts. The election is the theme of Dread Hollow this year but the three haunts are unique stories.

Creator and owner Tim Green said, “It doesn’t feel like a haunted attraction, it feels like you’re stepping into a movie.” The actors are trained to terrify. Todd Patton, also creator and owner, was thrilled beyond belief when a certain someone, not naming names, had to leave through the back because she

was so scared. “That’s our goal, it means we did a good job,” he said. Be prepared for an intense haunt. One $22 ticket gets you into all three haunts and an $18 upgrade for an R.I.P. Pass is available. The R.I.P. pass gives access to the front of the line and a special lounge to spend time in before entering. Pass holders even get to control noises and pop-up tactics that will surely scare those going through. New additions to Dread Hollow are four escape rooms created to horrify those brave enough to enter. Each room has a unique theme ranging from a pitch-black room to an escape from the infamous Eugene Todd. You can run, but there is nowhere to hide. Enter if you dare.

Blowing Springs Farm: An Old Classic By Mckenzie Wagamon What do you think of when you hear the word “Halloween”? Pumpkins, games, hayrides, mazes, or maybe even a cute little goat named Marshmallow: basically, anything fun. Well you can find all of these great things, and animals, at Blowing Springs Farm. The family-friendly Halloween hotspot has many attractions and booths that create a fun-filled environment for all ages. So, if you’re not a fan of spooky haunted houses and would like to celebrate Halloween scare-free, then this is the place for you. This Halloween destination has something for just about everyone. You can pick out and paint pumpkins, play some Halloween-themed games, take a ride on a cow train, try your luck in a duck race, or meet some adorable animals in the Bagby’s Critter Corral. The Critter Corral, one of the farm’s most popular attraction, has between 16–18 animals. They

include goats, sheep, Scottish Highland cows, baby potbelly pigs, alpacas, and even a mini horse. The farm also has some classic Halloween experiences like hay rides and an extraordinary corn maze. The Enchanted Maize is the jewel of Blowing Springs Farm. So, head on in to the unknown and have fun getting lost. But wait, the corn theme does not stop at the maze. The farm also offers corn slingshots and a corn crib where you will actually get to swim in a large tub of corn. This family-friendly festival will be available until October 28th and will be open Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and

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children under three get in free. Tickets come with four tokens to use on the booths in the farm. Blowing Springs Farm is located just six miles away from downtown Chattanooga at 217 Chattanooga Valley Road. So head on down to Blowing Springs Farms and make some fun-filled Halloween memories.

Haunted Houses & Events Dread Hollow Thur-Sun & Halloween 321 Browns Ferry Rd. (423) 800-0566 dreadhollow.com

(423) 305-6500 mckameyanimalcenter.org Big Chill Halloween Bash Saturday, Oct. 26 The Big Chill 103 Cherokee Blvd. (423) 267-2455 thebigchillgrill.com

Blowing Springs Farm Fri-Sun in October 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. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 155 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

Scary-Oke Contest Saturday, Oct 26 Sing It or Wing It 410 Market St. (423) 757-WING singitorwingitchattanooga.com Creepy Carnival Halloween Party Thursday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. The Dwell Hotel 120 E. 10th St. (423) 710-2925 thedwellhotel.com

Boo in the Zoo Oct. 19-20 & 26-27 Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1322 chattzoo.org

Fall Hayrides & Campfires Saturdays in Oct. thru Nov. 3 Cloudland Canyon State Park 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Rd. (706) 657-4050 gastateparks.org

Halloween Eerie Express Fri & Sat in October Tennessee Valley Railroad 4119 Cromwell Rd. (423) 894-8028 tvrail.com

The Haunted Barn Fri & Sat in October, Nov. 3 5017 McDonald Rd. McDonald, TN (423) 396-9790 thehauntedbarnchattanooga.com

Halloween Party & Ashley and The X’s CD Release Thursday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. (423) 531-2473 museum.songbirds.rocks

Haunted Trail Oct. 26-27, 6 p.m. Enterprise South Nature Park 190 Still Hollow Loop (423) 893-3500 hamiltontn.gov/esnp

The River Maze Fri-Sun in October Birchland Ocoee Farms 1371 Hwy. 64 Benton, TN (423) 650-0710 therivermaze.com

Chills and Thrills Halloween Party Saturday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. White Lightning Harley-Davidson 7720 Lee Hwy. (423) 892-4888 whitelightingharley-davidson.com

Chattanooga Ghost Tours Nightly through Oct. 31 57 E. 5th St. (423) 800-5998 chattanoogaghosttours.com

ODDtober Fri & Sat in October Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org

Post-Mortem Haunted Trail Fri & Sat in October Tri-State Exhibition Center 200 Natures Trail McDonald, TN (706) 339-4917 postmortem.myfreesites.net

The Haunted Hilltop Fri & Sat in October & Halloween 8235 Hwy. 58 (423) 488-3956 thehauntedhilltop.com

Lake WinnepeSPOOKah! Fri & Sat in October Lake Winnepesaukah 1730 Lakeview Dr. (706) 866-5681 lakewinnie.com BARKtober Fest and MEOWlloween Party Saturday, October 19 McKamey Animal Center 4500 N. Access Rd.

Halloween with Voodoo Slim! Saturday Nov. 2, 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878 budssportsbar.com HiFi Clyde’s Halloween Show Friday, Nov. 1, 10 p.m. Hi Fi Clyde’s 122 W Main St. (423) 362-8335 hificlydeschattanooga.com

THE PULSE • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • OCTOBER 10, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • 15

Used Books, CDs, Movies, & More

7734 Lee Highway • McKayBooks.com Mon-Thu 9am-9pm • Fri-Sat 9am-10pm • Sun 11am-7pm

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7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Erik Meyers 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Your Stories 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com “Matilda” 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Tarot Readings by Kali 8 p.m. Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SUNDAY10.13 Run for the Fund 5K 8 a.m. International Towing Museum 3315 Broad St. runforthefund.itsyourrace.com Chattanooga Motorcar Festival 10 a.m. West Village 200 W. 8th St. chattanoogamotorcar.com Collegedale Market 11 a.m. Collegedale Commons 4950 Swinyar Dr. collegedalemarket.com Chattanooga Oktoberfest 11 a.m. The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Alien 40th Anniversary 1, 4 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18

(423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com “Matilda” 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Erik Meyers 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

MONDAY10.14 Autumn Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m. Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd. (423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Beginner Astrology 6 p.m. The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Joggers & Lagers 6 p.m. Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. (423) 702-9958 chattabrew.com Introduction to Chinese Medicine 6 p.m. The Chattery at Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Moccasin Bend Fall Lecture Series 7 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater 201 Chestnut St. (423) 266-4629 tnaqua.org/imax Rob Zombie’s 3 FROM HELL 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com River City Dance Club 7:45 p.m.

Peace Strength Yoga 3800 St. Elmo Ave. (813) 731-9581 rivercitydanceclub.com Comedy Open Mic Night 9 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192 thehonestpint.com

TUESDAY10.15 Chattanooga Self Improvement Meetup 8 a.m. The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Chess K-night 5 p.m. Mad Priest Coffee Roasters 1900 Broad St. (423) 393-3834 madpriestcoffee.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Paths to Pints 6:30 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Alien 40th Anniversary 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Open Mic Comedy 7 p.m. Common General 3800 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 521-0065 Reel Fun Pop Up Show 7 p.m. Frequency Arts 516 Tremont St. facebook.com/frequencyarts Jay & Silent Bob Reboot 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Shane Mauss Stand Up Science Tour

7:30 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com Poetry, Pups & Pints 7:30 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Intro to Improv Class 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

WEDNESDAY10.16 Main Street Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Contraception Matters: The Art of Empowerment 5:30 p.m. Chattanooga Whiskey Event Hall 890 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 760-4333 chattwhiskeyeventhall.com Artsperiences! 6 p.m. Mad Knight Brewing Company 4015 Tennessee Ave. (423) 825-6504 madknightbrewing.com Alien 40th Anniversary 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m. The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Open Mic Comedy 8 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE PULSE • 17

THE MUSIC SCENE

Nim Nims Deliver A Masterpiece New album is catchy and memorable

Pulling Up With Madside Records Attention music lovers: this Thursday Chattanooga will be host to a phenomenal music event like no other. Madside Records will be throwing their very first event “Pull Up” event featuring Vibe Emissions. Madside Records is a relatively new independent company that is dedicated to creating a unique experience for their audience. Their main goal is to help artists fill their potential and inspire innovative thinking in their listeners and viewers. They describe their show as an opportunity to establish their “vibrational frequency” through original sounds and art. This oneof-a-kind event will consist of not only live music, but live painters who will be creating visual art. The event will include various local and regional musicians showcasing many different art forms. The lineup consists of headliner Vibe Emissions, Mad Salvy, Luci Rays, C4mpChilla, Abraysiv, Convergence Creations, and a special guest DJ. The event is Saturday at Stone Cup Cafe on the North Shore. The show starts at 9 p.m. and is expected to rage on until 1 a.m. Tickets will be $15 at the door and the event is open to everyone 18 and older. For more information, call Stone Cup Cafe at (423) 521-3977 or check out Madside Record’s Facebook page @madsiderecords — Mackenzie Wagamon

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

“

This album is an order of magnitude above their previous work, the result of years of hard work, polish, and refinement.”

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N OCTOBER 9TH, 1940, JOHN LENNON WAS born. October 3rd, 1990, East and West Germany were reunited as the Federal Republic of Germany. October 26th, 2019, the Nim Nims will release their latest album, Bolshevik Roll Up, with a release party at JJ’s Bohemia.

Yes, the Nim Nims are back with an all new album, eight tracks full of catchy melodies, sharp hooks, smart lyrics, and beautiful arrangements. I’m a fan of the Nim Nims; their music has always been impressive and enjoyable. But this album is an order of magnitude above their previous work, the result of years of hard work, polish, and refinement. Why? Well, the cohesion of the album is superb without sacrificing

anything in the way of diversity. Don’t underestimate the power of that. In this context there are three potential states for an album. In the first, it may demonstrate a broad array of styles and influences from one song to the next, heavy on variety, but also scattered and aimless, as though it were a compilation album of different bands a la the Ronco company in the ‘70s and early ‘80s. A lot to hear, little to remember.

“

The Nim Nims have brought all of their experience to bear with the result being an album of eight very memorable tunes, all of which are clearly the Nim Nims.” The second state is the antithesis of the first, an album so “of a piece” that eight tunes run together into one long one. No doubt, this is the band, but the individual songs are so similar in style and execution that nothing stands out in particular. Again, a lot to hear, little to remember. The third state is the “Goldilocks” zone of album production in which the band’s overall sound is well-represented throughout, but each song is its own signature tune. Variety, without the inclusion of something that likely belonged on a different album. Bolshevik Rollup falls squarely in this final category, a masterpiece that illustrates the range of the band’s chops without sounding like a mish-mash of “everything we could throw in”. Again, don’t underestimate the power of that, it’s much easier said than done, but the Nim Nims have brought all of their experience to bear with the result being an album of eight very memorable tunes, all of which are clearly the Nim Nims, none of which sounds too much like any of the others. For that reason alone, the album is absolutely masterful. That much analysis comes before we even begin to discuss the sound the band has cul-

tivated over the years. The radio ready nature of the production (there isn’t a song here that couldn’t conceivably be a Billboard Hot 100 hit) suggests power pop, but that’s selling the band short, I think. There’s a bit more gravitas than “power pop”, something more akin to very best college bands of the late eighties and nineties. In a word, it sounds great, but there’s depth beyond merely sounding great, and the combination of the two makes for a thoroughly enjoyable album that is fresh and new, yet nostalgic as well. The Nim Nims have been a perennial favorite in these parts for well over a decade, so the love for the band is already there. Understanding that, and taking into account that this is absolutely their finest work to date, it really is a “can’t miss” album, replete with Rick Nielsen guitar work, gorgeous vocals and harmonies, and just an all around, “Damn, these cats are good!” vibe. On Saturday, October 26th they will perform the entire album live at JJs with an undisclosed mystery guest (who, if my suspicions are right, is one of the biggest deals going in Chattanooga right now). It promises to be an unparalleled evening of satisfying “smart rock”.

Music And Mayhem There are two events in particular this month that are worthy of marking on your calendar. First, the long-awaited next release from local musical demi-god and puppet-associate Nick Lutsko is happening at The Signal on Friday, Oct. 25th. Expect a full review of that album next week, but it goes without saying that there ain’t no party like a Lutsko party. Secondly, on Oct. 26th and 27th you will have two opportunities to enjoy the Chattanooga Circus Spooktacular, a Cirque du Soleil-style presentation chock full of enough All Hallows’ goodness to move it firmly into the realm of American Horror Story for its sheer beautiful weirdness and artistry. More details on both events are forthcoming in next week’s edition. For now, this is just a friendly heads-up about some of the goings-on in town for the most wonderful time of the year. So, you marked them down in your calendar, right? Right. — MTM

THU10.10

FRI10.11

SAT10.12

Louis York & The Shindellas

Shaky’s Bad Knee

The Dead Deads

You read about them last week here in The Pulse, no come hear their brand new album (along with some of their friends). 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

Easily one of the very coolest bands you'll ever get a chance to see, and oh, by the way, they absolutely rock out! 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. sonbirds.rock

Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly have defined the sound of pop and R&B for the past 15 years. 6 p.m. Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 10, 2019 • THE PULSE • 19

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY10.10 Louis York & The Shindellas 6 p.m. Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org Danimal & Friends 6 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Megan Howard 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Matt Dower 6:30 p.m. 1885 Grill 3914 St. Elmo Ave. 1885grill.com Chattanooga Songwriter’s Night 7 p.m. Heritage House Arts & Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. chattanooga.gov Mozart’s Don Giovanni 7 p.m. Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. operatn.org Lew Card 7 p.m. Greenway Farms 5051 Gann Store Rd. (423) 425-6311 Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Luther Enloe 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State Community College 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu John Carroll 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Slo Tyme 7:30 p.m. The FEED Co. Table and Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Jesse Jungkurth & Friends

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7:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Jon Langston 8:30 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Elizabeth Moen, Stellar’s Jay 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

FRIDAY10.11 The Trinity Noon Miller Park 928 Market St. millerparkplaza.com Ryan Oyer 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Ray Wylie Ballard 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rock Behold the Brave 7 p.m. OddStory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Crescent Club Quartet 7:30 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com Jay Martin & Bryce Cronan 7:30 p.m. Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Tre Powell 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Glass Caps, Rye Baby, No Good Deeds 8 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Company 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Langehorne Slim and The Lost at Last Band 8 p.m. Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Concert for Cause: Jon Langston 8:30 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thsignaltn.com Amber Carrington 8:30 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Boy Named Banjo 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. sonbirds.rock Gaslight Street 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Shaky’s Bad Knee, Citico, The Gullibles, Magnificent Lions 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com David Ingle & Friends 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com ET 9:30 p.m. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Mother Legacy 10 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com 4Peace 10 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixon Pike tremonttavern.com Aunt Betty 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SATURDAY10.12 Danimal 10:30 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Terry Pope Memorial Concert 2 p.m. Red Bank United Methodist Church 3800 Dayton Blvd. rbumc.org No Big Deal 6 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Tennessee Whiskey Festival 6 p.m. Choo Choo 1400 Market St. tnwhiskeyfestival.com Terminal Overdrive 7 p.m. Barley Chattanooga 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Kendra Amalie 7 p.m. The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 641-0030 Preston Ruffing 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com An Evening with Bernadette Peters 7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Fault Lines, The Guild, Clockwise, Tavern 8 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Buubba Sparxxx & Alexander King 8 p.m. Sky Zoo 5709 Lee Hwy. (423) 521-2966 Slaten Dooley and Zack Dylan 8 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com

Delbert McClinton 8 p.m. Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Daniel Pumkinseed, Maegan Tyler Alford, Legal Adult 8 p.m. The Spot of Chattanooga 1800 E. Main St. facebook.com/1800EMain Playin Possum Blues Band 8 p.m. River Drifters 1925 Suck Creek Rd. riverdrifterschatt.com The Dead Deads, Sevenstones, PLVNET 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. sonbirds.rock Pull Up featuring Vibe Emissions 9 p.m. Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. stonecupcafe.com Gaslight Street 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Joylene & Bruno 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Masseuse, The Talismen 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Sullivan Band 10 p.m. Sky Zoo 5709 Lee Hwy. (423) 521-2966 Aunt Betty 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SUNDAY10.13 The Rightly So 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com

Mark Andrew 11 a.m. The Edwin Hotel 102 Walnut St. theedwinhotel.com Carl Pemberton 11 a.m. Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com My Name Is Preston Noon Southside Social 1818 Chestnut St. thesouthsidesocial.com Danimal and Friends 12:30 p.m. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Hoot and Holler 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com The Other Brothers 2 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Hunter’s Gift: A Musical Tribute 3 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. sonbirds.rock Christian Brophy Beairsto, LuKang 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Michael Hitchcock 10 p.m. Southside Social 1818 Chestnut St. thsouthsidesocial.com

MONDAY10.14 Crobot 5 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rock Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band

7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Blues Night Open Jam 7 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com

TUESDAY10.15 Acoustic Bohemian Night 6:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing IX 6925 Shallowford Rd. mexiwingix.business.site Good Morning Bedlam 7 p.m. Virgola Wine Bar 608 Georgia Ave. chattanoogawinebar.com Danimal 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Space Jam Open Mic 7 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Open Mic Night 7 p.m. The Bicycle Bar 45 E. Main St. facebook.com/TheBicycleBar Tyler Martelli 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Pickin’ N Pints 7:30 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Carnivora, Two Dead Men, ApisonPike, Tempvs 8 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

WEDNESDAY10.16 Maria Sable 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Anthony Gomes 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. sonbirds.rock Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Dexter Bell & Friends 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Jesse Jungkurth 7 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Steve Busie 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Randall Adams 8 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m. Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 Chicken Diamond 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 10, 2019 • THE PULSE • 21

ERNIE PAIKS’S RECORD REVIEWS

New Music From Acid Mothers Temple, Cloning

Acid Mothers Temple Hallelujah Mystic Garden Part 2 (Important)

Cloning 15 Minutes (cloning.bandcamp.com)

isco Demolition Night, 40 years ago, was the symbolic peak of the “Disco sucks!” sentiment, where attendees at a baseball doubleheader received discounted admission for bringing in a disco record, to be exploded during a between-game ceremony. Surely we can acknowledge today that there’s good disco, mediocre disco and bad disco, just like any genre, and while a style is in vogue, not only the cream rises to the top. This writer brings this up because the new album from the Japanese psychedelic rock band Acid Mothers Temple (& the Melting Paraiso UFO) is dominated with disco rhythms and bass lines. Hallelujah Mystic Garden Part 2 follows

Part 1 from last year, which seemed to borrow not only from disco but also from Led Zeppelin and German Krautrock (like Amon Düül II and Can). Stealing some disco moves in the rock realm is hardly unprecedented—heck, even Can had a foray into disco with the song 1976 “I Want More”. Part 2 similarly features two long tracks, starting with a disco version of “Pink Lady Lemonade” that gradually unfurls with a sturdy four-onthe-floor drum kit beat and a simple bass line with octaveseparated notes. Soon, a gorgeous melodic pattern—the song’s most recognizable feature—emerges on electric guitar, while synth tones and effervescent electronics swoop in gracefully.

There is a steady flow here, and while it doesn’t seem as pointedly wild as other versions of the track, as the song progresses, the drumming uses more fills and expresses more freedom. Twelve minutes into the song, the lead guitar takes a soaring solo, leading to a climax with wah-wah effects and sick screeching. The group jogs toward the finish line with a gushing rock style, abandoning the disco beats, with a final majestic reprise of the guitar melody. The second track, “You Never Know Suzuko’s Vice,” begins with electronic noodling and free improvisation, although the guitar cheekily plays the alien-summoning five-note melody from the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Soon they get down to business and lock into a dominant groove, although certain note patterns have their own tempos; some vocals enter the picture, with the singers sounding like mousy teenagers, but they just seem to get in the way. The 13-minute track ends with all cylinders firing and the lead guitarist furiously picking, as if attacking a block of ice. Although the album doesn’t have the reckless, unrestrained abandon of certain

other Acid Mothers Temple records, it does have an addictive momentum and a nice balance, especially with the glorious melodies of “Pink Lady Lemonade” injected with a graceful yet potent energy.

he Residents’ bizarre 1980 album Commercial Album featured 40 one-minute tracks, reducing pop songs down to the essential minimum and consciously drawing a parallel between commercial jingles and pop music. The new EP 15 Minutes from Cloning, the Pittsburgh one-man band of Dana Ma (of White Suns), features 15 tracks, each of which is exactly one minute long, and it is quite possibly the polar opposite of The Residents’ Commercial Album—there are no pop music structures here, no jingles, no hummable melodies. The only shared features are that both feature one-minute tracks and are unrepentantly strange. Ostensibly, on one level, part of 15 Minutes sounds like someone trying out all the different instruments on an electronic keyboard, but that’s because there’s an insanely wide assortment of sounds being used—this would have to be one unique keyboard, since very few of the sounds resem-

ble conventional instruments. If it must be classified, 15 Minutes would fall in the realm of electro-acoustic music, which uses sound reproduction and the editing studio as compositional and creative tools. Each track is utterly unpredictable, with cut-up madness and blasts of random sonic detritus; audio artifacts are celebrated, not hidden. If there’s any unifying element, it’s the use of largely incomprehensible spoken vocal snippets, although certain phrases poke their heads out of their shells, including someone asking, “Do you guys wanna karaoke?” The sound of robot insects scurrying leads to clanging metal and a rapid heartbeat, generating unbearable tension; other moments employ watery sounds, synthetic scrapes, hisses, unsettling ringing and splattering waves. Although there is no organized rhythm on these tracks, the pacing is key; on one track, cosmic beams are perforated with dramatic pauses, while other tracks are a barrage of lawn ornaments caught in a tornado. These are concentrated morsels, crammed with ideas and noises—a series of disorienting jolts, sporting a playful madness.

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Escape Experience Chattanooga Do you have what it takes to play the most immersive adventure game ever?

HERE ARE VERY FEW NIGHTS out on the town that can get your adrenaline pumping and the creative juices flowing like trying to escape a sabotaged train bound for certain doom. Of course, if runaway trains aren’t your speed you can have a fun night out saving the world from nuclear disaster while trying not to succumb to the effects of radiation poisoning. Not to worry, folks, these are just two of five scenarios Escape Experience Chattanooga offers for the bold and adventurous among us. Each experience is designed for teams of two to eight with special events allowing up to ten people to organize and think their way through a fully interactive game of intense problem solving and teamwork. Escape Experience Chattanooga offers corporate team-building packages for an exciting change of pace to improve team communication and collaboration. Forget death by PowerPoint and instead drop your new HR staff into a prison cell to see if they can escape before the guard returns. Escape Experience Chattanooga promises that these creative scenarios will improve morale and motivation as well as productivity and team bonding. Honestly, what makes a person better at thinking outside the box than trying to figure out how to escape from one? I tell you there is no better way to build up team unity other than shipping your entire office to Marine Corps Recruit Depot for twelve weeks, but there’s no escape from that…best

take your chances with the Post-Cold War Bunker scenarios instead. Escape Experience Chattanooga offers a great time for the family with ages typically ranging twelve and older. You can pack the offspring and in-laws into a room to search for an inheritance left behind from a relative who died from mysterious circumstances. Quality family bonding time under pressure from the clock or certain doom will bring the familial unit closer and more confident in each other’s abilities to survive the zombie apocalypse…well, maybe.

“Each experience is designed for teams of two to eight with special events allowing up to ten people to organize and think their way through a fully interactive game of intense problem solving and teamwork. ” Speaking of zombie apocalypse, Escape Room Chattanooga will be getting into the Halloween spirit by unleashing the undead into their rooms. Not only will escapees have to contend with the looming time crunch,

but behind secret trap doors a zombie could be waiting eagerly for its next meal—possibly you. Talk about cranking the excitement to eleven and breaking the knob off! Rest assured, these zombies are more of the shambling variety than the track athletes of World War Z. Also, the team at Escape Experience will at least arm participants with the latest in zombie defense weaponry, two cap guns with limited ammo. Escape rooms with zombie will run the weekend before Halloween, so book your duo or team for a few screams and scares to go along with an already pulse-pumping adventure. Escape Experience Chattanooga has been steadily growing the catalogue for scenarios. According to owner Michael Rowland the most popular scenarios right now are The Bunker and The Runaway Train. Stepping into The Bunker is like being transported deep underground into a gray concrete complex that gives you a crushing feeling of being in total

isolation. Care and attention to details really make this an experience and not just a gimmick. If you’re someone who appreciates a little extra with the service, the staff and crew are all about ensuring the best experience possible. What also makes Escape Experience great is that it’s not afraid to try new things. “We are going to start renovating C-Block Prison Break in four phases,” Michael Rowland explains. “We are putting together a Shawshank Redemption-style escape room. This is going to be a really, really cool update that will even recreate the Andy Dufresne escape scene from the movie!” A prison escape adventure inspired by one of the best movies ever? Be still my beating heart! Escape Experience Chattanooga is an outright blast, so go online to escapeexperience.com/chattanooga to learn more. Don’t miss out on the coolest adventure game you never knew you needed.

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FILM & TELEVISION

Imposing Order Where Chaos Reigned Joker reduces Batman foe, eliminates the origin mystery

N THE GRAPHIC NOVEL “THE KILLING JOKE” BY ALAN Moore, the Joker tells Batman that “if [he’s] going to have a past, [he] prefer it be multiple choice.” From Cesar Romero to Jack Nicholson to Mark Hamill, there have been scores of actors to play the Clown Prince of Crime and most of us have a preference as to which is best. By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

Popular opinion, of course, seems to be Heath Ledger for his portrayal during The Dark Knight. I’ve always been partial to the animated version of the character from Batman: The Animated Series voiced by Mark Hamill. Both of these Jokers share a common mystery, however. Batman and his allies have no idea who he is or where he came from. There is no sympathetic backstory—no vats of acid or failed comedy careers. He’s simply evil. There has been plenty of retconning among movie villains over the years, perhaps starting all the way back in the

1980’s with Darth Vader. Originally, the black-masked Sith was just an evil enforcer for the Empire. It was only after he grew in popularity that George Lucas decided he needed to be more fleshed out. When writing multiple movies, it makes sense to give the villain a larger arc. But not all the time. Some characters are better when one dimensional. For me, the Joker is one of those villains. The less you know about him, the more terrifying he is. Joker, which dedicates its entire running time to his origin, is well done but unnecessary. It’s easier to enjoy if you pretend it’s just one possible past. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a

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clown for hire, working for a company in Gotham City that provides clowns for various businesses and hospitals. He is a strange man, one with multiple mental illnesses and a neurological condition that forces him to laugh at odd times, no matter what he might be feeling. Most of the time he is ignored, spending his days caring for his sick mother in a decrepit apartment somewhere in Gotham City. When he isn’t ignored, however, he is mocked or beaten, usually due to his uncontrollable laugh or his unconventional occupation. Like many who suffer from mental illness, Arthur is a victim of society at large. He has dreams, though. He wants to be a stand-up comedian, like Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro), a late night talk show host in the style of Ed Sullivan. But the city is shutting down social services for people like Arthur, due to budget cuts. He no longer has access to his medication. The city itself is getting more and more dangerous. A violent encounter on the subway leads to

a cascade of events, setting Arthur on his way to a new identity. Joker owes a great deal to other, better, movies. It’s feels like a combination of Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy, but perhaps a bit more on the nose. Were it not for the performance of Joaquin Phoenix, the film would be mediocre at best. Phoenix gives himself to the role fully, however, as he is wont to do. Director Todd Phillips, known for the Hangover trilogy, is competent. Of the films of his that I’ve seen, Joker is his best looking. It’s a very intimate film, particularly for a comic book movie. There aren’t any other films in the genre that are as intensely character driven as this one. There’s not much action to speak of, beyond the odd gruesome and shocking murder. Thematically, the film is suggesting that everyone has a breaking point (thanks again, to Alan Moore and “The Killing Joke”). The problem is that it also seems to argue that any action beyond that breaking point is justified. Joker attempts to find reason in insanity, but with this particular character, there shouldn’t be any reason to be found. Joker works for a good portion of its running time. However, it lost me in the end by giving Arthur a platform to explain himself. It’s the kind of speech that will pop up on the profiles of every teenage edgelord on the internet. For the film to be true to the character, Arthur would need no justification. There would be no reason to his actions. The character of the Joker is chaos personified. Arthur Fleck is far too human to be the monster he becomes.

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I hope you are embarking on a vigorous new phase of self-redefinition. I trust you are excited about shedding old ways of thinking about yourself and eager to revise and re-imagine the plot of your life story. As you do, keep in mind this helpful counsel from physicist Richard Feynman: “You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish. I have no responsibility to be like they expect me to be. It’s their mistake, not my failing.” SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): You’ve probably heard the saying, “Genius is 99 percent perspiration and one percent inspiration.” It’s often attributed to inventor Thomas Edison. Sixteenth-century artist Michelangelo expressed a similar idea. “If you knew how much labor went into it, you would not call it genius,” he said about one of his masterpieces. I’m guessing that you Scorpios have been in a phase when these descriptions are highly apropos. The work you’ve been doing may look productive and interesting and heroic to the casual observer, and maybe only you know how arduous and exacting it has been. So now what do you do? I say it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your efforts. Celebrate! Give yourself a thrilling gift.

“This Or That?”—probably not. ACROSS 1 “___ Can” (2008 campaign slogan) 6 Shoes in the 2015 “What are those?!” meme 11 Part of MRE 14 Word repeated on “Teletubbies” 15 Accounting inspection 16 FX in the Transformers series, e.g. 17 “Let’s change the subject” 19 Product of the mined? 20 Egyptian cross 21 Scratch or scuff 22 Oregon lake where you can drive around the rim 24 T-bone region 26 They may be pulled 27 “Baby Driver” actor Ansel 30 Private response? 31 ___ Laredo (city on the Rio Grande) 32 “Go on! Git!” 33 Perform like Migos 36 Instrument with

a conical bore 37 Survey choice found in the four theme answers 38 Dash, for one 39 Pieces to be played 40 Breed like salmon 41 Symbol of Canada 42 State capital where Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock was born 44 Declutter 45 Twain, actually 47 “___ n’est pas une pipe”: Magritte 48 Outcast 49 Half of a dance? 50 Ice melter 54 Magician Shin ___, “America’s Got Talent: The Champions” winner 55 Expression when someone suddenly needs help 58 One, in Italy 59 Sewing machine inventor Howe 60 Their work is often in anthologies 61 50-Across, in French 62 Send, as a payment 63 Chilean

mountain range DOWN 1 When repeated, a “Seinfeld” catchphrase 2 “Ghostbusters” character 3 Did well at Battleship 4 Heartfelt sign-off 5 H.S. course 6 Settlers of ___ (board game) 7 Industrial region of Germany 8 Shelley work 9 Advertisement insert 10 Clavicle neighbor 11 Healing through nature, e.g. 12 “Hollywood Squares” option 13 Arena levels 18 Leave unmentioned 23 Show initiative 25 Gold, to Pizarro 26 Figure above a 9 or 0, for short 27 1961 space chimp 28 Auto maintenance task 29 Type of power in Iceland 30 Either side of

Aruba, for instance? 32 Overdoes the fandom, slangily 34 “Because Freedom Can’t Protect Itself” org. 35 Squishy Easter candy 37 Reason to put up a “Danger” sign on a drilling site 38 Marriott competitor 40 ___-Kinney (band that formed in Olympia, Wash.) 41 Dropped item 43 Former Big Four record co. 44 Unwrap hastily 45 In the high 70s 46 Patrik of the Winnipeg Jets 47 X-ray area, maybe 49 It may be spiced with cardamom 51 Waltzed through 52 Troubadour’s instrument 53 Julia Roberts’s “Ocean’s Eleven” role 56 “I Think You Should Leave” star Robinson 57 Superfund agcy.

Copyright © 2019 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 957

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you,” declared astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. If that’s even a little bit true, I bet you won’t believe it in the coming weeks. According to my analysis, the universe will make a great deal of sense to you—at times even exquisite, beautiful, breathtaking sense. Life will be in a revelatory and articulate mood. The evocative clues coming your way about the nature of reality could tempt you to believe that there is indeed a coherent plan and meaning to your personal destiny. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 2005, Facebook was a start-up company barely on the map of the internet. Its president asked graffiti artist David Choe to paint murals on the walls of its headquarters. Choe asked for $60,000, but the president convinced him to be paid with Facebook stock instead. Years later, when Facebook went public, Choe became a multi-millionaire. I suspect that in the coming months you will be faced with choices that are less spectacular than that, Capricorn, but similar and important. My conclusion: Be willing to consider smart gambles when projects are germinating. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Experiment is the sole source of truth,” wrote philosopher and polymath Henri Poincaré. “It alone can teach us something new; it alone can give us certainty.” He

wasn’t merely referring to the kinds of experiments that scientists conduct in laboratories. He was talking about the probes and explorations we can and should carry out in the course of our daily lives. I mention this, Aquarius, because the coming days will be prime time for you to do just that: ask provocative questions, initiate novel adventures, and incite fun learning experiences. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In my opinion, Piscean singer, poet, and actor Saul Williams produces high-quality art. So he has earned a right to critique mediocre art. In speaking about movies and TV shows that are hard to enjoy unless we dumb ourselves down, he says that “we have more guilty pleasure than actual f------ pleasure.” Your assignment in the coming weeks, Pisces, is to cut back on your “guilty pleasures”—the entertainment, art, and socializing that brings meager returns—as you increase and upgrade your actual f------ pleasure. ARIES (March 21-April 19): “Love is when you meet someone who tells you something new about yourself,” wrote poet André Breton. I think that’s an excellent principle to put at the top of your priority list in the coming weeks, Aries. To be in maximum alignment with cosmic rhythms, you should seek input from allies who’ll offer insights about you that are outside your current conceptions of yourself. You might even be daring enough to place yourself in the paths of strangers, acquaintances, animals, and teachers who can provide novel reflections. There’s just one caveat: Stay away from people who might be inclined to fling negative feedback. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Constantine P. Cavafy’s poem “Waiting for the Barbarians” imagines the imminent arrival of an unpredictable agent of chaos. “The barbarians are coming today,” declares the narrator. Everyone in town is uneasy. People’s routines are in disarray. Faces look worried. What’s going to happen? But the poem has a surprise ending. “It is night, and the barbarians haven’t come,” reports the narrator. “Some people have arrived from the frontier and say that there aren’t any more barbarians.” I propose that we use this scene as a metaphor for your life right now, Taurus. It’s quite possible that the perceived threat isn’t really a threat. So here’s my question, taken from near the end of the poem: “What are we going to do now without the barbarians?” GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Some folklorists prefer the term “wonder tales” rather than “fairy tales.” Indeed, many such stories are filled with marvelous events that feature magical transformations, talking animals, and mythical crea-

tures like elves and dragons and unicorns. I bring this up, Gemini, because I want to encourage you to read some wonder tales. Hopefully, as you do, you’ll be inspired to re-imagine your life as a wonder tale; you’ll reframe the events of the “real world” around you as being elements in a richly entertaining wonder tale. Why do I recommend this? Because wonder tales are like waking dreams that reveal the wishes and curiosities and fascinations of your deep psyche. And I think you will benefit profoundly in the coming weeks from consciously tuning in to those wishes and curiosities and fascinations. CANCER (June 21-July 22): I suspect that in the coming days you’ll be able to see into everyone’s souls more vividly than usual. You’ll have a special talent for piercing through the outer trappings of their personalities so as to gaze at the essence beneath. It’s as if your eyes will be blessed by an enhancement that enables you to discern what’s often hidden. This upgrade in your perception may at times be unsettling. For some of the people you behold, the difference between how they present themselves and who they actually are will be dramatic. But for the most part, penetrating to the depths should be fun, enriching, even healing. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “This heart is rusty,” writes poet Gabriel Gadfly. “It creaks, it clanks, it crashes and rattles and bangs.” Why is his heart in such a state? Because he has been separated from a person he loves. And so he’s out of practice in doing the little things, the caring gestures and tender words, that a lover does to keep the heart well-oiled. It’s my observation that most of us go through rusty-heart phases like this even when we are living in close proximity to an intimate ally. We neglect to practice the art of bestowing affectionate attention and low-key adoration. We forget how important it is for our own welfare that we continually refresh and reinvigorate our heart intelligence. These are good meditations for you right now, Leo. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “All the effort in the world won’t matter if you’re not inspired,” writes novelist Chuck Palahniuk. I agree! And that’s a key meditation for you right now. Your assignment is to enhance and upgrade the inspiration you feel about the activities that are most important to you—the work and the play that give you the sense you’re living a meaningful life. So how do you boost your excitement and motivation for those essential actions you do on a regular basis? Here’s a good place to begin: visualize in exuberant detail all the reasons you started doing them in the first place.

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FOOD & DRINK · SUSHI & BISCUITS

Plant-Based Food Versus Fake Meat Why can't we just let delicious veggies be themselves?

F Mike McJunkin Pulse columnist

“

No matter how much money is spent on producing, marketing, and purchasing these faux meats, they are still processed plant matter masquerading as meat.”

Mike McJunkin is a native Chattanoogan who has traveled abroad extensively, trained chefs, and owned and operated restaurants. Join him on Facebook at facebook.com/SushiAndBiscuits

OUR YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, I witnessed something truly horrifying. I was in Phuket, Thailand for the annual Taoist Vegetarian Festival and had spent several cringe-filled days observing men and women participate in scenes of ritualized piercings, mutilation, cutting, bloodletting and serious meat deprivation—all done without any anesthesia or even a single bite of fish, fowl, or mammal. After days of witnessing this crimson spectacle on a completely meat-free stomach, something truly horrifying happened. From a block away I spotted a beautiful slab of fried pork belly hanging delicately from a hook above a noodle vendor’s boiling pot of soup. I approached the vendor with a huge smile that he immediately recognized as hopefilled and his visage went from welcoming to pity. This was not pork belly. Those beautiful streaks of lean and fat and the rich brown hue of its perfectly crisp skin were just a clever illusion, a slight-of-ham, if you will. This vegetarian vendor was selling superb examples of a centuries old Chinese technique for making faux meat of every type imaginable—a horrifying situation for a meat-starved omnivore on his third day of an involuntary flesh fast (unsurprisingly, the fake pork belly tasted like salty lies and regret). It’s worth remembering, as companies like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are asking us to pass the plate for the next faux meat revival, that Asian cooks have been using plant-based foods to mimic meat for hundreds of years. Stroll down the aisle of any well stocked Asian market today and you’ll find plant-based versions of bacon, fish, hamburger, sausage, shrimp, chicken and even duck. Full disclosure: I really, really don’t like fake meats. I’m not talking about all of

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the delicious plant-based creations that have been used for centuries such as tofu, Indonesian tempeh, or modern vegetable patties that actually taste like vegetables—I like these ingredients because in the hands of skilled cooks they taste like what they are and don’t try to be something they’re not. What I can’t stand are products like Tofurkey, pretenderloin, bluffalo wings, cheatloaf and the scores of other crimes against humanity that taste like neither meat nor veg. They may be somewhat visually appealing, but distract your attention away from any real food in the vicinity. Now don’t start getting your glutenfree, free-range, hemp panties in a bunch. I have no problem with veganism per se and don’t really give a fiber packed poo about what another human eats. But I do have to wonder: unless you have serious dietary restrictions that limit your options, why not just eat vegetables? Or at least eat plant-based alternatives that aren’t processed to the point that it takes a chemist to decipher their ingredient list. Scientists have spent years trying to find ways for us to eat meat without the conscience-prompting process of pumping 20,000 volts into its skull and thus far, Impossible Foods have been the most successful at transforming plants into something that resembles actual meat. But keep in mind, these plant-based meat alternatives are “plant based” in the same way that the paper this article is printed on is “plant based” —it takes a lot of processing to turn those happy little

plants into fake meat or newsprint. The Impossible Burger, for example, has Lipitor popping levels of saturated fat, enough sodium to cure a ham, and shockingly few whole food ingredients on its 21 ingredient list. I’ll admit, it tastes pretty good, unlike the unnaturally squishy and bland Beyond Burger and certainly better than any previous attempt at faux meat. But it’s been engineered to taste good, not to lower your cholesterol. But no matter how much money is spent on producing, marketing, and purchasing these faux meats, they are still processed plant matter masquerading as meat. Why not focus all those resources on letting plants and vegetables shine as themselves, rather than dressing them up like little carnivore whores, fulfilling the dirty meat fantasies of omnivorous humans living as vegetarian or vegan? There are thousands of plants and vegetables that are delicious, nutritious, and almost unheard of by the average meat eater. Maybe, just maybe, if there were more options and better tasting dishes made from the overwhelming bounty of plants and vegetables we have at our disposal, more humans would simply eat more vegetables, eat less processed food and no one would ever again have to endure the horror of a fake pork belly.

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