The Pulse 14.6 » February 9, 2017

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

COVER STORY

how to make

every day valentine s day DR. RICK SHARES HIS INSIGHTS ON LONG TERM HAPPINESS

'

ARTS

mark leamon CITY LIFE

activism spreads MUSIC

remembering january

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VOLUME 14, ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY 9, 2017

CONTENTS 4

ACTIVISM SPREADS IN CHATTANOOGA

The lights on the blue Walnut Street Bridge shone against the deepening purple sky Feb. 1 as 1,000 Chattanoogans gathered in Coolidge Park below.

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A SERIES OF VERY FORTUNATE EVENTS

When Count Olaf says, “In all honesty I prefer long-form television to the movies; it’s so much more convenient to consume entertainment from the comforts of your own home,” it’s hard to disagree.

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EXPLORING ART & IMAGERY WITH MARK LEAMON

Some of the most interesting and ruggedly original paintings coming out of Chattanooga are being made on Signal Mountain by Mark Leamon.

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REMEMBERING JANUARY EMERGES FROM THE STUDIO

It’s funny how it works sometimes. You’re playing trivia in a bar. You bump into a person you’ve never met. Ten minutes later he’s telling you about his favorite local band you’ve never heard of.

ALSO INSIDE

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Make Every Day Valentine's Day Here we are again: The gooey, mushiest time of year. St. Valentine’s Day. But before we start down the literary path of love, the rose petal-strewn, chocolate-flavored, every-kiss-begins-withKay journey of Cupid’s arrow, I want to send out a virtual hug.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

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CONSIDER THIS

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MUSIC CALENDAR

6

SHADES OF GREEN

26

RECORD REVIEWS

13

NEW IN THEATERS

28

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

16

ARTS CALENDAR

29

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

21

DINING OUT

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SUSHI & BISCUITS

Columnist Dr. Richard L. Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., C.C.H., better known as “Dr. Rick”, is an author, psychotherapist, educator and minister, and holds a doctorate in clinical hypnotherapy with an emphasis in mind/body wellness.

Daniel Jackson is an independent journalist working in the Chattanooga area. He studied Communications at Bryan College and covered national events at the Washington Times. Follow him on Twitter @jcksndnl

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 3

BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE

Activism Spreads In Chattanooga Trump’s decrees have sparked an increase in public protest

By Daniel Jackson Pulse contributor

T BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher & President Jim Brewer II FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Brooke Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Rob Brezsny • Daniel Jackson Matt Jones • Sandra Kurtz Mike McJunkin • Tony Mraz Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib Michael Thomas Editorial Interns Addie Whitlow • Alex Plaumann Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

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Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Website chattanoogapulse.com Email info@chattanoogapulse.com THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue.

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HE LIGHTS ON THE BLUE WALnut Street Bridge shone against the deepening purple sky Feb. 1 as 1,000 Chattanoogans gathered in Coolidge Park below.

Electric tea lights, dinner and congregation candles illuminated faces white, olive and black. Some were draped in hijabs and clergy stoles.

For the organizers, the purpose of the vigil was threefold: to show solidarity with immigrants and refugees, to hear their stories of coming to America and to outline a way for newcomers to the cause to become greater involved.

Many attendees had only recently become concerned about refugee resettlement.

Trump’s recent executive orders, which predicted further policy changes, spurred them to become more politically involved.

The week before, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders setting new policies for immigration and refugee resettlement. On Friday, Jan. 27, his order blocking visitors and immigrants from seven predominately Muslim countries, until his cabinet could suggest changes to the nation’s visa program, threw the travel of thousands into chaos. Lawful permanent residents were detained.

Sara Scott, a “concerned citizen” who never before planned a political demonstration, watched horrified as the news unfold over Twitter. Trump’s orders, she said, “are unconstitutional and inhumane.”

“I joined the coalition that produced the Women’s March, which has since morphed into planning ongoing actions,” Scott said.

Scott learned that Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition was planning to hold vigils across the state. Organization for a Chattanooga vigil began. Bridge Refugee Services, Chattanooga’s local refugee resettlement agency, became a partner.

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According to Joseph Kwon, policy coordinator at TIRRC, the vigils smashed the organizations’ expectations.

TIRRC predicted a few hundred at its vigil in Nashville.

Instead, 3,500 people showed.

Across the state, the We Stand Together vigils brought out 10,000.

Trump’s policies come at a time when the UN Refugee Agency reported one out of 113 people fled their homes in 2015—numbers not seen by the agency since the end of World War II. Near the edge of the crowd, Andy White, red hair and beard, held a sign: “All colors but orange.”

He believes the more people speak, the more that can be done.

“Tea party was effective,” White said.

His girlfriend, Vera Aldridge, made the sign. She is a grad student at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga studying Education.

Protesting and meeting likeminded people is a way to stay mentally healthy, Aldridge said, instead of consuming the news, “sitting at home, sick in the head.”

Nearby, Arshd Alshahaheed stands in a dark blue hoodie and white sneakers. This is his first time protesting.

In a sense, he agrees with Trump: strict security is important. But the countries Trump excluded are wrong. Trump’s order targeted Iraq, an ally of the United States fighting the Islamic State, instead of the Wahhabi in Saudi Arabia or jihadists

in Pakistan.

The former Iraqi police sergeant translated for the U.S. Army for six years.

In Iraq, gangs extorting money kidnapped him twice. “The last one, I fought with them. I escaped and I got almost shot.” It was in southern Basra. He fled to the first U.S. Humvee he saw.

He came to the U.S. for a “better future,” he said, gesturing to one of his daughters.

The two-year process to come here on a special immigrant visa issued by the U.S. Department of Defense was “long, but understandable.”

The family arrived in Boston August 2, 2012 and relocated to Chattanooga after friends recommended it. In six months, he will be a U.S. citizen.

While refugee resettlement has a federal issue in the past, Trump’s executive order changes national policy so that “State and local jurisdictions be granted a role in the process” in resettling refugees.

But what that will look like, Kwon said, “We don’t really know.”

Consider This with Dr. Rick

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

“Love isn’t safe. And whoever you love will hurt you. It’s part of the human experience. No one is perfect…people make mistakes.

The secret is to focus on what they do right and decide what quirks you can live with.”

Exploring Love and Cocktails, American Style The Hunter Museum is once again putting together a special event this Thursday starting at 6 p.m. The Hunter, known for their fun and unique events, will be starting Valentine’s Day celebrations with Cocktails in Color: Love American Style.

The Cocktails in Color event will play host to mixologists from the Flying Squirrel Bar, and will pair a piece of art from the museum’s collections with several specialty drinks.

With this event being in celebration of Valentine’s Day, there will be a tour of

love inspired art before convening in the grand atrium, where attendees will be able to try these aphrodisiac cocktails whose ingredients were inspired

by a particular piece of art.

This unique event is being put together specifically in celebration of love. This Valentine’s Day event is the perfect mixture of art, drink, and fun. Tickets are sold online on the Hunter Museum website, and each ticket comes with one specialty cocktail.

The event will have a full cash bar, and encourages you to join the after party at the Flying Squirrel Bar after the event ends at 7:30 p.m. Cheers!

— Alex Plaumann

In my relationship book I discuss how being in significant relationships requires a great deal of courage. It may not seem that way when you’re headover-heels in love—that delightful state called “limerance.” During that stage your head is filled with new conversations, new sex, someone new to think about. What’s so courageous about that?

No, no…the courageous part comes next. After the amorous dust has settled and now that that giggle is becoming annoying. Why does he keep wearing that stupid shirt? Okay, you really don’t like my mother?

The courage to commit comes as you learn to communicate, learn to tolerate, and learn to love your sig other, even on days when you don’t like them.

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 5

COLUMN ∙ SHADES OF GREEN

Is Support For Science All Wet? How conservation research and the EPA help to make the world better

Sandra Kurtz

Pulse columnist

“No state should comply with the Clean Power Plan if it means surrendering decision-making authority to the EPA.” —Scott Pruitt, Trump nominee to head the EPA.

T

URTLE TOENAIL CLIPPINGS, FISH fin clips, and fish body receivers.

These components of aquatic research and education move forward right here in Chattanooga’s Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI).

Local scientists in their new riverfront building are mapping and assessing the freshwater fish, mussel, salamander, snail and turtle biodiversity of our region; identifying genetic DNA of various species; and raising young of freshwater endangered and imperiled fish for reintroduction into our waterways. Further, there is education and training to bring scientific information to the public. It’s something to brag about.

Fishy success stories impress: Lake Sturgeons were once plentiful in the Tennessee River, but with dams, minimal flow, and pollution, sturgeon disappeared in the 1970s.

Then came the Clean Water Act legally insisting on cleaner waters and enforced by Environmental Protection Agency. Prohibition on sturgeon fishing brought safety to this ‘living dinosaur’ that grows to eight feet long and lives 150 years.

Is the population being established? Stay tuned. Male sturgeons reach sexual maturity in 15 years though females wait 20-33 years. The Institute released the first young lake sturgeon (6-9 inches) into the Tennessee River in 2000 and since then, working with conservation partners, 200,000 more.

It’s now 2017.

More success. Southern Appalachian Brook Trout were overwhelmed by non-native rainbow and brown trout stocked in our streams plus loss of forests, and warmer, more polluted water. Research showed that the competing species could be stopped from reproducing if barriers were placed to prevent them swimming upstream for spawning. TNACI has released 1800 juveniles. More have come from other partners. Occasional sampling shows a native brook trout renaissance.

The Institute’s herpetologist Josh Ennen traps Alligator Snapping Turtles in west Tennessee, clips their toenails and checks for mercury. No assessment had ever been done. The mercury is high in the large turtles that many people eat.

A Southern Cavefish unknown to this area was discovered in a Catoosa County cave. Could it really be the same species as found in other regions? For an answer, clip a fin, take it to the lab, and perform tests to show a genetic profile. The comparison showed a match.

TNACI wants to enable aquatic populations to thrive in their native habitats. Genetics help restore population to a stream. One could reintroduce populations from another stream, but what if genes or water makeup were too different to guarantee survival? Perhaps it’s better to propagate in the Institute and release. What’s the best path to take? More fin clips and lab ex-

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periments help decide.

TNACI’s closed tank systems allow stream replication with ability to control rate of flow and temperature allowing comparison of survival rates plus species’ growth and health impact measurements.

That information guides decisions for stream management. Technology helps too. The latest innovation tracks movement of tagged fish. Receivers at dams ‘listen’ and record as they swim past.

lease.

What’s the best path to take?

More fin clips and lab experiments help decide. TNACI’s closed tank systems allow stream replication with ability to control rate of flow and temperature and comparison of survival rates plus species’ growth and health impact measurements.

Such information guides decisions for stream management.

Technology helps too. The latest innovation tracks movement of tagged fish. Receivers ‘listen’ and record as they swim past.

Yet, aquatic conservation here is vastly underfunded compared to the Northwest. Issues such as acid mine run off legacies, non-point source pollution and poor agricultural and forestry management practices exist.

Now climate change brings erratic weather, rising water temperature, and stress to plant and wildlife populations. Much funding comes from Federal grants from agencies like EPA and National Fish & Wildlife Services.

That’s reason enough to demand such agencies be strengthened not weakened. Additionally, EPA needs enough authority and money to uphold the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts in order to preserve and enhance the most biodiverse support system we can get.

“TNACI wants to enable aquatic populations to thrive in their native habitats. Genetics help restore population to a stream.”

Why bother with this work? Because conservation is important to human survival. Because we live in a global hotspot for biodiversity rating first in the Southeast for number of temperate climate species.

“Every species is a building block in the ecosystem,” states Bernard Kuhajda, TNACI’s Aquatic Conservation Biologist. “Morally speaking, we shouldn’t cause things to go extinct if we can prevent it,” he adds.

TNACI wants to enable aquatic populations to thrive in their native habitats. Genetics help restore a likely-to-succeed population to a stream. One could reintroduce populations from another stream, but what if genes or water makeup differed too much to guarantee survival? Perhaps it’s better to propagate in the Institute and re-

Sandra Kurtz is an environmental community activist and is presently working through the Urban Century Institute. You can visit her website to learn more at enviroedu.net

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COVER STORY

How To Make Every Day Valentine's Day Dr. Rick shares his insights on long term happiness

By Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

H

Pulse contributor

ERE WE ARE AGAIN: THE GOOEY, MUSHiest time of year. St. Valentine’s Day. But before we start down the literary path of love, the rose petal-strewn, chocolate-flavored, every-kiss-begins-with-Kay journey of Cupid’s arrow, I want to send out a virtual hug to the Lonely Hearts Club. Let’s face it: Being single at this time of year—that is, if you’re not happy about being single—is basically an onslaught

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of Hallmark-y saccharine sentiment, a stream of heartwrenching songs (although who doesn’t love Adele?), and movies where every beautiful couple gets together at the end and smooches in front of a sunset as the music swells and lights fade to black.

Yuck.

And you can’t help but think of your ex and wonder if you should pick up the phone and…

Hold on a sec. Don’t do it. Take a breath. I respect and validate your feelings. However, consider this: surely you can gather around a bonfire of his/her old letters and pictures while at the same time celebrate

COVER STORY long-term sig other, or a huswho you are, single or otherband/wife, husband/husband, wise. or wife/wife of 30 years, I want Many single people I know to share with you some wisuse this opportunity for exactly dom that can be very helpful that. (Well, I’m not sure about in making every day feel like the bonfire part.) Maybe it’s Valentine’s Day. It’s all about time to gather some pals, hold understanding each other. your head high, and hit the According to Gary Chaptown. A club, a movie, a new man’s 1992 (and reprinted) brew house, a dinner at that best-seller, The Five Love Lanrestaurant you’ve been wantguages, people express and ing to try but felt it was too exreceive love in five different pensive… you get the idea. A ways: through 1) words of afguys’ night out. A girls’ night firmation, 2) quality time, 3) out. Perhaps a chance to rereceiving gifts, 4) acts of sernew old friendships. Celebrate vice, and 5) physical touch. your beautiful single life!

Everyone has their ways of exOr, if that’s not your style, pressing love to their partner, how about a long, headand ways of feeling love from clearing, endorphin-freeing their partner. hike with the dogs, a bike ride To truly connect at a deep, through the hills, an overnight loving level, one that has the road-trip. If you’re someone potential to form a lasting, who doesn’t tend to give yourlong-term relationship, and self quality time, unplug for a to also make every day feel day with a favorite author and like a celebration of that love, a steaming mug of something understanding your partner’s deliciously soothing.

Photo by Simona Balint “language” becomes key.

This is an opportunity to So, with inspiration from Mr. breathe, relax, meditate on To truly connect at a deep, loving level, one that Chapman, let’s explore what your state of singledom, and these languages mean, and ponder if you want it to continhas the potential to form a lasting, long-term how they might be expressed, ue, or want to make a change. relationship, and to also make every day feel nurturing the life of your relaThe point is, whereas you tionship. know Sappy Day is on its way, like a celebration of that love, understanding If your partner feels love you can plan ahead and take through Words of Affirmayour partner’s “language” becomes key. care of yourself by creating the tion, then verbal compliments opportunity to make St. V’s a and words of appreciation, encouraghave a good cry. And make it positive experience…and avoid the der, right now: what are some ing and kind, would be important. They of your favorite “alone time” count. Then, when you’re all single gal/single guy blues. may be quite simple, but must be heartcried out, consider the above.

People who are good at being sin- things to do? Now intentionally felt. Not forced. If you’re not much of It could be the start of a very gle—and people who are coupled plan time to do them, in ink, a talker, this can be accomplished with healthy shift to your life, a but know the benefits of regular alone and see what happens. You depractice. Think about saying things like, healthy habit. time—do exactly this sort of thing. It’s serve this.

“You look great tonight!” Or, “Dinner Now, if your style, really, is to Now if you are involved, good self-care or, as I refer to it in continued on page 10 whether with a new sweetie, a my books, “healthy selfishness.” Pon- cry alone in your beer…Okay, CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 9

COVER STORY

Photo by Fa Snail

was delicious, thank you.” These are the kinds of affirming compliments that would go a long way toward your partner feeling loved.

If he or she values Quality Time, then your undivided attention can be a powerful communicator of love. Regular readers of my Shrink Rap column know that while there’s great value in the ability to multi-task, there’s also a presence, a centeredness that comes with mindful uni-tasking.

In terms of your relationship, I’m referring to being there. A focus on togetherness, i.e., doing things you enjoy together, would signal your love for your partner in a real and powerful way.

When we give a gift to another, whether expensive or free, it means that we’ve been thinking about that person. So if your guy or gal feels your Love through Gifts, it’s time to get creative.

Think about their day. What little surprises might you give that 10 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

makes their day easier…or simply puts a smile on their face? Of course you want to do it up at birthdays and holidays, but also on a Thursday…just because.

On a deeper level, you can think of your “love gift” as an investment—an investment in the growth and maintenance of your relationship.

“Acts of Service” may sound like volunteering at the soup kitchen (which I recommend as an act-of-kindness any time.) But in terms of your relationship, I refer here to acts that require some forethought, some planning, time and effort on your part.

These may be elaborate acts, but they need not be.

The important element here is to give freely, not in any way that is forced, or could lead to your resenting the effort. If it’s not done with love, what’s the point?

So perhaps give some thought to things like making dinner, or planning a getaway. Maybe

COVER STORY watch the kids so your partner can have a night explore. thoughts: out with his or her friends. Paint the study. Fill the How do you discover what it means “love” to Zen master, Nobel prize winner and prolific car with gas. Bring a surprise lunch to the office your partner? How can you nurture the deepauthor, Thich Nhat Hanh, teaches that “every and have a picnic. Give it some thought and ening, the continually renewed connection, the one of us is trying to find our true home. Our have fun with this. powerful bond that the two of you share that is true home is inside, but it’s also in our loved The fifth language of love is expressed through unlike anything you have with anyone else? ones. When you’re in a loving relationship, you Physical Touch. What we know from and the other person can be a true countless studies of primates is that “One sexy romantic kiss can (and usually home for each other. In Vietnamese, from birth, babies who are held reguthe nickname for a person’s life partdoes) trigger arousal reactions, release ner is ‘my home’”. larly develop more fully, healthfully and happily than those who are not.

And in the great romance language pheromones, and cue the brain to get in Francais, So the need for tactile human contact you don’t say “I miss you.” is innate in all of us. In fact, one deepYou say “tu me manques” which the mood for…well, you know the rest.” ly felt, prolonged hug has the ability to means “you are missing from me.” lower blood pressure and quell anxiety.

The most direct way: ask. Pour that glass of Wishing you a happy St. Valentine’s, whether One sexy romantic kiss can (and usually does) wine or cup of tea, snuggle up on the sofa, and this year you’re single or partnered. And if anytrigger arousal reactions, release pheromones, have a sweet conversation about it. You might one’s feeling gift-giving, I prefer dark chocolate. and cue the brain to get in the mood for…well, be surprised what you learn.

Until next time: “Understanding someone is you know the rest. And fortunately for us huIn the spirit of appreciating other cultures, and the best gift you can give another person. Unmans, tactile receptors are located all throughkeeping Valentine’s Day in your heart all year derstanding is love’s other name.” out the body. Giving you very good reason to round, I want to leave you with these romantic —Thich Nhat Hanh

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 11

FILM & TELEVISION

A Series Of Very Fortunate Events Netlix brings popular children's book back to exuberant life in streaming series

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

W

HEN COUNT OLAF SAYS, “In all honesty I prefer longform television to the movies; it’s so much more convenient to consume entertainment from the comforts of your own home,” during an episode of Netflix’s Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, it’s hard to disagree. He may be an odious, evil, conniving, and dangerous theater actor, but his assessment is fairly spot on.

While I may often disagree, especially because there’s no substitute for the audience experience when it comes to truly great film, technology and creativity have never combined in a more beneficial way than stream-

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ing video. There is never a shortage of something new and innovative to watch.

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is one of several new Netflix shows, and as a company, Netflix has pivoted towards original content so much that it’s hard to remember when they mailed DVDs to your house, effectively ending retail giants like Blockbuster video. Some of these new shows fall short: Frontier is very middle of the road, for example, but with Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events they hit the mark so well that they can be forgiven for a few missteps.

The Netflix series isn’t the first attempt at filming the popular children’s book series. A film version of the first few books was released in 2004 with

FILM & TELEVISION

“Harris brings a more sinister feeling to the character, while maintaining the same goofy idiocy and hackneyed attempts at theater from the original.”

Jim Carey filling the role of Count Olaf to near perfection.

The film was well received, even earning an Oscar for Best Makeup, but through a series of unfortunate corporate delays and stalls at Paramount, the franchise was cancelled when the producers realized that child actors age and Emily Browning could no longer convincingly play a ten-year-old.

That Carey was so effective at his role, it was likely a challenge to find someone to step into his unibrow. Neal Patrick Harris may surpass even him.

Harris brings a more sinister feeling to the character, while maintaining the same goofy idiocy and hackneyed attempts at theater from the original film.

This isn’t to say that the Netflix series is a carbon copy remake of the 2004 film. It is certainly its own animal, with an exceedingly talented cast that makes it all the more fun

to watch.

For those unfamiliar with the story, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is precisely as advertised.

It is a tale of loss and woe for the three Baudelaire orphans, young heirs to an immense fortune who have lost their parents in a house fire and been placed with their new guardian, Count Olaf (he’s their closest living relative— just a mile or so down the road).

Of course, Olaf is after their fortune and makes no attempt to hide his intentions. The Baudelaire children are mistreated and shipped from one terrible situation to another, always hounded by the world’s worst actor and his evil henchmen.

The series maintains the grim humor of the books, complete with the constant presence of author Lemony Snicket (Patrick Warburton) warning the audience that there is no happy ending.

Only toil and tribulation lie in store for the Baudelaires.

As I mentioned, the cast is superb.

The cast from the original film was also stacked, from Jim Carey to Meryl Streep to Billy Connelly. But the Netf-

lix series holds its own. Not only does it feature Neal Patrick Harris and Patrick Warburton, but also Joan Cusack, Aasif Mandvi, Will Arnett, Colbie Smulders, Alfre Woodard, Don Johnson, and Catherine O’Hara (who was also in the 2004 film.)

It’s an ensemble of talent, all participating in creating a strange, dark, beautiful world full of sharp edges and deadly corners.

The series itself runs eight episodes and has been renewed for another ten. Given the success of the current series, there is no doubt that it will tell the complete story.

It should satisfy fans of the series that were deprived of the sequels they desired.

One of the benefits of the Netflix model is that the show isn’t confined to telling the story in a traditional running time of a standard television show. If it needs an additional ten to fifteen minutes, it can take them.

This is just one of the reasons shows like Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events will be the standard for storytelling for years to come.

✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴

The LEGO Batman Movie Bruce Wayne must deal not only with the criminals of Gotham City, but also the responsibility of raising a boy he adopted.

Director: Chris McKay Stars: Jenny Slate, Ralph Fiennes, Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill

Fifty Shades Darker While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront the anger and envy of the women who came before her.

Director: James Foley Stars: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eric Johnson, Eloise Mumford

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Exploring Art & Imagery With Mark Leamon Mark Leamon talks with the world through paint

UTC's Sybil Baker Looks At Immigration For UTC English professor and esteemed author Sybil Baker, her own family’s history and the desire to tell the story of “Chattanooga’s unheard voices” laid the foundation for her latest publication, “Immigration Essays”, which will launch at Star Line Books next Wednesday.

Thanks in part to a MakeWork grant, Baker began work on a novel that would tell the story of the gentrification of Chattanooga and the fact that neighborhoods which were once historically Black are disappearing.

Her essays, which are particularly relevant as of late, are inspired by her childhood in Ferguson, Mo., her travels in Asia and Eastern Europe and even her family’s long-ago slave-owning history. “Immigration Essays” helps to shed light on issues of immigration during these changing times through Baker’s powerful connection with the text and her exquisite use of voice.

Baker has also written “Talismans,” “The Life Plan,” and “Into This World,” which received an Eric Hoffer Award Honorable Mention and was a finalist for Foreword’s Best Book of the Year Award. Baker received her MFA in creative writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and she has taught at universities in both Hong Kong and Singapore.

Be sure to stop by Star Line Books next Wednesday at 7 p.m. to pick up a copy and read Baker’s powerful and inspiring essays on immigration. — Addie Whitlow Sybil Baker’s “Immigration Essays” Book Release Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Star Line Books 1467 Market St. · (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com 14 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Tony Mraz

Pulse contributor

S

OME OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND ruggedly original paintings coming out of Chattanooga are being made on Signal Mountain by Mark Leamon. His art can be described as a mix of Pop Art, Surrealism, Expressionism, and Dada, but from this mix emerges a brilliantly eclectic style that is truly one-of-a-kind.

He lives with his art, sees it every day, and puts an incredible amount of thought into each piece; as if each were a chess move that he had thoroughly contemplated.

Throughout his life, Mark has always seen art as a means to communicate. “I really cannot remember a time without drawing and painting; I have always made art. My mom wouldn’t let us watch much television at all—but she’d give us paper and provide materials to draw with. Then, growing up, the drawings turned into paintings.”

In the early ‘90s, Mark lived in New Orleans, and it was there that he started to show his work.

He exhibited at cafes, restaurants, galleries, and anywhere else where he could find wall space. In 2001, he bought a house on Signal Mountain, and since then he has been living there and working on his art.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Painting affords us the ability to explore—I think that is one of the greatest things that we have as artists. It might not be the ultimate search for truth, but we uncover things.”

Mark’s paintings represent a dialogue that he is having with the world. “My art is a product of my exposure to pop culture and what that means to me. I have paid homage to certain films, books, comics, and TV shows because they changed or helped to shape my perspective of the world. Many artists from history continue to influence me as well. For three years, I worked and studied in Germany, and there I was drawn to the expressionists—Munch, Schiele, Duchamp, and many more.”

He makes no apologies about his choices of subject matter, saying “I can’t help but make art—I’m gonna make art whether I get paid for it or not. Art is subjective; I selfishly keep to what’s important to me and ignore the trends. Fortunately, my subjects strike chords with oth-

ers, or I would not be able to market the work. Art is for everybody, but the individual must choose to see it.”

Mark keeps multiple sketchbooks and journals. He explains, “Drawing is an inexpensive way for me to explore an idea. Strong drawings hopefully lead to strong paintings. Painting affords us the ability to explore—I think that is one of the greatest things that we have as artists. It might not be the ultimate search for truth, but we uncover things. Some pieces can be personal, but are still part of my art.”

Recently he has begun to incorporate assemblage into his work. One series of new paintings deals with toy soldiers, so he has painted and affixed the toys to his canvasses. “I like the repetition of the toy soldiers. What is the value of a soldier’s life? We used to get 100 soldiers for a dollar fifty, out of the back of a comic book. Of course I’m talking about toy soldiers, but the commentary is still there—we treat soldiers in real life

like they’re almost as expendable, so I call that into question.”

Mark likes to keep multiple projects going at once. Driven by his interests, he has explored everything in his life with art, even his love of chess. “To get better at the game, I started making lots of drawings about games. There is a language for chess, a unique notation - you either know it or you don’t. One fundamental lesson of chess is, whoever controls the center, controls the game, whether directly or from afar. That interests me, because paintings normally have an emphasis, though it may not be in the center. There’s an art to chess, it’s a science—there are a lot of absolutes, but at the same time you can be very creative.”

His interest in typography caused him to create a stencil alphabet, along with other stencils that punctuate his visual vocabulary. Much of his work has references to popular culture that he uses to make social commentary. “I hate that companies put copyrights on things, after they have asked us to digest them and make them a part of our world. This is why re-appropriation and collage are key factors in my process.

I enjoy visually taking things out of context and seeing them in a new way.”

Visits to Mark’s studio on Signal Mountain can be scheduled Mon-Sat at 423-314 5392. There is an exhibition of his work at Lupi’s downtown Chattanooga, and you can find his work online on Facebook.

THU2.9

FRI2.10

SAT2.11

Chatt About Science

Love/Sick

Gwendolyn’s Bleeding Heart Ball

Lessons from insects and stomachs for designing healthy environments with UTC's Dr. DeAnna Beasley.

7 p.m.

Revelator Coffee Company 10 Frazier Ave. (205) 224-5900 revelatorcoffee.com

A collection of nine slightly twisted and completely hilarious short plays in which couples meet or break up.

8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. theatrecentre.com

A costumed event for the adventurous fan of dark romance and old fairy tales.

7 p.m.

Heritage House Arts and Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Wild at Heart

THURSDAY2.9 Russian Painting & Drawing Academy 9 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Ooltewah Nursery 5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775 ooltewahnursery.com Signal Mountain Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Pruett’s Market 1210 Taft Hwy. (423) 902-8023 signalmountainfarmersmarket.com Open Doors: Catrina Cabe 5 p.m.

HART Gallery 10 E. Main St. (423) 521-4707 hartgallerytn.com Fall in Love with Swing 5:30 p.m.

The Bethlehem Center 200 W. 38th St. (423) 266-1384 thebeth.org Cocktails in Color: Love American Style 6 p.m.

Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Winter Workshop: Navigate with Map & Compass

16 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

6 p.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com On Point: An Evening of Hope 6:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 899-9188 liveonpoint.org.

Chatt About Science 7 p.m.

Revelator Coffee Company 10 Frazier Ave. (205) 224-5900 revelatorcoffee.com Etta May 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

FRIDAY2.10 3rd Street Farmers Market 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. lookoutfarmersmarket.com Wild at Heart 2017 6 p.m.

Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1322 chattzoo.org CSO Pop Series Big Band Fever 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theater 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Etta May 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch

PULSE SPOTLIGHT: ETTA MAY What’s the best way to describe Etta May? “Minnie Pearl with a migraine.”

She is the reigning Queen of Southern Sass and a longtime Chattanooga favorite.

Etta May The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Love/Sick 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com Greater Tuna 8 p.m.

Signal Mountain Playhouse 301 Rolling Way (423) 886-5243 smph.org

SATURDAY2.11 Homebuyer Workshop 9 a.m.

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise 1500 Chestnut St. (423) 756-6201 cneinc.org Wildlife Photography Workshop 9 a.m.

Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org St. Alban’s Hixson Market 9:30 a.m.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 Polar Plunge 10 a.m.

Finley Stadium 1826 Carter St. (615) 329-1375 specialolympicstn.org

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

"A Woman Called Truth" “How to Hear Yourself: A Weekend Writers Retreat” 10 a.m.

Proprioceptive Writing Center 1401 Williams St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Northside Farmers Market 10 am.

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-7497 northsidepresbyterian.org Brainerd Farmers Market 11 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 saygrace.net Handmade Jewelry Demo 11 a.m.

River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com Historical Tram Tour 1 p.m.

Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Leapin’ Lemurs 2 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Workshop with Jeff Poppen (the Barefoot Farmer) 2 p.m.

Sequatchie Cove Farm 320 Dixon Cove Rd. (423) 942-9201 sequatchiecovefarm.com

Chattanooga Football Club vs. Atlanta United 3 p.m.

Finley Stadium 1826 Carter St. chattanoogafc.com PHIC Fundraiser and Film Premiere 5 p.m.

Waterhouse Pavilion 850 Market St. (423) 779-2906 healthychattanoogakids.com Live Pro Boxing: Saturday Night Boxing 6 p.m.

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (678) 554-7697 chattanoogaboxing.net Save Water, Drink Wine 6:30 p.m.

The Barn Nursery 1801 E. 24th St. (423) 413-3298 caribbean-sea.org Gwendolyn’s Bleeding Heart Ball 7 p.m.

Heritage House Arts and Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 CSO Pop Series Big Band Fever 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theater 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Etta May 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch

1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Love/Sick 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com Greater Tuna 8 p.m.

Signal Mountain Playhouse 301 Rolling Way (423) 886-5243 smph.org

SUNDAY2.12 “How to Hear Yourself: A Weekend Writers Retreat” 10 a.m.

Proprioceptive Writing Center 1401 Williams St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Ceramic Demo 1 p.m.

River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com “Know Your Government: Federal Edition” 2 p.m.

Archway on Glass 2523 Glass St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Valentine’s Sunset Cruise 2 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695

tnaqua.org "A Woman Called Truth"

by Sandra Fenichel Asher 3 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658 bessiesmithcc.org Jim Seward’s Seriously Funny Comedy Showcase 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com

MONDAY2.13 Red Bank Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Red Bank United Methodist 3800 DaytOn Blvd.

(423) 838-9804 rbumc.org Learn to Ride a Bicycle Class 4 p.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Why They Fought: Abolitionists in the Army of the Cumberland 5:30 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658 bessiesmithcc.org

TUESDAY2.14 Drawing Essentials CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 17

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Valentine's Day Cocktails 9 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com One Billion Rising 11 a.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 755-2700 partnershipfca.com East Brainerd Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com The Chattery Presents: “Love Potion No. 9: Valentine’s Day Cocktails” 6 p.m.

The Fix Cocktail Lounge 825 Houston St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.com Valentine’s Day Slow Jams & Karaoke 7 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. (423) 661-3185 granfalloonchattanooga.com Underwear Comedy Show 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-1400 jjsbohemia.com

18 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

WEDNESDAY2.15 Middle East Dance 10:30 a.m.

Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace Rd. (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.com Main Street Market 4 p.m.

325 E. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Figure Drawing 6 p.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com The Chattery Presents “Creating a Side Hustle: Airbnb” 6 p.m.

The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Sybil Baker’s “Immigration Essays” Book Release 7 p.m.

Star Line Books 1467 Market St. (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com Chicago 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse. com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 19

20 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

FOOD & DRINK ∙ DINING OUT

For The Love Of Chocolate The Hot Chocolatier brings chocolatey delight to the Southside

By Brooke Brown

Pulse Assistant Editor

It’s hard to pinpoint just one thing that makes Chattanooga unique. We’re a city thriving with out-of-the-box activities, venues that host extraordinary performances, and top-notch eateries, and one of those top-notch eateries can be found on Market St. We’ll go ahead and wish you luck on managing to pull yourself away without a bag full of artisan chocolates and a cup of homemade hot cocoa.

Of course, we’re talking about The Hot Chocolatier.

“We expected business to slow in the warmer months, but people just kept filing in,” says owner Wendy Buckner as we sip our coffee and cocoa respectively. It’s no surprise that every day (now including Sundays!) is a busy day for employees of The Hot Chocolatier.

I was gifted a cup of Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate on my way in and was more than happy to do my duty as a writer—because what’s an article without research, right?—and drink my cup dry despite the warm January weather.

Salted Caramel is just one of the twenty plus flavors of hot chocolate served, among the equally popular S’mores Cocoa and two perfectly romantic Valentine flavors, Pistachio Rose and Lavender Vanilla.

It’s the perfect afternoon stop for a hot

The Hot Chocolatier Mon-Thurs — 11am-8pm Fri-Sat — 11am-10pm Sunday — 11am-5pm 1437 Market St ∙ Chattanooga (423) 266-3066 www.thehotchocolatier.com

cocoa and a snack, but stop by for Valentine’s to up the romance and take home chocolatey delights!

Or, be the responsible spouse in your relationship, and skip the line that will surely be trailing through the store by calling in your order ahead of time.

“You can pay for it over the phone and just pop in to pick it up,” says Wendy. They’re offering the ultimate chocolate gift by allowing you to choose from their assortment of handmade, artisan chocolates, truffles, chocolate covered marshmallows (also handmade) to make the perfect chocolate basket for your loved one.

“We have a range of basket sizes to choose from. You choose what you want in it, and we’ll put it together and make it pretty for you!” says Wendy. They also offer the traditional heart-shaped chocolate box, filled with mouth-wateringly delectable truffles. Add a tin of sipping chocolate to take home the warm romance that is this thick, decadent cocoa.

The Original sipping chocolate is all the dark chocolatey goodness of The Hot Chocolatier’s handmade dark chocolate, that you mix with warm milk to provide a rich, dreamy cup of cocoa that’s far beyond a powdered mix (unless you’re buying that powdered mix at The Hot Chocolatier, as they offer that more traditional route as well.)

Or if you’re looking for something original, with maybe a bit more kick, go with The Hottie sipping chocolate, which offers a mix

“Pop a conversation heart cookie into your spouse’s chocolate basket as a sweet and sappy throwback to the days of elementary school Valentine’s.” of dark chocolate chunks, cayenne, chipotle, and ancho peppers.

Both sipping chocolates come with heating directions on the label, so have no fear that you can whip up a cup of hot cocoa with the best of them, just from the convenience of your kitchen.

It may seem impossible to think that The Hot Chocolatier could possibly serve more than everything listed above, but they do.

They serve cupcakes and full size cakes, the most popular being the

lusciously layered mousse cakes, as well as coconut macaroons and French macarons, shortbread cookies to match the season, and more.

Pop a conversation heart cookie into your spouse’s chocolate basket as a sweet and sappy throwback to the days of elementary school Valentine’s.

With The Hot Chocolatier’s chocolates rounding out your Valentine’s evening with a sweet bang, you really only have one job: don’t forget the dinner reservation.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 21

MUSIC

Remembering January Emerges From The Studio Chatsworth based quintet melds Southern Rock, pop and funk into a cohesive energetic sound

Megan Saunders Drifts Into Chattanooga The haunting acoustic sound of Megan Saunders and The Driftless will strike a cord in the soul of any music lover. The band, originally from Santa Cruz, CA, has a piercing and soulful sound that stems from their skilled play of string instruments. This simplistic, yet powerful sound can be heard in original songs such as “Trouble on My Mind” and “Tangled.”

Megan Saunders and The Driftless recently relocated to Chattanooga, and are sure to fit right in. The band is self-described as being inspired by “[The] exploits, love and insomnia across the back roads of rural America.”

With inspiration like that, there is no doubt that Megan Saunders and The Driftless will make their mark on Chattanooga’s music scene.

The acoustic group consists of Megan Saunders (vocals, mandolin, and banjo), guitarist Jason Reed, and Ashley Cofield playing the violin. This trio will be performing on Friday evening at Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant starting at 9 p.m.

With their uniquely sultry folk sound, that contains hints of Americana influence; this is sure to be a great show. Don’t miss the chance to see, and support, Megan and The Driftless this Friday night. — Alex Plaumann Megan Saunders and The Driftless Friday, 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way (423) 708-8505 www.puckettsgro.com/chattanooga 22 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

I

T’S FUNNY HOW IT WORKS SOMETIMES. You’re playing trivia in a bar. You bump into a person you’ve never met. Ten minutes later he’s telling you about his favorite local band you’ve never heard of. A few weeks later you’re writing them up because, dammit man, they’re really, really good.

It just goes to reinforce a key point about “the scene” I’ve enjoyed making about once a week, every week, for years now. No matter how well you think you know it, no matter how “connected” you are or how many bands you can rattle off, there are always more and they are often exceptionally talented.

Remembering January is the band this week, a group from Chatsworth, GA that has been around in one form or another since about 2010. Birthed in a pool hall in Chatsworth (that’s a terrific origin story, btw) the band came together quickly and established an excellent reputation in North Georgia before making their way up to “the big city” at the 2011 and 2012 Riverbend Festivals.

The quartet consisting of best friends Cody Bunch and Chris Deal, Tyler Southern, and Brandon Singleton would go on to decide that quintet was a cooler word and eventually added Preston Parris, making it a five-man roster.

After releasing a well-received demo, the fellas hit the studio and started laying tracks for their first full length album, Chair Above It All, which was released to adoring fans at Pokey’s in

MUSIC

“The guitar licks and occasional unison choruses are straight out of southern rock, very Allman-esque without committing to the genre too exclusively” Cleveland just last month. The album is eleven tracks long and is a delightful romp through a variety of styles and influences that manage to unite under the banner of the band perfectly.

The guitar licks and occasional unison choruses are straight out of southern rock, very Allman-esque without committing to the genre too exclusively. In fact, the first impression I got from the opening track, “Moved Away,” was more funk than anything, but here is the strength of the band.

Although they cite a number of musical influences, they use a very light touch with all of them, maintaining a delicate balance that reinforces the notion of “influenced by” rather than “sounds like.”

The vocals are superb, unique and perfectly suited to the group, and reminiscent of Chris Robinson (of Black Crowes fame.) The instrumentation itself is mature, the result of players who are perfectly at home with their instruments and each other. The songs are well-written,

with strong pop potential that reminds me (though the bands sound not at all alike) of Journey during their golden age.

They’re catchy tunes that have some substance, but probably also sound pretty good when being chanted by a bunch of drunken sorority girls.

Although not listed as an influence, there are certain tunes, “Biscuits & Gravy” and “Our Crowd” for instance, that could easily be a radio hit for Little Feat. It’s that perfect blend of southern rock and playful funk with something…extra…a secret ingredient that makes you smile when you hear it, whether you mean to or not.

I will add that there is, to my ears, a strong dose of country now and again, but only enough to keep the boys rooted in their southern upbringing. Taken as a whole, the album is funky southern, with scorching riffs, smooth vocals and a rhythm section that could keep time in a hurricane.

The band is Remembering January, the album is Chair Above It All, and it is available now on iTunes and Spotify. Take a minute to give it a listen and I’m sure you’ll agree that Chatsworth, GA has reason to take great pride in their native sons.

A Full Music Calendar Here we go again kids, with another week or two of fantastic music in the Scenic City, if you can’t find something to tickle your fancy, it may be time for a craniorectal extraction.

As mentioned last week, PLVNET and Sam Killed the Bear are bringing it to Mayo’s this Friday night.

Saturday is going to be a very busy day with the lovely Courtney Holder at La Fiesta in Hixson (La Fiesta has been doing their due diligence with music lately, kudos!)

Resurrection Mary (aka the wonderful Kilgores) will be playing their extensive collection of tunes at Full Moon American Burger and Bar at seven that evening.

The retro-punk, hardass Clash in Chattanooga show is at Ziggy’s at eight and Genki Genki Panic’s latest EP, “The Litanies of Surf” (which I would SURE like to hear sometime, cough cough) will be released at JJ’s at nine on Saturday evening in a show that features GGP, The Breaknecks, and the always vivacious Sparky the Dog. Liz Cooper & the Stampede are

having a three-way with Parker Hodges and Okinawa at JJ’s Bohemia Sunday evening at 8 p.m.

My personal pick of the week happens Tuesday at Honest Pint with the return of the Dead Deads, one of the hottest and most rapidly rising acts in the region.

Friday the 17th is the long awaited album release party for Porkchop Holder/MPH at JJ’s Bohemia and Sunday the 19th join Ashley and the Xs, Heatherly and Get Hot or Go Home at Mellow Mushroom downtown for a concert to benefit the second annual Chattanooga Girls Rock project, a worthy cause indeed.

— Marc T. Michael

THU2.9

FRI2.10

SAT2.11

Open Mic with Hap Henninger

CSO Pop Series Big Band Fever

Genki Genki Panic CD Release Party

Do you have what it takes to get on stage? Find out in one of the city's most intimate music spaces.

9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

Grab your dancing shoes and head down to the Tivoli for some old fashion swing tunes by the CSO. 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com

Our favorite Luchador lookalike surfpunkers celebrate the relaease of their new album.

9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 23

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Jess Goggans Band

THURSDAY2.9 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Rick Rushing Blues Jazz N’ Friends 6 p.m.

Bluewater Grille 224 Broad St. bluewaterchattanooga.com Forever Bluegrass 6:30 p.m.

Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com Bluegrass and Country Jam 6:30 p.m.

Grace Nazarene Church 6310 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 877-9948 Prime Country Band 6:30 p.m.

Motley’s 320 Emberson Dr. Ringgold, GA (706) 260-8404 Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m.

Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. mexi-wingchattanooga.com Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St.

24 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

FRIDAY2.10 The Hopeful Country Band 7 p.m.

Motley’s 320 Emberson Dr. Ringgold, GA (706) 260-8404 CSO Pop Series Big Band Fever 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers

7:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com The Mountain Opry 8 p.m.

Community Hall 2501 Fairmont Pike (423) 886-3252 Born Animal, The Burchays, Spirit Week 9 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Jess Goggans and Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Masseuse, Cosmic Shift 9 p.m.

SPOTLIGHT: COURTNEY DALY Pick a genre, any genre, and chances are Courtney can sing in it. Whether it's blues, soul or country, whether it's from the 1950s or today, she's ready to give it a go.

Courtney Daly Band 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Courtney Daly Band 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Megan Saunders and The Driftless 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga PLVNET, Sam Killed the Bear 9 p.m.

Mayo’s Bar and Grill 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com Throttle 21 10 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SATURDAY2.11 Zach Ovington and Owen Saunders 1 p.m.

The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.co Resurrection Mary 7 p.m.

Full Moon American Burger & Bar 61 Market St. fullmoon.bar CSO Pop Series Big Band Fever 7:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Yacht Rock Review Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Clare Donohue 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Rick Rushing & The Blues Strangers 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Up! Shania Twain Tribute 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Yacht Rock Revue 9 p.m.

Track 29 1400 Market St. Track29.co Adam Bruno 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Mass Driver, Mountain King, Obliviots, Pale Rider 9 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Genki Genki Panic CD Release Party 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Courtney Holder 9 p.m.

La Fiesta 8523 Hixson Pike lafiestarestauranttn.com Little Birds 10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Sweet GA Brown 10 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Throttle 21 10 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SUNDAY2.12 Cricket & Snail 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Karla Scaife 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Liz Cooper & the Stampede, Parker Hodges, Okinawa 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

MONDAY2.13 Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic 8 p.m.

The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com

TUESDAY2.14 Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m.

Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Valentine’s Day Slow Jamz + Karaoke 7 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Drakeford 7:30 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga The Dead Deads 8 p.m.

The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com

Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

WEDNESDAY2.15 Dexter Bell Quartet 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Joel Clyde 8 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Priscilla & Little Rickee 8 p.m.

Las Margaritas 1101 Hixson Pike (423) 756-3332 John Haynes 8 p.m.

Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com The Prime Cut Trio 9 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com A Made Up Sound aka 2562 9 p.m.

Venue 909 909 Crutchfield St. venue909.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

ALL NEW. ALL FOR YOU.

ChattanoogaHasCars.com THE TENNESSEE VALLEY’S MOST POWERFUL AUTOMOTIVE SHOPPING TOOL

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 25

RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ERNIE PAIK

Fred Thomas Changer, Various Artists Agrim Agadez

Fred Thomas Changer (Polyvinyl)

W

e’ve all had moments when our lips just didn’t seem fast enough to speak all the words we want or need to say, like perhaps reporting a horrible accident that just happened or enthusiastically and effusively expressing gratitude for a perfect, unexpected gift or even competing in a speed-talking contest.

These kind of gushing, firehose streams of words characterize one of Fred Thomas’ lyrical approaches, which are applied to a variety of emotional situations and personal stories on his latest solo album Changer.

As Thomas, best known as

brewer media

Various Artists Agrim Agadez (Sahelsounds) the front man for the nostalgic pop band Saturday Looks Good to Me, sings on the track “Voiceover,” he’s trying to “scratch through to the immaculate core” of rare, ecstatic emotions surrounded by the more mundane coatings.

He goes through crappy jobs, sells plasma and has tragically disappointing tours, but Thomas is seemingly more concerned on Changer with reporting emotions rather than seeking sympathy; the notable “Brickwall” grapples with the watering-down of friendships as one grows older, with subjects being “like a postcard that they can hang” to unavailable friends.

Changer often has the spark of punk without being limited to its structural constraints, and Thomas demonstrates here his knack for breathlessly articulating small moments with his own homegrown lyrical aesthetic that’s fine with cramming extra syllables into a space.

Thomas feels untethered to a specific musical time or place in history here, blasting through throbbing rock chords on “Misremembered” or chiming pop guitar notes on “Reactionary.”

Toward the end of the album, he changes direction by using electronics on “Echolocation” with horn flourishes followed by two palate-cleansing instrumentals that function as a sort of cool-down period.

Perhaps the couplet that could summarize Thomas’ state on Changer comes from “2008”: “When everything is paper thin you just have to adapt / You learn how to breathe slowly and move on fast.” Always prolific with a brisk, outpouring style, Thomas doesn’t need to wait for people to catch up with him, although it’s easy to disregard the destination.

After calling his twenties a

“controlled burn” that is finally extinguished, he hasn’t slowed down, with more now in his mind than ever that’s rattling around, but, as he reveals, “you still need some place to go.”

I

t’s mind-boggling to think that in its history, the government of the west African nation Niger had banned guitarplaying among the nomadic Tuareg people, since it was considered to be a symbol for the insurgency.

Today, the guitar is a ubiquitous instrument in Niger, in acoustic or electric incarnations, and it’s heard in music made for all purposes, from the political to the recreational and the celebratory, in events such as weddings.

The new collection Agrim Agadez, compiled by Sahelsounds label founder Christopher Kirkley using his highquality field recordings made between 2012 and 2015, focuses on the guitar in makeshift recording environments across Niger, and it serves as a great introduction to various strains of Sahel guitar music as well as being a fascinating document for the already-initiated.

Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits

everywhere. every day.

26 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Perhaps the most recognizable name here is Mdou Moctar, known as the lead actor and musician of the Purple Rain-inspired film Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai, and his nimble, precise acoustic guitar playing is warm and oozing with expression.

Another high point of Agrim Agadez is “C’est La Vie” by Mohamed Karzo, which has an understated beauty; it takes its time to gently work its magic, with a touching vocal delivery that manages to be simultaneously raw and tender.

The oddball track on the album is a rendition of “Hey Joe” that is clearly inspired by Jimi Hendrix’s version, with a rough, fuzzed-out electric guitar; while an honest glimpse, it sounds like something banged out in a basement rehearsal for a young garage-rock band.

If there’s a common thread in Agrim Agadez, it’s the ability of the musicians to conjure an entrancing groove, often with basic melodic lines that are decorated with swift note-ornaments; they may be joined by simple hand-struck drum beats or handclaps, and playful calland-response exchanges help sustain the momentum.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 27

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY greater good rather than to self-aggrandizement. You can accomplish wonders if you are saucy and classy, but you’ll spawn blunders if you’re saucy and bossy.

ROB BREZSNY AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The time is now, Brave Aquarius. Be audacious about improving the big little things in your life. (That’s not a typo. I did indeed use the term “big little things.”) For example: Seek out or demand more engaging responsibilities. Bring your penetrating questions to sphinx-like authorities.

Go in search of more useful riddles.

Redesign the daily rhythm to better meet your unique needs. Refuse “necessary” boredom that’s not truly necessary. Trust what actually works, not what’s merely attractive. Does all that seem too bold and brazen for you to pull off? I assure you that it’s not. You have more clout than you imagine. You also have a growing faith in your own power to make subtle fundamental shifts. (That’s not a typo. I did indeed use the term “subtle fundamental shifts.”)

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “Love does not at first mean merging, surrendering, and uniting with another person,” wrote the poet Rilke, “for what would a union be of two people who are unclarified, unfinished, and still incoherent?” That’s an excellent meditation for you to entertain during the Valentine season, Pisces.

You’re in the right frame of mind to think about how you could change and educate yourself so as to get the most out of your intimate alliances. Love “is a high inducement for the individual to ripen,” Rilke said, “to become something, to become a world for the sake of another person.” (Thanks to Stephen Mitchell for much of this translation.)

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Your reputation is in a state of fermentation.

Will this process ultimately produce the metaphorical equivalent of fine wine or else something more like pungent cheese? The answer to that question will depend on how much integrity you express as you wield your clout. Be as charismatic as you dare, yes, but always in service to the

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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Using a blend of warfare and diplomacy, Napoleon extended French control over much of Western Europe. In 1804, he decided to formalize his growing sovereignty with a coronation ceremony. He departed from tradition, however. For many centuries, French kings had been crowned by the Pope. But on this occasion, Napoleon took the imperial crown from Pope Pius VII and placed it on his own head. Historian David J. Markham writes that he “was simply symbolizing that he was becoming emperor based on his own merits and the will of the people, not because of some religious consecration.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, Taurus, you have the right to perform a comparable gesture. Don’t wait for some authority to crown you. Crown yourself.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Have you heard the fable about the four blind men who come upon an elephant for the first time? The first man feels the tail and declares that the thing they’ve encountered must be a rope.

The second touches one of the elephant’s legs and says that they are in the presence of a tree. The third strokes the trunk and assumes it’s a snake. Putting his hand on a tusk, the fourth man asserts that it’s a spear. I predict that this fable will NOT apply to you in the coming weeks, Gemini.

You won’t focus on just one aspect of the whole and think it’s the whole.

Other people in your sphere may get fooled by shortsightedness, but you will see the big picture.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): For now, at least, your brain is your primary erogenous zone. I suspect it will be generating some of your sexiest thoughts ever. To be clear, not all of these erupting streams of bliss will directly involve the sweet, snaky mysteries of wrapping your physical body around another’s. Some of the erotic pleasure will come in the form of epiphanies that awaken sleeping parts of your soul. Others might arrive as revelations that chase away months’ worth of confusion. Still others could be creative breakthroughs that liberate you from a form of bondage you’ve wrongly accepted as necessary.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Human be-

Homework: Don’t get back to where you once belonged. Go forward to where you’ve got to belong in the future. Testify at Freewillastrology.com ings upload 300 hours of videos to YouTube every minute of every day.

Among that swirling flow is a hefty amount of footage devoted exclusively to the amusing behavior of cats. Researchers estimate there are now more than two million clips of feline shenanigans. Despite the stiff competition, I suspect there’s a much better chance than usual that your cat video will go viral if you upload it in the coming weeks. Why? In general, you Leos now have a sixth sense about how to get noticed.

You know what you need to do to express yourself confidently and attract attention—not just in regards to your cats, but anything that’s important to you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I know you haven’t literally been wrestling and wrangling with a sweaty angel.

But if I were going to tell a fairy tale about your life lately, I’d be tempted to say this: Your rumble with the sweaty angel is not finished. In fact, the best and holiest part is still to come. But right now you have cosmic permission to take a short break and rest a while. During the lull, ratchet up your determination to learn all you can from your friendly “struggle.” Try to figure out what you’ve been missing about the true nature of the sweaty angel.

Vow to become a stronger advocate for yourself and a more rigorous revealer of the wild truth.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Even if you’re not an occult wizard or pagan priestess, I suspect you now have the power to conjure benevolent love spells. There’s a caveat, however: They will only work if you cast them on yourself. Flinging them at other people would backfire. But if you do accept that limitation, you’ll be able to invoke a big dose of romantic mojo from both your lower depths and your higher self. Inspiration will be abundantly available as you work to reinvigorate your approach to intimacy and togetherness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Here’s some advice from Scorpio writer Norman Rush: “The main effort of

arranging your life should be to progressively reduce the amount of time required to decently maintain yourself so that you can have all the time you want for reading.”

It’s understandable that a language specialist like Rush would make the final word of the previous sentence “reading.” But you might choose a different word. And I invite you to do just that. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to devotedly carve out more time to do The Most Important Thing in Your Life.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sixteenth-century Italian painter Titian was renowned for his brilliant use of color. He was also prolific, versatile, and influential. In 2011, one of his paintings sold for $16.9 million.

But one of his contemporaries, the incomparable Michelangelo, said that Titian could have been an even greater artist if he had ever mastered the art of drawing. It seems that Titian skipped a step in his early development. Is there any way that your path resembles Titian’s, Sagittarius?

Did you neglect to cultivate a basic skill that has subtly (or not so subtly) handicapped your growth ever since? If so, the coming weeks and months will be an excellent time to fix the glitch.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Our obsessive use of digital devices has diminished our power to focus. According to a study by Microsoft, the average human attention span has shrunk to eight seconds—one second less than that of a typical goldfish. I’m guessing, though, that you Capricorns will buck this trend in the coming weeks. Your ability to concentrate may be exceptional even by pre-Internet standards. I hope you’ll take opportunity of this fortunate anomaly to get a lot of important work and play done.

Rob Brezsny is an aspiring master of curiosity, perpetrator of sacred uproar, and founder of the Beauty and Truth Lab. He brings a literate, myth-savvy perspective to his work.

It’s all in the stars.

JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES

“Spellbound”—just pretend you’re texting.

ACROSS 1 Over again 5 Alcohol pads for wound care 10 ___ buco (veal entree) 14 Church or movie ending?

15 Drama with the fictional firm McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak 16 Indian restaurant basketful 17 “Don’t point the finger ... the freeze was an accident!”

20 School crossing sign word 21 It may be copied for family members 22 Mitt Romney’s alma mater, for short 23 “Ology,” for short 24 Grass-like surfaces 26 Startle 27 Extremely 28 Far-sighted person?

29 Adjective for 2017 (but not 2018) 31 Uprising of a sort 32 Desert rest stop

34 Genre for many “Weird Al” Yankovic medleys 35 “That coffee holder won’t work if it’s ginormous” 39 Nastily derogatory 40 FX series with Billy Bob Thornton 41 Tacks on 42 “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” author 44 Prefix with byte or hertz 48 Nabokov ending?

49 Fencing weapon 50 Take, as a coupon 51 Cy Young Award stat 52 Vegas headliner?

53 Day-___ (fluorescent paint) 55 “Kneel before ___!” (“Superman II” line) 56 “I was impervious to constant chatter” 60 “Alice’s Restaurant” singer Guthrie 61 Kerfuffles 62 “Sounds like a plan!”

63 Henchman created

by J.M. Barrie 64 Loses it 65 Borscht ingredient DOWN 1 Certain discriminators (var.)

2 What the befuddled have 3 Kiddie-lit character with a pinned-on tail 4 Amusingly twisted 5 Swing around a pivot 6 On guard 7 The “A” in many beer acronyms 8 Former pro wrestler ___ Bigelow 9 “Donnie Darko” actor Patrick 10 Put ___ show 11 Stayed put 12 “Twistin’ the Night Away” singer 13 The tiniest amount 18 Green-lights 19 Owed right now 25 Palm features 26 Dollar amount in a Western?

29 Next-to-last Greek letter 30 Semi, to a trucker

31 Surname in a Styx song 33 “Fish” star Vigoda 34 Little dog 35 Deodorant’s place 36 Like mechanical bulls and rocking horses 37 Drive headlong into 38 Cuprite, e.g.

39 Cut down on driving, say 42 Speaks too proudly 43 Champ before Ali 45 Source of a breakdown?

46 Rent copayer, casually 47 Burning with desire 49 Reason for a yearly shot 50 Companion to five “W”s 53 Unappetizing food 54 Word often confused with “fewer” 57 Strummer or Cocker 58 Agcy. overseeing cosmetics 59 Lobster wearer’s clothing

Copyright © 2017 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per3minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 818 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 29

FOOD & DRINK ∙ SUSHI & BISCUITS

Terrifying But Oh So Delicious Monkfish may be very scary looking, but they'll delight your tastebuds

Mike McJunkin Pulse columnist

T

HERE’S SOMETHING BOTH BEAUtiful and sublime about the idea of seafood. Shimmering yellowfin tuna knifing their way through crystal clear waters; sleek swordfish spinning and soaring above choppy ocean waves; grouper gliding effortlessly, carried along by invisible, abyssal currents.

These lofty imaginings of seafood’s beauty and grace, however, are only for an exclusive club of water dwelling vertebrates.

A velvet rope hangs between the fish we glamorize, like salmon and snapper, and the fish that are uglier than a bucket full of armpits, like the humble monkfish.

Monkfish are not just ugly, they are terrifying. These denizens of the briny deep aren’t just nightmare inducing, they look like William S. Burroughs willed a hallucination into being after a weeklong morphine and Tramadol binge. Taxonomically, monkfish are on the bottom-dwelling terrors branch of the anglerfish family tree.

This means that aside from having a flattened, oversized head and a mouth full of needle-sharp teeth, a monkfish has a fishing lure growing out of its face, just above its mouth.

In case you didn’t catch that, it has a bloody fishing lure growing out of its face!

When it lures a fish in close enough, the monkfish goes for the murder grab and opens its gruesome death maw so quickly that a vacuum is created, sucking its prey into two waiting rows of razor sharp teeth.

Monkfish are opportunistic and eat almost anything that gets near their mouth, includ-

ing soda cans, cuttlefish and even other monkfish - sort of like John Travolta.

So imagine an animal that started off as nothing but teeth, jaws, and hunger pangs, but evolution said “screw it” and in the last thousand years decided to give it a thick, meaty tail that tastes like lobster, and a liver that tastes like seafoam fois gras. How do we know this sea monster tastes like lobster and fois gras? Because some hero, long lost to history, got hungry enough to eat one of these murder fish and realized that their liver is smooth, buttery and freaking delicious with scallions and ponzu sauce.

Of course, man cannot live by monkfish liver alone, so our intrepid food explorer found that while the head and body are mostly skin, bones, and guts, the tail is composed entirely of two thick, meaty fillets of mild, firm fish resting on either side of an easily removed spine. The monkfish’s tail is its sweet, succulent moneymaker.

The average monkfish filet is about 1/4 pound of thick, firm flesh. There’s a thin layer of silverskin you’ll want to remove before Ingredients • 5 tbsp butter • The juice of 1 lime • 2 fillets Monkfish (about 6-8 oz each) skinned and boned • 2 oz canola oil • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped • 2 spring onions, (1/4 cup) chopped

30 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

cooking, but other than that, monkfish filets are ready to slice, sear, grill or pan fry straight from your favorite fishmonger.

Cooked monkfish isn’t flakey like most fish. It has a texture similar to cooked lobster and has a mild flavor (again, similar to lobster) that lends itself to a wide variety of dishes, especially ones with bright, acidic sauces. Its firm texture makes monkfish perfect for the grill, skewers and kebabs since it doesn’t fall apart easily and it’s an ideal candidate for marinades because of its uncanny ability to soak up flavors and stand up to the heavy acids and enzymes in most marinades.

But the best reason to eat the tail of this demonic fish overlord spawned from the fears and darkest nightmares of humanity - is the taste. Monkfish is easily one of the most delicious ocean fish you can • 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce • 1 oz water • Basmati rice to serve Instructions Heat the oil in a large pan over high heat. Add the monkfish, reduce the heat to medium and fry the monkfish 4 minutes on each side. Set aside to keep warm.

buy. Although it’s not commonly stocked in your local Food Mart, you can ask the seafood department at Whole Foods, Publix or the good folks at Asian Food & Gifts to order you some and prepare yourself for the best tasting sea monster you’ve ever eaten.

Mike McJunkin is a native Chattanoogan currently living abroad who has trained chefs, owned and operated restaurants.

Join him on Facebook at facebook.com/ SushiAndBiscuits

Place the butter, water and chili sauce in a separate small pan and bring to a boil. Add the lime juice and chopped spring onion - cook for 30 seconds, then add the coriander and remove from the heat.

Spoon the sauce over the monkfish and serve with steamed rice.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 9, 2017 • THE PULSE • 31