The Loafer April 26th by The Loafer

Spring Thing Porsche Event

MerleFest 2016 Starts This Week

2 | April 26, 2016 | theloaferonline.com

MERLE FEST 2016

Volume 30 • Issue #21

happenings

Publisher Luci Tate Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Terry Patterson Lori Howell Beth Jinks-Ashbrook Patti Barr Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Brian Bishop Daniel Worley Jason Worley Distribution Jerry Hanger Teresa Hanger Published by Pulse Publishing, LLC., P.O. Box 3238, Johnson City, TN 37602 Phone: 423/283-4324 FAX - 423/283-4369 www.theloaferonline.com info@theloaferonline.com e-mail: editorial@theloaferonline.com (editorial) adcopy@theloaferonline.com (advertising) All advertisements are accepted and published by the publisher upon the

MerleFest 2016

Tribute Honors Beloved Country Greats

ETSU Presents An Evening Of Country & Bluegrass

Blue Highway to Host Fan Appreciation Concert

Bringing Music And Comedy Together

12 Tri-Cities Escape Game’s Grand Opening 24 Things To Do 35

Classifieds Old Crow Medicine Show Photo by Jim Gavenus.

columns & reviews 16

Stargazer - Everybody Knows Ursa Major’s Big Dipper

Skies This Week

Batteries Not Included - Eight Bit Pills

19 The Trivial Traveler - The Ultimate First Edition 20

Pop Life - The Jungle Book

Appalachian Wanderers - Virginia Creeper Trail

Pets of the Week

Kelly’s Place - The Hum Of Implications

music & fun 14

Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times

Puzzle Page

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 loss of 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

Catfish Frye Band

at Sonny’s Marina Saturday April 30th @ 7pm

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MerleFest 2016 starts this week!

ith the start of MerleFest 2016, presented by Window World, the town of Wilkesboro, N.C. is buzzing with activity. Starting this Thursday, April 28, at 2:30 p.m., and running through Sunday, May 1, approximately 75,000 participants will gather at this annual homecoming of musicians and music lovers at Wilkes Community College for the nation’s largest celebration of American roots music. With over 100 artists on 13 stages throughout the college, participants at MerleFest know to expect the unexpected. Late night jam sessions, band competitions, special guests onstage, impromptu dance parties and one-time-only musical collaborations are all a part of the fabric of MerleFest – and a testament to the enduring vision of Doc Watson and the Watson family. A key part of this vision is Doc’s idea of “traditional plus” music. Taking traditional Appalachian music as the base, “traditional plus” incorporates the many forms of American music that came from Appalachian roots and expanding to include blues, country, Americana, rock and bluegrass. Today this “traditional plus” spirit means that Americana star Jason Isbell will rub shoulders with young bluegrass visionary Sierra Hull or John Oates of famed rock duo Hall & Oates can jam with “newgrass” pioneer Sam Bush. As the nation’s largest roots and Americana festival, MerleFest has room for all those who treasure the American traditions. “In addition to the spectrum of genres offered at MerleFest, this year’s lineup speaks to the quality of music offered at the festival,” said Steve Johnson, artist relations manager for MerleFest. “On our stages we’ll have many Grammy Award-winners or multi-Grammy Award-winners, Americana Music Award winners, Country Music Association winners, and International Bluegrass Music Association Award (IBMA) winners, among many other local, regional, songwriting and instrument awards. I know that awards are only one way of recognizing outstanding talent, but these associations and their members invest a lot in considering artists to select the best of the best each year.” Grammy Award Winners Jason Isbell, John Prine, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jerry Douglas, Jim Lauderdale, Tim O’Brien and Steep Canyon Rangers Americana Music Association Winners Jason Isbell, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jerry Douglas, and Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, who also won the AMA Lifetime Achievement Award Country Music Association Award Winners Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show, Jerry Douglas, John Prine, and Sam Bush IBMA Award Winner Steep Canyon Rangers, Jerry Douglas, Amanda Smith, Becky Buller, Junior Sisk, Tim O’Brien, Karl Shiflett, Bryan Sutton, Alison Brown, Peter Rowan, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Scott Vestal, Kenny Smith Rock and Roll Hall of Fame John Oates Like many performers at MerleFest, Dan Fedoryka, a founding member of the MerleFest fan favorite band Scythian, knows that performing at this festival is a chance to pay homage to the greats who came before. “We play festivals all over the country ranging from Celtic to roots festivals, and I can say that MerleFest holds a special place in our hearts,” Fedoryka said. “It’s here that our eyes were opened to the living tradition in music: we got to actually meet the greats that up until then had been beyond reach, almost mythical. There are many things that give you a sense of accomplishment in a musical career, but to meet the greats, to shake the hands of Doc Watson, Levon Helm and others is something that stays with you and makes a difference in how you move forward as a musician. This respect for tradition is palpable and seeps into the audience. After eight years at MerleFest, we can say that we feel like family with the attendees and have seen many children grow up before our eyes, a truly unique environment that just can’t be found anywhere else.” The complete lineup and stage schedules are posted at merlefest.org/lineup and available on the MerleFest mobile app; festival updates are delivered via Twitter (@MerleFest) and Facebook. Use hashtag #MerleFest to connect with other festivalgoers on social media, and be sure to take a picture with Flattop, MerleFest’s raccoon mascot. On Thursday, April 28, MerleFest will feature per-

MERLEFEST ... continued on page 5 Fans pack the hillside to hear the featured classic rock album selected for Hillside Album Hours. Photo courtesy of MerleFest.

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MerleFest draws thousands of fans to the Watson Stage each day of the four-day event. And Scythian is always popular on the Watson Stage. Photo by Billy Potter. formances by John Prine, Alison Brown, Steep Canyon Rangers, Shannon Witworth, Tellico, and others, as well as unique collaborations between artists, for example Donna the Buffalo with Peter Rowan and Jim Lauderdale. Earlier in the day, participants in Pete Wernick’s MerleFest Jam Camp will perform on the Cabin Stage, and North Carolina’s bluegrass-tinged joyride Love Canon will open up the dance tent at 9:30 p.m. On Friday, April 29, MerleFest fans will enjoy performances by legendary artists like Old Crow Medicine Show, Peter Rowan and Jerry Douglas, festival favorites like Scythian and The Kruger Brothers, and MerleFest newcomers like Doug Seegers, , The Brothers Comatose and Billy Strings, plus international artists Australian bluegrass singer Kristy Cox, and Irish banjo trio We Banjo 3 and Canadian artists The Slocan Ramblers and Kacy & Clayton. At 2 p.m, crowds will gather for the finals of the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, hosted by Jim Lauderdale. The winners of the contest will perform at 7:30 p.m. on the Cabin Stage. This contest is renowned for discovering new talent and showcasing the next stars in American roots music. Friday also offers the Doc and Merle Watson Performing Arts Showcase,

hosted by Joe Smothers and Bob Hill of Frosty Morn on the Austin Stage. The series is intended as a diverse, eclectic sampling of local and regional talent, allowing festivalgoers to see the artists in a more intimate setting. Also in honor of the Watson family, Friday features the Docabilly-Blues Blowout featuring David Holt of the PBS series “State of Music,” Jim Lauderdale, T. Michael Coleman, Tara Nevins, String Madness and more. Closing out the night, Donna the Buffalo will light up the Dance Stage into the midnight hour. On Saturday, April 30, festivalgoers will enjoy performances from icons like John Oates, Dave Rawlings Machine, Sam Bush Band and Jim Lauderdale, plus showcases from visionary roots bands and musicians like The Wood Brothers, Shinyribs, April Verch, Penny & Sparrow, Zoe & Cloyd, Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, Wood & Wire, Becky Buller and more. Special events Saturday during the day include the MerleFest Band Competition; Mando Mania, a showcase of mandolin legends including Sam Bush and Tim O’Brien; and workshops and interpretive sets like “Learn to Jam” with Pete Wernick and “Songs of the Civil War” with Sparky and Rhonda Rucker. Of special note to MerleFest devotees is the Memories of the Watson Family workshop hosted by T. Michael Coleman with guests Sam Bush, Bryan Sutton, Jens Kruger, Jeff Little, Jack Lawrence, David Holt and other family friends. The great MerleFest tradition of The Hillside Album Hour, hosted by The Waybacks, returns with guest vocalist Nicki Bluhm. MerleFest has been leaking hints as to which classic album will be reinterpreted for the Album Hour, but the album in question will remain a mystery up until the start of the set at 4:15 p.m. on the Hillside Stage. In the late night hours, the crowd-pleasing Midnight Jam will raise the roof of the Walker Center. A separate ticket is required and available for purchase by 4-day and 3-day ticket holders and

Saturday-only ticket holders. Hosted this year by Donna the Buffalo and sponsored by The Bluegrass Situation, this popular hootenanny gathers together many performers from the festival for impromptu artistic collaborations and one-of-a-

MERLEFEST ... continued on page 6

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MERLEFEST ... continued from page 5

Old Crow Medicine Show will perform on the Watson Stage on Friday, April 29 beginning at 9:30 p.m. Photo by Jim Gavenus. kind superstar jams. Guests this year include Tommy Emmanuel, Peter Rowan, Mipso, Becky Buller, Jim Lauderdale and more, plus surprise special guests! The final day at MerleFest, Sunday, May 1, begins with morning devotions at the Creekside Stage, gospel music with Jim Avett, the father of the Avett Brothers, and the uniquely American sound of shape-note singing with Laura Boosinger at the Traditional Stage. Throughout the day, festivalgoers will enjoy uplifting performances from artists Liz Vice, Annie Moses Band, The Bros. Landreth and Jonathan Byrd & The Pickup Cowboys, followed by show-stopping sets from artists Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Tim O’Brien, Tommy Emmanuel and Sierra Hull. Other activities include the MerleFest Open Mic at the Plaza Stage where musical guests can join in the fun on stage and hear Carol Rifkin, Laura Boosinger, Sarah Osborne, Jeanette Queen and others sing and play traditional music. Throughout the four-day festival, the Dance Stage will feature various workshops and dance instruction with plenty of opportunities for festival attendees to cut loose with some stellar music performers. Additionally, Mayes Pit/Cohn Auditorium in Thompson Hall at MerleFest is devoted to a wide variety of workshops and demonstrations on Friday and Saturday, where world-class performers share their expertise with attendees. The Songwriters Showcase Coffeehouse at the Austin Stage in Alumni Hall offers a venue where songwriters can showcase their original songs. The Pickin’ Place is an area for musicians of all levels and genres to meet old friends and make new ones while singing and playing their favorite tunes together. MerleFest is a fun educational experience for children and families. Not only are children taught about roots music through listening, but they are given opportunities to play music for themselves through experiences like the Instrument Petting Zoo. During the festival, the Little Pickers Stage gives kids a chance to perform and to see great performances geared towards families. The Little Pickers Family Area is enhanced with crafts, face-painting, games, storytelling, a large grassy play area, and the opportunity to take pictures with MerleFest’s official mascot, Flattop the raccoon. In addition, there are Acoustic Kids Showcases hosted by musician Andy May that move between stages on Friday and Saturday, culminating in a Saturday evening Acoustic Kids Showcase on the Cabin Stage. Because of MerleFest’s emphasis on families, many children have grown up among the MerleFest stages, become performers themselves, and later, brought their own kids back to participate in this legendary weekend of music. In addition to music, MerleFest offers special activities and shopping. The Shoppes at MerleFest

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MERLEFEST ... continued on page 7

festival

MERLEFEST ... continued from page 6 is a centrally-located shopping village that features demonstrating artisans, vendors, convenience foods, official MerleFest memorabilia and services such as first aid, lost and found, and Internet access. For those who would like to start their day with a little Downward Facing Dog, a yoga class will be offered at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning at the Dance Stage. Beginners and yogis alike are welcome to attend. Additionally, Nature Walks of the gardens and forest on the WCC campus will be offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “For those wanting an affordable weekend getaway, MerleFest provides a true value to its customers,” said festival director Ted Hagaman. “The admission prices are extremely reasonable - especially considering that we feature over 100 acts on 13 stages. Also, there are no hidden charges. We provide free parking, a free shuttle that will deliver you to the entrance, a free program guide as you enter, and all children 12 and under are admitted free with a paid adult. In addition, our Little Pickers Family Area for children offers each child the opportunity to make crafts and participate in several interactive exhibits – all free of charge.” MerleFest 2016 is presented by Window World. MerleFest is grateful to 90+ sponsors and advertisers for their support in making the event possible, including Belk, Pepsi, Charlotte and Greensboro area Burger King restaurants, G&B Energy, Tyson, InterFlex Group, Hardee’s, Winston-Salem Journal, WXII 12, the Law Offices of Timothy D. Welborn, Bojangles’, Carolina Ford Dealers, Carolina West Wireless, Lowes Foods, Wilkes Communications, Wilkes Regional Medical Center, Wells Fargo and Mast General Store. A complete listing of all MerleFest sponsors and additional information about all aspects of the festival can be found at www.MerleFest.org. More About MerleFest: MerleFest, considered one of the premier music festivals in the country, is an annual homecoming of musicians and music fans held on the campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. MerleFest was founded in 1988 in memory of the son of the late American music legend Doc Watson, renowned guitarist Eddy Merle Watson. MerleFest is a celebration of “traditional plus” music, a unique mix of music based on the traditional, roots-oriented sounds of the Appalachian region, including bluegrass and old-time music, and expanded to include Americana, country, blues, rock and many other styles. The festival hosts a diverse mix of artists on its 13 stages during the course of the four-day event. The annual event has become the primary fundraiser for the WCC Endowment Corporation, funding scholarships, capital projects and other educational needs.

MerleFest is meant for dancing because sometimes it is impossible to stay seated! Photo courtesy of MerleFest.

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TRIBUTE HONORS BELOVED COUNTRY GREATS

Jason Petty & Katie Deal Breathe New Life Into Greatest Hits of Country

eaturing two of Barter’s favorite performers, Jason Petty & Katie Deal, “Classic Nashville Roadshow” pays homage to the legends of country music for a limited time from April 28 to May 21. Petty and Deal flawlessly personify Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard and many more. Featured songs include: “On the Road Again;” “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man;” “Crazy;” “Hey, Good Lookin’;” “Stand By Your Man;” “Coal Miner’s Daughter;” “Harper Valley PTA” and “King of the Road.” Jason Petty, Co-creator of “Classic Nashville Roadshow,” sees country music as a sort of universal connector of people from all walks of life, “Whatever your mood, country music was written for you. Like George Jones said, ‘When you’re happy, you enjoy the music. When you’re sad, you understand the lyrics.’” Petty and Deal have both previously performed at Barter Theatre in shows like, “Keep On the Sunny Side: The Songs and Story of The Carter Family,” “Hank and my Honky Tonk Heroes” and “Always…Patsy Cline.” Petty and Deal first met at Barter Theatre while performing in the cast of “Ring Of Fire” in which Petty played Johnny Cash and Deal performed as June Carter. During their time at Barter Theatre, Petty and Deal began their collaboration on “Classic Nashville Roadshow.” Petty has toured the United States, Canada and Europe with his award winning portrayal of Hank Williams. Similarly, Deal, a recent inductee to the Atlanta County Music Hall of Fame, tours the country with her one-woman show, “Katie Deal in Today, Tomorrow & Forever: A Tribute to Patsy Cline.” Both performers have been recognized nationally for their authentic country sound and dedication to keeping traditional country music alive. “Classic Nashville Roadshow” is made possible by the corporate sponsorship of the Barter Theatre Board of Trustees. Barter Theatre is funded in part by The Virginia Commission for the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts.

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Outside the Lines, Grins, Hymns and Slim Jims

luegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies at ETSU is proud to present an evening of country and bluegrass music from two of its student-led bands as part of a senior capstone performance. Seniors Karl Smakula and Jesse Lewis have been directing student groups this semester and will hold a concert on May 2nd at 7pm at the Down Home in Johnson City. Lewis’ group “Grins, Hymns, and Slim Jims” plays classic country and Honky Tonk music with strong singing and a sassy edge. Smakula directs the progressive bluegrass band “Outside the Lines” with its classic material played with modern approaches and complex arrangements. The Down Home is located at 300 W. Main Street, Johnson City, TN. Admission will be $5.

DOWN HOME • Monday, May 2nd

Outside The Lines

Town of Jonesborough Accepting Registrations

for Adult Softball and Beach Volleyball Leagues

he Town of Jonesborough Parks & Recreation Department is currently accepting registrations for Adult Co-Ed Softball and Girls’ Doubles Beach Volleyball Teams. Adult Co-Ed Softball registration will be limited to the first 10 teams to completely submit their application, roster, release forms and league fee of $200. Adult Co-Ed Softball league play will begin Tuesday, June 14, with games on Tuesday and Thursday evenings through the month of July. An End of Season Tournament will take place beginning August 4. All Adult Co-Ed Softball teams are guaranteed 10 games. Registration forms and additional information on the Adult Co-Ed Softball League can be found at jonesboroughtn.org or by calling 423-753-1553. Wetlands Water Park at Persimmon Ridge is also accepting registrations for the popular Girls’ Doubles Beach Volleyball League. The league has expanded to include teams of two girls between the ages of 11 to 18 years old. League play will begin June 6 and continue through July 22. Girls’ Doubles Beach Volleyball players will have access to use The Wetlands Water Park on game days. The league will also feature an End of Year Tournament with prizes. Girls’ Doubles Beach Volleyball registration is $40 per team and registration forms are available at wetlandsjonesborough.com or by calling 423-753-1553.

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Blue Highway

to Host First Fan Appreciation Concert

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remier award-winning bluegrass band Blue Highway will host a first of its kind All Request Fan Appreciation Concert on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia. The concert will be held at Emory & Henry’s new McGlothlin Center for the Arts, the first outside event to be held in the elaborate new facility set amidst the rolling hills of Virginia just east of Bristol. Blue Highway fans have the choice of two show times on April 30 -- 2:00 pm Matinee and7:00 pm Evening. The elaborately produced event is a Thank You from the members of Blue Highway to their friends and fans who have loyally supported the 22-year strong powerhouse group’s music since the band’s inception in 1994. Fans who buy tickets to the concert will vote for their favorite Blue Highway songs spanning the band’s 22 years and 10 studio albums. Blue Highway will perform the Top 20-25 Songs chosen by their fans. Fans will choose from seating sections named after some of Blue Highway’s biggest hits: * Marbletown - Front Row * V-Bottom Boat - Orchestra * Sycamore Hollow - Mezzanine * Keen Mountain - Balcony * In the Gravel Yard - Floor Box Seats With only 461 seats in the spectacular venue, all seat views are potentially fantastic from Box Seats to Balcony. Fan-centered options abound, from collectible tickets and fans voting for their favorite Blue Highway songs as they purchase their tickets, to an opportunity for four fans to introduce their favorite songs on stage at the event, to All-You-Can-Eat buffet Lunches and Dinners served on April 30 at the beautiful Van Dyke Center overlooking the duck pond on Emory & Henry’s campus. All fans attending the concerts are eligible to win door prizes, including two (2) one-of-a-kind Grand Prizes: a Blue Highway festival chair with carry bag, and a specially designed Blue Highway Box Set of the band’s albums. The band will also be recording their first LIVE album during the two concerts! Workshops with Blue Highway band members will also be offered in Banjo, Dobro, Fiddle / Mandolin, Guitar, and Songwriting on the day prior to the concerts: Friday, April 29, at 6:00 and 7:30 pm. Tickets, Workshop Registration, a vibrant Concert Video Intro, and full details all await atwww. BlueHighwayBand.com.

Acoustic Coffeehouse Event

Brings Comedy and Music Together For Two Charity Causes

o you enjoy standup comedy? Do you enjoy live music? Do you support charities that benefit local causes? If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, you’ll be in good hands on Thursday, April 28th at the Acoustic Coffeehouse and its sister venue, the Next Door, at 415 W. Walnut St., in Johnson City, TN. That’s because the Coffeehouse will host a Comedy and Music Concert to benefit two charities. In the Coffeehouse, Kryss Dula & Friends will play at 8pm and A Great Disaster will play at 10pm. The show at the Coffeehouse will be free with the hope that everyone who is able, will bring nonperishable food items to put in the barrel at the door for Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast

Tennessee. Simultaneously, nine Comedians will perform at the Next Door. The comedy show cover will be $5, with all proceeds going to the Bread Homeless Service, a youth ministry charity project led by Andrew Harrison Cox. So, you can go to one or the other, or walk back and forth between the events, and enjoy excellent entertainment while feeling good about contributing to the betterment of our community. Bread Homeless Service aims to help out the homeless and others down on their luck in the Tri-Cities area. According to their website, Second Harvest (part of the Feeding America network), provided 8.5 million meals in 2015 and their mission “…is to feed the hungry in Northeast Tennessee by securing and distributing food and engaging our community in the fight to end hunger.” Samuel Rucker hosts, books, organizes, and advertises a series of monthly open mic standup comedy shows, which he started two years ago. Sam is deeply passionate about the cause these shows always benefit, noting “I was homeless once in California, so I wanted to help with that problem in Johnson City. I haven’t missed a month.” This Thursday’s event is what he calls the annual Super Show, and he says it “is the only fully booked show every year, save one headliner each show, so all those scheduled for this event will be seasoned performers.” The upcoming comedic order will be: Hunter Roberts, Sam Rucker, Cory Jeter, David Habel, Cliff Andrews, Leah Garth, Jessica Lane, Matt Keilman, and Art Sturtevant. This monthly series is the only open mic comedy show in Johnson City, and anyone who wishes

ACOUSTIC ...

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Grand Opening of Tri-Cities Escape Game brings first-of-its-kind experience to Bristol

ringing the nation’s latest craze in immersive game experiences to the region -- the Tri-Cities Escape Game (located at 642 State Street, Bristol, Tennessee) will host a Grand Opening Celebration & Ribbon Cutting Thurs., April 28 at 10 am. The event, coordinated with the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, will be catered by The Burger Bar. “The support and enthusiasm we’ve experienced since we decided to open on State Street has been incredible. It goes without saying that we’re pretty excited to bring this element of challenge and creative fun to Bristol, and all of the Tri-Cities,” says Taylor Crowe, Tri-Cities Escape Game co-owner. “We think it’s a super fit for State Street — complimenting it’s eclectic dining, shopping, and brewing atmosphere. The ‘Believe in Bristol’ culture is alive and well in downtown and we’re thrilled to be joining it!” The Tri-Cities Escape Game will be open Wednesdays through Fridays from 3 pm to 10 pm and Saturdays from 11:30 am to 11 pm. It will also be open at other times, upon request, for company and group events, or to compliment the demand of State Street festivities and Bristol-area events. Reservations may be made online by visiting www.tricitiesescapegame.com. Advance reservations are highly recommended as game slots tend to fill-up several days to weeks in advance. Tri-Cities Escape Game t-shirts will be free to the first 200 players who post their pre- or post- game experience to social media. For more information or to schedule a special event or corporate experience, please contact info@tricitiesescapegame.com.

2016 Spring Thing Porsche Event is Coming to Greeneville, TN

he Smoky Mountain Region of the Porsche Club of America is holding its 41st annual premier event, the Spring Thing, in Greeneville April 29 through May 1 in historic downtown Greeneville. Billed as the premier event for the Smoky Mountain Region, the “Spring Thing” is one of the top four longest running multi-event weekends in the Porsche Club of America. The weekend will be packed with festivities and is expected to bring Porsche owners and enthusiasts from throughout the region to the community. The proceedings officially begin with a registration and a welcome reception on Friday night at the General Morgan Inn, headquarters for Spring Thing 2016. Happenings begin on Saturday morning with a Concours from 9-11 a.m., followed by lunch on the terrace at the General Morgan Inn from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., and a Rally from 1-4 p.m. An awards banquet is scheduled for Saturday evening. The public is invited to come out during the Concours on Depot Street to enjoy the cars and talk with the owners. Activities begin again on Sunday morning with an Autocross at 9 a.m. at the Greeneville Municipal Airport. First Car is set for 10:30 a.m.

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ACOUSTIC ... continued from page 11 to try their hand at standup is welcome to sign up and give it a go. Likewise, both Kryss Dula & Friends and A Great Disaster are long supporters of local charity causes. On the last day of each semester at ETSU, where Dula also teaches, he organizes a music concert at The Acoustic Coffeehouse, which benefits Second Harvest. He notes that “and we always try to make ourselves available for any benefit shows we’re asked to play, and I try to schedule at least two shows a year that help to feed people in our area.” He noted that the concept came about when he played a show with local favorites ‘this mountain,’ when they suggested doing a food drive event. “I thought, why not just keep that going on a regular basis?” Various headline bands rotate through the main slot, and the Friends serve as the opening act. And that rotation mirrors participation in the Friends “band.” Dula says “Our group consists of any of about two dozen local musicians who might or might not be available for any given event.” He estimates that over 50 musicians have played with the Friends on at least one occasion, and as such, “you never know what you’ll get, except that having fun is guaranteed.” You can find more information about Kryss Dula at reverbnation.com/kryssdula and facebook.com/kryssdula One of those regular rotational headliners is A Great Disaster, who are slated to perform at this event. Led by Zach Ross (lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards), AGD has been performing in this area with various other members for about three years, and about six months with the current lineup.. They play mostly original music, in a wide variety of styles, because this is an unbelievably accomplished group of musicians. All of the current members are or were music majors at ETSU, with the exception of Nick Castro (bass) who is a Psychology major, but who is an outstanding player in his own right. Other current members are Westley Harris (fiddle), Jason Carpenter (drums), and Kevin Leonard (guitar). They also have three full studio albums to their credit. You can find more information about AGD at reverbnation.com/AGreatDisaster and facebook.com/ AGreatDisaster For more information about this event, go to www.acousticcoffeehouse.net or call (423) 4349872.

TOWN, MERCHANTS HOST FIRST ‘ERWIN GREAT OUTDOORS FESTIVAL’ APRIL 30

‘A celebration of all Unicoi County has to offer the outdoor enthusiast in you’ For more information, call Erwin Town Hall at 4237436231. Officers are open Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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S O LG T P

T I

- TUESDAY - April 26th -

OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse ETSU BANDS at Down Home GUIDO AUSOME & THE OPEN MIC PLAYERS at O’Mainnin’s Pub DOWNTOWN COUNTRY at Jiggy Ray’s 6:30pm - WEDNESDAY - April 27th -

OPEN MIC at Jiggy Ray’s OPEN MIC at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 6pm

SHADES OF GREY (unplugged) at O’Mainnin’s Pub ETSU BANDS at Down Home SWAMPCANDY at Sleepy Owl Brewery 8pm OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse - THURSDAY - April 28th -

BETH SNAPP, JEFF LANE, TYLER LUTTRELL at Capone’s EC FRAZIER at Marker “2” Grill ETSU BANDS at Down Home BRISTOL TN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BAND

- FRIDAY - April 29th -

THE LAST CHANCE BAND

at Country Club Bar & Grill PLAN Z at O’Mainnin’s Pub 8pm

DADA CABERET / CAMERON SUTPHIN at Acoustic Coffeehouse

- SATURDAY - April 30th CATFISH FRYE BAND (Rockin’ Boogie Blues)

at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe 7pm QUARTER BOUNCE at Marker “2” Grille WYLDEHEARTS at 50Fifty Sports Tavern NIGHTSHIFT (Country, Southern Rock, Oldies) at David Thompson’s Produce 7pm SOUTH OF ROAN at Down Home UNDER THE TABLE (Rock, Classic Rock) at Erwin Great Outdoor Festival 9am

TERRY LEWIS & FRIENDS

at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm

JERRY PIERCE & THE NIGHTLIFE BAND at The Dispensary

LIVE MUSIC at Bone Fire Smokehouse JB 5 N DIME at Holston River Brewing Company 8pm

SOUTHERN REBELLION (Country, Classic Rock, Southern Rock) at Quaker Steak & Lube SUNDOWN BAND (Country) at The Family Barn 6pm DOUBLESHOTT at Holiday Inn (Exit 7)

at O’Mainnin’s Pub

at Jiggy Ray’s 8pm

at Paramount Center for the Arts 6pm

MARCUS BOYD ONE MAN SHOW

KRYSS DULA / A GREAT DISASTER at Acoustic Coffeehouse

- FRIDAY - April 29th CALAMITY JONES at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe 7pm RIVER RATS at 50Fifty Sports Tavern THE WEIGHT at Capone’s MODEL CITY WRECKING CREW at Marker “2” Grill

REAGAN BOGGS at Down Home HIDDEN VALLEY BOYS at The Family Barn 6pm BILLY CRAWFORD BAND at Bone Fire Smokehouse GAY OLE OPRY at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm

HIGHWAY 101

at Holston River Brewing Company 8pm ETHAN KELLER at Shelbee’s Vintage Cafe JACKDAW’s 7 at Sleepy Owl Brewery 1pm

TENNESSEE LARUE

at Elizabethton Elks Lodge 9pm

JASON ELLIS

at Woodstone Deli 8pm

BEFORE THE STORM at Biggie’s Clam Bar 9pm

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LAWSONGARRETT & THE LOVE

SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND

(Country) at Buffalo Ruritan BLUE HIGHWAY at McGlothlin Center for the Arts - Emory & Henry College

NAVAJO WITCH, BASK, BONES OF MARY at Capone’s PORCH 40 / FIELD NOTES at Bristol Brewery 8pm

COPPER RIDGE

at Holston River Brewing Company 9pm SOULFINGER at O’Mainnin’s Pub

WHYSKEY OUTLAW BAND at Kingsport Moose Lodge 6pm

KENTUCKY SCHOOL OF BLUEGRASS ENSEMBLE at Carter Fold RON SHORT & THE POSSUM PLAYBOYS at Sleepy Owl Brewery

DAVID GANS

at Birthplace of Country Music Museum

APPLE BUTTER BLUES BAND at Bone Fire Smokehouse

BRIAN MILLIGRAM / MADE IN EDEN at Acoustic Coffeehouse

COAL CREEK w/ BIG DON at Country Club Bar & Grill

IVY ROAD

If you or your band are playing in the upcoming week and would like to be in The Spotlight, call in advance to (423) 283-4324 or go online to: theloaferonline.com. Due to last minute cancellations or changes, please call the location to confirm.

- SUNDAY - May 1st -

at Marker “2” Grille

RENEGADE MUSTANGES at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe 4pm

OPEN JAM

at The Family Barn 1pm

MARSHALL BALLEW at Bone Fire Smokehouse

BRANDON REID / LAUREN PEACOCK at Acoustic Coffeehouse

- MONDAY - May 2nd JORDAN COPAS at Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch OPEN MIC at Acoustic Coffeehouse

KARAOKE

TUESDAY Karaoke at 50Fifty Sports Tavern Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Boomershine’s Pizza - Bluff City *********************** WEDNESDAY Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at American Legion 8pm Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Smokey Bones - Johnson City TN Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN *********************** THURSDAY Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City Karaoke at Bristol VFW Karaoke at Holiday Inn - Johnson City *********************** FRIDAY Karaoke at Bristol VFW - Bristol TN Karaoke w/ Southern Sounds Karaoke at Sportsman’s Bar & Grill 9pm Karaoke w/ Reverb Karaoke at The Cottage 8:30 pm Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke at Bristol VFW Karaoke at Elizabethton VFW Elizabethton TN Karaoke w/ DJ Marques at Holiday Inn (Exit 7) - Bristol VA Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City *********************** SATURDAY Turn the Page Karaoke at VFW Post 2108 - Johnson City TN Karaoke w/ Absolute Entertainment at Macado’s - Kingsport Karaoke at Bristol VFW Karaoke at Numan’s - Johnson City TN ***********************

Spotlight Directory 50 Fifty Sports Tavern 2102 N. Roan Street Johnson City Acoustic Coffeehouse 415 W Walnut St. Johnson City 423/434.9872 Biggies Clam Bar 417 W Stone Dr Kingsport 423/765-9633 Bone Fire Smokehouse at the Hardware 260 W Main St Abingdon Va 276/623-0037 Bristol Brewery 41 Piedmont Ave Bristol VA 276/ 608-1220 Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch 620 State St Bristol 423/573-2262 Buffalo Ruritan 200 Willowbrook Dr. Bluff City 423/391-7382 Capone’s 227 E Main St Johnson City 423/928-2295 Carter Family Fold 3449 A. P. Carter Hwy Hiltons VA 276/594-0676 Country Club Bar & Grill 3080 W State St Bristol 423/844-0400 David Thompson’s Produce 251 Highway 107 Jonesborough 423/913-8123 The Dispensary 271 Oak Avenue, Spruce Pine NC 828/765-0050 Down Home 300 W. Main St. Johnson City 423/929-9822 Elizabethton Elks Lodge 1000 N. Sycamore St Elizabethton 423/ 543-2341 Family Barn 15559 Lee Hwy Bristol VA Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100 Holston River Brewing Company

2621 Volunteer Pkwy Bristol TN Jiggy Ray’s 610 E. Elk Ave Elizabethton Kingsport Moose Lodge 301 E. Main St. Kingsport The Lions Club 116 Industrial Park Rd. Chilhowie VA 276/646-3916 Marker “2’ Grill at Lakeview Marina 474 Lakeside Dock, Kingsport 423/323-4665 The Mecca Lounge 117 Spring St Johnson City Northeast State Community College 2425 Highway 75 Blountville TN 423/928-9360 O’Mainnin’s Pub 712 State St Bristol 423/844-0049 The Outdoorsman 4535 Highway 11W Kingsport Paramount Center for the Arts 516 State St. Bristol TN 423/ 274-8920 Shelbees Vintage Café 504 State Street Bristol TN 423/ 652-1000 Sleepy Owl Brewery 151 E. Main St. Kingsport 423/390-8476 Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One St. Gray TN 423/283-4014 Washington County Moose 15605 Porterfield Hwy Abgindon VA 276/628-2756 Wellington’s Restaurant Carnegie Hotel 1216 W State of Franklin Rd Johnson City 423/979-6400 The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 216 E Main St Johnson City Woodstone Deli 3500 Fort Henry Dr Kingsport 423/245-5424 Yee Haw Brewing Company 126 Buffalo St. Johnson City

Reagan Boggs

Empty Glasses CD Release at the Down Home April 29 – 8:00 PM 300 W. Main St Johnson City, TN www.downhome.com

theloaferonline.com | April 26, 2016 | 15

Everybody Knows Ursa Major’s Big Dipper

ou know them as at seven stars of the Big Dipper. Keep following that curve of the handle from Arcturus across the sky and you’ll run Yet they’re just the hindquarters of the large constellation Ursa into another bright star, Spica, a 1st magnitude star in Virgo the Virgin. Major, the Big Bear. The old astronomy saying is: Take the Handle and arc to Arcturus and speed on to Rivaled only by winter’s Orion the Hunter, Big Dipper is the Spica! most recognized star pattern around the world by stargazing The night sky is always full of mythical stories and folklore. And you’d be hard boys and girl, men and women. pressed to find any ancient civilization that didn’t recognize the Big Dipper. SurprisEverybody knows about ingly, many legends, call the pattern and the the Big Dipper. It frequently appears in carstars around it a bear. toons, advertising campaigns and even in As a part of the large constellation Ursa pop culture. Major, the Great Bear, the Big Dipper was An obscure professional basketball bit of seen as a cart by the Chinese on a wall relief trivia is the early nickname of 7-foot, late, dating back to 147 AD. great Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain? Why, Greek and Roman mythology heavily inthe answer is “The Big Dipper!” He easily volve the Greater and Lesser Bears in their dipped balls into the hoop (he once scored stories. And Native American tribes also 100 points in a game), and, wow, was he big! had their celestial bear stories. So you owe it to yourself to look up at Some ancient cultures even tested the the Big Dipper one of these clear, blossoming eyesight of potential warriors by making spring nights and see the seven most famous them look at the Big Dipper. How’s that? stars in the night sky. Just face north, and Well, when you’re looking at the Big Diplook up and there it is! per this spring, pay particular notice to the To amateur astronomers they have some middle star of the handle, Mizar. distinct Arabic names—Dubhe, Merak, PhecThere is a very close star to Mizar, and it da, Megrez, Alioth, Mizar and Alkaid. They has had its own name, Alcor, for centuries. all translate to a part of a bear, like the loins, This double star Mizar and Alcor do not tail and thigh, their exact meaning lost in the actually orbit each other but are coincidenunrecorded antiquity. tally close as seen from our earthly line-ofLike a lot of the brightest star patterns, sight. they can be used as a guidepost to find other But the double stars are an excellent test of stars in the sky. good eyesight from bad—so, how’s yours? Like the North Star, Polaris. If you don’t see them at first, put a pair of For centuries, merchant sailors, land travbinoculars on them, then go back with the elers anybody lost at night have used the Big naked eyes and you’ll probably see Alcor. Dipper to locate the North Star. Surprising to The three stars of the Big Dipper’s handle most people is that Polaris isn’t a very bright are actually the tail of the Great Bear—but star, it’s just an average 2nd magnitude star who’s ever seen a bear with a long tail? Nolike the ones in the Dipper. body. Just follow the outside two stars of the That’s another of many celestial mysterDipper’s bowl, Dubhe on the top and Merak ies...why do so many diverse cultures see on the bottom, and imagine a line running this star pattern as a bear with a long tail? into Polaris, the North Star. There is no good answer, so far. Most people are surprised that Polaris isn’t Some American Indians knew there brighter. It’s just an average 2nd magnitude wasn’t a bear with a long tail, so their Great star like the ones in the Big Dipper. Bear was being chased by three hunters and Follow the curve of the three stars of the the cook with the pot, Alcor! handle of the Big Dipper (Alioth, Mizar and Ursa Major is just one of many ancient Alkaid) to the third brightest star of the enconstellations that can entertain without the tire sky, at nearly minus 1 magnitude, Arcuse of anything but a good pair of eyes. Put turus is in the ancient constellation of Bootes yours to use the next clear night! the Herdsman. Photo by MarQ

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he night sky above our heads is open to the rest of the Universe like a window from our spaceship Earth. There are thousands of other galaxies to see beyond our own in Virgo, Leo, Ursa Major and other Spring constellations. On May evenings, the Milky Way is circling around the horizon, but in June (or after midnight) it will begin showing its glory above the eastern horizon. AND, the mighty Jupiter is dominating the sky as the brightest “star,” a striking golden light shining high overhead all night. Tues. April 26 The Big Dipper is just a part of the much larger constellation Ursa Major, the Big Bear. But these seven stars, that are called The Plough in Europe, are among the most recognized asterism in the night sky. Of course, “the pointer stars” of the outside bowl, Merak and Dubhe, guide us to the North Star, Polaris, in the Little Dipper, again, just a part of the Little Bear. On this 1993 date in space history, Shuttle Columbia was launched on a unique partnership with Germany. The reusable German Spacelab was inside the cargo bay for its second mission with two astronauts operating their country’s experiments. Wed. April 27 Say goodbye to the great hunter, Orion as he’ll be below the horizon by 10 pm. Right behind will be the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, skirting the southwest horizon. Experienced stargazers can tell the time within a few weeks by just studying which constellations are rising or setting in the evening twilight. Thurs. April 28 That bright star Arcturus that the Big Dipper’s handle arcs to anchors the bottom point of the star pattern Bootes that looks like a kite, or an ice cream cone—or a diamond! An ancient constellation named after a man who built and drove chariots a few thousand years ago, not much

Celestial events in the skies for the week of April 26th -May 2nd as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette. else is known about Bootes (pronounced BOO oh tez). But he must have been a pioneer of wheeled vehicles to have such a prominent constellation named after him! Have you met anyone named Bootes? Fri. April 29 Today is Last Quarter Moon, our next door neighbor in space rising after midnight and waning to a morning crescent. Also in the after midnight sky rising in Scorpius are Mars and Saturn. On this 1985 date in space history, Shuttle Challenger was launched with a record 7 astronauts, two rhesus monkeys and 24 rodents. This was the first time astronauts flew with other mammals for a seven-day study aboard the SpaceLab compartment in the storage bay. Sat. April 30 A weekend well spent would be one getting familiar with that telescope under the bed, in the closet or the garage. The spiders might not want to give it up, you can learn a lot if you haul out that “box store” telescope, clean it up and get acquainted to its movement and eyepieces. Look during daytime at “terrestrial” objects before the nighttime celestial ones. But NEVER look at the Sun through a telescope or binoculars or eye damage will occur. Sun. May 1 On this 1996 date in astronomy history, Comet Hyakutake was making its closest approach to Earth. It was not quite spectacular, but still a good naked eye comet for anyone to see. And a delightful easy target for astrophotographers! Mon. May 2 You need really dark skies to see the largest constellation Hydra the Snake, but it is there snaking along southern horizon from west to east. It has no bright stars, and most are drowned out by light polPhoto by MarQ lution.

theloaferonline.com | April 26, 2016 | 17

Eight Bit Pills

finally slept last night for the first time in a couple of days. For a handful of nights I’d wake about three hours before I normally do, putter about the house for an hour or so, then fall back asleep, then wake up again at my usual time— only feeling groggy. Insomnia is nothing new to me, I usually have a solid bout of it about once or twice a year. This is a significant improvement from when I would go for months without sleeping well. Insomnia also runs in my family. Sometimes I find I can’t quite get settled in bed into a position that I find comfortable. Other times, it’s simply a case of my brain not wanting to settle down for the night. That was the culprit of the current go about with insomnia. The same thing was happening every night. As I would climb into my cozy bed, then close my eyes, I would hear the same thing over and over in my head. It was a piece of music instantly recognizable from my childhood, and the childhoods of others from my generation. Let’s see if you can recognize it what it might be from typing out the little tune here with no context. I’d say this should be read in an upper tempo: “do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do. Pause.

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do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do, dun-de-dun dun-de-dun dun-de-dun dun-de-dun.” Now you may be scratching you heads and thinking I’ve had a stroke, or you may have clicked immediately onto what the tune is. “Fever” from the Nintendo game “Dr. Mario.” “Dr. Mario” is a game that Nintendo released for the original NES in 1990. The game was Nintendo’s riff on “Tetris.” In “Dr. Mario” you have to remove multiple virus “bugs” from a large pill jar. Each “bug” is either yellow, blue, or red. Mario drops in pills that are either solidly one of those colors, a combination of two of them. You match usually four of the same color to one virus to make it go away, the goal being to clear them all from the jar before the pills reach all the way to the top of the jar. Much like “Tetris” when you clear a series of the same color, and a virus, they disappear from the jar and ones stacked on top of them fall to the bottom. “Dr. Mario” was a favorite growing up, I had it for my NES, and my game boy. My mother even liked playing “Dr. Mario.” Anyone who has enjoyed the game, or played any of the re-issues and revivals of the game, like Nintendo’s recent update for Wii U—“Dr. Luigi”— recognizes “Fever” and the other music from the game, the slow tempo “Chill.” Much in the same way I am convinced that one day nursing homes will be full of people humming the theme to “Super Mario Brothers,” “Fever” is also one of those tunes that is embedded in the deep tissue of my brain. The sounds and iconography of “Dr. Mario” are just there. Wedged in my mind from hours of playing the game, much in the same way I can instantly recall various sound effects and music cues from the Sonic the Hedgehog games. As I typed that, all I could hear was the sound of Sonic gathering a ring. As much as I love these sounds, as much as “Fever” was always my favorite of the songs in “Dr. Mario,” it’s not as much fun when you’re trying to sleep and the tune plays over and over and over again in your head for a good hour. Naturally, because hearing the music causes the visuals to appear in my mind as well, in addition to hearing “Fever” I couldn’t stop seeing the smiling 8-bit visual of Mario in his doctor gear, tossing colored pills as well—with those bugs doing that little dance they do. After several nights of this madness happening, I did what was the best option given the circumstances. I got out of bed after trying to sleep, went downstairs, fired up my Wii U, and played “Dr. Mario”—where I have a copy of the game from Nintendo’s wonderful “Virtual Console” feature. After playing the game for half an hour, I felt my eyes becoming heavy. I fell asleep in my armchair. I woke a few hours later to the flashing of a game over screen on my TV, and a sense of disorientation. Following that night, I slept beautifully, soundly, peacefully. I woke with a renewed sense of hope and joy for the world and my fellow humanity. I don’t know what in my mind was causing this desire to spend some quality time with “Dr. Mario,” but at least I finally got to sleep without needing, um, a pill. See you next week.

The Ultimate First Edition

nless my column has somehow become required reading in America’s high schools and universities – an idea I would wholeheartedly support, by the way – I think it’s fairly safe to assume that we are all here because we enjoy reading. Furthermore, whether it be printed in a nice Ariel, Helvetica, or even the much-maligned Comic Sans, we probably take for granted that it’s a modern luxury to not have to perpetually decrypt other people’s handwriting as we read. For that, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Johann Gutenberg, inventor of moveable type and the scourge of scribes everywhere. Ok, so calling it modern is a bit of a reach - Gutenberg introduced his printing press in the mid-fifteenth century. Nevertheless, the impact that his invention has had on our civilization cannot be overstated. When Gutenberg began printing bibles (remember, the Harry Potter books hadn’t been written yet), he shortened the (re)production process significantly, cutting out the need for monks with quills, candles, and LOTS of free time. It was by no means a simple process, but within three years, Gutenberg had

ship building (an impressive sight – you might recognize it from Ghostbusters or The Day After Tomorrow, among other cinematic appearances) boasts its very own Gutenberg bible, produced sometime in 1455. Assuming you show up when the library is open and can effectively navigate a metal detector (because NYC), you can find it on display in its own little nook up on the second floor. A word of caution though: The Guttenberg Bible happens to be the oh-so-clever title of actor Steve Guttenberg’s memoir, so for the love of God, be sure to ask for the correct one.

turned out somewhere in the neighborhood of 160-180 complete, two-volume Latin bibles. Forty-nine of those bibles are known to survive today, although only 21 are complete. Nobody is really sure how much a copy would be worth, since none have changed hands on the open market since 1978. It has been suggested, though, that a copy in decent condition might fetch $30 million at auction. Today, nearly all surviving Gutenberg bibles are in the hands of university libraries, museums, and other such scholarly institutions. Many reside in Europe, but copies in the U.S. can also be found at Harvard, Yale, the Library of Congress, and the main branch of the New York Public Library. That last one is probably the most easily accessible to gawkers like me. The NYPL’s flag-

theloaferonline.com | April 26, 2016 | 19

The Jungle book **** out of 4 stars

clearly remember the Disney animated film “The Jungle Book” from my childhood, as the film was a joy to watch with its lovable characters and great songs. The film I don’t recall was the 1994 live-action film “Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book”, starring Jason Scott Lee. The latter film, I understand, strayed a bit from the novel, and mainly featured an adult Mowgli. I recommend searching for that film, as I certainly will do. The adventures of the jungle boy Mowgli come to life in the latest incarnation of “The Jungle Book”, now playing in theaters. The new effort stars newcomer Neel Sethi as Mowgli, along with an all-star cast of actors voicing the various animal characters. The story-line follows a young Mowgli, who after becoming an orphan while in the jungle with his father, is discovered by the panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley), who turns the youngster over to a wolf pack to be raised by them. As Mowgli grows a bit older, he has adapted pretty well to his jungle existence with his wolf pack, but does have his struggles. During one of the jungle’s dry seasons, all the animals head to a watering hole where they all can drink together peacefully because they all agreed to call a truce during the dry weather. While Mowgli is at the Peace Rock watering hole with his wolf family and other animals, the fearsome Bengal tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) shows up, and picks up the scent of the human. Shere Khan has no fondness for man, due to a horrible accident with a man that left him scarred. Sher Khan demands the man-cub be turned over to

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him or there will be a deadly price to pay. The demands of the tiger force Mowgli to flee his wolf family and return to the world of man. Bagheera is going to help Mowgli get back to a human village in order to keep him out of Shere Khan’s path. Despite Bagheera’s best efforts, Shere Khan is in hot pursuit of the duo, and eventually a run in with the tiger separates the duo. Mowgli soon runs afoul of huge snake Kaa (Scarlett Johansson), and is rescued by the beloved Sloth Bear Baloo (Bill Murray). The bear and the man-cub develop a great friendship that is nearly destroyed forever when Mowgli is captured by the giant ape King Louie (Christopher Walken). As fans of the book know, all ends well for the characters, save for one, and our jungle boy continues his happy life with his animal friends at the films conclusion. The film is directed by Jon Favreau (“Elf”), who does a wonderful job with newcomer Sethi, who is marvelous in the role of Mowgli, considering he spent nearly all of the film acting with CGI characters. The movie features a few of the fun songs we remember from the animated film, including “The Bare Necessities”, and “I Wan’na Be Like You”. The film is not a musical, but I was really glad to hear the songs used in clever ways in the film. The film features beautiful scenery, and is especially enjoyable in the 3D format, which only heighten the popping visuals. With a fine mix of comedy and action, “The Jungle Book” is a fun tale of friendship, bravery and loyalty. (Rated PG)

Virginia creeper trail

Photo and article by Jason & Daniel Worley

magine the year is 1900 and you are somewhere between Abingdon and Damascus, Virginia. It’s a sunny but cold day in February and all of the sudden you see black smoke shooting into the air, you hear strange “chugging” sounds, and then out of nowhere comes the loudest steam train whistle you have ever heard. This would have been the first day that the Virginia-Carolina Railroad Company first rolled into Damascus from Abingdon, ready for business. Fast forward to 1912, and the steam train was rolling up to Whitetop, Virginia and in 1918, a full seventy-five miles into Elkland, North Carolina. In 1957, locomotive #433 (now on display at the Abingdon trailhead) was one of the last steam engines to run on the tracks, being replaced by the newer, larger, and faster diesel engines. While these steam-powered beasts were huge in size, they were still no match for the steep grade while pulling a full load of lumber or freight up the mountain. Often one would hear the locals referring to the engines as “creeping up the slope,” coining the phrase, The Virginia Creeper. The new diesel engines would run the tracks until March 31st, 1977, when the very last “Creeper” would blow its eerie, chilling-sounding whistle before the tracks were removed later that year. After the tracks were pulled up in 1977, the towns of Abingdon and Damascus worked with the U.S. Forest Service to acquire the land where the rails once were for use as a recreational trail. This pathway, now known as the Virginia Creeper Trail, runs for thirty-four miles from Abingdon to the Virginia and North Carolina state line, just past the former Whitetop Station and opened for public use in 1984. With the warmer spring weather now here, we recently decided to ride the trail from Whitetop down to the town of Damascus. This is the easier part of the trail to ride, as most of it is downhill, allowing you to coast while enjoying the view. We highly recommend making reservations with one of the shuttle services in town. We have used Blue Blaze Shuttle Service (276.475.5095) each time we have gone to ride the trail. The staff is more than friendly, and provide the perfect bike for every age. We use their mountain bikes, and is around $27.00 each, including a free bottle of water and repair kit. With your own bike, the cost is only $17.00 to ride the shuttle to Whitetop. After getting our bikes in Damascus and loading onto the shuttle, we enjoyed the thirty-minute ride to the top of the mountain. Here the shuttle will let you off at Whitetop Station to begin your journey. The Whitetop Station is actually at milepost 32.7, so if one wants to bike the full trail, they’ll need to go to the right and travel the 1.3 miles to milepost 34.0 at the state line with North Carolina and then turn around to start the journey down the mountain. A beautiful cascade on Laurel Whitetop River and A picturesque marsh in Taylor’s Valley Although the path may be crowded at first, one will eventually be able to enjoy the ride in solitude as everyone finds their own pace. Since the trail drops almost two thousand feet in elevation as it descends the mountain, travelers are easily able to complete the route within two or three hours. In order to appreciate all the sights and sounds of the trail, however, one should travel at a slower speed, taking time to meander and enjoy the beauty of the Southern Appalachians to their fullest. Almost the entirety of this portion of the trail lies within Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, a swathe of protected land spanning over 200,000 acres in the highest of Virginia’s peaks. Bikers cannot help but gaze in awe as massive Whitetop Mountain looms nearby. Keep your eyes on the trail too, however, as it quickly descends into the narrow and winding gorge carved out by the Whitetop Laurel River. Here in the gorge one will discover some of the most interesting historical features of the trail, which include more than twenty of the original wooden railroad trestles built to cross the wild stream. Bits of charcoal lie mixed in with the gravel of the trail, another leftover vestige of the era of the steam engines. After passing through the community of Taylor’s Valley, the path shares its tread with another far more famous trail, none other than Appalachian Trail. This is one of the few places along its two thousand mile course that one is able to bike along the renowned footpath. Not long after the A.T. splits away on its own course into town, the sounds of birds and waterfalls begin to be replaced with the roar of automobiles along J.E.B. Stuart Highway, which soon comes to run alongside the trail. Although the tranquility of the wilderness is broken and a chancy road crossing must be performed soon after, the rest of the route into town is still enjoyable and makes for a pleasant walk or ride when one may not have the time to commit to the entire trail. All in all, the Virginia Creeper Trail serves as one of southwest Virginia’s outstanding destinations and makes for an excellent half day activity for families, history buffs, and nature lovers alike. theloaferonline.com | April 26, 2016 | 21

Answers found on page 32

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pets of the week

Blackie is a 2 year old domestic short hair male. He is neutered and up to date on all vaccines. This pretty boy needs a home!

Kitty is a 3 year old domestic short hair female. She is spayed and up to date on all vaccines. This is a very sweet and loving cat! The Bridge Home has an ongoing aluminum can can collection in front of the shelter at 2061 Hwy 75 in Blountville,TN 37617. The cans are collected by a volunteer and the money from the aluminum goes towards badly needed food and supplies for the animals The Bridge Home No Kill Animal Rescue has started a pet food pantry for people that have had financial hardships because of job loss or medical problems and are struggling to feed their pet. They can come by the shelter and get cat or dog food to get through the tough time. Donations can be sent to The Bridge Home Shelter PO Box 654 Blountville, TN 37617 Every animal in their care is spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated before being adopted. Being a non profit the shelter is funded entirely by membership dues and private donations. They always need volunteers or monetary donations. Other always needed items:pet food, cat litter & cat toys dog treats & dog toys,paper towels, cleaners, office supplies,Purina weight circles. Phone: 423.239.5237 Hours are Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm Sat 12pm-3pm and Sun 2pm-4pm. Website is www.bridgehomerescue@gmail.com or like them on Facebook: www.Facebook. com/bridgehome

SELL .... YOUR .... STUFF

www.theloaferonline.com theloaferonline.com | April 26, 2016 | 23

things to do 1st Annual SPAY-GHETTI Dinner Fundraiser

The Animal Defense League of Washington County, Virginia announced it will host its 1st Annual Spay-ghetti Dinner, Saturday, May 7, 2016 at The Abingdon Senior Center and Virginia Ballroom at 300 Senior Drive NE, Abingdon, VA 24210 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Cost is $15 per adult and $10 per child. All proceeds go to the Animal Defense League. The event will feature dinner, prepared by Chef Crystal Dykes, including spaghetti with meat or marinara sauce, salad, bread, dessert and beverages. Music will fill the grand ballroom while a silent auction and 50/50 raffle occur. The event will collect funds to ensure the spay/neuter financial program continues to help those in our area in an effort to control pet overpopulation and unnecessary euthanasia. In 2015, ADL assisted with over 3,020 surgeries at Margaret B. Mitchell Spay Neuter Clinic as well as area veterinarians. “Spaying and neutering our pets is the real solution to stopping the pet overpopulation,” said ADL President Linda Fritsch. Tickets can be purchased online at www.adlwashcova.org or by contacting Debbie Robinson at 724-244-1109 or debbierobinson@outlook.com.

2016 Arbor Day Festival

Members of the Northeast Tennessee Master Gardener Association, with support from the Johnson City Power Board and Appalachian Sustainable Development, will be sponsoring a festival to celebrate the role, function, and beauty of the many trees, shrubs, and bushes that surround our homes and beautify the landscape surrounding our community. WHEN: Saturday, April 30, 2016 10:00 am – 3:00 pm WHERE: Carver Recreation Center 322 West Watauga Avenue WHAT: A free, day long program of educational programs, activities, and experiences including: • Miss Arbor Day Contest • An ETSU Tree Identification Walk • Tree and gardening-related work-

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shops • Woodcarving & Birdhouse building demos • Tree “give aways” • Photography contest * Information on our website • TN Master Gardener Information Table VENDORS: Gardening, landscaping, tree services reps; Hiking, biking, nature clubs; Herbal-based food & beauty care products; Area parks and recreation programs. http://arbordaytn.webs.com

Sassy Stitchers meet at Gray Library in May

Adults interested in doing any type of hand crafts, such as cross-stitch, crochet, or knitting, are invited to join the Sassy Stitchers at Gray Branch Library on the second and fourth Monday of each month, from 6 to 8 p.m. The library encourages adults at all skill levels to come and bring their own projects to work on, while providing assistance and encouragement to others in the group. This month the Sassy Stitchers will meet on May 9 and 23. For more information, call the library at 477-1550.

Mindful Recovery Group Open To the Public

Anyone recovering from any type of addiction, including alcoholism and drug addiction, is invited to attend the Mindful Recovery Group. The group can serve as an alternative or addition to traditional 12-step recovery meetings and does not require any particular belief or spiritual practice. Mindful Recovery meets every Thursday from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center (ADMC), 108 W. 10th Ave., Suite 3, Johnson City, TN. The meeting is free and confidential. For more information, contact mindfulrecovery4et@ gmail.com. ADMC offers opportunities to explore Buddhism, meditation of various forms, mindfulness and much more. For more information about ADMC, visit the website www.dharma4et.org or contact dharma4et@gmail.com.

2016 Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest Kicks Off 14th Year Event

The 14th Annual Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition will be held at the Kingsport Art Guild Main Gallery and the Atrium Gallery located in the Kingsport Renaissance Center in Kingsport, TN. The Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition is looking for entries for this year’s event. There are three levels of competition: Youth, Amateur, Proficient. Competition categories are: Nature, Pictorial, and the Carrie Penley Special Theme. This year’s theme is, “ADVENTURE TIME.” The photographs can be in color or monochrome (black & white). Cash Prizes and ribbons are awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, People’s Choice, Best of Show and the Jerry Penley “I Love the Blue Ridge/Appalachian Region.” Honorable Mentions will receive ribbons. Entries can be turned in MondayFriday May 2-13 from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. and on Saturdays May 7 and 14 from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. at Rainbow’s End Floral and Gift Shop located at 214 E. Center St. Kingsport, TN. Deadline is Saturday May 14th at 3 p.m. Entries may be shipped to Ann Fortney 154 W. Wanola Ave, Kingsport TN 37660, but entries need to arrive by the deadline. Judging will be Saturday May 21 from 10 a.m. till finished. Times depend on number of entries. Judging will be at the Kingsport Renaissance Center lo-

cated at 1200 E. Center St. Kingsport, TN and is open to the public. The Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Exhibition will be from May 29-June22, 2016. The exhibit will be at the Kingsport Art Guild Main Gallery and the Atrium Gallery located inside the Kingsport Renaissance Center and will be open during regular business hours. The Reception Awards Ceremony will be Sunday May 29, 2016 from 2-4p.m. All awards will be presented that day with the exception of the People’s Choice Award; which will be presented June 11, at 3:30 p.m. Deadline for voting for the People’s Choice award is June 11, at 3 p.m. For more information contact Ann Fortney at 423-914-5453, email anniepenjacc2@aol.com or Facebook: Kingsport Spring Spectacular Photography Contest and Exhibition.to sign in and pay before each class. For more information, please call (423)434-6237.

MECC Student Veterans Association to Host Twilight’s Last Gleaming 5K

Mountain Empire Community College’s Student Veterans Association will hold a 5K race titled “Twilight’s Last Gleaming” on Saturday, April 30 at the Bullitt Park Greenbelt in Big Stone Gap. The 5K walk will begin at 5 p.m., with the running event beginning at 7 p.m. Pre-registration is $15. Registration on the day of the event is $20. The public is also invited to purchase a luminary in honor of a veteran for $5. For more information, or to register, visit http:www.mecc.edu/community-events or contact Lena Grace at 276.523.2400 ext. 217.

DROP QUOTE: “And the wind shall say: Here were decent godless people. Their only monument the asphalt road. And a thousand lost golf balls.” CRYPTOGRAM: Extensive traveling induces a feeling of encapsulation, and travel, so broadening at first, contracts the mind.

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THE HUM OF IMPLICATIONS

he noted literary critic Lionel Trilling (1905-1975) described the large mass of historical data that constantly goes unnoticed as the “huge unrecorded hum of implications.” For him, it was this hum that often accounted for the true meaning of history. Despite his erudition, however, I doubt that Trilling was even remotely thinking about “The Hum,” the focus of this week’s visit to “Kelly’s Place.” The Hum awkwardly fits in between scientific and conspiracy theories, and attracts practitioners of both. As a conspiracy theory it is characterized as “systemic” (according to the recently published Time Life volume, MODERN DAY CONSPIRACY THEORIES, that I purchased at my local grocery store a few weeks ago, while resisting the temptation to also drop the latest copy of “The National Enquirer” into my buggy). According to the folks at Time Life, a systemic conspiracy theory belongs to those that “are ambitious, ongoing plots--usually by a single, seemingly malevolent group, such as the fraternal organization the Freemasons--to gain control of a country, a region, or even the world.” As science, The Hum attracts those who want to ex-

brutal torture instrument by transmitting sounds, voices, and images directly into the brain, creating numerous pains and sensations throughout the body and significantly altering energy level and emotional states.” Sounds pretty serious, doesn’t it? Taking a more rational approach, we should note that the Hum occurs in the world created by the Industrial Revolution, a place fraught with all sorts of hums, rattles, explosions, and other annoyances. Why can’t we suppose that, when traveling to more rural areas, we still hold these noises inside our brains, and continue to hear the “hum of implications” when things start to quieten down? And we have all heard voices emanating from our refrigerators at night, haven’t we? I have even heard mine sing snippets of “The Hallelujah Chorus.” A particularly interesting researcher profiled by Dickey is Glen MacPherson, founder of the World Hum Map and Database Project,” and designer of the MacPherson Box, a metallic chamber that isolates a listener to determine if the Hum is coming from the outside world or from the listener’s mind. So far, not enough data has been gathered from the box to make a definitive judgment about the true nature of the Hum. Random data has pointed to rather mundane explanations, however. For instance, reports of the Hum being heard in Sausalito, California in the mid 1980s, were attributable to “the mating sounds of a fish called the plain fin midshipman.” Other reports have been traced to factory sounds and low-frequency electronic hums. As of this writing, no evidence exists to support any of the many conspiracy theories in circulation (of course, conspiracy theorists often cite lack of evidence as proof of conspiracy). The jury, of course, is still out.

plain its existence in rational terms by conducting experiments and marshaling tangible and testable evidence. Well, what in the heck is “The Hum”? According to Colin Dickey, writing in the April 8, 2016 issue of “The New Republic,” the Hum is “a mysterious auditory phenomenon that, by some estimates, 2 percent of the population can hear.” This phenomenon, although being noted in much earlier accounts, “started drawing media attention in the 1970s in Bristol, England” the birthplace of another phenomenon called “The Scream,” an auditory presence most closely associated with The Beatles and other members of the so-called British Invasion of the 1960s. Dickey describes the Hum as “a low, distant rumbling, like an idling Diesel engine, most audible at night, mostly noticeable indoors,” and is historically anchored in rural areas, “far from the hustle and bustle of cities, where stillness blankets everything. That where you hear it, and that’s where it become intolerable.” Dickey, like many other researchers, dismisses the claim that the Hum is a form of tinnitus or even mental illness, and he tends to side with those who believe that it is ultimately explainable in less-than-conspiratorial terms. The still-controversial Jesse Ventura, host of the “Conspiracy Theory With Jesse Ventura,” TV show (I hesitate to call it a “reality” show), believes the Hum is evidence of a government mind-control program--a program that, with only 2 percent of the population suffering from it, is apparently not working very well. The inevitable Facebook Hum page attributes the noise to “advanced satellite technology” that is being employed as “a

Perhaps the most controversial recent and data-driven theory doesn’t explain the origins of the Hum, but does find some very disturbing correlations between possible sources and the contemporary outbreak of mass shootings. A mechanical engineer named Steve Kohlcase from Brookfield, Connecticut, who is himself a Hum sufferer, has advanced a theory proposing that “most--if not all--mass shootings of the past few decades can be traced to natural gas pipelines emitting low-frequency radiation.” He has used this data as possible explanation for the deadly behavior of Aaron Alexis, the Washington Navy Yard shooter, and Adam Lanza, who attacked Sandy Hook school. We should, as Dickey cautions, be very wary of one-size-fits-all theories as being too simplistic, but “in the absence of serious scientific inquiry, this is precisely the kind of logic that is allowed to prevail.” The danger here is that we might be led to attribute any humming or suspicious noise to The Hum. We will, in other words, be tempted to hear it everywhere, thus increasing our level of paranoia. I certainly don’t intend that to happen as a result of your reading this column. I hear strange noises all the time, but don’t believe that someone is out to get me. And I don’t believe in ghosts either, mainly because I have never expected to see or encounter one. I think the world we live in is strange enough without our adding additional layers of absurdity to the mix. When I read Dickey’s account of the Hum, I couldn’t help but compare this phenomenon to 1950s science fiction movies like “Invisible Invaders” (1959), the Edward L. Cain “masterpiece”-the same director who is responsible for one of my favorite movies, “The Creature With The Atom Brain.” In this rather forgettable movie, alien invaders are lured out of hiding by scientists producing electronic noises that drive the aliens to distraction. This premise was given a neat homage by Tim Burton, when earthlings destroyed Martians invaders by playing Slim Whitman’s “Indian Love Call” at high volume in his 1996 movie “Mars Attacks.” See you next week with more hums of implications. In the meantime, I suggest you add Colin Dickey’s forthcoming book, GHOSTLAND: AN AMERICAN HISTORY IN HAUNTED PLACES, to your wish list. theloaferonline.com | April 26, 2016 | 27

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