SEPTEMBER 15, 2016
CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
WHAT'S IN THE WATER WE DRINK? PURIFIED OR NOT PURIFIED, THAT’S THE QUESTION FACING US ALL By Daniel Jackson
GRAPHIC ARTS • JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL • JAMES LEG
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Contents
CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE
EDITORIAL
Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com
September 15, 2016 Volume 13, Issue 37
Assistant Editor Brooke Dorn Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Christopher Armstrong • Rob Brezsny Steven W. Disbrow • Daniel Jackson Matt Jones • Kelly Lowry Mike McJunkin • Tony Mraz Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-Habib
Features
Editorial Interns Alyson McGowan, Colin Moran
4 BEGINNINGS: Come “Swing for Kids” to benefit Kids on the Block.
Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow
7 JUST A THEORY: With fears of the Zika virus, do we need mosquitos?
FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL
ADVERTISING
Director of Sales Mike Baskin mikebaskin@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Rick Leavell Libby Phillips • John Rodriguez Logan Vandergriff • Joseph Yang
CONTACT
Offices 1305 Carter St., Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Website chattanoogapulse.com Email info@chattanoogapulse.com BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher & President Jim Brewer II 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. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2016 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.
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What's In The Water We Drink?
On March 24, The City of Fort Oglethorpe sent a letter to its residents informing them that the city’s drinking water had violated the standards for a chemical that is a byproduct of the purification process.
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Getting Creative With The Day Job
At some point in their careers, most creatives have to contend with day jobs to make a living. One of the best ways for artists to do this exists within the world of graphic design, where they can use their creative skills to promote a business, product, or event.
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Giving It Everything He Has
I have written a lot of words about music in the last few years. Taken as a whole, I’ve done more writing about music than all the writing I did in high school and college combined, including the papers I wrote for other people (yes, I did that—It was college and I needed the money.)
12 SCREEN: Netflix delights with Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. 16 ARTS CALENDAR 19 DIVERSIONS 21 MIXOLOGY: The Jell-O shot has a quite colorful (and tasty) history. 24 MUSIC CALENDAR 27 REVIEWS: Procedure Club's Pinky Swear, Leonard * Day * Jerman's Isinglass. 28 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY 29 JONESIN’ CROSSWORD 30 SUSHI & BISCUITS: Wonder of Malaysian and Indonesian sambals.
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BEGINNINGS
NEWS • VIEWS • RANTS • RAVES
UPDATES » CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM FACEBOOK/CHATTANOOGAPULSE EMAIL LOVE LETTERS, ADVICE & TRASH TALK TO INFO@CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
“Swing for Kids” Charity Golf Tournament Come “Swing for Kids” to benefit Chattanooga’s Kids on the Block at ESPN Radio reached out to 105.1 ESPN Chattanooga and CKOB in 2015 about a partnership Brewer Media will host the 2nd in efforts to raise funds to support Annual “Swing for Kids” CharCKOB and the counties served by ity Golf Tournament on Friday, the educational pupSeptember 23 at the petry troupe. The Champions Club at partnership formed Hampton Creek. Probetween Brewer and ceeds raised from the CKOB was a success tournament will benKELLY LOWRY and raised $10,465 in efit Chattanooga’s the first “Swing for Kids” Charity Kids on the Block, the puppets Golf Tournament in 2015. with a purpose. CKOB is a non-profit organizaWith severe cuts in funding tion serving 16 counties in Souththreatening to reduce the number east Tennessee, North Georgia, of CKOB programs provided free and Alabama by using the power of charge to schools in the comof puppetry to educate children munity, Jim Brewer and his team
CITY LIFE
“CKOB is a non-profit organization serving 16 counties in Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, and Alabama by using the power of puppetry to educate children about social concerns and differences, giving them the skills to stay safe and healthy.” about social concerns and differences, giving them the skills to stay safe and healthy. For over 37 years, CKOB has used the nationally recognized Kids on the Block puppets and the nationally researched scripts to provide awareness and prevention programs on such topics as bullying, child abuse, childhood obesity, brain injury, accepting differences, gangs and violence, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, self-esteem, hygiene and mental health, to primarily elementary aged children in our community. “CKOB provides programs free of charge to schools in our community in an effort to enhance the quality of life in our area and empower children to become healthy, strong and resourceful future leaders,” says Kelly Williams, Executive Director of CKOB. “Despite the devastating loss of funding over the past year, CKOB has continued to perform a record number of programs as requested by schools and community organizations in our area, the charity golf tournament will help us continue to provide vital pro-
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grams to children and families in our community,” says Williams. Last year’s golf tournament was a success with the support of sponsorships and the 15 golf teams who supported CKOB by playing in the tournament. This year’s “Swing for Kids” is anticipating over 100 golfers to tee-off at 1 p.m. in a four-person scramble. Registration is open to any golfers who would like to support the educational puppetry troupe by visiting www.kidsontheblock.net. Registration cost is $125 per player or $500 for a team. Registration includes 18-holes of golf, golf cart, lunch provided by Chick-Fil-A, dinner provided by Amigo’s, complimentary drinks provided by Carter Distributing, and a chance to win fabulous prizes.
EdiToon by Rob Rogers
Transforming Downtown Parking For A Day This Friday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., downtown Chattanooga will celebrate its 9th annual Parking Day. PARK(ing) Day is an annual worldwide event where artists, designers and citizens transform metered parking spots into temporary public parks. The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public
space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat. This free event is a great way to show off the many arts, food, culture, theater and other activities that makes Chattanooga so unique. Last year there were 60 different “parklets” but they are hoping for 75 this time around. Some of the things you might find in a parklet include yoga classes,
IN THIS ISSUE
Daniel Jackson Daniel Jackson is an independent journalist working in the Chattanooga area. Prior to relocating to the city in 2014, he reported at a string of weekly papers covering a group of towns in central Connecticut. The Connecticut Chapter of the Society of
drawing lessons, dance performances and much more. The event organizer is the River City Company, the economic development engine for Downtown Chattanooga. Through its work to cultivate and advocate for a vibrant and healthy downtown, River City Company stimulates the community’s economic, social and cultural growth. The event stretches down Market St. and E. MLK Blvd. Chattanooga’s PARK(ing) Day also has its own hashtag #ParkingDayCHA so make sure to join the fun on social media. — Colin Moran
Steven W. Disbrow Professional Journalists gave a first place award in business writing for his 2013 story about firearms manufacturer O.F. Mossberg & Sons that was published in The North Haven Citizen. He studied Communications at Bryan College and covered national events with an internship at the Washington Times. When he's not reporting, he enjoys coffee, films and reading. You can reach him on Twitter with @jcksndnl.
Steven W. Disbrow is a computer programmer by profession who specializes in e-commerce and mobile systems development. But wait, there’s more. Much more. He’s also an entrepreneur, comic-book nerd, writer, improviser, actor, sometime television personal-
ity and parent of two human children. He’s anxiously awaiting the results of the experiment that will prove whether or not the universe is a massive simulation. If it is, he’d like to have a chat with the idiot that coded the bits where we kill each other for no damn good reason. Along with various cover stories, his “Just A Theory” column on all things science runs monthly here in The Pulse. Watch out, Neil deGrasse Tyson! CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 5
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COLUMN JUST A THEORY
Should We Eradicate Mosquitoes? With the fears of the Zika virus abounding, do we need the flying pests?
STEVEN W. DISBROW
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Given then that they are literally blood-sucking killing machines that are easily replaced in the food chain, the answer seems clear.”
Steven Disbrow is a programmer who specializes in e-commerce and mobile systems development, an entrepreneur, comic-book nerd, writer, improviser, actor, sometime television personality and parent of two human children.
Do you know what the deadliest animal in the world is? Sharks? Nope. Tigers? Not even close! Humans? Believe it or not, we’re just the second deadliest. The deadliest animal in the world is actually the humble Mosquito. That’s right, the Mosquito. These flying monsters are way more than just an annoyance…they are carriers of some of the deadliest diseases known to man, and those diseases kill over 700,000 people per year! (By comparison, we humans manage to kill less than 500,000 of ourselves in a given year.) As if that weren’t bad enough, this year Mosquitoes have a new disease that they’ve started gifting us with: Zika. Fortunately, Zika rarely kills people, and the symptoms are very similar to mild flu. Unfortunately, when the Zika virus infects a pregnant woman, it greatly increases the risk of her baby being born with Microcephaly. Microcephaly is a birth defect that results in the baby’s brain being smaller than normal and otherwise underdeveloped. (If you decide to search for pictures of affected babies, prepare yourself for a shock. It’s even worse than it sounds.) As I write this, Zika is beginning to spread throughout the U.S. There is no treatment, and no cure. And, given that there has been no real action from Congress to help slow the spread, it’s just going to get worse. So, that brings us to a strange and drastic solution that’s been bandied about in the past, but never moved past the “idea” stage. Specifically, should we just eradicate mosquitoes entirely? That is, should we, humans, use our advanced technology to make mosquitoes extinct. On the face of it, it’s a crazy idea. Eliminate an entire species? On purpose? Sure, we’ve inadvertently sent
thousands (millions?) into extinction over the years, but, with the possible exception of the smallpox virus and the Guinea Worm, I don’t know of any other species that we’ve actively tried to wipe off the face of the Earth. So, what effect would the extinction of mosquitos have on the ecosystems of the world? Well, mosquitos (and their larva) provide easy meals for fish, bats, birds, spiders, and pretty much anything else that’s bigger than them and able to catch them. But, there are thousands of other insects that these predators could eat. The other side of that question is, of course, “What do mosquitos eat?” The answer seems to mostly be “blood.” So, they don’t really have a species that they keep under control (unless you count humans). Of course, it’s their singleminded focus on blood that makes them such an efficient means of moving blood-borne diseases around the world. Given then that they are literally blood-sucking killing machines that are easily replaced in the food chain, the answer seems clear. But, what would be the ramifications of removing them from the web of life? Well, of course, there would be some
hiccups in the food chain, but long term, it should recover nicely. Beyond that, the only real down-side would be, more humans…more humans to accelerate climate change, pillage the planet’s resources, and produce reality television. And then, of course, there’s the possibility that something even worse would evolve to fill the niche formerly occupied by mosquitos. That’s a scary thought. But, assuming we decided to go through with it, how would we do it? The obvious solution is genetic engineering. We either create and release a bunch of sterilized males into the mosquito population, and they mate to no effect. Or, we release “Trojan Horse” males that contain genes that are lethal to other mosquitos. These tactics, when used with traditional spraying programs, should drastically reduce mosquito populations and eventually drive them to extinction. Of course it’s entirely possible that, once they are in the wild, one or both of these man-made mosquitoes could mutate and evolve into something much worse. So, perhaps in this case, “the devil you know,” is the better choice, and we should leave well enough alone.
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COVER STORY
The Water We Drink Purified or not purified, that’s the question facing us all By Daniel Jackson, Pulse contributor
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n March 24, The City of Fort Oglethorpe sent a letter to its residents informing them that the city’s drinking water had violated the standards for a chemical that is a byproduct of the purification process. Fort Oglethorpe buys its water from Tennessee American Water, the company that treats water it pumps from the Tennessee River and sends it to all of Chattanooga and most of Hamilton County. (Hixson pulls its water from an aquifer.)
At the end of 2015, monitoring in Fort O detected an excess of Trihalomethane (TTHM), a chemical formed when chlorine reacts with organics in water. Consumers who drink too much TTHM-laden water for too long may, according to the letter, “experience problems with their liver, kidneys or central nervous system and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.” To be clear: it was Fort Oglethorpe’s violation, but the water originally came from Chattanooga’s water treatment plant. A notice of violation, contamination in the water—it brings to mind the Flint Water Crisis, where mistreated water pulled from the Flint River corroded old pipes leading to homes in Flint, Michigan and pulled lead into the tap water. Furthermore, Flint notified its own residents that it violated TTHM standards but the water was still safe to drink back in January 2015, Michigan Live reported at the time, before the issue of lead contamination rose to a head.
Potable water: A delicate balance What happened in Fort Oglethorpe was minor, according to Dorothy Radar, Tennessee American Water’s supervisor for water quality and environmental compliance. As Tennessee American sends its purified water on its way through Chattanooga’s water system, it adds a measured amount of chlorine to keep the water pure as it makes the 2- to 5-day journey to residents’ homes. THMM levels were elevated because the wa8 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
ter sat for a few extra days in Fort Oglethorpe’s water system and the chlorine finished reacting with organic compounds. The maximum contaminant level for TTHM is 0.08mg/L. In Fort Oglethorpe, TTHM was found at levels of 0.082. “That’s how easy it was to get out of tolerance,” said Radar. Fort Oglethorpe said in its letter it would “begin a more aggressive program of flushing” its water system and monitor TTHM levels every month instead of the mandated quarterly schedules. With water being a fundamental ingredient for life, and with the myriad of ways water could become impure, the incident highlighted how much Chattanoogans trust their water systems to deliver pure water day in and day out. According to the water company and the State of Tennessee, the water pulled from the Tennessee River here is easy to treat and they doubt an incident like Flint could happen in Chattanooga. But like anything else to do with health and the environment, it’s a complicated journey to get to pure H2O. Before Tennessee American gathers it up where Citico Creek meets the Tennessee, the surface water could have traveled hundreds of miles. For the watershed for the Tennessee River begins well inside Virginia, with water following gravity into a stream, into either the French Broad or Holston Rivers. The two rivers meet near Knoxville and the mighty Tennessee winds its way south to Chattanooga.
Vials of water samples from the Tennessee River and local tap water await testing by Tennessee American Water Company
All the while, it’s passing cities which are tapping the river for its drinking water and then discharging treated wastewater back into the flow. Rain carries nitrates, topsoil and pesticides from farmland into the mix. And while environmental regulation is more stringent than what it used to be, the effects of old industry practices will persist in the watershed for decades to come. When the water finally reaches Chattanooga, it is possible for hundreds of trace chemicals to be found in the water. In addition, organic material such as plant material, algae and microbes such as E. coli float through the mix.
Where is the Clean Water Act? There have been communities in the Tennessee watershed where the quality of the river affected their drinking water, according to Renée Victoria Hoyos, executive director for the Tennessee Clean Water Network. For example, TCWN filed suit against a munitions plant in 2014 that was
leeching RDX, an explosive, into the Holston River in so great quantities the chemical was found in drinking water 90 miles away, according to Hoyos. Even if the contamination comes about through a wastewater treatment plant mistreating the water, it makes treatments plants down river spend more time and effort to ensure clean water. There’s a lot of work left to do in terms of ensuring quality water in the Tennessee River, according to Hoyos. “Rivers aren’t catching fire anymore, which is good,” she said. However, “We’ve not met the goals of the clean water act,” Hoyos said. “And we’ve never gotten there. We’re not even close in many cases.” The original goals were to first, stop the discharge of pollutants into waterways and second, bring about a return of waterways that are fishable and swimmable. Still, there are sections of the Tennessee that are neither, Hoyos said. Furthermore, new chemical com-
pounds are created every day for manufacturing or consumer products. Little is known about what happens when they make it to the environment. And while the Environmental Protection Agency is supposed to investigate, it’s overwhelmed, according to Hoyos “They aren’t keeping up with what’s being created.”
Emerging Contaminants These emerging contaminants run the gamut. During a June 21 roundtable discussion about environmental remediation, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said environmental professionals are starting to monitor for substances like Perchlorate, which is found in explosives and fireworks, 1,4-Dioxane, a solvent used in paint strippers and some manufacturing processes, and chemicals found in consumer products like insect repellents and medicines. Take nanomaterials, for instance. While nanomaterials have been engi-
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Even if the contamination comes about through a wastewater treatment plant mistreating the water, it makes treatments plants down river spend more time and effort to ensure clean water.”
continued on page 10 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 9
COVER STORY Tennessee American Water's newest settling tank. It replaced a basin that handled 6 million gallons a day.
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The EPA, for its part, picks out three to four dozen chemicals at a time and checks on water plants across the country to see if the chemicals are in their waters, and at how high a concentration.”
neered to be used to clean up the environment and deliver medicines in the body, The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences wrote on its website: “However, while engineered nanomaterials provide great benefits, we know very little about the potential effects on human health and the environment. Even well-known materials, such as silver for example, may pose a hazard when engineered to nano size.” The TDEC studied the issue of emergent contaminants in 2010. After testing the water entering drinking water plants and comparing the findings with investigations by the United States Geological Survey, it determined levels of emergent contaminants in this area are comparable to the rest of the Southeast. Meanwhile, “We always try to stay ahead and identify what is the newest thing on the horizon we need to address,” said Daphne Kirksey, external affairs manager for Tennessee American Water.
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The EPA, for its part, picks out three to four dozen chemicals at a time and checks on water plants across the country to see if the chemicals are in their waters, and at how high a concentration. Yes, Radar said, a whole slew of chemicals like Tylenol, aspirin and caffeine can be detected in the water, but it’s in the parts per trillion level—trace amounts while lead levels are tracked at the parts per billion level. Emerging contaminants is an issue that arrived with the development of better technology to better measure the water, technology that’s expensive to use, said Radar. The issue just highlights an under recognized fact about the water cycle: It’s a cycle and the water coming out of the tap was used by someone or something six months, or 10 even 200 years before.
“Extremely manageable” And making sure that ever-cycling water is safe to drink is where Tennessee American Water’s job
begins. Before coming to monitor the water quality in Chattanooga, Radar worked in four other water treatment plants, including ones in Blunt and Knox County. Compared to other places, it’s easy to keep Chattanooga’s drinking water at a level of consistent quality. “The Tennessee River here is pretty steady because of the volume because it takes a lot to change it,” she said. The number of suspended particles in the water is generally quite low. Bacteria is “extremely manageable.” The Tennessee is clean compared to rivers like the Ohio or the Mississippi where there’s a number of large cities by the water. Tennessee American tests the water hundreds of times a day, monitoring metal levels in nearby creeks, checking E. coli levels. There are four factors Tennessee American examines for water quality, according to Radar. First is turbidity, or the percentage of suspended particles there are
in the water. Then the water must be balanced so Tennessee American will check the PH of the water. Too high, too acidic, and the water can eat away at metal pipes, causing the water to run red with rust. Similarly, the company will also check to make sure there’s enough corrosion inhibitor in the water. Water systems are old. In places like Nashville and Washington, D.C., for example, some sections of the system are built with wooden pipes, according to Radar. Other materials could include ductile iron, PVC, and like in Flint, either lead pipes or pipes joined together with lead-based solder. It was the corrosiveness of the water from the Flint River that caused lead to enter that city’s drinking supply. Finally, Tennessee American checks to make sure there’s enough residual chlorine to preserve the water all the way to its destination. It’s a system with 30 pump stations and 30 water storage tanks on hills and mountains across this area to keep water pressure consistent, a system that requires about 40 to 45 million gallons a day. “Our challenge is that we’re big and we have to keep water moving constantly,” Radar said. And Tennessee American is quick to tout its accomplishments. For 16 years in a row, the American Water Works Association awarded the plant for its water quality through Tennessee American’s participation in the Partnership for Safe Water, a program that encourages treatment plants to meet tougher turbidity levels than what the EPA set.
TDEC Doesn’t Anticipate Another Flint The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation sees the pollutant levels in the river around Chattanooga as “generally low” and the drinking water system here as “very good,” according to an email from TDEC Deputy Communications Director Eric Ward. As part of its responsibilities, TDEC issues permits and inspects sites like Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant (where Chattanooga’s wastewater goes) in order to ensure what they are
discharging into the Tennessee doesn’t adversely affect the water quality downstream. Ward continued, “The Chattanooga utilities have a long history of treating water with a good compliance record and utilize polyphosphates for corrosion control, therefore, we would not anticipate something like Flint happening in Chattanooga.” Every three years, Tennessee American tests for lead and copper levels in the water coming out of Chattanoogans’ tap. With 2013 being the last time it was checked, Tennessee American sent bottles to a list of homes and asked residents to take a sample of the water after it sat in their house’s pipes for at least six hours, giving time for lead—if it’s in the pipes—an opportunity to seep into the water. It will be the first time after the Flint water crisis hit the headlines that Chattanooga’s water will be tested for lead. Tennessee American will know results by October, results that will be published in its annual water quality report for 2016. There’s hosts of trace chemicals, sediment, bacteria in the river water. And contaminants such as TTHM and lead can emerge after the water leaves the treatment plant. Standing in the middle and treating that water requires “24-hour vigilance,” Kirksey said. After all that effort, is Chattanooga’s water pure? Strictly speaking, no. Instead, the water is treated to meet standards set by the EPA, according to a water quality Q&A on American Water’s website. But according to Kirksey, tap water is more regulated by the EPA than what the FDA enforces in bottled water. In 2006, the EPA issued a new regulation mandating water treatment plants test for the microbial pathogen Cryp-
“It’s a system with 30 pump stations and 30 water storage tanks on hills and mountains across this area to keep water pressure consistent, a system that requires about 40 to 45 million gallons a day.” tosporidium, which is found in surface waters across the nation. If there was an excess of the pathogen, water companies were supposed to use more stringent filtration processes. Tennessee American determined those steps were not needed for Chattanooga’s water system. Still, Tennessee America issued a caution in its 2015 Annual Water Quality report: “Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy,
persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/ AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants may be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.” In 1887, Chattanooga moved the intake for its water supply upriver from the downtown to its current location. It was cutting-edge watertreatment technology in an age before chlorine was even first used to purify potable water. “We’ve been here for 129 years and we’ve never had a notice of violation,” Radar said.
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SCREEN SCENE
Magic And Fantasy Find A Home On The Small Screen
A Polish Masterwork Arrives Come see Krzysztof Kieslowski's Dekalog in all its glory Dekalog ,, the masterwork by Krzysztof Kieslowski, is one of the twentieth century’s greatest achievements in visual storytelling. Originally made for Polish television, Dekalog , focuses on the residents of a housing complex in late Communist Poland, whose lives become subtly intertwined as they face emotional dilemmas that are at once deeply personal and universally human. The series’ ten hour-long films draw from the Ten Commandments for thematic inspiration and an overarching structure, and grapple deftly
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with complex moral and existential questions concerning life, death, love, hate, truth, and the passage of time. Shot by nine different cinematographers, written alongside longtime collaborator Krzysztof Piesiewicz, with stirring music by Zbigniew Preisner and compelling performances from established and unknown actors alike, Dekalog arrestingly explores the unknowable forces that shape our lives. Come see it this Friday and Saturday at Cine-Rama at 100 W. Main St. You won’t be disappointed.
NEW IN THEATERS
Bridget Jones's Baby The continuing adventures of British publishing executive Bridget Jones as she enters her 40s. We're not really sure why we needed another Bridget Jones movie, but here is it anyway. Director: Sharon Maguire Stars: Renée Zellweger, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Sally Phillips
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Blair Witch After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his sister's experiences in the demonic woods of the Blair Witch, James and a group of friends head to the forest in search of his lost sibling. Director: Adam Wingard Stars: James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Corbin Reid, Brandon Scott
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Netflix delights with the well-crafted Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell
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ITH THE UPCOMING J.K. ROWLING FEATURE FANtastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, it’s important to remember that not all magic is contained within the walls of Hogwarts. For a long time now, it’s felt like Harry Potter and his merry band of wizarding teens have dominated the realms of the arcane, pulling every middle and high school student into a world of fantasy nerdom that J.R.R. Tolkien fans could only dream of.
Screen JOHN DEVORE
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It draws lines in the sand, separating dark magic and practical magic then crosses them due to war time necessity or personal tragedies.”
Those of us that that devoured The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings did get some truly great, Oscar winning films, but there was never a theme park where we could experience the battle of Helm’s Deep or have a chance to ride an Eagle. Bitterness aside, Harry Potter and the Quest for Everyone’s Money has had a positive effect on the fantasy genre in regard to film and television. Without it, we might not have gotten the brutal realism of Game of Thrones, a series that likely rivals Harry Potter in terms of dedicated fans. But Harry Potter has also led to a smaller, more respectable series from across the pond. Just recently, Netflix has debuted Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, a popular BBC miniseries from 2015 that succeeds in capturing the imaginations of fantasy fans with more sophisticated storytelling and less teenage angst. Not to be confused with Dr. Strange, another fantasy film based on Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, due to be released in November, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is an alternate history of England during the Napoleonic Wars. It’s a time when magic has seemingly disappeared from the world—but left a surprisingly thorough amount reading material on the
subject. The series is based on a novel of the same name by Susanna Clarke, whose sprawling 850 page, extensively footnoted novel is condensed into eight hour long episodes. The story concerns a prophecy in which two magicians will bring magic back to England after it vanished with the Raven King some 300 years prior. The end result of this prophecy is ambiguous, as is the true nature of magic. The magicians in question couldn’t be more different—Mr. Norrell wants English magic to be respectable, a practice borne out of serious study and scholarship. Jonathan Strange finds it to be far more wild, more of an art than a practice. Magic aside, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a study in character rather than plot, one that examines the nature of arrogance and control in the face of beauty and nature. The series is at times slow. This pace is not meant to feature unbridled special effects and fantastic places. Rather, most of the magic we see is present in a simple pan of water. It is a different breed of magic, found in quiet places and the lighting of candles. The effects of it are no less staggering, however. It’s the unknown that makes the series shine. It asks complex moral questions without overt answers. It draws lines in the sand, separating dark magic
and practical magic then crosses them due to war time necessity or personal tragedies. Magic is used to win battles against the French, furthering the cause of England, without foresight. It’s an unbridled nuclear option. The themes in the series (and the book) are at times sinister. This is contrasted against 19th century courtesy and attitudes, a time when a gentleman would never use magic to kill another man, but would have no qualms about running him through with a bayonet during battle. The result is an elaborate, well-built world of enchantment. Much like comic book film, fantasy has shown itself to be a moneymaker in the film industry. Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell is a result of industry willingness to take a chance on this type material. There is more coming, beyond just the aforementioned Marvel and Harry Potter films due out in November. Starz will soon be debuting a series based on Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, a blend of Americana and mythology, while HBO has been heavily pushing Westworld, a science fiction thriller. While these shows aren’t fantasy in the strictest sense, they represent a willingness to be open to a certain type of story. If it leads to more entertainment like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, not many will complain. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 13
ARTS SCENE
Getting Creative with The Day Job Three local graphic designers discuss their work and vision
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Combining Painting and Photography
T SOME POINT IN THEIR CAREERS, MOST CREATives have to contend with day jobs to make a living. One of the best ways for artists to do this exists within the world of graphic design, where they can use their creative skills to promote a business, product, or event. We had a chance to talk to three of Chattanooga’s best and brightest Graphic Designers—Travis Knight, Ryan Oyer, and Cole Sweeton—about their day jobs and personal projects.
Durinda Cheek and Cam Busch showcase views from abroad A couple of Chattanooga natives, who share a love of art and a passion for travel, have opened an exhibit in town to display their work to the public. The artists drew their inspiration while traveling aboard through the provinces of Italy and France and other European countries and are giving those of us stuck in the states beautiful insight into European landscapes. The exhibit, which is titled “Passions and Places,” is an ongoing exhibit that is currently being displayed at the North River Civic Center in Hixson. The artists, painter Durinda Cheek and photographer Cam Busch, have captured iconic scenes on both print and canvas of popular European destinations; such as, Tuscany, Venice, and Paris, along with other unique locations.
Cheek has captured the vibrancy and liveliness of these cities in her paintings as well as invoking a sense of adventure in her viewers. While Busch’s photography shares these similar qualities, they also display a sort of surrealism and vividness. A viewer can not help but feel as if it were possible to walk trough these frames and immerse themselves in the same settings. This exhibit will continue to be on display until early October; and will then be followed by a reception hosted by the two artists on October 2nd from 2 to 4 p.m. — Alyson McGowan “Passions and Places” North River Civic Center 1009 Executive Dr., Ste. 102 (423) 870-8924 chattanooga.gov
14 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Arts TONY MRAZ
“
Music speaks for itself, but when you have images that people enjoy and can share, it broadens your audience and allows people to gravitate towards your band.”
Travis Knight works as a web designer and creative consultant for Papercut Interactive. He also freelances as an illustrator, doing posters and branding for smaller businesses. He is responsible for the Cine-Rama logo, and is doing the art for their upcoming Frightening Ass Film Festival. He did the Tivoli website, and typically designs for medium sized businesses. He helps these businesses succeed, giving them responsive websites, and helping their customers find the websites with search engine optimization. His designs are created with the Adobe Creative Suite, the websites mocked up with Sketch, and all of the coding done from scratch. Papercut Interactive doesn’t build onto an existing platform like Wix or Wordpress. In his spare time, Travis creates intricately drawn and delightfully creepy monsters—many of them known as “Creeps”. He is in the process of launching a new website of Creeps and Monsters, travisknightdraws.com, where prints of his illustrations will be available. In addition, he is organizing the next Pop Con, a yearly design conference that will take place in mid-November. Ryan Oyer works in Graphic Design and Marketing for AVM Enterprises, a
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wholesale supplier for hotels. They carry products for Econolodges, Comfort Inn & Suites, Windham, Best Value Inn, Red Roof, and Best Western. Ryan designs email marketing campaigns that showcase the products AVM carries. It is a competitive business, as AVM is one of four major providers of everything from microwaves and fridges to soaps and toilet paper. He also designs for conventions, setting up booths, doing artwork for banners and rotating TV ads. “I find that incorporating people, whether it’s a hand or a face—anything human—draws people to a design. I try to have a person in anything we do. Clearly communicating the environment where the product is placed is also important—most of the time our customers don’t want to see abstract designs.” Ryan’s experience in corporate marketing, and his four years of designing CD covers for WTS Media, has informed his designs for his band’s album art. His designs are simplistic, clean, and readable. “I like doing band art because it allows me more freedom. Music speaks for itself, but when you have images that people enjoy and can share, it broadens your audience and allows people to gravitate towards your band.” For his newest album, he is primarily using the photography of Ricky Davis for the art. Ryan oversaw production, making the packaging at WTS. The photography is on black & white film, the cover image letterboxed with white bars at top and bottom— plain, simple, and clean. To pay tribute to his roots, the photos were shot at Tremont Tavern, the birthplace of his musical career. Cole Sweeton got into graphic design for
bands by doing fliers for Tremont Beauty Salon. He got involved in the music scene and began working with promoters from Nashville, Birmingham, and Atlanta. Over the years he has designed for The Revivalists, Strung Like A Horse, Nick Lutsko, Machines Are People Too, Decibella, and many other successful bands. He is now working for Bassnectar, doing signage and fliers for his shows and afterparties in the southeast. “It became a mission of mine when I got involved in the music scene to make everything look better,” Sweeton explains. “There were some really good posters here and there, but Young Monster and I were the only ones who were really tackling the problem.” Cole’s posters, album art, and band branding got him started doing design for businesses—he designed the Undaground App and logo, and is currently working on rebranding local music publishing company Honest Ox. Also employing the Adobe Creative Suite, he uses Illustrator to draw images, then assembles them in Photoshop, which has a wider range of filters that allows him to create more depth. “I don’t really consider myself to be a specific kind of designer, because as a designer you become a problem solver— that’s the job description,” he notes. “You see a problem, and then you design a way to fix it. Whether it’s art, or something I need to build, or something I need to think through, I can do it all. It doesn’t have to be on paper or Photoshop—I can build a room out to design an atmosphere or vibe. I don’t like to limit myself.”
Travis Knight
Ryan Oyer
Cole Sweetin
THU9.15
FRI9.16
SAT9.17
BASEMENT SALE
RUSSIAN TALE
DISCOVERY FUN
OUT of the VAULT
Fiddler on the Roof
AmuseUm
It's the three day Barking Legs Theater Basement Sale where you can find great deals on a wide variety of interesting things. 1 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org
One of the most popular stage musicals of all time brings thr Russian heartland to life with a beloved tale of family and hope. 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com
The “Party for Grownups that Benefits Kids” returns for its 19th year and promises to be bigger and better than ever. 7 p.m. Creative Discovery Museum 321 Chestnut St. (423) 756-2738 cdmfun.org
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 15
ARTS CALENDAR
Art + Issues: Illustrating America Then and Now
THURSDAY9.15 OUT of the VAULT: Barking Legs Theater Basement Sale 1 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org 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 St. Elmo Farmers Market 4 p.m. Incline Railway 3917 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com Homebuyer Orientation 5:30 p.m. Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise 1500 Chestnut St. #102 (423) 756-6201 cneinc.org Serve & Protect 5:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 201 Chestnut St. (423) 266-4629 tnaqua.org The Chattery Presents: Eating
16 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Well to Detoxify Daily 6 p.m. Dish-T-Pass 302 W. 6th St. (423) 413-8978 thechattery.org Art + Issues: Illustrating America Then and Now 6 p.m. Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Fiddler on the Roof 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com “Dirty” Dutch Mantell, Chris Killian 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St.
SPOTLIGHT: ROD MAN Best known as the winner of Last Comic Standing Season 8, Comedian Rod Man is truly a gem in the world of standup comedy today Rod Man The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
(423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Comedy Buffet with Chris Crofton, Johnny Pemberton, Josh Fadem 9 p.m. JJ 's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
FRIDAY9.16 QuiltWeek 9 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 quiltweek.com/chattanooga Big River Blood Drive Noon Big River Grille Downtown 222 Broad St. (423) 267-2739
bloodassurance.org OUT of the VAULT: Barking Legs Theater Basement Sale 1 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org After Hours with the Animals 5 p.m. Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1319 chattzoo.org Sculpture Fields' Roaring Twenties Extravaganza 5:30 p.m. Sculpture Fields 1800 Polk St. (423) 266-7288 sculpturefields.org Rodman 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Full Moon Kayak Tour 7:30 p.m. Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. (423) 643-6888 outdoorchattanooga.com Fiddler on the Roof 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com
SATURDAY9.17 Raccoon Mountain Road Race
ARTS CALENDAR
153rd Anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga 6:30 a.m. Raccoon Mountain (423) 842-6265 chattanoogatrackclub.org Trail of Tears Memorial Motorcycle Ride 8 a.m. Ross's Landing 100 Riverfront Pkwy. (229) 563-2227 al-tn-trailoftears.net 153rd Anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga 9 a.m. Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park 3370 Lafayette Rd. Fort Oglethorpe, GA (423) 752-5213 nps.gov Chattanooga Walk to End Alzheimer’s 9 a.m. Tennessee Riverpark 4301 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 265-3600 alz.org/altn QuiltWeek 9 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 quiltweek.com/chattanooga Serve & Protect 5:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 201 Chestnut St. (423) 266-4629 tnaqua.org All Aboard for Sculpture! 6 p.m. Tennessee Valley Railroad 4119 Cromwell Rd.
(423) 894-8028 tvrail.com Rodman 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Go!Fest 10 a.m. Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1322 chattzoo.org River Market Yoga 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. (423) 648-2496 chattanoogarivermarket.com Salomon CityTrail 30K & 10K 10 a.m. Renaissance Park 100 Manufacturers Rd. wildtrails.org Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m. Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 chattanoogarivermarket.com Northside Farmers Market 10 am. Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-7497 St. Alban’s Hixson Market 10 a.m. St. Alban’s Episcopal Church
7514 Hixson Pike (423) 842-6303 Art Entree in Canvas & Acrylic Noon Houston Museum of Decorative Arts 201 High St. (423) 267-7176 thehoustonmuseum.org OUT of the VAULT: Barking Legs Theater Basement Sale 1 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Sewing Lab Launch Party 2 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org "Captain America: Civil War" 6 p.m. Northgate Library 278 Northgate Mall Dr. (423) 870-0635 chattlibrary.org AmuseUm 7 p.m. Creative Discovery Museum 321 Chestnut St. (423) 756-2738 cdmfun.org Rodman 7:30, 10 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Fiddler on the Roof 8 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St.
(423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com
SUNDAY9.18 QuiltWeek 9 a.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 756-0001 quiltweek.com/chattanooga Chattanooga Market 11 a.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. (423) 402-9957 chattanoogamarket.com Monarch Banding Excursion Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Fiddler on the Roof 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com 9/11 Heroes Run 3 p.m. Miller Plaza 800 Market St. (619) 947-4430 911heroesrun.org Floatila Fest 4 p.m. Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 17
ARTS CALENDAR reflectionriding.org D.J Lewis and Friends 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com
MONDAY9.19 Red Bank Farmers Market 4 p.m. Red Bank United Methodist 3800 Dayton Blvd. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com Chattanooga Film Launch 6:30 p.m. Heritage House Arts and Civic Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov Improv Comedy show 7:30 p.m. Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com The Shopkeeper: A Film by Rain Perry 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org
TUESDAY9.20 East Brainerd Farmers Market 4 p.m. Audubon Acres 900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com
18 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
East Brainerd Farmers Market First Things First: Know Your Why with Comedian Michael Jr. 6:30 p.m. Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. (423) 267-5383 firstthings.org
WEDNESDAY9.21 Main Street Market 4 p.m. 325 E. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Wednesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Walkable Neighborhood Living with Dan Parolek 6 p.m. green|spaces 63 E. Main St. (423) 648-0963 greenspaceschattanooga.org Open Mic Wednesday 7 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Open Mic Comedy 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
Diversions
Consider This with Dr. Rick by Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D. “Just because my path is different doesn’t mean I’m lost.” —found on HealthyPlace.com Nor does it mean I need you to pray for me. Or feel bad for me. Or that I must “get my act together.” It takes courage to march to the beat of one’s own drummer. There’s a great deal of obvious and overt pressure to conform. Just look at the socially-sanctioned rituals that saturate our society with congratulations for conformity: From baby showers to weddings, job promotions to graduations. There’s a lot of social advantage to conformity. I have a cousin who decided to travel before getting her education; decided to stay single longer than her peers before marrying; decided to adopt later in life. She’s led one of the happiest lives I know of. Whatever paths you choose in life, I hope they are fully yours. Informed by the wisdom of others, filled with the love of those who wish you well, and actualized according to your soul’s desire. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 19
20 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
FOOD & DRINK MIXOLOGY
Gelatin and Vodka—A Perfect Combination The Jell-O shot has a quite colorful (and very tasty) history
“
CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG
Thanks to JellO’s wide variety of flavors, the ability to mix and match colors can produce beautiful and imaginative Jell-0 shots.”
Christopher Armstrong was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on a brisk morning in November when the stars aligned and Jupiter was visible with the naked eye. He enjoys the changing of seasons, vinyl records, books with lots of pages and beer that is too expensive for him to ever buy.
Tom Lehrer is an accomplished human being. Best known for writing a comedy song about a venereal disease being spread around among his friends, he can also list satirist, pianist and mathematician on his resume. However, the single accomplishment which stands out and (for some) makes his other life achievements appear insignificant is that this intellectual giant is also supposedly the inventor of the Jell-O shot. According to urban legend, the thought for this widely popular party favor came from Lehrer’s insistence on sneaking alcohol onto his U.S naval base for a Christmas party. Coming up with an idea that would make MacGyver tremble with jealousy, Lehrer cooked up orange-flavored Jell-O and just added vodka. The dessert tasted good, the party was a success and thus a national sensation was born. While most people associate this chewable cocktail with fraternity parties and other collegiate bacchanalia, the creation of the perfect Jell-O shot is actually an art form with many different areas of experimentation. Thanks to Jell-O’s wide variety of flavors, the ability to mix and match colors can produce beautiful and imaginative Jell0 shots. Pinterest boards, blogs and hashtags have been created for drinkers and artists all over the world to display their creative Jell-O shot concoction. The continued popularity of Jell-O shots has been noticed, and various club and bar owners have capitalized on the shot’s success by adding the dessert drink to their menu. Alan Gold’s, a club on McCallie Avenue, sells them for a dollar each, and
they have become a very hot item. “They are inexpensive, easy to make, and the kids love them,” said bartender Howard Haven. And by “kids”, he of course means the over-21 crowd who are children at heart. A major aspect of the Jell-O shot’s popularity is the communal partaking of the shot. Jell-O shots are not for loners; they are best enjoyed with a group of friends on a wild and celebratory night. They are not meant for everyday consumption, however—the taking of the Jell-O shot should be seen as an event. At its best, the shot will lift your night from a mundane time on the town to an unforgettable party, and at its worst, the combination of gelatin and alcohol will make you smile and laugh as you tongue the bottom of the
soufflé cup trying to consume the last remnants of the flavorful treat. Lehrer would be proud. Jell-O Shots • 1 (3 ounce) package Jell-O gelatin • 1 cup boiling water • 1⁄2 cup cold water • 1⁄2 cup vodka Boil cup of water. Empty Jell-O powder into a large mixing bowl and add the boiling water. Continue stirring for two minutes or until the Jell-O is completely dissolved. Add in the 1/2 cup of cold water and 1/2 cup of vodka. Stir until mixed and pour into 2oz. cups filled 1/2 to 3/4 of the way. Refrigerate until firm, then slurp and enjoy.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 21
MUSIC SCENE
Giving It Everything He Has…And More
James Leg’s latest solo effort “Blood on the Keys” is flat out amazing
I
Going Out In A Blaze Of Glory Jordan Hallquist and the Outfit play their final show Friday Jordan Hallquist and the Outfit are playing their final show this Friday. This last performance will be played at Clyde’s on Main at 9:30 p.m. Admission to this “One Last Show” will be five dollars, and that’s five bucks that will be well spent. “It’s going to be bittersweet, but we can’t wait for this show,” says the band. “It’s going to be a great way to go out with a bang! Make your plans to join us!” Back in August the band announced on their Facebook page that they were breaking up and that this show would be their last together. Mark Russell is leaving and joining the band One Shot Down while Jeremy Muse and Jordan Hallquist will continue to do shows as a duo
brewer media
and travel occasionally. Jordan Hallquist also says that he will continue to do solo shows. “If you want to see and hear any of these songs as you know and love ‘em, I do encourage you to come out to this show. This will be the last time you hear them as such. We love you all and want to see everyone out. It’s going to be an epic show.” Don’t let the opportunity to see this band one last time slip away. — Colin Moran Jordan Hallquist and the Outfit Friday, 9:30 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. (423) 362-8335 clydesonmain.com
Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits
everywhere. every day.
22 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
HAVE WRITTEN A LOT OF WORDS ABOUT MUSIC IN the last few years. Taken as a whole, I’ve done more writing about music than all the writing I did in high school and college combined, including the papers I wrote for other people (yes, I did that—it was college and I needed the money.)
Music MARC T. MICHAEL
“
Leg puts the guts in guttural and the gravel in your craw, but the vocals are barely even the surface of this amazing album.”
In committing that much electronic ink to digital paper I have developed some recurring observations that, despite their repetition, are only used when absolutely appropriate. Often I admonish you, dear music lover, to see one band or another now, during their rise to the top, so that one day you can say, “I saw them when.” This week’s feature is about a man named John Myers, known professionally as James Leg, and kids…I saw him when. I saw him when he was with the Black Diamond Heavies. I saw him when he was one of the hottest keyboard players in the area. I saw him when he was in demand for damn near everyone’s project and when he threw in for a few gigs with Porkchop Holder and Dave Brown at the Lizard Lounge. I can’t say precisely what sort of “hero’s journey” he embarked on since the last time I saw him, but I do know that he left as one of the best and is returning as something so far beyond that, I don’t know how to express it without being accused of hyperbole. He’ll be headed home soon after an extensive six-month tour of Europe, just in time for the release of his newest solo album, “Blood on the Keys,” and this album is ten gallons of liquid fire in a fivegallon bucket. His vocal style is so much like a particular famous piano player/
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songwriter I mention too often, it’s uncanny, but it’s just as much Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Dr. John. Leg puts the guts in guttural and the gravel in your craw, but the vocals are barely even the surface of this amazing album. “Human Lawn Dart” is the opening track, awash in booming, funky drums counterpointed by a minimalist but spine rattling bass. Leg’s 180 proof vocals kick in and the keys…what Billy Gibbons is to lead guitar, Leg is to the keyboard. With your eyes closed and the headphones cranked up, it’s easy to imagine yourself in a crowd of five thousand people all grooving to the same thunderous tune. “Hugging the Line” is the pulse pounding follow up. The combination of organ and female chorus lends a quasi-gospel sound to a song that would make the devil get up and dance. “St. Michel Shuffle” trades in some of the pure, raw sound of the other tracks for a slicker, almost jazzier feel with layered, arpeggiated minor chords forming the backdrop for a remarkable, haunting violin solo. Call it “electric gypsy,” it is that rarest of beasts; a familiar sound/ style updated and interpreted in an altogether new way. Truth be told the entire album could be described that way, which is amazing really. If I’ve heard one, I’ve heard a hundred guys try unsuccessfully to pull off what Leg does here with ease. Once again, space prevents me from delving in to each individual track the way I’d like to, but I have to mention track eight, “Tao Te Leg,” if only because it is a clear example of the genius
Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day at the Honest Pint
Secret Commonwealth
technique that infuses the whole set of tunes. At heart, the tune is a familiar chord progression, but everything from Leg’s lyrics, to his ample use of distortion, phasing, rhythm and countless other elements takes that familiar progression and makes it sound entirely new and wonderful. Here’s the thing about the blues: out of a thousand guys trying to play it, one hundred might actually be good and out of that hundred, five or ten might be doing something that hasn’t already been done to death. Out of that five or ten, one might be doing something that is actually pleasurable and exciting to hear and James Leg/John Myers is that one in a thousand. Ipso facto, this ain’t your daddy’s blues record.
I’m not done with this album yet; I intend to finish writing about the rest of the tracks in another feature closer to Leg’s show at J.J.’s Bohemia on October 17th where he will be appearing along with friend, former bandmate and newly signed blues god Mark Holder and MPH. Rounding out that bill will be Dirty Deep, from Alsace, France, a band likened to Left Lane Cruiser if Left Lane Cruiser were French. Look for the second half of this album review the week before that show and in the meantime search out James Leg online. To slightly revamp my wellworn expression, if you didn’t see him when, see him now because the next time you hear about James Leg, tickets are going to be $60 a head and likely sold out.
This Saturday, the Honest Pint proudly presents its third annual “Half Way to St. Patrick’s Day” celebration for everyone who can’t wait until March for a pint of the dark, a shot of the pure and a rousing evening of craic. The show starts at 8 p.m. with a five-dollar cover charge and the first one hundred paid guests receive their first pint of Guinness for free. Featured bands include the Red Rogues, the Wolfhounds, the Secret Commonwealth and the Molly Maguires. Because if there’s one thing we can all get behind, it’s the thought of two St. Patrick’s Days a year.
THU9.15
FRI9.16
SAT9.17
SINGING A SONG
CHECK OUT TIME
LOVING THE '80S
Songwriters In The Round
The Black Jacket Symphony
The Breakfast Club
Danimal Pinson, Randy Steele, Konstantine Vlasis & Drew Streip, and D.L. Yancy take the stage to strut their songwriting stuff. 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org
BJS is back, and this time they're tackling one of the seminal rock albums of all time: 1976's "Hotel California" by The Eagles. 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com
Come out and let your hair down (or poof it up with a ton of hairspray) and check out one of the most entertaining retro bands in town. 9 p.m. Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St. revelryroom.co
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 23
MUSIC CALENDAR
Rosanne Cash
THURSDAY9.15 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m. St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Rick Rushing Blues Jazz N’ Friends 6 p.m. Bluewater Grille 224 Broad St. bluewaterchattanooga.com Live Bluegrass 6:30 p.m. Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com Prime Country Band 7 p.m. Motley's 320 Emberson Dr. Ringgold, GA (706) 260-8404 Danimal Pinson, Randy Steele, Konstantine Vlasis & Drew Streip, D.L. Yancy 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org 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 Tim Levis 8 p.m.
24 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Hooters 5912 Brainerd Rd. hooters.com Keepin’ It Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com
FRIDAY9.16 Eddie Pontiac 6 p.m. El Meson 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd. elmesonrestaurant.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m.
SPOTLIGHT: JESSE BLACK This talented youngster melds classic rock, blues and country and has been a true road warrior, playing over 450 shows just in the last three years. Jesse Black Sunday, 12:30 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com
Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Lounge 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Drakeford 6:30 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. chattanoogamarket.com Tim Levis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Cheering Tokyo, Fairview Union 7 p.m. Thunder Creek Harley-Davidson 7720 Lee Hwy. thundercreekharley.com The Hopeful Country Band 7 p.m. Motley's 320 Emberson Dr.
Ringgold, GA (706) 260-8404 Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Rosanne Cash With John Leventhal 7:30 p.m. UTC Fine Arts Center 725 Vine St. utc.edu/fine-arts-center Shooting Squirrels, O2 8 p.m. Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Trish Ferrell Wileman 8 p.m. Charles & Myrtle's Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org The Black Jacket Symphony: ' "Hotel California" 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Priscilla and Lil' Rickee 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Shania Twain Tribute Band “Up!” 9 p.m. Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St.
revelryroom.co Daikaiju, Wray 9 p.m. JJ 's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Mark Andrew & Friends 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Jordan Hallquist & The Outfit 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Rickey Thade Cole 10 p.m. Raw Bar & Grill 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com Vinylmania Band 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SATURDAY9.17 Sweet Georgia Sound 12:30 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Danimal Planet, Woodford Sessions, Cuban B and the D 5 p.m. Brewhaus 224 Frazier Ave. brewhausbar.com Eddie Pontiac 6 p.m. El Meson
2204 Hamilton Place Blvd. elmesonrestaurant.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m. Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Lounge 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 The Hopeful Country Band 7 p.m. Motley's 320 Emberson Dr. Ringgold, GA (706) 260-8404 Tim Levis 7 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Battle of the Bands, Round 1, Night 3 7 p.m. Mayo's Bar and Grill 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com Bishop Lake, Calling Your Bluff, TACH 8 p.m. Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Nathan Bell & Annie Mosher 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Spook Handy 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater
1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org The Red Rogues, The Secret Commonwealth, The Wolfhounds, The Molly Maguires 8 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com The Black Jacket Symphony: ' "Hotel California" 8 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Priscilla and Lil' Rickee 8:30 p.m. The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com The Floozies, Chet Porter and Daily Bread 9 p.m. Track 29 1400 Market St. track29.co Blackwater Still 9 p.m. Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/chattanooga Chiffon, COLE, Gull 9 p.m. JJ 's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com The Breakfast Club 9 p.m. Revelry Room 41 E. 14th St. revelryroom.co Freddy's Finest
MUSIC CALENDAR
The Floozies 10 p.m. Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Deacon Bluz 10 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Rickey Thade Cole 10 p.m. Raw Bar & Grill 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com Vinylmania Band 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com
SUNDAY9.18 Old Scratch Sallies 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Jesse Black 12:30 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Astrophe 1:30 p.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Drakeford 2 p.m. First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Open Mic with Jeff Daniels CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 25
MUSIC CALENDAR 6 p.m. Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Urban Pioneers, Samm Bones, Hash Brown Belly Boys, Matthew Paul Revere 8 p.m. Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net
MONDAY9.19 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Open Mic Night 6 p.m. Puckett’s Grocery 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Open Air with Jessica Nunn 7:30 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com
TUESDAY9.20
Follow The Pulse on Facebook (we’re quite likeable) www.facebook.com/chattanoogapulse 26 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Tom Cordell Trumpet Improv Ensemble 6 p.m. SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 834-9300
Urban Pioneers Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Trash Bin Souvenirs , Jack Endelouz, Josh Songs 9 p.m. JJ 's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com
WEDNESDAY9.21 Eddie Pontiac 5:30 p.m. El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonrestaurant.com Jimmy Harris 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Open Jam 8 p.m. Raw Dance Club 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com Wednesday Night Jazz 8 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org The 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 ERNIE PAIK
Procedure Club's Pinky Swear, Leonard * Day * Jerman's Isinglass
Procedure Club Pinky Swear (Safety Meeting)
Leonard * Day * Jerman Isinglass (Public Eyesore)
In 2010, the New Haven, Conn. noise-pop band Procedure Club released Doomed Forever, one of those great, overlooked albums that flew under the radar, chock full of insanely catchy, gloriously messy distortion-obsessed numbers that took the baton from The Jesus and Mary Chain and Black Tambourine and ran with it. In the six intervening years between Doomed Forever and the group’s new follow-up, Pinky Swear, according to the band, it recorded and abandoned an incomprehensibly huge amount of material—hundreds of tracks, ap-
parently—leaving the cream of the crop for public release. This writer believes it; Pinky Swear is a nofiller album, with delicious low-fi symphonies and swirling weirdness from musicians who clearly understand the ins and outs of pop music. On Pinky Swear, artificiality rules; drums don’t sound like normal drums, and why not use guitar effects pedals on everything? The opposite of pristine, it’s a refreshing change from canned sounds and prevailing recording styles, which will appeal to those who aren’t fuzz-averse.
brewer media
Vocalist Andrea Belair’s sweet, angelic voice emerges from the sonic rubble from multi-instrumentalists Adam Malec and Tim Borkowski, like on “Something Was Strange,” a Suicide sibling and alternate universe new wave hit with an irresistible pop progression. Gradually, the album becomes more odd, culminating in a mid-album triptych of unease; the tense piano chords of “Low Emotional Quotient” with irregular drumbeats make it disorienting, while “Lockdown” is even more bizarre, with a strange maelstrom including a chord structure provided by Belair’s Omnichord, awkward tempo changes, woozy slide guitar flourishes and ghostly backing vocals. The strange mini-trilogy ends with the sinister, monolithic wallof-noise “Don’t Mind Me,” far from the album’s bouncy pop fare. Some of the album’s best vocal harmonies are on the echoing “Pageantry,” and “Heavy Rain” evokes a gothy post-punk influence without aping those styles; another blast of peculiar sound-making arrives on “He Leaves in an Hour” with reverberating chants and wandering confusion.
Procedure Club could have simply churned out an album of noisy pop songs and this writer probably would’ve been satisfied; however, Pinky Swear has loads of enticing curiosities, treading that line of pop comfort and intriguing discomfort.
I
singlass comes from a trio of unconventional sound creators who invent instruments and repurpose objects to create almost completely abstract tracks; as they unfurl, they have the uncanny ability to inspire opposites in the mind of the listener, at least in this writer’s case. On one hand, the unusual sounds can make the mind race, as it struggles to recognize sound sources or imagine how on earth a certain noise was made; on the other hand, these tracks also have the ability to simply paralyze the mind, where no thought processing is necessary—everything is purely felt. Cheryl Leonard concentrates on using nature as a source for sounds and instruments and has spent time in Antarctica making field recordings and using stones, shells, ice and bones for compositions. On Isinglass, Leonard is credited with playing unique instru-
ments such as the “kelp flute” and the “driftwood pipe organ” along with “wobbly rocks” and a “bowl of sand.” Jeph Jerman is a kindred spirit who also has an affinity for natural sources and has previously played objects such as pinecones, branches and seed pods; however, on Isinglass, he utilizes an unspecified list of “household objects.” The least organic of the three, Bryan Day straddles the natural and man-made worlds with oneof-a-kind instruments and also collects radio signals. Scrapes, vibrating strings, tiny pieces of wood, marbles rolling around in bowls and resonating gongs share the aether with whispering ghost transmissions and alien broadcasts. What sounds like whale songs or human breaths that vibrate surfaces provide an animal aspect among artificial sounds. The original six-track version of Isinglass was released digitally in 2014, but this new edition, released on cassette, features new artwork and an extra track. Oddly, for this writer, the most affecting track is the final piece, “Seven,” which is slightly despairing, using the metallic hum of what sounds like an antique device, with occasion rustles of human interaction. Isinglass could have easily been a chaotic free-for-all jumble, but it is actually quite calm and slightly eerie; it has the solemnity of a monastery, but one that has been overtaken by overgrowth.
Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits
everywhere. every day.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 27
DIVERSIONS FREE WILL ASTROLOGY VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22): Caution: You may soon be exposed to outbreaks of peace, intelligence, and mutual admiration. Sweet satisfactions might ROB BREZSNY erupt unexpectedly. Rousing connections could become almost routine, and useful revelations may proliferate. Are you prepared to fully accept this surge of grace? Or will you be suspicious of the chance to feel soulfully successful? I hope you can find a way to at least temporarily adopt an almost comically expansive optimism. That might be a good way to ensure you’re not blindsided by delight. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “Brainwashing” is a word with negative connotations. It refers to an intensive indoctrination that scours away a person’s convictions and replaces them with a new set of rigid beliefs. But I’d like to propose an alternative definition for your use in the coming days. According to my astrological analysis, you now have an extraordinary power to thoroughly wash your own brain—thereby flushing away toxic thoughts and trashy attitudes that might have collected there. I invite you to have maximum fun as you make your inner landscape clean and sparkly. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): My astrological divinations suggest that a lightning storm is headed your way, metaphorically speaking. But it shouldn’t inconvenience you much -- unless you do the equivalent of getting drunk, stumbling out into the wasteland, and screaming curses toward heaven. (I don’t recommend that.) For best results, consider this advice: Take shelter from the storm, preferably in your favorite sanctuary. Treat yourself to more silence and serenity than you usually do. Meditate with the relaxed ferocity of a Zen monk high on Sublime Emptiness. Got all that? Now here’s the best part: Compose a playfully edgy message to God, telling Her about all the situations you want Her to help you transform during the next 12 months. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Novelist Tom Robbins said this about my work: “I’ve
seen the future of American literature and its name is Rob Brezsny.” Oscar-winning actress Marisa Tomei testified, “Rob Brezsny gets my nomination for best prophet in a starring role. He’s a script doctor for the soul.” Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Mraz declared, “Rob Brezsny writes everybody’s favorite astrology column. I dig him for his powerful yet playful insights, his poetry and his humor.” Are you fed up with my boasts yet, Sagittarius? I will spare you from further displays of egomania under one condition: You have to brag about yourself a lot in the coming days -and not just with understated little chirps and peeps. Your expressions of self-appreciation must be lush, flamboyant, exultant, witty, and sincere. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): By normal standards, your progress should be vigorous in the coming weeks. You may score a new privilege, increase your influence, or forge a connection that boosts your ability to attract desirable resources. But accomplishments like those will be secondary to an even more crucial benchmark: Will you understand yourself better? Will you cultivate a more robust awareness of your strengths and weaknesses, your needs and your duties? Will you get clear about what you have to learn and what you have to jettison? AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’m confident that you would never try to sneak through customs with cocaine-laced goat meat or a hundred live tarantulas or some equally prohibited contraband. Please use similar caution as you gear up for your rite of passage or metaphorical border crossing. Your intentions should be pure and your conscience clear. Any baggage you take with you should be free of nonsense and delusions. To ensure the best possible outcome, arm yourself with the highest version of brave love that you can imagine. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Should you be worried if you have fantasies of seducing a deity, angel, or superhero? Will it be weird if some night soon you dream of an erotic rendezvous with a mermaid, satyr, or centaur? I say no. In fact, I’d regard events like these as healthy signs. They would suggest that you’re ready to tap into mythic and majestic yearnings that have been buried
28 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
Homework: Read my response to the periodic Internet rumors that astrology is based on wrong assumptions, and that there’s a 13th sign: http://bit. ly/13thsignhoax deep in your psyche. They might mean your imagination wants to steer you toward experiences that will energize the smart animal within you. And this would be in accordance with the most exalted cosmic tendencies. Try saying this affirmation: “I am brilliantly primal. I am wildly wise. I am divinely surprising.” ARIES (March 21-April 19): What should you do if your allies get bogged down by excess caution or lazy procrastination? Here’s what I advise: Don’t confront them or berate them. Instead, cheerfully do what must be done without their help. And what action should you take if mediocrity begins to creep into collaborative projects? Try this: Figure out how to restore excellence, and cheerfully make it happen. And how should you proceed if the world around you seems to have fallen prey to fear-induced apathy or courage-shrinking numbness? My suggestion: Cheerfully kick the world’s butt— with gentle but firm good humor. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): For the foreseeable future, your main duty is to be in love. Rowdily and innocently in love. Meticulously and shrewdly in love. In love with whom or what? Everyone and everything—or at least with as much of everyone and everything as you can manage. I realize this is a breathtaking assignment that will require you to push beyond some of your limitations and conjure up almost superhuman levels of generosity. But that’s exactly what the cosmic omens suggest is necessary if you want to break through to the next major chapter of your life story.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): What do you hope to be when you are all grown up, Gemini? An irresistible charmer who is beloved by many and owned by none? A master multi-tasker who’s paid well for the art of never being bored? A versatile virtuoso who is skilled at brokering truces and making matches and tinkering with unique blends? The coming weeks will be a favorable time to entertain fantasies like these—to dream about your future success and happiness. You are likely to generate good fortune for yourself as you brainstorm and play with the pleasurable possibilities. I invite you to be as creative as you dare. CANCER (June 21-July 22): “Dear Soul Doctor: I have been trying my best to body-surf the flood of feelings that swept me away a few weeks ago. So far I haven’t drowned! That’s good news, right? But I don’t know how much longer I can stay afloat. It’s hard to maintain so much concentration. The power and volume of the surge doesn’t seem to be abating. Are there any signs that I won’t have to do this forever? Will I eventually reach dry land?—Careening Crab.” Dear Careening: Five or six more days, at the most: You won’t have to hold out longer than that. During this last stretch, see if you can enjoy the ride more. Re-imagine your journey as a rambunctious adventure rather than a harrowing ordeal. And remember to feel grateful: Not many people have your capacity to feel so deeply. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If there can be such a thing as a triumphant loss, you will achieve it sometime soon. If anyone can slink in through the back door but make it look like a grand entrance, it’s you. I am in awe of your potential to achieve auspicious reversals and medicinal redefinitions. Plain old simple justice may not be available, but I bet you’ll be able to conjure up some unruly justice that’s just as valuable. To assist you in your cagey maneuvers, I offer this advice: Don’t let your prowess make you overconfident, and always look for ways to use your so-called liabilities to your advantage. Rob Brezsny is an aspiring master of curiosity, perpetrator of sacred uproar, and founder of the Beauty and Truth Lab. He brings a literate, mythsavvy perspective to his work. It’s all in the stars.
Jonesin’ Crossword
MATT JONES
“I’ll Do It Myself, Thanks”—there’s no us involved here. ACROSS 1 Light purple shade 6 ___ d’art 11 “Whatever” reaction 14 “Let It Go” singer Menzel 15 Box spring supporters 16 Schubert’s “___ Maria” 17 Francis-can, these days? 18 “The Grapes of Wrath” extra who’s extra-sweet? 20 Where many seaside tourist pictures are taken? 22 Round-ending sound 23 Distress signal that’s also palindromic in Morse code 24 Costar of Bea, Estelle, and Betty 25 Dart in one direction 26 Satirist’s specialty 27 Kaplan of “Welcome Back, Kotter” 30 Served like sashimi 33 Home delivery of frozen drugs? 36 Fly fisherman’s fly 38 2006 Winter
Olympics city 39 Hard to capture 40 Highway center strip that’s always been loyal and trustworthy? 43 “Chappie” star ___ Patel 44 Big steps for young companies, for short 45 ___ Tech (forprofit school that shut down in 2016) 46 Frittata necessity 48 Some scans, for short 49 Anti-smoking ad, e.g. 52 Nonproductive 54 Devices that capture audio of fight scenes? 58 What people throw their four-color 1980s electronic games down? 60 Trainee’s excuse 61 Reed or Rawls 62 Australia’s ___ Beach 63 Rival of Aetna 64 Joule fragment 65 Princess in the Comedy Central series “Drawn Together” 66 NFL Network anchor Rich DOWN
1 ___, Inc. (“Funkytown” band) 2 Snake River Plain locale 3 Some cosmetic surgeries, for short 4 Art study subj. 5 Dieter’s measurement 6 “Do the Right Thing” actor Davis 7 IBM’s color 8 NHL All-Star Jaromir 9 Greek vowels 10 Co. that introduced Dungeons & Dragons 11 What 7-Down and yellow do 12 Dastardly 13 Plantar fasciitis affects it 19 Kimono accessory 21 Palindromic 2015 Chris Brown song 25 “Your Moment of ___” (“The Daily Show” feature) 26 One of the five W’s 27 Hand sanitizer targets 28 Quebecoise girlfriend 29 The Frito ___ (old ad mascot) 31 2006 movie
set in Georgia 32 Another of the five W’s 33 One way to carry coffee to work 34 “We’ll tak a ___ kindness ... “: Robert Burns 35 Carnivore’s diet 36 Drug that can cause flashbacks 37 Beehive State college athlete 41 “Get the picture?” 42 Favorable response to weather, say 47 1990s GM model 48 Eyelashes, anatomically 49 Engine knocks 50 Movie snippet 51 Dam site on the Nile 52 Spot in the sea 53 New Look fashion designer 54 Mil. absentee 55 WWE wrestler John 56 “Sorry, but I’m skipping your novella of an article,” in Internet shorthand 57 2002, in film credits 59 “This Is Us” network
Copyright © 2016 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per3minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 797 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 29
FOOD & DRINK SUSHI & BISCUITS
A Brave New World Of Sambal Sauces
Our expat chef experiments with Malaysian and Indonesian sambals
MIKE MCJUNKIN
“
Thanks to Huy Fong Foods, the same geniuses that make Sriracha here in the U.S., sambal oelek is the most common variety in North America, but it only scratches the surface of sambal mountain.”
Longtime food writer and professional chef 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
Condiments were the last thing on my mind when I sat down at one of Kedai Kat Jat’s rickety plastic tables. I had taken a taxi over to the open air restaurant in the Brickfields neighborhood of Kuala Lumpur, specifically to try their ikan pari bakar, or grilled stingray. The stingray was not great. The grill-charred skin was unctuous and gelatinous while the flesh tasted similar to overcooked eel. On the bright side, it had been cleaned properly so the meat didn’t smell like hot piss as can happen with carelessly handled stingray. At least I had a cold Carlsberg to wash it down. But my mediocre experience with the ikan pari bakar was completely overshadowed by a small melmac bowl filled with a deceptively simple crushed chili pepper condiment. It was fiercely spicy and complex with distinct chili, garlic and citrus flavors. The heavily tattooed Malaysian cook noticed me deeply examining the sauce, smiled and said, “Sambal. Good with everything.” At that moment, a veil was lifted and I saw the condiment world in an entirely new light. My personal sambal awakening began and an enticing new world of Malaysian and Indonesian sambals spread out before me. Huy Fong brand sambal oelek (pronounced zam-bahl U-lek) had been a staple in my pantry for years, but this Malaysian version had very little in common with my go-to jar sporting a rooster on the front. I quickly learned that was because there are actually hundreds of types of sambal (yes, hundreds), each with its own history, blend of chiles, seasonings and preferred usage. Thanks to Huy Fong Foods, the same geniuses that make Sriracha here in the U.S., sambal oelek is the most common variety in North America, but it only scratches the surface of sambal mountain. In Indonesia, the birthplace of sambal, there is a tendency to go heavy on
30 • THE PULSE • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM
the spices, often including shallots, garlic, chiles, turmeric, shrimp paste, lime, palm sugar, tomato and lemongrass in their sambal recipes. It can be eaten raw or cooked into other foods and the variety of flavors is staggering. For example, there’s Sambal Hijau (green chile sambal) that goes with beef rendang, Sambal Mangga (green mango sambal) that goes with fried chicken, Sambal Kacang (peanut sambal) for satay, or Sambal Ulek that you can put on almost anything. Malaysian sambals tend to be lighter, less spicy, sweeter and sometimes a bit sour. The most common Malaysian sambal is Sambal Belacan, which is just a mixture of chiles, sugar and belacan (shrimp paste). Malaysian Sambals don’t typically include as many ingredients as their Indonesian counterparts and the flavors can be strikingly different from one to the next. Sambal Kelantan, for example, has a strong sour flavor due to heavy doses of lime or vinegar; Sambal Ikan Bilis (Salted fish sambal) and Sambal Sotong (Squid Sambal), on the other hand, have very unique, fish-forward flavors. Malaysian sambals also tend to be wellmixed. In fact, restaurant cooks have recently begun to move towards using a blender to mix them rather than traditional mortar and pestle. Sambals can be eaten with almost anything—noodle dishes, grilled meats, fish, burgers, pizza or as a substitution for hot sauce in your favorite chicken wings recipe. Anywhere you use hot sauce or a spicy dip, replace it with sambal for an instant upgrade. With a basic sambal base, you can mix and match in-
gredients to create whatever flavors you like. Add fermented shrimp paste and you’ll end up with Sambal Terasi; fried peanuts and you have Sambal Kacang. The possibilities are endless. I’ve included a good sambal base recipe below to get you started. Pick up a mortar and pestle from the Asian market (they’re shockingly cheap), Google some variations and start you own sambal awakening. Selamat makan! Indonesian Sambal • 1 cup coarsely chopped Thai chiles or red jalapenos • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped garlic • 3 tbls canola oil • 1 tbls coarse salt • 2 tbls white vinegar Add canola oil to a pan on medium heat. Add chiles and garlic to the heated oil and sauté until the chiles soften. Remove chiles and garlic from the pan and add to a mortar and pestle, leaving the oil in the pan for later. Add salt and mash until smooth but slightly chunky. Place the mixture back into the pan with the chile oil and add vinegar. Stir on medium heat for 1-2 minutes until the sambal thickens. Pour into a glass jar and store in the fridge for up to two months, or use for other sambal recipes.
CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 • THE PULSE • 31