NOVEMBER 10, 2016
CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
COVER STORY
Keeping The Legs Barking
BARKING LEGS THEATER CONTINUES TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF THEATRICAL INNOVATION By Jenn Webster
JAMAL TRAUB • MEGAN SAUNDERS BAND • DOCTOR STRANGE
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VOLUME 13, ISSUE 45 NOVEMBER 10, 2016
CONTENTS 4
SAILING THROUGH HISTORY ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER
Historically accurate representations of the Pinta and Nina, two ships from Christopher Columbus’ fleet when he sailed the ocean blue in 1492, will be docking at Ross’s Landing and will open to the public beginning Thursday.
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MARRYING STOP MOTION AND MUSIC TOGETHER
A truly delightful and creative series of music videos and video games is underway for Jamal Traub, one of the Chattanooga music scene’s newest additions.
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WEAVING A MYSTICAL SPELL OVER THE BIG SCREEN
As the Marvel onslaught of box office domination continues, it has become obvious that the best of them exist outside the Avengers universe.
AN OLD FAVORITE AT A NEW VENUE
Who, what, when, where, why and how; those are the big questions in any properly written piece, but the emphasis varies depending on the point of the article.
ALSO INSIDE
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Keeping The Legs Barking Barking Legs’ offerings are varied, rich and constant. House shows, under the aegis of Contemporary Performing Arts of Chattanooga (CoPAC), include dance, folk, jazz, blues, comedy, improvisational and experimental theater, poetry and spoken word performances.
FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS
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CONSIDER THIS
20
RECORD REVIEWS
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SHADES OF GREEN
21
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY
12
ARTS CALENDAR
21
JONESIN’ CROSSWORD
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NEW IN THEATERS
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TECH TALK
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MUSIC CALENDAR
Jenn Webster is a dancer and technical writer by trade who has also written for marketing, educational, and consumer publications. She’s an Army veteran and a member of WEAVE: A Conceptual Dance Company.
Rich Bailey is a professional writer, editor and (sometimes) public relations consultant. Despite leading a project to create Chattanooga’s first civic website in 1995, he is not much of an early adopter but avidly covers tech issues.
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BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE
Sailing Through History On The Tennessee River
Discover what Columbus and his sailors experienced in person By Alyson McGowan Pulse contributor
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 Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Rich Bailey Thom Benson Rob Brezsny • Matt Jones Sandra Kurtz • Tony Mraz Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Jenn Webster Editorial Interns Alyson McGowan • Colin Moran Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow
ADVERTISING
Director of Sales Mike Baskin mikebaskin@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Rick Leavell Libby Phillips • John Rodriguez Logan Vandergriff • Joseph Yang
CONTACT
Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 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. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2016 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
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ISTORICALLY ACCURATE REPRESENTAtions of the Pinta and Nina, two ships from Christopher Columbus’ fleet when he sailed the ocean blue in 1492, will be docking at Ross’s Landing and will open to the public beginning early Thursday morning. The replica of the Nina was built completely by hand and without the use of modern power tools or any form of electricity by a group of twenty-eighth generation shipwrights in Brazil. The Nina has since been branded by Archaeology magazine as, “the most historically accurate representation of a ship ever created.” This life-size replica would have been the same ship that Columbus used to sail across the Atlantic on his two of the four voyages to “discover” the New World. This particular ship was favored by Columbus more than the more well-known Santa Maria in part because its small size required only seven foot of water to sail, while the Santa Maria required fourteen feet of water to sail. This made traveling into smaller bodies of water not only possible, but also much easier. The Nina has a deck length of 65 feet and a beam of 18 feet and reaches about 1,919 square feet. And while that may seem very small by modern standards, it was a grand ship back in its day. The Pinta was recently built in Brazil to accompany the Nina on her travels along the Western Hemisphere. The Pinta is a larger version of the archetypal caravel and offers a larger deck speck, perfect for walk-aboard tours. It also has a 40-foot air conditioned main cabin down below with a seating area and is available to rent for private parties and charters. The Pinta has a deck length of 85 feet and a beam of 23 feet and reaches a total of 3,800 square feet. So yes, still
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“While the mere sight of these ships are enough to leave you speechless, they are not just for gawking at.” quite small but a good bit roomier than its sister ship. While the mere sight of these ships are enough to leave you speechless, they are not just for gawking at. Unlike the original ships, these two are floating museums that visitors can board and experience first-hand. The Nina and Pinta will be making their third trip to Chattanooga. “We’re expecting Chattanooga to be one of our busiest ports in the United States and we’re estimating well over 12,000 visitors a day,” says Captain Morgan Sanger, “We hope to offer people the opportunity to step back in time and see what life was like for people in the 15th century.” However, life abroad these
ships in the 1400’s was not for the faint of heart. The entire lower deck of these ships were packed with preventions to last the journey, yet the crew was still subjected to scurvy. The ships will be open to the public starting this Thursday on through the 27th of this month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (though they will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, for obvious reasons). To follow the Nina and the Pinta on their adventures over the Atlantic and from port to port, you can follow Columbus Ships on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to receive photos and updates on their travels. They will be posting an update once they arrive in Chattanooga.
Consider This with Dr. Rick
EdiToon
editor's note: we went to press before the final election results were in, so we decided to share an all-american image instead of a cartoon this week.
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” — Judy Garland
Operation Christmas Child Begins Monday It is all too easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of the holiday rush and get carried away with all the gift buying, decorating and food baking. But if you are looking for a way to share some love and Christmas spirit this year, the perfect opportunity is provided by the Samaritan’s Purse with their Operation Christmas Child project. Their goal is to demonstrate faith and love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. The Samaritans Purse folks simply ask you to fill empty shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items that will be trans-
ported across the globe and given as Christmas presents. The gifts will be given to children who are living in the midst of poverty, war, disease or natural disaster. This November 14th through 21st, Chattanooga
volunteers are opening several sites in the area to serve as drop-off locations. A location near you can be found by visiting samaritanspurse.org/occ and entering your zip-code. Think back on your time as a child, and of the joy you felt opening each gift until they were all gone. Remember that feeling as you take the time to think that for many of these children, this gift-filled shoebox will be the first gift they have ever received. This project is a wonderful way to spread some love this holiday season even before the calendar has turned to December. — Colin Moran
As humans we tend to compare up. By that I mean we tend to see others as better than us. She’s more beautiful than I am. He’s more successful than I will ever be. Their kids do better than mine. That family has more advantages than ours. Okay, some degree of these things may be true. So what? The Law of Attraction teaches us that what we focus on, we get more of. So if we’re obsessing over how we have “less than,” then that’s what we’ll continue to receive, as we stay stuck in “less than” mode. If, however, we focus on the beauty we do possess, the success we do have (which comes in many forms), all that we can be grateful for, then guess what? We’ll stop seeing the world through glasses of envy, and start feeling beautiful, successful and most importantly, grateful. Wouldn’t that be a happier way to go through life? — Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.
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COLUMN ∙ SHADES OF GREEN
Yes, You Should Eat Your Vegetables “Let’s feed people, not landfills.” –Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator
Sandra Kurtz
Pulse columnist
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HANKSGIVING IS A TIME WHEN we pause, however briefly, to feel grateful for the bountiful Earth, the sustenance it provides, and our continued existence. It’s a wonderful day especially for environmentally-minded folks as it reminds us of nature’s plenty and positive sustaining yield when treated well. Most of us are lucky enough to enjoy a big feast. We load our plates with more turkey than we can eat accompanied by all the fixin’s (plus pumpkin pie). Even the poor and hungry can find places like the Community Kitchen or churches to get a most generous Thanksgiving dinner served by thoughtful volunteers. But after we have over eaten, the rest is often mindlessly thrown away. Yes, we in the United States waste 30 to 40 percent of our food even though one in eight children go to bed hungry each night. Here’s an interesting fact: 31 percent of fresh tomatoes bought by U.S. households are thrown out—that’s 21 tomatoes a year per person! Meanwhile, the EPA says that in 2013, 48 million lived in food insecure households. In 2010, 31 percent (133 billion pounds) of the available food supply at the retail and consumer levels went uneaten. While feeding the hungry is a problem, it’s not the only one coming from food waste. Food makes up 21 percent of the waste stream of materials in American trash. This large volume of disposed food is the main contributor to the roughly 18 percent of to-
tal U.S. methane emissions coming from landfills or via incinerators. The production of food is one of the human activities with the greatest impact on climate change. What to do? It’s complicated, but in September 2015 the United States’ first-ever national food waste reduction goal was announced calling for a 50 percent reduction by 2030. New partnerships are forming to reduce food loss and waste thereby improving overall food security while conserving natural resources. There are ways to help. Restaurant health laws require waste left on your plate must be thrown away. However, other un-served restaurant food doesn’t have to go to a landfill, although much is. Big River Grille for example gives spent brewery grains to a farmer and sells leftover oil to a processor who recycles it for other uses thus avoiding the landfill. Find and frequent such places. The key way each of us can help is to switch to a less carbon intensive diet. Your carbon “foodprint” can make more food available for others helping meet a growing population’s hunger. Beef and lamb cause by far the highest emissions because of methane farts, but also due to energy intensity, water required, and waste produced in raising and processing. See shrinkthatfootprint.com for more information. There are further actions you can do for money saving and obesity control in addition to lightening up
“While feeding the hungry is a problem, it’s not the only one coming from food waste. Food makes up 21 percent of the waste stream of materials in American trash” on meat consumption. Consume any perishables in timely fashion before they are inedible. Eat what you buy. Serve on smaller plates. Store food properly. Freeze food to avoid spoiling. Use leftovers for compost, stock, soups, stews, or casseroles. Buy locally grown food avoiding processing waste. When at a restaurant, order just an amount you can (or should) eat. Bring uneaten food home in a ‘doggie bag’ (use your own container to avoid non-recyclable containers that restaurants supply). Like your mama said, eat your vegetables and waste not want not. During this holiday season you and the environment will be healthier for
it. Happy Thanksgiving! Impressive News: Chattanooga now has the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, a research center unique to the Southeast. Located on the Baylor School campus along the river, the sustainably built center features research morphology and genetic laboratories, propagation tanks, and teaching spaces meant to restore and safeguard freshwater species and train future conservation leaders. 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
Keeping The Legs Barking On Dodds Avenue
Barking Legs continues to push the boundaries of theatrical innovation By Jenn Webster
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Pulse contributor
ARKING LEGS’ OFFERINGS ARE
varied, rich and constant. House shows, under the aegis of Contemporary Performing Arts of Chattanooga (CoPAC), include dance, folk, jazz, blues, comedy, improvisational and experimental theater, poetry, spoken word, and open-mic/ open-floor shows. Pop-up galleries showcase up-and-coming artists and offer works for sale. Visiting artists also appear at the Legs, from local performers to nationally and internationally known dancers, singers and musicians. During the day, Barking Legs houses the Full Circle Teaching Artists Program (TAP), which helps artists develop as teachers. Since its renovation in 2014, the Dodds Avenue theater has built on its mission to offer innovative programming to the Chattanooga community. Seating about 80 people, 150 if movable seating is added, Barking Legs is tiny but widely known, a microcosm of Chattanooga’s arts culture. A quick example: Dancer and choreographer Ann Law—one of Barking Legs’ founders, along with her husband Bruce Kaplan—just returned from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she received the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. “Everyone [I talked with at UNC Greensboro] said they were trying to model Greensboro on Chattanooga,” Ann says. “We started talking about what they saw in the Chattanooga: our startups, the river district, our entrepreneurs and our arts community.” Think about a tech incubator. Barking Legs holds an analogous position in the arts. Rec-
ognitions such as the one Ann received—only the third Distinguished Alumni Award in UNC Greensboro’s history—“are keeping eyes on Chattanooga,” Ann says. “Barking Legs serves as a catalyst, a place for us to look at the needs of our community. We serve a niche no one else is serving.”
Merry Midwinter! If you haven’t been to the Legs for a while—or ever— visit the 24th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 10. From 2 to 5 p.m., a free festival for kids and adults will feature arts and crafts, creative movement and music. The Grilled Cheese Emergency truck will serve hot sandwiches. Behind the scenes, guest artists will paint the theater’s famed legs. At 6 p.m., the new legs will be revealed and evening festivities will begin. The evening show will include the strip tease from Ann Law’s Come On In My Kitchen. A palm reader will cre-
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ate personal erotic poems based on the mystical lines in your hands. World Food Tribe from Dunlap will serve specialty foods and unique cocktails will be available. At 10 p.m., the formal performance ends and a DJ will take the stage for dancing and general, get-down partying. “We hope all of Chattanooga comes out,” Ann says. “It’s fantastic if you come for the first time, or if you [visit Barking Legs] a lot, bring some friends who haven’t come.”
The Legs’ Programming After the December anniversary party, it’ll be hard not to become part of the Barking Legs community. Whatever art form people favor, they’ll find something to bring them back again and again. Literary fans will appreciate the poetry and open mic shows, says Erika Roberts-Blackmon, poet, performance artist and member of CoPAC’s Board of Directors. “In 2017, we’ll be offering open mic nights for poets
COVER STORY who want to ‘spit,’” she says. “We’re a comfortable space…a safe and sacred space.” Barking Legs will also be hosting an oldschool speakeasy, which Erika describes as “not a slam, but a show that’s very laid back and hip,” during Black History Month. Chattanooga poets Arche Twitty, Moll King and Olivia Bradley, among others, may be heard at Barking Legs. Bruce Kaplan, a member of the house band Undoctored Originals (all of whose members hold MDs or PhDs), focuses on building up Barking Legs as a destination venue for music. This month, he recommends hearing Radney Foster on Nov. 18 or the Gregory Tardy Quintet on Nov. 19. Foster, a country music singer/songwriter from Texas, has had songs picked up by Keith Urban and Sara Evans. Tardy, described by NPR as an “international caliber musician,” now focuses on teaching jazz saxophone at UT Knoxville, so a performance by him is a rare treat. “No other place has this great programming,” Bruce says. Ann, with her flair for the original, is organizing a series of “Happenings,” performances combing dance with other art forms, immersing the audience in the experience. “It’s a different way of approaching performance, using all the senses—even food and drink,” Ann says. Happenings #1, Twilight Café, will feature an ensemble of performers from the community: four dancers, two drag queens, two poets, a pianist, a guitarist and a jazz vocalist. The audience will be seated cabaret-style, and the action will take place around them.
A Unique Jewel Since its renovation, Barking Legs has changed its ambiance from urban grunge to airy modern. The lobby holds a bar, cabaret seating, a wall of irregular glass windows, paintings by Dennis Palmer and Ashley Hamilton, and a gleaming 1955 jukebox. In the theater, comfortable auditorium seating places the audience at speaking-voice distance to the stage—which features one of the most danceable sprung floors Chat-
Dancing into the Future
“[At Barking Legs], we want to maintain our integrity but also appeal to everyone through creating experiences so they will want to stay.” tanooga has to offer. And on special occasions, patrons can hear (or play) the 1916 Steinway grand piano, once housed at Birdland jazz club in New York. The bar offers beer and soda. Barking Legs doesn’t provide food, but there’s space for catered snacks to be served. A perfect fit for most performances, Barking Legs is also a great space to hold receptions, advocacy meetings, science lectures and more. A bartender and sound technician are available with rental.
A Cauldron for Growth In addition to performing at the Legs, local artists have a variety of ways to grow through the Barking Legs community. CoPAC intern Olivia Anderson, a visual artist who is learning marketing and promotion in conjunction with Barking Legs, is the latest in a series of young
people taking a deep dive into the arts world. Artist-in-residence programs are another way Barking Legs nurtures up-and-coming artists. “We’re keeping up our creative activism,” Erika says. “We want to be a focal point in incubating new artists who come to us, giving them experience on the floor.” Full Circle TAP, guided by Educational Outreach Director Mario DeAndre Brooks, offers workshops for artists who want to bring their passion to the community through teaching. The most recent TAP program focused on cooking for the working family. As they honed their pedagogy, the TAP students worked with community children on kitchen arts. The small artists made chef’s outfits, drew place settings and warmed up with a “brain dance” before cooking, Ann says.
Ann and Bruce are looking for ways to sustain Barking Legs’ mission into the 2020s and beyond. Their philosophy is one of balance: Barking Legs is nimbly responsive to community needs, yet offers a venue where people can experience art in profound, deep-delving ways. “We’re small and quick,” Bruce says. “We can move fast. We can get people on a tour looking to fill a time spot. And we offer an intimate venue with the best acoustics in Chattanooga.” The Legs can book shows on short notice. Artist-friendly, the theater offers early opening times and great revenue percentages. As a result, Bruce says, major artists will book a show at Barking Legs between earlier-scheduled performances in larger venues; for instance, steel guitar artist Junior Brown stopped by on his way from the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. Similarly, when local artists approach Barking Legs about holding a pop-up gallery, one can be arranged quickly. Ashley Hamilton and Laura Little have both displayed their works at the Legs. At the same time, Barking Legs’ performances, galleries and community events aren’t quick artistic fixes. They involve all the senses and challenge audiences to experience art deeply. “My generation doesn’t have the attention span now,” Olivia says. “[At Barking Legs], we want to maintain our integrity but also appeal to everyone through creating experiences so they will want to stay…to engage you in such a way you have to be fully present.” “We’re really about breaking barriers between the performers and the audience,” Ann says. “In the past 24 years we have developed a reputation for being a place where you can have a great time. The performers enjoy themselves, the audience is respectful, and we are generous with revenue. It’s like playing in your living room for 150 people.” “It’s an intimate, focused space,” Bruce says. Erika adds, “It’s about growing creativity.”
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Marrying Stop Motion and Music Together Jamal Traub embraces a classic film technique
A New Look At A Classic Tragedy Tragedy is due to strike at Covenant College. But in a good way, theatrically speaking. Come and enjoy the Theater Department’s rendition of one of the most famous tragedies ever told: William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Writer Clarie Slavovsky and lead actor Matthew Mindeman are hoping to reenact this famous play in a new interactive and evocative way. In a world where entertainment can be easily accessed through media such as YouTube and Netflix and viewed in isolation, its apparent that many people today have never seen Hamlet performed live. Salvosky and Mindeman are hoping that the production can capitalize on the power of live theater and enhance this familiar story through engaging with an in-house audience. “Experiencing stories together is an important part of a community- it creates cohesion,” says Slavovsky, “Not just the community of the cast and crew, but also the college and even the city.” Hamlet will play November 11, 12, and 18 at 7:30 p.m. and November 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets begin at $7 for adults and $5 for seniors, students, and staff. Visitors can also attend a final dress rehearsal on November 10 for $5 tickets for adults and $3 for seniors, students and staff. — Alyson McGowan Hamlet Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Covenant College 14049 Scenic Highway (706) 820-1560 www.covenant.edu 10 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
By Tony Mraz
Pulse contributor
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TRULY DELIGHTFUL AND CREATIVE series of music videos and video games is underway for "The Unstoppable" Jamal Traub, one of the Chattanooga music scene’s newest additions. His first album, Peripheral Love, was released earlier this year, and among many fine musicians features the violin work of our own Ernie Paik. Produced and orchestrated by Ross Carlson of Red Crow Studios, the album is absolutely beautiful. The highly anticipated first video from the album is a stop motion animation for “The Fall”, a light-hearted song about a snail race. The song is a metaphor for the fall season, and about falling out of this world. The theme is letting go of pre-conceived notions, inhibitions, throwing
caution to the wind, having fun, and using your imagination. Back when Jamal was in high school, he and his younger brothers got into stop motion animation. He had borrowed a video camera from the school for a project, and they started messing around with it, doing some rudimentary animations with Ninja Turtle toys. He got a data entry job and worked for the summer to save up money to buy his own video camera. He has been doing stop motion ever since. To produce “The Fall” video, Jamal is using a 16 Megapixel Sony Camera with HUE Animation software. The snails are made with modeling clay and sea shells. The video features a musical trio of mice, which were felted by CozyMilArt, and is also using a series of elaborate sets by faerie artist Carrie Viscome Skinner. The video is set to be released on Friday, November 25.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“You can’t be someone else. You can to a certain degree, but ultimately your work is going to reflect you, who you are. There’s no point to be like anyone else but yourself.” The song “Beautiful Blur” is partially based on Jamal’s three experiences with floods, two of which occurred in Kansas. Whenever he goes swimming, he goes under water and holds his breath, imagining that his fate as a human being on this planet is to drown in a flood. Instead of making a music video for “Beautiful Blur”, Jamal is designing a video game to accompany the song. For this project, he is using a video game creation utility called Game Maker. In the game, the main character is thrown from a car off a bridge with a weight attached to his ankle. After falling into the water, the player must navigate through various obstacles, avoiding sharks and other predators as they sink. The object of the game is to reach the bottom, where the character dies,
breaking through into the afterlife. “My philosophy is to get lost in whatever I’m doing. I’m not so much doing my art to make money or show off, it’s just a desire,” Traub explains. “It makes me happy when I’m in the midst of it. The feeling of creation, of being a god of an imaginary world feels great; you get a rush of excitement and adrenaline. Have fun with whatever you’re doing, and speak from your heart about whatever makes you passionate.” Next year, he is releasing a video for “Summer Time Purples,” his song about having something other than the blues. For this video, he is employing his sign spinning skills—Sign Spinning is more than just a means of advertising, it has evolved into a professional sport that has a world championship every year in Las Vegas. (We highly recommend checking out the 2016 Championship Highlights.) “You have to follow your own course, no matter what it is,” he notes. “You can’t be someone else. You can to a certain degree, but ultimately your
work is going to reflect you, who you are. There’s no point to be like anyone else but yourself.” Donning a purple morph suit, he will be visiting Chattanooga’s beautiful vistas and doing sign spinning tricks. Though he no longer spins signs professionally, Jamal still does it for fun—every Sunday, there is a meet up at Tennessee Academy of Gymnastics for jugglers, hula hoopers, acrobats, and sign spinners. “The creative scene has really grown since I moved to Chattanooga in 2012,” Traub says. “I see a lot of great things going on. I’m involved with Soundcorps, and would encourage musicians to sign up at soundcorps.org. It’s really nice to see people like Stratton Tingle stepping up to promote music in town. We have a long way to go before some people will start taking us seriously, but this is an exciting town to be in right now.” The album Peripheral Love is now available to stream on Soundcloud, or you can get a CD copy from Jamal at one of his shows.
THU11.10 "Gianni Schicchi"
Join the relatives of Don Buoso as they mourn his death and scheme about how to improve their inheritance. 7 p.m. Northside Presbyterian 923 Mississippi Ave. operatn.org
FRI11.11 "The Last Five Years"
An emotionally powerful and intimate musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in and out of love. 2:30, 7:30 p.m. Phoenix Theatre 3708 Ringgold Rd. cdoorent.com
SAT11.12 Star Wars Day
A long time ago, in a zoo right around the corner, comes a fun-filled day with all your Star Wars favorites. 11 a.m. Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1319 chattzoo.org
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Unity Mosaic Project Mural Opening Reception
THURSDAY11.10 Columbus Ships Nina & Pinta Opening Day 9 a.m. Ross's Landing 100 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 643-6311 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 Unity Mosaic Project Mural Opening Reception 4 p.m. Hart Gallery 10 E. Main St. (423) 521-4707 hartgallerytn.com Spectrum Silent Auction 6 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" 7 p.m.
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Northside Presbyterian 923 Mississippi Ave. operatn.org Fly Fishing Film Tour 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 702-8081 thecamphouse.com Steel Magnolias 7 p.m. Center for Creative Arts 1301 Dallas Rd. (423) 209-5929 centerforcreativearts.net Hamlet 7:30 p.m. Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy. (706) 820-1560 covenant.edu The Last Five Years 7:30 p.m. Phoenix Theatre
SPOTLIGHT: KILLER BEAZ With thousands of radio, television and stage appearances under his belt, Killer Beaz has been entertaining audiences for over 30 years. Killer Beaz The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
3708 Ringgold Rd. (423) 290-8515 cdoorent.com Killer Beaz 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com The Figurines Presents: Burlesque Noir 9:30 p.m. Barking Leggs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 8472170 barkinglegs.org
FRIDAY11.11 3rd Street Farmers Market 10:30 a.m. Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St.
lookoutfarmersmarket.com Antique & Estate Jewelry Show & Sale 11 a.m. Houston Museum of Decorative Arts 201 High St. (423) 267-7176 thehoustonmuseum.org Cambridge Square Night Market 5 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. (423) 531-7745 chattanoogamarket.com The Last Five Years 2:30, 7:30 p.m. Phoenix Theatre 3708 Ringgold Rd. (423) 290-8515 cdoorent.com Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" 7 p.m. Northside Presbyterian 923 Mississippi Ave. operatn.org Steel Magnolias 7 p.m. Center for Creative Arts 1301 Dallas Rd. (423) 209-5929 centerforcreativearts.net Hamlet 7:30 p.m. Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy. (706) 820-1560 covenant.edu Killer Beaz 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Footprints of History: Exploring the Ruins of Lookout Mountain thecomedycatch.com
SATURDAY11.12 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon 8:30 a.m. Chickamauga Battlefield 3370 Lafayette Rd. Fort Oglethorpe, GA (706) 866-9241 Footprints of History: Exploring the Ruins of Lookout Mountain 9 a.m. Cravens House Cravens Terrace Rd. Lookout Mountain, TN (423) 752-5213 nps.gov/chch Soil and Water 9 a.m. Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.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 Star Wars Day at The
Chattanooga Zoo 11 a.m. Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1319 chattzoo.org Upchuck 50K Noon Cumberland Trail 190 Depot St. Soddy Daisy, TN wildtrails.org Spectrum Gala and Live Auction 6 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Killer Beaz 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Hamlet 7:30 p.m. Covenant College 1409 Scenic Hwy. Lookout Mountain Georgia (706) 820-1560 RAW-Real Artistic Words 7:30 p.m. Jazzanooga Arts Space 431 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 402-0452 jazzanooga.org/arts-space
SUNDAY11.13 Chattanooga Market 11 a.m.
First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. (423) 402-9957 chattanoogamarket.com
MONDAY11.14 Red Bank Farmers Market 4 p.m. Red Bank United Methodist Church 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 shepherdcommunity.org
TUESDAY11.15 East Brainerd Farmers Market 4 p.m. Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com Santa Paws 6 p.m. Hamilton Place Mall 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. (423) 894-7177 hamiltonplace.com Hay Fever 7:30 p.m The Dorothy Hackett Ward Theater 752 Vine St. (423) 425-4269 utc.edu/theatre-speech
WEDNESDAY11.16 Black Coffee 8 a.m. Jazzanooga Arts Space 431 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 402-0452 jazzanooga.org/arts-space Middle East Dance 10:30 a.m. Jewish Culture 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 chattlibrary.org Hay Fever 7:30 p.m. The Dorothy Hackett Ward Theater 752 Vine St. (423) 425-4269 utc.edu/theatre-speech DIY Holidays: Handpainted Tea Towels 6 p.m. Chattanooga Workspace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 chattanoogaworkspace.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • THE PULSE • 13
FILM & TELEVISION
Weaving A Mystical Spell Over The Screen Doctor Strange steps out of the shadows to save the world
Wild Africa 3D Comes To The Imax For a quarter of a century, the Tennessee Aquarium has shown guests the vast network of animals and environments impacted by a single drop of water as it flows from the mountains to the sea. Audiences at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater will be able to witness a similar journey, set amongst the astonishing vistas and incredible wildlife of “the wildest continent on earth,” when Wild Africa 3D comes to Chattanooga’s largest screen beginning on Friday. Wild Africa 3D takes viewers on a virtual safari across, over and through some of the wildest places remaining on the planet. From the highest snow-covered mountains in Kenya, along great rivers, into steamy rainforests and wide-open savannahs, Wild Africa 3D reveals the striking contrast of stunning deserts beside wild oceans and the sunlit abundance of the coral reefs. "Our aim with Wild Africa was the most ambitious ever 3D wildlife photography for the giant screen,” said co-director and producer Neil Nightingale. “We want to transport audiences on a thrilling journey through Africa to discover how water shapes all life. We filmed in the toughest wild locations using a whole range of photographic techniques to put giant screen audiences right in the heart of some of the most awesome landscapes and dramatic wildlife on earth." The result is an immersive cinematic experience that is breathtakingly beautiful—especially when shown with the Aquarium’s new IMAX with Laser projection system. —Thom Benson Wild Africa 3D November 11 through January 12 Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 201 Chestnut Street (423) 266-4629 www.tennesseeaquarium.org/IMAX 14 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor
A
S THE MARVEL ONSLAUGHT OF box office domination continues, it has become obvious that the best of them exist outside the Avengers universe. 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy was a delightful departure from the usual “save the world” exploits of Iron Man and his ilk. It was a bottle episode of the cinematic film series, with bright colors, exotic locations, and enough wonder to capture the imaginations of younger views in the same way it did with my generation. It made no mention of Captain America or Hulk, no references to Asgard or magical hammers—it was simply a fun story about space criminals carrying a MacGuffin around the galaxy, blowing
stuff up and rescuing each other. It wasn’t bogged down by realism and complex emotions. Instead, it laughed at the absurdity of the serious. With this year’s Doctor Strange, Marvel returns to the outside, with the briefest of references to the ongoing story leading to The Avengers: Infinity Wars. Doctor Strange is its own bottle episode, exploring the mystical side of Marvel and staying true to the ‘70s psychedelia of the original comic. The influence of Steve Ditko is evident throughout the film, particularly with the depiction of the infamous Dark Dimension. The film is an entertaining departure from the usual Marvel fare, making it a stronger film in its own right than some of the flagship superhero titles. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a talented, wealthy surgeon, famous for his success
FILM & TELEVISION
“The universe of Doctor Strange is endless and infinite, with more stories to tell than what can conceivably be told with Captain America and his band of superheroes.” rate with highly complicated cases. He’s Ben Carson or Dr. Oz without the weird beliefs about pyramids or weight loss. As with most successful Marvel characters, Strange has a penchant for hubris, an absolute confidence in his abilities and intelligence. Added to this is a photographic memory, which serves as a key to unlocking his own superpower. As usual, Strange suffers a single sling of outrageous fortune, a car accident that renders his once steady hands unusable. He is thrust into a search for a way to regain his status, past the edges of modern medicine. He journeys east to Katmandu (setting up a great Bob Seger joke) and finds a group of mystics in the KamarTaj. Rather than charlatans peddling low rent meditation, he finds the spiritual protectors
of the Earth. They draw their power from the endless universes that reside alongside ours, channeling this energy through spells and hand motions that allow them to create weapons and shields, travel instantly between points in space, and project astral versions of themselves. They can visit other dimensions and fold reality like paper. Strange hopes to use this power to heal his hands, but finds himself in the middle of a war to stop an ancient being named Dormammu from entering our dimension and devouring it. The end of the world is, of course, routine superhero fodder. But Doctor Strange even turns this common trope on its ear by eschewing the typical violent final battle in favor of a more cerebral variety. At every turn, the film makes deliberate choices to break convention, in many of the same ways as Guardians of the Galaxy. It doesn’t take itself as seriously as it might, and understands the absurdity of the premise and the opportunities it provides. The film was directed by Scott Der-
rickson who first gained prominence with the underrated The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and until now has mostly stayed within the horror genre, giving fans the excellent Sinister in 2012. His horror chops aren’t on display in Doctor Strange but given the “direction by committee” nature of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it speaks to his talent that he was able to manage such a cumbersome, complicated task. Doctor Strange works as its own film and succeeds in telling its own story. While mid and end-credit scenes are present, it doesn’t feel like it exists merely to setup the next Marvel film. The universe of Doctor Strange is endless and infinite, with more stories to tell than what can conceivably be told with Captain America and his band of superheroes. Doctor Strange isn’t a superhero of that breed. He’s the Sorcerer Supreme, the mightiest magician of the cosmos, and by the Hoary Hosts of Hogarth, he will hopefully be used to his full potential.
✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴
Arrival A linguist is recruited by the military to assist in translating alien communications. Can intelligent science fiction comepte with superhero movies on the big screen? We'll find out this weekend. Director: Denis Villeneuve Stars: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker,
Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk 19-year-old Billy Lynn is brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing Iraq battle. Through flashbacks the film shows what really happened to his squad—contrasting the realities of war with America's perceptions. Director: Ang Lee Stars: Joe Alwyn, Kristen Stewart, Vin Diesel
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CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • THE PULSE • 15
MUSIC
An Old Favorite At A New Venue The Megan Saunders Band brings the music to St. Elmo
Enjoy The Unique Sound of Erick Baker This Friday, the Camp House Bistro and Venue gives you the opportunity to experience one of the most unique singer/songwriters in America today. Hailing from Knoxville, Erick Baker has performed with many national acts around the country in genres ranging from country to rock. One of the things that makes Baker stand out above the rest is his story. He didn’t grow up singing or playing music. He never had voice lessons, and it wasn’t until after he graduated college that he started to teach himself how to play guitar. And now that he has ended up making a living as a singer-songwriter, he can’t believe it. Baker has recently released his third full length studio album, Dear Amanda. “[The album] is the story of my journey back home” he says. “But Dear Amanda is not only a message to my family, it’s a message to everyone who is battling for balance in their life.” This unequaled music event is open to all ages at 7 p.m. this Friday and admission is $15. Tickets to this amazing night of heartfelt music and “handwritten lyrics” can be purchased on the website gigcityproductions. com/concerts. — Colin Moran Erick Baker Friday, 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Boulevard (423) 702-8081 www.thecamphouse.com 16 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
By Marc T. Michael Pulse contributor
W
HO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and how; those are the big questions in any properly written piece, but the emphasis varies depending on the point of the article. Every part matters, but the biggest news in this week’s article is the “where.” We’ll examine the other points first, before we get to the big reveal. The Megan Saunders Band, formerly known as Megan Saunders and The Driftless, has a new member and a new show. Megan and guitarist Jason Reed proudly welcome Jonathan
McWilliams to the fold as the band’s new bassist. Jonathan, new to town, brings some pretty heavy credentials to the table. Taking up double bass in 1992, Jonathan went on to receive a BA and a Masters in double bass performance at UNT and Yale respectively and currently performs with the symphony orchestras of Chattanooga, Greenville and Huntsville. For all his classical chops, McWilliams has a passion for folk/roots music and currently offers lessons at Fiddlers Anonymous in Red Bank. November 12th will mark his first live performance with the Megan Saunders Band and as exciting as that is, there’s just as much excitement for
MUSIC
“Billing itself as an office, a workspace and an art gallery, the Woodshop seems to have all the bases covered and is a perfect fit for the historic, but constantly evolving, St. Elmo neighborhood.” the relatively new venue itself. The show will be held at The Woodshop Rehearsal Space in St. Elmo. The Woodshop opened last year and their mission statement is straightforward enough: “Since 2015, our goal has been to assemble and host a network of musicians and makers who are local to or traveling through the area. With our resources, they are able to present and record their work in front of an appreciative audience.” Billing itself as an office, a workspace and an art gallery, the Woodshop seems to have all the bases covered and is a perfect fit for the historic, but constantly evolving, St. Elmo neighborhood. Formerly a corner grocery-turned-carpentry workshop, it’s hard to imagine a more appropriate venue for formidable folk artists like Megan and company
and perhaps that’s why she chose it as the place to debut the new talent in the band. Cozy, intimate, down-home, The Woodshop Rehearsal space is a perfect marriage of form and function and yet another sign of the ongoing renaissance in the Chattanooga music scene, but the same may be said of Saunders, a frequent player in the scene, who’s angelic voice is matched by her talent as a lyricist and her canny ability to assemble the best musicians to bring those lyrics to life. That’s why Saunders’, whose music has been reviewed here in The Pulse and is about as universally beloved as a regional artist can be, announcement of a new band member (and a new venue), is genuinely exciting. The Woodshop, located at 5500 St. Elmo Avenue, is committed to bringing the best of contemporary folk and roots music to the area and on November 12th that commitment will be realized with the debut of the Jason McWilliams in the Megan Saunders Band.
The 8th Annual Fringe Benefit At The Honest Pint It’s that time of year again! The Movement Arts Collective presents the 8th Annual Fringe Benefit performance at the Honest Pint. The evening is a showcase of some of the finest belly dance and music in the area with proceeds going to benefit the Body Positive Chattanooga and the Partnership’s Rape Crisis Center. This year’s showcase features some of the most talented and lovely dancers from all over the southeast, a special performance by internationally renowned dancer Elizabeth Strong and music by singer/songwriter Amber Fults, a local favorite and consummate entertainer. The show is this Sunday, November 13th at the Honest Pint. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance, $16 at the door with advance tickets available through movementartscollective.com. Come support Body Positive Chatta-
nooga and the Partnership’s Rape Crisis Center with an evening of amazing dancing, beautiful music and the most wonderful emcee anywhere. — Marc. T. Michael
THU11.10
FRI11.11
SAT11.12
Need to Breathe
Irenka*
SoCro
Good old-fashioned American rock-androll touring in support of their new album H A R D L O V E. 7 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave tivolichattanooga.com
American pop soul dance with a French twist by way of Nashville. A Chattanooga favorite you don't want to miss. 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
Southern hip-hop by way of Croatia (hence the name), SoCro has been a favorite of ours for many years. Come see why. 9 p.m. JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • THE PULSE • 17
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Old Dominion
THURSDAY11.10 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 Need to Breathe 7 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Suites and Sweets 7 p.m. Center for Creative Arts 1301 Dallas Rd. centerforcreativearts.net Jennifer Poff & ChoEnu Lee 7 p.m. Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy. covenant.edu 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 Old Dominion 8 p.m. Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co
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Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com New Planet 9 p.m. JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
FRIDAY11.11 Erick Baker 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com
SPOTLIGHT: JULIE GRIBBLE From acting to music, Julie Gribble is a multitalented entertainer who's touring in support of her sixth album of original music, Crimson Sky. Julie Gribble Sunday, 2 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com
Tim Lewis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Veteran’s Day Concert 7:30 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Warpaint 8 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Good Vibration Station 8 p.m. Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd ziggysbarandgrill.net Instant Replay 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St.
chattanooganhotel.com Irenka* 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Ashley and the Xs, Danimal, ET 9 p.m. JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Drakeford 9 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Boo Ray 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com RoughWork 10 p.m. Raw Bar & Grill 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com Vinylmania 10 p.m. Bud's Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY11.12 Tim Lewis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com The Velcro Pygmies 8 p.m. Revelry Room
LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR
Bob Dylan 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Cazanovas 8:30 p.m. Buck's Wild Burgers 61 RBC Dr. cazanovas.com Instant Replay 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Drew’s Birthday Show 9 p.m. Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net SoCro 9 p.m. JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Mark Kelly Hall And Heatherly 9 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Jess Goggans Band 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Amber Fults 10 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com RoughWork 10 p.m. Raw Bar & Grill 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com Vinylmania 10 p.m.
Bud's Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY11.13 The Lone Canary 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Sabrina Murdaugh 12:30 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Trippin Roots 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Julie Gribble 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 Bob Dylan 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com
MONDAY11.14 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room
6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Very Open Mic 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Open Mic Night 8 p.m. Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com PJ Baby 9 p.m. JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
TUESDAY11.15 Tom Cordell Trumpet Improv Ensemble 6 p.m. Spring Hill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 834-9300 Chattanooga Music Club Holiday Spectacular 7 p.m. Memorial Auditorium 399 Mccallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Lecrae 7 p.m. Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co Liquid Stranger
8 p.m. Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.co Damien Jurado, Doug Keith, Okinawa 9 p.m. JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
WEDNESDAY11.16 Courtney Marie Andrews 7 p.m. The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.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 Sound of Ceres, Brothertiger 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
Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits brewer media everywhere. every day.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • THE PULSE • 19
RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ERNIE PAIK
Renaldo and the Loaf Gurdy Hurding, Betty Harris The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul
Renaldo and the Loaf Gurdy Hurding (Klanggalerie)
W
hen a rock band reunites after a long duration, like The Stooges or Mission of Burma, the big question is, “Will they rock as hard as before?” In the case of the unclassifiable British duo Renaldo and the Loaf, whose new album Gurdy Hurding comes 29 years after its last studio album The Elbow Is Taboo, the question is, “Will they be as weird as before?” The good news is that fans will not be disappointed. David Janssen (a.k.a. Ted the Loaf a.k.a. Josef Sneff) and Brian Poole (a.k.a. Renaldo Malpractice a.k.a. Hooper Struve) became childhood friends in 1970 who first bonded over the music of Tyrannosaurus Rex. They collaborated on recordings, being influenced by bands such as King Crimson and Can, but they were most profoundly influenced after encountering in 1977 the work of The Residents—a group that sounded like kindred weirdo spirits. The two groups eventually fostered a friendship, and the Residents’ label Ralph Re-
20 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
cords released Renaldo and the Loaf’s most prominent albums including Songs for Swinging Larvae. The style of Renaldo and the Loaf is immediately recognizable, with goofy voices and exaggerated accents, bizarre lyrics involving topics like garden gnome bedmates or a hatred of soap, non-obvious chords and melodies, acoustic instruments played abnormally and extreme sound manipulation to make everything sound unnatural. On Gurdy Hurding, the duo’s original bizarre vigor is still strong, although there are some technological enhancements; still, it treads the path of being playful while something seems amiss. Tracks like “A Convivial Ode” and “Early Twirly” use vocals that are sliced and diced violently yet seamlessly stitched together; words are turned into incomprehensible sounds, and the approach suggests future folk music from an invented country in an invented language. To apparently show a modern evolution, there are a few contemporary touches, like the drum machine bits on “Carrot Ballet”; ultimately, these feel like minor distractions which partially plant the music in a certain time period. However, as a whole, Gurdy Hurding is a true statement of the duo’s fun yet uneasy spirit with an emphasis on creating interesting sounds and a relentless devotion to manipulate each one until it’s sufficiently peculiar.
Betty Harris The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul (Soul Jazz)
I
n a better world, many of the singles Betty Harris recorded in the mid-to-late ‘60s for the New Orleans label Sansu would have been hits, but, as we all know, the cream doesn’t always rise to the top. The new compilation The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul on Soul Jazz Records collects most of Harris’ Sansu A and B-sides, ripe for rediscovery. It seemed like everything was aligned for success—these tracks were all written, arranged and produced by the late R&B powerhouse Allen Toussaint with backing musicians including funk legends The Meters—and Harris had an impressive and commanding voice, with moments of sweet vulnerability leading to stirring, belting notes that could firmly grab the listener. Unfortunately, with limited distribution, these songs had modest success on the national level, and Harris retired from the music busi-
ness at the end of the ‘60s to raise a family. The opening track “There’s a Break in the Road” is a deep funk stomper with a fiery performance from Harris with restless drumming that deserves a special mention, with an irresistible bass/snare-drum interplay and little desire to lock into the same pattern for more than a second; if the drum track was isolated, it could be used for about a hundred insanely funky breakbeats. While the New Orleans funk style is most prominent, numbers such as “Show It” and “I Don’t Wanna Hear It” are satisfying soul-pop excursions that bear a noticeable Motown influence with rich orchestration. The power of Harris’ voice is perhaps most evident on the emotional “Sometime,” on which Harris sings, “This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be / There’s someone for everyone, where is that someone for me?” with a complicated amalgam of anger, frustration and sensitivity. By focusing on the Sansu years, The Lost Queen of New Orleans Soul is not a comprehensive Harris collection—her biggest hit, “Cry to Me”, isn’t here— and there is a large overlap with the earlier compilation Soul Perfection. However, for what it is, it’s packed with quality soul-funk nuggets that showcase Harris’ bold and moving voice with sterling arrangements.
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ∙ ROB BREZSNY SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Don’t be someone that searches, finds, and then runs away,” advises novelist Paulo Coelho. I’m tempted to add this caveat: “Don’t be someone that searches, finds, and then runs away—unless you really do need to run away for a while to get better prepared for the reward you have summoned… and then return to fully embrace it.” After studying the astrological omens, Scorpio, I’m guessing you can benefit from hearing this information. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Go ahead and howl a celebratory “goodbye!” to any triviality that has distracted you from your worthy goals, to any mean little ghost that has shadowed your good intentions, and to any faded fantasy that has clogged up the flow of your psychic energy. I also recommend that you whisper “welcome!” to open secrets that have somehow remained hidden from you, to simple lessons you haven’t been simple enough to learn before now, and to breathtaking escapes you have only recently earned. P.S.: You are authorized to refer to the coming weeks as a watershed. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Musician and visual artist Brian Eno loves to dream up innovative products. In 2006, he published a DVD called 77 Million Paintings, which uses technological trickery to generate 77 million different series of images. To watch the entire thing would take 9,000 years. In my opinion, it’s an interesting but gimmicky novelty—not particularly deep or meaningful. During the next nine months, Capricorn, I suggest that you attempt a far more impressive feat: a richly complex creation that will provide you with growth-inducing value for years to come. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Do you know about the Lords of Shouting? According to Christian and Jewish mythology, they’re a gang of 15.5 million angels that greet each day with vigorous songs of praise and blessing. Most people are too preoccupied with their own mind chatter to pay attention to them, let alone hear their melodious offerings. But I suspect you may be an exception to that rule in the coming weeks. According to my reading of the astrological omens, you’ll be exceptionally alert for and receptive to glad tidings. You may be able to spot opportunities that others are blind to, including the chants of the Lords of Shouting and many other potential blessings. Take advantage of your aptitude! PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Greenland sharks live a long time -- up to 400 years, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. The females of the species don’t reach sexual matu-
rity until they’re 150. I wouldn’t normally compare you Pisceans to these creatures, but my reading of the astrological omens suggests that the coming months will be a time when at long last you will reach your full sexual ripeness. It’s true that you’ve been capable of generating new human beings for quite some time. But your erotic wisdom has lagged behind. Now that’s going to change. Your ability to harness your libidinous power will soon start to increase. As it does, you’ll gain new access to primal creativity. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Now and then you display an excessive egotism that pushes people away. But during the next six weeks you will have an excellent chance to shed some of that tendency, even as you build more of the healthy pride that attracts help and support. So be alert for a steady flow of intuitions that will instruct you on how to elude overconfidence and instead cultivate more of the warm, radiant charisma that is your birthright. You came here to planet Earth not just to show off your bright beauty, but also to wield it as a source of inspiration and motivation for those whose lives you touch. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “How often I found where I should be going only by setting out for somewhere else,” said inventor Buckminster Fuller. I don’t fully endorse that perspective. For example, when I said goodbye to North Carolina with the intention to make Northern California my new home, Northern California is exactly where I ended up and stayed. Having said that, however, I suspect that the coming months could be one of those times when Fuller’s formula applies to you. Your ultimate destination may turn out to be different from your original plan. But here’s the tricky part: If you do want to eventually be led to the situation that’s right for you, you have to be specific about setting a goal that seems right for now. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you were an obscenely rich plutocrat, you might have a pool table on your super yacht. And to ensure that you and your buddies could play pool even in a storm that rocked your boat, you would have a special gyroscopic instrument installed to keep your pool table steady and stable. But I doubt you have such luxury at your disposal. You’re just not that wealthy or decadent. You could have something even better, however: metaphorical gyroscopes that will keep you steady and stable as you navigate your way through unusual weather. Do you know what I’m referring to? If not, meditate on the three people or influences that might best help you stay grounded. Then make sure you snuggle up close to those people
JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES
and influences during the next two weeks. CANCER (June 21-July 22): The coming weeks will be a good time to fill your bed with rose petals and sleep with their aroma caressing your dreams. You should also consider the following acts of intimate revolution: listening to sexy spiritual flute music while carrying on scintillating conversations with interesting allies…sharing gourmet meals in which you and your sensual companions use your fingers to slowly devour your delectable food…dancing naked in semi-darkness as you imagine your happiest possible future. Do you catch my drift, Cancerian? You’re due for a series of appointments with savvy bliss and wild splendor. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “I have always wanted…my mouth full of strange sunlight,” writes Leo poet Michael Dickman in his poem “My Honeybee.” In another piece, while describing an outdoor scene from childhood, he innocently asks, “What kind of light is that?” Elsewhere he confesses, “What I want more than anything is to get down on paper what the shining looks like.” In accordance with the astrological omens, Leo, I suggest you follow Dickman’s lead in the coming weeks. You will receive soulful teachings if you pay special attention to both the qualities of the light you see with your eyes and the inner light that wells up in your heart. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Passage du Gois is a 2.8-mile causeway that runs between the western French town of Beauvoir-sur-Mer and the island of Noirmoutier in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s only usable twice a day when the tide goes out, and even then for just an hour or two. The rest of the time it’s under water. If you hope to walk or bike or drive across, you must accommodate yourself to nature’s rhythms. I suspect there’s a metaphorically similar phenomenon in your life, Virgo. To get to where you want to go next, you can’t necessarily travel exactly when you feel like it. The path will be open and available for brief periods. But it will be open and available. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Modern toilet paper appeared in 1901, when a company in Green Bay, Wisconsin began to market “sanitary tissue” to the public. The product had a small problem, however. Since the manufacturing process wasn’t perfect, wood chips sometimes remained embedded in the paper. It was not until 1934 that the product was offered as officially “splinter-free.” I mention this, Libra, because I suspect that you are not yet in the splinter-free phase of the promising possibility you’re working on. Keep at it. Hold steady. Eventually you’ll purge the glitches.
“Oh, Be Serious!”—they’re seriously in there. ACROSS 1 Collapsible game? 6 Chris of the “Fantastic Four” series 11 Agcy. of the Department of Health and Human Services 14 Stress, cigarettes, handing car keys to your teen, e.g. 15 1976 Olympics star Comaneci 16 Letters on a tombstone 17 Comedian Mandel, shaped like an oval? 19 Mentalist’s claim 20 “The BFG” author Roald 21 Word on some campaign signs 23 Station posting, briefly 26 Japanese buckwheat noodle 28 Also 29 Barbecue needs 31 Noted streak enders of 2016 33 “___’s Irish Rose” 36 “Who’s the Boss?” role 38 Like some news days
40 Actor Max ___ Sydow 41 Good bud 42 Indecent, or a description of this puzzle theme? 44 Abbr. at the bottom of a business letter 45 Linguistic suffix with morph or phon 46 Vehicle with its own path 47 “All in the Family” daughter 49 “New Look” designer Christian 51 Person of the Year awarder 53 “___ Wedding” (“Simpsons” episode involving a fortune-teller) 54 Place walked into, in classic jokes 56 Cash register part 58 Aloha State goose 59 Winter product also known as rock salt 62 Lacking much flavor 64 “___ G. Biv” (They Might Be Giants tune) 65 Look inward? 70 Crater Lake’s st. 71 “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” refrain
72 Geometrical findings 73 “Game of Thrones” patriarch ___ Stark 74 Hit with a stun gun 75 Justin Timberlake’s former group DOWN 1 God, to a Rastafarian 2 I trouble? 3 Unaware of office politics, maybe 4 Pancake cooking surface 5 On the blue 6 As a group, in French 7 “Top Gun” actor Kilmer 8 Too cute for words 9 The yellow striped ball 10 Bob of “Fuller House” 11 Side of the coin that comes at no cost? 12 Platter shape 13 Abbr. in an organizer 18 Exclamations of surprise 22 Mauna ___ 23 Suffix after land or man 24 Video game company with a famous cheat code 25 Philadelphia NFLer followed his
coach’s orders? 27 Steve who played Mr. Pink 30 “Just a ___ like one of us” (Joan Osborne line) 32 Word with bird or fight 34 Sea off Sicily 35 Prepare for shipping 37 “This won’t hurt ___!” 39 Water source 43 “Taste the Rainbow” candy 48 Pigs, slangily 50 Aries beast 52 Jake’s brother in blues 55 Prepare for another take 57 Country with a tree on its flag: Abbr. 59 Flatten out 60 Feature of some Ben & Jerry’s pints 61 “Return of the Jedi” princess 63 “___ example ...” 66 “Bah!” 67 “Curious George” author H.A. ___ 68 Singer Morrison 69 “Exit full screen” button
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. 805 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • THE PULSE • 21
COLUMN ∙ TECH TALK
What If You Could Build Like Nature? Branch Technology 3-D prints architecture in open space
Rich Bailey
Pulse columnist
T
HINKING ABOUT INNOVATION IN Chattanooga, it’s easy for me to get lost in context. How does being in this place nurture this company? How does it work, this set of concrete relationships and abstract power dynamics that we call an entrepreneurial ecosystem? What does having and cultivating this new set of startups mean for the community? But the yin to this yang—the “other half” that can be separated from the other in the abstract but is actually one aspect of a single thing—is the uniquely personal vision that a company grows around. Branch founder Platt Boyd’s vision was to change how architectural designs are interpreted in physical space by putting the extrusion nozzle of a 3-D printer—the part that squirts hot plastic—on the end of a giant industrial robotic arm normally used for welding. He then made it build a 3-D object that is neither solid nor hollow, but that is “translated” into a geometric lattice of triangles. “We’re asking what if you could build like nature?” says Boyd. “Instead of layerby-layer 3-D printing, which is typical, it is freeform—it solidifies in open space. Our algorithms create the internal geometry and drive the robot.” The end result, printed from carbon fiber reinforced ABS plastic, is already strong and light. For example, a 28-ounce piece of plastic lattice can hold up to 3,000 pounds. When it is filled with convention-
al spray foam, it supports up to 6,000 pound, about three times the strength of regular construction, according to Boyd. Finished pieces become even stronger when finished with layers of gypsum on the interior and concrete stucco on the exterior. The company uses what it calls “cellular fabrication” to break larger designs into modular pieces that can be shipped, reassembled and finished on-site. The printer itself is a 12.5-foot robotic arm on 33-foot track. “It ends up being the largest freeform 3-D printer in world,” says Boyd. “We didn’t plan it that way. We just said we need a big old robot.” Boyd was an architect for 15 years based in Montgomery, Alabama when he saw the potential of 3-D printing. He left architecture to develop this idea, went through Gig Tank in 2015, and relocated to Chattanooga to build his company. “Each building is unique and custom, but the way we’ve been producing them is by taking sheet goods or beams and we cut out or carve out of those things to make this custom thing and then we typically throw away the rest,” says Boyd. “It creates a huge waste stream: 36 percent of all waste headed to landfills comes from construction. About $30 billion of wasted materials are put into the waste stream per year in the U.S.” Coverage in business and design media of Boyd’s first prototypes
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“Instead of layer-by-layer 3-D printing, which is typical, it is freeform—it solidifies in open space. Our algorithms create the internal geometry and drive the robot.” was overwhelmingly positive. But it didn’t prepare him for the response when the company announced a competition to design the world’s first freeform 3-D printed house and Branch’s first load-bearing structure: 1,300 registrations from 97 countries. “For a five-person startup in Chattanooga, that’s phenomenal,” Boyd says. “We announced it to the top 50 design schools and the top 60 to 70 architecture firms in the U.S., but it went all over the world. It’s also been published in a number of publications, with a readership of about 150 million per month.” The winning design, announced last summer, was created by the
Chicago office of WATG Urban Architecture Studio, the number-two hospitality design firm in the world. The one-bedroom house will be 3-D printed at Branch Technology’s production facility in the North Chattanooga INCubator starting in 2017 and assembled on-site in Chattanooga. “It will be the first 3-D printed house in the nation and the first freeform 3-D printed house in the world,” says Boyd. Rich Bailey is a writer, editor, and PR consultant. He led a project to create Chattanooga’s first civic website in 1995 before even owning a modem. Now he covers Chattanooga technology for The Pulse and blogs about it at CircleChattanooga.com
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 10, 2016 • THE PULSE • 23