The Pulse 16.43 » October 24, 2019 by Brewer Media Group

VOL. 16, ISSUE 43 • OCTOBER 24, 2019

The State Of The Local Music Scene Diversity, community, and an abiding love for the art

Chattanooga Is For (Veggie) Lovers ChattaVegan leads the way for herbivores

Simba & Friends Come To Life "The Lion King, Jr." is a delight for all ages

Warnings On Survival & Uncertainty Punk powerhouse ponders potent possibilities

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CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

2 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

INSIDE THIS ISSUE VOLUME 16, ISSUE 43 • OCTOBER 24, 2019 BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr. FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

EDITORIAL Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Jenn Webster Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors David Traver Adolphus Rob Brezsny Jessie Gantt-Temple Matt Jones Ernie Paik Michael Thomas Brandon Watson Addie Whitlow Editorial Interns Lauren Justice • Mackenzie Wagamon Cartoonists Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin mike@brewermediagroup.com Account Executives Rick Leavell • Cindee McBride Libby Phillips • Lisa Roche John Rodriguez • Danielle Swindell

CONTACT Offices 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse THE FINE PRINT: The Pulse is published weekly by Brewer Media and is distributed throughout the city of Chattanooga and surrounding communities. The Pulse covers a broad range of topics concentrating on music, the arts, entertainment, culture and local news. The Pulse is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. No person without written permission from the publisher may take more than one copy per weekly issue. The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors. Contents Copyright © 2019 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

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State Of The Local Music Scene Time once again for The Pulse’s annual review of the music scene here in Chattanooga—the article in which we stand the music scene against the kitchen wall and make a pencil mark to see how much it’s grown in the past year.

FOR (VEGGIE) LOVERS

SURVIVAL & UNCERTAINTY

Just re-energizing from organizing and executing Chattanooga’s first ChattaVegan Fest, ChattaVegan has outdone themselves in entertaining and educating about herbivores.

One phrase that reverberates throughout the debut album Ancient Warnings from the local punk band Listening Skulls is “Ancient voices sing warnings we don’t understand.”

9 AIR BAG

SIMBA COMES TO LIFE

The Lion King is clearly one of Disney’s most beloved animated musical films, and for good reason; it wouldn’t have received a live-action remake earlier this year if it wasn’t.

AN EERIE SATISFACTION

The Netflix model of film production is a tricky one. On one hand, it can be hard to keep up with the number of original films and television shows within the app.

20 MUSIC CALENDAR

23 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

12 ARTS CALENDAR

22 FEATURED DINING

25 NEW IN THEATERS

13 HALLOWEEN GUIDE

23 JONESIN' CROSSWORD

26 GAME ON!

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 3

CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES

Chattanooga Is For (Veggie) Lovers

Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick

“Meraki: (v) to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself into your work.” — A Greek term Meryl Streep tells this story: “I was at an audition for King Kong where I was told I was too ‘ugly’ for the part. This was a pivotal moment for me. This one rogue opinion could derail my dreams of becoming an actress or force me to pull myself up by the bootstraps and believe in myself. “I took a deep breath and said, ‘I’m sorry you think I’m too ugly for your film but you’re just one opinion in a sea of thousands and I’m off to find a kinder tide.’” Often described as “the best actress of her generation,” La Streep has gone on to win or receive nominations for 21 Academy Awards. Consider this: Life is not happening to you. Life is responding to you.

ChattaVegan leads the way for herbivores UST RE-ENERGIZING FROM ORGANIZING AND EXECUTING CHATTANOOGA’S first ChattaVegan Fest, ChattaVegan has outdone themselves in entertaining and educating about the herbivore’s local lifestyle.

By Jessie Gantt-Temple Pulse contributor

“

Don’t let anyone convince you that you aren’t doing enough or lead you down a road that is not your own.”

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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Partnered with the City of Chattanooga’s Open Spaces Division and sponsored by the beloved Cashew, ChattaVegan Fest 2019 was a huge success with almost forty vegan or vegan-friendly vendors and innumerable patrons spread about Coolidge Park. A nonprofit founded in 2016 by three vegan friends, Corey Evatt and Brittany and Michael Coward, ChattaVegan provides an all-encompassing resource for anyone looking to pursue the plant-based point of view in food, clothing, make-up, health, and beyond. “We provide tools to help you on your path. And remember, it is your path. Don’t let anyone convince you that you aren’t doing enough or lead you down a road that is not your own. We want to encourage and inspire diversity and inclusion within the vegan

movement.” Under their “How To” section, they offer links for podcasts, documentaries, recipes, and clothing. The Vegan Starter Kit answers many questions for a budding vegetarian like how to raise vegan children or to be vegan in a non-vegan family, and what to do with your non-vegan stuff once you’ve made the change. Although I am an omnivore, I am “veg-curious”, an avid locavore and appreciate a plant-based meal made with love that feeds my belly and my soul. My first vegan restaurant experience was three years ago at Sluggo’s and it was mind blowing. As my hardcore vegan friend Crystal said, “Sluggo’s is for when you need to eat your feelings in comfort food,” and my soul was definitely satiated with their zucchini griddle cakes, savory collards, and garlic mashed

EDITOONS

potatoes with mushroom gravy. Another vegan icon and main sponsor of the ChattaVegan Fest, Cashew, “believes that everyone, no matter their usual diet, can benefit greatly from incorporating vegan, plantbased meals into their lifestyle.” Their house-made beet burger with garlicky kale is one of their beefy-sized originals that has been on their menu since their inception five years ago. Cashew and Sluggo’s are two of Chattanooga’s staple vegan restaurants, but many have popped up in recent years including Chattanooga’s first vegan food truck, The Green Tambourine, which makes a magnificent Memphis BBQ jackfruit sammy with jalapeno slaw, and Real Roots Cafe in nearby Fort Oglethorpe, both which sprouted in 2017. Your Local Seitanist, who sprung into the vegan scene in 2018 via the Brainerd Farmers Market and popups, has had so much support they are soon securing a brick and mortar with Chattanooga’s first vegan deli. There is a difference between vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants; the latter offers vegan options in conjunction with their carnivorous choices. For example, our beloved Mojo Burrito offers Macho Nachos that may be topped with a non-dairy alternative, vegan cashew cheese made by Ca-

shew, and their vegetarian Papa Bear chili minus shredded jack cheese. Mama Crunk’s Pies offers vegan savory pot pies like Butternut Shallot and Shepherd’s Pie, and don’t even get me started on her sweets. Clumpies is also a vegan-friendly establishment with sorbets like their Strawberry Hibiscus and decadent dairy-free ice creams like Coconut Latte. When once there was a time where vegans or vegetarians struggled to find something more on menus than side dishes, the ample array of delectable dishes is as abundant in Chattanooga as the veggie lovers. A Facebook group, “ChattaVegans (and the curious)” is available where one can participate in a judgementfree space to ask questions, learn about events, share recipes, and make friends. No matter your dietary decisions— vegan, raw vegan, vegetarian, fruitarian, lacto-ovo, pescatarian, or flexitarian—any palate would be pleased with increasing the intake of plantbased food while supporting these local restaurants. ChattaVegan is a nonprofit, so support their mission by volunteering, using their Amazon Smile or donating directly at chattavegan.com. And if you’re a real foodie, you’ll enjoy following #chattavegan on Instagram. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 5

COVER STORY

State Of The Local Music Scene Diversity, community, and an abiding love for the art

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

“

Chattanooga has given performers a reason to stay local and because of that, the talent pool has increased dramatically.”

IME ONCE AGAIN FOR THE PULSE’S ANNUAL REVIEW of the music scene here in Chattanooga—the article in which we stand the music scene against the kitchen wall and make a pencil mark to see how much it’s grown in the past year. I tend to be a bit of a cheerleader for Chattanooga’s musical community, and I make no apologies for that. Simply put, I know where it was when I came to town in the early nineties, I know where it is today, and I couldn’t imagine not being enthusiastically proud of the gains made. Certainly none of the talented kids who used to play at the Scarlet Tanager’s open mic in ’93 would ever have believed we’d come this far. That’s my attitude and I’m sticking to it, but it doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a well-rounded view of how things are today, so this time I thought I’d enlist the help of some local performers, engineers, producers, promoters,

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venue operators, and other assorted musical riff-raff to offer a broader perspective. What follows is drawn from the consensus of feedback from all parties. My thanks to all of you who took the time to share your views and experiences with me. What it is that makes a scene? First and foremost, there has to be talent, and Chattanooga has that in abundance. It always has, really, but there was a time when you wouldn’t have known it. When I first started writing about music in the mid-nineties, I was dumbfounded by the number of bands

and artists who were making real strides on a regional, national, and even international level, yet remained virtually unknown here in their own hometown. The talent pool back then was impressive, but never got to be especially large since anyone who wanted to make a real go of it had to leave to find opportunities. Chattanooga was a place you were from, not a place you stuck around. That’s not quite the case anymore. Chattanooga has given performers a reason to stay local and because of that, the talent pool has increased dramatically. The unintended consequence of this is that artists, intentionally or otherwise, inspire one another, push each other to be better, expand each other’s range and experience, broadening their mutual creativity. All of this leads directly to the next necessary compo-

nent of a music scene, diversity. If you have fifty great bands in your town all playing more or less the same thing, their greatness is sorely diminished. We are a mid-sized city, yet we boast a diversity of musical styles and genres to rival some of the great metropolises. Week to week you can find every variety of rock music, from vintage and rockabilly, to punk, surf, heavy metal, new wave, alt-college, art, experimental, psychedelic, Brit pop, and more. Blues, jazz, hip-hop, rap, reggae, folk, bluegrass, Americana, gospel, swing, big-band, parody, pastiche, and the delightfully indefinable are all well represented in the city. Talent and diversity are a strong start, but it’s all for nothing without venues. The Signal, Songbirds, Feed, Hi-Fi Clyde’s, Slick’s, Southside, Bud’s, Mayo’s, Ziggy’s, Tremont, and the cultural nexus that is JJ’s Bohemia are just a sampling and that doesn’t even consider Sidewalk Stages, Chattanooga Market, local festivals and more breweries than you can shake a stick at, all of which offer opportunities for performers. Besides venues, we have resources like never before, including The Studio at the Library, Sound Corps, Hip-Hop

“

Week to week you can find every variety of rock music, from vintage and rockabilly, to punk, surf, heavy metal, new wave, alt-college, art, experimental, psychedelic, Brit pop, and more.” CHA, Chattanooga Girls Rock, Doors Open Jazz, Fiddlers Anonymous, and Dynamo, all of which contribute to the next condition any healthy music scene requires, a sense of community. I grew up in a small town, just big enough for a handful of bands and a couple of music stores and very few opportunities to play that weren’t someone’s backyard. It was an ignorantly cut-throat environment and when a band DID get a chance to do something worthwhile, half the crowd was other bands coming to mock and deride. It wasn’t until I moved to a city proper that I saw musicians sticking up for and supporting each other. If someone stole your gear before a big show, the band your band openly competes with for gigs would come lend you theirs. Rivalries were generally good-natured, overshadowed by the understanding that no matter what

or where you played, everyone was in the same boat. Play a gig, big or small, half the crowd would be other bands coming to cheer you on, to encourage you, to clap, scream, and stomp. You can have a scene without community, but it a nasty, soulless thing, and what was already a hard road to walk becomes much harder. Conversely, the love and mutual respect and admiration here in our town is a thing of beauty. The number of benefits, fundraisers, and tributes alone is a testament to that and if there are a few unpleasant players, well, every village is going to have a few idiots. It does nothing to deter the bonds and friendships so prevalent here today. Talent, diversity, opportunity, mutual support; when you have those things, the fans are inevitable. Years ago I described Chattanooga as a fickle town when it came to supporting local mu-

sic, and I still think that was true at the time. I don’t think so anymore, and the feedback from most of folks suggests the same. There is still the occasional light crowd, an unfortunate side effect of there frequently being too MUCH to see and do, but by and large, Chattanooga comes out to show some love and appreciation which is, at the end of the day, the linchpin that holds it all together. And there you have it, folks. The state of the musical union in a nutshell is that things are the best they’ve ever been and on track to be bigger and better still. I’d like to leave you with a few thoughts from some of the folks who help to make the scene what it is. Nick Lutsko: “The talent in this city is as abundant as it is diverse. I can name a great act for just about every genre of music, and I can name just as many acts that can’t be confined to a specific genre. Nonetheless, there’s a great sense of camaraderie in the music community.” Jim Tate: “JJ’s is excellent. We need more of this level of clubs with such committed owners. There is a seriously high price to get into some venues— president tickets make sense, but tick-

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 7

COVER STORY

ets at $20 and higher are not exactly sensible—they kill the ability to hit two to three clubs in a night. It is ultimately unsustainable. That said, some folks do it really right (Tremont Tavern has a great sound setup and has a great mix of open mics and artists they bring in with no cover, and several others are the same caliber). We could use a nice central resource for both club owners to promote outside of their own page, and for acts to be able to resource for booking.” Jack Kirton: “Seven days a week you can catch talented players like Jonathan Wimpee, or Lon Eldridge on guitar, Jessica Nunn on strings, or Dan Pinson, Marcus White, Tim Starnes, or Yatti Westfield on any instrument. Most of these shows have FREE ADMISSION during the week! We are working towards national/ international recognition as a music community. The Songbirds museum put our name out there and we have local acts like John Myers (James Leg) and Strung Like a Horse performing in Europe. Also I hear there are plans to send Nick Lutsko and Greezy Rick into outer space to promote his next album.” 8 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

“

The bottom line is simple: no matter what your taste is in music, there’s a band and a venue here in town to meet your needs.” Eroc Russell: “The music lovers in the area are very supportive of their favorite bands and that is an integral part of a band’s success especially when they venture outside of their home town, which seems to be happening more frequently recently. I’m looking forward to seeing where we can go from here.” John Shoemaker: “Metal is climbing, with new bands like Basstronaut, Taverns, Toad Smoke and Terminal Overdrive. Hip hop continues to make gains and Chattanooga’s own BbyMutha has been crushing it all over the world. Indie rock has seen some new notable band[s] making waves like the Fridge, Dolphin Group, Lewis and Clark, Psychic Dungeon, Shaky’s Bad Knee, Tunnels and Oweda.” Matt Shigekawa: “The local music scene has grown tremendously in the 15 years I have been playing here.

It’s the support from the local fans and fellow musicians that has really perpetuated the growth as a whole. People coming to your shows and coming to know the music that comes from your heart builds the confidence to keep pouring yourself out there.” Jon Wimpee: “I really think we have a lot of good talent and a lot of good venues, but not a lot of proper communication. There’s more options than ever for places to see live music and for the most part the new places put together local lineups. This makes it seem like there’s a loss of musical talent but in reality it’s just spread thinner.” The bottom line is simple: no matter what your taste is in music, there’s a band and a venue here in town to meet your needs. So go out and support local music. There's plenty of it out there just waiting for you.

COLUMN · AIR BAG

Mail(air)bag: Common Car Queries The automotive answer man answers your automotive questions Editor’s Note: David is dealing with an issue involving Ursus americanus, otherwise known as the black bear, so we’re re-running one of our favorite past columns.

David Traver Adolphus Pulse columnist

“

While I answer questions to the best of my ability, I am an expert and my responses should not be considered an opinion, but absolute fact from which you should never deviate.” David Traver Adolphus is a freelance automotive researcher who quit his full time job writing about old cars to pursue his lifelong dream of writing about old AND new cars. Follow him on Twitter as @proscriptus.

E DON’T GET A LOT OF MAIL here at Air Bag, and most of what we do get was actually intended for Dr. Rick over at Shrink Wrap. Which has been awfully positive, but I digress. That said, once or twice a year we accumulate enough letters of our own to put them together and answer them. Bear in mind that while I answer questions to the best of my ability, I am an expert and my responses should not be considered an opinion, but absolute fact from which you should never deviate. “Why is my ‘check engine’ light on?” —Anne There are only three reasons your check engine light, or CEL, could be on. CELs are triggered when your Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD-II) throws a code, in your case because your gas cap isn’t on all the way. I did notice and I was going to say something, but I really wanted you to write. The other reasons are low blinker fluid, and humidity. “I hear a grinding noise when I apply my brakes, what could cause that?” —Mark A Mark, grinding brakes usually mean you need new brake pads and maybe rotors, but what happened to you is that when you “drove” through that cornfield, pieces of corn stalk got stuck in your brakes. You also have a dead mouse in your radiator and you’re rapidly going bald. “When do I need to replace my timing belt?” —G. Gordon L

Your timing belt has already broken and as you have an “interference” engine, it’s a pile of junk. Start walking, schmuck. A noninterference engine stays out of your, and everybody else’s, bidness. Think about that next time. “My car has been stalling intermittently, and there doesn’t seem to be any pattern.” —Eloise S Great name, Eloise. Are you single? If not, does it really matter that much to you? Anyhoo, the stalling actually does have a pattern—it happens approximately 315 miles after the last time you put gas in the car. Call me next time. “My mechanic says I need to have a brake/transmission/coolant fluid flush, but I’ve heard that’s a scam.” —Henry F That is not in the form of a question, Henry. You should have all of them flushed every 60 days, personally, by me. Thirty days. Weekly. Maybe next time you’ll follow directions. “Eloise’s wasn’t in the form of a question, either, but you answered her. Also, what is the proper fuel to use in my car?” —Aimee K

I’ll allow it. Aimee is also a nice name. Do you know Eloise? Your car can run on any petroleum product, anyone who tells you otherwise is in the pocket of Big Oil. Freethinkers everywhere know that picking up a four pack of five gallon jugs of vegetable oil from Walmart is half the cost of gas and 1,000 percent more eco-friendly. “How much is my used car worth?” —Condoleeza R. I will give you $9,999.99 for it, no cash down and no credit checks. Bring your whole family down to Crazy Dave’s House of Cards, er, Cars, where we’re grilling up free hot dogs for the kids every single day! “I am purchasing a used vehicle, is it a good choice?” —Ken S. Ken, you haven’t made a single good choice in your life, why start now? Was it a good choice to have three children while you were still living with your mom? Was it a good choice to get that tattoo on your forehead? Sure, go ahead and buy a Mustang Cobra. There is absolutely no way you could regret it. Yolo, babe.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Youth Theatre Brings Simba & Friends To Life "The Lion King, Jr." is a delight for all ages

Spooktacular Sculptures In The Sky Go back in time to your childhood of flying kites when you visit the Sculpture Fields at Montague Park this Saturday. Sculpture Fields is partnering with River City Kites for the incredible Spooktacular Sculptures in the Sky. The high-flying family fun begins at noon and will last until 6 o’clock. The skies at the 33-acre park will be filled with colossal, colorful kites all day—an experience that doesn’t come around often. Some kites are so massive, spanning 20 feet, that they must be anchored to the ground. We wouldn’t want a kite catastrophe on Main Street. If you have never visited the Sculpture fields, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to check out the nearly 50 monumental-scale sculptures. This free event includes not only stunning kites, but music, activities, a costume parade (around 1 p.m.), local food trucks, and a beer garden, too. There is something for the whole family to enjoy. No matter your age, a sky filled with kites is sure to spark excitement within you. Spooktacular Sculptures in the Sky is an out-of-the-box idea that puts a twist on classic Halloween events. In the midst of your Halloween plans, carve out some time for this spooky experience. — Lauren Justice

By Addie Whitlow Pulse contributor

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The production features a cast of 27, all of whom are between the fifth and 12th grades.”

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HE LION KING IS CLEARLY ONE OF DISNEY’S MOST beloved animated musical films, and for good reason; it wouldn’t have received a live-action remake earlier this year if it wasn’t.

The film, released in 1994, tells the inspiring tale of a young lion cub, Simba, who faces many hardships at a young age but has great friends, like Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa, to help him along the way. Now, seeing The Lion King on screen is a fantastic experience, but have you ever had the opportunity to see it live, right before your eyes? If you haven’t—or if you have, and loved it enough to see it again—then you definitely want to catch the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s production

of “The Lion King Jr.”, opening Friday night at 7 p.m. “The Lion King Jr.” is essentially a musical combination of Disney’s animated musical film and the Broadway production that has been made more accessible for younger audiences and cast members. Because the show retains many qualities from both the Broadway production and the original movie, audiences will definitely get the full “Lion King” experience. The Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s

production kicks off their 2019–2020 season and is one of the biggest shows the Youth Theatre has ever produced. The production is directed by Scott Dunlap and features a cast of 27, all of whom are between the fifth and 12th grades. The cast started rehearsals on September 3rd, and Dunlap said they’ve been extremely dedicated, as they have a full course load for the show. “The show has six different African languages spoken in it, so there’s a glossary that comes with it of how to pronounce these things and what they mean, and [the cast] has done a great job with the vocabulary,” explained Dunlap. “We’ve also created some really cool moments about how Simba grows up or how certain things are revealed, how to take that movie magic and translate it to stage.” “The Lion King Jr.” may be an abridged version of the full-scale production, but it still accurately and excitingly tells the story of Simba, which is really a story about a little boy who grows up and the difficulties and triumphs he faces along the way. “It’s very much a story about growing up, and I think it ties in perfectly. It’s a great show for the youth theatre in many respects, and there’s some really beautiful moments happening in rehearsal,” Dunlap said. “I think it’s really exemplary for the youth theatre; there’s a lot of moments that would be

“

It’s very much a story about growing up, and I think it ties in perfectly. It’s a great show for the youth theatre.”

difficult for adults to do, and they’re doing a fantastic job of making that happen as young adults.” Dunlap also explained that the show will feature roughly 75 costumes and headdresses that the Theatre Centre is making themselves. Although there are only 27 cast members, the majority of the cast are portraying multiple characters, so it’s been a large undertaking. There will also be a bit of puppetry used to indicate who the characters are. The music for the show, which is a combination of music from the Disney film and the Broadway production, is directed by Neshawn Calloway and was written by Tim Rice and Elton John. There will also be energetic dance numbers choreographed by Marie Dance. The big musical hits from the movie will certainly be performed; “I Can’t Wait to be King”, “Circle of Life”, “Hakuna Matata”, and more. The show will also feature several newer songs from the Broadway production. As for the choreography, Dance explained that it’s really fun; there’s a ton of movement from start to finish, such as cartwheels, jumping, and

more, so audiences will be constantly entertained. “It’s been amazing; the kids are so good at what they do. It’s been a great experience so far. I just hope everybody enjoys the show, and I hope it’s as heartfelt as I feel like ‘The Lion King’ is to me, because it’s one of my favorite movies,” Dance said. The entirety of the story is told on the open African savannah. However, the CTC is utilizing a periaktos, which is something that originates from Greek theater thousands of years ago. “A periaktos is a moving piece; it’s a three-sided slab. So it turns and rolls, and we’re able to put them in different locations and groupings to create different looks. We’re also able to change the mood, color, and setting pretty easily and quickly using these pieces,” Dunlap said. “The Lion King Jr.” opens Friday night at 7 p.m. and will be performed through November 3rd, with evening shows Friday nights and 2:30 p.m. matinee shows on Saturdays and Sundays. The show is going to be performed in the mainstage theater, and tickets are available over the phone or online.

THU10.24

FRI10.25

SAT10.26

Isaac Duncan III

A Kiss For Cinderella

Come see the unveiling of Duncan's newest exhibit, “From the Floor to the Wall”. 6 p.m. John C. Williams Gallery Southern Adventist Univ. 4881 Taylor Cir. southern.edu

You only thought you knew the story of Cinderella. This will make you think again. 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org

House On Haunted Hill It's the final weekend for the perfect Halloween theatrical production. 7:30 p.m. The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA bapshows.com

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR THURSDAY10.24 What’sthetea Noon Miller Plaza 850 Market St. (423) 265-3700 rivercitycompany.com Fall Open House 4 p.m. Shuptrine’s Gallery 2613 Broad St. (423) 266-4453 shuptrinesgallery.com REVIVE: An Educational Movement 5:30 p.m. The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Depths of the SEE 5:30 p.m. Smart Furniture 1700 Broad St. (423) 643-0025 smartfurniture.com Isaac Duncan III, “From the Floor to the Wall” 6 p.m. John C. Williams Gallery Southern Adventist University 4881 Taylor Cir. southern.edu Open Mic Poetry 6:30 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Jodi White 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Dearly Beloved 7:30 p.m. East Brainerd Theater 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. (423) 892-9363 christchurchchatt.org A Kiss For Cinderella 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Student Showcase 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga

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1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Alcoholics Not Anonymous Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. (423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com Country Line Dancing Class 8 p.m. Westbound Bar 24 Station St. (423) 498-3069 westboundbar.com

FRIDAY10.25 AquaScarium 4 p.m. Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (423) 265-0695 tnaqua.org Author Nic Stone 6 p.m. Barnes and Noble 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. (423) 893-0186 barnesandnoble.com The Lion King, Jr. 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Aladdin Jr. 7:30 p.m. Christian Family Theater 4315 Brainerd Rd. (423) 930-8800 cftchattanooga.com Jodi White 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Dearly Beloved 7:30 p.m. East Brainerd Theater 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. (423) 892-9363 christchurchchatt.org A Kiss For Cinderella 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org

House On Haunted Hill 7:30 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA (706) 996-8350 bapshows.com Improv “Movie” Night 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Video Game Night 8 p.m. Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Ruby Falls Lantern Tours 8:30 p.m. Ruby Falls 1720 S. Scenic Hwy. (423) 821-2544 rubyfalls.com Good, Old-Fashioned Improv Show 10 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SATURDAY10.26 Tennessee Valley Heart Walk 8:30 a.m. AT&T Field 201 Power Alley (423) 267-2208 www2.heart.org Frightening Ass Film Festival 10 a.m. Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com West Village Green Farmers Market 10 a.m. Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com The GARDEN ‘ART’mosphere 11 a.m. Highland Park Commons 2080 Union St. facebook.com/GardenandSoul Painting in Watercolor with Margaret Park 11:30 a.m.

1635 Rossville Ave. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com Spooktacular Sculptures in the Sky Noon Sculpture Fields 1800 Polk St. (423) 266-7288 sculpturefields.org Great Pumpkin Celebration Noon Bass Pro Shop 1000 Bass Pro Dr. (423) 242-4000 basspro.com The Met Live in HD: Manon 12:55 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Christopher Morris Book Signing 1 p.m. Barnes and Noble 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd. (423) 893-0186 barnesandnoble.com Quest for Light with Helen Butler 1 p.m. Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Ely Parker: One True American Program 2 p.m. Walnut Street Bridge 1 Walnut St. (423) 821-7786 nps.gov/chch The Lion King, Jr. 2:30, 7 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com A Kiss For Cinderella 2:30, 7:30 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org Garden and Soul Festival 3 p.m. Highland Park Commons 2000 Union Ave. (423) 602-7756 highlandparkcommons.com Chattanooga’s Circus

the Pulse

Halloween Guide spooky railroad All Aboard for The Eerie Express

weird & wonderful ODDtober And AquaScarium delight

plus: haunted houses & halloween events WHERE TO GO, WHAT TO SEE, WHEN TO SCREAM

your weekly guide to chattanooga's favorite halloween events

All Aboard The Eerie Express By Lauren Justice There are only two days left to experience the family-friendly Eerie Express train ride at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Be sure to catch the train this Friday or Saturday. The 90-minute train ride features storytelling, tours through the “gentle thrills” Funhouse, hot cider, black light mini golf, coloring pages, and a goody bag for the kids to take home. Each room is themed differently with special lighting, interesting decorations, and lots of surprises. The scene mimics a 1920’s train ride, complete with employees in full vintage uniform. This night involves not only Halloween festivities, but a trip back in time to the Golden Age of railroads. The train will cross over four bridges through

Missionary Ridge Tunnels and provide breath-taking views of the surrounding area. Once the train reaches the station, riders disembark at the Funhouse area. Designed with young children in mind, this is not a haunted house or scary type of Halloween experience. Nothing spooky to see here, just sweet family fun for all ages. It is guaranteed you won’t have to

be worried about anyone jumping out from behind a wall. While at the Grand Junction, families are also welcome to visit the petting zoo, feed the animals, and take pony rides at no additional charge. Kids will get the feeling of being on the farm when they visit all the animals. No need to eat supper before your visit. The Depot Deli inside Grand Junction Station will extend their hours until 7:30 pm. In the spirit of Halloween, everyone is encouraged to put on their best costumes. There will be a costume contest for children and prizes will be given for the best boy’s and best girl’s costume. Bring out your family to this fun-filled evening and enjoy all the best parts of Halloween without the scare.

Explore The Weird & Wonderful By Mckenzie Wagamon Are you intrigued by the odd, bizarre, or quirky? Every October, the Tennessee Aquarium strives to showcase these qualities through their animals. ODDtober is a celebration of the “weird and wonderful side of nature.” Every week the amazing educators at the Tennessee Aquarium focus on two different animals to show and explain. This year they have covered everything from tomato frogs and monitor lizards to the African tigerfish. This week until the 26th, they will be exhibiting owl oddities at 11 a.m. and showcasing a fantastic butterfly release at 2 p.m. In the last week of October, from the 27th to the 31st, the Aquarium will be centered around flashlight fish (11 a.m.)

and scorpions (2 p.m.). Another fun aspect of ODDtober is that every Saturday at 11 a.m., the divers that feed the fish will demonstrate some amazing underwater pumpkin carving. Can you imagine trying to carve a Jack o’ Lantern when you’re next to a seven-foot fish? You’ll have to see it to believe it.

14 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

The Aquarium will also be hosting a family-friendly party they call AquaScarium this Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but this spooktacular party will include yummy treats, a dance party, and a chance to trick or treat among your favorite animals. Come in your best costume, and remember to register online. ODDtober is an excellent way to learn some interesting and unbelievable facts about your favorite animals. To discover more about the mysteries of nature, make sure to go to the Tennessee Aquarium at 1 Broad Street in downtown Chattanooga before ODDtober ends. The Aquarium is open every day from 10 to 6 p.m., and tickets can be bought online or in person. For more information, call (423) 265-0695.

Haunted Houses & Events Dread Hollow Thur-Sun & Halloween 321 Browns Ferry Rd. (423) 800-0566 dreadhollow.com Blowing Springs Farm Fri-Sun in October 271 Chattanooga Valley Rd. (706) 820-2531 blowingspringsfarm.com Rocktoberfest Fall Festival Sat & Sun in October Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. (706) 820-2531 seerockcity.com Chattanooga Ghost Tours Nightly through Oct. 31 57 E. 5th St. (423) 800-5998 chattanoogaghosttours.com Ringgold Haunted Depot Oct. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 155 Depot St. (706) 935-3061 cityofringgoldga.gov Escape Experience Chattanooga Daily through Oct. 31 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 551-3306 escapeexperience.com Boo in the Zoo Oct. 19-20 & 26-27 Chattanooga Zoo 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave. (423) 697-1322 chattzoo.org Halloween Eerie Express Fri & Sat in October

Tennessee Valley Railroad 4119 Cromwell Rd. (423) 894-8028 tvrail.com Acres of Darkness: Haunted Woods & Family Adventure Fri & Sat in October Audubon Acres 900 North Sanctuary Rd. (423) 892-1499 acresofdarkness.com Post-Mortem Haunted Trail Fri & Sat in October Tri-State Exhibition Center 200 Natures Trail McDonald, TN (706) 339-4917 postmortem.myfreesites.net Fall Hayrides & Campfires Saturdays in Oct. thru Nov. 3 Cloudland Canyon State Park 122 Cloudland Canyon Park Rd. (706) 657-4050 gastateparks.org The Haunted Barn Fri & Sat in October, Nov. 3 5017 McDonald Rd. McDonald, TN (423) 396-9790 thehauntedbarnchattanooga.com The Haunted Hilltop Fri & Sat in October & Halloween 8235 Hwy. 58 (423) 488-3956 thehauntedhilltop.com The River Maze Fri-Sun in October 1371 Hwy. 64 Cleveland, TN (423) 650-0710

therivermaze.com ODDTober Daily through Oct. 31 Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. (800) 262-0695 tnaqua.org Lake WinnepeSPOOKah! Fri & Sat in October Lake Winnepesaukah 1730 Lakeview Dr. (706) 866-5681 lakewinnie.com Midnight Special Costume Contest Saturday, Oct. 26 at 11:59 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA (706) 996-8350 bapshows.com Freakers Ball on Station Street Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. Station Street 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co Haunted Trail Oct. 26-27, 6 p.m. Enterprise South Nature Park 190 Still Hollow Loop (423) 893-3500 hamiltontn.gov/esnp Spooktacular Sculptures in the Sky Saturday, Oct. 26, Noon Sculpture Fields 1800 Polk St. (423) 266-7288 sculpturefields.org Big Chill Halloween Bash Saturday, Oct. 26 The Big Chill 103 Cherokee Blvd.

(423) 267-2455 thebigchillgrill.com Scary-Oke Contest Saturday, Oct 26 Sing It or Wing It 410 Market St. (423) 757-WING singitorwingitchattanooga.com Creepy Carnival Halloween Party Thursday, Oct. 31, 7 p.m. The Dwell Hotel 120 E. 10th St. (423) 710-2925 thedwellhotel.com Halloween Party & Ashley and The X’s CD Release Thursday, Oct. 31, 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. (423) 531-2473 museum.songbirds.rocks HiFi Clyde’s Halloween Show Friday, Nov. 1, 10 p.m. Hi Fi Clyde’s 122 W Main St. (423) 362-8335 hificlydeschattanooga.com Halloween at Buds with Voodoo Slim Saturday Nov. 2, 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. (423) 499-9878 budssportsbar.com The Dylan Kussman Band Costume Bash Saturday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com

THE PULSE • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • 15

16 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • HALLOWEEN GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Spectacular 6 p.m. Inversions Circus Arts & Performance Center 2315 Cannon Ave. (423) 682-8219 southsideinversions.com Halloween Minis 6 p.m. Heritage Park 1428 Jenkins Rd. (423) 855-9474 chattanooga.gov Breaking The Silence Gala 7 p.m. Marriott Hotel 2 Carter Plaza (615) 649-1143 breakingthesilencegala.org Jodi White 7:30, 9:45 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Aladdin Jr. 7:30 p.m. Christian Family Theater 4315 Brainerd Rd. (423) 930-8800 cftchattanooga.com House On Haunted Hill 7:30 p.m. Back Alley @ The Mars Theater 117 N. Chattanooga St. LaFayette, GA (706) 996-8350 bapshows.com Dearly Beloved 7:30 p.m. East Brainerd Theater 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. (423) 892-9363 christchurchchatt.org Week in Review 8 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m. Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SUNDAY10.27 Collegedale Market 11 a.m.

Collegedale Commons 4950 Swinyar Dr. collegedalemarket.com Great Pumpkin Celebration Noon Bass Pro Shop 1000 Bass Pro Dr. (423) 242-4000 basspro.com Classic Car Show Noon Southern Adventist University 4881 Taylor Cir. southern.edu Chattanooga Market 12:30 p.m. The Chattanooga Market 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Bolshoi Ballet: Raymonda 12:55 p.m. Regal Hamilton Place 8 2000 Hamilton Place Blvd. (844) 462-7342 regmovies.com Spirited Away 12:55 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Dearly Beloved 2:30 p.m. East Brainerd Community Theater 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. (423) 892-9363 christchurchchatt.org The Lion King, Jr. 2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Aladdin Jr. 3 p.m. Christian Family Theater 4315 Brainerd Rd. (423) 930-8800 cftchattanooga.com Chattanooga’s Circus Spectacular 6 p.m. Inversions Circus Arts & Performance Center 2315 Cannon Ave. (423) 682-8219 southsideinversions.com Jodi White 7:30 p.m. The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St.

(423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com "Spider Baby" Screening 9 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 chattpalace.com

MONDAY10.28 Autumn Belly Dance Session 5:45 p.m. Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd. (423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Spirited Away 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com River City Dance Club 7:45 p.m. Peace Strength Yoga 3800 St. Elmo Ave. (813) 731-9581 rivercitydanceclub.com Comedy Open Mic Night 9 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. (423) 468-4192 thehonestpint.com

TUESDAY10.29 Chess K-night 5 p.m. Mad Priest Coffee Roasters 1900 Broad St. (423) 393-3834 madpriestcoffee.com Spooky Stories 6 p.m. Star Line Books 1467 Market St. (423) 777-5629 starlinebooks.com Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m. Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Paths to Pints 6:30 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave.

taphousechatt.com Cirque du Soleil in Cinema Presents: LUZIA 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Open Mic Comedy 7 p.m. Common General 3800 St. Elmo Ave. (423) 521-0065 Poetry, Pups & Pints 7:30 p.m. Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com

WEDNESDAY10.30 Main Street Market 4 p.m. 522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Artsperiences! 6 p.m. Mad Knight Brewing Company 4015 Tennessee Ave. (423) 825-6504 madknightbrewing.com Spirited Away 7 p.m. AMC Chattanooga 18 (423) 855-9652 5080 South Terrace fathomevents.com Naughty Knights Chess Meetup 7:30 p.m. The Bitter Alibi 825 Houston St. (423) 362-5070 thebitteralibi.com Comedy Improv Show 7:30 p.m. Chattanooga State Humanities Theatre 4501 Amnicola Hwy. chattanoogastate.edu Open Mic Comedy 8 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 • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 17

THE MUSIC SCENE

Ancient Warnings On Survival & Uncertainty

Punk powerhouse ponders potent possibilities

Enjoying Music By Firelight Looking for a family outing, a unique date night, or a great hang with friends? Then make sure you attend the last performance of the 2019 Fireside: Outdoor Concert Series. This family-friendly event, sponsored by Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, welcomes people of all ages and is a great place to celebrate the autumn season. This concert will conclude the Outdoor Concert Series, which consisted of a musical performance every Thursday in October. The show will be held on the porch of Sniteman Log Cabin at Greenway Farms. The rustic outdoor venue includes a fire pit, so make sure to bring blankets, chairs, and s’mores supplies. The Concert Series will end its successful run with Randy Steele. The extraordinary banjo player will take you on a musical journey with his signature blend of bluegrass and country styled tunes. There will also be complimentary flashlights for the first 200 people who attend the concert. So, to make sure you don’t miss out on something great, head out to Greenway Farms. The next concert will be held this Thursday from at 7p.m. For more information, call Greenway Farms at (423) 4256311. — Mackenzie Wagamon

NE PHRASE THAT REVERBERATES THROUGHout the debut album Ancient Warnings and accompanying zine from the Chattanooga punk band Listening Skulls is “Ancient voices sing warnings we don’t understand,” reminiscent of the quote “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.” By Ernie Paik Pulse contributor

“Ancient Warnings is definitely about history repeating because we fail to remember and learn, but also about a whole lot more,” said Tom Foote, the group’s vocalist and lyricist, via email. “We somehow live in a time where there is a (albeit hopefully small) group of people that choose to believe that the world is flat.

18 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

“Generations after generations predicting that the end is near. Someday someone will get it right, they have to, right? And there are people out there on all sides pushing for their apocalypse, just so they can say that they’re right.” Foote concluded his musings on a cautionary note: “I also think some of these songs speak of the human experience and how totally different it is for everyone, and how all of these one-size-fits-all solu-

tions are a bunch of bullshit.” Foote, also known for his longrunning zine “Spare Change” and basement venue Anarchtica, teamed up with local D.I.Y.-scene mainstay Ashley Krey (of the venue Sluggo’s and bands Future Virgins, Riversedge, Basement Benders, and many others), who previously played with Foote in Coma Vigil. Guitarist Bill Johnson, a bandmate of Krey’s in Future Virgins and Sexy, was enlisted along with drummer Robbie Hanshaw, who had also played with Johnson and Foote in various acts, and the quartet’s first show was on November 1, 2018. “I think that we all came into this band with an open mind about the musical direction,” said Foote. “The challenge is to let go of

“

Ancient Warnings is packed with raw and potent punk tunes marked with Foote’s part-bombastic, part-unhinged singing and driving riffs.”

my pre-conceived notions and authoritarian tendencies,” said Krey via email. “The joy of creating together comes from letting go and watching the seeds of ideas change to flowers, albeit twisted. Working on songs individuals bring to the table, there is a mutual effort at deconstruction and reassembly.” The band travelled to Cincinnati back in April to record Ancient Warnings (available from the Bloomington, Indiana label Let’s Pretend) with friends John Hoffman and Jerry Westerkamp from the group Vacation. “It can’t be overstated how their selfless work helped us realize this recording,” said Krey. “[They were] always open to experimentation and endlessly inspiring.” One of the band’s favorites is “Shooting Yourself in the Foot as a Right”, which was the first song that the band wrote that had equal input from all the performers. “That song had just gotten lyrics right before the record-

ing,” said Foote. “I only sang that song twice at practice before the recording.” “The music was built around the lyrics,” said Krey. “On the recording it features double vocals with different textures.” “John and Jerry brought their magic to it, and we started playing with alternative microphones,” said Foote. “I ended up walking away from that recording going, “Okay, I guess I need to go purchase a bullhorn because I want this certain sound!’ And I did.” Ancient Warnings is packed with raw and potent punk tunes marked with Foote’s part-bombastic, part-unhinged singing and driving riffs, ranging from heavy to sprinting. The album ends with a somber instrumental that uses an excerpt from a dialogue between artist Arthur Jafa and social scholar bell hooks, where she discusses “deep survival” and the elements that a person uses to survive extreme situations, where trauma can allow

a person to shift their behavior; hooks brings up the example of Juliane Koepcke, the teenaged sole survivor of a plane crash in 1971 in the Amazon rainforest, who braved ten days in the wild before reaching civilization. “‘Bell Hooks’ was a phone recording of a musical interlude we intended for the record,” said Krey. “It was finished on music software on the 4th floor of the library. Nothing quiet about it.” “I think in the discussion with ‘Bell Hooks’ one of the things that grabbed me was their thoughts on an ending,” said Krey. “When is an album done? When does it finish forming and become up for grabs to the listener to take its meaning? “For us it represents a year of work and memory. Its function for us is over. But is there a way we can present it that will transmit some of the transcendence we felt? Our trials navigating art are not unlike Juliane Koepcke’s journey.”

THU10.24 Ariel Omarzu Head over to Ooltewah to catch the electic Jazz-Folk fusion sounds of this talented Chattanooga native. 7 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com

FRI10.25 Nick Lutsko's Album Release There's no party quite like a Nick Lutsko party, and this will be one for the ages. Don't miss it! 8 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com

SAT10.26 The Nim Nims Album Release You've read about "Bolshevik Rollup" here in these pages, now come hear it live in person. 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

The Best Sports Coverage in Chattanooga. Period. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 19

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY10.24 Eric Roberson 6 p.m. Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org Danimal & Friends 6 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com David Anthony & Paul Stone 6 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Preston Ruffing 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Ariel Omarzu 7 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com New Grass Express 7 p.m. The FEED Co. Table and Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Chris Milam 7 p.m. The Woodshop 5500 St. Elmo Ave. facebook.com/ thewoodshopchatt Toby Hewitt 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Randy Steele 7 p.m. Greenway Farms 5051 Gann Store Rd. (423) 643-6311 Maria Sable 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Miraculous Mandarin 7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Jesse Jungkurth & Friends 7:30 p.m.

20 • THE PULSE • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Keepin’ it Local 8 p.m. The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com El Rocko, Glass Mansions, Good Grief, Caramore, Matthew Paul Revere 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com

FRIDAY10.25 The Briars Noon Miller Park 928 Market St. millerparkplaza.com Stephen Busie Trio 6 p.m. Edley’s Bar-B-Que 205 Manufacturers Rd. edleysbbq.com Webb Barringer 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Drew Robbins 6:30 p.m. Slick’s Burgers 309 E. Main St. slicksburgers.com Caleb Hutchinson with Rachel Mcintyre Smith 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rock Worlds Collide 7 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com Lew Card 7 p.m. OddStory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Jonathan Laird

7 p.m. The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Dustin Concannon 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jason Lyles 8 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Nick Lutsko Album Release + Masquerade 8 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Stringers Ridge Band 8 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com The Velcro Pygmies 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirds.rock Mark Andrew 9 p.m. The FEED Co. Table and Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Roshambeaux 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Longshot, Bongsloth, Terminal Overdrive, Choptop Sawyer 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com David Ingle & Friends 9 p.m. The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Clout Trap 9 p.m. Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net The Randy Watson Project 10 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

Throttle 21 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SATURDAY10.26 Danimal 10:30 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Sounds of Melange 6 p.m. The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Lew Card 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jenner Fox 7 p.m. Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org EG Kight Trio 7 p.m. Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rock Marty Manus 7 p.m. Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com Mark Andrew 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Luke Simmons & The Lovestruck 7:30 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Lewis and Clark, Only, Lukang 8 p.m. The Bicycle Bar 45 E. Main St. facebook.com/TheBicycleBar/ Magnificent Lions 8 p.m. Barley Chattanooga 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Dizygote 8 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Kid Cuebas 8 p.m. The Spot 1800 E. Main St. (423) 803-5744 Tyson Leamon 8 p.m. Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Atreyu’s, Whitechapel, He Is Legend, Tempting Fate, Santa Cruz 8:30 p.m. The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Voodoo Visionary 9 p.m. HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com The Nim Nims Album Release 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Killer on the Loose 10 p.m. Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. palacebazar.com Throttle 21 10 p.m. Bud’s Sports Bar 5751 Brainerd Rd. budssportsbar.com

SUNDAY10.27 Butch Ross 11 a.m. Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Mark Andrew 11 a.m. The Edwin Hotel 102 Walnut St. theedwinhotel.com Carl Pemberton 11 a.m. Westin Chattanooga 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com My Name Is Preston Noon Southside Social

1818 Chestnut St. thesouthsidesocial.com Danimal and Friends 12:30 p.m. The Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com The Other Brothers 2 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Monthly Jazz Jam 3 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org The Molly Maguires 7 p.m. The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy facebook.com/TheHonestPint/ Straight No Chaser 7 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Rumors of Fleetwood Mac 7:30 p.m. Walker Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Tourist Trap 8:30 p.m. The Palace Theater 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Blackfoot Gypsies 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

MONDAY10.28 Open Air with Jessica Nunn 6 p.m. The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m. The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Blues Night Open Jam 7 p.m. Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirdsguitars.co Very Open Mic with

Shawnessey Cargile 8 p.m. The Well 1800 Rossville Blvd. #8 wellonthesouthside.com Jacuzzi Boys, Changers 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

TUESDAY10.29 Acoustic Bohemian Night 6:30 p.m. Mexi-Wing IX 6925 Shallowford Rd. mexiwingix.business.site Danimal 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Space Jam Open Mic 7 p.m. Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Open Mic Night 7 p.m. The Bicycle Bar 45 E. Main St. facebook.com/TheBicycleBar The Simon & Garfunkel Story 7:30 p.m. Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Amber Fults 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Pickin’ N Pints 7:30 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m. Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com White Reaper with Nude Party, Wombo, and Charles Irvin 9 p.m. Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirds.rock Waterfall Wash, Attagirl,

Prayer Circle, Colour Design 9 p.m. JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com

WEDNESDAY10.30 Matthew Paul Revere, BONGSLOTH, OneTimers, Mixed Signals, Wohglemut 6 p.m. Mad Knight Brewing Company 4015 Tennessee Ave. madknightbrewing.com Preston Ruffing 6:30 p.m. Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m. Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Upstate with Nicholas Edwards Williams 7 p.m. Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m. WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Gino Fanelli 7:30 p.m. Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Randall Adams 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 of Montreal 9 p.m Songbirds South 35 Station St. songbirds.rock Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 21

Mike’s Tavern: Grab A Brew, Stay A Spell A welcoming environment with excellent food and drink

ou’re in Hixson. And you’re ready for a break—maybe a pit stop after a Christmas shopping trip, or a beer (or several) after work. Maybe you just finished raking leaves on a crisp Sunday morning and a sipping a Bloody Mary seems like the next logical thing to do. Where do you go? Mike’s Tavern, at the corner of 153 and Hamill Road. This local gathering place offers family friendly independent dining in Hixson, for a taste of tavern-style food with a twist. The menu features the freshest available ingredients, combined into high-quality staples such as wings, burgers, and fish and chips or more innovative fare, like the spinach and kale salad with berries and goat cheese or the Caprese chicken with citrus rice. Children from one to 100 will enjoy the amped-up mac-n-cheese, while busy workers will appreciate lunch offerings such as a tall Reuben sandwich on Tuesdays or Chicken Fried Chicken on Thursdays. Look at Mike’s Facebook page for all sorts of daily promotions, like chili dogs just for game day. Adult guests can pair their meals with a fine craft beer, glass of wine, cocktail, or margarita, and everyone can enjoy the tasty appetizers, such as tavern shrimp, crab cakes…even brisket nachos. And then there are the specials… • $5 Margarita Mondays • Half-Priced Wine Wednesdays • Dollar Off Bottle Beer Thursdays Whatever day (or night) you come

in, there’s bound to be a special that will wet your whistle. On weekends, it’s the special of specials, the Saturday/Sunday Brunch. This combination of breakfast, lunch, and happy hour combines standard menu items with a host of amped-up midday fare. Think chicken and waffles, crab cake benedict, quiche, or steak and eggs. “The favorite is our whiskey butter French toast topped with strawberries,” general manager Kane Weathers says. “There’s also smoked brisket hash, with brisket straight from our own smokehouse on Broad Street. It’s as fresh as you can get.” Plus, there’s a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar where you can garnish your cocktail with asparagus, celery…even spicy pickles. Oh, and don’t forget the $2 mimosas. Hey, wait—isn’t a tavern a place for seedy, late-night drinking? Like maybe with motorcycle gangs? Not so much. A tavern is America’s answer to the pub, a public house

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“It’s a very quaint, laid-back atmosphere with traditional wood to recreate the oldschool tavern feel, Our motto is ‘good food, good drink, great service.’” where people of all ages can take their time over delicious food and robust brews. If you’re a fan James Herriot’s “All Creatures Great and Small”, you’ll remember that the pious Yorkshire vet used to stop by the public house with his wife for a pint. A tavern, when it’s done like Mike’s, is a salt-of-the-earth type

place, relaxed, welcoming, and authentic. You can easily take your family there after synagogue or church; you can visit Mike’s after a Little League game or before an evening drive to see Halloween lights. “It’s a very quaint, laid-back atmosphere with traditional wood to recreate the old-school tavern feel,” Weathers says. “Our motto is ‘good food, good drink, great service.’ Whether you’re here for a family outing or a business meeting or anything in between, our goal is to make everyone comfortable.” Mike’s Tavern is part of the family of businesses including Mike’s Hole in the Wall and Mike’s Smokehouse. Together, they form a Chattanooga tradition of offering great food and drink in a relaxed environment. Mike’s Tavern is always adding new flavors to their menu. To see what’s on special, visit their website at mikestaverntn.com or take a look at their Facebook at facebook.com/ mikestaverntn

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Sometimes the easiest way to get something done is to be a little naive about it,” writes computer engineer Bill Joy. I invite you to consider the value of that perspective, Scorpio—even though you’re the least likely sign in all the zodiac to do so. Being naive just doesn’t come naturally to you; you often know more than everyone else around you. Maybe you’ll be more receptive to my suggestion if I reframe the task. Are you familiar with the Zen Buddhist concept of “beginner’s mind”? You wipe away your assumptions and see everything as if it were the first time you were in its presence. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Is it always a bad thing to be lost? To wander in the unknown without a map? I’d like to propose a good version of being lost. It requires you to be willing to give up your certainties, to relinquish your grip on the comforting dogmas that have structured your world—but to do so gladly, with a spirit of cheerful expectancy and curiosity. It doesn’t require you to be a macho hero who feels no fear or confusion. Rather, you have faith that life will provide blessings that weren’t possible until you got lost.

“Letter Imperfect”—I’ll try to spell it out. ACROSS 1 Mgr.’s helper 5 Bendy joint 10 Spongy toy brand 14 “The Avengers” villain 15 Word before firma or cotta 16 Wall mirror shape 17 Skill at noticing things (or, Item of interest) 19 Prefix with sol and stat 20 Out on the waves 21 Bad day at bat (or, One more than two) 23 British writer Ben known for his books of “Miscellany” 25 Chimney passages 26 500 maker 28 Find the secret code to get out, e.g. 31 Fifth of a series 34 Elite Eight org. 36 Divide by tearing 38 “Here, don’t get locked out” (or, Unlocking question) 43 “The Godfather”

first name 44 Something ___ 45 Actor Penn of “Sunnyside” 46 “Wild Thing” band, with “The” 50 Outer jigsaw puzzle piece 52 “You’re pulling ___!” 54 Sets as a goal 58 Have a wide panoramic view (or, Country distances?) 62 “Swell” 63 Arm bone 64 “Watch out” (or, Boded disaster) 66 Salad bar veggie 67 PBS chef Bastianich 68 “___ not know that!” 69 “Smooth Operator” singer 70 “Oh jeez!” 71 Full of streaks DOWN 1 Jennifer Garner spy series 2 Cinematic intro? 3 Smidge

4 Grow bored with 5 One of les quatre saisons 6 “Blade Runner 2049” actor Jared 7 “Garden State” actor/director Zach 8 Camden Yards athlete 9 Bewhiskered beast 10 Two-by-two vessel 11 In any case 12 Very uncommon 13 Mass of floating ice 18 Purpose of some apps with profiles 22 Investigator, informally 24 Food popular on Tuesdays 27 Body image? 29 Look at the answers 30 “Orinoco Flow” singer 31 Rugged wheels 32 “Get rid ___!” 33 Tolkien trilogy, to fans 35 “All in favor” answer

37 Cable modem alternative 39 Hotel posting 40 Supportive cheer 41 Meat-testing org. 42 Singer/ songwriter Spektor 47 Place with a membership, often 48 In a slicktalking manner 49 Smartphone shot? 51 Food Network notable 53 Crystallined stone 55 Toksvig currently of “The Great British Bake Off” 56 Skipped the restaurant 57 “Hot” rum drink 58 2016 World Series champions 59 “Under the Bridge” bassist 60 Having no depth, in brief 61 Mumbai titles 65 When doubled, a guitar effect

Copyright © 2019 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. 959

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Worrying is the most natural and spontaneous of all human functions,” wrote science educator Lewis Thomas. “Let’s acknowledge this, perhaps even learn to do it better.” I agree with him! And I think it’s an ideal time for you to learn how to worry more effectively, more potently, and with greater artistry. What might that look like? First, you wouldn’t feel shame or guilt about worrying. You wouldn’t regard it as a failing. Rather, you would raise your worrying to a higher power. You’d wield it as a savvy tool to discern which situations truly need your concerned energy and which don’t. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Some wounds go so deep that you don’t even feel them until months, maybe years, later,” wrote Aquarian author Julius Lester. Pay attention to that thought, Aquarius. The bad news is that you are just now beginning to feel a wound that was inflicted some time ago. But that’s also the good news, because it means the wound will no longer be hidden and unknowable. And because you’ll be fully aware of it, you’ll be empowered to launch the healing process. I suggest you follow your early intuitions about how best to proceed with the cure. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): If you’ve been having dreams or fantasies that the roof is sinking or the walls are closing in, you should interpret it as a sign that you should consider moving into a more spacious situation. If you

have been trapped within the narrow confines of limited possibilities, it’s time to break free and flee to a wide open frontier. In general, Pisces, I urge you to insist on more expansiveness in everything you do, even if that requires you to demolish cute little mental blocks that have tricked you into thinking small. ARIES (March 21-April 19): Singapore has one of the world’s lowest fertility rate. A few years ago, this state of affairs prompted the government to urge Singaporeans to have sex on an annual holiday known as National Day. A new rap song was released in the hope of pumping up everyone’s libidos and instigating a baby boom. It included the lyrics, “Let’s make fireworks ignite / Let’s make Singapore’s birthrate spike.” I have a different reason for encouraging you to seek abundant high-quality sex, Aries. According to my analysis, tender orgasmic experiences will profoundly enhance your emotional intelligence in the coming weeks—and make you an excellent decision-maker just in time for your big decisions. (P.S. You don’t necessarily need a partner.) TAURUS (April 20-May 20): In the 1530s, explorer Jacques Cartier led expeditions from France to the New World. As Europeans often did back then, he and his team were rude and brutish to the indigenous folks who lived there, stealing their land, kidnapping some of them, and slaughtering herds of great auks in a bird sanctuary. Yet there was one winter when Cartier’s marauders got crucial help from their victims, who gave them vitamin C-rich pine needle tea that cured their scurvy. I suspect you Tauruses will embark on quests and journeys in the coming months, and I’m hoping your behavior will be different from Cartier’s. When you arrive in unfamiliar places, be humble, curious, and respectful. Be hesitant to impose your concepts of what’s true, and be eager to learn from the locals. If you do, you’re likely to get rich teachings and benefits equivalent to the pine needle tea. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Many software engineers have enjoyed The Pragmatic Programmer, a book that helps them develop and refine their code. One popular technique the book offers is “rubber duck deprogramming.” Programmers place a toy rubber duck in front of them, and describe to it the problems they’re having. As they explain each line of code to their very good listener, they may discover what’s amiss. I recommend a similar approach to you as you embark on metaphorically debugging your own program, Gemini. If a rubber duck isn’t available, call on your favorite statue or stuffed animal, or even a photo of a catalytic teacher or relative or

spirit. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Read the following passage from Gabriel García Márquez’s novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. “Gaston was not only a fierce lover, with endless wisdom and imagination, but he was also, perhaps, the first man in the history of the species who had made an emergency landing and had come close to killing himself and his sweetheart simply to make love in a field of violets.” I admire the romantic artistry of Gaston’s dramatic gesture. I applaud his imaginative desire to express his love in a carefully chosen sanctuary filled with beauty. I praise his intense devotion to playful extravagance. But I don’t recommend you do anything quite so extreme in behalf of love during the coming weeks. Being twenty percent as extreme might be just right, though. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In his song “Diplomatic Immunity,” rapper Drake disparages tranquility and harmony. “I listen to heavy metal for meditation, no silence,” he brags. “My body isn’t much of a sacred temple, with vodka and wine, and sleep at the opposite times,” he declares. Is there a method in his madness? It’s revealed in these lyrics: “All that peace and that unity: all that weak sh-- will ruin me.” In the coming weeks, Leo, I urge you to practice the exact opposite of Drake’s approach. It’s time to treat yourself to an intense and extended phase of self-care. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s a favorable time to refresh your relationships with your basic sources and to make connections with new basic sources. To spur your creative thought on these matters, I offer the following questions to meditate on. 1. If you weren’t living where you do now, what other place might you like to call home? 2. If you didn’t have the name you actually go by, what other name would you choose? 3. If you had an urge to expand the circle of allies that supports and stimulates you, whom would you seek out? 4. If you wanted to add new foods and herbs that would nurture your physical health and new experiences that would nurture your mental health, what would they be? LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Mushrooms have spores, not seeds. They’re tiny. If you could stack 2,500 of them, they’d be an inch high. On the other hand, they are numerous. A ripe mushroom may release up to 16 million spores. And each spore is so light-weight, the wind can pick it up and fling it long distances. I’ll encourage you to express your power and influence like a mushroom in the coming days: subtle and airy but abundant; light and fine, but relentless and bountiful.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 23

FILM & TELEVISION

In the Tall Grass Embodies An Eerie Satisfaction Netflix does well by Stephen King’s short story

Let's Do The Time Warp Again “It’s astounding. Time is fleeting. Madness takes its toll.” From the first time Riff-Raff uttered those words on screen in 1975, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been part of the national consciousness. Several generations of film goers have made the cult film a late night classic in theaters far and wide, along with costumes, props, and (of course) talking back to the big screen. And now, just in time for the Halloween season, the Bobby Stone Film Series brings the camp classic back to Chattanooga for a special performance this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Tivoli Theatre. And it’s not just a “regular” showing. No, there will be a live shadow cast leading fans in audience participation, and prop bags filled with a variety of approved items will be for sale in the lobby for just $10. It must be noted that while costumes and props are strongly encouraged, certain things cannot be brought to the theatre: rice, candles, confetti, glitter, real food items such as toast, hot dogs, and prunes (though neoprene versions are acceptable). Also, please help take care of our historic theater and refrain from throwing anything at the screen. So if you’re ready to make a return visit to a very special mansion on a dark and stormy night just in time for the most memorable party of the year, this is the event for you. Now take a jump to the left... — Michael Thomas

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

“

King’s material has been adapted frequently to film, but much of it was done in a poor, movie-of-theweek sort of way.

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HE NETFLIX MODEL OF FILM PRODUCTION IS A tricky one. On one hand, it can be hard to keep up with the number of original films and television shows within the app. For reasons that are known only to them, their suggestion algorithm is complicated. Meant to be predictive based on viewing habits, it has a tendency to pigeonhole users into specific genres, meaning that it can be hard to learn about new content within the app if you haven’t watched the right movies to get them to show. Netflix supplements this by advertising specific films and shows, but generally only with content it believes will be massively successful, meaning smaller films can get lost in the glut of garbage that can be found on the service. On the other hand, Netflix has led

the way in making some very high quality films, films that wouldn’t get a major release anywhere. More specifically, they’ve brought a lot of Stephen King stories to life in exciting and profound ways. King’s material has been adapted frequently to film, but much of it was done in a poor, movie-of-the-week sort of way. Netflix hasn’t done that. With films like Gerald’s Game and 1922, Netflix has given some of King’s smaller stories a home. This month, they’ve done it again, with an adaptation of King story co-

“

Films like In the Tall Grass are what makes services like Netflix worthwhile. That these types of stories can find a distribution model and financing for a competent, capable adaptation can only be a good thing.” written by his son, the equally talented Joe Hill, called In the Tall Grass. It’s a film that does everything a King short story should. As with many King stories, the film takes a fairly simple premise and turns in on its ear. Becky DeMuth (Laysla de Oliveira) is several months pregnant and in crisis. Along with her brother Cal (Avery Whitted), she is on a crosscountry trip to meet with a couple interested in adopting her baby, since her boyfriend Travis (Harrison Gilbertson) has told he can’t be a father. Becky gets carsick somewhere on the side of the road in Kansas, near a large field of tall grass beside the abandoned Church of the Black Rock of the Redeemer. As Cal gets out of the car to check the map, Becky hears the voice of a young boy pleading for help in the tall grass. Unseen, he tell them he’s lost and he can’t find his way to the road. Becky and Cal enter the grass to help the boy, only to discover that not everything

is as it seems. The grass whispers and shifts in the wind, and so do those who enter the field. Becky and Cal are separated and time appears to no longer move in a linear fashion. Nothing stays the same, except for the gently swaying grass, as far as the eye can see. The film benefits greatly from the careful eye of director Vincenzo Natali. Natali is known for his 1997 picture Cube, which was a claustrophobic sci-fi mystery about people trapped in a dangerous, ever shifting maze. In the Tall Grass has that same feel—a small cast of characters, endlessly searching for a way back home, getting more and more lost, and more and more paranoid. Of course, as with most King stories, there’s an element of strange cosmology, of ancient ritual and disturbing ideas. The film differs from the short story in some significant ways. Natali makes the ending a bit more hopeful that the original sto-

ry and adds a time loop element, which helps raise the stakes and make the setting more foreboding and strange. In addition, the film works well due to the performances of the actors, particularly Patrick Wilson as the unsettling Russ Humboldt. Films like In the Tall Grass are what makes services like Netflix worthwhile. That these types of stories can find a distribution model and financing for a competent, capable adaptation can only be a good thing. Still, the way Netflix hides and fails to promote certain films can be a problem. At times, the app itself is something like a constantly shifting field of grass, one that makes it difficult for users to find quality content. Hopefully, when Disney’s new streaming service Disney+ takes half of their users in November, Netflix will lean into financing more films like In the Tall Grass and makes it easier to find them. It might be Netflix’s only hope.

✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴

Black and Blue A rookie police officer in New Orleans has to balance her identity as a black woman with her role as a police officer when she witnesses other police officers committing murder. Director: Deon Taylor Stars: Naomie Harris, Mike Colter, Frank Grillo

Countdown When a nurse downloads an app that claims to predict the moment a person will die, it tells her she only has three days to live. With the clock ticking, she must find a way to save her life before time runs out. Director: Justin Dec Stars: Elizabeth Lail, Anne Winters, Charlie McDermott, Peter Facinelli

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 25

COLUMN · GAME ON!

The Original Halloween Game Use a rope, camera, and whiskey to summon up spirits

T Brandon Watson Pulse columnist

“

We are dwelling between two realities or dimensions and the safe barrier that keeps the other side from breaching into ours grows thinner as we inch closer to November.”

When not vaporizing zombies or leading space marines as a mousepad Mattis, Brandon Watson is making gourmet pancakes and promoting local artists.

HE AIR HAS COOLED, DEAD leaves are piling up in my yard, and strange sightings of candy corns have been seen about my house like eggs from a diabolically twisted Easter Bunny. Otherworldly essences claw at our doorsteps and watch with dark intent as the sun fades into chilled nights. During these meteorological bipolar days leading up to Halloween, we exist with one foot in Summer’s grave and another on the wheezing chest of Old Man Winter. At our primordial core we feel the collective “weirdness” that permeates our environment with long shadows and the ethereal hiss of dried foliage scratching the asphalt. We are dwelling between two realities or dimensions and the safe barrier that keeps the other side from breaching into ours grows thinner as we inch closer to November. So, why not screw around with these forces beyond our understanding with a game created around that neglected camera at home? Tempting fate with games of chance harkens back to ye-olde-times of agrarian yore when divination with tubers and spirits was all the rage during the harvest seasons of our ancestors. Today we can still enjoy modern updates of scaring ourselves witless with family and friends with just a few items, creepy lore, and extensive rules. Supernatural forces are all about the rules for some reason. The Picture Game. It’s creepy to capture ghost images with a camera by accident but too do it intentionally is downright mental. This game requires two or more players and one camera with built-in flash. (Smartphone cameras are discouraged, possibly because ghost possessions void the warranty.) Players will also need a long piece of rope, in-

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dividual mirrors, scissors or knife, and a shot glass. I’m not sure if the shot glass is to be filled with your daddy’s old Scotch. If you’re going to steal time from the departed at least make it worth their while. Southern Spooks are partial to Bourbon, naturally. The game has to be set up at midnight. Tie the rope end-to-end and lay it out to form a circle. The players sit around the outside of this rope circle with their mirrors on the floor in front of them, reflective side up. Then the shot glass is set in the center of the circle and filled with alcoholic beverage of choice. At no time should the players cross the rope circle for any reason, so don’t play this with people susceptible to temptation. Once the designated point person has the circle and flash camera set up it’s time to go dark, shut the lights off, and start the welcoming ritual. The invitation requires the players to hold hands, close their eyes, and one-by-one say, “I trust you.” Then in unison they say, “The door is open, please come in” three times. After the players complete the welcoming, the designated point person will take up the camera and say, “I’ve caught you,” and then take a photo with the lens pointed directly at the center of the circle. Only one photo is permitted per turn, then the camera is passed to the next player. At no time should you sneak a peek at the image preview or snap another shot out of turn. Each player must say the “caught you” phrase until the camera has been passed around three times. During the “game” if anyone starts crying or acting strange it’s advised to

pass the camera over them. If they start acting even more strange then the game needs to be ended properly. Assuming that no one has been possessed, after the camera has passed to each player three times, conclude the game with the farewell ceremony. The farewell is conducted as such: everyone closes their eyes, then states, “It’s time to go home now.” Then everyone flips their mirrors face down. Someone runs to turn on the lights, then the point person cuts the rope circle and grabs the shot glass to empty its contents outside (preferably on a patch of ground). Then the players assess each other for demonic or supernatural invasion—it’s like checking for ticks but scarier. Telling signs are contorted wall scaling, head spinning, and speaking in dead languages. If no call for an exorcist is required, then go ahead and review the photos but be warned: what you see cannot be unseen. Disclaimer: I have no experience with solving problems with being haunted or possessed but if anyone has the number for somebody who does, please feel free help a gamer out; I’m asking for a friend.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • OCTOBER 24, 2019 • THE PULSE • 27