FREE VOLUME 03 ISSUE 06 JUNE/JULY 2015
set’s quest for
MAKE ME ONE WITH EVERYTHING
FLORENCE’S SOUL IN PRETTY FACES
LET ME SUNGGYU A SONG
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS 3
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
DOES IT HAVE A SOUL IF IT’S BEING CREATED BY A COMPUTER? OLD SOUL, YOUNG ARTIST, P12
LETTER
FEEDBACK LET’S HEAR IT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
FROM THE EDITOR
SEARCH FOR: SOULMATE IS TRUE LOVE JUST A SWIPE AWAY?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
WELCOME OM
DOWN IN MY SOUL What do we mean when we say, “soul”? There is, of course, the music genre the Muscle Shoals area is famous for shaping. There’s the spiritual idea of your inner self that will go on after your body is gone (you know, the things gingers don’t have). There’s also Mama’s cooking down here in the South, as well as the parts of our feet. And let’s not forget South Korea. For me, the soul is something we have to nurture. It’s a thing, a noun, weighted only by its unbearable lightness, and it can grow or shrink depending on how we take care of it. I know my soul is happiest when I’m experiencing life to the fullest: discovering new flavors, hearing new music, reading masterful prose or listening to people’s stories. The last one, for me, is the most fulfilling. Regardless of your interpretation, we’ve got you covered: K-Pop, fried chicken, yoga, ginger kids and Mr. Percy Sledge are all in this issue. Actually, we skipped the feet, so there are no soles in this issue. There is, however, a great interview with Dillon Hodges of firekid and where the soul of his music comes from. We also have stories from you, the people. We teamed up with Folks of Florence to bring you some inspiring voices and faces from right here at home. So welcome to the stories, and welcome to our summer “Soul” issue. I should take this time to also say that this is my last issue as editor of SET. Many of you who know me
SOME BENEFITS AND HISTORY OF THE ART OF YOGA. . . . . . . . . . 7
MISS UNA IS AN ANGEL SOULFUL MUSIC PLUS A PASSION FOR PEOPLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
OLD SOUL, YOUNG ARTIST FIREKID TALKS SOUL, INNOVATION AND THE FUTURE . . . . . . . 10-13
SWEET SEOUL MUSIC MORE THAN GANGNAM STYLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 personally know how much travel means to me. That bit about my soul being fed by experience? Well, it’s hungry again. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here at SET, and I hope to see it grow and expand with a new person leading the way. If this is your first time reading SET, I’m glad you picked it up! We’re a local publication published by Listerhill Credit Union focused on providing a stage for the voices of you: the young, wild and free generation of Now. We’re constantly looking for writers and photographers (especially photographers!) to help build this thing, so if you have any interest, please visit our website to get involved! I truly hope you enjoy our soulful, Seoulful (but not soleful) music edition of SET!
BY ANDY THIGPEN, EDITOR
SET is a publication by and for local young people dedicated to lifestyle, finance, technology and community. It is published by Listerhill Credit Union as
part of its ongoing mission to promote the credit union philosophy of cooperation and financial literacy. It is a platform for 15-20 somethings in the community and it is free.
WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME? EULOGY FOR A MAN OF SOUL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SOUL FOOD ON THE CHEAP WHEN TIMES IS HARD, HAVE SOME SOUL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19
CALENDAR WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-22
GINGER EQUALITY GINGERS ARE PEOPLE TOO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SPOTLIGHT SET READERS IN ACTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-27
FOLKS OF FLORENCE GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30-31
FREESTYLE REFLECTIONS ON THE SOUL OF MUSIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
CONNECT WITH SET MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. Box 566 Sheffield, AL 35660
Please take one copy and share it. Listerhill Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative whose purpose is to improve the quality of life for the membership by providing cost effective services to meet their financial needs while maintaining financial soundness and promoting the credit union philosophy.
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM DROP US A LINE AT INFO@GETSETMAG.COM
PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
4790 East Second Street Muscle Shoals, AL 35661
4 CONTRIBUTORS
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
SET CONTRIBUTORS PAIGE MCCAY
Locust Fork, AL
STEPHEN JACKSON Tuscumbia, AL
EMILY RUSSEL Florence, AL
MATT WILSON Florence, AL
KALI DANIEL
Murfreesboro, TN
WESLEY HOPKINS Florence, AL
AMANDA AREOSTATICO Florence, AL
CODY CAMPBELL Florence, AL
ANDY WALLACE Madison, AL
KELLI AXLEY
Florence, AL
COURTNEY TULLY Rogersville, AL
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
TECH 5
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
There are more than 2,500 online dating sites in the U.S.
One in 10 Americans have used dating sites or apps.
SEARCH FOR: SOULMATE IS TRUE LOVE JUST A SWIPE AWAY? Soulmate: it’s a controversial word with many different definitions from many different sources. Some say it’s a divine occurrence. Some call it fate. Some say it’s a thing of fairytales and romantics. No matter what the interpretation, most people agree that soulmates are two human beings who are two parts of a whole — who are simply meant to be together. The definition is the easy part; the hard part comes when trying to find that person. Some people try coffee shops, speed dating, parties and all the other good old-fashioned ways of meeting a potential date. Lately, however, those triedand-sometimes-true have been overshadowed by a relatively new player in the game: online dating. I did some research to see what was out there and, if the number of people wasn’t overwhelming enough, the number of sites would do it! Some have gone as far as to get weirdly specific like Farmers Only and Christian Mingle, which give way to some of our most loved commercials. Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have been making matches, and now Tinder almost turns the process of finding love into a game. Thanks to the Internet, we can send cheesy pickup lines to potential dates through hundreds of avenues. When I was first introduced to this article, I had little to no knowledge about online dating. I expected to find stories filled with love and success. When I asked around I found something even better: stories of failed attempts in flirting, cheesy pickup lines and a few unique fairytales. Taylor McPeters, on Facebook
messaging, “There was a guy who claimed that he wanted a relationship, but on a date, he spent the entire time playing Flappy Bird then trying to stick his tongue in my mouth. So that was great.” Nicholle Smith, an art student at the University of North Alabama (UNA), on her experiences via Tinder, “Once a guy sent me a message with the line ‘If I was a giraffe I would slam my enormous neck against all the other giraffes in the herd to establish dominance then proceed to chat you up.’ I had no idea how to respond to that. The relationship didn’t progress much further: giraffes just aren’t my type.”
Hailey Blankenship, a student at UNA, on dating sites, “I have never used a dating site myself, and from the stories I have heard from other people I don’t think I would ever want to.” Clearly some accounts on the Web are as bad as random people you don’t know poking you on Facebook (unless you’re into that kind of thing). However, there may be hope for online dating still! After I heard all of these stories or opinions, I asked if they believed love could be found on these same variations of media outlets. Even after his less than magical Inter-date, McPeters still sees a light at the end of the tunnel.
“Hopefuls have to wade through a lot of crap, certainly, but there are other people looking for love. They’re few and far between, but they’re out there.” Some have given up on online dating, but still keep the spirit alive for those who are still giving it a try. Smith happens to be one of those. “I personally don’t want to find love on a dating site, but I know people who have,” Smith said. “If they are actually looking for good qualities in a person instead of just a hook up I think it’s possible, but we live in a society now where it’s hard to differentiate people’s intentions online.” Some have seen it happen and hold a secondhand belief on the power of love and the Internet. Although not an online dater herself, Blankenship has found herself being a believer. “I do believe people can find love on those sites,” she said. “My grandmother found her second husband on eHarmony and they are still together. So yes, I think it can happen.” We reached out to others to get their takes as well and found an overwhelming amount of people who believed the same even through their personal bad experiences. In the end, there is no real answer to if online dating works or not. You have to wade through the cheesy pickup lines and duck face selfies, but maybe the next one you swipe will be right.
STORY BY PAIGE MCCAY
6 HEALTH
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
HEALTH 7
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
June 21 is International Yoga Day!
Check out Shoals Yoga at www.shoalsyoga.com
WELCOME OM
DANIELLE SNODDY INSPIRING VAGUELY INTERESTED COWS TO FIND THEIR TRUE SELVES.
SOME BENEFITS AND HISTORY OF THE ART OF YOGA About a year or so ago, my sister invited me to go to a yoga class with her. Being the skeptic that I am, I hesitantly agreed. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought the cheapest (and possibly most toxic, but you know, YOLO) yoga mat I could find. We arrived at the studio and I could already tell it was going to be an interesting experience. We started off with breathing. Being a trumpet player, I should be able to breathe pretty well, right? Wrong. As we switched into doing various poses, I thought it would be easy, but again, I was
wrong. My favorite part of the experience was during the relaxation period when the teacher told us to lay down and close our eyes. That being said, it was a great experience, and I felt so much more relaxed and at peace after going. I’ve been back a few times, and I recommend trying it to anyone who’s interested. In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism “yoga” means “spiritual discipline.” While a lot of people think of yoga as a physical activity, there is so much more to it. While the exact origin of yoga is unknown, we do know the practice can be traced back at least 5,000 years. Some researchers believe it could actually be up to 10,000 years old! While “ancient yoga” was originally focused on applying and understanding the world, modern yoga is more focused on things such as proper relaxation, exercise, breathing, diet, thinking and meditation. Through all of these behaviors, the idea is to develop a connection that allows a sense of harmony in your body and life. One focus of yoga is allowing yourself to detach from the physical world and tap into the true spiritual self. It asks Who am I? Where do I come from? Where do I go?
According to Shoals Yoga founder and owner Danielle Snoddy, the most practiced form of yoga in the U.S. is yoga asana. “[Yoga asana] involves placing the body in various postures (asanas) to create more strength, flexibility, and balance,” she said. “The asanas coupled with proper breathing and mediation encourage a calm and steady mind.” Yoga is actually a practiced religion. “Hatha-yoga” is one of the six recognized systems of orthodox Hinduism. Hatha means “to oppress.” The idea behind hatha-yoga is to subdue the flow of psychic energies through channels in the spine and to allow positive force to rise through the chakras — what the Hindus believe to be the psychic centers of the human personality. There are some who try to separate the religion from the exercise, but practicing Hindus believe this can’t be done. They believe that the movements themselves become a form of meditation. Even if you do not intend for them to, they will lead you back to a perspective of peace and calming characteristic of many Eastern religions. Of course, there are some obvious
physical benefits from yoga such as flexibility, muscle tone and overall improved health. Many people use it as a way to strengthen their core muscles. However, yoga also provides other benefits such as stress relief and improving mental focus. More than that, Snoddy said, is the inclusiveness that lies at the heart of yoga. “One of the things I love most about yoga is that it doesn’t matter who you are, what your religion, race, sex, societal status; you can still practice,” Snoddy said. “Yoga helps to uncover your deeper and higher self. Yoga reminds us that we are all a part of something much greater and we are all unique threads of this tapestry of life.” Whether you choose to practice yoga for the physical, mental, emotional or soulful benefits, or if you’re just looking for something to do for fun, it’s an awesome release and great experience. Happy yoga-ing and Namaste!
STORY BY EMILY RUSSELL
8 HERO
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
Over 2 billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies.
JUNE/JULY 2015
Follow her on Instagram: @rachwammack
MISS UNA IS AN ANGEL SOULFUL MUSIC PLUS A PASSION FOR PEOPLE
DON’T LET THE CROWN FOOL YOU: SHE CAN WIELD MALLETS LIKE WOLVERINE.
Rachel Wammack is an ambitious singer-songwriter, musician and student who wants to make an impact in the world. In January 2015, she was crowned Miss University of North Alabama (UNA). With her grace, character and a bangin’ rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” on marimba, Wammack nailed the awards. It turns out, however, that playing marimba is just the beginning of her talents. Way back when Wammack was a student at Muscle Shoals high school, she was honing her skills as a marimba player. She was also writing songs for guitar and even played at the high school’s Musicfest Concert. She even cut an EP with The Sweepers and formed another band called Newport. These days, Wammack can be seen playing at venues around the Shoals area as a soloist and in the band Philly Cheese Steaks. At the moment, she has recorded two full-length albums — “Pass It On” and “Lavender” — and is currently working on a third. In all of her music, Wammack said, “soul” is at the core. “I think all good music comes from the soul, and that is the inspiration,” she said. Wammack’s songwriting revolves around telling the truth — songs about real people, real stories and real emotions. “The emotion is what engraves a good story or moment and makes the art real. Deep down in the ocean floor of our hearts.” Early on, Wammack was advised by veteran songwriter, producer and UNA professor Walt Aldridge to try to write a song every day. As of now, she has never experienced writer’s block in her songwriting career. Her secret is to “realize that inspiration is everywhere,” she said. But it’s not just her talents that make this collegiate queen our local hero this month. Wammack is a local hero because of her devotion to Vitamin Angels — an organization that aims to serve those who are suffering from “hidden hunger,” a lack of micronutrients that
can lead to disease and even death. Vitamin Angels delivers vitamins to children under the age of five and pregnant women in malnourished parts of the world. Wammack first heard about this organization in 2013 from a friend. “He took interest in the organization because he lost his wife to eye cancer that eventually turned into liver cancer,” she said. He shared his story with Rachel, and she was inspired to write a song for Vitamin Angels called “Angel Eyes.” In October 2015, Wammack has the great opportunity to combine her passion with her talents on a volunteer trip to Ethiopia. During her stay she will be distributing vitamins, sharing music and giving a prime example of what it means to be a hero.
STORY BY AMANDA AREOSTATICO
JUNE/JULY 2015
HERO 9
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
Nick Walton
Miracle Osborne
Member since 2015
Member since 2013
Visit Our Stop by The Hill
to relax, recharge, or (of course) take care of your financial
needs. The Hill is a full service, student-run Listerhill Credit Union location in The Commons at UNA dedicated to helping students reach their full financial potential.
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
STORY BY KALI DANIEL
10 FEATURE
JUNE/JULY 2015
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
FEATURE 11
FIREKID TALKS SOUL, INNOVATION AND THE FUTURE
PHOTO BY HARPER SMITH
After classes let out, an 11-year-old boy bikes down the street from his house to his neighbor’s, eager to learn more about his passion. His tires skid to a halt and he strides through the front door, traversing the boundary between the world and his passion. He greets his neighbor and sits, a guitar stretched over his legs as he awaits his next lesson. Dillon Hodges would go on to win fourteen flat-picking competitions thanks to his neighbor, Mark Campbell. Since those days, Hodges debuted with “Rumspringa” in 2013, then began his next project: firekid. Americana with electronic influence, firekid is climbing in popularity. In spring 2014, firekid signed with Atlantic Records, and will debut its first LP in August. While signing with Atlantic Records was a challenge, firekid has a few other successes. "Die for Alabama" was placed in the opening of Talladega in May, and firekid also performed at Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores May 17. To understand the new sensation that firekid is becoming, we have to understand Hodges’ influences and experiences. “I think [firekid] comes from a very traditional place for me — at least the roots music side of it,” Hodges said. “If soul translates into authenticity, maybe it’s because I grew up playing these fiddle tunes at bluegrass
DILLON HODGES OF FIREKID IS CONSTANTLY FINDING NEW INSPIRATION AND CRAFTING A UNIQUE SOUND.
festivals and I was fortunate enough to have a teacher who exposed me to bluegrass and old time music. “He took me to bluegrass festivals on the weekends and really threw me into an obsession that hasn’t let up yet. I guess the soul comes from the years of being around these great players who are older than me, teaching me these old time and bluegrass songs.” Campbell, Hodges’ teacher, not only opened up the world of bluegrass and guitar, but opened up his home. “I would stay over there for three or four hours and just play until it was time for me to go home and do homework,” Hodges said. “Sometimes he’d cook me dinner and I’d do homework over there and just leave when it was time for bed.” Hodges also drove to Nashville once a month to learn from another mentor, Tim May, a flat-picker whose works have been Grammy-nominated. Aside from Campbell and May, Hodges has cited Doc Watson as a primary role model for flat-picking and songwriting style. The electronic influence heard in firekid’s music, however, comes from producers Josh Edmondson and Sam Hollander, as well as Hodges’ own unique exploration. “I find that I just stumble upon things in the strangest ways,” Hodges said. “I stumbled across this underground kind of music I’d never heard of before called ‘chiptune.’ It’s basically music made on retro gaming consoles, but it has this analog synth sound that’s just really edgy.” Hodges first discovered the chiptune genre after attempting to decipher a sound in a film. “I was listening to a soundtrack of some movie and heard the synth sounds and started looking up who played on the record — tried to find out what that sound was I was hearing,” he said. “It turned out to be this chiptune artist called Disasterpeace. I’d never heard of that style of music before so I just kind of dove in just to see if I could find out more.” His explorations led to discovery of the technology required to make the sounds and, eventually, a cover song using a familiar handheld video game device. “As soon as I heard it, I bought some of the gear to make it happen, to create it myself. I already had a Gameboy so I just had to buy the cartridge with the software on it. We worked up a version of ‘Golden’ by My Morning Jacket on the Gameboy and incorporated it into the music.” Hodges said there are no limits to incorporating sounds into his music. “It’s always bizarre stuff like that,” he said. “I’ll see something that I think is crazy on its own and might not have any practical application, but if I think it’s cool I’ll try and incorporate it some way — make it useable.” As for the soulful bluegrass inspiration, Hodges said he realizes incorporating electronic sounds into his music is going to be a process. “There’s this really not soulful thing happening in electronic music where people walk onstage with a computer and just press play,” he said. “It’s kind of like a DJ movement where they’ve made these beats ahead of time, and they go up on stage and just jump around. They’re not really doing anything. I guess that can be soulful, but it doesn’t really feel like a soulful performance. Hodges hopes to combat this movement with musicians onstage performing the music. “I think something that’s missing from a lot of electronic music is live instrument elements,” he said. “So there’s certainly some electronic music out there that feels soulful, especially James Blake — someone who creates everything onstage. He doesn’t use any tracks or loops or anything.” When firekid performed at Hangout Fest, Hodges said he had the chance to see one specific electronic artist perform. “I did see Skrillex and really enjoyed it,” he said. “Not to say going to a show like that is not enjoyable, it’s just a tough call. Does it have a soul if it’s being created by a computer? I don’t know. That’s some artificial intelligence singularity stuff, right there.” As chance would have it, firekid’s first cover, “Feel Good, Inc.” by Gorillaz, discusses just that. The song, as described by Gorillaz, is about being cut off from reality through technological advancement, but needing it to continue to provide success. “I just wanted to do a cover to go along with ‘Bullet for a Broken Heart’ and my friend told me I should think about doing a Gorillaz song because it could be cool. I always loved ‘Clint Eastwood’ and ‘Feel Good, Inc.’ so it was between those two. I started playing a banjo part over ‘Feel Good, Inc.’ and it felt really good so that’s why I came into doing it. It was happenstance, but it’s funny how things work out.” And things seem to be working out more than great for firekid, including
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
PHOTO BY HARPER SMITH
12 FEATURE
DILLON HODGES: PURVEYOR OF FINE TUNES AND CONNOISSEUR OF RAILROAD TRACKS. the transition from Alabama to Tennessee. The move from Muscle Shoals to Nashville benefitted his sound, but Hodges claims he was expecting more of an influence. “It’s funny, I thought Nashville would change my sound,” he said. “I was a little worried, initially, moving to Nashville, that I was going to lose myself up here. Nashville is certainly inspiring. It inspires me to try and write better, try and be better because of all the talented people here, and it’s competitive as well. Really what influenced my firekid sound is going out to LA and working for the last year and a half or so on the project. It was really more an LA influence than it was a Nashville influence.” That influence is still evolving firekid, and Hodges doesn’t see it settling anytime soon. “It may be slowing down and settling a little bit, but I am always looking for the next thing and I get excited when a new piece of gear or technology comes out, I want to incorporate it into my music. So as long as that is moving forward, I think firekid will move forward, too.” The meanings and plots behind firekid lyrics are also moving forward as Hodges continues to explore songwriting. He said he loves the importance of characters and character development and even writes short stories as a hobby. But he enjoys the challenge of songwriting the most. “I love writing lyrics and just condensing content into a few small lines and simplifying things. But I’ve always tried to have some kind of deeper meaning behind the lyric like you would with any kind of plot-driven writing. That’s really where my songwriting is inspired from whether its movie plots or a good book or anything.”
FEATURE 13
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
PHOTO BY HARPER SMITH
JUNE/JULY 2015
CHECK OUT FIREKID'S WEBSITE TO SEE FUTURE TOUR DATES, AND STAY TUNED FOR AN ALBUM COMING IN AUGUST 2015. As firekid continues being inspired by everything in life, Hodges encourages fans around the world to follow firekid through social media by using a unique hashtag. “I want to post as much as I can; pictures from the cities we’re in — let people know where we are and what we’re doing. We’ve been taking some pictures of Josh, the drummer, and I just hanging out around whatever town we’re playing in and I thought ‘well, we’ll just start posting pictures before the show.’ “My next thought was, ‘well, if we came up with a hashtag where people could search the hashtag and see the series of the firekid guys just hanging out before shows, that would be great. Perfect: bros before shows.”
As fans follow #brosbeforeshows on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, Hodges continues to steer firekid in the right direction — a direction of success. “The last month or so, things are finally starting to happen. It just feels like we’re doing something right.”
14 MUSIC
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
MUSIC 15
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
Seoul is the plastic surgery capital of the world.
WAS THE MOST VIEWED K-POP VIDEO OF 2014.
K-Pop star Kim Yura’s legs are insured for $500,000.
SWEET SEOUL MUSIC MORE THAN GANGNAM STYLE
GLAM, GLITZ AND MAKE-UP: WELCOME TO K-POP. In the summer of 2013, as I walked down the street from Tianjin Foreign Studies University in Tianjin, China to the nearby equivalent of Wal-Mart, I heard the words “oppa Gangnam style” blare from a grocery store. In that moment, I realized the global impact of K-Pop. Before the viral video of a strange Korean man galloping in a stable hit the No. 1 Billboard spot, K-Pop was grabbing the attention of the Western world as a subculture infatuated with audiovisual talent. But what sets K-Pop apart from American pop? The answer is complex. University of North Alabama (UNA) junior and native of Incheon, South Korea, Hyebin Joo said a large part of K-Pop’s influence lies in beauty. “The artists are so popular because they are very pretty, skinny and handsome,” she said. “They want to be them. And I think that’s why Korea is the No. 1 in cosmetic surgery.” According to an article in The New Yorker this March, South Korea has
the highest rate of plastic surgery per capita in the world — just under 14 percent of the population as compared to the United States’ under 10 percent. The pop stars, also known as idols, Joo said, are addictive and easy to sing along to, drawing people more to them and thus, their appearance. Though not all Koreans enjoy K-Pop or its influence on the rest of the world. “I’m not a huge fan of K-Pop,” said UNA junior and Seoul, South Korea native Jinseung Choi. “Just like in America, some people like pop music and other people like jazz or country more. Like this, I like only some of K-Pop, not all of it.” Choi said he does not particularly enjoy K-Pop because of the stigmas associated with it. “Most of K-Pop is superficial more than singing,” he said. “It’s more about their appearance, performance, dance — I think that is one reason why people like it, though.” Choi said he thinks younger
generations are most influenced by K-Pop and the importance of appearance because of the frustration teens face through preadolescence. “To young people it looks more fancy than their lives,” he said. “It’s what I think is almost the same reason people like One Direction, I guess.” While Choi and Joo can see the negative effects of K-Pop’s superficiality, it is economically beneficial and even catchy. “Korea currently earns thousands of dollars through K-Pop, because in other Asian countries, the U.S. and Europe, people are crazy for K-Pop,” Joo said. “As you might know, if you go to Youtube, a ton of people post their reaction to K-Pop songs.” Codie Griffin of Decatur, Alabama, said he discovered K-Pop through Youtube. A long-time lover of foreign music, Griffin finds the music catchy and the appearance important. “I feel like aesthetics are heavilyprioritized in K-Pop,” he said. “I wouldn’t necessarily consider that a bad thing. When it comes to entertainment, attraction is key. I believe that not only K-Pop, but the pop genre as a whole caters to that innate attraction. That’s why pop is heavy on catchy hooks and percussion — it brings the numbers in.” Choi said he thinks the biggest K-Pop stars are Big Bang and Exo, both boy bands. “Big Bang and 2NE1 are actually my favorites,” Joo said. “The company that they belong to has a hip-hop tendency which, to me, is more powerful than any others.” For those interested in learning
more about K-Pop and exploring the various artists, Joo recommends checking out Big Bang, 2NE1, Girls’ Generation, Exo, Super Junior, Girl’s Day and EXID. Big Bang was the first K-Pop group to have an album enter the Billboard 200 with their 2012 album “Alive” at No. 150 while 2NE1 debuted at No. 61 with their 2014 album “Crush.” Big Bang, Girls’ Generation, G-Dragon, 2NE1 and Taeyang are the only K-Pop artists to ever enter the Billboard 200. As for the most well-known K-Pop star in America, what does the Korean population think of Psy? “He was known as more of a comedic singer,” Joo said. “He wasn’t really that famous. But since ‘Gangnam Style,’ he has become a little more popular.” “I give the analogy that Psy is to South Korea as Kanye is to America attitude-wise,” Griffin said. “He’s gotten a lot of backlash for the things he has said about America, and there is better K-Pop out there. There are artists that release hit singles, then there are artists that release hit albums. Psy is the former.” Even if Psy is the only K-Pop someone has heard, Griffin said there is a world of K-Pop with individual styles for everyone to enjoy. “It’s very upbeat and shows a side of pop that is leagues different from the typical American pop,” he said. “Change is good.”
STORY BY KALI DANIEL
16 SPECIAL FEATURE
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
SPECIAL FEATURE 17
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
Percy Sledge was actually born in Leighton, Alabama.
Sledge says he carried this tune for his whole life.
WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME? EULOGY FOR A MAN OF SOUL WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN:
There are plenty of stories — juicy ones — about the Muscle Shoals Sound and Fame Studios: Skynyrd running through the county roads of northwest Alabama, the Rolling Stones crooning about wild steeds, Bob Dylan hitting his gospel hour, Cher, well, being Cher and even Phish coming to town to get a healthy dose of the revamped soul of the area. The first story you should hear, and perhaps the one that should be the first chapter of any reputable book about the musical heritage of the area, is about Percy Tyrone Sledge and his meteoric rise to stardom. The man, who died last April, came from little and achieved so much including topping the charts with one of the best — if not the best — love song of all time. “When A Man Loves a Woman” is one of those songs that slides gently, easily, but powerfully, from any singer. With the wide, shimmering and soulful keys of Spooner Oldham leading the way, the song comes on slow but with a sureness and confidence that can be trusted, begging a slow nod to the rhythm before Sledge hits hard in the gut with his opening verse.
CAN’T KEEP HIS MIND ON NOTHING ELSE:
But first, like anyone destined for greatness, Sledge had to make his journey. He had to arrive on the scene before he could arrive on the scene. In fact, he had to create the scene. Before he graced the world with his musical talents, Sledge worked his way through various agricultural jobs in Colbert County, Alabama. But the stars began to align in the early 1960s when he started touring the
Southeast with a group called the Esquire Combo on the weekends in between shifts as an orderly at the Colbert County Hospital in Sheffield, Alabama. Meanwhile, a man named Quinn Ivy had established a vinyl record store and recording studio in Sheffield. Early on, Ivy forged a close working relationship with Rick Hall of FAME Recording Studios notoriety. The two wrote and recorded songs in the record store including hits such as “I’m Qualified” recorded by Jimmy Hughes. Ivy opened a full-time recording studio in 1965 dubbed Quin Ivy’s Norala Sound Studios across the street from his record store. It was here, arguably, Ivy and Hall would begin the golden years of the “Hit Recording Capital of the World.”
HE’LL TRADE THE WORLD:
Dick Cooper, Alabama Music Hall of Fame museum curator, said the story of Sledge’s discovery varies depending on who you ask and what details you’re willing to digest. The gist of it was that Sledge came to be introduced to Ivy through his time stalking the halls of the Colbert County Hospital. “Apparently Sledge had a patient for a little while, and while that man was in there he heard Percy singing from time to time,” Cooper said. “That patient was friends with Quin Ivy, and when he left the hospital he told him about the man he heard singing in the hospital.” The man introduced Sledge and Ivy to one another and said they should see what they could do together. After hearing Sledge sing, Quin Ivy signed him to a recording contract and, man if only the world knew what was churning in the stars above.
FOR THE GOOD THING HE’S FOUND:
When the newly formed friendship got down to business and started cooking up some soul, some of the now familiar faces were there. “Marlin Greene and Jimmy Johnson, they were there during those first sessions,” Cooper said. “They had some of those core guys that would end up being part of the local music scene in the early years.” Cooper said it took them several weeks to get “When a Man Loves a Woman” just right. “It was originally called ‘Why Did You Leave Me’ or something like that,” Cooper said. “Rumor had it that the guys from Atlantic Records wanted to come in and re-record the horns because they were a bit out of
tune, but they ended up going with the original.” And in February 1966, at the Norala Studios in Sheffield, the early fleshing-out of what would become the greatest love song of all time took place. By the end of the session the main lyric had morphed from “why did you leave me,” to “when a man loves a woman,” and the rains came, and all was right in the world, and everything was pure for a while.
STORY BY MATT WILSON
18 FOOD
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
The term “soul food” became common in the ‘60s.
JUNE/JULY 2015
Collard greens are native to the Mediterranean region.
SOUL FOOD ON THE CHEAP WHEN TIMES IS HARD, HAVE SOME SOUL
There is quite a bit of overlap when recognizing soul food and traditional southern food, but after a quick survey, I was able to determine some foods that are distinctly soulful. I settled on fried chicken, cornbread, collard greens, fried okra and black-eyed peas. At Green Valley, a market on the corner of Cox Creek Parkway and Huntsville Road in Florence, Alabama, I bought collard greens and okra for 99 cents a pound. And Hometown Market at Seven Points in North Florence sells jumbo drumsticks for 59 cents a pound. A friend gave me a bag of dried black-eyed peas, which would have cost me less than a dollar. I already had eggs, milk, cornmeal and flour. So, I spent about five dollars and fed five people.
Hungry on a budget? Ramen noodles and the dollar menu aren’t your only options. If you have a stove, an oven and some cookware, you can enjoy a crowded plate of scrumptious soul food for less than two dollars a plate. If you don’t already have an egg, milk, cornmeal and flour, you’ll have to spend slightly more, but all of those ingredients are inexpensive and will be useful in many future cooking endeavors.
STORY BY WESLEY HOPKINS
BLACK-EYED PEAS
CORNBREAD
1 lb. dried black-eyed peas 1 tablespoon butter 1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cornmeal 1 beaten egg 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon cooking oil
1. Boil the black-eyed peas for two minutes.
5. Boil the beans for an hour or until desired texture.
2. Cover and remove them from heat. 3. Let them soak for an hour.
1. Combine the cornmeal, egg and milk in a medium bowl and mix until smooth.
4. Drain the beans and then add new, cold water.
2. Coat the bottom of the cake pan with oil.
COLLARD GREENS
FRIED OKRA
½ lb. collard greens ½ lb. bacon ½ cup beef or chicken broth ¼ teaspoon cooking oil 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ lb. okra 1 cup cornmeal ½ cup flour ¼ cup milk 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper ½ cup cooking oil
1. Chop the bacon and greens until your pieces are of desirable size. 2. Coat the bottom of a large saucepan with oil. 3. Cook the bacon in the saucepan, stirring occasionally for a
uniform cook, until it’s crispy. 4. Add the broth, greens and seasonings. 5. Cook on medium heat for about 30 minutes, or until greens are the desired texture.
1. Chop the okra into uniform pieces. (About ½ inch in width)
3. Slowly pour the mixture into the pan. 4. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
2. Heat the oil in a frying pan.
4. Dip the pieces of okra into the milk, then roll them around in the cornmeal mixture until fully coated.
3. Mix the cornmeal, flour, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.
5. Fry the coated pieces until golden brown.
JUNE/JULY 2015
FOOD 19
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
Soul food changes across regions of the South. PHOTO BY COURTNEY TULLY
Sherman spared the blackeyed pea fields of the South.
IT DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS, FOLKS.
BATTER-FRIED CHICKEN 2 lbs. chicken (I used drumsticks) 1 cup milk 1 beaten egg 1 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon ground black pepper ½ teaspoon paprika Enough oil to submerge chicken 1. Heat oil to 350 degrees in a deep-fryer or cast iron skillet.
3. Dip the drumsticks in the batter until completely covered.
2. Combine all ingredients except chicken in a medium bowl and mix until smooth.
4. Fry in 350 degree oil for 15 to 20 minutes.
20 CALENDAR
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
EVENTS BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JUNE 2
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm THE HART STRINGS PLUS TBA @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 9pm $5
JUNE 3
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
JUNE 4 – 6
STEEL CITY JAZZ FEST @ Linn Park, Birmingham, AL
JUNE 4
ABIGAIL LEE @ Stem & Stein, Madison, AL, 6pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm
JUNE 6
9-1-1 FESTIVAL @ Downtown, Haleyville, AL MULE DAY AND CHICKENFEST @ The Park on Main, Gordo, AL FRONTIER DAY CELEBRATION @ Pope’s Tavern, Downtown, Florence, AL, 10am SHOALS YOGA @ Wilson Park, Downtown Florence, AL, 10am CRUZE FEST @ Smith Lake Park, Cullman, AL, 10am DAYSTAR HORSE MUSICFEST AND CAR SHOW @ Sportsman Lake Park, Cullman, AL, 3pm NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, TLC, & NELLY @ Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA, 7pm ABIGAIL LEE @ Providence Hall, Lawrenceburg, TN, 7:30pm 2 SEA AND SKILLED YOUNGSTAS @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 9pm $5
JUNE 7
FRONTIER DAY CELEBRATION @ Pope’s Tavern, Downtown, Florence, AL, 1pm
JUNE 8
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JUNE 5 – 6
JUNE 9
JUNE 5
JUNE 10
AFRICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL @ Willie Green Center, Tuscumbia, AL, 11am
9-1-1 FESTIVAL @ Downtown, Haleyville, AL MULE DAY AND CHICKENFEST @ The Park on Main, Gordo, AL FIRST FRIDAY @ Downtown, Florence, AL, 5pm POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm ABIGAIL LEE @ Singin’ River Brewery, Florence, AL, 7:30pm SUSTAINABLE DIFFERENCES @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $7 FRANCIS, HARE, THE AMERICAN HIMSELF @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 9:30pm, $6 LIVE MUSIC @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 9:30pm
JUNE 1 - JULY 31 CALENDAR OF EVENTS COURTESY OF JONATHAN OLIPHANT
JUNE 1
JUNE/JULY 2015
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
JUNE 11
ABIGAIL LEE @ Bliss Cafe, Lawrenceburg, TN, 6pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm BOXCAR VOICES @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 9pm EVERYBODY LOVES CANDY! GET READY FOR THE W.C. HANDY FESTIVAL JULY 17 - 26 IN FLORENCE, AL
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED, EMAIL CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE 12
ABIGAIL LEE @ Ami’s, Sheffield, AL, 6pm KEVIN HART @ Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA, 7pm POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm SOUND AND SHAPE // AN ABSTRACT THEORY @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 9pm $5 LIVE MUSIC @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 9:30pm KEVIN HART @ Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA, 10:30pm
JUNE 12 – 14
SHOALS PRIDEFEST @ Florence, AL
JUNE 13
RALLY AT THE RIVER @ McFarland Park, Florence, AL, 9am SHOALS YOGA @ Wilson Park, Downtown Florence, AL, 10am SUMMER BASH 3: PUNK, METAL AND HARDCORE MINI-FEST @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 1pm, $10 ABIGAIL LEE @ Jefferson’s, Decatur, AL, 7pm CIRCUS MASQUERADE @ Singin’ River Brewery, Florence, AL, 8pm KEVIN HART @ Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA, 9pm
JUNE 14 FLAG DAY
JUNE 15
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JUNE 16
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm
JUNE 17
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
JUNE 18
CALENDAR 21
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm
JUNE 19 – 20
ROCK THE SOUTH @ Heritage Park, Cullman, AL
JUNE 19
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm COSA NOSTRA, CAHABA AND TBA @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 9pm, $5 LIVE MUSIC @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 9:30pm
JUNE 20
THE SHOALS FLEA MARKET @ North Alabama State Fair Grounds, Muscle Shoals, AL, 9am SHOALS YOGA @ Wilson Park, Downtown Florence, AL, 10am STRANGE WAVES, THE HEARD AND TBA @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL
JUNE 21
FATHER’S DAY THE SHOALS FLEA MARKET @ North Alabama State Fair Grounds, Muscle Shoals, AL, 10am
JUNE 22
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JUNE 23
TINDERBOX CIRCUS SIDESHOW PLUS TBA @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm
JUNE 24
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
JUNE 25
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm BOXCAR VOICES @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 9pm
JUNE 26 – 28
JUNE 26
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm LIVE MUSIC @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 9:30pm
JUNE 27
SHOALS YOGA @ Wilson Park, Downtown Florence, AL, 10am SKILLED YOUNGSTAS @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL
JUNE 29
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JUNE 30
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm
JULY 6
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JULY 7
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm
JULY 8
JERRY SEINFELD @ Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL, 7pm POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm IMAGINE DRAGONS @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, 7:30pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
JULY 9
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm BOXCAR VOICES @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 9pm
JULY 2
JULY 10
JULY 1
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm
JULY 3
4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL @ Smith Lake Park, Cullman, AL, 8am FIRST FRIDAY @ Downtown, Florence, AL, 5pm POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm SUSTAINABLE DIFFERENCES @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $7 LIVE MUSIC @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 9:30pm
JULY 4
INDEPENDENCE DAY 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL @ Smith Lake Park, Cullman, AL SPIRIT OF FREEDOM CELEBRATION @ McFarland Park, Florence, AL
TRAIN, THE FRAY, & MATT NATHANSON @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, 7pm POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm LIVE MUSIC @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 9:30pm
JULY 12
RENAISSANCE MAN THRIATHLON @ McFarland Park, Florence, AL, 7am FALL OUT BOY, WIZ KHALIFA, & HOODIE ALLEN @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, 7pm
JULY 13
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JULY 14
IMAGINE DRAGONS @ Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm
HELEN KELLER FESTIVAL @ Big Spring Park, Tuscumbia, AL
IF YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED, EMAIL CALENDAR@GETSETMAG.COM
JULY 15
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
JULY 16
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm
JULY 17
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm
JULY 17 – 26
W. C. HANDY MUSIC FESTIVAL @ The Shoals, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia
JULY 18
THE SHOALS SUMMER FLEA MARKET @ North Alabama State Fair Grounds, Muscle Shoals, AL, 9am
JULY 19
THE SHOALS SUMMER FLEA MARKET @ North Alabama State Fair Grounds, Muscle Shoals, AL, 10am
JULY 20
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JULY 21
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm FIFTH HARMONY WITH DEBBY RYAN @ Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN, 7:30pm
JULY 22
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm ROB THOMAS WITH PLAIN WHITE T’S @ Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN, 7:30pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
CALENDAR CONTINUED >
22 CALENDAR
JULY 23
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm
JULY 24
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm LIVE MUSIC @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 9:30pm
JULY 27
BILLIARDS @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm TRIVIA NIGHT @ Odette, Florence, AL, 8pm
JULY 28
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm
JULY 29
POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm WAFFLE HOUSE WEDNESDAY @ 1104 Nashville Hwy, Columbia, TN, 10pm
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JULY 30
TRIVIA NIGHT @ La Fuente, Columbia, TN, 7pm KARAOKE @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 8pm
JULY 31
SHANIA TWAIN & GAVIN DEGRAW @ Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN, 7pm POKER NIGHT @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 7pm LIVE MUSIC @ Dolan’s Deli and Bar, Spring Hill, TN, 9:30pm
HANDY FEST 2015: JULY 17 - 26 JULY 17
MONSOON, BIKINI ATOL, CALIGULOVE, CHIEFTAN, WITH THE GREAT SARMIENTO @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $5
JULY 18
YOUR BOYS, NEW WAVE REBELLION, DOGWOOD VANDALS, SKILLED YOUNGSTAS, WITH TBA @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $5
JULY 19
DAIKAIJU, ISAAC, RANDOM CONFLICT, AN ABSTRACT THEORY, WITH KATE HUNT @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $5
JULY 21
GATEKEEPER, TEMPTER MUNOOK, BROTHER WOLF, GARGANTA, A LEGACY UNWRITTEN, SUSTENANCE, BAPHOMET, NO CONVICTIONS, LABYRINTH, OSARA, POYNTE @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $10
JULY 24
PLANET INK’S 10TH BIRTHDAY, RED MOUTH, WITH STEVE TRASH @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $5
JULY 25
BLACKFOOT GYPSIES, INVISIBLE TEARDROPS, KAT MILK BLU, JUDAH AND THE SPOOKS, WITH MEDICINE MAN @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $5
JULY 26
CICADA SCREAMERS, THE OLD SOULS, STRANGE WAVES, CHEAP THRILL DEVILLE, OUTTA CONTROL, WITH DUELL F. ALDRIDGE @ the end. theatre, Florence, AL, 8pm, $5
JUNE/JULY 2015
SPECIAL FEATURE 23
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
George Washington was 1 of 7 redheaded presidents.
The All-American Redheads were an early professional women’s basketball team.
According to Youtubers, gingers really do have souls.
GINGER EQUALITY GINGERS ARE PEOPLE TOO “I was mortified,” said Emma Barrist. “I didn’t know what it meant at the time but I knew something was wrong with me. She was talking about the first time she remembers being treated differently than all the other children. It happened at a family reunion in July 1992 just outside Auburn, Alabama. “I was so proud of my pigtails,” she remembered. “We had only been there for a few minutes when my uncle cornered me. He nearly tore my head off and shouted, ‘I could use some good luck right now ya little carrot top.’ “I had so many questions after that,” she continued, choking up, “but I was too ashamed to talk to anyone. I thought it would get better as I got older, but then I went to high school.” The tears started to flow freely. “I tried to joined the cheerleading squad but they were all blonde and said I didn’t match.” Barrist hesitated for a moment. “Then they gave a name to my pain — ginger.” You’ve probably all seen a ginger at some point in your life. If you’re not sure whether you have, there are some questions you can ask yourself to help you decide. 1: Was there red hair present? 2: Did they have a heated, quick temper? 3: Were they in possession of any hellfire or hellfire byproducts? If you said yes to any of these questions congratulations! You’ve seen a ginger. But did you know that gingers are actually people, just like you and me? That’s right, humans! Sadly you didn’t know that, and not many people do. Gingers have undergone centuries of inequality at the hands of society. Barrist’s experience is not as isolated as you might think. The oft-repeated claim “I have a friend who is red-headed” rings hollow as tens of people all over the country with the MC1R gene mutation are systematically discriminated against. “We really have a hard time being seen as human beings,” said Brenda Bancroft, spokeswoman of the Ginger Equality Coalition (GEC). “We just want the rest of the world to stop thinking of us as fiery harpydemons, especially the lawmakers of this country.” Bancroft did seem encouraged by the recent injunction of U.S. Disctrict Judge Abusaf Powers staying an Alabama state law that encouraged residents to hunt married gingers for sport. Surprisingly to some, Bancroft said that the GEC is getting strong support from the Christian right.
FIGHT FOR GINGER EQUALITY, BUT BRING YOUR SUNSCREEN! “After all the support the evangelicals gave to Chief Justice Chuck A’Grenade over the enforcing of Alabama law prohibiting gay marriage, we assumed they would force us out too,” she said. “Apparently they believe sexuality has a spiritual and moral aspect to it, while hair color is solely biological.” A local pastor wishing to remain anonymous affirmed that sentiment. “Ginger marriage is really not a problem for us because we concern ourselves with issues of the soul,” he said. “No one is really sure if gingers even have souls.” It’s not just society that demeans these pasty redlings — nature does its part as well. “I’ve always felt left out,” college sophomore Clark Burns said. “Every year we go to the beach and while everyone else is having a good time, I’m constantly applying, then reapplying, my SPF 200 sunscreen. The sunshine just doesn’t want me to have fun, I guess.” The Sun and its shine have declined to comment. For some redheads, life gets easier as they age and gradually lighten or darken. Emma Barrist, however,
isn’t counting on future relief. “I’ve decided to embrace and affirm my color and stop letting people associate me with a fruit or vegetable,” she said. “First it was carrot, then orange and, now, strawberry.” She confided that she can’t stand the thought of becoming as confused and traumatized as a friend who refused speak to us because of a recent color change operation. “We should all just learn to accept ourselves and others the way God made us,” Barrist said. “Externals don’t matter. I don’t know if those dumb, blonde cheerleaders will ever be able to understand that.” The GEC is scheduled to stage a demonstration Saturday. The demonstration is conveniently happening on the Internet as to avoid being in the sun.
STORY BY STEPHEN JACKSON AND ANDY WALLACE
24 SPOTLIGHT
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
SAY CHEESE!
SET READERS IN ACTION
JUNE/JULY 2015
PHOTOS BY CODY CAMPBELL AND KELLI AXLEY
FIRST FRIDAYS DOWNTOWN FLORENCE, MAY 1, PHOTOS BY CODY CAMPBELL
MIKE RICE, KENDELL DEAN AND TRISTAN DAI
WYLIE COOSENBERRY, MORGAN YOUNG AND ALEX CHRISMAN
PEYTON SWINNEY AND ALLIE RAPPUHN
BRADY GOMILLION AND REID WARE
ALEX BERRY AND ROBERT COBLE
CASEY CURRY
HOPE BALENTINE AND TABITHA KELLY
ANDREW TULLOS
JUNE/JULY 2015
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
SUSTAINABLE DIFFERENCES THE END. THEATRE, MAY 1, PHOTOS BY CODY CAMPBELL
AFTER SCHOOL AMBUSH HACKLEBURG HIGH SCHOOL, MAY 1, PHOTOS BY CODY CAMPBELL
SPOTLIGHT 25
26 SPOTLIGHT
WATER LIARS // TYLER YOUNG 116 E. MOBILE, MAY 9, PHOTOS BY CODY CAMPBELL
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
SPOTLIGHT 27
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
BELLE ADAIR // HARTLE ROAD 116 E. MOBILE, MAY 22, PHOTOS BY CODY CAMPBELL
ALABAMA JUBILEE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL DECATUR, AL, MAY 22-23, PHOTOS BY KELLI AXLEY
ANA BIANCA DOYLE
TORI WHITE AND JOSHUA JAMES
CHASE MCMASTER AND ERIKA WILSON
JESSI AND BRANDON CARNEY
28 SPECIAL FEATURE
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
SPECIAL FEATURE 29
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
WHEN YOU JOIN A NOT-FOR-PROFIT COOPERATIVE
1 Rebecca Logsdon @RebeccaLogsdon
3
$ 2 Kahri Bolden @KahriJason
Drew Mills @drumills
COMMUNITY
1
When you join a credit union, you become an owner. The money you save earns dividends, just like shareholders of other corporations.
2
Your money stays in the credit union by being lent to members who need to borrow for things like a car, a house or even college.
3
Any profit made by the credit union from the loan is returned to its owners/members through dividends and better rates.
JOIN LISTERHILL CREDIT UNION TODAY!
30 SPECIAL FEATURE
Follow Folks of Florence on Facebook.
After losing his job trading bonds in Chicago, Brandon Stanton moved to New York City and took portraits of strangers on the street. Started in 2010 the People of New York Blog now has over 13 million followers.
FOLKS OF FLORENCE
“We have been dating about a month. I live in Killen and she lives in Tuscumbia. We meet up in Florence and walk around downtown, but we always end up right here.”
“I’m going to find a hostel and stay the night and I already talked to one girl on couchsurf, which is cool with me staying. I’m not worried about it, I’m just going. Story of my life, going and not knowing, but it always ends up so fun. Every time I’ve planned a trip it like uggg, its a let down.”
“I went to church this morning and I’ve been to eat at Legends for lunch and came here to get this strawberry popsicle for dessert.”
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
40% of us socialize online rather than face-to-face.
GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS!
“I went to cosmetology school and was getting ready to take the state board test when I got into a car wreck and the car crushed my hand and was on my hand for four hours. I had to have 2 surgeries before I could even use my hand again. Then I went to physical therapy for 6 months. I just get the chance to take my state board test, and passed with flying colors.”
“Musically, right now I think it’s reached a point where there’s like 4 or 5 different scenes that are pretty strong and its getting to the point where all those scenes are starting to break down all their borders and everybody’s going to everybody’s shows and its starting to be a really nice creative time. It’s going to be really, really fun. Nobody’s being pretentious anymore about things, for real.”
JUNE/JULY 2015
SPECIAL FEATURE 31
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
Did you know Florence, AL is 54% female?
“This is a 1964 cruiser. I had no intention of buying a bike. My roommate wanted a bike and we were out on a walk and we started talking to this guy about his process of restoring antique bikes and I said, let me just take it for a spin. All I could think was, I bet my SNCC workers rode around Mississippi on bikes like this, and I had to have it, so I got it. Actually, I didn’t have the job yet in Florence, I had interview for it and I remember thinking this is a little hasty, if I get this job in Florence I bet I can ride my bike to work, but I should wait to know if I got the job. But I didn’t, I got the bike and prayed that it would be a decent investment. Every time I ride it to work I think, this is what I imagined when I got this bike.”
“I don’t write very well at the office, so that’s why I’m here.”
“I am taking mostly sculpture classes. As far as studying art goes I try to keep abreast of what is being shown in New York galleries, I’m looking at all sorts of things. I am going for my BFA review this coming fall.”
“I moved up here from Prattville. I had been going to school in Auburn for about two years.” “What brought you up here?” “I am planning to start at UNA in the fall, just a change of scenery really. Well honestly, I’m in recovery, it’s a place I live at. I’m 21, I just couldn’t keep living the way I was living. I felt like I went to Auburn to learn how to party more than anything. That’s honestly what brought me to Florence. I was in nursing school and I felt like I was throwing that down the drain for stupid, stupid things, just not making the right choices. I went through treatment and did what the nursing board asked me to do, so I am hoping to start back in the fall.”
HONY is the most active Facebook page of all time.
Arts Alive 2015 - “I was collecting a lot of dress patterns and I really liked the imagery. I was into the classic idea of Woman, the way she was portrayed in advertising and media throughout the last century. I had this 1938 Sears catalog that I was obsessed with so I started doing this thing about how media molds the viewer. Then I started putting together collages of images from these magazines and it just expanded into a wider commentary on media in general and how advertising works, a lot like Mad Men.”
Underground Art and Sound - “My dad has a store in Memphis called Replay’s. So when I decided to come to school at UNA and he was like, ‘I’m going to open up a store there so you can run it while I’m still here.’ I’ve been here about a year, I like it a lot actually, it’s a small little town. Memphis was always big and busy all the time.”
“Do you think there are good things to do here for people your age?” “Yea, there’s lots of stuff to do, always something to find to go hang out at. Right now I’m in Shrek the Musical, I’m the Wicked Witch. It’s the last week of June. There are a lot of little kids in it and there are a few kids my age and some adults too.”
32 SPECIAL FEATURE
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
JUNE/JULY 2015
JUNE/JULY 2015
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
SET isn’t just a magazine looking for people to share their 2 cents. It is entirely comprised of content provided by the 15 - 29 year olds of our community. No one else writes the articles, no one else takes the pictures and no one else decides what runs. That’s why we need you. Attend our next editorial meeting, drop us a line or send us an idea for your story. We want your photography, art and music. Get on SET’s team.
getsetmag.com/contribute
SPECIAL FEATURE 33
34 FREESTYLE
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
FREESTYLE
JUNE/JULY 2015
RELECTIONS ON THE SOUL OF MUSIC
The word “soul” when thinking about music conjures up a host of images and sounds. James Brown sliding across the stage. Aretha’s wailing vocals. Etta James’ plaintive cries. Sam Cooke and his foundational sound. The list goes on and on. To get a handle on what “soul” means to music, we asked several personalities deeply involved in the local music scene. Some of them are relatively new to the game. Others have been here all along. And all of them have a different interpretation of what “soul” means to them and how it affects their craft or the way they perceive the world.
“[Soulful music] comes from the heart. When you’re just telling the truth, whatever it may be, or at least your version of it. Just being able to live through and talk about life is the essence of [soul].” — Patterson Hood, singer-songwriter, co-founder of Drive-By Truckers
“In my opinion (and we all have one), it’s not genre specific. And it’s also my opinion that a song isn’t soulful on its own. What makes a song “soulful” to me is if there is an undeniable connection between the singer and the song. When I hear someone sing, I want to believe what they are saying. I want to feel what they are feeling. Some singers have that unique ability to fully connect with the song, and thus with the listener. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be a good song, either. There just has to be a strong believability. That can be country, reggae, hip hop, rock — you name it.” — John Paul White, songwriter, co-founder of Single Lock Records
“I think that anybody who is creating anything, any kind of music or art, is inherently soulful.” — Matt Green, Belle Adair
“For music to have soul it doesn’t have to be “soul” music. It just has be something that’s real. Take a band like Neutral Milk Hotel, they have tons of soul, but they’re not a “soul” band.” — Albert Rothstein, sound engineer at Single Lock Records
“I like wild music. A lot of it doesn’t even resolve. Sometimes the instruments don’t sound like they’re even being played together, and that really turns me on. I love it when I hear a band break out of [conventional music]. That’s what moves me.” — Eric Gebhardt, Redmouth (not pictured)
“Soul is what you are deep down. Deeper than what you portray to anyone else. It’s your true self. To me, music becomes an outlet for who you are and that part of you that no one ever sees.” — Daniel Elias, Daniel Elias + Exotic Dangers
“I think it’s the singer, and the subject matter, and the groove. I’m a big guy on groove. All of that combined is what it takes to make a great soul record.” — Donnie Fritts, songwriter
STORY BY CODY CAMPBELL
JUNE/JULY 2015
FREESTYLE 35
WWW.GETSETMAG.COM
Kahri Member Since 2013 Abby Member Since 2013
Drew Member Since 2013
Rebecca Member Since 2013