The Loafer April 28th

p a g e p a g e

7

French Broad River Festival

12

Spring Jazz at the Culp

...plus so much more

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April 28, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 3

Volume 29 Issue #21 Publisher Luci Tate

West Side Story

Editor Graphic Arts Director Don Sprinkle Office Manager Luci Tate Cover Design Bill May Advertising Dave Carter Elaine Farris Terry Patterson Lori Hughes Contributing Staff Jim Kelly Andy Ross Ken Silvers Mark Marquette Brian McManus Joshua Hicks Nathan Cox 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 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

in this issue ....

4 5 6 8 9 10 15 18 22 23 27

West Side Story at the Paramount Crooked Road Youth Music Festival Jonesborough Farmers Market poised to start May 2nd Kingsport Chamber Golf Scramble 2nd Annual SUP & Kayak Race Second Harvest Food Bank Benefit at Acoustic Coffeehouse Healthy Bliss comes to Johnson City ETSU Old Time Band performs at Carter Family Fold Murder Mystery Caravan presents “Dealt a Deadly Hand” Jonesborough Welcomes Storyteller Jay O’Callahon A True Houdini Experience

music & fun 16 28

Spotlight - Great Music & Fun Times Crossword & Sudoku

20

Stargazer - Starlight Tantalizes Spiritual Senses

21

Skies This Week

25

Batteries Not Included - Super Watch 9000

34

Screen Sceens - 50th Anniversary of “The Sound of Music”

26

Lock, Stock & Barrel - “Choosing the Right Handgun..” Part 1

columns & reviews

29 The Trivial Traveler - The Night Hank Williams Saw the Light 30

Kelly’s Place - Nineteen Sixty-Five

Page 4, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

Asheville’s Lyric Opera’s production of

West Side Story at the Paramount

Jason Isbell May 28, 2015

Join us for our 2015 Season GaelicStorm May 29, 2015

LesMiserables June 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28

Asheville Lyric Opera is bring- before leaving for the New Enging West Side Story to the Para- land Conservatory. mount Center for the Arts, Bristol, TN Saturday, May 2, 2015. Using traditional orchestral accompaniment, this production of West Side Story prepares to be intimate yet grand with a cast of over 30 performers. All new set design and choreography preserving the musical genius of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim will make this production an unparalleled live theatre experience.

The Paramount Center will be fully utilizing the orchestra pit for the first time since the opening in 1991. The full classical orchestra of 18 will enchant the audience with no electrical amplification, produced as Bernstein and Sondheim envisioned it, with sweeping operatic lines in the music and elegant dance numbers heavily influenced Fellow graduate of the New by drama and ballet.

England Conservatory and North Carolina native, Joshua Collier, is playing the role of Tony, Maria’s forbidden lover. Collier, hailed by Classical Voice of North Carolina for his “pleasing tone, and excellent command of his high range” is a tenor equally comfortable with the musical theatre and oratorio.

Director JJ Hudson will be making his Asheville Lyric Opera directorial debut with the cast of West Side Story. He had the honor of assisting Jamie Bernstein, daughter of Leonard Bernstein, in her 2011 directorial debut of her father’s opera, Trouble in Tahiti.

Hudson is particularly noted for his sensitive and dynamic work with young and emerging artists.

Asheville Lyric Opera’s proBringing to life the central char- duction of West Side Story will acter of Maria is Kathryn Sandoval be staged in the historic ParaTaylor, an Asheville native based mount Center for the Arts, Saturnow in Nashville, TN. Ms. Taylor day, May 2, 2015 at 7PM. Tickets not only had extensive performing are available online at www.etix. experience but also volunteered in com or by calling our box office at the arts community in Asheville 423.274.8920.

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4th Annual Crooked Road Youth Music Festival Announced Capo’s Music Store, Guest Services, Inc., Heartwood, National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Commission for the Arts, the Wayne C. Henderson Scholarship Program, and Wordsprint.

Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway is located off I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon, VA, and features food, music, and craft of Southwest Virginia. Admission to the festival is $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children 6-12, and

kids 5 and under are free.

For more information call (276) 492-2409 or email: info@thecrookedroad.org.

The Yates Family Band - Photo by: Annalee Hayes

Youth musicians from throughout Southwest Virginia will be featured at the 4th Annual Crooked Road Youth Music Festival on Saturday, May 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Heartwood in Abingdon. 25 bands will perform on two stages throughout the day, and an “Old Time Square Dance” will take place inside Heartwood from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.The square dance will feature Matt Hepler, caller, and Cane Mill Road.

The festival will highlight regional traditional music programs including Albert Hash Memorial Band Program, Dickenson County JAM Program, Floyd JAMS, Mountain Music School String

Band, Honaker FFA Bluegrass Band, Scott County JAMS, WiseJAMS, VHCC Old Time String Band, Acoustic Music Club at Chilhowie High School, Franklin County JAM Program, and Jamming Bobcats from Abingdon Elementary School.

Additional performers include the Yates Family Band, Adam McPeak & Mountain Thunder, the Butcher Family, Gravel Road, Pike City, Buttermilk Girls, Cathrine Conner and Associates, Southern Flavor, Sycamore Hollow, and ShadowGrass.

The Crooked Road Youth Music Festival is sponsored by Abingdon Convention and Visitors Bureau,

Albert Hash Memorial Band Program Photo - Jonathan Romeo

Pike City - Photo by: Jonathan Romeo

Page 6, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

~ Magical Mornings ~

Saturday Farmers Markets poised to start May 2 with new, favorite features When it opens for its eighth season on Saturday, May 2, the Jonesborough Farmers Market will have the usual fresh greens and garlic, mushrooms and meats, berries and baked goods, tamales and tomatoes, herbs and hummus, pottery and peppers. Live music will once again waft down the shady side of the courthouse from 8 a.m. to noon, as Jonesborough’s “front porch” reopens for the business of fellowship and fresh foods and handmade products.

But the 2015 market season will bring with it two treats never before offered by Jonesborough Locally Grown – a breakfast tent with a healthy menu of baked goods filled with the fruits of local farmers’ labors and a second market, Boone Street Market, that will open as soon as the Saturday market closes to provide local produce and other products the rest of the day, as well as weekdays.

“It will be exciting to have a summer season with local produce available six days a week in Jonesborough,” says Jonesborough Locally Grown Executive Director Karen Childress. “There will be 54 hours a week of access to local produce between the two markets.

“Boone Street Market has been open six months now and has been extremely well-received, by both by growers and customers. Since Boone Street Market is an extension of the Saturday market, it will adjust its operating hours during the Saturday Farmers Market season to open at noon on Saturdays.”

The breakfast tent, as well, will add a new dimension to the Jonesborough Locally Grown experience, says Saturday market CoManager Debbie Kruse. “With the opening of Boone Street Market and our commercial kitchen last year, we now have the opportunity to prepare healthy foods and offer them to our customers at the market,” Kruse says. “Volunteers will be preparing homemade biscuits filled with local eggs and sausage. Opening day, we also will offer a special treat, home-

made blueberry scones made with Rogue Harbor blueberries. And as the fruits come in season we will offer delicious local fruit cups.

“If you like what you taste, we will give you the recipe, using all local ingredients, you can shop at the market and prepare at home.”

The breakfast tent will open early and serve until 10 a.m., or when they run out.

Also new this season will be two educational endeavors. The fourth Saturday of each month will feature special fun activities for children and youth, such as cooking, planting, and growing - and fun activities, such as a Hula Hoop party, a juggler and a scavenger hunt.

Additionally, “As a producer only market, we really do want our customers to know their farmer’s name,” says Saturday market co-manager Heidi Ehle. “To help with this we will have a weekly featured farmer. Look for the signs at the market that will tell you more about one of our producers each week, and we will give them a chance to offer samples, or a recipe, or something else special from their experience and knowledge.”

The first featured farmer will be Perry Phillips, who will have tomato plants for sale, as well as other vegetable and garden plants he has cultivated himself.

In addition to Phillips’ and other vendors’ herbs, vegetable and ornamental bedding plants, many of the Saturday market farmers already have a wide array of fresh produce, Ehle and Kruse say.

“Obviously the hoop houses and greenhouses have been busy since before the snow melted,” Ehle says, “because the line up of early produce this year is startling.”

The fresh, local smorgasbord for May 2 includes: kale, lettuce, chard, garlic, asparagus, mint, watercress, ramps, leeks, fava greens, pea shoots, collards, broccoli, arugula, onions, baby bok choy, fresh and dried Shitake mushrooms, hothouse tomatoes, strawberries, and microgreens. From the farms that raise livestock, there will be goat cheese, chicken, beef, pork, lamb and “eggs, eggs and more eggs,” Kruse says.

Already prepared goods will include tamales, fig muffins, Danish, hummus, couscous, jams and jellies, while crafts will include quilted items and pottery.

The Saturday market’s musical accompaniment will continue this spring. “Roy Andrade’s ‘curating’ of our groups provides a quality and variety of local music that is a big draw at our market,” Ehle

Magical .......

Continued on next page

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Have you ever floated down Section 9 of the French Broad River? In my experience there are few better ways to get away from the fast pace of modern life and to see this beautiful part of the world the way the Cherokees saw it, who actually called this section of the river Tahkeyostee (“where they race”). After several hours on the river, you arrive in the little town of Hot Springs, where throughout the 19th century a stream of wealthy visitors came via railroad to “take the waters” and enjoy the entertainments provided by a series of luxury hotels built adjacent to the thermal springs, along the banks of the French Broad. Today the Appalachian Trail runs right down Main St. and the surrounding area offers abundant recreational opportunities includ-

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ing hiking, fishing and mountain biking.

18 years ago a couple of friends thought it would be fun to “race” down Section 9 of the French Broad River and then have a party on it’s banks in Hot Springs, with any proceeds from the party going to charity. Well, as you can imagine a good time was had by all and the “party” has grown exponentially to a weekend outdoor and family music festival encompassing the entire Hot Springs Campground with national and local recording artists on multiple stages, a mountain bike race, whitewater raft race, kid’s village, arts and craft vendors, outdoor vendors, and great food.

The 18th annual French Broad River Festival is set for May 1-3, 2015 where the French Broad

River meets the Appalachian Trail at the beautiful Hot Springs Campground & Spa. Musical acts include Larry Keel Experience, Sol Driven Train, Zach Deputy, Big Daddy Love, Big Something, PGrass, The Accomplices, Red Dirt Revelators, Raising Caine, Empire Strikes Bass, Dead 27’s, Rodeo Clown, The Dubplates and more!. This festival always has a few surprises such as a juggling fire show, kid’s parade, trapeze artists, fireworks, late night acoustic jams, and watch out for flying marshmallows! Proceeds from this year’s festival will be donated toAmerican Whitewater and the Hot Springs Community Learning Center.

Early Bird tickets are $80 online (www.FrenchBroadRiverFestival. com).

Magical ...... Continued from previous page says.

Live music at the market always starts at 9 a.m. The group opening the 2015 season will be the Jonesborough favorite, the Old Timers Band.

Any morning in downtown Jonesborough is special, but the Saturday morning experience is unique, market administrators say.

“We really cannot take any credit for the beautiful townscape that is the setting for our market,” Ehle says, “but honestly, heading to Courthouse Square to see the early morning light on that street, with the train rumbling by occasionally and the farmers setting up their tables – I feel like I am in an illustration of some amazing children’s story. It’s truly magical. There is a certain timelessness about it. We are so privileged to have our market there, and the support from the town.”

Hours for the two Jonesborough Locally Grown markets are: Jonesborough Farmers Market, May 2-Oct. 31, Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon, and Boone Street Market, 101 Boone St., Monday-Friday 10 a.m.7 p.m., Saturdays noon-5 p.m.

Photo Credit: Woven Studios

Page 8, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

Kingsport Chamber Golf Scramble tees off at Ridgefields Food City, Pepsi and Hunter, Smith & Davis to host event

The Kingsport Chamber of Commerce 23rd Annual Golf Scramble is set for Monday, May 11 at Ridgefields.

Due to the popularity of the event, two rounds will be available with tee times at 8:45 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Sponsored by Food City, Pepsi and Hunter, Smith & Davis, the

tournament benefits the Kingsport Chamber and its Keep Kingsport Beautiful and Leadership Kingsport programs.

Texas Roadhouse is the lunch and dinner sponsor and Lexus of Kingsport serves as the hole-inone sponsor. Breakfast will be provided by Food City.

Media sponsors include the

Kingsport Times-News, WKPT-TV ABC 19/WAPK-TV My Network TV and AM 640 WXSM Xtreme Sports Monster.

“The Kingsport Chamber Golf Scramble is always one of our most enjoyable events of the year,” Kingsport Chamber President & CEO Miles Burdine said. “This is an important fundraiser for two of our programs – Keep Kingsport Beautiful and Leadership Kingsport. We are, as always, most grateful to Food City, Pepsi and Hunter, Smith & Davis for being the title sponsors and to all of the other sponsors and individuals who participate in support of their Kingsport Chamber and these two vital programs.”

Awards will be given to the top three places in two flights in both the morning and afternoon rounds.

Hole competitions include prizes for longest drive on two holes, most accurate drive on two holes, closest to the pin on each of the four par threes and hole-in-one on

each of the four par threes.

Hole sponsorships are available for $250 and individual player entry fees are $150 per player or $600 for a team of four.

A chairman’s discount package is offered for $775 and includes a team of four and hole sponsorship.

To enter the Kingsport Chamber 23rd Annual Golf Scramble or to sponsor a hole, call the Kingsport Chamber at 392-8800 or send an email to Shana Al Hadi, Kingsport Chamber communications and events coordinator, at salhadi@ kingsportchamber.org.

“We want to thank Ridgefields and its superb team for hosting this tournament again this year,” Burdine added. “We are so fortunate to have such an outstanding club like Ridgefields in our community. Ridgefields is a beautiful and challenging Donald-Ross gem and we hope golfers will take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy this course and have a fun day of golf.”

The Kingsport Chamber of

Commerce is a private, non-profit business organization composed of nearly 1,000 members. The Kingsport Chamber’s mission is to utilize resources and focus efforts on enhancing a strong and viable business environment for the Kingsport area.

Programs of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce include: Communications & Development; Education & Workforce Development; Downtown Concert Series; Fun Fest; Government Relations; Keep Kingsport Beautiful; Kingsport ChamberZone; Kingsport Convention & Visitors Bureau (KCVB); Kingsport Leadership Programs (ENCORE, Leadership Kingsport and S.H.O.U.T.!®); Kingsport Office of Small Business Development & Entrepreneurship (KOSBE); Membership; Move to Kingsport; Santa Train; and Tennessee/Virginia Scholars.

For more information on the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, go to KingsportChamber.org or call (423) 392-8800. We’re social too; follow us on our Facebook page, Your Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce, and on our Twitter account, @kptchamber.

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Second Annual SUP & Kayak Race Warrior’s Challenge

The public is invited to compete and watch the Warrior’s Challenge stand up paddleboard (SUP) race taking place Saturday, May 2, beginning at 9:30 at Warrior’s Path State Park. Last year was the first of its kind in the TriCities, drawing athletes from all over the Southeast, and this year will be even bigger, extending the event to kayakers as well as SUP racers.

Organized by Southern Stoke Paddle Series (SSPS), a ten-race se-

ries that stretches from Tennessee to Alabama to Georgia to North Carolina, the Warrior’s Challenge is the first race of the season. Two of the ten races will be in our area: Warrior’s Challenge May 2 in Kingsport on Patrick Henry Lake and the Appalachian Challenge August 1 in Abingdon on South Holston Lake. It is sponsored locally by Tricities Stand Up Paddleboard (TriSUP) store in Bristol, TN. Created to encourage the SUP

sport on inland lakes, SSPS offers athletes the chance to compete in paddleboard races closer to home in the southeast. Up until now, all the competitions centered on coastal races meaning longer distances to travel and having to contend with waves, tides and other ocean hazards. SSPS races feature a long and a short course with points awarded to contenders.

Prizes and awards will be given out through the organization and sponsors. The races are open to anyone wishing to test their skill and endurance against other SUP enthusiasts, even if you are a beginner.

“These races are very beginner friendly, which is good as most people in our region are new to the sport,” explains Jack Nelson, manager of TriSUP, the only dedicated SUP store in the area. Nelson, a competitive racer himself, was involved in the early stages of developing the Series. The idea

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was to create some fun events centered around places that have SUP shops to help spur the sport on in the Southeast. The series has the potential to pump money into local economies as out of town visitors flock to the races and fill up hotels and restaurants.

Virtually unknown locally just a few years ago, Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) is sweeping the nation and more people in Tricities are seen on area lakes and rivers each year. SUPing began in Hawaii not very long ago and spread quickly to the West Coast. The first SUP race was held in Tahoe City, CA, in 2007 and has become a frequent sight on both coasts in the last few years. It was only a matter of time before the fun activity found its way to the beautiful TVA lakes of our region.

With paddleboarding growing in popularity across the country, many people have discovered the activity is great for fitness, fun and

even yoga. The Outdoor Foundation’s 2013 report cited “stand up paddling as the most popular outdoor activity among first-time participants” and the official US Coast Guard blog “Compass” says SUPing “is the fastest growing water sport in the world.” Tricities residents can give it a try during the free demonstrations at the race events.

The TriSUP store was opened two years ago and is located next to the Paramount theater in downtown Bristol. As a dedicated SUP store, TriSUP has the widest selection of boards and accessories as well as knowledgeable staff.

“Getting the right fit is very important,” Nelson notes. “Not only is your weight and height a factor in choosing a board, knowing what your goals are is important too. There are SUPs for cruising, racing and even whitewater paddling. We take all this into account to make sure you start off with the right equipment perfect for you.”

For more information about the races or SUPs in general, visit www.Trisup.net. TriSUP is located at 514 State Street, Bristol, TN, 423652-0220 and is open Monday Saturday.

Page 10, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

Second Harvest Food Bank Benefit with Three Grand Local Bands On Thursday, April 30th, the Acoustic Coffeehouse (415 W. Walnut St.) will host three remarkable and talented local bands who are coming together to collect get donations for Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast TN, and increase awareness of the problem of food insecurity in our area. While there is absolutely no charge for admission, everyone is encouraged to bring non-perishable items in whatever quantity they can comfortably spare. There will be a barrel at the front door. But even if you are unable to donate, you are still most welcome to come enjoy the music and atmosphere for free.

This show was organized by Kryss Dula, who leads the band occupying the second slot on the bill. Dula is continuing a tradition started when he played a similar show with a wonderful and wellknown local band, ‘this mountain,’ a couple of Christmases ago.

Dula, who is also an associate professor of psychology at ETSU, always strives to have a last-dayof-the semester show at the Acoustic Coffeehouse, to bring together people from that community to celebrate the end of a stretch of hard work and to blow off steam prior to exam week. And, as he says, “Why not ask those who are able, to bring some food to help those in need in our own area, while also having a great time and supporting our local music scene?

It’s a win-win-win situation.” He always puts together an outstanding lineup featuring other headlining bands for which he has a high opinion, and this time is no different.

To that end, the other two bands on tap for this exciting night will be JV Squad and A Great Disaster. These bands have both played with Dula before, but never at the same event all together. Thus, the stage is set for a great concert fitting for fans of virtually all types of music. That is because the combined influences of these bands cover such genres as Americana, Indie, Folk, Funk, Rock, Soul, Jazz, Pop, and Bluegrass.

‘Mountain soul’ will be the

JV Squad

A Great Disaster

Kryss Dula first order of business, with the splendidly complemented by Rob JV Squad beginning at 8pm. This Russell (guitar), Jerry Henninger highly talented group of musicians (keyboards), Lance McCloud includes a husband and wife team of vocalists, namely Jared and Second Harvest .......

Vanessa Bentley. These two are Continued on next page

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April 28, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 11

Second Harvest ...... Continued from previous page (bass), and Mike Sams (drums).

Some of their early fans came up with the ‘mountain soul’ description and they use that label with pride, but they actually cover an extensive array of sounds, ranging from funk to country. And, their amazing original songs provide a transcendent experience as you absorb their ever-skillful and moving performances.

Kryss Dula & Friends go on at 8pm. The ‘Friends’ are a wideranging group of excellent musicians, but you won’t necessarily know who they’ll be until a show starts. This event is likely to include Steven Reese (drums), Stephen Marshall (bass), Taylor Moorefield (fiddle), Daelin Dula (guitar), a couple members of A Great Disaster, and possibly others. They have been involved with many local charity events and their permanent goal is to rouse the people present to enjoy the music and enjoy themselves. As the membership rotates, the sound varies, but they always have a great time, and in such a way that it is always infectious.

A Great Disaster will be headlining and closing out the night, starting around midnight. After a creative hiatus, this is one of their first shows in a good while. The members met studying music at ETSU and they bring to bear their studies of jazz, classical, bluegrass, Celtic, pop, rock and more, to their studio and live performances.

Since the band’s inception in late 2012, A Great Disaster has come through many twists and changes. Starting as a folk rock project, the band released its first album, ‘Revive’ as an LP which featured acoustic driven songs with fiddle overlay and bits of piano and electric guitar. Their next release, ‘Local Color,’ was an EP tracked live, following the same stylistic premises. But after a couple years of folk music, the band began to experiment with different styles and sounds, becoming more influenced by jam and world genres.

Their third release, ‘What We Might Find’ is another live-tracked album, but it demonstrates points of diversion in the approaches now shaping their writing and playing.

Group leader Zach Ross (vocals/multi-instrumentalist) says

“In the last six months, the members of have been busy finishing degrees at ETSU, spending time with family and friends, and honing the next steps in each of their lives.” They’ve also spent the last half a year writing completely new music, a good deal of which they plan to debut at this very show. Some songs you will hear at the Coffeehouse will be on their upcoming new album, ‘Stepping Stone.’ This remarkable collection of original music will be available on July 10th, following a CD-release concert on that same date at the Down Home in Johnson City.

As you might well imagine, this band creates a collaborative and artistic sound that you won’t want to miss.

The benefactors of the canned food and other non-perishable proceeds will be local area residents who are served by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast TN. Our Second Harvest is the only standalone food bank in the local eight county region and they have engaged in this worthy mission for over a quarter of a century. And you can help too, just by bringing a bit of food when you come to enjoy some great music in a welcoming and eclectic atmosphere, on an otherwise ordinary Thursday night.

You can learn more about these bands and the charity organization at: JV Squad: www.facebook.com/ thejvsquad & https://soundcloud.com/thejvsquad Kryss Dula & Friends: www. facebook.com/kryssdula & www. reverbnation.com/kryssdula A Great Disaster: www.facebook. com/AGreatDisaster & www. reverbnation.com/agreatdisaster Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast TN: http://www. netfoodbank.org/

Memorial Session Rescheduled Update: Due to a scheduling conflict, the Memorial picking session for John Mark Glaze scheduled on Sunday May 3rd, 2015 at Fountain of Life Bible Church has been rescheduled till Sunday May 17th, at 3PM. FLBC is located in the Boone’s Creek community at 118 Julie Lane. Please do “NOT” call Fountain of Life requesting information. This event is open to the public. Pastor Vic Young will be the host speaker, others can/will share their thoughts and feelings. A special “Studio One” public radio broadcast on WETS-FM 89.5 hosted by Dave Carter, will go on as scheduled Saturday May 2nd from 1-2pm. Artist and special guest scheduled to perform are as follows. David Yates guitar & fiddle, Glen Rose guitar & banjo, Frank Moore guitar & harp, Jason Duncan guitar & dog house bass, Gary Mitchell guitar, Ed Bowman dog house bass, Charlie Tolley banjo, Charlie Whitehead guitar & dobro, and John Fleenor guitar. Line up and instruments may change as necessary. All individuals can/may play additional instruments as required.

Please support your local musicians and venues. Read the Loafer and stay tuned to WETS-FM 89.5 for more information as it becomes available.

Page 12, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

Spring Jazz at the Culp to school listeners in ‘Trumpet-ology’

Allen Vizzutti “Trumpet-ology,” the 2015 Spring Jazz at the Culp Concert at East Tennessee State University, will bring three internationally known guest trumpeters to the stage, along with student and faculty musicians, on Friday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the Martha Street Culp Auditorium of the D.P. Culp

University Center.

“The concert will be one of trumpet virtuosity by all,” Dr. David Champouillon, ETSU Jazz Program director, said of the event, which kicks off Trumpet Days in the university’s Department of Music.

Headlining the show will be renowned trumpeter and Yamaha recording artist Allen Vizzutti, who has performed in every state in the nation and in 40 countries as both a classical and a jazz artist. He has shared the stage with jazz greats like Chick Corea, Doc Severinsen and the NBC Tonight Show Band, the Airmen of Note, Chuck Mangione, Woody Herman and more. He has also appeared as a guest soloist with symphony orchestras around the world, and has given solo performances at the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and a variety of jazz festivals.

Vizzutti, who makes his home in Seattle, is also an active recording artist and composer. He maintains an extensive schedule of guest appearances at universities

throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Australia as a result of his ongoing commitment to education and the value of music in everyday life.

Additional guest artists are Dr. Scott Meredith, a trumpet professor at the University of Wyoming, and Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) Jon Yates, former lead trumpet with the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band.

Also appearing will be the Jazz Doctors and the ETSU Jazz Ensemble.

The Jazz Doctors perform regularly at festivals, special events and a variety of venues throughout the region. This straightahead jazz group is comprised of area musicians, including Dr. Ben Dockery on piano, Barry Hannah on guitar, Martin Walters on bass, Dr. Rande Sanderbeck on percussion, and bandleader Champouillon on trumpet and flugelhorn.

The ETSU Jazz Ensemble is comprised of student musicians in the Jazz Studies area of the ETSU Department of Music. The group

has performed in numerous area festivals and venues, and its members have had the opportunity to appear on stage with such artists as Maynard Ferguson, Rufus Reid, Al Hood, Vaughn Nark, Ed Shaughnessy and many others.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Advance tickets are available by visiting www.etsu. edu/cas/music or calling the Department of Music at 423-439-4276; tickets will also be sold at the door.

In addition to Spring Jazz at the Culp, ETSU Trumpet Days continues Saturday, May 2, in Mathes Hall. A full day of clinics and master classes led by Vizzutti,

Jazz Band in Concert Meredith, Yates and Champouillon for ETSU music students and the community from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by a Guest Artist/Faculty Recital of classical music performed by Meredith, Yates and Champouillon. Recital tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students with ID and free with Spring Jazz at the Culp tickets.

For more information, call the number above. For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423439-8346.

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Adventure Mendota Opens May 2nd, Offering Paddle Sports on the North Fork of the Holston River Get off the grid and into the water with adventure and fun on the North Fork of the Holston River. Michael and Eva Beaule will open the doors of Adventure Mendota on May 2, 2015. Adventure Mendota is a paddle sports river outfitter offering fun for the whole family.

Rent a kayak or a tube for some exciting water journeys. Try your hand at small mouth bass fishing with their experienced guide. If you forget your camera, you can still capture your favorite memories on video by renting a waterproof GoPro camera. Even bring your favorite kayak or canoe, and you’ll be provided with parking and shuttle service at an affordable price.

Mendota rests in southwestern Virginia, close to the line between Washington and Scott Counties. It is a 15 minute drive from Abingdon, VA and generally a 25-45 minute drive from anywhere within the Ti-Cities geographic area.

Many people in the area have

noticed the surge in kayaking popularity. It’s with good reason.

More people than ever are joining in the fun of riding the currents and enjoying the majestic beauty that’s seldom witnessed from the roads. Mike Beaule realized what a unique opportunity this presented the community of Mendota, Virginia. He decided to utilize his 500 feet of riverfront property as a means of giving outdoor enthusiasts a launching spot.

The North Fork is designated a “Class I” river. This means the water is generally slow moving and relaxed, perfect for a family excursion on a tube or in a kayak.

Regardless of your level of experience—or inexperience—Adventure Mendota is prepared to offer you a wonderful break from the typically rushed family vacation.

It’s a place where you can truly get off the grid and into the water.

While float time varies depending on river conditions and your paddling, the kayak trip will generally run two-to-three hours, and

the tubing trip about one hour.

As previously mentioned, no previous kayaking or floating experience is necessary to enjoy the facilities. All those taking part will be required to wear a personal flotation device for their safety, and these are provided to guests renting kayaks and tubes without charge. Anyone under 18 will be required to have a Liability Waiver signed by a parent or guardian (available on their website).

Adventure Mendota is a dream realized for the owners, Mike and Eva. Mendota was once a flourishing community with a sizable population. With more townships and cities in the region benefiting from ecotourism, they hope to see the Mendota area again bustling with happy people and wonderful memories. Eva sums it up with “I live in a postcard called Mendota.

Come see me!”

“Float the Fork” reservations and further information may be found at www.adventuremendota.com or call 276-645-1020.

Page 14, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

McKinney Center to Host Watercolor Art Party

The McKinney Center at Booker T. Washington School will host a Watercolor Art Party open to the public on Friday, May 1from 6 to 9 p.m.

Enjoy hor d’oeuvres and beverages as local artist and McKinney Center instructor Sharon Squibb tutors the class on creating their own masterpieces. Students will walk away with four to five of their own unique creations from watercolor, as all art supplies are included in the cost of the class.

Cost is $60 per person and $100 per couple. Registration is accepted through April 24 by calling McKinney Center Director Theresa Hammons at 423-753-0562.

17th Annual Antique Collectibles & Bottle Show & Sale

The State of Franklin Antique Bottle and Collectibles Club will sponsor its 17th Annual Antique Collectibles and Bottle Show and Sale on Saturday, May 2, 2015, in the Farm and Home Building at

the Appalachian Fairgrounds located at Exit 13 off I-26. Admission is free with show hours from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Show includes sodas, medicines, milks, coins, tokens, post cards, fruit jars, adver-

tising and table-top collectibles.

For table rental or further information contact Carl Bailey @ 423-2823119 or Peggy Cox @ 423-349-4027 or Email peggy@appalachianfair. com or cknhs@comcast.net.

Appalachian Men’s Ensemble to perform Copland and Mendelssohn The Appalachian Men’s Ensemble (AMEn) 2015 Spring Concert will be held Sunday, May 3, at 3 p.m. at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 E Market St. The concert will feature a rare performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s cantata for men’s choir and cello, Adspice Domine, Opus 121.

AMEn will also perform eight of Aaron Copland’s “Old American Songs,” which are familiar tunes arranged for men’s choir and piano. The concert will be rounded out with selections by Ralph Vaughan Williams and local composer Daniel Gawthrop.

AMEn is an all-male vocal ensemble of auditioned voices from

throughout the greater Tri-Cities area. The group is dedicated to performing a wide range of choral repertoire – both sacred and secular – from the late Middles Ages to the present. AMEn’s programming and presentation of music is vast and varied, featuring a capella pieces, accompanied songs, rock and pop arrangements, and classical works from a variety of cultures. AMEn is unique in its formation and execution, representing one of the few American male choral ensembles of its size to perform music of such a demanding caliber while also programming popular arrangements and familiar standards. AMEn was founded in the fall of 2014 under

the artistic direction of Dr. Thomas Jenrette. In January of 2015, following Dr. Jenrette’s retirement from AMEn, Dr. Alan Stevens was named the new artistic director.

Stevens is also currently the Associate Director of Choral Activities at East Tennessee State University.

This concert marks his premier as conductor.

Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted. For more information, contact AMEn at AppalachianMensEnsemble@gmail. com. Concert updates and additional information about AMEn can be found on their Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/AMEnEnsemble

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April 28, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 15

“Healthy Bliss comes to Johnson City”

It might be one of the most enlightening “it’s always darkest before the dawn” epics lived. In 30 years, transformative spiritual leader, author, and musician Russill Paul has gone from substance abuse and attempting suicide to experiencing a redemptive spiritual rebirth. Through his journey, he has taught thousands, a way to exist in a heightened spiritual state while living authentic personal and professional lives.

“People have a need to tap

into deep states of ‘non ordinary’ experiences, and they often turn to drugs or alcohol for this type of outlet,” he says. “And while it is true that heightened states can alter perspective, my method provides a healthy bliss that, if developed in conjunction with inner work, can better lives in lasting ways.”

Russill’s platform— which posits Eastern methods of consciousness transformation that enriches Western society living—has been

created at the intersection of his many personal and professional journeys. Besides garnering acclaim as an author and recording artist, Russill, as a performer, has performed for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and graced some of the world’s most prestigious concert venues, including Propstei Sankt Gerold in Austria and Chicago’s Grant Park, and he has shared the stage with music greats such as the legendary Arlo Guthrie and British rocker Arthur Brown.

His latest album “Mantra Magic” offers a spiritual vibe with infectious musical dance grooves.

Rebecca Nunley DDS of Harmony Dental is bringing Russill Paul to offer a number of events, May 1-3 at Samadhi Healing Arts Center, 423 West Walnut, Johnson City. Events will include a Friday evening Satsang 7-9 ($25), Saturday Workshop 1-4 ($45), Saturday evening Kirtan 7-9 ($25) with special Sunday workshops for folks participating in the entire weekend. Total weekend available for an awesome value of $150.00.

For more information, visit www. russillpaul.com/samadhi.html or http://www.samadhihealingartscenter.com/events.cfm.

Rise Up! to Host “Run For Your Mom” 5K

Rise Up! will host a 5K run on Saturday, May 9, at Rotary Park in Johnson City. This year’s theme is “Run for Your Mom,” because of its proximity to Mother’s Day. The 5k will begin at 9 a.m.

“This event was planned for the entire family,” says Andy Malcolm, director of programs. “Races are meaningful for us because mentoring kids is truly a longterm journey, just like training for a race. As for this weekend, it’s also a great way to honor moms.”

Rise Up! is dedicated to inspiring, influencing, and impacting children and youth to one day attain post high school training and education degrees, through “Run For Your Mom” will be a fun 5K run for the mentoring, small groups and after school programs. Proceeds from entire family on May 9, starting at Rotary Park, to the race will benefit all the organibenefit the mentoring programs at Rise Up! zation’s programs.

To receive more information event, go to RunForYourMom. Up!, visit RiseUpForKids.com or about the Run for Your Mom com. For more information on Rise call (423) 610-1242.

Page 16, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

TUESDAY - April 28 JASON LLOYD & FRIENDS at Biggie’s Clam Bar

TRACY WALTON w/ JULIA AUTUMN FORD at Acoustic Coffeehouse

WEDNESDAY - April 29 OPEN MIC

7pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse& Music Room

KIP BRADLEY LAURA THURSTON at Acoustic Coffeehouse

RON SHORT & THE POSSUM PLAYBOYS

THIEVES OF SUNRISE (Rock)

UNDER THE TABLE at Marker “2” Grill

Indian Trail Middle School Relay for Life

at Triple B Brewery

7pm at Paramount Center for the Arts

at Bone Fire Smokehouse 8pm

TBA

ACOUSTIFRIED at Biggie’s Clam Bar

SOUTHERN COUNTRYMEN BAND (Country)

at The Outdoorsman

DAISI RAIN

WEST SIDE STORY

CAROLINA REIGN at Country Club Bar & Grill

SHOOTER

(Country, Classic Rock, Oldies) 9pm at Holiday Inn (Exit 7)

RUSSILL PAUL

RAILWAY EXPRESS

WISE OLD RIVER

FARMHOUSE GHOST

at Samadhi Healing Arts Center

THURSDAY - April 30

at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room 8pm

JAZZ

at Country Club Bar & Grill

at Wellington’s - Carnegie Hotel

8pm at O’Mainnin’s Pub

CAROLINA REIGN

at Triple B Brewery

at Bone Fire Smokehouse

DALLAS DANGER DOUG GIBSON w/ TRAIL OF THE LONESOME at Acoustic Coffeehouse

JAMES MEADOWS

SATURDAY - May 2

WILLIAM WILD

ROCK N ROLL FREAKSHOW

SUNDAY - May 3

ONE GOOD THING

4pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

7pm at Sonny’s Cafe

7p at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

MATT A. FOSTER (Americana) 9pm at O’Mainnin’s Pub & Grill

BORDERLINE at Marker “2” Grill

MARSHALL BALLEW at Bone Fire Smokehouse

JV SQUAD A GREAT DISASTER KRYSS DULA at The Acoustic Coffeehouse

FRIDAY - May 1 DADA CABERET MICHAEL CODY CHRIS JAMISON At Acoustic Coffeehouse

CRAZY LIKE LEXI

7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

9pm at Biggie’s Clam Bar

MARK LARKINS

7pm at Sonny’s Marina & Cafe

RUSSILL PAUL

ETSU OLD TIME BAND at Carter Family Fold

SAM LEWIS

8pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse & Music Room

CATFISH FRYE BAND (Rockin’ Boogie Blues) 8pm at Woodstone Deli

RUSSILL PAUL

at Samadhi Healing Arts Center

THE JONES BOYS at Marker “2” Grill

SUNDOWN BAND (Country) 7pm at David Thompson’s Produce SOUTHERN SOUND

(Classic Country & Southern Rock) 11am at Trader’s Village Ride for St. Judes 9pm at Castlewood Eagles

at Samadhi Healing Arts Center Sony Recording Artist

JOHNSON DEPOT at Marker “2” Grill

LOGAN FRITZ

at Bone Fire Smokehouse

ROGER JAEGER

at Acoustic Coffeehouse

MONDAY - May 4 McCRACKEN INC EMI SUNSHINE at Bristol’s Pickin’ Porch

OPEN MIC

at Acoustic Coffeehouse

Spotlight Directory

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’s Pickin’ Porch 620 State St Bristol 423/573-2262 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

Holiday Inn (Exit 7) 3005 Linden Dr Bristol Va 276/466-4100 Marker “2’ Grill at Lakeview Marina 474 Lakeside Dock, Kingsport 423/323-4665 The Outdoorsman 4535 Highway 11W Kingsport

Sonny’s Marina & Café 109 One St. Gray TN 423/283-4014 Triple B Brewery 935 Wilcox Ct. #105 Kingsport 423/963-3609

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

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April 28, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 17

Dada Cabaret to perform ‘Circus Carnales…finalem’ at Acoustic Coffeehouse

A performance of “Circus Carnales…finalem” will be presented by Dada Cabaret on Friday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Acoustic Coffeehouse Next Door, 415 W. Walnut St. This recital, sponsored by the East Tennessee State University Department of Music, will provide an evening of musical and literary entertainment that explores modern music, performance art and absurd realities.

The program is a continuation of “Circus Carnales,” which Dada Cabaret performed in March at Nelson Fine Art Center.

“It features a lot of new music, new arrangements of popular tunes, and a new narration that discusses how the circus is a metaphor for life and its many twists and turns,” said Dr. Heather Killmeyer, an ETSU assistant professor of music who plays oboe and bassoon with the contemporary chamber music ensemble.

Dada Cabaret is inspired by literary nonsense; transgressive cinema, which uses shock value and humor; the early 20th cen-

tury artistic movement of Dadaism, which illustrated absurdity through paintings of purposeless machines and collages of discarded materials; and the avant-garde movement, which featured experimental, innovative art that went beyond what was accepted as the norm. This experimental ensemble seeks to push the boundaries of classical music and transcend the divide between audience and performer.

In addition to Killmeyer, members of Dada Cabaret include fellow ETSU Department of Music faculty members Dr. Stephanie Frye on tuba and euphonium and tenor Dr. Alan Stevens, along with local writer and pianist Andrew Ford, who narrates the program.

The Dada Cabaret recital is free and open to the public, and donations are welcome.

Some literary and poetic content is not suitable for children, and the recital is recommended for adults only.

For more information, call the Department of Music at 423-439-4276.

Page 18, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

Carter Family Fold presents

ETSU Old Time Band

Saturday, May 2nd, 2015, at 7:30 p.m., the Carter Family Fold in Hiltons, Virginia, will present a concert by the ETSU Old Time Band. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 11, under age 6 free.

Bands with the ETSU Bluegrass and Country Music Program have performed at the Fold since the beginning of the program at ETSU in 1982. The ETSU program has grown so popular that students travel from all over the world to study there. There are now almost twenty different bands maintained by the program. ETSU’s bands have performed in Japan, Belgium, and Russia. Some of the finest students the Bluegrass and Country Music Program has to offer will be performing with the ETSU Old Time Band.

Roy Andrade, Assistant Professor and Band Director for both the Old Time and Bluegrass bands with ETSU, will be heading up the group. From exploring the history of mountain music to traveling the country in a string band, old time banjo musician Roy Andrade has a passion for the music of Appalachia. He’s currently passing on

that fervor as a teacher at ETSU. Roy gives individual instruction on bass and guitar, and he teaches guitar classes at the university.

Roy was raised in Asheville, N.C., and has carried around an instrument as long as he can remember.

He was playing accordion by the time he was four. Later he picked up the fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and other instruments. Andrade first came to ETSU as a student in the Appalachian Studies program. While in Johnson City, he met three other old time musicians

and started the band Reel Time Travelers. The group traveled for six years, playing over 600 shows alongside notable musicians like Alison Krauss and Ralph Stanley.

They produced a CD and cut a track for the movie Cold Mountain. After the band split, Andrade returned to ETSU to finish his degree. When he isn’t teaching, Roy spends most of his free time picking with area musicians.

If you like old time music, don’t miss Roy Andrade and the ETSU Old Time Band. Their instrumental work is outstanding, and their vocals and harmony defy description. Don’t forget your dancing shoes. The group puts tremendous energy and drive into every performance. For more information, go to www.etsu.edu/.

Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Incorporated, is a nonprofit, rural arts organization established to preserve traditional, acoustic, mountain music. 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.

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April 28, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 19

Partnership’s Tourism Department Celebrates

National Tourism Week, May 2-10

The Tourism Department of the Greene County Partnership will celebrate the 32nd Annual National Travel and Tourism Week May 2-10, which communities across America celebrate each year to shine a light on what travel means to jobs, economic growth and personal well-being.

“Just look at the numbers,” said Tammy Kinser, Tourism director with the Partnership. “Travel supports 15 million jobs in America, including 560 in Greeneville and Greene County.”

“This week, we are celebrating what travel and tourism mean to our community, and we call on everyone—from elected officials to local residents—to join us in saluting this important industry,” Kinser continued. During the week, Tourism will present five Presidential Pioneer in Hospitality Award winners with plaques and balloons, honor the 150th visitor to the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site with a basket of local items and visit the Bristol and Kingsport Welcome Centers to welcome guests.

On Friday, May 8, all business people are encouraged to wear red.

The color red represents unity among workers and supporters in travel and tourism industry. Kinser encouraged businesses to take a “selfie” of the group dressed in red, post it to Tourism’s Facebook page www. facebook.com/DiscoverGreenevilleTN.Now, and be entered to win lunch for up to 10 from Bojangles’ the week of May 11.

Across Tennessee, travel and tourism employs a prosperous and diverse workforce, from airline and hotel employees, to res-

taurant, attraction and retail workers, and supports industry sectors such as construction, manufacturing and finance.

Local travel and tourism support 560 jobs, provide $4.78 million in state tax revenues and $2.17 million in local tax revenues and contributes $82.25 million in tourism expenditures, the amount paid by visitors for the consumption of goods and services, as well as valuables, for and during tourism visits.

The national figures are equally remarkable: $2.1 trillion in economic output and $927.9 billion in direct travel-related spending in the U.S. by domestic and international travelers in 2014. $141.5 billion generated in federal, state and local tax revenues in 2014. 15 million American jobs supported— eight million direct tourism jobs and seven million indirect and induced jobs—good jobs with good

pay that cannot be outsourced.

“I am fortunate to have worked in the travel and tourism industry for 16 years,” said Kinser. “Tourism has helped to benefit our community immensely because of the tax revenue it generates and the countless businesses and jobs that are touched by the economic activity visitors bring.”

Travel can also have a positive effect on personal well-being. A recent study by the U.S. Travel Association found that Americans left 429 million vacation days unused (the most in nearly 40 years) and forfeited $52.4 billion in timeoff benefits. It is estimated that if workers took just one more day off each year, travel would generate $73 billion annually for the economy.

“Travel contributes to the fabric of America and continues to do wonders for our businesses and personal lives,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, the umbrella organization representing the travel industry in the U.S. “This weeklong celebration should extend to every day of the week to further strengthen our dynamic industry.”

To learn more about NTTW 2015, visit Discover Greeneville’s Facebook page, www.facebook. com/DiscoverGreenevilleTN. Now, or contact Kinser at tkinser@ greenecop.com.

Northeast State hosts Cantemus Women’s Choir Enjoy an evening of music and melody when the Northeast State Music Department welcomes the Cantemus Women’s Choir to perform May 5, 7:00 p.m. at the Wellmont Regional Center for Performing Arts at the Blountville campus next to Tri-Cities Regional Airport. The concert is free and open to the public.

Cantemus Women’s Choir is a brand new community ensemble dedicated to exploring the beauty and versatility of music written and arranged for women’s voices. The choir is a multi-generational group of singers, ranging in age from 15 years through 80+ years. Although the choir is based in Kingsport, its membership hails from around the region with members coming from as far away as Morristown and Big Stone Gap,

Va., to participate.

The choir rehearses Tuesday at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Colonial Heights and is under the direction of Patricia Denmark. Erin Raines serves as accompanist. In addition to the choir’s regular fall and spring concerts, this second season featured collaborations with AMEn (Appalachian Men’s Ensemble) at Christmas, and the East Tennessee State University men’s and women’s choirs this spring.

For more information about Cantemus, the choir can be found on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/cantemuswomen’s or contact the choir at cantemuswomenschoir@gmail.com.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact 423.354.2474 or tcteague@NortheastState.edu.

Page 20, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

Starlight Tantalizes Spiritual Senses

Want a cure for this hectic world of going here and there and staying in touch with this and that while doing what you gotta do instead of what you want to do?

Bathe in starlight.

Well, keep your clothes on…but let the stars heal a tired mind. A half hour under the stars will quell the tidal waves of stress that have walloped you throughout the day.

I promise. At least it works for me.

There is something mystical about starlight. Just give it a try.

And I don’t mean sitting in a lawn chair and looking around the night sky for five minutes before deciding this is dumb. It’s actually

dumb to deny yourself a connection with the cosmos.

This was the mantra of the great astronomy popularizer of the 1970s and ‘80s, Carl Sagan. An astronomer in his own right, Sagan conveyed the message that we earthlings are part of a Universe teaming with intelligence life and the design of a great creator.

In his award-winning PBS television series “Cosmos,” Sagan pointed out that stardust that is in our DNA and we are just tenants in a cosmos teaming with life.

Lying under the stars, try to imagine each star as a suspect for alien worlds. Somehow you feel that possibility when bathing un-

der starlight. Try it and see for yourself.

Just think about this amazing point of light striking your eyes and registering in your brain. The intensity and color is noted by your brain.

Let the starlight strike a spectroscope and we can tell what it’s made of, how old it is and how long it’s likely to be around. But let light from stars enter our brains through the optic nerve connected to our retinas at the back of our eyes…well, there is a connection with something good and pure.

Proof is all the songs, poems, books and movies that are inspired by the stars.

A particle of light is called a photon, and they act like a wavelength (think rainbow colors) or like a particle (think ping-pong balls). So there is an actual piece of a star that has traveled for maybe hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of years to land on the back of your human eye and register as a point of light.

Think about it.

To be connected with the cosmos is as simple as surrendering from the bondage of social media and television, stripping down to the human essentials as you bathe under starlight.

You might at first seem silly getting out the recliner and finding a spot of wide open sky. But as you lie in the lawn chair looking around, you notice your eyes adapting to night, you start to see things around the neighborhood a lot more clearly than when you first left the lighted porch.

Adapting your eyes to the night is important to fully appreciate starlight. Our pupils enlarge, or dilate,

when in darkness to allow as much light into our eyes. Again, it’s photons of light that strike our retina.

And the only sources of light are our Sun and the thousands of other stars in the night sky. Everything else is illuminated by reflected light. Our Earth and Moon reflect sunlight on one side, the other side in blackness.

Then there is man-made artificial light—the bane of stargazers. That’s the photons that have bounced around the landscape from neighborhood lights, shopping centers and parking lots. Astronomers call it “light pollution” and a bunch of other ugly names.

Slowly but surely our suburbs are being robbed of the night sky by encroaching artificial light for new developments and roads. But that’s another long story.

Once your eyes are adapted to the night, be careful to not look at white light from the neighbors’ backyard or your kitchen. That’s why astronomers use a red flashlight to look at star charts or equipment. Red cellophane and rubber

figure out what you’re looking at.

Lie there and allow yourself to be immersed in the starlight. Focus your sight on a small area of the sky. Some stars are right at the threshold of your vision, while brighter ones seem to become more distinct. Concentrate and get lost in one small area of the sky and you can feel a connection. Some feel a sensation of belonging. Others say they are connected to their spiritual side.

Imagine those stars having systems of planets. It doesn’t take much of an imagination to think of creatures looking back. At this point of stargazing, our minds make it a personal experience, different for each one of us.

This is an experience not to be missed. You won’t feel something special the first or even second time you unfold the lawn chair for a half-hour or so under the stars. But it will come to you—a very real experience of you in the cosmos, lost in the Universe yet found on Earth.

There is more to see than just stars. Of course there are the five

bands can turn any flashlight into a stargazing tool. You can also put red nail polish on a bulb.

Red is a long wavelength of light and it doesn’t affect our eyes like the combined spectrum of white light. Next time you see a stage show, whether a play or music, take notice of the bright white, almost blue light highlighting performers, while a red stage makes people indistinct and lacking in detail. That’s the same effect of using the red light for reading under the stars.

After the 10-15 minutes of getting used to the night (and your lawn chair), you should feel like you’ve reached a new level of awareness. Looking around at the bright and not-so-bright stars, you begin to see a few recognizable patterns. You don’t need a star map the first few nights out, but your curiosity will eventually send you to Skymaps.com (or your constellation app on your Smart Phone which has a “night” red mode) to

“classical planets” that were observed by the ancient peoples: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. But what is fascinating is to see faint satellites moving among the stars. The International Space Station is very bright, around -1 mag., but there are a dozen or so satellites seen to slowly move among the faintest stars. Those going north and south are probably spy satellites; other satellites range from communication to land survey to ocean surveillance, etc.

Being mesmerized by starlight begins in the backyard. But once you see the stars under a clear, moonless night away from the suburban light pollution, then, you might realize the deep passion for stargazing that is in some people.

Campers and night boaters know the feeling when you can “almost touch the stars.”

Getting lost in the stars is a beautiful thing. And once you begin perfecting the craft, the deeper your touch might be with starlight.

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April 28, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 21

Celestial events in the skies for the week of Apr. 28 - May 4, 2015 as compiled for The Loafer by Mark D. Marquette.

Full Moon is in the early hours of Monday morning, but it’ll look full phase over the weekend. Native Americans called this the Planting Moon—for obvious reasons. Everywhere we look the Earth is coming alive with flowers, leaves, birds and even insects. The night sky is also changing rapidly as the stalwart constellations of Winter are dipping below the horizon one-by-one, like Taurus, Orion and Gemini. Jupiter rules the night and Venus the early evening. The mid-morning night skies after 3 am have Saturn in the claws of Scorpius.

Tues. April 28 Mercury is seen near The Pleiades star cluster this week beginning in the deep twilight around 9 pm and continuing until they set around 9:50 pm. The quick look is worth the effort. You might see Mars below Mercury, but definitely bright Venus is unmistakable above. They are both in Taurus, with the shoulders of Orion to the left.

Wed. April 29 Hidden behind the moonshine, these Spring skies open to the rest of the Universe like a window from our spaceship Earth. There are thousands of galaxies to see in Virgo, Leo, Ursa Major and other Spring constellations.

Thurs. April 30 The Big Dipper is at its highest point in the North around midnight these Spring nights, pour its contents on the landscape. But 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.

Fri. May 1 The Big Dipper looms large in the North, and its three handle stars arch to a very bright orangish star, Arcturus. One of the old-

Photo by MarQ

est named stars that still retains its name, Arcturus anchors the bottom point of the star pattern Bootes that looks like a kite, or an ice cream cone—or a diamond! This ancient constellation is named after a man named Bootes, who built and drove chariots a few thousand years ago, but not much else is known about him. He must have been a pioneer of wheeled vehicles to have such a prominent constellation named after him!

Sat. May 2 The Moon will be dramatic rising above the mountains and buildings in the east just before sunset. Try some photos by put-

ting your camera on a tripod and using your “shutter priority” mode to capture the dark lunar seas on the bright globe. (hint for shutterbugs: 400 ISO, 1/250th sec., f-5.6 with telephoto lens) Sun. May 3 You can’t ignore the lion roaring high overhead…or the brightest “star” in the night sky, Jupiter.

Leo the Lion’s head is a backward question mark, or a hand sickle, dotted by the regal star, Regulus.

Jupiter is ahead of the lion, a great target for any size telescope. You will see the globe, the bands of clouds and four moons that bob back and forth on each side of the planet.

Mon. May 4 Full Moon at 3:42 am but you’re really gonna think its full Saturday and Sunday nights. The Moon is in Libra the Scales, a small constellation with no bright stars, and the only one of the 12 Zodiacal star patterns that is not a living thing.

Page 22, The Loafer • April 28, 2015

Murder Mystery Caravan to present “Dealt a Deadly Hand”

Get out your lucky hat, because the Murder Mystery Caravan is about to unveil a mystery dinner show that spoofs the movie “Casablanca” and the American dream of winning the jackpot.

Penned by Tony Schwartz and Marylou Ambrose, the show,

“Dealt a Deadly Hand”, takes place at Rick’s Club, the first legal gambling casino in the area. Rick dreams of striking it rich – then two crafty Native Americans try to claim the land plus his golddigging wife, Lola, shows up.

Rick’s daughter, Candy, who has

two-left feet, dreams of being a Vegas showgirl. Throw in a twofaced lawyer, an Australian Croc Chaser with bad luck, and two little old ladies on a gambling mission, and “making a killing” takes on a whole new meaning. Will the Native Americans take over the casino? Will the Croc Chaser win back his farm? Will the Portabella sisters find their missing g-string?

Will the lawyer decide how to play her cards? Will Lola and Rick get back together for richer or poorer?

And will Rick ever be cured of his Bogart complex?

Keep your eyes and ears open because someone will cash in his or her chips tonight, and it’s up to the audience to solve the crime!

The dinner and show takes place on Saturday, May 2nd and Saturday, May 9th at Bellagios 3732 Bristol Hwy., JC. Cost for the dinner/show is $25.00 per person and reservations are required by calling (423) 928-1911.

State Street Farmers Market Opens May 2

First in the new series of farmers market posters available It is that time of year, flowers are blooming, weather warming and the State Street Farmers Market is about to open. What better way to start your day, than by visiting your local farmers market. On Saturday, May 2 at 8 AM the market will open with spring veggies, fresh locally grown meats and crafts. Of course, the first of the annual farmers market poster series will be available.

This year the posters are different from any poster previously offered by the market. “They are bold, bright and lustrous,” said Mike Musick. “For those who frame our posters, they probably will work a little better in the more minimalist modern kitchens that are currently on trend right now.”

For a complete look at this year’s entire poster selection, go to the State Street Farmers Market Facebook page or website at www. statestreetfarmersmarket.com.

For more information on the

State Street Farmers Market contact Mike Musick, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation at 423764-4023 or email mmusick@bristoltn.org.

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Jonesborough Welcomes Storyteller Jay O’Callahan

Storyteller Jay O’Callahan, a specialist in all things Americana, will be the first teller-in-residence of the 2015 Storytelling Live! season. From the history of Jonesborough to the greatest moments in U.S. space travel, his stories capture both the small-town spirit and big dreams that have come to define this country.

O’Callahan is perhaps best known for his stories about Pill Hill, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Boston where he grew up.

“I’ve done a lot of stories about it,” he says. “It was called Pill Hill because it was filled with doctors and many eccentrics. It was a neighborhood of rhythms, just like every neighborhood at that time— the rhythms of the milkman, of people walking over the hill, and the nurses going to the hospital at the bottom. It was filled with song and people who loved to read and to talk and to argue.”

In addition to his Pill Hill sto-

ries, O’Callahan will share at least two commissioned works during his residency, including the piece he developed for NASA in honor of its 50th anniversary. He’ll also showcase several experimental stories, including two tales that will make their world debut during the residency.

One of the works in progress that O’Callahan will share is a story about an Italian who’s writing an opera about Emily Dickinson. To anyone familiar with the poet’s work this might sound strange—famously, Dickinson was a shut-in. “Three summers ago I decided to read a poem every day,” O’Callahan says, who has since held several workshops at Dickinson’s old house. “Many of them I couldn’t understand, but she would have single lines that made me wonder. This story is an attempt to have the audience see her in a new light using several of her poems. It’s an experiment that

lets you see her words and her life in a new way. “[My character] is weary of the cliché that Emily is a recluse who wears a white dress and lowers chocolate cake out of the window to children,” he continues. “He feels that seeing her in that way blinds you to the vastness of her heart and mind. He wants to make you see how huge her heart is.”

During his weeklong residency, O’Callahan will perform daily at the International Storytelling Center in downtown Jonesborough.

Shows are at 2:00 p.m., May 5 – 9, Tuesday through Saturday, in the Mary B. Martin Storytelling Hall. All ticket holders will save 10 percent on same-day dining at The Dining Room, Jonesborough General Store and Eatery, or Main Street Café.

Tickets for all performances are just $12 for adults and $11 for seniors, students, and children under 18. Season passes that offer

April 28, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 23

nearly half off the price of regular admission are also available while supplies last.

Information about all TIR performers, as well as a detailed schedule for 2015, is available at www.storytellingcenter.net. Storytelling Live! is supported by program sponsors CrestPoint Health, Eastman Chemical Company and Eastman Credit Union, and media sponsors News 5-WCYB, FOX TriCities, Tri-Cities CW, Johnson City Press, Kingsport Times-News,

Herald & Tribune, Cumulus Media and Foster Signs. Additional funding comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the Niswonger Foundation.

The International Storytelling Center is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information about Storytelling Live! or to make a group reservation, call (800) 952-8392 ext. 222 or (423) 913-1276

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In Theaters Now

Box Office Top 10

“The Sound of Music” Turns 50

The hills are alive with the sound of music, and so were local theaters with the recent 50th anniversary showings of the classic film “The Sound of Music”. The movie, originally released in 1965, means different things to film fans.

Some just brush it off as a piece of fluff, while others, myself included, consider the film an important part of film history, and love the film for personal reasons. I clearly remember my Mom taking me to see the film at the theater when I was a wee lad, and the film made quite an impression on this fellow.

I remember the film was majestic in every way, and left me tapping my toes to the many wonderful songs sung by Julie Andrews and her supporting cast. There is really know reason to discuss the plot from a film released in 1965, and if you have never seen the film, I simply don’t know what to say, other than: at least watch part of the film now! I will say the film is loosely based on the Von Trapp family of Austria, and how a nun in waiting, Maria (Andrews), came to care for the Von Trapp children, and fall in love with and marry their father Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer).

The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and won 5 Oscars, including Best Picture, and Best Director (Robert Wise), and was a huge box office hit upon release. I was very happy I was able to take my Mom for another viewing of the film at the theater, and seeing the story of Maria on the big screen again was a delight.

I have some fun 50th anniversary trivia for fans of the film.

Furious Seven (2015) Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis Deckard Shaw seeks revenge to prep him to go behind bars. against Dominic Toretto and his family for his comatose brother.

Woman in Gold (2015) Maria Altmann, an octogenarPaul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015) ian Jewish refugee, takes on the After six years of keeping our Austrian government to recover malls safe, Paul Blart has earned a artwork she believes rightfully bewell-deserved vacation. He heads longs to her family. to Vegas with his teenage daughter before she heads off to college. But Monkey Kingdom (2015) safety never takes a holiday and A nature documentary that folwhen duty calls, Blart answers. lows a newborn monkey and its mother as they struggle to survive Unfriended (2014) within the competitive social hierA group of online chat room archy of the Temple Troop, a dyfriends find themselves haunted namic group of monkeys who live by a mysterious, supernatural in ancient ruins found deep in the force using the account of their storied jungles of South Asia. dead friend Insurgent (2015) Home (2015) Beatrice Prior must confront her Oh, an alien on the run from his inner demons and continue her own people, lands on Earth and fight against a powerful alliance makes friends with the adventur- which threatens to tear her society ous Tip, who is on a quest of her apart with the help from others on own. her side.

The Longest Ride (2015) After an automobile crash, the lives of a young couple intertwine with a much older man, as he reflects back on a past love.

Cinderella (2015) When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella’s forGet Hard (2015) tunes begin to change after meetWhen millionaire James King is ing a dashing stranger. jailed for fraud and bound for San

Trivia item #1- Christopher Plummer hated working on the film, and called the film “The Sound of Mucus”. However, he and Andrews are good friends to this day.

Trivia item #2- When Maria is running through the courtyard while singing “I Have Confidence”, she trips, and while this was an accident, Wise liked the moment and left it in the film.

Trivia item #3- Andrews had to learn to play the guitar for the film.

Trivia item #4-The house used as the Von Trapp home was owned by actress Hedy Lamarr.

Trivia item# 5- The song “Edlweiss” was written for the film, and is barely known in Austria.

Trivia item# 6- Acress Debbie Turner (Marta) had many loose teeth while filming, and when they fell out, they were replaced with false teeth.

Trivia item #7-If adjusted for inflation, TSOM would be the third highest-grossing movie of all time.

Trivia item #8- Christopher Plummer learned to play guitar for the film, but his guitar playing and vocals were re-dubbed.

Trivia item # 9- Maria’s wedding train was 14 feet long.

Trivia item #10- Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, and four of the Osmond Brothers, were among the kids who auditioned for roles in the film.

Trivia item #11- Doris Day turned down the role of Maria.

Trivia item #12- Sean Connery and Richard Burton were considered for the role of Captain von Trapp.

Trivia item #13- 4,500 extras were employed for the film.

Trivia item #14- In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked

TSOM as the 40th Greatest Movie of All Time.

So there you have some TSOM trivia you can amaze and astound your friends with courtesy of Screen Scenes. Of course I haven’t even touched on the brilliant soundtrack. With everything from “My Favorite Things” to “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”, the soundtrack is a masterpiece, and nearly had me singing aloud in the theater.

If you missed the special recent showing in theaters, I suggest the 50th anniversary Ultimate Collectors Edition, now on Blu-ray. “The Sound of Music” is a wonderful slice of cinema history that forever left a memorable impression on a kid eating popcorn in a dark theater.

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April 28, 2015 • The Loafer, Page 25

Super Watch 9000 I went to the Apple Store in Knoxville and tried on an Apple Watch. I kinda want one, and in another way, I kinda don’t want one. However, my inner tech geek simply could not refuse the chance to actually have one on my wrist and see what it was like.

The Apple Store was like it always is, crowded, and surprisingly hot inside. I began to sweat almost immediately, as it does not take much to case me to sweat, which also activates the anxious feeling that I appear to be immensely nervous. Visions of George Constanza may flash in your head now.

The watch was, well, cool. It looked nice on my wrist and was surprisingly comfortable to wear. After a few minutes—and I wore the watch for around ten minutes—I didn’t even notice it.

Still, I’m not sure that I really want one. Why is that? For a few reasons. One, you really wouldn’t— or shouldn’t—wear it to a formal event like a wedding or some awards event. I’d keep my traditional timepiece for that. Practically speaking, I feel it would be wise to wait a generation before jumping into the pool, but the other reason is that I’m not sure I want another screen to look at.

The Apple Watch is, in essence, a wrist sized extension of the iPhone. The two are designed to go hand in hand...which is fine... but...I’m not sure I need a phone extension on my wrist. What if I was on a date, and instead of being able to ignore my phone in my pocket on silent mode, I find myself increasingly distracted by notifications of whatever Dave is doing on Facebook showing up on my watch. There’s also the fact that no matter how suave you

wish to be, I would fear being an early adopter of the Apple Watch would make me walk around constantly trying to get people to notice that I was wearing an Apple Watch.

For now, or until my tech geek gets the better of me, I’m going to stick with my tried and true watch.

The watch I’ve had for so long, I can’t remember when I bought it. A Timex from J. Crew (waves fancy finger in the air), that is designed after one of their military watch designs from 1940s. There’s many different bands you can get for the watch to change the style up for the mood or occasion, and I like it. It works. It works when

I’m running around record shopping in beat up jeans and t-shirt, or when I have on suit and tie at a wedding or formal dinner thing (What? I totally get invited to formal dinner things).

So though I do like the way the Apple Watch, and that it might be able to do really cool things, for now I am sticking with my analog number. Granted, I could change my mind at any time once the tech nerd takes over, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. But just in case, don’t remind me of this column six months from now when I write one about how much I love my Apple Watch. See you next week

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Choosing The Right Handgun: For Concealed Carry Pt 1

As a firearms instructor one of the questions I get asked all the time is “What’s the best gun for concealed carry?” Unfortunately there is no single right answer. By that I mean the right gun for my concealed carry needs is likely different from yours. That being said there are a few things to consider when shopping for a concealed carry handgun.

The first thing to consider is do you want a revolver or a semi-automatic? Each has their pros and cons, for example weapon stoppages are almost nonexistent in a revolver.

However, they are often bulkier and often hold only 6 rounds of ammunition. Whereas semi-automatics are often lighter and hold more rounds, but are subject to weapons stoppages. First let’s take an in depth look at the revolver then we’ll revisit the semiautomatic.

Great strides have been made in the realm of revolvers in the last two decades. These were crucial to their survival and continued manufacture. For example Smith & Wesson has created a line of “Airweight” revolvers that weigh substantially less than their competitors counterparts, while offering the same capacity. These revolvers are excellent for not only primary carry handguns, but are often carried by law enforcement professionals as backups. This is because of their reliability. If an Officer’s primary weapon suffers a not easily clearable weapons stoppage or heaven forbid a weapons malfunction, they need a reliable backup. One of the biggest concerns with revolvers is their lack of capacity, we have been taught that we need 17+1 rounds and anything less isn’t worth having. I would argue that the law only authorizes the amount of force needed to stop the threat. I am reminded of a news report I read about an elderly lady in Florida who shot a purse snatcher six times in the back with a revolver. When asked why she shot the man six times she replied “I only had six bullets”. In this state that would be considered excessive force (plus it’s illegal to shoot someone in the back). All this to say unless you’re pinned down and need to lay down suppressive fire, six shots is more than

enough for personal protection.

Semi-automatics have also come a long way too. Especially in the realm of the .380 ACP. I remember ten years ago nobody was buying .380’s I remember having a conversation with my dad who told me he didn’t trust a .380 gun because they were notorious for being cheaply made. Companies such as Jiminez, Bryco, and Jennings were pretty much you’re only choices for .380. Then about 4 years ago a previously unheard of company Kel-Tec, who were actually a Polymer manufacturer for NASA released a small but reliable .380, and people started buying them like crazy. Well like sharks with blood in the water almost every big name firearms company began producing these “Pocket Pistols” Ruger, Taurus, Colt, and even Sig Sauer. Not only did this innovation save the .380 from extinction, it revolutionized the way people conceal carry. Full size and compact guns are now being made with polymer frames to make them lighter.

Glock was at the forefront of the polymer pistol revolution. Truly the only issue with semi-automatics is weapons stoppages such as stovepipes, double feeds, misfires, hang fires, and squib loads.

Check back next week as we will be looking at how the way you carry, individual marksmanship, and price affect your concealed carry options

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Contra Dance & Free Workshop in Jonesborough!

The Historic Jonesborough Dance Society will hold a contra dance on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 117 Boone Street. Admission to the dance is $7, $5 for HJDS members and $5 for full time students. A family package allows parents to bring all of their own children for a total of $15. All dances are smoke and alcohol free.

No partner is necessary. Families

and children are welcome! A half hour contra dance workshop will be offered at 7pm.

At the 9:00pm waltz break, Klondike Ice Cream Bars, the official frozen treat of the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society, will be offered to all dancers courtesy of the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society.

The evening will begin with a free two-hour workshop at 4:00pm

called “Beyond the Beginners’ Workshop; How to Become Everyone’s Favorite Dance Partner” led by caller/teacher Charley Harvey.

This workshop is for dancers of any level designed to make your evening of dance more pleasurable for you and others on the dance floor. The goal of the workshop for is for everyone to come away with new skills and techniques that make them a better dancer.

A better dancer is able to take good care of their partner by better understanding the flow of the dance. A better dancer is on time for every move during the dance because they understand the timing of the dance moves. That means you are in the right place at the right time. Once a dancer understands the basics, then they are free to play with Twirls and Embellishments and non-verbal communication between partners.

The final segment of the afternoon class will teach basic rotary waltz, how to add swing dance embellishments and achieving flow.

Performing for this event will be the band Hot Sonata from Asheville, NC. Charley Harvey will also call the evening dance from 7:30-10:30pm.

For more information, contact event organizer, David Wiley, at 423-534-8879 or visit www.historicjonesboroughdancesociety. org and the Historic Jonesborough Dance Society on FACEBOOK.

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Mystery, Mirth, and Magic: a True Houdini Experience

ETSU Storytelling and the Dept. of Communication and Performance with Jalopy Junction present Mystery, Mirth, and Magic: a TRUE Houdini Experience. Brandon Bragg (Brando the Great) will be performing as Harry Houdini at the Bud Frank Theatre on the campus of ETSU in Gilbreath Hall on April 30-May 3.Shows will begin at 7pm nightly and at 2pm for the Sunday matinee.

This production is an intimate story of Houdini himself/ a monologue with magic, music, and death defying escapes. Jalopy Junction, a vaudeville theatre troupe, will be performing alongside the Wild-Man with some wild tricks of their own. It is his story, The Master of Mystery, The King

of Handcuffs, the Great Harry Houdini.

Admission is $10 for the general public and $5 for students.

Show starts at 7pm nightly and at 2pm for the Sunday matinee. For more information contact Brandon Bragg at braggb@goldmail.etsu. edu.

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The Night Hank Williams Saw the Light For a half-century, the Andrew Johnson Hotel offered Knoxville’s finest guest accommodations, and as such played host to rich and famous alike whenever they had a need to visit Tennessee’s third largest city. So it should come as little surprise that this hotel was the clear choice for a road-weary Hank Williams who was looking for a temporary reprieve from the winter weather on what would turn out to be the last night of his life.

It is there that the singer-songwriter, who would one day inspire musicians from Waylon Jennings to Bob Dylan to Tony Bennett, ate his last meal, spoke his final words, and closed his eyes for the last time. On the night in question, New Year’s Eve, 1952, Hank Williams was travelling from Birmingham, Alabama, to a gig in Canton, Ohio, when he and his driver stopped in Knoxville to spend the night. Though only 29 years old, Williams was ailing.

Crippled throughout most of his adult life by rampant drug and alcohol abuse, his body was deteriorating rapidly. Drunk, as he was nearly all the time now, Williams had to be helped to his room by two porters upon checking in just after 6pm. This much we know.

The manner in which events would play out after that point, however, remains shrouded in mystery. By most accounts, after a few bites of a steak dinner and a medical emergency (some say convulsions) that led to a house call from a local doctor, it was determined that Williams and his chauffer should leave the Andrew

Johnson early, before midnight in fact, and push on toward Canton -- certainly owing in part to the night’s worsening weather conditions. So, after Williams was given injections of morphine and Vitamin B12, the two left.

The general consensus is that Williams had to be helped (i.e., carried) to his car, where he was placed in the back seat. Although it is unclear whether he ever regained consciousness after that, what is known is that he was very much dead by the time his driver stopped to rest in Oak Hill, West Virginia. Both the doctor who performed the autopsy and the porter back in Knoxville determined that he was most likely already dead

before leaving the hotel.

Now, more than 60 years later, the Andrew Johnson Hotel still stands in downtown Knoxville at the corner of Gay Street and Hill Avenue, although it has since been converted into office space for the Knox County Dept. of Education.

The building has other stories to tell, too, as it accommodated Amelia Earhart during her muchpublicized visit to Knoxville and also hosted celebrated Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff on the night of his last public performance. But to country music fans, it is most remembered for the story of Hank Williams and the night he left the hotel for that great honkytonk in the sky.

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Nineteen Sixty-Five The Sunday, April 19 edition of the Johnson City Press carried a Philadelphia Inquirer piece by Dan Deluca titled “Was 1965 Music’s Greatest Year Ever?” Needless to say I read this with great interest since this is the 50th anniversary of that momentous year.

Of course, every year is the 50th anniversary of some other year, with next year being the half-century anniversary of 1966 and so on into infinity. Seems like there is always someone out there telling us that a particular year is the greatest year ever. I am a collector of such books and have in my library volumes commemorating 1922, 1959, 1964, 1965, 1968, and 1969. Each book argues quite persuasively that the author’s chosen year is the one that changed the world forever. For our chosen year this week, I strongly recommend James Patterson’s THE EVE OF DESTRUCTION: HOW 1965 TRANSFORMED AMERICA (2012) and the recently-published 1965: THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY YEAR IN MUSIC, by Grant Jackson. While Jackson’s book focuses on music, Patterson takes a look at more political issues like the Vietnam War and the Great Society (although he takes his title from the pretty annoying song by Barry McGuire, and he does offer interesting, yet brief analyses of movies and TV as well as music).

As a historian, I tend to be skeptical that any particular year can be singled out as the one that changed us forever. And I am an enemy of nostalgia. In reality, when people were living in a particular year (I lived through 1965), they didn’t think of it as pivotal— they were too busy just trying to get by and didn’t both with rumi-

nating about the importance of the time they were experiencing. And most people tend to think of their own time as the worst possible time to be alive. It is always hindsight (which is very flawed) that assigns importance to years that have passed us by. This sentiment is expressed best by Andy Bernard (played by Ed Helms) in the final episode of “The Office,” when he observes, rather wistfully, “I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them.” How true. It is only years later when people who probably weren’t even born “back in the day” spin their “good old days” yarns. I tend to agree with Carly Simon, who tells us that “these are the good old days” in her song “Anticipation”.

For me, 1965 was a year filled with music, although I don’t believe it was any better or any worse than the pretty amazing music we have with us today (yes, I am a fan of contemporary pop music and find most of it on a par with anything I’ve experienced at other times of my life—one of

my inspirations for this column is Fall Down Boy’s song “Uma Thurman,” with its sample of The Munsters theme song, which was popular in 1965). My most vivid memory of that year was walking down the streets of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina with my newly-purchased vinyl album— an instrumental delight by guitarist Billy Strange (a member of the now-legendary West Coast studio group known as The Wrecking Crew, the subject of an incredible new DVD documentary). On this album, “English Hits of ’65,” Mr. Strange twanged his guitar through hits like “Game Of Love,” “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” (transforming the miserable Herman’s Hermits song into a thing of beauty), “Ticket to Ride,” and “It’s Not Unusual.”

I still wish I had that album, although I not a fan of vinyl.

I have no argument with any assertion that 1965 was, and still is, a pretty incredible year for music. After all, who can argue with a twelve-month period that exposed us to “Satisfaction,” “Help,” “Yes-

terday,” “California Dreamin’,” “As Tears Go By,” “Go Now” (our introduction to The Moody Blues before their descent into pretentiousness), “In The Midnight Hour,” “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail,” “Make The World Go Away,” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”? My favorite songs of the year, in case you are wondering, are Petula Clark’s “Downtown” and Bert Kaempfert’s haunting instrumental, “Red Roses For A Blue Lady.” Since I came to an appreciation of jazz much later than 1965, I can now appreciate the importance of that year for the release of landmark albums like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (Vince Guaraldi), “Song For My Father” (Horace Silver—the inspiration for Steely Dan’s “Rikki, Don’t Lose That Number), Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage,” and Ramsey Lewis’ “The In Crowd.” And if anyone tries to tell you that all music in 1965 is better than anything recorded today, please ask them to listen carefully to “A Must To Avoid” (Herman’s Hermits), “Do The Clam” (Elvis Presley), and “May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose” (Little Jimmy Dickens, who is nevertheless a very important artist who recently passed away).

While we are focusing on 1965, let’s not forget that music was not the only thing that makes this year memorable. For instance, it was a great year for movies, both good and bad. This is the year we first watched “The Sound of Music,” “Thunderball,” “For A Few Dollars More,” “Help” (The Beatles’ less impressive follow up to “A Hard Day’s Night”), “Bunny Lake Is Missing,” “The Spy Who Came In From The Cold,” and two really creepy horror movies, “The Col-

lector” and “Repulsion” (who can forget that slowing decomposing rabbit?). And it was also the year known for camp classics like two pussycat-themed movies: “What New Pussycat?” and Russ Meyer’s schlock masterpiece, “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!”. Other so-badthey’re-good offerings include not one but three Elvis movies (“Girl Happy,” “Harum Scarum,” and “Tickle Me”), “Beach Blanket Bingo,” “Terror Creatures From The Grave,” “Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster,” and “Color Me Blood Red” (another sensational film verite offering by Herschel Gordon Lewis).

TV Shows that premiered 50 years ago include “Get Smart,” “I Dream Of Jeannie,” “Where The Action Is” (the Dick Clark production that introduced us to Paul Revere And The Raiders), “My Mother The Car” (arguably the worst TV show of all time), “Wild, Wild West,” “Lost In Space,” and “I Spy.” And, let’s not forget “Hullabaloo,” the companion to “Shindig,” which premiered the previous year, both becoming early inspirations for MTV. Books were, not surprisingly, very popular in 1965, and readers were enjoying literature by Frank Herbert (DUNE), Arthur Hailey, Jerzy Kozinski, Kurt Vonnegut, and James Leo Herlihy (whose book MIDNIGHT COWBOY because the first X-rated movie to win the Academy Award four years later).

I encourage you to find your own ways to commemorate 1965 this week, but while you are doing whatever you do remember the advice given by Carly Simon above.

See you next week.

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