The Loafer 114 by lbdfamilymedia

uary 19t r b e h

Volume 03 Issue 114 Publisher Lisa Durbin Creative Director Jon Bill Forrester Managing Editor Peggy Gale Distribution Herbie Durbin Jon Bill Forrester Entertainment Coordinator Andreax Jarre Public Relations Correspondent Lee Lee Williams Contributing Staff Andy Ross

your week’s line-up

Barter Theatre's Annual Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights

04 Spotlight 05 Get Your Blues Infuson at the Lyric 06 44th Annual John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival 06 Beezwax 07 Tri-Cities Nightlife 08 Puzzle Page 09 Pets of the Week 11 Things To Do 12 Tri-Cities Faces and Places 14

Public Art Issues Call for Children's Artwork for Play Area Banners

Biker Events

Ken Silvers

16 "Ag&Art" Regional Exhibit Seeking Applicants

Wendy Hayden

18 Lights, Camera, Arthouse!

Ann Hartley

22 WQUT Concert Schedule

Kathie Scalf

The Loafer Po Box 39 Telford, Tn 37690

www.theloafer.net theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the representation that the agency and/or advertiser is authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The agency and/or advertiser will indemnify and save the publisher harmless from any lossof expense resulting from claims or suits based upon contents of any advertisement, including claims or suits for defamation, libel, right of privacy, plagiarism, and copyright infringement.

Founder: Bill Williams

LBD FAMILY MEDIA Let’s Get Social!

NOTE

FROM THE

PUBLISHER Hello Friends!

It’s hard to believe February is more than half over. The older I get the faster time speeds past me. This month is the birthday of one of my tiny little granddaughters. She is an absolute ball of personality and she makes the world a brighter place. Happy Birthday to my Lunacorn! We are proud to feature some of the earlier presidents of this great United States of America! I love this country. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you promote your business, music, theater or anything you are passionate about. We appreciate the support of every one of you!

Have a great week!

423-930-7319

columns & reviews

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

15 Beanz Biker Corner Bear....The Man, The Myth, The Legend 17

Social Sentiments:

Snitches Get...Blocked! 19 Tea Time with Appalachian Barbie:

Life KPI'sl 21 Pop Life The Family Plan 23 Batteries Not Included: Winter Lounge

Love, Lisa Durbin Publisher

If all the world is a stage, then the wings must be overflowing with storytellers eager for the chance to bring their imagination to life in front of an audience – and they can get that opportunity at Barter Theatre. Founded in 2001to give an authentic voice to the stories of Appalachia and the writers who tell them, the Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights (AFPP) is the flagstone of Barter’s new play development program. The AFPP event for 2024 will take place Thursday Feb. 22-Sunday Feb. 25 inside Barter’s Smith Theatre. “Each year, we receive hundreds of submissions of new Appalachian plays from playwrights hoping to develop their work. Six of these plays are chosen to be read at the AFPP,” said Nick Piper, associate director of New Play Development at Barter. “The playwrights are brought in for a week and provided with

housing, travel, and a stipend so they can attend rehearsals with our company and continue to work on their plays before they are read to the public over the course of a long weekend.” Piper added that over the past two decades, the AFPP has read over 130 new plays with nearly one-third of these plays going into full production at Barter. That is an unprecedented amount of new work being developed in theatres the size of Barter. “Many of these plays have gone on to production in theatres across the country. One of the great success stories from the AFPP is a play called Keep on the Sunny Side: The Songs and Stories of the Carter Family. This play was written by a local doctor named Doug Pote who happened to see the artistic director in the lobby after a show one night and said, ‘You should do a story on the Carter Family,’ and our artistic director said, ‘You should write it.’” Piper explained. “Doug said, ‘I’m not

a writer, I’m a doctor.’ But he had a passion for this story and this music, and with the help of Barter’s artistic staff, the play was developed through the AFPP and has gone on to become the #1 requested play at Barter, and has been seen by nearly 200,000 people in 23 states and produced in dozens of theatres across the country. It is a play that truly celebrates this region.” It’s stories like this that make the AFPP an important part of Barter’s mission, according to Piper.

opportunity to get feedback from the very people whose stories are being told–the Appalachian people.” The festival continues to grow in popularity and national recognition, Piper noted. In 2023, PBS News Hour came to do a piece on the festival and there have been articles published in numerous magazines and newspapers across the south. Last year, Barter had more first-time attendees than ever before–a sure sign that the word is getting out about the AFPP.

“We’re proud of our festival and the work that has come “One of the most unique and important aspects of the festival out of it and, most importantly, is that it is centered around the the relationship we continue to build with our audience as we audience being a part of the encourage them to be a part of development process. Each year hundreds of people come the process of shaping the stories that matter to them,” said Piper. from all over the region and beyond to attend these free Details about the plays and the play readings to be a part of the playwrights can be found on the process,” he said. “After each Barter website at reading, there is a moderated bartertheatre.com/ discussion with the audience appalachian-festival -of-plays-and-playwrights/. so that the playwright has an

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Barter Theatre to Present Annual Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights Event in February

Spotlight

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Johnson City

SUNDAY Feb 25th

TUESDAY Feb 20th

Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub

Johnson City, TN

Old Time Jam 5:00pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Company Brim & Marci Leal 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza WEDNESDAY Feb 21st

Bristol, TN/VA Bristol TN/Va THURSDAY Feb 22nd The Pink Stones 7:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar FRIDAY Feb 23rd LIVE X: Barns Courtney followed by Ashton Davison 5:00pm at Cascade Draft House Kayla McKinney 6:00pm at Bristol Casino Bar Kayla McKinney 9:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar SATURDAY Feb 24th Monthly Bluegrass Jam 2:00pm at Birthplace of Country Music Museum Eric Cox 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House If Birds Could Fly 9:30pm at Bristol Casino Bar SUNDAY Feb 25th Julia Still 3:00pm at Axe and Ale House

Rheva & Keegan’s Irish Fiddle Tunes 5:30pm at Mulligan’s Gaming Pub HB Beverly 6:30pm at Rocks Wood Fired Pizza THURSDAY Feb 22nd Brand New Box of Matches 6:00pm at The Boone’s Creek Opry

Saul Brooks 9:00pm at Krazy Chicken Elizabethton Elizabethton, TN

Kingsport Kingsport, TN

WEDNESDAY Feb 21st

FRIDAY Feb 23rd

Wednesday Live Music with Dan Herrell & Guests 6:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s

Gabriel Knows Everything 7:00pm at Gypsy Circus Cider Company Tumbling River Band 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar SATURDAY Feb 24th Rare Fiction 7:00pm at Gypsy CircusCider Company Gypsy Moon Coalition 9:00pm at CJ’s Sports Bar

FRIDAY Feb 9th EC FraZier 6:00pm at Jiggy Rays SATURDAY Feb 10th Dan Herrell 6:00pm at Jiggy Ray’s

Justin Mychaels 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza FRIDAY Feb 23rd Jeff Lane 6:30pm at Rocks Wood FIred Pizza Three Miles South Band 8:00pm at Tulip’s Pub and Grub Banjo Bar-Bee and the Buzz | Anthony Childress Band 10:00pm at Capone’s SATURDAY Feb 24th Dale Ann Bradley 5:00pm at The Down Home Zach McNabb 6:00pm at The Boone’s Creek Opry Jaystorm (Unplugged) 8:00pm at WIld Wing Cafe

MONDAY Feb 26th Anthony Childress 7:00pm at Cascade Draft House

Artificial Ignorance | The Soulamanders 10:00pm at Capone’s

Submit Your Live Shows to: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319 to be Featured in the Loafer Spotlight

Blending soulful blues rock, New Orleans funk, and jazz fusion elements into a style all their own, The Jason Cale Band will perform Friday, Feb. 23rd at 7 p.m. at Lyric Theater in St. Paul in conjunction with Pro-Art’s W. Campbell Edmonds Concert Series. Full of heart and soul, their music is inspired by the fearless musical offerings of the late 60’s and early 70’s. The band hails from Virginia Beach, but has taken the show on the road, touring nationally and internationally. Tickets are $15 at the door. Children and students get in free! Find more information and make reservations at proartva.org. Jason Cale is originally from

the south, with roots ranging from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama. He’s spent twenty years as a professional musician performing all over the world with the Army and Air Force Bands, and has collaborated and toured with artists including Grace Potter, Melina Leon, John Popper, Sandra Bernhard, Joe Bonamassa, and many others. After retiring from the military in 2019 and gaining a deeper understanding of music, the music industry, and business, he found unity with bandmates equally passionate about music. The Jason Cale Band is Ed Williams on drums, Jason Cale on vocals/guitar, Jeffrey Saunders on sax, and Donnell

Smith and Jacques Jones on evolving conditions related to bass. Learn more about the band weather cancellations, or similar at jasoncalemusic.com. unforeseen circumstances, patrons are encouraged to Pro-Art’s spring season is underway! Explore the complete check proartva.org for schedule of events, purchase up-to-date information. season tickets, and make Pro-Art is supported in part by reservations at proartva.org. the Virginia Commission for the Season tickets are valid for all performances of the 47th season Arts, which receives support from and can be purchased online, in the Virginia General Assembly person at any show, or by calling and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom (276) 376-4520. Slemp Foundation, The University Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, therefore individuals of Virginia’s College at Wise, Mountain Empire Community with mobility issues or general College, the Columbus Phipps questions are encouraged to Foundation, and the Lee County call (276) 376-4520 or email Community Foundation. pro-art@uvawise.edu. For

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Get Your Blues Infusion at The Lyric

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

MECC Foundation to Host 48th Annual John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival MECC Foundation to Host 48th Annual John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival Featuring the Origin Project with Barbara Kingsolver and Adriana Trigiani Entries Sought for Lonesome Pine Short-Story and Poetry Contests The MECC Foundation is pleased to announce the 48th annual John Fox, Jr. Literary Festival featuring authors Adriana Trigiani and Barbara Kingsolver. The event will be held Wednesday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. The festival is free and open to the public. In coordination with the festival event, the MECC Foundation will host the 37th Annual Lonesome Pine Short Story Contest and the 20th Annual Lonesome Pine Poetry Contest. The deadline for submitting entries is Tuesday, April 2 at 4:30 p.m. Entry categories include adult, high school (grades 9 through 12), and middle school (grades 5 through 8) categories. Contest rules and information about the festival is available on the MECC Foundation website at www.mecc.edu/jffestival/. Winners of the contest will be announced during the Literary Festival Event. All winners will receive a cash prize. The MECC Foundation will welcome students from

Adriana Trigiani

the Origin Project, Trigiani’s in-school Virginia writing program, to participate in the festival. The Origin Project will unveil its 10th Anniversary Cookbook in memory of the project’s co-founder Nancy Bolmeier Fisher. The cookbook features recipes from the Origin Project’s participating students, teachers, guest authors and friends. Cookbooks will be available to purchase at the festival. All proceeds will benefit the Origin Project. The 48th Annual John Fox, Jr. festival will have a featured discussion from both Trigiani and Kingsolver. Following the presentation, the MECC Foundation will feature a special luncheon with the authors at the John Fox Jr. home in Big Stone Gap beginning at 12:30 p.m. Tickets for the luncheon are $30 and can be ordered by calling the MECC Foundation office at 276-523-7466. Tickets are limited, so please reserve early for this event. Adriana Trigiani is The New York Times bestselling author of 20 books in fiction and nonfiction, including The Shoemaker’s Wife, The Good Left Undone, Don’t Sing at the Table, and Lucia, Lucia, and she is published in 38 languages around the world. She is host of the hit podcast, You Are What You Read, in conversation with the luminaries of our time about the books that built their souls. Adriana is an award-winning playwright, television writer/ producer and filmmaker. She wrote and directed the major motion picture adaptation of her debut novel Big Stone Gap, adapted her novel Very Valentine for television and directed Then Came You. She wrote and directed the documentary film, Queens of the Big Time, winner of the Audience Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival and Audience award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. The film was also featured at the London and Hong Kong International Film festivals. Trigiani grew up in the Big Stone Gap Virginia where she co-founded The Origin Project, an in-school writing program serving over 2,700 students in Appalachia. In 2023, she was

knighted with the Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia by President Sergio Mattarella of Italy. She is proud to serve on the New York State Council on the Arts and lives in New York City with her family. Barbara Kingsolver is a novelist, essayist, and poet. She is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Demon Copperhead, a contemporary retelling of David Copperfield set in Appalachia at the onset of the opioid epidemic. In addition to Demon Copperhead, her bestselling works include The Lacuna, The Poisonwood Bible, The Bean Trees, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal, the highest honor given by the U.S. government for service through the arts, as well as the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for the body of her work. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages and have been adopted into the core literature curriculum in high schools and colleges throughout the nation. She lives with her family on a farm in southern Appalachia. For more information on the MECC Foundation, please visit our website at: www.meccfoundation.org.

Barbara Kingsolver

NIGHTLIFE

WEDNESDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Pub Out Back (The Italian Pizza Pub) - Johnson City 7pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke Night at Wonderland Lounge and Bar - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke with Ron at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6:30pm Loudmouth Karaoke at Michael Waltrip Brewing Company - Bristol, VA on Wednesday, April 5th at 7pm THURSDAY Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub - Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Wild Wings Cafe - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke at Jiggy Rays Pizzeria - Johnson City, TN Karaoke at Tipsy Toad Tavern - Jonesborough, TN FRIDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Rainbow Asian Cuisine - Johnson City, TN 9pm Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at The Sports Mill - Kingsport, TN 8pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm SATURDAY Karaoke with Absolute Entertainment at Tulips Grub & Pub Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke w/ Eric Huskins VFW Post 2108 – Johnson City, TN 8pm Karaoke at Numan’s – Johnson City, TN 10pm Karaoke with DJ Clyde and Prestige Entertainment at Macado’s -Kingsport, TN 9pm Karaoke with Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille - Bristol, TN 10pm

TRIVIA

TUESDAY Team Trivia at Wild Wing Café Johnson City TN DJ Trivia at Union Street Taproom Erwin, TN 5pm Trivia at The Corner Bar Bristol, VA 8pm Trivia at Aubrey’s Johnson City 7pm WEDNESDAY Trivia at Tipsy Toad Jonesborough, TN 7pm Trivia Night Mellow Mushroom Bristol, VA 7pm Trivia at Aubrey’s Bristol 7pm THURSDAY Mellow Trivia at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN- 7pm Trivia at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 7pm

BINGO

TUESDAY Singo at Riverside Taphouse at South Fork Bluff City, TN 6:30pm

DJ NIGHT THURSDAY DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille Bristol, TN 10pm

WEDNESDAY Bingo at Tipton Street Pub Johnson City, TN 9pm Singo at Holy Taco & Cantina Boones Creek, TN 8pm Blazin’ Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Johnson City, TN 6pm

FRIDAY Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

THURSDAY Bingo at Mellow Mushroom Bristol VA 6pm Singo at Aubrey’s Bristol 7:00 PM

SUNDAY DJ B-Digital at O’Mainnin’s Pub and Grille Bristol, TN 10pm

SATURDAY Handsome Hodge Entertainment at O’Mainnin’s Pub - Bristol, TN 10pm

To have your events added to this list email: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call: 423-930-7319

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

TRI-CITIES

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

SODOKU

CROSSWORD

Down 1. "Keep your ___ the prize" 2. Jean-Claude Van ___ 3. Mimicry 4. Puppets 5. Rds. 6. Looking glass 7. Mary or John J. 8. Numberless ordinals 9. "Woof!" 10. Assurance 11. Snail at Chez Jacques 12. Cowboy's headwear 14. Slogans 16. Not so messy 18. Felt nostalgia for

DROP QUOTE

C RYPTO G RAM

PW PY RHQQHV YXVYX WH WTZX T QXWMHI TVI WSF PW. PL PW LTPDY, TIQPW PW LSTVZDF TVI WSF TVHWMXS, CNW TCHBX TDD WSF YHQXWMPVJ. — Franklin D. Roosevelt

ACROSS 1. Red-wrapped cheeses 6. Makes do 13. Scare away, doggy-style 14. Suspicion 15. Dubai royalty 16. Outdoor company, with "The" 17. Defunct science magazine 18. Geo cars 19. Scoundrel 20. Union intermediary 22. Refuses to admit 23. Wise old man 24. Jargon of a particular field 25. Durbeyfield girl, and namesakes 26. Paris or Nicky 27. Irish or English follower 28. Type of pill

29. Soda-fountain order

21. Gave an exam to

30. Steakhouse offering

22. Old West outlaw

31. Slender as ___

24. Smears in print

32. Ford classic

25. Mind reading

33. Seance sounds

26. ____ corpus

34. Connie Corleone in "The Godfather" 38. Jefferson Davis org.

27. Florida city on the Gulf of Mexico

39. Some large planes have two 28. Makes neat 40. Morales in the movies

29. Locomoted, military style

41. Dorm warmers

30. Turned over and over

43. ___ out a living (making do)

32. Overcome

44. ____ the Unready (English King) 45. Burn just a bit 46. Not evening clothing 47. Garden border tool

Answers to last week’s puzzles can be found on page 09.

34. Little crown 35. Gershwin's "Of Thee ____" 36. Poconos or Tetons 37. Swiss Alp 39. Everyone in Essen 42. Cartoon skunk Pepe Le ____ 43. Ending for Taiwan or Japan

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

PETS

OF THE WEEK

la d y Lady is a special needs 13 yr old. Now, I may have this thing called Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, but that won’t stop me from being your purrfect companion. I’d do best as your one and only or with a feline pal who has the same virus. Let me tell you, I’ve got the sweetest chirp of a meow and this long, beautiful hair that’s just waiting for a bit of attention. I weigh 9.5 lbs, spayed,

got all my shots, and even have a nifty microchip. In my golden years, I’ve traded wild antics for gentle cuddles and cozy spots by the window. If you’re on the lookout for a seasoned sweetheart who’s seen a lot in her time, I might just be the feline friend you’ve been dreaming of. Other than the FIV, she has no other health issues. Bday 8/16/10

There are 5 George Washingtons hidden in this issue of The Loafer. Can you find them all?

Last Week's Puzzle Answers

Crossword

Cryptogram:

Dropquote:

"Those who are faithful know only the trivial side of love; it is the faithless who know love's tragedies."

"To the aesthete it is an art form, an athletic ballet. To the spiritually inclined it is a religion."

Sudoku

k y

Hi! My name is Lucky! I am a very handsome Hound/Beagle mix. I am a sweet boy that just wants to find a home that will give me the love and attention that I need. I am high energy and love to play. I would like a kid to play with but maybe one over 5 because I could possibly knock a smaller one down with all my love. I have that perfect hound bark to serenade you when you get home.

I have the best personality and will always be happy to see you! I would like to have a family that can keep up with me. Walks? Hikes? Runs? I am your guy! Though, I do like the occasional snuggle session under snuggly blankets. I weigh 40 lbs, good with other dogs, neutered, up to date on vaccinations, microchipped, partially housetrained. Bday 10/18/22

If you are interested in adopting : The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Shelter 423-239-5237 • 2061 Highway 75 Blountville, TN Facebook: bridgehome

bridgehome.org

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024 10

JOHNSON CITY

BRISTOL

WEDNESDAY FEB 21ST Open Mic 8:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club THURSDAY FEB 22ND “Heart Trees” Canvas Class 6:00 PM at Kil'n Time WEDNESDAY FEB 21ST Contemporary Ceramics Girl Scout Cookie-Inspired Beers FRIDAY FEB 23RD & Cookie Pairing! 4:00pm at Johnson City Brewing “Cozy Cabin” Canvas Class Boones Creek 6:00 PM at Kil'n Time Contemporary Ceramics THURSDAY FEB 22ND Mo Alexander 7:00pm Tri-Cities Turtles Run Club at Blue Ridge Comedy Club 12:45pm at Yee-Haw Brewing Co. SATURDAY FEB 24TH FRIDAY FEB 23RD Board Game Night 5:00pm at Bristol Public Library Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) Mo Alexander 7:00pm, 9:00pm at Blue Ridge Comedy Club 7:00am at Willow Springs Park SUNDAY FEB 25TH Knockout Pinball Tournament 6:00pm at Tiebreakers Parenting Prime Time – Make Parenting Sweet SATURDAY FEB 24TH 8:00am at Parenting Sweet Johnson City Love & Hiking Date For Couples (Self-Guided) KINGSPORT 7:00am at Willow Springs Park THURSDAY FEB 22ND State of Franklin Battle 9:00am After Hours Book Club 6:00pm at Tipton-Haynes Historic Site at Kingsport Public Library Kingsport Speedway Mall Show 4 Course Wine Pairing Dinner 10:00am at The Mall at JC 6:30pm at MeadowView Conference Center Puzzle Swap 1:00pm at The Philosopher's House SATURDAY FEB 24TH Dark Comedy Night: An Evening Nature: Wolf Howling of Edgy Humor for Adults Only 10:00am at Bays Mountain 8:00pm at Wallace Theatre Park & Planetarium SATURDAYS ACOA (adult children of alcoholics) 1:30-3:00pm. Call for info Bill 423-444-6107 or Cheryl 423-262-6149

SUNDAY FEB 25TH Improv Comedy Night 6:30pm at Gypsy Circus CIder Company

JONESBOROUGH TUESDAYS Jonesborough Storytelling Guild “Stories n’More” Show 7:00pm at The Intl. Storytelling Center

ABINGDON, VA WEDNESDAY FEB 21ST Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center FRIDAY DEC FEB 23RD Movies for Adults 2:00pm at Washington County Public Library SUNDAY FEB 25TH Bingo 5:00pm at Abingdon Community Center

SATURDAY FEB 24TH Historic Jonesborough Town Tour 1:00pm at Chester Inn State Historic Site ELIZABETHTON SUNDAY FEB 25TH Simple Elegance Bridal Show 1:00pm at Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center

To be featured in The Loafer's Things to Do email us at: theloaferonlineprint@gmail.com or call 423-930-7319

FRIDAY FEB 23RD Old Soul New Stories Film Premiere 6:30pm at Bonnie Kate Theater

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

THINGS TO DO

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Tri-Cities Faces and Places Celebrating the people and places of our community! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Celebrating the people and places of our community! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Tri-Cities Faces and Places

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Useless Facts sponsored by biker wear

Public Art Issues Call for Children’s Artwork for Play Area Banners The Johnson City Public Art Committee is seeking artwork by children to be printed on banners and installed on lampposts in downtown’s Niswonger Children’s Hospital Natural Adventure Area at King Commons. This opportunity is open to children who are ages 5 to 12 living within a 25-mile radius of Johnson City.

Useless Facts about 2024: 1. February fluctuates between having 28 and 29 days per year. The 29th day only occurs every 4 years during leap years. 2. The length of February was finalized when Julius Caesar remade the Roman calendar and assigned the month 28 days and 29 days. In 713 B.C., February was officially added to the Roman calendar.

Each entrant may submit one artwork for consideration through the online entry form on the Johnson City Public Art website, jcpublicart.com/childrens-bannerexhibition-call-for-entries/.

3. If you were born in February, your birthstone is an amethyst, and your flower is a primrose.

Details regarding banner layout, image size and quality, and submission guidelines are available on the entry form webpage. The deadline for entries is 4 p.m. March 1.

4. The western zodiac signs in February are Aquarius which is until February 19th, and Pisces, which is until February 20th.

Banners will be displayed from June 2024 to May 2026.

5. Over time, the length of February kept changing. At one point, it had as little as 23 days.

To learn more about the Johnson City Public Art Committee, visit: jcpublicart.com/.

WOOD FIRED PIZZA. BURGERS. DRINKS. & FUN. TUES. Feb. 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th

BRIM & MARCI LEAL WED. Feb. 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th

HB BEVERLY

THUR. Feb. 8th 15th, 22nd & 29th

JUSTIN MYCHALS

HAPPY HOUR Visit Our Website for Daily Specials and Events

3119 BRISTOL HWY, JOHNSON CITY, TN (423) 262-0444

PIG OUT MENU Available for a Limited Time

HONEY SMOKIN’ PORK TACOS ULTIMATE FRIED PORK TENDERLOIN SANDWICH PIG OUT SANDWICH PIG OUT NACHOS PIG OUT SALAD

Emergency Bike Night February 28th at 19E Pit Stop 6pm Local Events: 1. Gala Scholarship Fundraiser 7pm at The Heritage Event Venue Feb 17th 2. Bear’s Celebration of Life February 24th 5pm at 19E Pit Stop 3. 2nd Annual St, Patty’s Day Party 1pm March 16th at True Sons Club House

Rides: 1. Lids for Kids March 30th

Bike Rallies: Daytona Bike Week March 1st – 10th Daytona Beach

Tulips first bike night will be April with Shadie Sadie

Useless Facts

Sponsored By Biker Wear

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

ARCD Council Now Accepting Entries for “Ag & Art”: A Regional Juried Exhibition Cash prizes for Juror’s Awards: The Appalachian Resource first ($500), second ($350), and Conservation & Development third ($200) place. The Peoples’ Council (ARCD) announces a call for entries for “Ag in Art,” a regional Choice Award ($100) will be given to the audience favorite. juried exhibition at Fischman Gallery in Johnson City, Tennessee. ARCD’s environmental Artists can submit a work in any conservation efforts ensure medium that speaks to or reflects a that our rural landscape will connection with agriculture. Works be protected for future farming can feature imagery that connects generations for the security and to agriculture or be made of locally accessibility of healthy, nutritious sourced or repurposed materials. food for all community members. The Juror will be Heather F. Wetzel, From where we live, work, and Galleries and Collections Manager play to what we eat and wear, for Arrowmont School of Arts and agriculture connects us to our Crafts. The submission deadline family, community, heritage, and is March 15, 2024. The exhibition even our health. Ag in Art is an will run from Friday, May 3 exhibition that will explore the through Friday, May 31, 2024. importance of agriculture in the For full details and to submit work everyday lives of people in the for consideration, please visit Appalachian Highlands through arcd.org/ag-in-art-2024visual arts and storytelling. juried-exhibition. The Juror is Heather F. Wetzel, Regional artists aged 16+ are the Galleries & Collections encouraged to submit work. Artists Manager at Arrowmont School must reside within one of the of Arts and Crafts in the Great counties directly served by ARCD; Smoky Mountains of Eastern a full list of eligible counties can be Tennessee. Heather manages a seen on the website. There is a $25 robust exhibition schedule for entry fee that covers up to three four rotating galleries as well as the permanent collection which pieces for exhibit consideration.

consists of over 1,000 works in a variety of arts and crafts media. She is a practicing artist working primarily in historic photographic processes, hand papermaking, and book arts. Her work has been widely exhibited and can be found at the Anzenberger Gallery in Vienna, Austria, Momentum Gallery in Asheville, NC, as well as in multiple collections. Fischman Gallery is located in Atelier 133, a renovated warehouse space located at 133 N Commerce Street in downtown Johnson City. The space includes a gallery, 14 for-rent studios, and a bakery-café. The gallery is adjacent to King Commons Park and a block away from Founders Park and the Founders Park Pavilion, home of the Johnson City Farmers Market. The Ag In Art Exhibit is funded by a grant from the Arts Fund for East Tennessee, a fund of the East Tennessee Foundation. The East Tennessee Foundation is a public charity and community foundation created by and for the people of East Tennessee. Serving 25 counties within East Tennessee, ETF consists

of many donors joined together to make the region they love a better place. ETF seeks to build endowments, creating a permanent source of philanthropic funding for the East Tennessee region. For more information, visit east tennessee foundation.org. The Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving northeast Tennessee and beyond. ARCD provides training to farmers and gardeners, lends support to local farmers markets, and strives to improve the local food system. Our mission is to conserve natural resources and improve rural economies through community leadership and enhanced educational opportunities. For more information, visit ARCD.org.

“I’m telling…” Remember saying that when you were young?

online community ready to cancel you on a moment’s notice.

Snitch tagging is a trend that traps victims in a whirlwind of insulting content. An unsuspecting victim is innocently scrolling online and gets a notification about a piece of potentially damaging content. The comment including the snitch tag is meant to provoke the victim into seeing the content that they should have never known about. Ignorance is bliss, but when you’re smacked in the face with hurtful comments, you can’t help but wonder why you couldn’t have just stayed oblivious.

Snitch tagging someone in the comments of content not meant for them can destroy relationships within a matter of minutes. You’re left wondering how someone could think so low of you that they want to cause you all of the pain that the original creator wanted to spare you from. They may claim innocence, but they took the time to watch or read the content, find your username, then tag you, unraveling the person you thought you knew.

Imagine telling a coworker directly to their face all of their quirks that irk you. The embarrassment you would face on a daily basis would be unbearable. Stitch tagging is the online equivalent of walking straight up to your coworker, telling them how much you despise them, then having the rest of your coworkers gather around to share their thoughts, good or bad. In an office setting, walking away from the situation is much easier than an

Social Sentiments By Wendy Hayden socialsentiments @outlook.com

socialsentiments.net

Freedom of speech does not equal freedom from consequences. Sitting behind a phone or computer isn’t enough anymore to stay anonymous. Technology has advanced to the point where users are crowdsourcing information to find the snitch tagger and call them out. Snitch tagging is viewed as an act of cowardice that will garner more enemies than friends. The internet is ruthless when it comes to calling people out, so when you snitch tag, you’re running the risk of facing the consequences.

Snitch tagging can be considered harassment. Creating an argument, especially with a creator that has a large follower count, encourages mass criticism. Notifications of hate may fill the creator’s page and create an unsafe environment for someone who just wanted a safe space to vent. Curbing the impulse to snitch tag is simple. Just scroll past the content or add your own view on the topic. Advance the dialogue by starting a meaningful discussion in the comments or write your own post. Tags have many helpful uses. They can help reach a company when you fall in love with their product or service and want to let them know. A strategic tag can bring friends and family close over a shared subject. Tags have been successful in reaching celebrities to share favorite moments. TikTok has an issue with users reposting videos and not crediting the original creator. Tags can be used to draw attention to the original creator’s account and give them the credit they deserve. Tags should never be used as a tool to create a dramatic event that could ruin a life.

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Snitches Get...Blocked!

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Lights, Camera, Arthouse: ETSU Launches New Cinema Series ETSU’s ‘Arthouse Academy’ brings award-winning films to region The Bud Frank Cinema at East Tennessee State University is set to brighten the coming months with the “Arthouse Academy” series, the latest endeavor at the only art cinema in the region outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Launching February 2 with a complimentary showing of the 2024 Academy Awards nominee, “Past Lives,” the series promises to bring a slew of contemporary, critically acclaimed arthouse films to ETSU, free of charge and open to the public.

associate professor in Literature and Language. “By introducing the ‘Arthouse Academy’ series, we’re inviting our community to explore the depths of cinematic artistry through films that challenge, inspire and captivate.” The series will feature screenings on the first Friday of each month at 7 p.m., with titles announced one to two weeks in advance.

Highlighting the spring calendar is a visit from filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon on April 2. Sheldon, known for her evocative exploration of Appalachian life in “King Coal,” will offer insights into her creative process and the impact of regional storytelling In the spirit of revitalization that has through film. For years, the Bud characterized the Bud Frank Cinema, Frank Theatre was the site of many this series aims to not only entertain but performances and productions at ETSU. also educate and engage the community The Bud Frank Cinema opened in 2023 with films that may have eluded wide as a way to serve the community as a recognition when first released. site of entertainment and enrichment. “Our mission is to create a space where cinema is not just watched but experienced in a way that resonates with our audience,” said Dr. Chelsea Wessels,

For additional information, and to keep up with the latest screenings, visit the cinema’s web site: www.etsu.edu/cas/bud-frank-cinema/

In my line of work, which is sales, each quarter I’m given a list of objectives to hit known as KPI’s -or Key Performance Indicators. These KPIs are exactly what they sound like; my performance in hitting these key objectives is indicative of how well I’m doing my job. As I rolled into January and received my list of KPIs for Q1, I started considering what my key performance indicators in regular life are and began to evaluate accordingly.

falling in the floor.

like doing more. If you’ve fallen out of shape you don’t have to jump up and run a marathon. Simply set a goal of a 15-minute walk outdoors, then see if you want to do more. There are many days where I have no inspiration or motivation for writing this column, but I tell myself to sit down and just write about my day for even 5 minutes and see what comes up. By the end of the 5 minutes, I’m usually feeling a flow of creativity and have it knocked out.

Taking notice of these seemingly inane tasks can be very beneficial in getting ahead of any unhealthy behavior. Look around you and take stock of your surroundings; is your car a mess? Does your fridge need to be cleaned out? Is your living room in disarray, littered with empty water bottles and takeout boxes? It’s very much true that a cluttered environment reflects a cluttered mind, and using these environmental life indicators Like in business, life KPIs are as a gauge for your health can Personal success is truly found never big, extraordinary feats. snap you back into healthy in the minutiae of our daily They’re intended to be small, habits before the unhealthy ones routine, just as being successful daily undertakings that are become the norm. in business is built upon essentially “just part of the consistent, concerted efforts Human beings are purpose job” and should be routine. toward specific goals. It is a driven, meaning we get a lot of Sometimes though, when things fulfillment out of successfully very rare event that I cold call are out of balance with our an account, catch the buyer, completing tasks. One small mental or physical health, those win for the day tends to set in have the opportunity to sit down little things start to slip through motion more small wins, until with them and they commit to the cracks. one day you look up and you’re buying a product all in one fell swoop. The majority of my wins firing on all cylinders as a high For example, my main life KPI come from every day hitting functioning person. When you would have to be my bed; if I’m the market, visiting accounts put yourself in this “flow state” operating at peak functionality, of stacking wins, you want to feel multiple times, chipping away my bed is neatly made every at the gatekeepers little by little that sense of fulfillment across morning. On the flip side, as until I get a meeting and finally every aspect of your life and it soon as I start to fall into a funk getting to put on the dog and truly becomes addictive. or depression, I tend to neglect making it, sometimes for days at a If you’ve found yourself living in pony show. I would say 9 out of time. The same thing with taking a way that is less than beneficial every 10 times I get to the actual meeting stage of sales I close my garbage down; even though I to your health, you don’t have the deal, and that is because all have concierge trash pickup and to tackle the big stuff right the real work is done on those only take the bag to the bottom of away; start with the little stuff boring days where it feels like I’m my stairs, if I’m in a dark mindset that you’ve let slide. If it feels the task seems wildly daunting too overwhelming to work, just making no progress and beating my head against a wall. If I gave and I put it off until it’s practically get out of bed and shower and up after the first try or two, I’d see how you feel. If showering seems too much, simply get up never make it to a meeting. and make your bed and brush your teeth then see if you feel

I had the same feeling the first 3 weeks of this year when I

by Kathie Scalf committed to getting healthier. I eliminated 80% of my diet, was working out daily, and the scale wouldn’t budge. But instead of giving up, I stayed the course and the dam eventually burst. I recently took before and after pictures that were quite shocking; while there’s only roughly 9lbs lost, my entire body composition is changing. If you want to change your life for the better, take stock of your daily habits and really focus your efforts on productivity there. What are your personal Key Performance Indicators and where do you currently stand in your execution of them? Start stacking those little wins until one day you look up and all you’re doing is winning in life!

XO - Kathie

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Life K P I ’s

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024 20

I like Mark Wahlberg, but every time I see him I think of Marky Mark, his former music persona, despite his Oscar nomination in 2006. More often than not, Wahlberg tends to stick to roles that best suit his talents, as in the new movie "The Family Plan", an action/comedy, where he plays a former assassin living incognito with his family in Buffalo, NY. Frankly, if I were in his position I would have lived in a warmer climate, but I suppose that's beside the point. Wahlberg stars as Dan Morgan, a car salesman married to Jessica (Michelle Monaghn), and the father to three kids, Nina (Zoe Colleti, Kyle (Van Crosby), and Max (played by twins Iliana and Vienna Norris). Dan shys away from technology and social media, leaving Jessica often frustrated that the family isn't more spontaneous. Gee, I wonder why Dan is this way? Little does he know, his past is coming back to haunt him. When Dan and Jessica are at a local carnival celebrating their anniversary, they discover

Pop Life

By Ken Silvers theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

some guys filming a romantic moment, and while Dan goes nuclear inside, he holds back due to the danger of revealing his former occupation. Matters really crank up when Dan and his youngest child Max are at the supermarket and he is attacked by an obviously trained assassin. Dan manages to defeat his attacker, but after contacting a former associate, he is advised to leave town as the attacker could have been hired by McCaffrey (Ciaran Hinds), his former employer. Upon discovering the photo taken of Dan and Jessica taken at the carnival "outed" him, he prepares to gather passports for his family and packs bags for them under the guise of taking a spontaneous trip to Las Vegas. Once the family is on the road to Vegas, Dan discovers this vehicle has a tracking device, and manages to dispose of it. The family makes several stops on their trip, but are found by the henchmen at each stop. When the family finally makes it to Vegas, everything comes crashing down when Dan and Jessica are attacked in their hotel suite and Dan is finally forced to tell his wife the truth about his past. After a shoot out in the hotel, Dan reveals his real name is Sean, and tells his family their life in Buffalo is over, and Jessica decides to take the kids and leave Dan/Sean. This action proves disastrous, as Jessica and the kids are kidnapped by McCaffrey's henchmen forcing our hero into action. There is an eventual showdown at an

abandoned hotel involving everyone, including Dan/Sean's ex-love Gwen (Maggie Q). There is also a surprise involving Dan/ Sean and McCaffrey that I will not reveal. As expected the bad guys lose, and the Morgan family is able to return to Buffalo and get their lives back to normal. The film doesn't pretend to be anything new or different, but does succeed as an action/comedy. Wahlberg is fine in a role tailor made for him, and I often feel as if I

have seen this plot hundreds of times. The supporting cast is fine, and the sparring of their characters is typical for this genre. Overall, if you want a film with surprisingly tense action, with some comedy thrown in, "The Family Plan" is for you. Just don't expect the reinvention of cinema. Now streaming on Apple TV+ (Rated PG-13)

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

The Family Plan

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

CONCERT SCHEDULE Bristol

BRISTOL TN/VA

PARAMOUNT Jan 26 Paul Reiser Feb 3 Brad Upton Feb 15 Mike Goodwin Feb 20 Farm & Fun Time featuring St. Paul & The Broken Bones Mar 2 Asleep at the Wheel Mar 3 Twitty & Lynn Mar 9 Tartan Terrors Apr 10 John Oats Apr 25 Glenn Miller Orchestra

Feb 3 Feb 17 Feb 23 Mar 16 Apr 20 Jun 15

Song of the Mountains with The Malpass Brothers and The Kody Norris Show Big Gun AC/DC Tribute William Golden and the Goldens Carson Peters and Iron Mountain Aaron Tippin Mark Lowry & Friends with Endless Highway and The Sound

KNOXVILLE TN

Knoxville

BIJOU THEATRE Jan 28 Judy Collins Feb 2 Scott Miller Feb 9 Big Something MARTIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS Jan 18 Black Jacket Symphony performs Feb 10 Dailey & Vincent Feb 16 & 17 Erick Baker Journey’s Escape Album Mar 6 Geoff Tate and Feb 2 Three Dog Night Adrian Vandenberg Feb 15 Larry Fleet with Dalton Dover Mar 10 Steven Curtis Chapman Apr 1 ZZ Top Apr 13 The Chain-Fleetwood Mac TENNESSEE THEATRE Tribute Band Jan 27 Ron White Apr 25 Rain: A tribute to the Beatles Feb 7 Dwight Yoakam Feb 24 Diana Krall Mar 1 Godsmack GREENVILLE Mar 2 Steve Trevino Mar 16 Marc Broussard NISWONGER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Mar 26 Scott Bradlee’s Jan 19 Rhonda Vincent Postmodern Jukebox Jan 22 Drumline Live Apr 20 Ashley McBryde Jan 27 The Guess Who Apr 25 Nickel Creek Feb 2 Dugger Band May 1 Bonnie Raitt Feb 4 The Canine Stars Jun 8 Brad Williams Feb 10 Chris Janson THOMPSON BOWLING ARENA Feb 19 Drew & Ellie Holcomb Jan 13 Aerosmith and The Black Crowes Mar 1 The Steeldrivers Feb 8 Disturbed with Falling in Reverse Mar 9 Jeff Allen and Plush Mar 6 Sawyer Brown Feb 18 Winter Jam ’24 with Crowder, Mar 22 Stayin Alive: One night of the LeCrae, Cain and many others Bee Gees Feb 23 Riley Green Apr 5 Evil Woman-The American ELO Mar 15 Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top with Apr 13 Firehouse Black Stone Cherry May 4 Anthem Lights Mar 16 Dan + Shay May 10 John Anderson Acoustic Mar 28 Avenged Sevenfold with Poppy & May 14 Brothers of the Heart Sullivan King Apr 4 Sam Hunt MARION VA Apr 6 Bert Kreischer Apr 16 Tyler Childers with 49 Winchester THE LINCOLN THEATRE Apr 26 Tim McGraw and Carly Pearce Jan 27 Molly Hatchet with Peacemaker

JOHNSON CITY TN

JOHNSON CITY

GREENEVILLE TN

MARION, VA

May 9

Zach Bryan

KNOXVILLE CIVIC AUDITORIUM: Feb 15 Matt Rife Mar 1 The Fab Four performs The Beatles Rubber Soul Mar 5 Joe Bonamassa Mar 21-24 Big Ears Festival with Herbie Hancock, John Paul Jones + more KNOXVILLE CIVIC COLISEUM: Feb 4 Theo Von Mar 22 Gabriel Iglesias Mar 27 Reo Speedwagon and Rick Springfield May 11 Kevin Gates July 25 Jordan Davis

NASHVILLE TN

Nashville

RYMAN AUDITORIUM Jan 20 American Aquarium Jan 24 Mr. Big with The Smithereens Jan 28 Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Jan 29 Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton Feb 1 The Milk Carton Kids Feb 3 Three Dog Night Feb 9 Grace Potter Feb 14 & 15 Band Of Horses Feb 16 & 17 Clint Black Feb 21 & 22 Oliver Anthony Feb 24 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Feb 25 Billy Strings Feb 27 Godsmack Feb 28 Jon Batiste Mar 8 & 9 Greensky Bluegrass with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country Mar 12 Tesla Mar 14 K.C. & The Sunshine Band Mar 16 Extreme Apr 2 Dustin Lynch Apr 4 The Wood Brothers Apr 5 & 6 Black Pumas Apr 9 Casting Crowns Apr 26 Leftover Salmon & the Infamous Stringdusters May 4 Tracy Lawrence May 10 & 11 Amy Grant Jun 6-9 Matt Rife June 21 & 22 Blackberry Smoke BRIDGESTONE ARENA Jan 23 Tool with Elder Feb 2 Cody Johnson

Feb 14 Feb 9 Feb 17

Anita Baker Pantera with Lamb of God Disturbed with Falling in Reverse and Plush Feb 23 Billy Strings Feb 24 Billy Strings Mar 1 Sam Hunt Mar 21 Dan + Shay Mar 29 Chris Tomblin Mar 31 Fall Out Boy & Jimmy Eat World Apr 14 Jeff Dunham Apr 18 & 19 Tyler Childers Apr 25 Tim McGraw Apr 29 The Postal Service with Death Cab For Cutie and Pulp May 11 Bad Bunny May 24 & 25 Noah Kahan Jun 3 Niall Horan Jun 14 Luis Miguel Jun 23 Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett & Morgan Wade BROOKLYN BOWL May 16 Mammoth WVH BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER Feb 10 Yacht Rock Revue Mar 2 John Michael Montgomery Mar 24 Steve HackettGenesis Revisited May 4 Beth Hart NASHVILLE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM Oct 10 Three Days Grace and Chevelle Oct 26 -28 Hardy with Lainey Wilson ASCEND AMPHITHEATRE Apr 27 Cody Jinks May 31 & Jun 1 Lainey Wilson Jun 22 Jul 12 Aug 13

Cypress Hill Styx, Foreigner and John Waite Creed with Tonic and Finger Eleven

NISSAN STADIUM Jul 20 Def Leppard and Journey

ASHEVILLE NC

ASHEVILLE, NC

EXPLOREASHEVILLE.COM ARENA Feb 16-18 Billy Strings THE ORANGE PEEL Jan 20 The Milk Carton Kids

CALL WQUT @ 477-1015 FOR MORE CONCERT INFORMATION OR VISIT WWW.WQUT.COM

We’re going to take a little bit of winter doldrums hit when we realize the holidays are over, life a walk to get to the main topic is returning to “normal,” and of discussion this week but there is nothing to look forward bear with me. Last Fall I started to, I tend to always break out the thinking about how it might lounge, exotica, and space-age not be a bad idea to re-rip the pop. What are these genres, you many CDs I still own as lossless may ask? Music from the 1950s files. Now, I have no intention and 1960s, usually ending right of getting rid of the CDs, but I around the start of the British did upgrade my speakers in my music room and thought it might Invasion, that have certain vibes not be bad to replace the very old to them. rips I made in my 20s with some Kitsch can play a part, but some higher quality ones to play off my of this music is like going on a music server. mental vacation to a destination But, knowing that this would be that perhaps never really existed. Think of it as something you’d a lengthy project, and frankly a imagine playing forgettably in pain, I’ve gone back and forth the background of a club The about doing so. Then I finally Rat Pack are hanging out at. This decided I should just start with the ones I’d like to have available music had a huge resurgence in the 1990s, popular with Gen-Xers in lossless quality the most and work my way around from there. as a way to “unwind” from the What did I begin with? The mid- grunge sounds. Yet, it’s a music that I love to play quite often. 1990s Capitol Records, multiWhy? For the reasons I’ve said volume collection of lounge, exotic, and space-age pop music above, the vibes, and how they send you to a sort of “mental known as “Ultra Lounge.” vacation.” Though I may be This made me realize something. trapped in the office working That every January, as those away on my next project, when I put on “Ultra Lounge, Vol. 3: Space Capades,” I am actually on a rocket ship out of a 1959 dimestore novel that has a cocktail lounge on it. What’s that? It’s time for a conference call? Sorry, I can’t. I’m currently orbiting Venus while on my third Manhattan.

Batteries Not Included

By Andy Ross theloaferonlineprint @gmail.com

Sure, I’m about a generation too old to have enjoyed this music when the revival was happening in the ‘90s, but a lot of this music turned up in so many things I watched during my formative years, that is why I have something of a deepseated foundational love for it. When the iPod and the MP3 player in general began to rise

in the mid-2000s, (my first one was the somewhat off-brand iRiver, anyone remember them?) parties would held in which we’d just hook up our iPods and the like and hit shuffle. I remember many a party temporarily grinding to a halt when my iPod would be the one playing in shuffle mode. We’d go from The White Stripes to Devo, and then suddenly we’d get a Sinatra tune followed by the most cheesed-out, cocktail/ elevator, Hammond B3 organ solo on something like “Ebb Tide” and people would just stare at the stereo, and then all eyes would slowly turn and stare at me while I was in the kitchen trying to get myself another drink. Maybe because so much of this music, especially the Exotica

genre, conjures up images of tropical locations, hammocks, and drinks served in coconut shells, is the reason I tend to turn to it in the cold, bleakest days of Winter. To provide warmth and an escape to a place where one can lounge without a care in the world. Something that I think so many of us are longing for, now more than ever. So join me, won’t you? Dialup “The Exotic Moods of Les Baxter” on the device of your voice, stretch out on that lounge chair in your living room, put a Hawaiian shirt on, and fix yourself a tropical beverage. Let’s all go on this mental vacation together. See you next week.

theloafer.net | February 20, 2024

Winter Lounge