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Volume 27 Issue #49
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A Season of Great Performances Niswonger Performing Arts Center
Amy Grant
November 14
Six-‐time Grammy® award-‐winner and multi-‐platinum recording artist Amy Grant will perform for one night only at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, TN on Thursday, November 14th at 7:30 pm. “An Evening
With Amy Grant”, presented by Takoma Regional Hospital, will treat concert attendees to some of Grant’s biggest hits as she performs songs from her extensive repertoire, along with selections from her recently released, critically-‐acclaimed album How Mercy Looks From Here. With a career spanning over 25 years, Amy Grant stretches from her roots in gospel into her experience as an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. Grant is beloved for both her Contemporary Christian music and mainstream hits like “Baby Baby,” “Every Heartbeat,” “That’s What Love is For,” “I Will Remember You,” “Lead Me On,” “El Shaddai,” and more. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums, including one Five-‐ Time Platinum album, one Triple Platinum and one Double Platinum album, as well as six platinum and four Gold albums. She has won six GRAMMY® Awards and 25 GMA Dove Awards, including four Artist of the Year awards. Out of her 10 Top 40 pop singles, six have become No. 1 hits, including “Baby, Baby” and “Every Heartbeat.” Grant was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2003, and is one of only two Christian artists to be awarded a star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame.
ʹͲͲǡ ϐ Ǧ ever label shift to EMI Music Group, where her entire music catalog was re-‐mastered and released via a GREATEST HITS album and made ϐ Ǥ This year, Grant released her ϐ Ǧ 10 years, How Mercy Looks From Here, a soundtrack that embraces
both the triumphs and challenges of life. The new album debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Soundscan and No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart, and has been declared by critics as a “vibrant,” “glowing production” and one of the “best albums of the year.” Grant has always found a way to share her life through her music, and in the process has become not only the best-‐selling Christian music artist of all time but also one of the most celebrated artists in the pop music industry. Her music continues to be part of the fabric of life for long-‐time listeners and brand new fans. For more information, visit www.AmyGrant.com. Amy Grant will perform at Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Thursday, November 14th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $50 for orchestra and mezzanine level seating and $40 for balcony seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www. Ǥ ǡ ϐ ǡ by calling 423-‐638-‐1679. The concert is presented by Takoma Regional Hospital in Greeneville, and is sponsored, in part, by Landair Transport and C&C Millwright, both Greeneville based companies serving clients throughout the US. NPAC offers online seat selection and no-‐fee ticketing. ϐ ǡ ͳͲ until 5pm. The 1130 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com
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Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Niswonger Performing Arts Center November 15th, 7:30 pm
2013 marks the 20th Anniversary of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s remarkable arrival onto Ǥ ǯ ϐ ǡ having secured their legendary residency at the Derby nightclub in Los Angeles, they reminded the world -‐ in the middle of the grunge era, no less -‐ that it was still cool to swing, big band style. Today the high-‐energy nine-‐ piece ensemble continues the party and takes things to the next level with the release of Rattle Them Bones. The follow-‐up to the much lauded 2009 release, How Big Can You Get?: The Music of Cab Calloway, Rattle Them Bones still urges their millions of fans worldwide to shake and move to their inimitable grooves while also expanding their horizons with new musical ϐ Ǥ The intensity of the Calloway project helped the band further hone it’s ability to honor the great musicians and music of the past while pushing the genre forward through interpretation and vision. Leader Scotty Morris has called that experience “The
greatest musical education possible, and one that again ϐ the band.” While by design the musical focus of that session was ᦤ ͵Ͳ 40s, Rattle Them Bones is a more expansive, ultimately liberating work that began with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s singer and chief songwriter drawing from some unexpected cultural wells. “The goal with every album is to take the listener on a unique journey and the process this time involved choosing from my originals and a handful of covers ϐ of where the project seemed headed. Often as we start making sense of the material, the record ᦤ ǡ it was clear this time that we ᦤ single decade or vibe. We feel like we left Cab and started thinking about Don Draper and Mark Twain and along the way some fascinating ideas emerged that turned Rattle Them Bones into a real celebration of the landscape Continued on page 7
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of American music we love so much.” “After all these years,” Morris says, “I still enjoy writing in a Ǥ ᦤ for ways to challenge myself as a writer, so for this record I wanted to do something I had never done before and that was to write a duet.” Not only was Morris able to rise to the challenge, but “It Only Took A Kiss” is one of the album’s real standouts. With its irresistible charm and timeless ǯ ᦤ not an 80 year-‐old standard. “We were looking for the classic, simple yet timeless kind of love song that Gershwin did so well. ϐ era is foundational, but on the new album, the tune falls right in the middle of a grand sweep of musical Americana.” Morris has a great anecdote for the whimsical banjo driven “Why Me?” “An artist from Florida created a poster for one of our shows illustrated in the style of the old black and white Disney cartoons. We all loved the artwork and thought it would be fun to do a song that would sound like those guys playing.” “Why Me?” might be the most dangerous tune on the record -‐ once you hear that hooky chorus, you’ll be singing it for a week. “Devil’s Dance (featuring a lyric that gives the album it’s title) is a bright and brassy number full of New ϐ and response that was initially inspired by Morris’ reading of ǯ Dz ᦤ Wilson,” the 1894 satirical novel about life on the Mississippi. Although music by other composers have been featured on each of the band’s albums, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has always focused on original music, producing an impressively diverse songbook, while embracing the past and today’s times with current perspective and new stories to tell. The band’s originals ϐ phase of stardom when “You & Me and the Bottle Makes Three (Tonight)” and “Go Daddy-‐O”
November 12, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 7 were featured in the 1996 indie ϐ Ǥ ϐ launched the careers of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau and established BBVD as a cultural force beyond their home base of L.A. The band has built a career through relentless touring and an impressive discography that includes the platinum selling, Americana Deluxe and follow-‐ ups This Beautiful Life, Save My Soul, and Everything You Want For Christmas. While Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has sold millions of albums, the ᦤ ϐ Ǥ Dz because we have to, but play live because we love to,” says Morris. “Americana Deluxe was ϐ what we were doing live and we strive to capture the energy and excitement of the live show in Ǥ ᦤ how the chemistry in this band still works after so many years. Whether on stage or traveling
down the road on the bus, everyone is hanging out together, laughing and enjoying being part of such a remarkable enterprise and enduring friendship -‐ one that is so rare in this business.” Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform at Niswonger Performing Arts Center (NPAC) in historic downtown Greeneville, TN on Friday, November 15th at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $35 for orchestra and mezzanine level seating and $25 for balcony seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www.npacgreeneville.com, in ϐ ǡ by calling 423-‐638-‐1679. NPAC offers online seat selection and no-‐fee ticketing. ϐ through Friday, 10am until 5pm. The 1130 seat performing arts center is located adjacent to the campus of Greeneville High School in Greeneville, TN. For venue information, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.npacgreeneville.com
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Ford Speedway In Lights
Opens November 15th New Battle At Bristol Fan Zone Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway transforms into a four-‐plus mile winter wonderland November 15 as Ford Speedway in Lights powered by TVA kicks off 17th season featuring a new Battle at Bristol Fan Zone and Light Display. Filled with more than 200 dazzling exhibits, the largest holiday light show in the South and one of the biggest in the country has become a must-‐ see tradition that continues to grow in popularity, setting a weekend attendance record of 20,000 visitors last year. During its seven-‐weeks run, the holiday display, along with its companion events – the Johnson Controls Ice Rink and HVAC Chill Hill – offer guests an evening of enchantment and allows them ϐ the Bristol Chapter of Speedway Children’s Charities. The 2013-‐2014 route of twinkling lights features returning favorites such as the Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies display located under the Speedway’s front stretch grandstands and the SUBWAY® Symphony of Lights, a synchronized light exhibit
covering the Darrell Waltrip grandstand and featuring more than 300,000 LED lights blinking in time with the music. The SUBWAY® Symphony of Lights also features a large Christmas tree, along with ϐ in harmony on a large, ever-‐ changing background. Light ǡ ϐ brilliant colors on more than three acres of aluminum grandstand seating, set the stage ϐ Ǥ Along with these returning favorites, this year’s tour gives fans of the gridiron a Battle at Bristol preview. It features a lighted, football-‐themed display set atop the Goodyear building in Turns 1 and 2 of the BMS and Ǧ ϐ ǡ
complete with Virginia Tech and Tennessee end zones, positioned on the front stretch pit road. Those stopping at Speedway In Lights Christmas Village not only have the opportunity to visit Santa Claus, take a spin on various carnival rides, and toast ϐ ǡ may also take in the Battle at Bristol Fan Zone and, on some nights, be able to test their skills at various interactive football activities. Guests must enter the sparkling holiday display route at the Bristol Dragway entrance, just off Hwy. 394. Ford Speedway In Lights remains open through Jan. 4. Tickets for the show, open nightly 6-‐10 p.m., are available at Bristol Dragway Tower ticket booths. Prices for cars are $12 Sunday through Thursday, and $15 Friday and Saturday. Activity van tickets are $20 each night and tickets for buses are $85 each night. Both the Johnson Controls Ice Rink ($7 admission/skate rental) and HVAC Chill Hill ($7) open Thursday, Nov. 14. For more information concerning Ford Speedway In Lights, the Johnson Controls Ice Rink or HVAC Chill Hill, please call (855) 580-‐5525.
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Psychic-Medium Pat Bussard
November 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 Kingsport, Elizabethton, Abingdon November 15th, Renaissance Center, Kingsport November 16th, Meadowview Convention Center, Kingsport November 22 & 23, Doe River Inn, Elizabethton November 29 & 30 The Star Museum, Abingdon All events are 7pm -‐ 9:30pm For tickets, call Jennifer at 276-‐698-‐1092, or visit www.eventful.com Bussard is a gifted psychic-‐medium, as well as an author, columnist, photographer and paranormal investigator. Bussard, like her mother and grandmother before her has the gift of mediumship, and her daughter is a fourth generation psychic medium who is succeeding all of them. Bussard is also clairvoyant, clairaudient, claircognizant and clairsentient. She holds a Master of Science degree in Higher Education from Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. By day, Bussard works in public relations and marketing, and has contributed as a columnist to the UK’s Paranormal Magazine, Ghost Voices, and Phenomena magazines and the arts and entertainment publication, The Loafer. She’s an accomplished photographer, a member of a national organization for high I.Q. people, and has been having psychic experiences all of her life. She even recalls a past life-‐-‐-‐and death-‐-‐-‐in Edwardian England. She is nicknamed ‘The Reaper’ for her tactful but unvarnished readings. Bussard speaks at numerous paranormal conferences around the country. She is fresh from an engagement, conducting gallery readings at the Star Museum in Abingdon, Virginia. She was recently the special guest of Southeast Virginia Paranormal Investigations
(SVPI), (http://www.virginia-‐ paranormal.com/events.html) where she read for guests who had traveled to St. Albans Sanatorium for a night of haunted investigations. She recently presented with daughter and fourth generation psychic-‐medium Stephanie Bussard at ScareFest in Lexington, KY, http://scarefestcon.com/ paranormal/. In addition, she has published her new book (Foreword written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley), Thirty True Tales of the Weird, Unusual and Macabre, which is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com, as well as other outlets. She is currently working on her second book, Southern Spirits: The Ghosts of St. Albans Sanatorium, which is slated for publication at the end of 2014. Bussard recently completed an audiobook, Unlocking Your Psychic Potential, for those who want to improve or discover their psychic talent. She is currently working on her second audiobook, a compilation of guided meditations designed to help place the mind into an alpha state. It is in alpha that psychic abilities can be maximized.
She continues to contribute articles about all things preternatural for a number of paranormal themed publications. “Investigating Rhodes Hall,” was one of the cover stories for the July 2013 edition of Phenomena Magazine, http://www. phenomenamagazine. co.uk/. Bussard is also an avid photographer. Her photographs have appeared in and on the covers of such diverse magazines as Ghost Voices Magazine, Midnight Screaming, Twisted Dreams and the prestigious literary magazine, The Pedestal. She recently had two gallery exhibits of her gothic inspired work on display. Her work is currently on exhibit at the 606 State Street Gallery in Bristol, TN. You can ϐ view her photography at: www. patbussard.com. Her paranormal team, The Ghost Writers, can be found online at: www.hauntedwriters. com. The GW and their sister team, HAUNT Paranormal, www. hauntparanormal.com, have investigated locations of haunted repute all over America. Bussard believes people’s everyday metaphysical experiences are valuable information worthy of recording, and that buildings with a haunted history deserve study. ǯ ϐ spiritual value for other people. According to recent polls by Ǯ ϐ ǯ ǡ 45-‐48% of Americans believe in ghosts. An October report from Relator.com, says one-‐third of the nation’s population say they’ve lived in haunted spaces. We are scheduling dates for our 2014 tour. Please contact Jennifer Woodward at (276) 698-‐1092 or psychicpartnersjennifer@yahoo. com if you would like to suggest a venue or town.
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Pop Evil Capone’s
November 14th
Pop Evil will headline a show at Capone’s, 227 E. Main Street, on Thursday, November 14th. Tickets are $13 in advance and $17 at the door. Tickets can be
purchased online at www. caponesjohnsoncity.com. Doors open at 7 pm and show starts at 8 pm. Ages are 18 and up. Pop Evil is a hard rock band out of Grand Rapids, Michigan; a cultivation of dedication, hard work, and perseverance. This multi-‐talented group of guys has seen ups and downs but has never lost sight of the one thing that keeps them on the stage every night; a true desire to bring their fans the best rock and roll experience possible. Their powerful lyrics speak from the heart, forming a deep connection with their fans.
Add in the hard hitting sounds of guitars and drums packaged with a high energy performance and it’s easy to see why they consistently sell out shows and are a major ϐ and roll scene. Band members are: Leigh Kakaty (Lead singer), Davey Grahs (Guitar), Matt DiRito (Bass), Nick Fuelling (Guitar), and Chachi Riot (Drums). Their third studio album titled “Onyx” was released on May 14th. Also performing are special guests: “The Letter Black” from Uniontown, PA. They formed in 2006 and have played hundreds of shows, touring with other great names such as Skillet. Their latest album titled “Rebuild” will be released on November 11th. “Eve to Adam,” a modern hard rock band based out of New York City who released
ϐ ʹͲͲͳǤ ϐ Dz in Chains,” and “Foo Fighters,” they write songs with big ϐ old school rock with a new face. Lead singer, Taki says “Melody is the core of everything. It’s what carries an album to the next level and we pride ourselves on always making albums, not just singles.” Creation, drive, and the spirit of the people is what keeps them making music. Taki says
Dz ϐ Evil tour because we share the ϐ with the same desire not to let the rock album die. We belong on this tour. Pop Evil is great and I think we compliment them.” Their latest album “Locked and Loaded” is available now. “Black Oxygen” from Kansas City, MO released their second radio single “The American Dream” on November 7th.
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Contra Dance & Food Raiser Jonesborough Visitors Center November 16th
The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will present a contra dance on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at the Jonesborough Visitors Center. The featured band will be Contra Culture from Winston-‐ Salem with Jack Mitchell calling. Admission to the dance is $7, HJDS Members and students $5. No partner is necessary. All dances are taught by the caller. All dances are smoke and alcohol free. A workshop for beginning contra dancers will be led by the callers at 7:00pm. The dance will run from 7:30-‐10:30pm with a waltz break at 9:00pm where, once again, Klondike Bars will be served to all who attend. The Food Raiser, a month-‐long collection, is being organized to supply non-‐perishable food stuffs for the Jonesborough Area Ministerial Association Food Bank. Nationwide food bank donations continue to decline. Donor fatigue may be setting in as the economy puts more and
more families at risk and unable to feed themselves. “We are asking all dancers and members of the local community to bring non-‐perishable food stuffs to give to those in need” adds even organizer, David Wiley. Contra Culture is an exciting new contra dance band from the North Carolina Piedmont made of two established classical music teacher/contra dancers. Contra Culture plays a mix of ϐ along with traditional Southern Appalachian, New England, Cape Breton, Irish and Scottish tunes. They create a beautiful balance in their sets by playing highly energetic tunes along with transcendent lyrical melodies. Guitarist Austin Murry began studies on the classical guitar at the age of seven and holds an undergraduate and master’s degree from the University Of North Carolina School of the Arts in classical guitar. Austin enjoys playing a variety of styles of music including traditional music. He was introduced to contra dance in 1997 and has been immersed in the contra dance scene ever since. Fiddler Jennifer Lane began playing violin at the age of 8 and holds a Bachelor’s degree
from Jacksonville University in violin. She has been playing Irish, ǡ ϐ for 12 years and has a diverse background in dance including contra dance, English country dance, and ballroom. For more information, please contact event organizer, David Wiley at 423-‐534-‐8879, visit w w w. h i s to r i c j o n e s b o ro u gh dancesociety.org. and on FACEBOOK.
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The Odyssey Abridged Northeast State November 14-24
A hungry Cyclops. The meddling gods of Olympus. The stirring singing of sinful sirens. What is a sailor to do? One of the best known Greek dramas ever written comes to life with a contemporary telling when the Northeast State Department of Theatre stages The Odyssey Abridged: A Puppet Journey of Epic Proportions in November at the main campus. Based on The Odyssey by Homer, the play tells the story of Greek hero Odysseus and his long journey home after the Trojan War. The Odyssey Abridged is an original adaptation written and directed by Northeast State’s
own Brad McKenzie. Northeast State Theatre family pulls out all the stops for this lavish stage production that will amaze audiences. “Our motto of this theatre department is ‘Go big or go home,’” said McKenzie, Northeast State Theatre’s technical director. “This production goes beyond anything we’ve done yet.” This ambitious motto has paid big dividends for the department. Northeast State Theatre students have won acclaim and awards from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
(KCACTF) for three consecutive years. The program’s reputation gives students moving to four-‐ year institutions considerable respect from academic and theatre professionals alike. The production follows Odysseus as he sails back to his home of Ithaca following the Trojan War. He sets sail through the perilous Greek islands dodging the one-‐eyed Cyclops, the ravenous Scylla, and the seductive sounds of the Siren women. McKenzie’s Odyssey tells the tale as a comic adventure bridging classic Greek drama with postmodern storytelling. The journey of Odysseus to
reunite with his wife Penelope and son Telemachus takes the audience deep into the protagonist’s mind as he recalls his adventures. The play sticks to the classic human meditations on the individual’s struggle against an unforgiving universe. The Northeast State Theatre takes audiences further with larger-‐than-‐life special effects and puppet characters. The Odyssey Abridged is the second foray into ancient Greek following the acclaimed Oedipus Rex production in 2011. The production retains the universal ϐ ǡ death, fear, and time while making an ancient tale accessible to modern audiences. “The great thing about Greek theatre is how those universal themes resonate in the modern day,” said Duncan, a theatre major. “We have the freedom to be creative with the storytelling form. We really work as a family with a lot of great support in the department.” Building the puppets fell to KCACTF award-‐ winning theatre student Richard Curtis. He designed the puppet characters to be both scary and functional for
the actors controlling them. “We’ve done some incredible things, but this ranks as the large scale project I’ve ever done,” said Curtis. The Odyssey performances are Nov. 14-‐16 and Nov. 21-‐23 at 7:30 p.m. with two matinee showings at 2 p.m. on Nov. 16 and Nov. 24. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online now at www.northeaststate.edu. Tickets are free to Northeast State students with valid ϐ Ǥ information, contact Northeast State Theatre at 423.354.2479 or e-‐mail emsloan@ NortheastState.edu. “We’ve never done half the things we are doing in this play,” said McKenzie. “The students are getting opportunities here that they cannot even get at a four-‐ year institution.”
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Big Country Bluegrass Carter Family Fold November 16th
Saturday, November 16th, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert by Big Country Bluegrass. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free. Big Country Bluegrass was formed by husband and wife Tommy and Teresa Sells in the late 1980s and took its’ name from Tommy’s coon-‐hunting buddy Jimmy Martin’s instrumental Big Country. The group delivers their own hard driving and heartfelt style of bluegrass music, and it makes them crowd favorites wherever they perform. Whether it’s at a festival in Missouri, on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, or at a small, intimate concert in their hometown of Independence, Virginia, the band brings back memories reminiscent of the early days of bluegrass music. All the band’s members live in and around the Virginia/ Carolina Blue Ridge, and their ϐ musical heritage found in this region which is at the heart of the Crooked Road Music Trail. Tommy Sells plays mandolin and handles most of the emcee work.
Teresa Sells plays rhythm guitar and sings lead and high harmony vocals. Eddie Gill handles most of the distinctive lead vocals and also plays the guitar. Lynnwood Lunsford, a former member of both the Lost and Found and Jimmy Martin’s Sunny Mountain Boys, plays banjo and sings harmony for the group. Tony King plays upright bass for the group. Big Country Bluegrass plays music that has become known to many as Galax or Mt. Airy style bluegrass. It is straight ahead, hard edged bluegrass with no frills. The rhythm and timing are solid, the instrumental work is clean and tasteful, and the vocals are from the heart. The band has released over a dozen albums and CDs over the years. Their latest release, The Boys in Hats and Ties, has garnered the prestigious # 1 spot in both the Bluegrass Unlimited magazine and the Bluegrass Music ϐ ǯ Ǧ Ǥ Tom T. and Dixie Hall wrote the title track. For more information on the band, go to http://www. bigcountrybluegrass.com/. If you love to dance or if you prefer just listening, Big Country
Bluegrass won’t disappoint. In fact, the band has become a favorite of Fold audiences. For some of the best traditional bluegrass music the region has to offer, don’t miss them at the Carter Family Fold! Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a ϐ ǡ established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. For further information on the center, go to http://www. carterfamilyfold.org. Shows from the Carter Family Fold can be accessed on the internet at http://www.carterfoldshow.com. Carter Music Center is part of the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. You can visit the Crooked Road Music Trail site at http://thecrookedroad.org. Partial funding for programs at the center is provided by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For recorded information on shows coming up at the Fold, call 276-‐386-‐6054. The Fold is on Facebook – page Carter Fold – and Twitter – @ carterfoldinfo. To speak to a Fold staff member, call 276-‐594-‐0676.
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My New Favorites Acoustic Coffeehouse November 14th, 8pm
Local Americana favorites My New Favorites are celebrating their recent selection to appear at Merlefest 2014 with a show and party at 8:00pm Thursday, November 14, at The Acoustic Coffeehouse, 415 W. Walnut Street, Johnson City, TN. The band, which was named the 2013 Americana vocal group of the year at the 2013 Blue Ridge Acoustic Uprising, features a wildly eclectic variety of musical styles that they manage to fuse together into a unique and varied sound. Strong songwriting has been key to band’s success. The heart of their shows is the music they have created through a collaboration over the past three years. Unafraid to experiment, they mix clawhammer banjo with organ and piano, add dashes of accordion, mix in drums and bass, and then sing on top of it all. Here’s some info on the players in My New Favorites:
Jeff Benedict is a singer and songwriter who plays guitar and banjo in the band. He is the main songwriter and storyteller. Linda Waltner is a classically trained violinist, but doesn’t let that get in the way of being a ϐ Ǧ ϐ Ǥ with Mozart or Mumford, she can also do old-‐time and Celtic. Amy Benedict, “the little girl with the great big bass,” is a veteran performer on the old time scene. A lifelong singer and dancer, she brings strong melodies and harmonies to the band’s vocal mix. Tracy Johnson plays the keyboards and the accordion, and does a great job singing. She’s the only one in the band to play Carnegie Hall! Her strong musical style helps drive the music forward through every performance. Rob Chittum can play about anything, but handles the percussion for My New Favorites.
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November 12, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 15
Colonial Harvest Celebration and Militia Muster Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area November 16 & 17
Autumn is in full swing. As both the temperature and the leaves continue to fall, we begin to think of the many holiday festivities that wait in the coming days. Over two hundred years ago it was quite the same for the early frontier settlers. On Saturday, November 16 from 10:00 to 4:00 and Sunday, November 17 from 10:00 to 3:00 Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area will become the scene of a Frontier Harvest Celebration as we enjoy a time of friendship and thanksgiving. In Colonial America, before Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday, each colony or community observed days of thanksgiving usually after the harvest had been brought ϐ victory. Join the Washington County Militia, host living history organization at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, for their monthly militia muster and Harvest Home Celebration!
Activities throughout the weekend will include; a reading of colonial governor Richard Caswell’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, open hearth ǡ ϐ ϐ ǡ ͳͺth century artillery demonstrations, militia drill and training, and many more aspects of daily life on the colonial American frontier. This is a perfect opportunity for the entire family to visit one of ǯ ϐ parks and enjoy a day immersed in history and fun. Admission is free so don’t miss this unique event showcasing Tennessee’s rich heritage. During your time at the park be sure to experience the new interpretive exhibits and our Eastern National Book and Gift Shop to make your visit complete. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area is located at 1651 W. Elk Ave.
Elizabethton, TN 37643. For additional information about this and other exciting events at the park please call 423-‐ 543-‐5808 or visit us on the web at www.sycamoreshoalstn. org, www.tnstateparks.com/ SycamoreShoals, and www. washingtoncountyregiment. wordpress.com.
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Elvis Holiday Tribute Blue Moon Dinner Theatre November 23rd
What better way to start off the holiday season then with a “Hunk a Hunk a burning Christmas”? Celebrate a Blue Christmas at the Blue Moon Dinner Theatre. Located at 215 East Main Street in Downtown Johnson City on November 23rd. The Blue Moon is proud to welcome back to the stage -‐ Elvis Impersonator Jimmy Fields and his tribute to the King. This time in the spirit of Christmas. Experience the nostalgic holiday sounds of Jimmy singing the classic holiday songs of Elvis as well as some well known Rock and Roll hits. A 3 course dinner will be served including a house salad, Chicken Cordon Bleu and a Pumpkin Brownie a la Mode. One Night Only -‐ November 23rd -‐ Doors open at 6:00p, performance begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are just 24.99 and include
dinner and show. Show only tickets are ϐ ͳͶǤͻͻ plus tax. “Jimmy Fields has graced our stage a few times and he really captures the sound of Elvis” says Artistic Director Edward Breese. “ You can listen to Jimmy sing Christmas Songs and remember how Elvis is a part of everyone’s Christmas tradition. You will have a Blue Christmas is you miss this one night only performance. It’s really the perfect way to start off the holiday season. The Blue Moon Dinner Theatre -‐ Where The Stars Come Out To Shine For reservations or more information call 423-‐232-‐1350 or visit www. bluemoondinnertheatre.com. Coming soon to the Blue Moon Stage...A Tuna Christmas. Christmas Parties Welcome!
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November 12, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 17
Hunter Berry & Friends Carter Family Fold November 24th
On November 24th, 2013 there is to
music’s best musicians.
be a special show at The Carter Fold
Hunter Berry & Friends featuring
in Hiltons, Virginia as Hunter Berry &
Rhonda Vincent & The Rage will appear
Friends return to The Fold.
at The Carter Family Memorial Music
Hunter Berry from Elizabethton,
Center, 3449 A.P. Carter Highway in
Tennessee started learning to play
Hiltons, Virginia on November 24, 2013
ϐ Ǥ
at 3:00 PM and doors will open at 2:00
on to perform with such acts as Melvin
PM that day. Admission for children
Goins & Windy Mountain, Doyle
6 and under is free and for children
Lawson & Quicksilver and for the last
ages 7 to 11 is $1.00. East Tennessee
eleven years, Rhonda Vincent & The
State University students with show of
Ǥ ϐ
college ID is $5.00 and for ages 12 and
for the International Bluegrass Music
up, admission is $10.00.
Association’s Fiddle Player of the Year
This performance is to be a live
Award, and has been a multiple winner
recorded performance to be released
of the Society for the Preservation of
at a future date so there will be no
Bluegrass Music in America’s Fiddle
dancing allowed. Come out and enjoy a
Player of the Year Award. In 2007
wonderful afternoon with Hunter Berry
Hunter Berry released the critically
& Fiends featuring Rhonda Vincent &
acclaimed solo project “Wow, Baby”
The Rage as they play and record for
which featured some of bluegrass
Hunter Berry’s next solo project.
Page 18, The Loafer • November 12, 2013
Eve to Adam Capone’s November 14th
Comprised of members Taki Sassaris -‐ Lead Vocals, Alex
Sassaris -‐ Drums, Gaurav Bali -‐ Lead Guitar, Luis Espaillat -‐ Bass/
Backing Vocals, and Adam Latiff -‐ Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals, the New York City-‐based Eve to Adam has found the perfect merger of melody and hard rock on their new album, ‘Locked & Loaded.’ Released on Tuesday, September 17th, the album was preceded by a steamy/sultry
video for the standout single, “Straightjacket Supermodel,” with a new single, “Immortal,” having just arrived at radio. The band has also announced a string of new dates with Pop Evil that will keep the band on the road through out the fall. ‘Locked & Loaded’ features collaborations with several top-‐ notch producers, including Eric Bass (Shinedown), who along with producer Elvis Baskette (Incubus, Falling In Reverse, Alter Bridge) cut the lead single, “Straitjacket Supermodel.” Writer/producer Dave Bassett (Shinedown, Halestorm) also co-‐wrote three songs on the album, including the new single “Immortal,” “Shut Out The World,” and “Let’s Burn.” “ETA are on a mission to reclaim real rock and roll,” explains Bassett. “The grit, the power, the danger...its all there with these guys and it
was an amazing experience collaborating with them to bring the energy of their live show into the studio. To put it simply, they are poised to explode.” “’Locked & Loaded’ is the most versatile album we’ve ever made,” says Bali. “By working with Elvis Baskette, Dave Bassett, and Eric Bass, the core sound of the band was pushed into fresh ϐ from heavy metal, electronica, industrial and pop. We were able to cover all the musical bases from the ‘Eve’ to the ‘Adam,’ and we can’t wait for everyone to hear this record!” Eve To Adam also has the dual distinction of being highly skilled road warriors, as they hold their own with arena and stadium sized major label acts including Motley Crue, and Daughtry, For the band’s new project, ETA collaborated with top notch producers, including Eric Bass (Shinedown), who along with producer Elvis Baskette (Incubus, Falling In Reverse, Alter Bridge) cut lead single “Straitjacket Supermodel.” Writer/producer Dave Bassett (Shinedown, Adelitas Way) also logged several collaborations including “Immortal,” “Shut Out The World,” and “Let’s Burn.” The new sound is burning, urgent, with no-‐holds barred. The band has taken it to an entirely new level and radio and the fans are already responding. The music video for “Straitjacket Supermodel” was shot by noted director Frankie Nasso. The video concept, according to Eve Adam frontman Taki Sassaris, is similar in look to Closer” meets Showtime’s Dexter (lighting in the kill room/meets the edge ϐ With The Dragon Tattoo). The video stars Juliya “Mistress Juliya” Chernetsky and Playboy Playmate Kristin Nicole. Eve To Adam is Taki Sassaris (lead vocals), Alex Sassaris (drums) and Gaurav Bali (Guitar). Luis Espaillat has stepped in as the touring bassist/backing vocals, replacing Eric Bergmann. Adam Latiff (Puddle of Mudd) is the newest member, replacing Virus (Dope, Device) as touring rhythm guitarist/ backing vocals.
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November 12, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 19
James King Band
Carter Family Fold November 17th, 2:30pm Sunday, November 17th, 2013, at 2:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a special gospel concert by the James King Band. James has been named SPBGMA Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year seven times. 2013 marks the sixth annual gospel event in honor of Janette Carter. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, children ages 6 to 11 $3, under age 6 free. Tickets will be available only at the door on the day of the concert. Doors will open at 1:00 p.m. This show is being presented as a tribute to Janette Carter – founder of the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Inc. Janette began presenting shows of old time and bluegrass music in 1974 in tribute to the Original Carter Family. She started the shows as a result of a promise she made to her dying father – A.P. Carter. A.P. asked her to keep his music alive, and she promised
him she would try. The Carter Family Fold, the Carter Family Museum, and the A.P. Carter birthplace cabin stand today as a lasting tribute to the culmination of that promise. Despite the fact ǯ ϐ school, she founded one of the ϐ the U.S., established a museum, and preserved the musical legacy Ȃ ϐ family of country music – for generations to come. A steadfast, life-‐long Christian, Janette was an inspiration to everyone she met. Any tribute to her would naturally pay homage to her strong faith. James King was born Sept. 9, 1958, in Martinsville, Virginia, and grew up in Carroll County -‐ one of the most fertile breeding grounds for bluegrass and old-‐ time musicians. James’ father, Jim, and his uncle, Joe Edd, were both musicians of note. As James entered his teens, he began to
take the music seriously, too, particularly the music of his fellow Virginians, the Stanley Brothers. In 1988, King released his ϐ ǡ James King Sings Cold, Cold World. In the 1990s, Dudley Connell of the Johnson Mountain Boys brought King to the attention of Rounder’s Ken Irwin. Irwin brought together Connell and a band of bluegrass all-‐stars
to back up King on 1994’s These Old Pictures and 1995’s Lonesome and Then Some. King began to tour steadily, gradually assembling the James King Band. Known world-‐wide as “The Bluegrass Storyteller” James has the amazing gift of captivating the imagination of his audiences -‐ singing with such heart and conviction that the words really come to life, making it possible for fans to literally “see” the
songs that have made James a superstar in Bluegrass and Gospel Music. James is a devout Christian and his gospel show is truly a living testimony of his faith and love for Jesus Christ. For more information on The James King Band visit www.thejameskingband. com/. For some of the most beautiful gospel music this side of Heaven, make plans to join us for this special tribute concert. Proceeds from the ϐ Janette Carter Memorial Endowment Fund and the Carter Music Center. Established in 2007 by the Center’s board of directors and attorney, the fund was set up to insure that Janette’s vision of preserving old time mountain music will continue for generations to come.
Page 20, The Loafer • November 12, 2013
Guy Penrod
Paramount Center for the Arts November 23, 7pm
Guy Penrod is in every sense of the word a man cut from the cloth of rugged individualism. Never is it more evident than in his latest album consisting of thirteen new songs. The project,
ǡ ϐ a thumbprint of a man with strong values and a positive worldview that harkens back to deep roots in faith and family. His well publicized departure in recent months after 14 years as the centerpiece of Bill Gaither’s celebrated “Vocal Band” was not a move for the faint of heart -‐nor for a man less sure that he’s tracking on the right course set for new horizons. Never is it more evident than in ϐ project. Breathe deep, isn’t that what everyone is doing right now? After a long hot summer, after all the depressing economic news, after getting the kids back in school, everyone is probably breathing a little deeper.
What better way to celebrate and remember the good in our lives than to spend an evening with one of the premiere artists of today performing live on stage at the Paramount Center for the Arts. The concert has been scheduled for Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 7PM. “The concert is just a few days before Thanksgiving and it is a great time to remember all the positive things we sometimes get busy and take for granted in our lives. His positive outlook is so contagious. Last time we hosted Guy in the Paramount, he performed to a packed house. Comments came in days after his show about what a great entertainer his was and how he drew his audience in,” said Darlene Cole, Venue Manager for the City. Tickets are on sale now at the Paramount Center for the Arts located at 518 State Street or the Viking Hall Civic Center Box ϐ ͳͳͲͲ Ǥ Tickets may be purchased on-‐line at E-‐Tix.com or by phone at the ϐ ȋͶʹ͵Ȍ 274-‐8920 or at the Viking Hall ϐ ȋͶʹ͵Ȍ ͶǦͶͳͳǤ more information please contact Darlene Cole (423)-‐764-‐4171 or by email dcole@bristoltn.org
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November 12, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 21
You Knew Me When Acoustic Coffeehouse November 19th, 8pm
After uprooting from their Nashville home and full-‐time jobs in June of 2012, the husband and wife duo You Knew Me When set plans to tour the nation for a full year. Since that time they have been serving up their craft brewed compositions coast to coast throughout the USA and into Canada, released their sophomore album “You, Me, and the Rest of the World”, and have done so as a fully independent entity. On November 19th, the duo will continue their ongoing tour as they perform in Johnson City at The Acoustic Coffeehouse. You Knew Me When will be performing at The Acoustic Coffeehouse (www. acousticcoffeehouse.net
-‐
415
W
Walnut St, Johnson City, TN) onTuesday, November 19th at 8:00pm. No Cover. Released in late 2012, the duo’s
s o p h o m o r e album, “You, Me, and the Rest of the World” conveys the dualistic melding of both Karisa and Cie’s musical styles. It is an album that parades between a fusion of progressive i n d i e -‐ r o c k and folky compositions all infused with a myriad of pulsing and stirring beats. While blending their vocals, Karisa, who previously served as a Nashville public school music teacher, provides the piano, ukulele, and glockenspiel, as Cie, who spent several years as the Global Events Manager for Gibson Guitar, supplies the guitar and rhythmic nuances. The cumulative result is a musical style that blends a singer-‐songwriter soul with a pop/rock mentality. Physical and digital copies of “You, Me, and the Rest of the World” are available atwww.youknewmewhen.com. The album is also available on iTunes, Amazon, and other online retailers. Listen to You Knew Me When online via Pandora, Spotify, iTunes Radio, and other online radio sources. For more information on You Knew Me When, please visit www. youknewmewhen.com, www.facebook. com/youknewmewhen, www.twitter. com/youknewmewhen or www. reverbnation.com/youknewmewhen. Photo by Veronica Sutton-‐Nelson
Page 22, The Loafer • November 12, 2013
NOW the Time to see Comet ISON
Famous comet hunter and astronomy popularizer David Levy says comets are a lot like cats—they have tails and do exactly what they want. So is the fate of the much hyped Comet ISON, which was suppose to be an easy naked eye object by now and isn’t. Not to mention the “Comet of the Century.” But, hopefully, the best is yet to come. Now inside the orbit of Earth and this week intersecting Venus’ orbit, nothing will stop Comet ISON from whipping round the Sun on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 28. The unknown is whether this mini-‐world of ice and rock will remerge the next day with ϐ gas and debris, or be ripped into pieces and disintegrate. Or maybe it will be torn into maybe a dozen chunks, each with a tiny tail. Time will tell the fate of Comet ISON. But for now until round Nov. 20th you can see the fuzzy start with stubby gray tail with the aid of binoculars from suburban skies. Just maybe you might be able to see it with your eyes-‐-‐if you know exactly where
to look. Just google “Comet ISON dz ǯ ϐ constellation map. It’s in Virgo, heading for pass of bright star Vega on Nov. 17 and 18th, a great chance to see it with binoculars or a small telescope. The week of Nov. 21 has the best chance to see a dazzling Comet ISON in the morning sky as it passes the orbit of Mercury and the Sun’s heat begins to blast off comet debris. Then the morning of Thanksgiving Weekend, the 5 am ϐ comet to follow with a tail spanning 20 degrees, or two hands spread out at arm’s length. Then Comet ISON will continue to move away from the Sun, its tail hopefully getting longer by the day. Christmas week the comet could be incredibly ϐ across the morning sky as it passes by Earth. But then again, I’ve owned a lot cats. And you can’t predict where they’ll lay down or when they’ll come to you—except to eat, of course! And astronomers do know that the Sun’s mighty solar wind is blowing the volatile ice off the
surface of Comet ISON, a 20 mile potato-‐shaped chunk of rock and ice. Like billions of comets out there, it was formed maybe 4 billion years ago in the region of the Solar System called the Oort Cloud, an afterbirth reservoir of rubble some 10-‐20 billion miles away. So Comet ISON is a one-‐time visitor to our inner Solar System, ϐ of the mysterious Oort Cloud by an unknown gravity source. Containing the primordial ingredients that created all the worlds of our Sun’s system of planets, moons and asteroids, comets are a treasure trove of knowledge—and we learn more with each close encounter. There are also “periodic comets” that return on a regular basis and the famous Halley’s Comet is one that reliably orbits the Sun once every 76 years. Though it won’t buzz by Earth until July 2061, our orbit crossed the path it takes every October when we witness the Orionid Meteor Shower. And then there are the kamikaze comets that come from the depths of space to crash into the Sun. But it is the “sungrazers” like Comet ISON that are the spectacular ones, and in the ϐ Hemisphere has been treated to two long-‐tailed comets— McNaught in January 2006 and Comet Lovejoy in February 2011. The trajectory of these comets didn’t allow anybody north of Earth’s equator to see their long, spectacular tails. And were these two comets awesome, with long tails creating picturesque sights over cities and landscapes. But now it’s our turn—hopefully. One key to a comet begin a spectacle or not is how densely it is packed. Is it a big rocky body or a half dozen, loosely packed pile of rocks? If it’s an ancient frozen world, chances are it will have a dynamic surface warmed by the Sun that will produce a spectacular tail. If Comet ISON is more like a bunch of packed snowball, it can still be spectacular, maybe even more so with multiple pieces and tails. ϐ ahead of the core, or nucleus, Continued on page 23
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and into the direction of travel ϐ the Sun, the solar wind howling at a million miles an hour while the comet is moving at around 50,000 mph. We know a lot about comets thanks to the close-‐up encounters by a half-‐dozen unmanned spacecraft. There has even been ϐ analyze its contents. And what we have found is nothing short of the essential ingredient for life as we know it—water. Described a half a century ago as a “dirty snowball” by astronomer Fred Whipple, that’s pretty much what a comet is. As it gets warmed by the Sun, jets of ice and gas explode off the surface, creating a “coma” head of debris. The invisible wind from the Sun’s surface that whips through the Solar System at a million miles an hour pushes the dust and gases off the comet coma and creates two distinct tails. The Oort Cloud was just a theory only 50 years ago, but now it is generally accepted that
November 12, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 23 a doughnut-‐shaped ring of hundreds of billions of comets circles the entire Solar System at a distance around 10-‐20 billion miles from the Sun. Just inside the Oort Cloud at 4-‐8 billion miles away is the Kuiper Belt, with much larger objects that are ice and rock, the domain of dwarf planet Pluto and dozens of other similar size bodies joined by millions of asteroid-‐ like objects. Both the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud are ϐ with mystery and lots of imagination. One theory is that the gravity of passing stars disturbs the delicate balance of the distant orbiting debris, sending thousands, maybe even millions of comets toward the inner Solar System, pulled by the gravity of the Sun. It is even theorized that a yet-‐to-‐ be-‐discovered companion star ϐ storm of comets.
Could it be possible that millions of comets struck the infant Earth and brought all the water? Maybe. It’s also possible that the rare comet storms might have caused the cycles of great extinctions of live on the Earth, like the dinosaur debacle 65 million years ago.
With all that water in billions of billions of comets, it is a good bet that we know where Earth’s oceans came from. That’s right, water in the Solar System— and maybe the seeds of life— have possibly come from the bombardment of millions of comets.
Comet ISON has been hyped as the “Comet of the Century,” and it has plenty of time to live to that. But unlike Comet Hale-‐Bopp in 1997, there seems little interest in cult followings of Comet ISON like the 38 members of the Heavens Gate who committed mass suicide to ride the spirit of a comet. Weird stuff like that was common during Halley’s Comet in 1986, but seemingly absent and devoid of any type of hysteria about this 21 Century cosmic intruder. There’s still plenty of time for that sort of New Age spin on Comet ISON. But hopefully it’ll round the Sun on Thanksgiving Day in one piece and proudly displaying a bright tail million of miles long and growing. That’s the best scenario for a fantastic morning vision on Christmas Week. Keep wishing upon the stars and maybe Comet ISON will be the one…
Page 24, The Loafer • November 12, 2013
www.theloaferonline.com Celestial  events  in  the  skies  for  the  week  of  Nov.  12-Ââ€?18,  2013  as  compiled  for  The  Loafer  by  Mark  D.  Marquette. The  waxing  gibbous  Moon  goes  to  full  phase  this  week,  maximizing  some  great  op-Ââ€? portunities  for  photographers  to  get  shots  of  moonrise  over  our  beautiful  Appala-Ââ€? chian  Mountains.   Using  a  zoom  lens  out  past  300mm  will  get  some  dramatic  photos  of  the  Moon  rising  with  silhouettes  of  trees,  buildings  and  mountains  providing  excellent  eye  candy.  But  be  prepared  for  the  few  minutes  of  opportunity  during  moonrise.  Meanwhile,  all  eyes  looking  westward  during  the  evening  rush  home  will  see  the  dazzling  Venus—while  Jupiter  is  another  bright  planet  rising  in  the  east. Tues.  Nov.  12  Â? –Š‹• ͳ͝ͺͲ †ƒ–‡ ‹Â? •’ƒ…‡ Š‹•–‘”›ǥ ‘›ƒ‰‡” Íł Ď?Ž‡™ „› ƒ–—”Â?ÇĄ ‰‹˜‹Â?‰ —• ƒÂ?‘–Š‡” ÂŒÂƒÂ™ÇŚ dropping  view  of  the  ringed  world.   The  Voyager  2  twin  spacecraft  passed  by  Saturn  ‹Â? —‰—•– ͳ͝ͺͳǤ ‹‘Â?‡‡” ͳͳ ™ƒ• –Š‡ Ď?‹”•– –‘ Ď?Ž› „› ƒ–—”Â? ‹Â? ‡’–‡Â?„‡” ͳ͚͝͝Ǥ Â‘Â†ÂƒÂ›ÇĄ the  billion  dollar  Cassini  spacecraft  is  into  its  7th  year  orbiting  the  ringed  world,  and  you  see  visit  the  NASA  website  and  see  some  truly  amazing  photos.  Wed.  Nov.  13  Venus  is  simply  stunning  as  usual  in  the  western  sky  after  sunset.   Watching  the  bril-Ââ€? liant  white  planet  against  the  changing  background  from  pale  blue  to  black  can  be  a  breathtaking  40  minutes  or  so.  With  the  Sun  setting  around  5:30  pm,  test  your  eyes  and  see  how  soon  you  can  spot  the  pinpoint  of  Venusian  light  against  the  darkening  blue  twilight. Thurs.  Nov.  14  – ͳͲ Â’Â? ƒ „”‹‰Š– ›‡ŽŽ‘™ Ç˛Â•Â–ÂƒÂ”Çł ‹• ‘„˜‹‘—• ƒ„‘˜‡ –Š‡ ‡ƒ•–‡”Â? Š‘”‹œ‘Â?Ȅ–Š‡ Ď?‹ˆ–Š planet  Jupiter.   It  is  in  Gemini  and  brings  with  it  the  two  brothers  Castor  and  Pollux.   And  to  the  far  right  of  giant  Jupiter  are  the  rising  stars  of  the  celestial  giant,  Orion  the  mighty  hunter. Fri.  Nov.  15  On  this  1988  date  in  astronomy,  the  huge  radio  telescope  at  Green  Bank,  West  Virginia  collapsed,  hurting  no  one.   A  new  one  in  2000  replaced  the  old  version  and  is  named  after  West  Virginia’s  famed  US  Senator  Robert  C.  Byrd.   That’s  why  you  can’t  get  many  radio  stations  driving  up  I-Ââ€?77  from  Wytheville,  VA  to  Charleston,  WVA.  A  hundred  miles  to  the  east  the  Green  Bank  radio  observatory  is  “black-Ââ€?outâ€?  zone  for  any  radio,  TV  or  other  wavelength  transmis-Ââ€? sions  to  maximize  the  data  being  acquired  from  distant  galaxies. Sat.  Nov.  16  The  reliable  Leonid  Meteor  Shower  will  be  washed  out  by  the  bright  moonlight  this  year,  but  some  bright  meteors  will  most  likely  burst  through.   This  is  the  meteor  shower  in  1999  that  brought  hundreds  of  meteors  a  minute  for  a  few  hours  the  Leonid  “stormâ€?  reoccurring  every  33  years  as  Earth  plows  through  a  thick Â
November 12, 2013 • The Loafer, Page 25 region  of  debris  left  by  a  long-Ââ€?ago  comet. Sun.  Nov.  17  Full  Moon  is  today  precisely  10:16  am  when  our  natural  satellite  rises  opposite  the  setting  Sun.  Native  Americans  call  this  the  Frosty  Moon,  for  obvious  reasons.  It  was  also  called  the  Beaver  Moon,  as  those  critters  were  often  seen  fortifying  their  dams  and  nearby  homes  for  the  winter. Mon.  Nov.  18  When  looking  at  the  Moon,  notice  the  dark  oval  “seaâ€?  that  is  at  the  upper  right  side  of  the  globe  called  Mare  Crisium.   It  was  on  this  1970  date  in  space  history  that  the  Soviet  Union’s  Luna  17  spacecraft  soft  landed  inside  Mare  Crisium,  depositing  the  Ď?‹”•– ™Š‡‡Ž‡† ˜‡Š‹…Ž‡ ‘Â? –Š‡ ‘‘Â? …ƒŽŽ‡† —Â?‘Â?Š‘† ͳǤ ‘‘Â?‹Â?‰ Ž‹Â?‡ „ƒ–Š–—„ ‘Â? ‡‹‰Š– wire  wheels,  the  lunar  rover  traveled  6.5  miles,  sending  back  20,000  photos  before  it  was  shut  down  after  10  months.
Page 26, The Loafer • November 12, 2013
All The Things!!!
We’re entering into that time of the year known affectionately to one and all as “The Holidays”. What this means, besides an overwhelming sense of anxiety about the state of your bank account, is that a large number of people who are related to you will be showing up at your doorstep. Basically from now until the end of the year, you’re going to be on high alert to keep your abode as spotless as possible. Borderline obsessiveness kicks in as you roam from room to room, examining everything to make sure not a spec of dust is within sight. Knowing that company would be coming at some point, I began my focus on the guest bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom is carpeted, and I began by vacuuming up every square inch of the carpet, then I deloused it. I mopped, sprayed, and sanitized the bathroom, then I did the same for the bedroom. The last
task was to seal both rooms, I had no intention of letting anyone in those rooms that weren’t planning on staying over for an extended amount of time. Friends became concerned when they found me crouched beneath the door to the guest room, in a loin cloth, and in a gravely voice muttering “precious!”. Dusting is my mortal enemy, it seems like it’s an endless endeavor—the fact that I have dark shaded furniture doesn’t help either. Last year, after a night of insomnia and an endless stream of late night infomercials, I found myself wanting to invent some new wonder cleaning tool that could make dusting a far more fun task. I bought as many dusters as I could, and invented a ring for them to sit on, much like a fan. This fan was then attached to the end of a weed wacker. The result? $1400 worth of property damage, and three destroyed lamps. There’s been a lot of ads on ϐ cleaners. It began with one that can vacuum, and now they have one that can mop for you. Being the fact that this is the year 2013, and many of us grew up watching
The Jetsons, it’s not unlikely to think that we should have robotic help when it comes to cleaning our homes. However, I didn’t really want to spend the money on buying a robot just to mop for me, so I took the approach of a thrifty young man with an addiction to record collecting. I duct taped a sponge to the bottom of an RC car. I sat down on the counter of my kitchen, and had the time of my life zooming an old ϐ Ǥ it work? Not really. Being the fact that it was just a sponge on the bottom of an RC car from 1994, and taking into fact that it hadn’t been used in a good number of years, I managed to just lightly shed off a small fraction of dirt from one corner of the kitchen. I broke out the old fashioned mop and went over the kitchen twice. I wanted things to stay mint till Thanksgiving, but I had to cook things before the big day. I’m just glad people thought I somehow knocked all of that saran ϐ Ǥ You spend hours upon end in the days before Thanksgiving cleaning the ǡ ϐ do it again as soon as everyone leaves. It’s always the sofa you have to worry about. Some aunt’s husband or such will always fall asleep on it and drool on one of the pillows. It’s a constant barrage of steaming and spot cleaning (Which, by the way, was the name of my undercover detective laundry agency show that NBC didn’t pick up. Fools!). Despite your cleaning desires, do not get too caught up in insuring your house is a spotless chamber of peace. People should feel warm and welcomed in your house, and not like they’re eating in a museum. Thanksgiving is coming, and you’re going to have a nice looking home to have it in—assuming you’re hosting. If you’re going to a house for Thanksgiving, just try not to drool on the furniture post meal. See you next week, follow me on Twitter @ ThatAndyRoss.
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Ender’s Game Han  Solo,  I  mean  Harrison  Ford,  is  back  in  space! Â
Â? –Š‡ Â?‡™ Ď?‹ŽÂ? Dz Â?†‡”ǯ• Gameâ€?,  based  on  the  novel  of  the  same  name,  features  Ford  in  the  role  of  Colonel  Graff,  a  military  leader  who  is  searching  for  a  future  leader  who  will  save  the  human  race.  Why  does  the  human  race  Â?‡‡† •ƒ˜‹Â?‰Ǎ • ‹Â? Â?‘•– •…‹njĎ?‹ movies,  the  Earth  was  attacked  by  an  alien  race,  in  this  story  called  the  Formics.  In  the  attack,  which  took  place  years  before  the  time  frame  of  –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ?ÇĄ Â?‹ŽŽ‹‘Â?• ‘ˆ Š—Â?ƒÂ?• were  killed  before  the  Formics  ™‡”‡ Ď?‹Â?ƒŽŽ› †‡ˆ‡ƒ–‡†Ǥ Â? ƒÂ? ‡ˆˆ‘”– to  hold  off  a  predicted  future  attack  from  the  aliens,  a  program  was  initiated  to  use  brilliant  young  people  in  defense  efforts.  The  young  people  are  trained  in  an  special  school,  and  eventually  are  transferred,  if  proven  worthy,  to  an  orbiting  space  station  that  is  used  for  a  battle  school  for  further  training.  One  of  the  young  people,  Â?†‡” ‹‰‰‹Â? Č‹ •ƒ —––‡”Ď?Â‹Â‡ÂŽÂ†ČŒÇĄ has  caught  the  attention  of  Colonel  Graff,  who  is  convinced  he  is  the  one  who  will  save  the Â
human  race.  Ender’s  road  to  leadership  is  a  rocky  one,  and  he  is  even  booted  from  the  program  for  a  brief  period  of  time.  Once  he  is  brought  back  into  the  program  and  sent  to  the  orbiting  battle  school,  he  is  envied  for  his  talents,  and  becomes  an  annoyance  to  the  commander  of  one  of  the  school’s  troops.  Despite  his  struggles,  Ender  eventually  heads  his  own  group  of  soldiers,  and  is  soon  given  an  ultimate  test  by  Graff  and  other Â
military  leaders.  Ender  passes  the  test,  but  while  the  result  is  successful,  the  brilliant  lad  feels  betrayed  by  the  leaders.  Š‡ •–‘”› ‹• Ď?‹ŽŽ‡† ™‹–Š ’Ž‡Â?–› of  action  and  thrills,  while  still  portraying  Ender  as  a  thoughtful  human  being.  The  aliens  are  seen  sparingly,  and  when  Ender Â
encounters  one  up  close  and  personal,  the  scene  packs  an  emotional  wallop.  Š‡ ƒ…–‘”• ‹Â? –Š‡ Ď?‹ŽÂ?ÇĄ including  an  excellent  supporting  cast,  prove  effective  in  their  respective  roles,  with  Ford  being  his  usual  excellent  self.  ‡ƒ† ƒ…–‘” —––‡”Ď?‹‡Ž† (“Hugoâ€?)  is  wonderful,  and  is  able  to  stand  aside  Ford  and  not  be  lost  in  the  superstars  shadow.  “Ender’s  Gameâ€?  was  a  ™‘Â?†‡”ˆ—ŽŽ› ‡Â?–‡”–ƒ‹Â?‹Â?‰ Ď?‹ŽÂ?ÇĄ and  makes  for  a  fun  and  thought  ’”‘˜‘Â?‹Â?‰ •…‹njĎ?‹ ƒ†˜‡Â?–—”‡Ǥ
(Rated  PG-Ââ€?13)  B+
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Paranoia: An American Tradition In  1964,  the  Columbia  University  historian  Richard  Hofstadter  published  a  very  ‹Â?Ď?Ž—‡Â?–‹ƒŽ „‘‘Â?ÇĄ The  Paranoid  Style  In  American  Politics  And  Other  Essays.  This  book,  like  his  other  works,  created  a  stir  in  academic  circles  and  provoked  several  debates  about  the  merits  of  the  argument  that  much  of  American  history  has  been  shaped  by  conspiracy  theory  and  the  attendant  sense  of  paranoia  that  usually  accompanies  conspiratorial  ways  of  thinking.  At  the  time  it  was  published,  in  the  shadow  of  the  ascension  of  Barry  Goldwater  into  the  political  arena,  Hofstadter’s  book  became  a  model  for  looking  at  American  history  through  the  lens  of  paranoia  and  conspiracy.  And,  ironically  ‡Â?‘—‰Šǥ ‘ˆ•–ƒ†–‡” Ď?‹”•– presented  his  theories  about  –Š‡ ‹Â?Ď?Ž—‡Â?…‡ ‘ˆ ’ƒ”ƒÂ?‘‹† ƒÂ?† conspiratorial  ways  of  thinking  in  an  address  he  delivered  at  Oxford  University  on  November  21,  1963,  the  eve  of  John  F.  Kennedy’s  assassination. As  we  approach  the  Ď?‹ˆ–‹‡–Š ƒÂ?Â?‹˜‡”•ƒ”› ‘ˆ –Š‡ assassination,  along  with  the  new  wave  of  books  and  movies  that  are  accompanying  it,  we  should  pause  to  consider  the  role  played  by  paranoia  in  our  history.  And  we  should  think  about  what  Hofstadter  said  about  the  American  tradition  of  paranoia:  “American  politics  has  often  been  an  arena  for  angry  minds.  In  recent  years,  we  have  seen  angry  minds  at  work,  mainly  among  extreme  right-Ââ€?wingers,  who  have  now  demonstrated,  in  the  Goldwater  movement,  how  much  political  leverage  can  be  got  out  of  the  animosities  and  passions  of  a  small  minority.  But,  behind  this,  I  believe,  there  is  a  style  of  mind  that  is  far  from Â
new,  and  that  is  not  necessarily  right-Ââ€?wing.  I  call  it  the  paranoid  style,  simply  because  no  other  word  adequately  evokes  the  sense  of  heated  exaggeration,  suspiciousness,  and  conspiratorial  fantasy  that  I  have  in  mind.â€?  While  much  of  what  he  said  about  the  presence  of  paranoia  still  rings  true,  he  did  get  one  thing  wrong—namely,  that  paranoia  is  generally  representative  of  a  minority  way  of  thinking.  If  Hofstadter  were  still  alive  (he  died  in  1970),  he  would  no  doubt  revise  his  views  in  light  of  the  fact  that  today  paranoia  is  big  business  and  appeals  to  a  wide  spectrum  of  American  citizens  whose  lives  revolve  around  instantaneous  internet  access. As  I  write,  I  am  surrounded  by  three  books  that  should  be  on  your  required  reading  list.  First  is  Jon  Ronson’s  Them:  Adventures  With  Extremists  (2002),  next  David  Aaronovitch’s  Voodoo  Histories:  The  Role  Of  Conspiracy  Theory  In  Shaping  Modern  History Č‹Í´Í˛ÍłÍ˛ČŒÇĄ ƒÂ?† Ď?‹Â?ƒŽŽ› ‡••‡ Walker’s  fresh-Ââ€?off-Ââ€?the-Ââ€?press  The  United  States  Of  Paranoia:  A  Conspiracy  Theory  (2013).  Before  you  immerse  yourself  in  the  many  conspiracy  theory  websites  that  are  proliferating  every  day,  you  owe  it  to  yourself  to  read  these  three  level-Ââ€?headed  studies  for  essential  background  information  and  provocative  theorizing. I  want  to  spend  time  this  week  with  Walker’s  fascinating  (and  disturbing)  new  book,  mainly  because  I’ve  written  about  the  other  two  in  previous  columns.  Before  we  go  in  this  direction,  however,  I  feel  compelled  to  comment  on  Aaronovitch’s  conclusion  that  conspiracy  theories  thrive  because  they  offer  comfort  to  many  people. Â
As  he  puts  it,  “.  .  .  .conspiracy  theories  are  actually  reassuring.  They  suggest  that  there  is  an  explanation  that  human  agencies  are  powerful,  and  that  there  is  order  rather  than  chaos.  This  makes  redemption  possible.â€?  And,  further,  belief  in  conspiracy  theory  can  play  to  a  very  human  desire  to  belong  to  a  group  that  welcomes  us  with  open  arms..  When  we  believe  that  JFK  was  assassinated  by  a  group  of  shadowy  operatives  under  the  direction  of  –Š‡ ÇĄ –Š‡ ƒĎ?Â‹ÂƒÇĄ Cuban  exiles,  or  even  Lyndon  Johnson  himself,  we  feel  as  if  we  possess  very  special  and  privileged  information  and  that  we  belong  to  a  select  group  of  those  who  are  guardians  of  truth  in  a  world  of  lies  and  cover-Ââ€?ups.  Our  existence,  in  short,  is  validated  by  our  belief  in  a  world  of  reality  that  exists  just  beyond  the  veil  of  illusion  and  misdirection. Walker  goes  further  to  provide  us  with  an  intriguing  way  to  understand  the  role  played  by  paranoia  and  conspiracy  in  American  history  from  the  seventeenth  century  Puritans  to  modern-Ââ€?day  belief  in  White  House  complicity  in  the  9/11  attacks  on  New  York  and  Washington.  He  uses  the  familiar  face  of  the  Devil  that  some  say  is  visible  in  the  smoke  rolling  forth  from  the  World  Trade  Center  on  September  11,  2001  to  explain  the  concepts  of  apophenia  and  pareidolia.  The  former  is  “the  process  of  projecting  patterns  onto  data,â€?  and  the  latter  is  the  process  whereby  “those  patterns  are  perceived  as  meaningful  shapes  or  sounds.â€?  According  to  Walker,  it  is  pareidolia  “that  allows  us  to  see  a  man  in  the  moon,  to  hear  a  Satanic  incantation  when  ‘Stairway  to  Heaven’  is  played  backward,  or  to  conjure  the  image  of  your  subconscious  choice  while  taking  a  Rorschach  test.  Indeed, Â
pareidolia  makes  the  whole  world  a  Rorschach  test.â€?  If  you  stare  at  a  group  of  trees  or  shrubbery  long  enough  you  will  see  a  human  shape  lurking  in  the  shadows,  and  if  you  study  the  few  photographs  that  were  taken  in  Dealey  Plaza  on  November  22,  1963  you  will  no  doubt  make  out  the  Ď?‹‰—”‡ ‘ˆ ƒ ‰—Â?Â?ƒÂ? behind  the  fence  atop  the  Grassy  Knoll.  In  other  words,  we  see  what  we  want  to  see  or  what  others  tell  us  to  see.  That’s  not  to  say,  however,  that  gunmen  don’t  lurk  behind  fences,  but  the  greater  likelihood  is  that  they  exist  in  the  same  way  as  the  face  of  Willie  Nelson  appears  on  a  burned  piece  of  toast. One  of  the  most  fascinating  chapters  in  Walker’s  book  is  “The  Water’s  Gate.â€?  In  this  chapter,  he  examines  a  host  of  Â?‘˜‹‡• –Šƒ– ”‡Ď?Ž‡…– ’ƒ”ƒÂ?‘‹† ƒÂ?† conspiratorial  themes—movies  like  The  Parallax  View,  The  Conversation,  The  Matrix,  The  DaVinci  Code,  American  Treasure,  The  Manchurian  Candidate,  The  President’s  Analyst,  Executive  Action,  Capricorn  One,  and Â
Invasion  Of  The  Body  Snatchers  that  fuel  our  need  to  believe  in  conspiracy  and  in  the  very  real  existence  of  those  who  are  watching  us,  telling  us  lies,  and  covering  up  information.  Of  course,  as  the  recent  NSA  revelations  have  demonstrated,  many  of  our  paranoid  fantasies  often  have  an  all-Ââ€?too-Ââ€?tangible  reality. Walker  concludes  his  survey  of  American  history  as  seen  through  the  lens  of  paranoia  and  conspiracy  by  reminding  us  that  we  are  often  our  own  worst  enemy:  “The  conspiracy  theorist  will  always  be  with  us,  because  he  will  always  be  us.  We  will  Â?‡˜‡” •–‘’ Ď?‹Â?†‹Â?‰ patterns.  We  will  never  stop  spinning  stories.  .  .  .And  conspiracies,  unlike  many  of  the  monsters  that  haunt  our  folklore,  actually  exist,  so  we  won’t  always  be  wrong  to  fear  them.  As  long  as  our  species Â
survives,  so  will  paranoia.  .  .  .But  we  should  also  be  skeptical— deeply,  deeply  skeptical—of  our  fearful,  fallible  selves.â€? As  you  make  out  your  holiday  gifts  lists,  don’t  forget  to  include  Walker’s  book  as  a  stocking  stuffer.  Sure  the  heck  makes  more  sense  than  yet  another  Duck  Dynasty  doormat,  blanket,  coffee  cup,  t-Ââ€?shirt,  or  14-Ââ€?month  calendar. See  you  next  week  with  something  a  little  less  paranoid.
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