The Pulse 15.08 » February 22, 2018

FEBRUARY 22, 2018

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

BLACK PANTHER · CHATTANOOGA BREWING CO. · MONEY AND GUNS

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VOL. 15, NO. 8 • FEBRUARY 22, 2018

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MONEY FOR NOTHING

We’ve become almost numb. Seemingly every week we hear about yet another shooting at a school, or a church, or a business here in the U.S. We see horrific photos and videos of students hiding in fear.

PAINTING BY THE CINEMATIC NUMBERS

It seems like every third movie I see now is somehow Disney related. This isn’t a surprise, really, given that the Mouse owns over 25 percent of the film industry in the U.S.

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MONEY FOR THIS ART

You want to share your art—to create pop-up theater, a neighborhood dance happening, a public mural or installation, a beautifully curated butterfly garden at the corner of a park

FUTURE VIRGINS ROCK THE PAST AND PRESENT

In a public Facebook post, Future Virgins guitarist William “Billy Joe” Johnson wrote that when the band’s new album Doomsday Raga was recorded it seemed cynical, but today, “it’s probably borderline whimsical.”

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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A Chattanoogan Abroad Welcome to Kuwait, the land of sun and sand. If you have suffered through the winter in Minnesota and have developed a terminal case of Seasonal Affective Disorder, make reservations now for a summer in Kuwait. You will thaw quickly when the summer temperatures reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

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CONSIDER THIS

20

MUSIC CALENDAR

7

AIR BAG

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MUSIC REVIEWS

11

NEW IN THEATERS

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

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ARTS CALENDAR

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JONESIN' CROSSWORD

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DINING OUT

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SUSHI & BISUITS

Terry Stulce served two combat tours in Vietnam, one with the 101st Airborne and one with the 69th Border Rangers. He was an LCSW and owner of Cleveland Family Counseling before his retirement in 2009.

Album reviewer and music writer Ernie Paik has written about music and film for various publications for over 20 years. As a recording artist, he has created original music for film, radio, television and theater.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 3

BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE

Op-Ed: Money For Nothing Our elected leaders are failing us. And nothing is being done.

By Tracy Coleman Pulse contributor

BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole Assistant Editor Brooke Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors David Traver Adolphus • Adam Beckett Rob Brezsny • Tracy Coleman • Matt Jones Mike McJunkin • Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib • Terry Stulce Michael Thomas • Jenn Webster Editorial Interns Adrienne Kaufmann • Austin M. Hooks Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

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Account Executives Rick Leavell • Cindee McBride Libby Phillips • John Rodriguez Danielle Swindell • Logan Vandergriff

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Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse 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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Contents Copyright © 2018 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

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E’VE BECOME ALMOST NUMB. Seemingly every week we hear about yet another shooting at a school, or a church, or a business here in the U.S. We see horrific photos and videos of students hiding in fear, being marched out of classrooms with their hands over their heads, or see crumbled bodies lying where they fell, their lives taken in a brief, brutal moment of violence.

There are the usual responses of anguish and confusion. The news channels are filled with solemn faces talking about everything from mental illness to “thoughts and prayers”. And yet, nothing ever gets done.

And why should anything be done? Sure, poll after poll show a majority of Americans support tightening up the laws over gun ownership, and yet not only do our elected “leaders” do nothing about it, they, in fact, pass laws that make it easier for the mentally ill to purchase weapons, and make it easier for everyone to carry weapons with them everywhere they go, concealed from the eyes of those around them.

And why do they do that? Because of money. The National Rifle Association has long abandoned its original purpose of helping to educate an armed populace on the use (and dangers) of owning firearms and devolved into an unthinking and immoral organization that fetishes guns and gun ownership with a cult like fervor that brooks no argument, no challenge, and no care or concern for the thousands upon thousands (upon thousands) of those injured and killed by the very firearms they worship.

Statements like “it’s a mental health issue” are cynical smokescreens to avoid the cold, brutal truth: we, as a nation, simply have far too many guns in the hands of far too many unstable people. And with those

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“Every single dollar they've taken is soaked in the blood of the fallen.

No thoughts and no prayers can clean that money.” same “leaders” doing everything in their power to cut funding for mental health, their hypocrisy is especially abhorrent.

Far too many people try to find common ground, to be “fair” and “even-handed” when debating gun control. They feel they are taking the high road, when in fact they are playing into the very hands of the immoral.

Let’s call it what it is: blood money. Every dollar our elected representatives take from the NRA is drenched in the blood of the victims of places like Douglas High School in Florida, of the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church in Texas, and of the countless other sites of gun violence and death.

According the Washington Post, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has taken $14,850 from the NRA. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) has taken $9,900. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann

(R-TN), who allegedly represents us in the House of Representatives, has taken $6,000. And leading the pack here in Tennessee is Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R) who is running for Senate and has pocketed $32,500.

Every single dollar they’ve taken is soaked in the blood of the fallen.

No thoughts and no prayers can clean that money. They take the money because they understand something frightening yet true: dead children don’t vote.

And nothing changes. As long as the NRA is willing to buy themselves a Congress of cowards, children will die. Adults will die. Good people will die.

And that is unacceptable.

Call your “leaders”. Email them.

Write to them. Call them out on social media. Do whatever it takes to let them know that trading blood for money is no longer acceptable.

Consider This with Dr. Rick

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

“The sign of a beautiful person is that they always see beauty in others.”

Local Voices Read God’s Trombones Working in the full swing of the Harlem Renaissance, poet James Weldon Johnson found inspiration in a uniquely African American tradition: the oratory stylings of what he called “the old time Negro preacher.”

In his famous collection, God’s Trombones, Johnson reimagines sermons from African American preachers as poetry. The collection is now classic, and poems like “The Creation” and “The Prodigal Son” display the full power and resonance of African American oratory.

This Sunday, in recognition of Black

History Month, Jazzanooga and The Bessie Smith Cultural Center are hosting a performance of God’s Trombones.

The poems will be read aloud by local women who have made significant

contributions to their communities, including Tenesha Irvin, Lakweshia Ewing, Karen Lynn McReynolds, Dionne Jennings, Karitsa Mosley Jones, Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod, and Chantelle Roberson.

If you’ve been looking for a way to honor and celebrate African American history during February, this event is not to be missed. Rather than silently reading God’s Trombones on a page, come hear it as Johnson intended it to be heard—performed with emotion and feeling to a responsive audience.

— Adrienne Kaufmann

What was the last mean, petty, unkind thought or word you had for someone else? Something she was wearing? Did he voice a counter political opinion?

Does your kid have a racially different friend? A same-sex boy/girlfriend?

You know, it takes absolutely no talent to be mean. It’s not art. However, being mean has great power to habitually transform your outlook on life, create a lack of trust in your relationships, and etch permanent scowl lines on your face, and on your soul. I can’t imagine this would be consistent with your spiritual studies.

Consider this your challenge: For one entire week, I want you to think a kind, respectful, or loving thought about every single person you see, meet and talk with. Every one. Even better, say it out loud. Be generous with compliments. Be a good listener. Be gracious. Let’s see what happens after a week.

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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COLUMN ∙ AIR BAG

Good Cars Everywhere, Man Our car guy rethinks his opinions on a number of mid-sized sedans

David Traver Adolphus Pulse columnist

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ITH A NEW DAY JOB, I’VE had to rent cars a lot lately. As a car nerd, I refuse to rent the Kia Souls and Nissan Rogues and Chrysler 200s that make up most rental fleets. I’ve driven them and they’re loathsome. They make me feel sad inside.

Even experimenting with options a step up the ladder has been sad—Chevy’s supposedly-nice Malibu is a giant disappointment. I don’t even like the (V-6) Camaro, which can’t hold a candle to any Mustang variant.

Along the way, however, I’ve run into some gems, which got me thinking about how many really great cars there actually are, hiding in plain sight and often not out of budget for normal people, too.

Take that Mustang. The 460hp 5.0-liter V-8 (and the 526hp 5.2-liter) is an amazing car, but the almost unknown, 2.3-liter four-cylinder turbo Ecoboost should maybe be the one everyone knows. The little engine makes 310hp and it weighs over 150 pounds less than the big V-8s. It’s the sportiest variant of America’s Sports Car. The Malibu may suck, but I fell in love with its big brother, the Impala. Is it on anyone’s shopping list, let alone any enthusiast? I think the approximately 20,000 units in dealer inventories around the country say no, but for the $20,000 they’re asking for a leftover 2017 model, you won’t get more car.

Last year, my editor bought an Infiniti

Q50 sedan, despite me suggesting like 35 other choices. The previous generation Nissan/Infiniti transmissions were so unpleasant that they’d turned me off the whole brand, so I wasn’t even considering it.

I have deep regrets now, because it’s a masterpiece. Admittedly, he has some eco-friendly hybrid variant, and I haven’t tried that one, but the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 is one of the best matches of powertrain and chassis I remember.

Impala? Q50? It’s time to revisit assumptions. What other sedans are overlooked yet great?

The Alfa Romeo Giulia The high-performance variants won all the Car of the Year awards last year, but the base 2.0-liter 280hp sedan lists at $38,000, which is on the cheap end of Toyota Highlanders.

It may be an Italian performance car, but it’s also a sedan that fits four and you can actually afford the payments. Maybe get the extended warranty, though.

Jaguar XE Jaguar has never offered smaller engines in their cars here, until now. The XE gets either a 247hp turbo four, or a 180hp (and 269 lb-ft) diesel--yes, an English diesel, which comes with a 25/34 mpg rating yet will still get to 60 mph in 6 seconds.

If you think “Jaguar” and “Affordable efficient cars” aren’t words you normally put together, you’re

“I’ve run into some gems, which got me thinking about how many really great cars there actually are, hiding in plain sight.” not alone.

But Jaguar has put together a gorgeous, solid car that again scoots out the door for less than a Toyota SUV. How is that even a choice?

Toyota Avalon I’m always pushing this nearly invisible car. They all have either a 268hp 3.5-liter V-6 or 200hp 2.5-liter hybrid, and what they are is a Lexus without the Lexus badge or the baggage that goes with it.

Toyota’s take on the traditional big sedan has always been overlooked, and the lack of demand keeps them affordable.

Hyundai Azera Another out-of-the-park, powerful, feature-laden large Asian sedan clogging up dealer invento-

ries, especially because there’s no 2018 model, just hundreds of old ‘17s in the sub-$30,000 range.

Incidentally, it was also one of the most reliable cars made in recent years. See the November ‘17 Airbag for more.

Buick Regal GS I’d ask why people aren’t buying these, but the answer is pretty obviously that people aren’t looking to Buick for a performance sedan.

But there it is, an AWD 259hp Buick with leather bucket seats and everything else. You can name your price on these.

David Traver Adolphus is a freelance automotive researcher who quit his full time job writing about old cars to pursue his lifelong dream of writing about old AND new cars.

Follow him on Twitter as @proscriptus.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 7

COVER STORY

A Chattanoogan Abroad Welcome to Hell’s Gate: Kuwait

By Terry Stulce

Pulse contributor

Editor’s note: Over the past fifteen years, whenever we hear that one of our contributors is traveling abroad, we like to ask them to write about their experience.

We’ve share stories on trips to Europe, South America, and even Southeast Asia.

But until now, we’ve never visited the Middle East (at least as a tourist).

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ELCOME TO KUWAIT, THE LAND OF SUN and sand. If you have suffered through the winter in Minnesota and have developed a terminal case of Seasonal Affective Disorder, make reservations now for a summer in Kuwait. You will thaw quickly when the summer temperatures reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

The surface of the Sun is only slightly warmer than Kuwait in summer. The Kuwaiti beach stretches from the Persian Gulf to the borders of Iraq and Saudi Arabia. You could say that the entire country is one big beach.

Some folks here in the States may be saying, “Where the hell is Kuwait?”

I suggest you find a Gulf War veteran, one was called to rescue Kuwait from Saddam Hussein when Hussein decided to annex the Kuwaiti beach and all the oil underneath it.

A Gulf War veteran will certainly be able to identify it on a world map. This is a skill that the majority of Americans can’t demonstrate. At the same time, he/she can show you the famous Iraqi salute which entails interlacing the fingers of both hands and placing them behind your head.

If you live in the tristate area, there is ample evidence that some of your neighbors may have been in the Gulf War. If you can reach the inner se-

curity perimeter at the U.S. embassy in Kuwait, you will find a Russian T54/55 tank with a note on the barrel that reads “To Bulldog from Rocky Top”. The Tennessee National Guard gave the captured tank as a gift to the U.S. ambassador at the time who was from Georgia.

Some will say Kuwait is in a bad neighborhood with Iraq to the north and west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Iran a short distance across the Persian Gulf to the east.

The Sunnis in Saudi Arabia hate the Shias in Iran and vice versa. The Arabs in Saudi hate the Persians in Iran and vice versa. The Shias in Iraq hate the Sunnis in Iraq and vice versa. Kuwait manages to circumvent the religious hatreds of its neighbors by worshipping American Consumerism.

The Kuwaiti skyline and highway system are reminiscent of America except for the speed bumps that appear out of nowhere when you are driving

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at 60 mph on a six lane highway. Traffic flow is much like Atlanta except for many more “punishment lights” that back up traffic for miles in every direction. Vehicles are similar to those you would see in Dallas. Cadillac El Dorados, GMC Yukons, Chevy Silverados, and especially Ford Mustangs are the favored vehicles in Kuwait.

It is like America with horrible drivers who speed, tailgate, and play with their cell phones. Their recklessness is reflected is this statistic: Kuwait has the most traffic deaths per capita than any country in the world.

In 2013, Conde Nast Traveler rated Kuwait as the world’s fifth most “unfriendly city”. In 2014, Expat Insider rated it the worst country in the world for expats to live. Kuwait has the highest rates of obesity (48.6 percent) and the highest rates of water consumption on earth. Water consumption at 500 liters is double the international aver-

age.

Kuwait also has one of the world highest rates of waste generation, and much of the waste can be viewed from the highways as it is mixed with sand to form huge sand and garbage dunes.

However, if you hate rain but love dust storms, desalinated water, alcohol prohibition, and sexual abstinence, then Kuwait is calling you.

Kuwait is a really good idea gone wrong. In 1938, geologist discovered that Kuwait floated on an ocean of oil.

Before this discovery, Kuwait City was a city without Kuwaitis. In other words, there was no recognition of a Kuwaiti identity. Residents mostly thought of themselves in terms of their tribal identity or their continents or countries of origin i.e. Africans, Indians, Iraqis, Iranians, etc.

Kuwait City was cosmopolitan, open, tolerant society with a varied economy.

Maritime trade, fishing, herding, pearl-

COVER STORY ing, and farming formed the foundation of an economy that was supportive of the basic needs of its population but was not one that boomed with excessive profits.

In 1946, the first oil was exported. By 1948, the country’s income from oil was 5.6 million dollars, and by 1953 it had skyrocketed to 169 million dollars. This bonanza went straight to the Emir’s coffers.

In 1950, Abdullah al-Salem ascended to the office of Emir. With consultation from famous architect Le Corbusier and his “Modernists” disciples, he developed a master plan to turn Kuwait into the best planned, most progressive city in the Middle East.

The Emir wanted to use the vast oil wealth to create a utopia. He spent vast amounts of money on an educational and medical care infrastructure and “decontextualizing” the small port city. The process of “decontextualizing” entailed tearing down the old buildings in the maritime city and rebuilding them to mimic American suburbs.

In the early to middle ‘50s, it began to dawn on the Emir and his power structure that their vast oil wealth was not infinite.

The population was rapidly increasing and the pieces of this very large pie were, nevertheless, getting smaller. They chose to address this issue by defining benefit eligibility in increasingly narrow terms.

To be eligible to benefit directly from oil money you had to be a “citizen”. In 1959, “citizens” were defined as those whose families had lived in Kuwait since 1920 and were permanent residents inside the city gates in 1959. In one fell swoop, most immigrants (since 1920) and nomads lost their citizenship. Bedouins had lived in the deserts of Kuwait for centuries but in 1959 they became “stateless”.

At the same time naturalization was virtually eliminated. A maximum of 50 people could be naturalized annually and only if they had achieved something of great importance for Kuwait.

The Emir and his social engineers had successfully created a privileged class of citizens and an underclass of expats. To-

“Kuwait is a really good idea gone wrong. If you hate rain but love dust storms, desalinated water, alcohol prohibition, and sexual abstinence, then Kuwait is calling you.” day less than one-third of the population are “citizens”.

The benefits of citizenship for those who can claim it are immense. “Citizens” are guaranteed a cushy government job. If they have a lower paying job in the private sector, the government will supplement their salary. They receive rent and utilities supplements, free medical care and free education through college. Many times Kuwaitis are sent, all expenses paid, to American universities.

Additional benefits are as follows: all imports, retail sales, and contracts can only be transacted through “citizens”. Only Kuwaitis have a guaranteed pension benefit and civil service tenure. They are the only ones who can own land

and, believe it or not, they are the only ones who can own a pick-up truck.

If you are a Kuwaiti, you are sitting “fat, dumb, and happy”. If you are not a “citizen”, you are on your own. In the 1960’s, the privileged citizens began to isolate themselves socially and geographically and developed a deep sense of superiority. This lead to hostility from the non-citizens who lost any sense of allegiance to Kuwait.

In 1964, Fahri Shebab a consultant to the Emir had this description of Kuwaiti society: “The new citizen is content to enjoy a life of leisure and inertia and is unhappy that this happy state of affairs should be disturbed. Protected, pampered, lavishly provided for and accountable

to no one, he lives in a world of make-believe.” (This is a country that actually may need a Republican or two.)

Although I have endeavored to dissuade you from a vacation in Kuwait, I know that some of you intrepid adventure travelers will not heed this good advice, even though it may mean descending into the gates of hell.

So if you are dead set on going there, I can at least give you some information that will make your adventure more pleasant. Do not go in spring, summer, or fall.

Go in the winter, preferably in January when the high temperatures are between 65 and 75 degrees.

Make sure you catch the camel races at the Kuwait Race Club every Saturday. It is a very long race. It is six kilometers. Can you imagine getting a pampered thoroughbred to sprint that far? This is more than twice the distance of the longest Triple Crown track. The Belmont Stakes is 1.5 miles.

Camel racing does have a sordid past.

At one time, camels were ridden by children, some as young as three years old.

These young jockeys were from poor countries like India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and were acquired by camel owners through human traffickers. After years of condemnation by the world community especially the United States, Kuwait passed a law about ten years ago, outlawing underage camel jockeys.

This led to one of the most interesting innovations in the history of camel racing: the robot camel jockey. These “robots” are mostly home-made devices. Pieces of plastic attached to a cordless drill function as a whip and is operated by a garage door opener.

The handlers drive along both sides of the track in cars talking to their camels with walkie-talkies. Camels, cars, and trainers arrive at the finish line in a cloud of dust. This spectacle is worth the price of admission. Did I tell you that admission is free?

As for the rest of your “vacation”…well, did I mention they have robot camel jockeys?

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 9

FILM & TELEVISION

Painting By The Cinematic Numbers

Black Panther entertains, but fails to break new ground

English Punk Meets American Cinema Music and film have had a long history together, taking cameras behind the scenes of some of our favorite and most influential bands. Through the camera’s eye, we get up close and personal with our musical heroes, and often learn far more than we expected.

Such is the case with Wes Orshoski’s seminal 2015 documentary on the influential English punk band The Damned, Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead, which will be shown at the Palace Theater on this Sunday, as part of Justin Savage’s “Sunday Slasher” series.

“I found The Damned’s story to be compelling, how they were always kind of framed as a punk afterthought, when they were in reality one of the founders of the movement,” Orshoski explains. “I thought it would make for a fascinating doc. I knew it was going to be a challenge, and I was up for the challenge.”

The Damned was the first of the UK punk bands to release a single, album and the first to tour America. The film includes appearances from Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones, Lemmy and members of Pink Floyd, Black Flag, Guns N Roses, the Sex Pistols, Blondie, the Buzzcocks, and more.

“Hopefully [the audience] will be entertained, and feel moved by the music, and the story,” says Orshoski. “But also I hope that they learn a thing or two. Hopefully the film goes some way toward correcting the punk narrative which can often sideline or marginalize the band.”

— Gary Poole Don't You Wish That We Were Dead Sunday, 7 p.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com 10 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

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T SEEMS LIKE EVERY THIRD MOVIE I SEE now is somehow Disney related. This isn’t a surprise, really, given that the Mouse owns over 25 percent of the film industry in the U.S. But more than just that, Disney owns the most popular movie franchises in history—Star Wars and Marvel. What this leads to, it seems, is that most of the films released are very similar in tone and structure.

Obviously, a story set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away or one pulled directly from the pages of a comic book are going to be comparable across films. It’s necessary for continuity, not to mention these are heroic stories, new American myths, crowd pleasers that are not going to take risks.

There are some exceptions: last year’s Logan

broke a few molds for comic book storytelling, as did 2016’s sardonic send up Deadpool. But mostly, Marvel films have been very safe. If you listen to reviewers, this week’s Marvel film Black Panther belongs in the mold-breaking category.

To be sure, Black Panther does some interesting things. But it doesn’t quite soar as breathlessly as the Rotten Tomatoes score might suggest. The film is slick adventure, but it’s still a superhero origin story, one that we’ve seen before and will see again.

Black Panther tells the story of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), newly crowned king of the mysterious African country of Wakanda. Known to the rest of the world as a third world state of farmers and poverty, Wakanda is in fact a highly advanced technological society thanks to a meteorite of pure vibranium that crash landed in the region a millennia ago.

This meteorite changed the landscape and al-

FILM & TELEVISION

“To be sure, Black Panther does some interesting things. The film is slick adventure, but it’s still a superhero origin story, one that we’ve seen before and will see again.” lowed the people that lived there an opportunity to advance far more quickly than the rest of the world. It also created what is known as the “heart shaped herb,” a plant that gives Black Panther his powers, as well as his ability to commune with the panther god Bast.

The Black Panther is the protector of Wakanda, charged with guarding her secrets and protecting her borders. If the rest of the world discovers the vibranium, the Wakandan way of life might be threatened.

The story itself focuses on the relationships of the royal family.

Wakanda is not unlike Thor’s homeworld of Asgard—focused on combat and honor, secrets kept by the king, and a good amount of palace intrigue. The crux of the film should focus on the coming of an unknown challenger to the king, but it gets lost some in the mire of overstuffed comic book silliness, and is thus underdeveloped.

The film has many interesting ideas. An African nation very much in control of its own destiny, with more than enough power to destroy potential colonizers and offer aid to other countries is certainly worth exploring. The motivation for Killmonger (sigh), T’Challa’s long lost cousin, is a unique one: he hopes to arm the oppressed people of African descent around the world with Wakandan weapons and overthrow the world order.

However, the audience isn’t given a sufficient amount of backstory, meaning that the villain’s plans ring somewhat hollow. Not to mention, Marvel has been advertising The Avenger’s: Infinity War enough for us to know that Killmonger’s (sigh) plan is fruitless. Black Panther wins because he and the Wakandans are in the next movie. As a result, the film isn’t all that suspenseful—it’s easy to guess where the film goes next.

More interesting than Black

Panther, however, are the supporting characters. Particularly, the supporting women. The Marvel films have moved away from the Jane Foster’s and Pepper Potts’ of the universe and Black Panther features several strong female characters who frankly steal the movie from the titular hero.

Those clamoring for an allfemale Marvel film will likely get their wish, and Okoye (Danai Gurira), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), and Shuri (Letitia Wright) will lead the Wakandan delegation. Each is as formidable as Black Widow and as much fun to watch.

As with all the Marvel films, Black Panther is well-made comic book fare. Some might call it the best Marvel film, which is debatable, but it continues the box office domination, which is all Disney wants.

So, let’s all meet back here in May to discuss the next best Marvel movie ever made.

✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴

Game Night A group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves trying to solve a murder mystery.

Directors: John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein Stars: Rachel McAdams, Jesse Plemons, Jason Bateman, Michael C. Hall

Annihilation A biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition where the laws of nature don't apply.

Director: Alex Garland Stars: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Benedict Wong

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Send your resume and cover letter to: Mike Baskin, Director of Sales mikebaskin@brewermediagroup.com In the subject line, please include: Brewer Sales Position Learn more about us at BrewerMediaGroup.com.

Brewer Media is an equal opportunity employer.

brewer media everywhere. every day.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Money For This Art How do you obtain that first arts grant?

Breaking The Comedy Glass Ceiling It’s no secret that comedy is a male-dominated industry. While high-profile performers like Amy Schumer are shaking up the boys club and bringing visibility to female comics, local stand up scenes are still heavily male.

Chattanoogans Grace Holtz and Natasha Ferrier want to change this.

The duo’s new showcase, “Once A Month,” which opens this Saturday at the Palace Theater, is an all-female performance that brings in comic talent from all over the southeast. The opening night lineup includes Sam Gordon, Jen Lenny, Paige McBride, Laura Peek, Brynne Ruff, and Samm Severin.

Holtz and Ferrier definitely want the audience to leave these shows with “a six pack of abs” from laughing so hard, but that’s not all: “We want the audience to leave with a different outlook on females in comedy. The standup scene is dominated by males, and as female comics, we are used to being booked on shows as the ‘one girl’ or the ‘token female,’ which is such a false representation of how many hilarious women are pursuing comedy.”

A showcase like this one is not just an opportunity to enjoy a fun Saturday night, but also a different way to experience women in comedy. Rather than sandwiching the requisite female between male acts, “Once A Month” allows female comics to define themselves on their own terms. As Holtz and Ferrier say, “They’re not the token female; they’re a comic, and one that everyone is going to love.” — Adrienne Kaufmann Once a Month Comedy Showcase Saturday, 8 p.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. chattapalace.com 12 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Jenn Webster Pulse contributor

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OU WANT TO SHARE YOUR ART—TO create pop-up theater, a neighborhood dance happening, a public mural or installation, a beautifully curated butterfly garden at the corner of a park. But you’re just one person with a shovel or paintbrush. What’s the next step?

Many emerging artists turn to grants to make their work available to the community at large.

This might sound intimidating. Don’t grants go to big organizations such as Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy or Ballet Tennessee?

Sure, but they can go to you and your one-man music studio, too, especially if you have a cunning plan to lift up your community with your work.

There are people in Chattanooga who have your back.

“Our trustees understand artists need to make a living,” says Melanie Silva, adviser with the UNFoundation. Her organization gives small grants

up to $3,000 to projects that make Chattanooga better—art projects included. “We once funded a yoga teacher who asked only for supply money.

She didn’t ask for money for herself. We made sure her grant included funding to pay her, too.”

You + We In Chattanooga, many grant-giving organizations are thinking quite consciously about creating a better city—greener, techier and yes, more creative. To catch their eye, look at your work in relation to the people and spaces around you. What do you have to offer?

Rodney Van Valkenburg, Director of Grants and Initiatives at ArtsBuild, urges new artists to dream big when pursuing a first grant. ArtsBuild funds Community Cultural Connections grants, Van Valkenburg says, which help individuals or small groups “get arts out to as many people in the community as possible.”

You don’t have to be a 501(c)3 organization to obtain these grants of up to $2,000, he says; you do need to align with the program’s mission

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“In Chattanooga, many grant-giving organizations are thinking quite consciously about creating a better city—greener, techier and yes, more creative.” of creating “more arts in more places for more people.”

This is a diversity initiative in a very broad scope of the word, Van Valkenburg explains.

“When we talk about diversity it’s about the diversity of people who benefit, whether a certain section of town, disabilities, age range…we believe everybody should benefit from our great resources in the arts in Chattanooga.”

“In philanthropy, we are making this place where we live a place to be proud of,” Silva says. “Artists create the environment that people want—that they can’t create themselves.”

Silva and Van Valkenburg have similar advice for artists applying for small grants: have a plan in mind, including what you intend to do, who will perform the work, and what will happen as a result of your project.

“Imagine, ‘I’m doing X and because we did X, Y will happen,’” Van Valkenburg illustrates. “[The outcome] could be

students being more engaged, having more appreciation of the arts, a deeper understanding or more skills.”

While a clear vision is important, professional-level writing is not.

“Do the best you can,” Van Valkenburg says. “I encourage you to show [a draft] to somebody else. The good news is we have a panel of two or three community members, so when we get a grant, the person who applies meets with those people and they have a conversation about that project. If it isn’t clear on paper, you have the opportunity to start talking and let them hear your enthusiasm.

They’ll ask questions until they get clarity.”

Such conversations can lead to changes in projects’ scope and design.

“Sometimes we ask for a rewrite to impact more [people],” Silva says.

“We discuss who this will impact, how it will impact,” adds Buddy Shirk, a donor and voting member of the UNFoundation.

“Is this going to make Chattanooga better? It doesn’t matter whether your budget is [the full grant amount] or smaller. We may look at smaller ones if we have extra funds, and we might look at your grant next month if we aren’t able to fund you this month.”

All you have to do is dream.

Then ask.

It's all up to you. So ask.

ArtsBuild’s Community Cultural Connections Rolling deadlines; funding available starting July 1 artsbuild.com/grants-programs/grants (scroll down) UNFoundation Microgrants Applications reviewed and winners chosen monthly theunfoundation.org

THU2.22 Artwise: Jason Foumberg

An in-gallery walking tour of “New Media, New Millennium: Digital Art from the Thoma Foundation”.

6 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. huntermuseum.org

FRI2.23 The Hype is Real: Hip Hop Dance Showcase

Live music, DJ's and dance performances from Skream, Im-age, and B-Wave for a celebration of Hip Hop. 10 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Rd. ziggysbarandgrill.net

SAT2.24 Almost, Maine

Nine intertwined vignettes that ultimately tell a heartwarming story about the people in the mythical town of "Almost, Maine".

2, 7:30 p.m.

The Ringgold Playhouse 155 Depot St. cityofringgoldga.gov

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Creating With Inks

THURSDAY2.22 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 Impact 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 394-8173 cwli.org Energy: How to Bottle It 5:30 p.m.

The Edney 1100 Market St. (423) 661-3300 theedney.com Artwise: Jason Foumberg 6 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Creating With Inks 6 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St.

14 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

(423) 309-3289 mfountainstudio.com Navigate with Map and Compass 6 p.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Freedom Forum Chattanooga 6 p.m.

Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Almost, Maine 7:30 p.m.

The Ringgold Playhouse 155 Depot St. (706) 935-3061

cityofringgoldga.gov Shaun Jones 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m.

Westbound Bar 24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com

FRIDAY2.23 Antiques Show & Sale 10 a.m.

Stratton Hall

ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT Shaun Jones is a true comedian, one of the hottest comics on the comedy scene.

He's been seen on B.E.T’S “Comic View” and Starz “1st Amendment Standup”.

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

3146 Broad St. (423) 667-4332 strattonhall.com Chattanooga Market at Erlanger 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. chattanoogamarket.com Clogging Happy Hour 5:30 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Bouquet Basics: Flower Arranging 101 6 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org PSC’s Spring Season Reception 6:30 p.m.

Gallery at Blackwell 71 Eastgate Loop (423) 344-5643 chattanoogaphoto.org Almost, Maine 7:30 p.m.

The Ringgold Playhouse 155 Depot St. (706) 935-3061 cityofringgoldga.gov Shaun Jones 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

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

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Winter in West Village Nooga! Visit Rock Village 8 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com The Importance of Being Earnest 8 p.m.

Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy. (706) 419-1051 covenant.edu Dearly Departed 8 p.m.

Signal Crest United Methodist Church 1005 Ridgeway Ave. (423) 763-7219 smph.org The Hype is Real: Hip Hop Dance Showcase 10 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Rd. (423) 305-3888 ziggysbarandgrill.net Improv Showdown 10 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SATURDAY2.24 St. Albans Hixson Market 9:30 a.m.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 Antiques Show & Sale 10 a.m.

Stratton Hall 3146 Broad St. (423) 667-4332 strattonhall.com Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Northside Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-1766 Introduction to Copper Plate Etching with Stan Townsend 10 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Vegetable Gardening for Beginners 10 a.m.

Signal Mountain Nursery 1100 Hubbard Rd. (423) 883-3174 signalmtnnursery.com Farmer’s Market 11 a.m.

Nutrition World 6237 Vance Rd. (423) 892-4085 nutritionw.com Terrarium “Make & Take” Workshop

11 a.m.

The Barn Nursery 1801 E. 24th Pl. (423) 698-2276 barnnursery.com Red Wolf Feeding and Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Allison Elkins Artwork and Poetry Reading 2 p.m.

River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com Almost, Maine 2, 7:30 p.m.

The Ringgold Playhouse 155 Depot St. (706) 935-3061 cityofringgoldga.gov The Importance of Being Earnest 2:30 p.m.

Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy. (706) 419-1051 covenant.edu Drinking with Shrubs 4 p.m.

Bees on a Bicycle 1909 Market St. (703) 225-9686 beesonabicycle.com English Country Dance for All! 4 p.m.

Brainerd United Methodist

Church 4315 Brainerd Rd. (423) 698-6951 brainerdumc.org Charity Items Auction 4:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 chattanoogaconventioncenter.org Winter in West Village 6 p.m.

West Village 802 Pine St. westvillagechattanooga.com Ado Leopold: A Standard of Change 7 p.m.

Barking Legs Theatre 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Shaun Jones 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Week in Review 8 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Once a Month Comedy Showcase 8 p.m.

Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR chattapalace.com Improv vs. Standup 10 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SUNDAY2.25 Introduction to Copper Plate Etching with Stan Townsend 10 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Antiques Show & Sale Noon Stratton Hall 3146 Broad St. (423) 667-4332 strattonhall.com A Cruise with Mark Twain 2 p.m.

Southern Belle Riverboat 201 Riverfront Pkwy.

(423) 580-1541 chattanoogariverboat.com Free Fiddle School 2 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Winter Vistas: “The Old Wauhatchie Pike 2 p.m.

Sky Harbor Court 2159 Old Wauhatchie Pike (706) 866-9241 nps.gov/chch God’s Trombones 3 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658 bessiesmithcc.org Artful Meditation: A Personal Mexican Vision and Identity 3:30 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View St. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Shaun Jones 7:30 p.m.

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

The Folklore of Plants with Ray Zimmerman The Damned: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead 8 p.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com

MONDAY2.26 New Year Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m.

Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com The Folklore of Plants with Ray Zimmerman 6 p.m. green|spaces 63 E. Main St. (423) 648-0963 greenspaceschattanooga.org TakeNote Vol. 10: Backstage Pass 6 p.m.

Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. (423) 777-4217 soundcorps.org Divas and Desserts 7 p.m.

Barking Legs Theatre 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Protect Our Federal Lands 7 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Church

16 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

3224 Navajo Dr. (423) 624-2985 uucc.org

TUESDAY2.27 Wake Up & Run 6 a.m.

Fleet Feet Sports 307 Manufacturers Rd. (423) 771-7996 fleetfeetchattanooga.com Northside Farmers’ Market 3 p.m.

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-1766 Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute Tour 4 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute 175 Baylor School Rd. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org English Country Dance for All! 4 p.m.

Heritage House Arts and Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 Mosaic Tile Workshop with Daud Akhriev 6 p.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Spay-Ghetti No Meatballs

Dinner and Silent Auction 6 p.m.

The Church on Main 1601 Rossville Ave. wallysfriends.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Intro To Improv 7 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

WEDNESDAY2.28 Lookout Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Memorial Hospital 2525 Desales Ave. lookoutfarmersmarket.com Middle Eastern Dance 10:30 a.m.

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

522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Bitcoin Meetup 5 p.m.

Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St.

(423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Wonk Wednesdays: Chattanooga Food Incubator 5:30 p.m.

Metro Ideas Project 1216 E. Main St. (423) 405-1119 metroideas.org Get Your Roll On! 6 p.m.

Brainerd Recreational Center 1010 N. Moore Rd. (423) 697-1345 facebook.com/TRRchatt Untold History: A Black History Experience 7 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m.

The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com “Cee-Jay” Jones 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

FOOD & DRINK ∙ DINING OUT

Chattanooga Brewing Company Come taste a bit of history and some really great beer on the Southside

By Brooke Brown

Pulse Assistant Editor

A

S I’M SURE ALL OF OUR BEER lovers know, Chattanooga is becoming an increasingly beer-centric town, and with so many places to stop in for a beer, making a decision on where to go isn’t always easy.

Chattanooga Brewing Company has staked its claim on being one of Chattanooga’s best breweries, and their progress to raise the bar never seems to slow. Known for much more than just their incredible beers, CBC is home to some outstanding dishes for brunch and dinner (and lunch coming soon!) and it’s only getting better.

“We’re changing a lot of things up,” says general manager Ryan Smith. “It started with the beer, and by promoting Jordan Gwin to head brewer, he’s taken over the beer program and stepped everything up.”

High quality taste is the goal in every aspect of Chattanooga Brewing Company, whether it be the beer, scratch-made dishes, or locally-sourced goods from places like Main Street Meats and Bluff View Bakery.

“We get our burger meat from Main Street Meats where they put together a special blend for us,” says Ryan. Between their Chatt Brew Burger and their Tofu Sandwich, it’s easy to tell by a quick mouth-watering peek at the menu that everyone will find something to munch on, be you a carnivore, vegetarian or vegan.

Chattanooga Brewing Company 1804 Chestnut St. (423) 702-9958 www.chattabrew.com

Aside from elevating their already impeccable menu, Chattanooga Brewing Company is revamping their aesthetics as well.

After raising their beer and food game, it’s come time to focus on transforming their space.

The outside will be altered into a German-style beer garden with a quintessential pergola and ivy and wild vines enveloping the space while their upstairs will be redesigned into a classic, English/Irishstyle soccer pub. And what better place to have a Euro-style soccer pub than directly across the street from the home of the Chattanooga Football Club?

“We’ll have a tailgating package coming soon for the CFC,” says head chef Ally Smith when discussing the range of ways to get your hands on Chattanooga Brewing Company’s food.

They cater as well as allow for private parties upstairs with a special event menu handy and ready to whip up. “I always say if you want our food, I’ll get it to you anyway I can.”

That overarching dedication seems to be pouring into every inch of Chattanooga Brewing. Their recently debuted brunch menu is to die for with options of sweet, savory or vegan dishes all perfectly paired with a beer cocktail or a cup of locally-roasted Mad Priest coffee.

“Our coffee nitro stout is the perfect breakfast beer,” says Ally.

The nitro edition of their Big Possum Stout is infused with Zambian

“High quality taste is the goal in every aspect of Chattanooga Brewing Company, whether it be the beer, scratch-made dishes, or locallysourced goods from places like Main Street Meats and Bluff View Bakery.” cold brew from Mad Priest Roasters making it the ultimate pick me up and sit me down company for brunch.

If 11 a.m. is a bit too early for you to pull yourself out of bed, just head over on a weeknight and see what events they have going on.

Come March, Mondays will play host to a 5K run from the brewery led by Ginny Kelly and Wesley Watkins, while Tuesdays will continue to host Brewga, a beer and yoga event for only $10 run by Andi Abode.

Wednesday is their ever-popular

trivia night while Thursday rounds out their weeknight fun with fifty cent wings and dollar off beers.

It’s clear with one bite of the fried cheese curds (everything is better fried, especially cheese) or a sip of their Chestnut Street Brown Ale that Chattanooga Brewing Company’s first priority is quality.

Their attention to detail, sourcing locally, and making everything on the menu one-hundred percent from scratch proves that Chattanooga Brewing Company is quite the contender for Chattanooga’s best brewhouse.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 17

MUSIC

Future Virgins Rock The Past And Present Chattanooga Punk/D.I.Y. mainstay drops new album

Instrospection Meets Upbeat Folk Music John Carroll, a Nashville based musician, is performing at Chattanooga’s Moccasin Bend Brewing Co. this Friday.

His most recent EP, Paper Boats, showcases his uniquely upbeat yet somber and folky habits. An acoustic guitarist with a pop, folk attitude, Carroll proves himself lyrically and musically expansive.

It’s songs like “The Curse”, off his album Songbird, that leave you feeling introspective despite the almost melancholy lyrics. Let me show you. Here’s the last verse of the song: “No empty cask of Holy wine / Nor girl that I’ve since bed / Has kept her ghost from haunting me / After evening prayers are said.”

With lyrics like these, you might notice that your foot is tapping, but your beer is getting salty. If you become lost in the rhythm and style of John Carroll, then you might never realize the greater meaning behind that catchy song.

However, Carrol doesn’t see this as a problem at all, for he says, “music is about connecting with people at whatever level they’re looking to meet you.”

Just imagine if John Mayer, Dave Matthews, and Ed Sheeran were recast with equally intricate hooks, but with sanguine ballads and a confident, regional taste. That’s John Carroll. It is the combination of all these elements which allow his “music to ride that balance of fun, catchy, and meaningful.” — Austin M. Hooks John Carroll Friday, 8 p.m.

Moccasin Bend Brewing Co. 3210 Broad St. bendbrewingbeer.com 18 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Photo by Zach Beiser

By Ernie Paik

Pulse contributor

I

N A PUBLIC FACEBOOK POST, FUTURE Virgins guitarist William “Billy Joe” Johnson wrote that when the band’s new album Doomsday Raga was recorded it seemed cynical, but today, “it’s probably borderline whimsical.”

“I think most of the songs are personal,” said Johnson, following up via email. “But maybe that personal side [is often] born out of the political climate. This record was recorded under Obama and released under Trump, and the shadow is darker and wider now.” “’Ex-Pats’ was not intended to be political, but was about personal alienation,” said guitarist/vocalist Ashley Krey, who wrote the bulk of the songs on Doomsday Raga. “Now it sounds like we want to get out of the U.S.” Similarly, the title track from the group’s third full-length album (not counting last year’s compilation of early material, Dirty Smiles) examines ideas on a personal level, rather than being about a global crisis.

“Doomsday Raga refers to a man(child) bent on

dragging everyone around him into his own pity party,” said Krey. “[It’s] especially tiresome when he is a musician and you have to sit through his songs obsessed with his lack of recognition.”

“I like hearing the promise of growth in lyrics,” said Krey. “It’s a waste of time to dwell on outside accolades and waning musical success when really it’s your choice to live the life of an independent artist.”

The quartet formed in 2006 and quickly became a beloved mainstay of Chattanooga’s punk/D.I.Y. underground, with an invigorating live presence and urgent, hook-laden recordings that capture that energy.

“When the band first formed, Ashley lived in Pensacola, FL. and would make the trip up to Tennessee to practice about once a month,” said drummer Cole Champion.

“He would mail us tapes of songs he had recorded, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar or piano,” said Champion. “We all loved the sound of these demos and would often talk about doing a more stripped-down song on our records, but it just never happened.”

“Friends would often ask for copies, and I think

MUSIC

“I like hearing the promise of growth in lyrics,” said Krey. “It’s a waste of time to dwell on outside accolades and waning musical success when really it’s your choice to live the life of an independent artist.”

Ashley finally dubbed off a handful of tapes of some of his demos a few years back,” said Champion. “That was the main inspiration behind including the acoustic track [‘Old Man Charlemagne.’]”

“I can’t remember if I lost some kind of bet, but against my protests, I performed ‘Old Man Charlemagne,’” said Krey. “It’s a slippery slope to shift gears from an upbeat punk record into a ‘Hey listen to my poetry’ ballad.”

“But in the atmosphere of experimentation, I went with the group decision, and all in all, it worked,” said Krey. “The lyrics go into such untouched topics as life from cradle to the grave, Bildungsroman and childhood being unfair.”

Doomsday Raga is a split release from Let’s Pretend Records (Bloomington, Ind.) and Recess Records (San Pedro, Calif.), available on vinyl and as digital downloads, and it was recorded

brewer media

in October 2014, shortly before Johnson took an extended trip to India and a few months before Champion’s wife accepted a job in Indiana, spurring a family move.

“Getting together has been harder than I originally anticipated and has only happened a couple of times so far,” said Champion. “We are currently planning record release shows in Bloomington and Chattanooga and hope to do more later this year.”

Future Virgins bassist, Mike Pack, also handles recording the group, and the band ended up recording at Pack’s original studio on MLK Blvd., above where the Coin-Op currently is located, which was the group’s first practice space.

Doomsday Raga was engineered with help from local musician Matt Bohannon, mixed with the renowned Athens, GA. engineer David Barbe at Chase Park Transduction and mastered

THU2.22 Lon Eldridge

The Ragtime Raconteur's warm and infectious musicality couples intricate fingerstyle guitar work with clever lyrics.

6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com

by John Golden at Golden Mastering.

“Something not readily obvious about the record is its genesis in a spirit of begrudging compromise,” said Krey. “We were looking ahead to a big change with Cole moving six hours away.”

“After being a group for 10plus years, we had accumulated a good amount of material on the cutting room floor,” said Krey. “Some of the old songs had been favorites in their heyday, but for whatever reason never made it onto records.”

“With such a new chapter approaching, we all opened ourselves to one another’s input and song selection,” said Krey.

“I think the album is better for the trade-offs, back room deals, midnight betrayals and painful years-long disagreements.”

“I got depressed, Ashley got a chorus pedal, Cole moved away and Mike, he didn’t change at all,” said Johnson.

FRI2.23 Shabti & The River Funk

It's a Friday night get-down with two great local bands rocking out the night in MLK's hottest nightspot.

9 p.m.

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

SAT2.24 Danimal

Dan "Danimal" Pinson is a multi-talented musician and songwriter who has entertained and amazed audiences for years.

7:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com

Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits

everywhere. every day.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 19

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Sierra Hull

THURSDAY2.22 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Pete B 6 p.m.

Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com Lon Eldridge 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Prime Country Band 6:30 p.m.

Motley’s 320 Emberson Dr. Ringgold, GA (706) 260-8404 Bluegrass & Country Jam 6:30 p.m.

Grace Church of the Nazarene 6310 Dayton Blvd. chattanoogagrace.com Sierra Hull with Ethan Jodziewicz and Christian Sedelmyer 7 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com The Lysander Piano Trio 7 p.m.

Covenant College 14049 Scenic Hwy

20 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

covenant.edu Toby Hewitt 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic Night with Ryan Oyer 7 p.m.

Moccasin Bend Brewing Co. 3210 Broad St. bendbrewingbeer.com The UTC Faculty Chamber Trio 7:30 p.m.

Roland Hayes Concert Hall 615 McCallie Ave. utc.edu/fine-arts-center 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. publichousechattanooga.com KlusterfunK 8 p.m.

Trip’s Tavern 4762 Hwy. 58 (423) 803-5686 Open Mic Night with

ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT Benefit concert to raise money to help with the purchase of a wheelchair accessible minivan for Jean-Marie Lawrence, with performances from Heatherly, Ryan Oyer, and more.

Hell on Wheels Benefit Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theatre 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org

Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m.

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

FRIDAY2.23 Papa Sway 5 p.m.

Underdogs Bar & Grill 2503 Westside Dr. (423) 485-3873 Binji Varsossa 6 p.m.

Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Hell on Wheels Benefit Concert 6:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theatre 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Shannon McNeal 6:30 p.m.

Cadence Coffee Co. 11 E. 7th St. cadencecoffeeco.com Donna Hopkins 6:30 p.m.

Slick’s Burgers 309 E. Main St. slicksburgers.com Jimmy Dormire 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Tony Lucca Erik Kirkendal 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Tony Lucca 7 p.m.

Memorial Auditorium 339 McCallie Ave. sasmemorial.com Reese & Rosser Band 7 p.m.

OddStory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Abbey Road LIVE! Beatles Tribute 7 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Jocelyn & Chris Ardnt 7 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Tim Lewis 7 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com The Doppelgänger: Music from Vienna 7 p.m.

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. northsidepresbyterian.org Rick Rushing and The Blues Strangers 7:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Blackberry Smoke 8 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com John Carroll 8 p.m.

Moccasin Bend Brewing Co. 3210 Broad St. bendbrewingbeer.com Jonny Lang 8 p.m.

Walker Theatre 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Lucy Isabel 8 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Mark Andrew 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Shabti & The River Funk 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Samuel Morgen, Jesus Wept, Baby Magic 9 p.m.

Frequency Arts 1804 E. Main St. facebook.com/frequencyarts

Wasted Riffs 9:30 p.m.

The Brew & Cue 5017 Rossville Blvd.

(423) 867-9402 The Hype Is Real Hip-Hop/ Dance Showcase 10 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Sullivan Band 10 p.m.

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

SATURDAY2.24 Bluegrass Brunch Noon The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com Slade and Iggy Sean’s Black Shakespeare EP Show 6 p.m.

The Spot 1800 E. Main St. spotvenue.co Binji Varsossa 6 p.m.

Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 John Carroll 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St.

westinchattanooga.com Megan Howard 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Tim Lewis 7 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Battle of Nooga CrossRoads Finals 7 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net John 5 and The Creatures 7 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Danimal 7:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Brandon Green 8 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Lucero 8:30 p.m.

The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Jimmy Dormire 8 p.m.

The Casual Pint CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 21

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR 5550 Hwy. 153 hixson.thecasualpint.com Kyle Nachtigal 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Super Happy Funtime Burlesque Show 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Kara-Ory-Oke 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Olympus and Paradiso 9 p.m.

Frequency Arts 1804 E. Main St. facebook.com/frequencyarts Resinated 9 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Sullivan Band!

10 p.m.

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

SUNDAY2.25 Kyle Nachtigal 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Hannah Thomas 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Monthly Jazz Jam 3 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Bluegrass Jam 4 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775

Resinated Winter Jam 2018!

6 p.m.

McKenzie Arena 720 E. 4th St. utc.edu/mckenzie-arena Ryan Oyer 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Mathis & Martin 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Washed Out 8:30 p.m.

The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Underground Oasis: Serial Killers 9 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net OneTimers Shining Mirrors NY David Dondero Matt 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Sunday Slashers Night with the Ghetto Blasters 10 p.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com

22 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

MONDAY2.26 Open Mic Night 6 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile 8 p.m.

The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Sweet GA Brown, Matthew Paul, Tennessee Tremblers 9 p.m.

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

TUESDAY2.27 Jazzanooga Pop-Up LIVE Sessions 3:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. chattlibrary.org

Russel Dickerson 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. theatrecentre.com Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m.

Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Danimal 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Open Mic Jam Session 7 p.m.

Crust Pizza 3211 Broad St. crustpizza.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Gramatik 8:30 p.m.

The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com

WEDNESDAY2.28 The Other Guys 6 p.m.

SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Old Time Fiddle & Banjo Show

6:30 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Jazz in the Lounge: Vocalist Abigail Flowers 7 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Baritone Jared Hiscock 7:30 p.m.

Ackerman Auditorium 4881 Taylor Cir. southern.edu Blake Morrison 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 Prime Cut Trio 9 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ADAM BECKETT

New Music From Caleb Swift, Josiah Parks

Caleb Swift Memories (calebswiftpianst.bandcamp. com)

T

he captivating sound of Memories, by Chattanooga’s local contemporary composer and pianist, Caleb Swift is a hidden treasure.

Beautiful music comes in many different forms. There is not any one qualification that determines the exquisiteness of individual tunes; beautiful music is beautiful music, regardless of what or who created it.

Often, people spend years of their life trying to create it, yet they fall short because they try to force it into the airwaves. Beautiful music is something that organically

Josiah Parks Light Chasers (josiahparks.bandcamp.com)

comes from within, and gets turned into sound waves by the maestro’s that dedicated their selves to reading, understanding, and composing it.

Music can speak for emotions that cannot be spoken, or put into words. It has the power to capture the creator’s heart and distribute its powerful might into everybody that hears it.

It comes to life, allowing people to feel the raw emotions and heart that was poured into it. That is what makes beautiful music.

It does not matter if it is being created by somebody drumming on a bucket, a

symphony composed of nearly a hundred instruments, or a person sitting in front of a piano; pouring their heart directly into it. If they find a way to use their heart, beautiful music will surly unleash from it.

Memories has all the feels, all the raw emotion, and is entirely composed of beautiful, heartfelt music. I applaud this artist for having the guts to pour his whole self into this album. To sit in front of a piano and expose his feelings and universal talent, while creating exponentially beautiful music, is truly spectacular.

It is hard to pick a favorite piece on the album, while “Farewell”, “Hold You Close”, “Blue Eyed Girl”, and “Photographs” all hold a special place in my heart, the weighty “Childhood Friends” is the standout, delivering endless nostalgic goose bumps.

It's a phenomenal album that’s tapped into pure, beautiful music. Be sure to take time to support this local musical virtuoso, and indulge in Memories.

T

he instrumental style, genre-bending album, Light Chasers, by self-taught local Chattanooga artist Josiah Parks, should be on the radar of music lovers of all types.

This album blends many different genres, but is listed as fusing indie and pop rock, with a twist of dream like sounds.

It is refreshing to hear music that bends the confines of genre labels. It is apparent that on this album, that Parks wanted to do something a little different, to make music that broke traditional music molds; and he nailed it.

The music sounds completely different from anything I have ever heard before.

Where it is its own entity, it has an excellent sound about it. It is catchy, upbeat, spacy, and very well put together. It has an electronic rock and roll vibe, and it is wholly jamming music.

Many instruments were utilized in each individual track, and they all blend perfectly.

Each sound involved in the

songs complement each other in a very tasteful and smooth sounding manner. The artist does a fantastic job of expressing his feelings through music, he found a way to put his heart into it and produce beautiful music of his own.

The entire Light Chasers album is different level music that plowed its way onto the soundtrack of my life, a task not that is not easy to complete. It truly is best listened to in its entirety, without fast-forwarding or skipping songs. It never gets dull, redundant, or boring. It is simply put, stellar music for all occasions.

The floaty and ambient, “Luna” is a standout track, alongside “Astrophe”, “Find our Way”, “Do You Fantasize”, “So Long, Goodnight”, and “Special”; however, the top song on the album is “The Quiet Ones”.

Music is best when it is unadulterated, unasked of, and true to self. Light Chasers is all those things and more. Try something new Chattanooga, support this talented unique young artist.

Follow The Pulse on Facebook (we’re quite likeable) www.facebook.com/chattanoogapulse CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 23

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

The List

to the palace of wisdom.” So is his corollary, “You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough.” But keep in mind that Blake didn’t say, “The road of foolish, reckless exorbitance leads to the palace of wisdom.”

We Have A Lot Of Guns ROB BREZSNY

It's well known that Americans own a lot of guns. A whole lot of guns. To find out just how many, we checked in with the Statistic Brain Research Institute to get the actual numbers.

• Number of Americans who own a gun: 76,000,000 • Average number of guns owned in a gun-owning household: 8 • Average number of guns owned in a gun-owning household in 1994: 4.2 • Number of gun purchase applications in 2015 (last year stats were available): 23,141,970 But what was most interesting is that the percent of gun ownership has stadily dropped over the past forty years.

• Gun ownership household percentage in 1977: 51% • Gun ownership household percentage in 2016: 31% To no surprise, though, the demographic that owned the most guns: the conservative Southern white male, over 50, with a high school education or less.

Source: statisticbrain.com/gunownership-statistics-demographics/

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In her novel The Round House, writer Louise Erdrich reminisces about how hard it was, earlier in her life, to yank out the trees whose roots had grown into the foundation of her family’s house. “How funny, strange, that a thing can grow so powerful even when planted in the wrong place,” she says. Then she adds, “ideas, too.”

Your first assignment in the coming weeks, my dear Pisces, is to make sure that nothing gets planted in the wrong place. Your second assignment is to focus all your intelligence and love on locating the right places for new seeds to be planted.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): When you’re playing poker, a wild card refers to a card that can be used as any card the cardholder wants it to be. If the two of hearts is deemed wild before the game begins, it can be used as an ace of diamonds, jack of clubs, queen of spades, or anything else.

That’s always a good thing! In the game of life, a wild card is the arrival of an unforeseen element that affects the flow of events unpredictably. It might derail your plans, or alter them in ways that are at first inconvenient but ultimately beneficial. It may even cause them to succeed in an even more interesting fashion than you imagined they could. I bring this up, Aries, because I suspect that you’ll be in the Wild Card Season during the next four weeks. Any and all of the above definitions may apply. Be alert for unusual luck.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): If you gorge on ten pounds of chocolate in the next 24 hours, you will get sick.

Please don’t do that. Limit your intake to no more than a pound. Follow a similar policy with any other pleasurable activity. Feel emboldened to surpass your normal dosage, yes, but avoid ridiculous overindulgence.

Now is one of the rare times when visionary artist William Blake’s maxim is applicable: “The road of excess leads

24 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Have you ever had a rousing insight about an action that would improve your life, but then you failed to summon the willpower to actually take that action? Have you resolved to embark on some new behavior that would be good for you, but then found yourself unable to carry it out? Most of us have experienced these frustrations.

The ancient Greeks had a word for it: akrasia. I bring it up, Gemini, because I suspect you may be less susceptible to akrasia in the next four weeks than you have ever been. I bet you will consistently have the courage and command to actually follow through on what your intuition tells you is in your best interests.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): “There is no such thing as a failed experiment,” said inventor Buckminster Fuller, “only experiments with unexpected outcomes.” That’s an excellent guideline for you to keep in mind during the coming weeks. You’re entering a phase of your astrological cycle when questions are more important than answers, when explorations are more essential than discoveries, and when curiosity is more useful than knowledge. There will be minimal value in formulating a definitive concept of success and then trying to achieve it.

You will have more fun and you will learn more by continually redefining success as you wander and ramble.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): During World War II, British code-breakers regularly intercepted and deciphered top-secret radio messages that highranking German soldiers sent to each other. Historians have concluded that these heroes shortened the war by at least two years. I bring this to your attention, Leo, in the hope that it will inspire you. I believe your own metaphorical code-breaking skills will be acute in the coming weeks. You’ll be able to decrypt messages that have different meanings from what they appear to mean. You won’t get fooled by deception and misdirection. This knack will enable you to home in on the elusive truths that are circulating—thus saving you from unnecessary and irrelevant turmoil.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In April 1972, three American astronauts

Homework: Is it possible there’s something you really need but you don’t know what it is?

Can you guess what it might be? Go to Freewillastrology. com and click on “Email Rob.” climbed into a spacecraft and took a trip to the moon and back. On the second day of the 11-day jaunt, pilot Ken Mattingly removed and misplaced his wedding ring. In the zero-gravity conditions, it drifted off and disappeared somewhere in the cabin. Nine days later, on the way home, Mattingly and Charlie Duke did a space walk. When they opened the hatch and slipped outside, they found the wedding ring floating in the blackness of space. Duke was able to grab it and bring it in. I suspect that in the coming weeks, you will recover a lost or missing item in an equally unlikely location, Virgo.

Or perhaps your retrieval will be of a more metaphorical kind: a dream, a friendship, an opportunity.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): According to British philosopher Alain de Botton, “Maturity begins with the capacity to sense and, in good time and without defensiveness, admit to our own craziness.” He says that our humble willingness to be embarrassed by our confusion and mistakes and doubts is key to understanding ourselves. I believe these meditations will be especially useful for you in the coming weeks, Libra. They could lead you to learn and make use of robust new secrets of self-mastery.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): During the next four weeks, there are three activities I suspect you should indulge in at an elevated rate: laughter, dancing, and sex. The astrological omens suggest that these pursuits will bring you even more health benefits than usual. They will not only give your body, mind, and soul the precise exercise they need most; they will also make you smarter and kinder and wilder. Fortunately, the astrological omens also suggest that laughter, dancing, and sex will be even more easily available to you than they normally are.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The little voices in your head may have

laryngitis, but they’re still spouting their cracked advice. Here’s another curiosity: You are extra-attuned to the feelings and thoughts of other people. I’m tempted to speculate that you’re at least temporarily telepathic. There’s a third factor contributing to the riot in your head: People you were close to earlier in your life are showing up to kibitz you in your nightly dreams. In response, I bid you to bark “Enough!” at all these meddlers. You have astrological permission to tell them to pipe down so you can hear yourself think.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Paleontologist Jack Horner says that developmental biologists are halfway toward being able to create a chickenosaurus—a creature that is genetically a blend of a chicken and a dinosaur. This project is conceivable because there’s an evolutionary link between the ancient reptile and the modern bird. Now is a favorable time for you to contemplate metaphorically similar juxtapositions and combinations, Capricorn. For the foreseeable future, you’ll have extra skill and savvy in the art of amalgamation.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Be stubborn about your goals but flexible about your methods.” That’s the message I saw on a woman’s t-shirt today. It’s the best possible advice for you to hear right now. To further drive home the point, I’ll add a quote from productivity consultant David Allen: “Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in mind.” Are you willing to be loyal and true to your high standards, Aquarius, even as you improvise to uphold and fulfill them?

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

THE COMIX

“It’s All Downhill”—make a run for it.

ACROSS 1 Bread that may or may not have seeds 4 Unit of heat energy 9 Copier problems 13 Mall entrance features 15 Cartoon dad who’s had over 100 jobs 16 Musk of SpaceX 17 Poet who excels at short comedy scenes?

19 Queen abandoned

by Aeneas, in myth 20 “Wabbit” hunter Fudd 21 Red or Yalu, e.g.

22 “Ad astra per ___” (Kansas’s motto) 25 Furor 27 Crisis responder, for short 28 Radar reading 29 1950s nostalgia group with a TV show in the 1970s 33 “That’s right!”

34 Just briefly reads the rules to a classic arcade game?

38 Early photo color 40 Reed or Rawls 41 Slovenia neighbor

42 Someone who’s an expert at sliding out?

45 $, for short (well, not really, being three characters) 46 Disregards 47 “There Will Be Blood” actor Paul 48 Many corp. logos 51 A, in Berlin 52 Hockey players, slangily 54 Trail follower 56 Not significant 58 Julia of “Addams Family Values” 59 Request to a supervisor to avoid something?

64 Prefix for present or potent 65 “___ Burr, Sir” (song from “Hamilton”) 66 Days of long ago 67 Ten-speed, e.g.

68 Air freshener brand 69 Predicament DOWN 1 Apt. ad count 2 Hairy Himalayan

beast 3 Prefix for dermis 4 Jim Carrey movie with the catchphrase “Smokin’!”

5 Dig this!

6 Ruler in Abu Dhabi 7 “Can’t Fight This Feeling” band ___ Speedwagon 8 “The A-Team” regular 9 “Star Wars: The Last ___” 10 Still in the game 11 Wi-fi device 12 Derisive sound 14 High-priced 18 35mm camera option 21 Repair, as a loose board 22 Bottomless depth 23 Streamlined 24 Longstocking of kiddie lit 25 Provide coverage for 26 Grammy category division 30 Hotelier Conrad, or his greatgranddaughter Paris 31 Love, in Le Havre

32 Take the stage 34 Reproductive rights pioneer Margaret 35 Palindromic formality 36 On one’s own 37 Stocking stuff 39 Ugandan dictator Amin 43 Indie rocker DiFranco 44 Foolhardy 47 Word after roller or Kentucky 48 Pulsate 49 Home of the Heat 50 Mammal with a defensive spray 53 Hotel room extra 55 Peace Nobelist Wiesel 56 Actress Sorvino in 2016’s “Exposed” 57 Device with the Nano discontinued in 2017 59 Hang down 60 Actor Penn 61 “That’s gotta hurt” 62 ___ Lanka 63 Masters and Johnson research subject

Copyright © 2018 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents perminute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 872 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 25

FOOD & DRINK ∙ SUSHI & BISCUITS

Currying A Kitchen Favor Explaining the difference between curry powder and curry leaves

Mike McKunkin Pulse columnist

S

AY IT WITH ME NOW, “CURRY leaves are not related to curry powder.” Once more, “Curry leaves are not related to curry powder.”

Curry, curry powder, and curry leaves are very often misused and misunderstood, so before we more bring shame upon our family and friends, let’s clear up the confusion around these terms.

Once that’s out of the way you can confidently stroll into your local Indian market, pick up some curry leaves, and enjoy the most wonderfully delicious ingredient you’ve never heard of.

Curry Powder Curry powder is a mixture of spices as varied as the countries and cultures they come from. Most mixtures will typically include turmeric, coriander, fenugreek, cumin, and red pepper. Additional ingredients such as ginger, garlic, asafoetida, fennel seed, caraway, mustard seed, green cardamom, black cardamom, and long pepper are also included in many variations. (notice no chilies).

A masala, however, can be a blend of dry roasted spices, or a paste that may include chilis along with other ingredients such as ginger, onions, and garlic. Garam Masala is an even more specific mixture that can include chilies, turmeric, coriander, malibar leaves, star anise and fennel.

Curry Leaves Curry leaves are one of my culinary secret weapons. Like anchovies, pork fat, or

bay leaves, curry leaves add an extra layer of flavor to a dish without being dominant. But remember, curry leaves do not taste like curry. In fact, many curry mixes don’t even contain curry leaves and if you taste a curry leaf don’t expect it to taste anything like your favorite curry dish—at all.

Curry leaves taste like…well… curry leaves, so if a recipe calls for curry leaves, even Google won’t be able to help you with a substitute. They are bright, deep green and pungent with a distinct flavor of their own and yet are easy to incorporate into dishes.

A typical way to include them in a dish is to fry them in hot oil, then use the flavored oil to cook fish, vegetables, or brush on bread as you would any other herb infused oil.

You can add the leaves at the beginning of cooking, quickly fry in ghee or oil, chop into a dish; or add later in the cooking to give a more subtle flavoring. Like bay leaves (which they kind of look like) curry leaves can be tossed into fish, lamb, and lentil dishes, and vegetable soups.

Chattanooga is incredibly fortunate to have two well stocked Indian markets conveniently located on Lee Highway—India Bazar and Desi Brothers.

Not only do they carry fresh curry leaves in their produce sections but you can also find ingredients such as ghee, dal, asafetida, a wide range of produce, and a huge array of spices at prices that will

26 • THE PULSE • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

make you break up with the McCormick girl immediately.

Here’s one of my favorite recipes using curry leaves to get you started.

Curry Prawns with Coconut Milk • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1/3 lb fresh prawns 2 tbsp coconut oil 2 cups coconut milk 1 chopped tomato 2 to 3 small red onions 2 inch piece of ginger, cut julienne 3 to 4 green chilies, cut julienne 20 - 25 curry leaves 1 tbsp turmeric 1 tsp asofoetida (hing) 1 tbsp ground coriander (dhaniya) 1 tsp fenugreek seeds 1 tbsp fennel seed powder (saunf) 1 tbsp mustard seeds 3 to 4 red chilies 1 tsp black pepper powder salt to taste

Clean the prawns and set aside.

Chop the onion, ginger, tomatoes, chilies and set aside.

Add oil to a karahi or wok on low heat. When the oil is hot, sauté mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, red chilies for a minute to release the oils and flavors!

Now add onion, green chilies and asofoetida. Sauté for a minute more. Add ginger juliennes and sauté for yet another minute.

Now add all spices (turmeric, coriander seed powder, fennel seed powder, cumin seed powder and black pepper powder) and stir together.

Make a little space for the prawns, add them into your empty space and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until they are slightly brown.

Add the chopped tomatoes and cover for 2 minutes.

Stir the coconut milk into the dish and cook until it starts bubbling.

Season with salt and let this cook for another 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat.

Serve hot with rice.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • FEBRUARY 22, 2018 • THE PULSE • 27