The Pulse 15.14 » April 5, 2018

APRIL 5, 2018

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 15, ISSUE 14 • APRIL 5, 2018

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 Adam Beckett Rob Brezsny Janis Hashe Matt Jones Mike McJunkin Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib Michael Thomas Editorial Interns Adrienne Kaufmann Austin M. Hooks Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

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ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin Account Executives Rick Leavell • Cindee McBride Libby Phillips • Danielle Swindell Logan Vandergriff

CONTACT Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Fax 423.266.2335 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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Five Years Of Local Film Festivities For the last five years, the Chattanooga Film Festival has been the best event the city has to offer. While the big events Riverbend continues to roll out of uninspired acts from twenty years ago occasionally please the masses, the CFF has consistently brought films that can’t be found elsewhere, films that challenge and inspire, films that deserve to be seen.

ADDING A BIT OF FIRE TO PUBLIC ART

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ARE YOU READY TO TRAVEL BACK TO THE '80S?

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The Sculpture Fields at Montague Park is a truly remarkable place, and they are hosting their second annual Spring in the Park event this Saturday.

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ANGELS AND DEMONS ENTWINED IN SONG

Listening to the six-member vocal ensemble Heinavanker, you are struck first by how gorgeously the voices blend—“angelic” is not an overstatement.

I wondered if it was on purpose that a movie centered entirely around finding an Easter egg in a video game was released on Easter weekend.

ALEX VOLZ IS IN A STATE OF HIS OWN

Dale Carnegie famously said that a person’s name is the sweetest sound to that person in any language. My high school disciplinary record would suggest otherwise.

5 CONSIDER THIS

18 MUSIC CALENDAR

21 JONESIN' CROSSWORD

9 SHRINK RAP

20 MUSIC REVIEWS

22 SUSHI & BISCUITS

12 ARTS CALENDAR

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BEGINNINGS · CITY LIFE

Adding A Bit Of Fire To Public Art Spring In The Park gets fired up at the Sculpture Fields this Saturday

By Adam Beckett Pulse contributor

T

HE SCULPTURE FIELDS AT MONTAGUE PARK IS A TRULY remarkable place, and they are hosting their second annual Spring in the Park event this Saturday. With something for everybody, and a day full of activities planned, this event should be marked on the calendar of every Chattanoogan who is looking for some excitement.

“

This magical event will be fun for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Don’t miss out on the energy, the electricity, the excitement, or the monumental sculpture burn.”

Visiting the thirty-three-acre International Sculpture Park on a regular day, without a planned event taking place, is rewarding on its own.

The outdoor art museum is open to the public free of admission, seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset.

It is an inspiring, soul satisfying place, and it is highly recommended for people from all walks of life to go spend some time any day of the week.

The enchanted grounds have much to offer from an artistic, aesthetic, and centering standpoint; there are not

many places like it in the world. It is a glorious place to go explore, and marvel at the exquisite artwork.

Since the Sculpture Fields opened nearly two years ago, on April 8th, 2016, the exhibit has been doing a great job of hosting events that center around the arts and entertainment community, as well as tying the community together with activities and happenings that draw together likeminded groups and people around the community.

Some of the events that have been hosted at the Sculpture Fields, were the Party in the Park event (live DJ Dance Party), Sculpture in the Sky– Kite Day, Eastside Block Party as part of Mainx24, Giving Tuesday–Global Giving Movement, family events, art exhibitions, yoga events, and sculpture burns.

Last year was the inaugural year of Spring in the Park featuring the magnificent Sculpture Burn by artist Andrew Nigh, and it was an incredible event.

The buzz around town that ripped through Chattanooga like wildfire after the event certainly put it on the map as a premier local event.

Andrew Nigh has been designing and creating his “pyrokinetic” outdoor sculptures for over fifteen years.

As the Tennessee Representative for the nationally acclaimed Burning Man

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Festival in Nevada, his skills have blossomed as a result.

The sculptures that he creates are designed to inspire emotional interaction with the viewers. His transformational artwork shines by day as a glorious sculpture, and glows by night as he lights it up for the mesmerized eyes.

According to the Sculpture Fields, “The monumental thirty-foot wooden sculpture Nigh is creating for this year’s event is titled Aster Origamus, and will have five structurally angled stanchions, with protruding petals. When lit, the towering sculpture will come to life as the fire reaches each petalunfolding as though it is blossoming.

At the same time various other flame enchanting effects will provide kinetic movement.

This year the event is expected to draw an even bigger crowd, and the Sculpture Fields have added some flair

to entice people to come make a whole day out of it.

This year Spring in the Park will have Dance on Party Everywhere Silent Disco’s providing an all-day dance party, Chattanooga’s Fire Cabaret spinning fire/dancing with fire, Plein Air Artists, Chattanooga Aerials, live music, food trucks, a beer tent, artists creating paintings and drawings outdoors, a children’s area, DJ Birdmaster Kevin, Acro Yoga, a lazer light show, and the colossal sculpture burn.

This magical event will be fun for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Don’t miss out on the energy, the electricity, the excitement, or the monumental sculpture burn. Chattanooga is fortunate to be the home for the acclaimed Sculpture Fields at Montague Park, lets show them our gratitude and support by packing out their grounds on this special day.

Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick

“May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.”

— Irish Blessing

Rolling Into Springtime The Chattanooga Roller Girls kick off a new season With the combination of athleticism, competition, strong personalities, and pure fun, it’s hard to beat a visit to the roller derby. If you’ve never heard of the derby before, you’ve been missing out.

The competition itself is entertaining, with teams trying to score by lapping each other around the roller track, but the roller derby experience offers a lot more than that. Most bouts involve a good bit of trash talking, crazy costumes, and maybe

even a wipeout or two.

Chattanooga’s hometown team, The Chattanooga Roller Girls, are rolling into their new season this Saturday in an event that’s sure to impress. The derby is a double header, with two bouts against competitors from Nashville—the Nashville Brawl Stars and the Nashville All-Stars.

The double header will also benefit Chattanooga’s first junior roller derby league, the Ruby Regulators.

The Rubies will demonstrate their

skills at half time, giving the audience a great chance to get to know them.

So whether you’re a longtime roller derby fan or just a curious newcomer, this season opener is a must-see.

The event will take place at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Doors open at 4 p.m. with the first bout starting at 5 p.m. Get tickets online at chattanoogarollergirls. com. — Adrienne Kaufmann

I’m not Irish. I didn’t wear green on this recent St. Patty’s Day. I completely forgot about green beer at the pubs. Darn it. But I will say this: The Irish have some beautiful blessings, and most were born from sorrow, pain and tough times.

A friend sent me the above quote, and it got me thinking about how we ourselves can be a source of happiness as we pass through a door. A beautiful Zen philosophy holds that how we enter a room can be a blessing for all who are present. Do we enter with a light heart and a smile, ready to be truly there, available for connection, for relationship?

Mother Teresa suggested that we let no one leave our presence without being the better for it. Something to consider.

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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COVER STORY

Five Years Of Local Film Festivities The Chattanooga Film Festival returns, bigger and better than ever

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

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OR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE CHATTANOOGA FILM Festival has been the best event the city has to offer. While the big events Riverbend continues to roll out of uninspired acts from twenty years ago occasionally please the masses, the CFF has consistently brought films that can’t be found elsewhere, films that challenge and inspire, films that deserve to be seen.

Better still, the festival often brings the filmmakers, which allows attendees to spend time interacting with artists on a personal level in a way that can’t be found elsewhere in the region.

From an appreciation perspective, from an educational perspective, from an entertainment perspective, the events of the Chattanooga Film Festival cannot be matched.

The fifth anniversary brings a few changes (moving the location of the festival to the Chattanooga Theater Center being the biggest) but what stays the same is the quality of the curation, the presence of working filmmakers, and, of course, Joe Bob Briggs.

Whether you’re a VIP Badge holder or simply want to see a few movies, the CFF makes the first week of April the best time of the year.

Every year, I select my route through the festival, giving advice on what to see and how to see it. Every year, I abandon my plan after seeing the first film and wander through the rest of the festival blindly.

There’s no wrong way to enjoy the CFF, and even the best of plans fall to the wayside as the weekend goes on.

There’s no way to schedule the events so that you can see everything—so there’s no reason to try. Some events I suggest will likely happen at the same time as other events—you’ll have to weigh which ones fit your style.

Whatever you choose, you’ll be right.

All of the events are can’t miss, so you might as well spend as much time as you can at the festival.

My recommendations, though, are as follows.

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THE MOVIES ▪ Lowlife is billed as a “darkly comic, sublimely cinematic, and strangely heartwarming crime tale that explodes off the screen like a Molotov cocktail.” Lowlife has a lot of buzz both online and at the festival. Recommended strongly by festival director Christ Dortch himself, this is a film that is required viewing for the CFF. ▪ The Devil And Father Amorth is a documentary by director of The Exorcist William Freidkin, and follows Father Gabriele Amorth , an Italian Roman Catholic priest as he performs his ninth exorcism on an Italian woman. It’s a film that allows you to peel back the curtain of fiction and see the disturbing reality of the practice.

▪ RBG is a documentary that details the life and work of legendary Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. The film paints an intimate portrait of this American hero, highlighting just how important she is in light of the current political climate.

▪ The Last Movie Star is a film about “an aging, former movie star, portrayed by Burt Reynolds, being forced to face the reality that his glory days

are behind him.” While it might not be a wholly new story, every story is a retelling of something, and The Last Movie Star shows that path we all eventually take.

▪ Wolfman’s Got Nards is “a heartfelt documentary” that “explores the power of cult film told through the 1987 classic The Monster Squad and the impact it has on fans, cast and crew, and the industry.”

▪ One Sings, The Other Doesn’t is a 1977 French film as timely and necessary as ever. Billed as a “feminist musical about the bond of sisterhood…throughout years of changes and fraught relationships with men,” this is a unique opportunity to see a piece of film history. The CFF hasn’t had many musicals—don’t miss this one.

▪ The History of Exploitation Cinema: If you only go to one event at the CFF this year, make it a lecture by Joe Bob Briggs. Every year, his talks are hysterical, enlightening, and fascinating. Go see him. You won’t regret it.

▪ Hot Summer Nights, is “a charming coming of age drama set during a summer at Cape Cod” starring Timothée Chalamet, of Call Me By Your

Name and Lady Bird fame. This film has yet to be released wide, so now’s your chance to see the film before everyone else does.

▪ Borley Rectory is an “animated documentary chronicling what came to be known as “the most haunted house in England.” Beyond just my interest in an animated documentary, this film highlights the career of one of the most famous paranormal investigators in history.

▪ The Power Of Glove is “the true tale of the rise and fall of Nintendo’s Power Glove in the 1980s.” Everyone wanted a Power Glove when I was a kid.

While I never had one, I was envious on anyone that did, even though I was never clear on exactly how it worked.

Hopefully, this documentary will help me understand the finer points of NES gaming.

▪ To Hell And Back: The Kane Hodder Story is a documentary film about genre film star (and man beneath that Jason mask) Kane Hodder, which “traces his struggle to overcome a dehumanizing childhood and endless bullying, to his rise in becoming one of the true living legends of horror and genre cinema.”

▪ The Endless is called “one of the most incredible and mind-boggling films you’ll see this year,” and was previously screened during last year’s Frightening Ass Film Festival. According to festival organizers, “during CFF you’ll have the chance to catch a spe-

cial encore screening for free, but… there’s a catch; you’re going to need to join a cult to attend. Start doing your homework for this screening now at ourmultiversesavior.org.” I’m pretty sure I’ve done worse things for less.

▪ I Kill Giants is one of the closing night films of CFF and is called a “crowd-pleasing powerhouse fantasy brought to life by the producers of the Harry Potter films.” It’s based on a graphic novel of the same name and carries with it themes of escapism and fantasy.

According to festival organizers: “There is no better sendoff to CFF’s fifth anniversary than this film. If you could hug a movie, you would want to start with this one.”

THE WORKSHOPS ▪ “Socio-Political Themes In Horror Film” is a workshop discussion exploring the similarities between films like Get Out, Night of the Living Dead, They Live, and The Stepford Wives. Led by filmmaker and journalist Izzy Lee, this workshop discuss how horror films have “used the medium to explore subversive elements of society. “ According to festival organizers, “Izzy is an alumna of CFF 2017 (For A Good Time, Call...) and FAFF 2017 (the Rondo-nominated Rites of Vengeance), and her short film My Monster will play CFF 2018. She’s a writer, filmmaker, and journalist for Birth.Movies.Death., Rue Morgue, and Diabolique, as well

as an editor for ScreenAnarchy.”

▪ “Building Character: Crafting 3D Characters In A 2D Medium” is another workshop meant to explore the “simple mechanics that make up a well-designed, fully fleshed-out character.” Character building is likely the hardest part of writing in the narrative form. How to write real, interesting people is crucial to good storytelling.

The workshop is led by C. Robert Cargill, a “former film critic turned screenwriter (Sinister, Marvel’s Doctor Strange, Locke and Key) and author (“Sea of Rust: A Novel, Dreams and Shadow”’).

THE SHORTS ▪ My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes: For whatever reasons, we never know our parents as well as we’d like. There will always be a distance, some missing time, or simple selfishness that keeps up from seeing the complete person.

Filmmaker Charlie Tyrell explores these ideas in this short, a “touching documentary” where the filmmaker hopes to gain “a better understanding of his deceased father through his personal effects—including a stash of VHS pornography tapes.”

▪ Aim Center Shorts: The AIM Center started my journey into education when I worked there as an AmeriCorps member in my mid-twenties. That these films are being shown at the CFF is nothing short of heartwarming. The shorts are “a compilation of 12 stop-motion

animations created by members of the AIM Center under the direction of artist Judith Mogul and videographer Trey Forbes.

AIM is a center for psychiatric rehabilitation located in Chattanooga, Tenn. Using cutout paper in the style of filmmaker Lotte Reiniger, members manipulated their created forms to tell intimate, humorous and often poignant stories. [They] provide moving insight into the minds, hearts and souls of people living with mental illness.”

As always, the Chattanooga Film Festival is what you make of it. I attend all of these events. I may attend just one or two before finding a new path through the weekend. What’s important is that you take in something.

Chattanooga is extremely lucky to have such a well-managed, well-curated, professional festival. Most cities the size of Chattanooga couldn’t hope to come close. If we want this event to continue, and believe me, we do, makes sure to see as many events as you can.

Support local film.

Our own resident film critic John DeVore has spent a significant portion of his life in dark theaters. From an early age, he was drawn to strong storytelling brought to life through the magic of the silver screen.

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COLUMN · SHRINK RAP

Hello, Gorgeous!

Accessing our inner beauty through joyous moments

O Dr. Rick

Pulse contributor

“

Whether you’re a churchgoer, meditator, or tree-hugger, it’s important to develop your spiritual side, which brings a sense of greater connection and peace into your life.

Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, minister, and educator in private practice in Chattanooga. Contact him at DrRPH.com, visit his wellness center at WellNestChattanooga.com

VER THE YEARS, REGULAR Shrink-Rappers got to know my wonderful furry companion, Betty Lou, a truly delightful bundle of smart, goofy, entertaining energy.

You may also know that, after being my faithful shadow for 14 years, Betty crossed the Rainbow Bridge about a year ago. Just before that part of her journey, a frightened, malnourished rescue pup entered our lives and, after a few months of integration—read chewed slippers, wet spots on the rug, and narrow escapes under the fence— the new bundle of energy, dubbed Lily Pad, took some of Betty’s teachings to heart and has become every bit as fun, mischievous and intelligent as her wise predecessor.

Lily’s a great guard dog, but secretly loves everyone she meets. She’s chubbed up, her confidence is strong, and she’ll hold up her end of an argument with dogs ten times her size. Put succinctly, it’s never dull around here.

Once again.

I tell you this to point out that between long walks, long naps, tug-of-war, and belly-rubs, the good feelings of being the human to an unconditionally loving dog has brought back a certain kind of “feel good.” And while I know she’s lovin’ it too, I can’t help but think that I am the main recipient of all this goofy, on-going happiness.

Why is feeling good so important? Because it helps make us beautiful on the inside. Which of course, radiates outward to all we meet. We’re in a better place, and the world becomes a better place. For me, enjoying Lily accomplishes this.

But there are many activities that can increase our good feelings. Some, like

exercise, bring a rush of endorphins. Some come from quiet times with a good book, a good glass of wine or cup of tea, or a long conversation with a dear friend. What’s important is that you find for yourself that which strengthens your self-esteem, radiates your inner beauty.

Here are five primary areas of life to ponder to spark this process of feeling good: 1. Freud suggested that love and work are what we all need. So, how is your love life? Are you happily involved? Happily single? Or is there something about the types of guys/gals you attract that needs your attention?

2. How is your work life? Do you look forward to waking up every morning with a sense of purpose? Or are you unhappy with your current profession?

You’re the only one who can set your path in a new direction.

3. How balanced is your life? Are you a workaholic with few outside pleasures, little time with friends and family? Or do you strike a balance between work, love, fun and time for yourself? Healthy balance is correlated with avoiding burnout, depression, and feeling overwhelmed.

4. How are your relationships with friends? It’s a sure-fire sabotage of your relationship with your partner to expect him or her to be your everything. And so we have friends. A full, happy life includes rewarding friendships.

5. Are you in touch with your mind/ body/spirit connection? Questions to ask are: How is your physical self; do

you make time to exercise, even if just a romp with your pup? Are you keeping your mind sharp with stimulating conversations and good reading? What about the state of your spirituality? Whether you’re a church-goer, meditator, or treehugger, it’s important to develop your spiritual side, which brings a sense of greater connection and peace into your life.

Your priorities are up to you. You can choose a week that brings you happiness, a day that brings you joy, an hour that soothes the soul, a minute to exhale and smile. Sit with gratitude. Give yourself golden moments of quiet and contemplation. And with this self-care, you’ll find that you’ll begin to de-stress and have more moments where you feel good, and good about yourself.

Betty Lou—and now Lily Pad—have taught me valuable lessons about the importance of feeling good about your life, and good about yourself. About inner beauty and abundant joy. And for that, Lily can have all the belly-rubs she wants.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Muralists In The Streets Over the past few years, Chattanooga’s streets have transformed as beautiful, powerful murals have been painted onto many buildings. From simple patterns of colorful shapes to complex depictions of people and places, each of these works of public art has changed the look of the city and the daily life if its residents.

This Sunday, the artist SEVEN, a Chattanooga native and muralist, is giving Chattanoogans the opportunity to participate in this artistic process. The Burnin’ Bridges Mural Jam Episode #3 will bring “an extremely diverse group of over twenty-five professional mural artists from all around the country ready to descend on Chattanooga and work their art magic for the Alton Park community.”

The mural painting event will take place in the Alton Park neighborhood on Oakland Avenue (located between W. 43rd. St. and 45th St.) Though SEVEN is behind many of the impressive murals currently on display in the city, this will be his largest installment yet.

The event will also offer free refreshments and surprise gift bags, along with the opportunity to meet the artists as they transform the look of Oakland Avenue. It will last from 2 to 4 p.m., and admission is free.

— Adrienne Kaufmann

Angels And Demons Entwined In Song Estonia’s Heinavanker is a can’t-miss at St. Paul’s

By Janis Hashe Pulse contributor

“

In the midst of this, music arises. Both a snide demon and a praying angel are trying to get the musicians under their domain of influence.”

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L

ISTENING TO THE SIX-MEMBER VOCAL ENSEMBLE Heinavanker, you are struck first by how gorgeously the voices blend—“angelic” is not an overstatement. Second, you are awed that only six voices can create so much musical power. You’ll have a chance to experience this magic for yourself when the Estonian group visits Chattanooga on Tuesday for a concert at St. Paul’s downtown.

We’re fortunate indeed to host Heinavanker—the group will be coming straight from Washington D.C. after performing at the National Gallery of Art, and in fall 2019, they will perform at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Since 1996, the group, under the direction of composer Margo Kõlar has delved into early sacred music, Estonian traditions and what they describe as “contemporary imagi-

nation.” Ancient Estonian runic songs and folk hymns are an important part of the repertoire.

The name “Heinavanker,” which means, “hay wain” in Estonian, has an interesting story of its own.

Those familiar with the odd and compelling work of Hieronymos Bosch (1453-1516) might know his “Haywain Triptych.” A huge stack of hay rolls “through a land laboring in acquisitiveness towards destruc-

tion,” the group’s materials explain.

“In the midst of this, music arises.

Both a snide demon and a praying angel are trying to get the musicians under their domain of influence.” And that’s where the group’s name comes from—make of it what you will.

Founder Kõlar was able to answer some questions via email from Estonia: The Pulse: What is the musical background of members of the group?

Margo Kõlar: The members of Heinavanker graduated from Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre as composers, choir conductors, and instrumentalists. The heart of the group started singing together 30 years ago.

While rooted in liturgical chant and Renaissance polyphony, the group’s repertoire makes room as well for vitalizing arrangements of early Estonian folk hymns and runic songs and sacred works by contemporaries such as Arvo Pärt, Cyrillus Kreek and myself.

TP: What drew all of you to this kind of music?

MK: We all are interested in making meaning in that kind of music where our ancestors’ animistic and Christian world views were merging. It’s the best music to describe our world.

We share common interest in the early sacred music and in the roots of Estonian music. The point is how to use

the knowledge of olden times in the pattern of modern times.

TP: How is your music chosen?

Where do you find it?

MK: It’s true that you can’t purchase this kind of music from a bookshop! One must work in archives and study manuscripts. And you must transcribe, edit, arrange and compose the material.

TP: One website refers to your “half improvised” arrangements. Can you explain a little more about that?

MK: Estonian folk hymns originated as a product of the religious renewal of the rural population. Most of the texts are from the Lutheran hymnal.

However, the melodies are developed until they are nearly unrecognizable, and are often ingeniously adorned.

The half-improvised arrangements of these songs resonate as an accomplishment of the whole ensemble.

These songs come mainly from an oral tradition, and therefore require a certain amount of improvisation in performance.

TP: What is meant by “pre-Christian

runic song”? Will examples of this be sung in the Chattanooga concert?

MK: We can proudly mention the archaic runic songs (songs in the poetic metre of regivärss), which are unique to Estonians and other FinnoUgric peoples. The oral tradition of runic songs has, according to scholars, been alive for thousands of years, and currently seems to be undergoing a revival.

Thanks to the Estonian national awakening in the second half of the 19th century, these songs were gathered into what is now one of the world’s largest corpus of folklore. The rich, colorful and imaginative texts are a welcome supplement to the scarce knowledge we have about our ancient history. And yes, we’ll sing some runic songs in Chattanooga as well!

Program notes state: “The second half of the concert offers a unique glimpse into the ancient runic song tradition: Margo Kõlar’s “The Songs of Olden Times”—a cycle based on runic songs, enables a trip into the world of our ancestors.

“Ancient Songs, Chants and Hymns: Celebrating the 100th Year of Estonian Independence” 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 10 St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 305 W. 7th Street (downtown) $30 reserved section, $20 general, $15 seniors, $10 students (423) 266-8195, stpaulschatt.org

THU4.5

FRI4.6

SAT4.7

Jermaine “FunnyMaine” Johnson

Art Throw Down Family Feud

Paths to Pints 10K

Radio personality & internet superstar from Birmingham, AL. 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com

Three very accomplished artists will each create a portrait from a live model in this three-hour demonstration.

6 p.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. townsendatelier.com

Celebrate the first anniversary of The Tap House and the opening of The Brew Market & Beer Garden.

8:30 a.m.

The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Above the Valley: Ron Lowery’s Aerial Photographs

THURSDAY4.5 Chattanooga Film Festival 5 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecenter.com Taste 5 p.m.

Stratton Hall 3146 Broad St. tastechatt.com Open Studio Nights: Spring is in the Air 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Art + Issues: Technology and Society 6 p.m.

Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View St. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Jermaine “FunnyMaine” Johnson 7:30 p.m.

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

FRIDAY4.6 Spring Plant Sale & Festival 9 a.m.

Crabtree Farms 1000 E. 30th St.

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(423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org Chattanooga Market at Erlanger 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. chattanoogamarket.com Chattanooga Film Festival 11 a.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecenter.com Above the Valley: Ron Lowery’s Aerial Photographs 5 p.m.

In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com An Artist and Her Visions of Art 5 p.m.

Reflections Gallery 6922 Lee Hwy. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com Art Throw Down Family Feud 6 p.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com April Artists Reception 6:30 p.m.

River Gallery 400 E. 2nd St. (423) 265-5033 river-gallery.com Rodney Carrington 7 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre

709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Jermaine “FunnyMaine” Johnson 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Nooga! Visit Rock Village 8 p.m.

First Draft Theater 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Week in Review 10 p.m.

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

SATURDAY4.7 Paths to Pints 10K 8:30 a.m.

The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com St. Albans Hixson Market 9:30 a.m.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 publicmarkets.us Brainerd Farmers Market

10 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Painting and Drawing with Daud Akhriev 10 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Art in Bloom Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Farmer’s Market 11 a.m.

Nutrition World 6237 Vance Rd. (423) 892-4085 nutritionw.com Cat Scratch Fever: A Drag Brunch 11 a.m.

Loveman’s On Market 800 Market St. thealicefund.org Spring in the Park ft.

Sculpture Burn 11 a.m.

Sculpture Fields 1800 Polk St. (423) 266-7288 sculpturefields.org Chattanooga Art Tour 1 p.m.

Bluff View Art District 411 E. 2nd St. (423) 290-2477 newsouthtourco.com Chattanooga Roller Girls 2018 Season Opener

Painting and Drawing with Daud Akhriev 4 p.m.

1150 Carter St. chattanoogarollergirls.com Spring in West Village 6 p.m.

West Village 802 Pine St. westvillagechattanooga.com Jermaine “FunnyMaine” Johnson 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 Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m.

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

SUNDAY4.8 Painting and Drawing with Daud Akhriev 10 a.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com Chattanooga Film Festival 11 a.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Center 400 River St. (423) 267-8534

Pollinator Palooza Noon Crabtree Farms 1000 E. 30th St. (423) 493-9155 crabtreefarms.org Burnin’ Bridges Mural Jam 1 p.m.

Oakland Ave. (423) 402-0452 jazzanooga.org Hunter Student Symposium: Foreign Exchange 1 p.m.

Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View St. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Mid-South Symphonic Band Spring Concert 3 p.m.

Volkswagen Conference Center 8001 Volkswagen Dr. midsouthsymphonicband.com Southern Adventist University Wind Symphony 7:30 p.m.

Collegedale Church of Seventhday Adventists 4829 College Dr. E. (423) 396-2134 collegedalechurch.com

MONDAY4.9 Gouache for Journaling and Handlettering 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com

Spring Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m.

Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Palette Knife Painting with Mia Bergeron 6 p.m.

Townsend Atelier 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendatelier.com

TUESDAY4.10 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 Introduction to Acting 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com Tuesday Night Chess Club

6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com

WEDNESDAY4.11 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 UnBought & UnBossed Awards 11:30 a.m.

Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 624-4757 girlsincofchatt.org Main Street Market 4 p.m.

522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m.

The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 13

FILM & TELEVISION

Grease Is Still The Word It may be hard to believe, but Grease is turning 40 this year. It was a Broadway smash that became a cultural sensation on the big screen and cemented the stardom of both John Travolta and Oliva Newton-John.

Head back to high school with the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies (and try to ignore the fact that a bunch of actors well into their 20’s and 30’s were portraying teenagers) and sing along with all your favorites.

Sure, some of the songs may cause a bit of a, “Wow...that’s a touch misogynistic” reaction to modern ears (a certain scene centered around restoring an old car comes to mind). And let’s not even get into the central theme of the film: that a good girl needs to go “bad” in order to get her man.

No, we can save the cultural critiques for another time. What we can celebrate is a raucous musical romp through some great ‘50s and ‘60s style songs. And this 40th Anniversary event includes exclusive commentary from TCM hosts that will give lots of insight into the film and how it affected moviegoers four decades ago.

So roll up the sleeves on your white T-shirts or dress out in your best pink ensemble and journey back to a time when Grease was indeed the word.

Plays Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at both the East Ridge 18 and Hamilton Place 8 theaters. — Michael Thomas

Are You Ready To Travel Back To The '80s?

Ready Player One tries hard to find an audience

By Brooke Brown Pulse Assistant Editor

“

Despite the fact that the audience is a bit hazy, Ready Player One has an awful lot to say about humanity’s current obsession with screens.”

14 • THE PULSE • APRIL 5, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

I

WONDERED IF IT WAS ON PURPOSE THAT A MOVIE centered entirely around finding an Easter egg in a video game was released on Easter weekend. Maybe the production company (or whoever makes release date decisions) thought, “Kids will love the irony!”

Except kids don’t know what irony is, they don’t understand any of the pop culture references in this film, and their parents didn’t take them to see it anyway.

Ready Player One, to me, was fantastic, but it seems a very slim age group will have understood and enjoyed two hours of nostalgic pop culture references, video game character cameos and a young, slightly underdeveloped cast.

The film is based on the Best-Selling book by Ernest Cline and follows

the quest of Wade Watts (also known by his gamertag “Parzival”) as he and his friends try to find the Easter egg hidden in the world’s favorite virtual reality escape, the Oasis.

See, in 2044 the real world sucks.

More people than ever are living in poverty due to an international energy crisis, some even working their lives away in virtual reality style chain gangs to repay real world debt. Our protagonist Wade is no different and lives in Cleveland, Ohio in what is known as “The Stacks”, which is a

“

Ready Player One, to me, was fantastic, but it seems a very slim age group will have understood and enjoyed two hours of nostalgic pop culture references, video game character cameos and a young, slightly underdeveloped cast.” neighborhood of trailer homes stacked twenty trailers high.

He, and everyone else in the world, fill their days escaping into the Oasis, a virtual reality video game world where you can be anyone or anything and do anything, anywhere just by placing a visor over your eyes.

Play live-action Halo in a haptic bodysuit that allows you to feel every shot you take, participate in coinbuilding slasher games, or take a quick trip to the vacation planet, where you can lay on the beach, snow ski, or climb Mount Everest… with Batman.

But the Oasis isn’t just an escape, but a world of opportunity for the one lucky individual, or clan of gamers who’ve banded together in the hunt, who can find the Oasis’ creator James Halliday’s Easter egg. After his death rocks the world, Halliday announces in his will to the public that he has hidden an Easter egg in the game and whoever finds it will inherit his entire fortune and control of the Oasis.

Ready Player One did well at the box office, raking in $41.2 million in the three-day opening weekend here in the states and pulling $128 million overseas, proving that Steven Spielberg can still pull off a blockbuster hit, ten years after his last box office boom in 2008 with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

This film does so many things right.

The casting of Tye Sheridan as Parzival and Olivia Cooke as Art3mis was a

solid choice, especially putting Cooke at the helm of such a badass feminine character. Sheridan is easy to root for, whether he’s portraying Wade, the quiet kid who lives with his unfit aunt, or trying to crack Halliday’s clues in the Oasis. The supporting cast was a bit lackluster, but all young so there’s hope for them yet.

My only issue with the film is that it seems the audience that it was made for is unclear to just about everybody.

To say this film is brimming with pop culture references is an understatement.

It’d be better to say, this film is made up entirely of pop culture references, the majority of them being references to Halliday’s childhood obsession with the ‘80s and ‘90s, and therefore alienating everyone under the age of 25.

People my age and older are the ones who will find the pop culture laden script nostalgic and enjoyable, but children, if they’re even brought to this movie by their parents, won’t have a clue what the DeLorean is, who Bill and Ted are, or what the hell Adventure for Atari is.

Despite the fact that the audience is a bit hazy, Ready Player One has an awful lot to say about humanity’s current obsession with screens, video games, and pursuing virtual reality.

Let’s just hope that as we get closer to escaping into a virtual world, we don’t forget to take care of the real one we actually live in.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 15

THE MUSIC SCENE

From Krispy Kreme To Froggy Fresh Rapper Froggy Fresh, formerly known as Krispy Kreme, is still hot and on tour. Performing at Songbird Stages this Thursday, Froggy Fresh is a hip-hop based musician, originally from Michigan, by the name of Tyler Stephen Cassidy.

He came to fame after his music video, “The Baddest”, was uploaded to YouTube back on April 20, 2012. His Southern sounding accent stuck out as a defining feature of Cassidy’s music. At the time, he became an internet sensation and even made an appearance on Tosh.0 as a web redemption.

Cassidy works closely with his best friend, Money Maker Mike, who’s involvement is so great one could consider this a duo rap group. The two have praised the works of Tupac Shakur and even commemorated him in their song, “Best Friends.”

Their performances can be rather theatrical. Including back flips, insane projections, and a meet and greet that will probably involve Froggy Fresh showing you he’s “gonna steal your wife,” or so he says. The music is comedic by nature; however, the beats are “fresh” and his lyrics are powerful.

Froggy Fresh is performing this Thursday, 7:30 p.m., at Songbirds Guitar Museum located on 35 Station St. For more information, visit songbirdsguitars.com.

— Austin M. Hooks

In A State Of His Own Alex Volz lays claim to the mantle of “rock star”

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

“

He doesn’t dumb down his subject matter, choosing to tackle head-on all manner of topics of interest to kids and some discomfort to adults.”

16 • THE PULSE • APRIL 5, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

D

ALE CARNEGIE FAMOUSLY SAID THAT A PERson’s name is the sweetest sound to that person in any language. My high school disciplinary record would suggest otherwise but I will posit a corollary to that; the confirmation of a subjective opinion is a supremely satisfying experience. So what’s got me feeling mildly smug and back-patty today? Alex Volz, aka Burly Temple.

I’ve written a good deal about Alex, almost exclusively about his songs for children and as time has passed and I’ve seen and heard his work reviewed by others, certain observations have become nearly universal when assessing the big guy’s talent and approach to music.

He doesn’t “talk down” to kids, treating them instead like miniadults with curious minds. He doesn’t dumb down his subject mat-

ter, choosing to tackle head-on all manner of topics of interest to kids and some discomfort to adults. His wordplay is second to none, clever and multi-faceted. He’s funny and entertaining.

Again, this is in reference to his work on children’s music, but one of the most durable observations regarding Alex is that his work could just as easily translate to any other genre. He isn’t “wasting time” as a

“

writer of kid’s music, to the contrary he is a much needed talent in a genre otherwise composed of treacle and fluff, but he his formidable skill would be equally well spent on virtually any kind of music and with the release of his (or rather Burly Temple’s) latest album has proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Alex/Burly, children’s musician, political commentator, has now definitively taken up the mantle of rock musician with The State I’m In, a ten song compendium of beautifully produced tunes for grown-ups, currently available on Spotify and elsewhere.

Once again the listener is treated to a level of uncommon lyrical sophistication that, while thoroughly enjoyable in a casual listening environment, always seems to hide deeper levels of meaning for anyone who care to listen a little more carefully.

The guy could put down the guitar, pick up a typewriter, and be just as phenomenal and refreshing a writer as a musician.

Tracks like “Cold Beers,” “I’d Rather Be Drunk with You,” and certain others speak to some universally adult themes, without ever being crude, callous or shallow and the instrumentation and production…put simply, this is rock and roll in the Springsteen sense of the word, gritty and gutsy, full of hooks and the kind of gritty raw power that made The Boss

The listener is treated to a level of uncommon lyrical sophistication that, while thoroughly enjoyable in a casual listening environment, always seems to hide deeper levels of meaning.” a legend.

Released under his Burly Temple persona, the album is less a fledgling attempt at a rock album and more a pleasant surprise from a guy who was apparently a rock star the whole time.

It is a triumphant vindication for those of us who have believe all along that Alex can do anything he wants an be fantastic at anything he does and the ultimate post-script is that having conquered this genre in one fellswoop, he has announced his plans for an upcoming rap album that I have no doubt will be one of the most entertaining of the year.

The fact is that at the end of the day Alex Volz is a musician’s musician, the kind of rare talent than can move seamlessly and with ease from one genre to the next, turning whatever he touches in to gold.

Need proof of that? Check out The State I’m In and hear for yourself that “that guy who does kid’s songs” is just as adept at writing for kids of all ages.

Punk On The Rocks At The Chatt Film Festival It’s time again for the Chattanooga Film Festival, one of the most popular artistic showcases of recent years. There are a hundred good reasons to attend, but one of particular interest to music lovers is the featuring of Jenn Wexler’s The Ranger on Friday.

When a group of teenage punks evading the cops crosses paths with an axewielding maniac, fun times are sure to ensue. The next in a line of punk-centric films like Rock ‘n Roll High School, Sid and Nancy, et. al., The Ranger boasts a killer soundtrack.

In observance of that fact, CFF has elected to debut the film with an all-star lineup of local punk acts including Yeah Right, Ghetto Blasters, Possible Side Effects, and Onetimers.

The film is shaping up to be one of the best of 2018, the bands are all local favorites, the CFF is one of the city’s premier artistic assemblages, what more could you ask for?

Dig out your Doc Martens, sharpen up your spikes, and pogo your way down to the 2018 Chattanooga Film Festival’s Punk on the Rocks. — MTM

THU4.5

FRI4.6

SAT4.7

CSO Masterworks Series

JAM Fest: Jazz Meets Hip Hop

Adam Whipple

One doesn't need to wear a tuxedo or an evening dress to enjoy the music of Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev.

7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com

An evening with the cultural & musical connections of two distinctive art forms with a local flair.

8 p.m.

The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com

This is the story of a man with an arsenal of instruments and only two hands, a inner, saint, and a wanderer.

8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 17

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY4.5 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Erik Kirkendall 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jimmy Dormire 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Froggy Fresh 7:30 p.m.

Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com CSO Masterworks Series: Tchaikovsky & Prokofiev 7:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Sabra & the Get Rights 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Josh Strecker 8 p.m.

Southside Social 1818 Chestnut St. thesouthsidesocial.com Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m.

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com KlusterfunK Open Jam 8 p.m.

Trip’s Tavern 4762 Hwy. 58 (423) 803-5686 Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Lonely Bisquits, Okinawa, Lottery

Cody Jinks 9 p.m.

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

FRIDAY4.6 Drew Robbins 6 p.m.

Slick’s Burgers 309 E. Main St. facebook.com/slicksburger Maria Sable 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Courtney Holder

6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Martin Rodriguez 6:30 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. chattanoogamarket.com Farewell Angelina 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Raven and Red 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. chattabrew.com

LIVE MUSIC SPOTLIGHT Longtime Gregg Allman Band guitarist and Grammy nominated musician Scott Sharrard has been called “one of the best blues/R&B guitarists in the country” by none other than Billboard magazine.

Scott Sharrard 9 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com

18 • THE PULSE • APRIL 5, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Drakeford 7 p.m.

OddStory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Dirty Blonde, Good Parenting, David Webb’s Burning Bush, and Gumm 7 p.m.

The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Matt Downer 7 p.m.

The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Rick Rushing and The Blues Strangers 7:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Gino Fanelli 8 p.m.

The FEED co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com JAM Fest: Jazz Meets Hip Hop 8 p.m.

The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Jimmy Dormire 8 p.m.

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

The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Live Music 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Three Star Revival 9 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Scott Sharrard 9 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Behold the Brave, Sweet Talker, Brother Lee and the Leather Jackets 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Kasandra Armstrong 9 p.m.

Frequency Arts 1804 E. Main St. facebook.com/frequencyarts Outlaw 45 10 p.m.

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

SATURDAY4.7 Dana Rogers

Danimal 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Xavier Jara 7:30 p.m.

Chattanooga State 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu

WEDNESDAY4.11

Roshambeaux 12:30 p.m.

Collegedale Commons 4950 Swinyar Dr. collegedale.foundation Martin Rodriguez 12:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Amber Fults 6:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Nick Lutsko 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Lenox Hills, El Bandito, and Sunsap 6:30 p.m.

The Camp House 149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com The White Animals 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Playin’ Possum 7 p.m.

McHale’s Brewhouse 724 Ashland Terrace mchalesbrewhouse.com The Reese & Rosser Band 7 p.m.

OddStory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co

Cody Jinks 7 p.m.

The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Danimal 7:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com The Pickup Lions 8 p.m.

Moccasin Bend Brewing Co. 3210 Broad St. bendbrewingbeer.com Jason Lyles 8 p.m.

The Casual Pinnt 5550 Hwy. 153 hixson.thecasualpint.com Adam Whipple 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Gino Fanelli 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant 2 Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Live Music 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Of Montreal 9 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com

Mojo Whiskey and Chaotic Inception 9 p.m.

Sky Zoo 5709 Lee Hwy. (423) 521-2966 Roshambeaux 9 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Outlaw 45 10 p.m.

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

SUNDAY4.8 The Mailboxes 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Mr. David Walters and Rishard 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Danimal, Jessica Nunn, and Ian Asmussen 12:30 p.m.

The FEED co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com 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 Domino Ensemble: “Purple Ego” 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Maria Sable 8 p.m.

Southside Social 1818 Chestnut St. thesouthsidesocial.com

MONDAY4.9 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Neshawn “Bessie” Smith 7 p.m.

Pilgrim Church 400 Glenwood Dr. pilgrim-church.com

TUESDAY4.10 Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m.

Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com

The Other Guys 6 p.m.

SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Court of Songs 6 p.m.

Mad Knight Brewing Company 4015 Tennessee Ave. madknightbrewing.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com DJ Passé 7 p.m.

American Draft 1400 Market St. americandraft.beer Ben Friberg Trio 7 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org xxx 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 Mickman, Brightside, and Deez Chattanooga, TN Funktion-One Sound 9 p.m.

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

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

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 19

ERNIE PAIK'S RECORD REVIEWS

New Music From Gwenno, Durian Brow

Gwenno Le Kov (Heavenly)

Durian Brow Durian Brow (milmin.bandcamp.com)

G

“Lord of the Dance” show in Las Vegas, where she cultivated her love for electronic music.

Gwenno is best known as the lead singer of the nowdisbanded Pipettes, the polkadot-sporting trio that took deep inspiration from ‘60s girl-group pop acts and added a modern sheen.

Le Kov arrives a few years after her satisfying solo full-length debut Y Dydd Olaf, which was mostly sung in Welsh, and it continues in Gwenno’s sophisticated, electronically enhanced (but not total electro-pop) style, with a mix of acoustic and synthetic sounds that brings to mind certain ‘70s soundtracks.

A few points of comparison

wenno Saunders is one of an estimated few thousand people who are fluent speakers of the obscure Cornish language, from Cornwall county in southwest England, and she made a point to write her second solo album, Le Kov, solely in Cornish.

The title Le Kov means “the place of memory” in Cornish, and there’s an air of mystery throughout the album, with a touch of fantasy among revived legends of sunken Cornish cities.

Raised in a household that eschewed popular culture and only spoke Cornish, Gwenno’s ticket out was a dancing gig as a teenager with Michael Flatley’s

20 • THE PULSE • APRIL 5, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

might include Broadcast and the French band Air, without sounding like those acts exactly.

Gwenno sings with a soft and sultry voice, sometimes tempting with a seductive whisper or doing spoken-word recitations, bringing a sort of formality; certain tracks lounge around in their own space, while others, like “Tir Ha Mor,” show momentum to push things along towards pop territory. “Eus Keus?” offers a subtle space-age sound, while “Jynn-amontya” evokes lushness with piano parts and a vibe that recalls the Serge Gainsbourg/ Jean-Claude Vannier collaboration.

The album ends solidly with “Hunros,” with what sounds like a distorted harpsichord and hand-muted bass Wguitar lines, seemingly inspired by Krzysztof Komeda soundtracks, and the lounge-pop of “Koweth Ker.” While the atmosphere on Le Kov is spot-on for sensual sophistication, this writer wishes some of the melodies stuck a little more firmly to uphold the pop side of the dynamic.

I

n addition to his music, percussionist Ben Bennett is known for his enigmatic “Sitting and Smiling” video series, which at last count features 283 videos; each

video shows Bennett sitting absolutely still with a forced grin on his face for four hours.

If one could imagine the exact opposite of that, it would be along the lines of Bennett’s performance style, which features almost constant action and changes and is never predictable. In different ways, Bennett messes with observers’ perception of time.

The new free improvisational duo Durian Brow features Bennett with guitarist Zach Darrup; both are based in Philadelphia and have separate trios with seasoned improvisers saxophonist Jack Wright and bassist Evan Lipson—Wrest (with Bennett) and Roughhousing (with Darrup)—and both are also in a new trio with Lipson named Virtual Balboa.

The debut self-titled full-length album from Durian Brow constantly lobs ideas at the listener, and it could possibly be the musical equivalent of a multi-car road wreck; however, it’s not a wreck in slow motion—it’s magnified and scrutinized so that every twist of metal, every bruise or puncture and every startled outburst is represented in excruciating detail over 44 minutes.

Rather than playing a conventional drum kit, Bennett prefers

to sit on the floor with a number of small drums and metallic objects, and he scampers with quick beats, clangs, squeaks, rubbing sounds and just about any sound imaginable in what might be perceived in one’s imagination as articulated junkyard wallowing.

For drum pitter-patters, he might press on the drum head for varying pitches or also create nails-on-chalkboard scrapes with a mastery of friction and vibration.

Darrup’s dominating style is a crunchy guitar skronk showing no mercy for his strings that squeal and scream, with notes sometimes taking quick pitch dives; during speedy moments, Darrup’s plucks are like a thousand pin-pricks, and sick tones fade in and out of view, leaving sonic abrasions. Most of the time, it’s absolutely relentless, with just a few breaks to breathe, regroup and create space.

The uninitiated may very well find Durian Brow to be too radical and perhaps interminable, but hardy listeners may relish the challenge of having their brains light up, trying to process everything that’s happening, with numerous “blink and you’ll miss it” moments of nourishing provocation.

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): Eightythree-year-old author Harlan Ellison has had a long and successful career. In the course of publishing hundreds of literary works in seven different genres, he has won numerous awards. But when he was in his thirties, there was an interruption in the upward arc of his career. The film production company Walt Disney Studios hired him as a writer. During his first day on the job, Roy Disney overheard Ellison joking with a co-worker about using Disney characters in an animated pornographic movie. Ellison was fired on the spot. I am by no means predicting a comparable event in your life, Aries. On the contrary. By giving you this headsup, I’m hoping you’ll be scrupulous and adroit in how you act in the early stages of a new project -- so scrupulous and adroit that you will sail on to the next stages.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Are you an evolving Taurus or an unevolving Taurus? Are you an aspiring master of gradual, incremental progress or a complacent excusemaker who secretly welcomes inertia? Will the theme of your next social media post be “The Smart Art of Compromise” or “The Stingy Glory of Stubbornness”? I’m hoping you will opt for the former rather than the latter in each of the three choices I just offered. Your behavior in the coming weeks will be pivotal in your long-term ability to animate your highest self and avoid lapsing into your mediocre self.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): If you fly in a passenger jet from New York to London, the trip usually takes more than six hours. But on January 8, 2015, a powerful jet stream surging across the North Atlantic reduced that time significantly. With the wind’s extra push, several flights completed the trip in five hours and 20 minutes. I suspect you’ll have comparable assistance in the course of your upcoming journeys and projects, Gemini. You’ll feel like the wind is at your back.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Actor Keanu Reeves’ career ascended to a higher level when he appeared as a lead character in the film Speed. It was the first time he had been a headliner in a big-budget production. But he turned down an offer to reprise his starring role in the sequel, Speed 2. Instead he toured with his grunge band Dogstar and played the role of Hamlet in a production staged by a local theater company in Winnipeg, Manitoba. I admire him for being motivated more by love and passion than by fame and fortune.

In my estimation, Cancerian, you face a choice that in some ways resembles Keanu’s, but in other ways doesn’t. You shouldn’t automatically assume that what your ego craves is opposed to what

your heart yearns for and your soul needs.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): A Leo sculptor I know is working on a fortyfoot-long statue of a lion. Another Leo friend borrowed $30,000 to build a recording studio in her garage so she can pursue her quixotic dream of a music career. Of my other Leo acquaintances, one is writing a memoir of her time as a black-market orchid smuggler, another just did four sky dives in three days, and another embarked on a long-postponed pilgrimage to Slovenia, land of her ancestors.

What about you? Are there any breathtaking challenges or smart gambles you’re considering? I trust you can surf the same astrological wave.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): How sexy is it possible for you to be? I’m referring to authentic soul-stirring sexiness, not the contrived, glitzy, counterfeit version. I’m alluding to the irresistible magnetism that wells up in you when you tap in to your core self and summon a reverent devotion to your life’s mission. However sexy it is possible for you to be, Virgo, I suggest you unleash that magic in the coming weeks. It’s the most reliable strategy for attracting the spiritual experiences and material resources and psychological support you need.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): According to my analysis of the cosmic omens, your impact is rising.

You’re gaining influence. More people are tuning in to what you have to offer. And yet your stress levels also seem to be increasing.

Why is that? Do you assume that having more power requires you to endure higher tension? Do you unconsciously believe that being more worried is the price of being more responsible? If so, banish that nonsense. The truth is this: The best way to manage your growing clout is to relax into it. The best way to express your growing clout is to relax into it.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The immediate future will challenge you to revisit several fundamental Scorpio struggles. For best results, welcome these seeming intrusions as blessings and opportunities, and follow these guidelines: 1.

Your control over external circumstances will increase in direct proportion to your control over your inner demons. 2. Your ability to do what you want will thrive to the degree that you stop focusing on what you don’t want. 3. Your skill at regulating and triumphing over chaos will be invincible if you’re not engrossed in blaming others.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I’m about to say things that sound extraordinary. And it’s possible that they are in fact a bit overblown. But even if that’s the case, I trust that there is a core of truth

in them. So rejoice in their oracular radiance. First, if you have been hoping for a miracle cure, the next four weeks will be a time when you’re more likely than usual to find it or generate it. Second, if you have fantasized about getting help to address a seemingly irremediable problem, asking aggressively for that help now will lead to at least a partial fix. Third, if you have wondered whether you could ever retrieve a lost or missing part of your soul, the odds are more in your favor than they’ve been in a long time.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The French government defines books as an “essential good,” along with water, bread, and electricity.

Would you add anything to that list of life’s basics? Companionship? Stories? Deep sleep? Pleasurable exercise and movement?

Once you identify your “essential goods,” I invite you to raise the level of reverence and care you give them. Take an oath to treat them as holy treasures. Boost your determination and ability to get all you need of their blessings. The coming weeks will be a favorable time to enhance your appreciation of the fundamentals you sometimes take for granted.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Buckingham Palace is the home and office of the Queen of England. It has been the main royal residence since Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837. But in earlier times, the site served other purposes. The 17th-century English lawyer Clement Walker described the building occupying that land as a brothel, a hotbed of “debauchery.” Before that the space was a mulberry garden where silkworms tuned mulberry leaves into raw material for silk fabrics. I see the potential for an almost equally dramatic transformation of a certain place in your life, Aquarius. Start dreaming and scheming about the possibilities.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Poet Carolyn Forché is a role model for how to leave one’s comfort zone.

In her early career, she earned writing degrees at placid universities near her childhood home in the American Midwest. Her first book mined material about her family; its first poem is addressed to her grandmother. But then she relocated to El Salvador, where she served as a human rights advocate during that country’s civil war. Later she lived and wrote in Lebanon at the height of its political strife.

Her drive to expand her range of experience invigorated her poetry and widened her audience. Would you consider drawing inspiration from Forché in the coming weeks and months, Pisces? I don’t necessarily recommend quite so dramatic a departure for you, but even a mild version will be well rewarded.

“The 4 Ps”—Stay happy, people!

ACROSS 1 Cereal aisle consideration 6 Former Senate Majority Leader Trent 10 Carpet protection 13 Diagnostic machine 15 Hawkeye’s state 16 “Here ___ Again” (1987 Whitesnake hit) 17 Spicy appetizers 20 Like chai, sometimes 21 M&Ms color replaced by blue 22 Parlor furniture 23 Charged subatomic particle 24 “Wild” author Cheryl 25 Some barnyard noises 29 Gender pronoun option 30 Card game where you match adjectives with nouns 36 Girl in “Calvin and Hobbes” 37 “The Subject Was Roses” director Grosbard

38 Ancient Aegean region 40 Slice choice 43 T or F, e.g.

44 Sleeper’s breathing problem, to a Brit 45 “You Might Think” band 50 ___ Awards (event held in Nashville) 51 Outburst from a movie cowboy, perhaps 52 Massage 53 “That ___ not fair!”

57 “Wacky Races” character who later got her own cartoon 60 Director Roth 61 1982 Disney movie with a 2010 sequel 62 Piña ___ (rum drink) 63 Sugar suffix 64 Bypass 65 Cobalt, for one DOWN 1 Tonga neighbor 2 Desktop that turned 20 in 2018 3 Hay unit 4 Watsonian exclamation 5 Certain theater

company, for short 6 Pride member 7 Alley ___ (basketball play) 8 “Texas” dance move 9 ___ off (dwindle) 10 Devoutness 11 Give a thumbs-up 12 Gave a shot, perhaps 14 Mix again, as a salad 18 Photographer Goldin 19 School fundraising gp.

23 “Why do ___ trying?”

24 Olympic snowboarding medalist White 25 ___ in “questionable” 26 “___ and away!”

27 Domed church area 28 Movie snippet 29 One-person performances 31 Goes sour 32 Kate Middleton’s sister 33 Pork cut 34 Auto manufacturer

Ferrari 35 10 1/2 wide, e.g.

39 Abbr. on a tow truck 41 Tune that’s tough to get out of your head 42 Like much of Keats’s poetry 45 Blood group known as the universal donor 46 High shoes 47 Kids’ rhyme starter 48 “Weekend Update” cohost Michael 49 Finnish architect Alvar who’s the first entry in many encyclopedias 50 Sippy ___ 52 “Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes” musical 53 Spot in the ocean 54 Sports page number 55 Scotch mixer 56 Birthstone that shares a first letter with its month 58 Luau delicacy 59 Cruise around Hollywood

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. 878 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 21

FOOD & DRINK · SUSHI & BISCUITS

In Search Of The Perfect Matcha Our globe-trotting chef extols the virtues of the sublime green tea

M Mike McJunkin Pulse columnist

“

The best matcha comes only from Japan, where very specific strains of tea are grown and harvested with a meticulous passion that borders on obsession.”

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

ATCHA IS EVERYWHERE. It’s in our ice cream, it’s in our doughnuts, it’s in our smoothie bowls and even in our tea cups. But what is this mysterious substance that turns everything it touches an unnatural shade of iridescent green and why is it so damned expensive?

According to the dead-eyed Starbucks barista that’s been rigorously trained in the ancient traditions of the Matcha Unicorn Crème Frappuccino ceremony, matcha is simply green tea that’s been ground into a fine powder.

That’s technically correct—matcha is indeed green tea that’s been ground into a super-fine powder. But reducing matcha to just ground up tea is like saying coffee is just ground up seeds or diamonds are simply shiny pieces of squeezed coal— it’s a bit of an oversimplification.

The best matcha—and some would say the only real matcha—comes only from Japan, where very specific strains of tea are grown and harvested with a meticulous passion that borders on obsession. For example, Japanese growers build adjustable straw roofs over their tea bushes so they can mimic the natural shading of the original forest tea gardens in Toganooõ.

At harvest time, experienced tea pickers work shaded in darkness, selecting only the freshest top two leaves and top bud at the precise moment they are ready. These precious bits of the plant are processed (including removing the veins and stems) before a “tea master” will marry a variety of carefully selected teas with specific flavors, aromas, etc. to create his own special blend of matcha.

Quality matcha tea from Japan will contain nothing except tea. Watch out for fillers like rice and make sure your mat-

22 • THE PULSE • APRIL 5, 2018 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

cha says “tencha” and not “sencha.” Sencha is decent tea, but good matcha is made from “tencha.” If it says “sencha” on the package, then it is not matcha tea.

Ceremonial grade is the good stuff, and Yame matcha is considered by many to be the best of the best. Ceremonial matcha is meant to be drunk plain, without any sweeteners, dairy, and for the love of God, nothing that involves the word “unicorn.”

Be prepared for sticker shock when buying ceremonial matcha powder though. Good Japanese Yame matcha powder can run at least $30 an ounce.

Premium, or “select” grade matchas are not as high quality as ceremonial but are somewhat better tasting than the culinary variety. Good matcha is very complex on the palate—vegetal with a slightly sweet finish while simultaneously delivering mild bitterness alongside its earthy, umami-packed flavor. Lesser grade matchas will be less flavorful and more bitter than higher grade teas.

Finally, there’s culinary or basic grade matcha that is grown specifically to be mixed with other things, such as baked goods and desserts. You can make a cup of tea with this grade, but will need to use more powder and it’s going to be much more bitter. Culinary matcha is also far less expensive, but remember, you get what you pay for.

Making matcha is different than other teas you may have tried. Here’s a primer to get you started drinking matcha the way Myoõe intended.

1. First, invert the tines of your bamboo

whisk (you really need one—it’s called a chasen) into a glass of water while you sift your matcha with your matcha sifter (furui) or a small, fine-mesh strainer. This will break-up the clumps and help you create a smooth, creamy cup of matcha.

2. Using a traditional, bamboo scoop (chasaku), place two scoops of the sifted matcha powder into your tea bowl. Can’t find your chasaku? One teaspoon of sifted matcha powder will do in a pinch.

3. Bring a kettle of water to a boil, then cool to to 170˚F. Add 3 oz of water to the tea bowl.

4. Use your bamboo whisk (chasen) to vigorously, and I mean vigorously, whisk the matcha powder and water for 30–40 seconds to create a nice froth. Whisk the mixture vigorously (I said it again) from side to side making really fast “W” and “M” shapes keeping the tines of the whisk just below the surface of the tea and not pressing into the bottom of the tea bowl.

5. When nice small bubbled-froth develops on the surface, your matcha is ready to drink!

Pro tip: Be sure to clean the tines of your bamboo whisk immediately by rinsing them in water, then stand the chasen upright to air dry. Be sure that your chasen is completely dry before storing it.

Itadakimasu!

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • APRIL 5, 2018 • THE PULSE • 23