The Pulse 13.44 » November 3, 2016

NOVEMBER 3, 2016

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

CHATTANOOGA MEETUPS • NORMALPALOOZA • SKIP FRONTZ JR

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VOLUME 13, ISSUE 43 NOVEMBER 3, 2016

CONTENTS 4

OP-ED: THE UNHOLY INSURRECTIONARY ALLIANCE

Donald Trump has plucked his strongest supporters from two baskets, the Alt-Right and the Religious Right. The Alt-Right are straight forward haters. They hate everyone not them.

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NORMALPALOOZA’S 14TH YEAR OF CREATIVITY

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FINDING THE RIGHTEOUS HEART OF INDIGNATION

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For the kids of Normal Park, NormalPalooza is more than just a festival featuring games, live music, art, and food, it’s the perfect opportunity for them to embrace their creativity.

Indignation is a warning wrapped in a comingof-age tale. The word means strong displeasure at the unjust, a righteous sort of anger, and the kind that is often celebrated today by the social justice warriors who rant behind their keyboards.

MUSIC AND ART CAN NEVER BE RUSHED

It’s been a little over a year since Skip Frontz Jr. and His Left Handed Luckies gave us a sneak peek of their new project, Vicetown. At the time there was only a single with a B-side.

ALSO INSIDE

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Social Media, Local Interaction The continuous growth of Chattanooga is omitting a magnetic wave that is pulling people in from all over the world. With so many newcomers migrating to the area, there are a lot of people in metro Chattanooga that are looking to meet new people.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

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CONSIDER THIS

20

RECORD REVIEWS

7

SHRINK RAP

21

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

12

ARTS CALENDAR

21

JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

15

NEW IN THEATERS

22

ON THE BEAT

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MUSIC CALENDAR

Adam P. Beckett is a professional writer from the Metro-Atlanta area. He has been writing professionally for over a decade, and has produced many articles that have been featured on major news networks, online sites, magazines, and newspapers

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

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BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE

Op-Ed: The Unholy Insurrectionary Alliance How the “Religious Right” has abandoned their proffered values

By Terry Stulce

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

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com Assistant Editor Brooke Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Adam P. Beckett • Rob Brezsny Matt Jones • Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib Terry Stulce • Alex Teach Editorial Interns Alyson McGowan • Colin Moran Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

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 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.

Donald Trump has plucked his strongest supporters from two baskets, the Alt-Right and the Religious Right. The Alt-Right are straight forward haters. They hate AfricanAmericans. They hate Moslems. They hate Hispanics. They hate Jews and they hate women. They live in a parallel universe that is free of facts. Their organizing principles are manufactured conspiracies theories.

Steve Bannon, Trump’s campaign honcho, has fanned the flames of hate since he took over Breitbart’s propaganda network. They dream of a monolithic white America, devoid of diversity or pluralism.

Most Americans are familiar with the Religious Right. For years, they have made a public spectacle of themselves, thumping their Bibles and preening with sanctimony.

They floated in their own arrogance and grandiosity, deluding themselves that they spoke for God. They were active in the Clinton impeachment witch hunts and had powerful allies in Congress with child sexual abuser, Denny Hastert, and serial adulterer, Newt Gingrich, who abandoned his wife while she was fighting a life or death struggle with cancer.

Back then, these pious phonies were continuously harping about “character”, “family values”, and the “evil of moral relativism.”

Now, as 73 percent of white evangelicals promise to vote for Trump, we are finding that all of their “values” and “principles” were nothing more than pretense.

Recent research by the Public Religion Research Institute found that 72 percent of white evangelicals condoned immorality by public officials, while the general public and the “unchurched” were significantly less accepting of immorality. (62 percent and 61 percent respectively). One evangelical leader had this explanation: Adultery is “evil”.

Approving of adultery is “wrong”, but to vote for a misogynistic adulterer for President is

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“Most Americans want this lewd election to be over but this unholy alliance on the Right may persist, undermining our nation well into the future.” okay. This hypocrisy makes a mockery of their pious fabrications.

There are some evangelicals that are not fooled. Southern Baptist Russell Moore says, “These evangelical leaders (Trump supporters) have said that for the sake of ‘the lesser of two evils’ one should stand with someone who not only characterizes sexual decadence and misogyny, brokers in cruelty and nativism, and displays a crazed public and private temperament- but who glories in these things. Some of the very people who warned us about moral relativism and situational ethics now ask us to become moral relativists for the sake of an election.”

Most Americans want this lewd election to be over but this unholy alliance on the Right may persist, undermining our nation well into the future. American strength is multiculturalism. She is at her best when

tolerance of social differences is wedded to the ideal of social equality and respect for our country’s institutions and when individuals are willing to make personal sacrifices for the common good. This toxic brew on the Right is unwilling to contribute to any of these community-building endeavors.

As a matter of fact, Trump supporters have already threatened to undermine the peace and stability of our nation. If Trump loses, they promise rioting, violence, and even insurrection. This is a note of caution from Napoleon to potential insurrectionists: “God seems to favor the side with the most cannon”.

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

Consider This with Dr. Rick

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

“Do not speak badly of yourself.

For the Warrior within hears your words and is lessened by them.” — David Gemmell

Row, Row, Row Your Boat To Chattanooga The weekend, Chattanooga and the Tennessee River will be home once again to the Head of the Hooch rowing regatta (just in case you’re wondering what all the people walking around downtown with paddles are doing).

The Head of the Hooch is in its third decade of racing and is one of the world’s largest rowing regattas with over 2,000 boats racing over two days, with 1,200 boats competing on Saturday alone, more in one day than any other regatta.

The event hosts about 9,000 rowing athletes that come from many different

states and countries. Even better, The Head of the Hooch has been recognized by national magazines as the regatta to attend.

The regatta is a head race where competitors row a 5,000-meter (3.1 mile) course on the Tennessee River ending at Ross’s Landing. During the race the Riverwalk, Coolidge Park and the Walnut Street Bridge are perfect spots for spectators.

This unique event is great for athletes, families and friends to enjoy a 150-year-old sport and experience the beauties of Chattanooga in the fall.

A full race schedule and more information can be found on their website at HeadoftheHooch.org — Colin Moran

There are “warrior” poses in yoga that just by the very nature of the physicality of them, help a person feel empowered, strong, capable and ready to face down the demons.

But here’s the thing: The warrior within needs just as much nurturing and attention as any other part of you. If your inner tapes are playing self-esteem damaging messages, from where will the warrior derive his/ her confidence? Those tapes aren’t yours…they were inflicted by others.

They are not you.

Consider this: Observe how many times a day you think something diminishing about yourself. Next step: Use those moments as triggers to replace those thoughts with something positive, even if at first it’s hard to believe.

This isn’t easy to do, and you may need help. But your warrior needs you.

— Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

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COLUMN ∙ SHRINK RAP

A Mentally Healthy Life, Part 2 The good doctor is back with more advice on positive mental health to “book-end” your day. And see how it makes a difference in who you become, one day at a time.

David Traver Adolphus Pulse columnist

L

AST MONTH WE BEGAN THIS MENtal health journey with “How to ask for help,” How to say no,” “How to motivate yourself,” and “How to show the love.” Selfcare concepts to assist in your growth toward your best, most mentally-healthy self.

There are probably countless tips for better mental (and physical) health. And frankly, regular Shrink Rappers have read many of these tips over the years in one context or another. Right now, I’d like to share with you a few more that are some of my own favorites, and might also be helpful as you navigate your way through the holidays.

How to “Bookend” Your Day I encourage people to begin their day with an intention. For instance, today I will wear a smile. Or, today I will be sober. I will have faith in myself. I will be courageous. Today I will really listen to my kids. Today I am going to be well.

And I encourage people to end their day with an attitude of gratitude. As your head hits the pillow, exhale, and let your mind fill with all the positives that have visited your life today. By choosing to put these thoughts in your receptive, quieting mind, you close out your day’s experience with a sense of peace and gratefulness.

I’ve heard celebrated author Dr. Wayne Dyer refer to these times as quiet time with God. He suggests, “In the morning before you’re fully awake, and again as you’re going to sleep, be in a state of appreciation and say aloud, I want to feel good!”

I encourage you to ponder how you’d like

How to Elevate Your Consciousness One of the best ways I know— along with meditation and energy healing techniques—is to give some effort to random acts of kindness. They remind and inspire us to keep kindness in our hearts, and your unexpected acts hold a deep and memorable place in the experience of the receiver. Then we pay it forward, and everyone wins: the doer, the receiver, and anyone witnessing the act. And for a brief moment, humanity feels humane again, and we remember how simple it is to put a smile on someone’s face.

I encourage you to make random acts of kindness just another routine, perfectly natural part of your day. The extra change you put in the meter, the offer to babysit for the stressed-out new parents next door, the Saturdays spent volunteering at the Community Kitchen, or simply the compliment you pay to the college kid bagging your groceries…let ‘em flow! And know that the world is just a little brighter, and more hopeful, because today, no matter your own problems, you chose to be unexpectedly, randomly kind.

How to Embrace the Connection Between Your Thoughts and the Quality of Your Life Your thoughts plant the seeds for your life. Read that again, please.

The words you use bring those thoughts a step closer to reality.

Your thoughts and words affect your behaviors, consciously and unconsciously.

Or as Winston Churchill put it, “You create your reality as you go along.”

For example, if you think, “I’m a loser.” And you say, “I’m a loser.”

Guess how you’ll act? Like a loser.

This is referred to as a “self-fulfilling prophesy” and in this case, is a negative, harmful one.

But if you think, “I’m a wise and compassionate person.”

Or, “Today I’m all about giving and receiving love.” Then you’re going to engage with your world very differently. Likeminded others will be drawn to you, and the result is that all this good juju you’re sending outward will come right back to surround you.

Now consider this: The next time you’re thinking an unkind thought about someone, or about to make a disparaging remark, see if you can catch yourself, and turn it around. “No, I don’t need to go there. Let me re-think something more positive.” Soon this practice will come naturally, easily, and you’ll become a happier person

for it.

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk, scholar, poet, human rights activist, author of over 60 books, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee (nominated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.).

In his book, The Energy of Prayer, he says, “When we pray and meditate with our focus on compassion, when our heart is full of love, then we are creating more love in the world. When we send this love and compassion outward, this is truly prayer.”

He goes on to talk about the energy created by our thoughts: “Everything arises from the mind. From this powerhouse we call mind, we can change the world. We change it by means of a real energy that we ourselves have created. This is the most effective way of prayer.”

I hope I’ve given you plenty to think about. I wish you self-kindness. And until next time: “I wonder how much of what weighs me down is not mine to carry.” —author unknown

“The next time you’re thinking an unkind thought about someone, or about to make a disparaging remark, see if you can catch yourself, and turn it around.”

Dr. Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D., is a psychotherapist, author, minister, and educator in private practice in Chattanooga.

Contact him at DrRPH.com, visit his wellness center at WellNestChattanooga.com

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COVER STORY

Using Social Media To Foster Real World Social Interaction Chattanooga Meetup connects people who share common interests

By Adam P. Beckett

T

Pulse contributor

HE CONTINUOUS GROWTH

OF Chattanooga is omitting a magnetic wave that is pulling people in from all over the world.

With so many newcomers migrating to the area, there are a lot of people in metro Chattanooga that are looking to meet new people. Unfortunately, meeting likeminded people in a new city is not always an easy task.

It can be unsettling for a person to venture out to explore new areas on a solo mission, and many various deterring factors often simply keep people at home; they would rather just skip whatever it is that they want to do so that they don’t have to do it alone.

For those out there looking to make some friends or activity buddies, help is on the way.

The Meetup web site and app is thriving in Chattanooga, and plays host to an extraordinarily wide variety of groups and participants, making meeting new people while in transition slightly The logistics are rather basic. It is free to sign up and less intimidating due to its endless potential to join groups, and once a member signs up, they can help make noteworthy connections. browse the endless groups available and choose the Meetup is a site that hosts a multitude of groups ones that spark their interests. Anybody can start a that are geared to connecting people with simiMeetup group about anything that they want for a very lar interests. To alleviate any potential misconsmall monthly fee. Some of the groups ask the members ception, Meetup is not a dating site. Although to pitch in to cover the fees, but it is seemingly rare. there are singles groups inside of the site, its Typically, the creator of the group knows they will just overall intention is linking people through group have to absorb the nominal monthly fee while operating activities. There is a great appeal about the site a functioning group. that is daily drawing people to utilize its services.

Once a Meetup member joins a group, they will get There are Meetup groups available for people notifications about that individual group through email. of all walks of life, and the groups widely vary in The notifications tell the members about upcoming size. Where groups like “Loved and Lost” host events, and gives them the opportunity to RSVP for the 125 members, some of the groups boast much specific ones that match their availability. Realistically a larger numbers, such as the Chattanooga Hikmember could join groups and have a Meetup activity ing Group which hosts nearly 4,000 members.

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every day of the week.

To give an idea of the diversity of the groups, some of the most active and popular groups are the Chattanooga Socialites, Tennessee Wild Meetup, Outdoor Club South Chattanooga, Adult Sports Recreational League, Boomers Together, New to Chattanooga, the Sunset Club, The Personal Self Improvement Meetup group, Brews Chattanooga 5k Beer Running Club, Chattanooga Writers Guild, Nooga Networking, Chattanooga Photographers, and the Anything Goes Social Singles Meetup Group. This is just a small list of the many groups available.

Where some of the larger cities probably have a pretty solid Meetup group member base, not every city may get the same results that Chattanooga gets, people tend to show up for the Chattanooga meetup groups. It is a

COVER STORY true spectacle to witness some of the groups in action. The paddle boarding group takes over the Tennessee River, and onlookers from around the city can watch them unite and interact. On any given Wednesday, the Running for Brews group all come together to run a distance over the bridge and downtown, then meet at the Brewhaus to partake in beer drinking; they look like a small mob.

Meetups help people do more of what they love to do by discovering and creating communities based around the ideas and activities that matter to them. Meetups are formed around a common interest, goal, or cause, and they are made up of regular face to face gatherings. Meetups help people do what they love, find others, make friends, get involved in local communities, learn, teach, and share, unite to make a difference, and be a part of something that is taking over both locally and globally.

After being in Chattanooga for roughly a year now, when I initially moved here, it was a little difficult to meet people that shared similar interests as me. I would venture out and do activities, but often times I found myself doing things alone. More times than not I would go out by myself to concerts, hiking trails, eating at some of Chattanooga’s fine eating establishments; it got to the point where I was ready to meet some new people.

I am rather adventurous, and do not always mind doing things alone, but occasionally it is nice to have someone to do things with. After a random interaction with a local group that meets at the Hunter Museum once a month, I discovered that Meetup groups were a thing, and thriving as a whole. I would start attending Meetup groups, and was very active in the Meetup community for several months. I met a lot of great people, some that I consider close friends, and I will continue to attend Meetup groups in attempt to gain new connections.

While not every group will lead to a connection, keep in mind that there are endless opportunities. Some of the groups are based strictly off meeting new people and mingling, while others revolve around hobbies, careers, networking, and dating.

There will be times that people attend Meet-

“Chattanooga’s thriving Meetup scene is only going to continue to grow. As more people learn about its capabilities and benefits, they will continue creating diverse groups to attract people.” ups and do not gain one connection, other times they will go and be surrounded by a roomful of likeminded people, the only way to know is to show up and participate.

It may seem a bit intimidating to attend some of the larger groups that meet in public, walking up to a group of people to ask if they are part of a Meetup group can be a slight deterrent for some people to follow through.

There have been times that I went home due to nervousness and uncertainty about location and if that in fact was the group or not; I merely did not want to walk up to a group of strangers to ask if they were with the Meetup group.

My advice to the groups that meet in crowded, public spaces is to stand out more. Make your Meetup location more certain, so that people are not looking around wondering if that is the group or not.

After attending countless Meetups, I have learned a lot about going through the process. It is better to start with the smaller groups as an ice breaker. Starting out going to a Meetup with a group that has fifty people attending seems like a great time until your surrounded by fifty strangers, it can be a little overwhelming.

Starting small is a good way to get used to the newness of meeting strangers, it helps build the

confidence to locate and interact with the groups. The uncomfortable feeling will diminish with each Meetup group attended.

Eventually it will get to the point where it will not be weird at all to walk up to people and say “Hey, are you guys with the Meetup group”?

The only other advice that I have for some of the groups that have been together for a while is to be careful to not become a clique. People that are new to a city are looking to make individual connections, and groups that have known each other for a long time develop a bond, and sometimes can unintentionally make newcomers feel unwelcome.

There was a biking event that I attended earlier this year, and not one person talked to me because they were all talking together as the big group of friends that they were.

Nobody was rude, they just were not welcoming. Watching the clique interact was fun and all, but it made developing new connections difficult. People are already being adventurous by meeting up with strangers, keep in mind that if groups want to grow they need to focus on the newcomers as well as the friends they have made during their time as a group.

Chattanooga’s thriving Meetup scene is only going to continue to grow. As more people learn about its capabilities and benefits, they will continue creating diverse groups to attract people. Some of the many groups with thousands of participants all started with somebody making the decision to start a group about something that they enjoy doing, and wanted others to take part of too. It is almost certain that turnout ratios toppling the thousands was unexpected by the people that started the groups.

It just goes to show how one act can have a ripple effect. Not only does the group creator get to enhance their life by doing activities with other people, but they also get to hold onto the feeling that they are making a difference. Think how many connections are made daily in a group that has three thousand people.

Whoever out there is bored, lonely, or just wanting friends; Meetup has some activities and friends that is only just a click away.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

NormalPalooza’s 14th Year of Creativity Celebrating art and education with a healthy dose of music, food and fun

By Brooke Brown

Pulse Assistant Editor

F

OR THE KIDS OF NORMAL Park, NormalPalooza is more than just a festival featuring games, live music, art, and food, it’s the perfect opportunity for them to embrace their creativity and show what their imaginative minds are made of. For the staff of Normal Park, those who shape these little minds, the festival means fundraising so their museum-based curriculum will continue on in inspiring the future of creativity in this world.

The US Department of Education has said that “art education is essential to stimulating the creativity and innovation that will prove critical

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for young Americans competing in a global economy,” and that’s precisely what Normal Park does. It’s a school that celebrates experiential learning as well as museum and community partnerships to further benefit its students.

For this year’s festival, the students of Normal Park were asked to create a piece of art depicting what NormalPalooza means to them. Hundreds of hand drawn masterpieces in various complimenting shades of crayons were entered, and one won the whole shebang: third grader Abigail McGee. Her drawing of bright colored frivolity and musical expression shows just what she loves about NormalPalooza, and her work featured the aside, “NormalPalooza is about

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Her drawing of bright colored frivolity and musical expression shows just what she loves about NormalPalooza, and her work featured the aside, ‘NormalPalooza is about coming together and having fun to raise money!’” coming together and having fun to raise money!”

The annual event will take place as always in front of the Upper School Campus on Mississippi Avenue, and will cover the grounds of campus and a block of Mississippi, filling the neighborhood with smells of delicious food truck vendors, sounds of local bands showcasing their different music styles, and plenty to see from Normal Park’s student body.

This will be the fourteenth year of the festival and some local talent will take the stage to entertain the crowd right for year fourteen.

Nick Lutsko and the Gimmicks will headline the festival, along with performances by Trent Williams and the Menagerie, Lon Eldridge, and more.

While you’re taking in the music, grab a bite to eat from one of the many vendors, including

Adelle’s Ice Cream Creperie, Good Dog, Kenny’s Smokehouse BBQ, and more, or get yourself a juicy burger Southern Burger Company’s food truck. Try to hold your lunch in as you take on rides and games for all ages. The Kraken, a 20-foottall dual lane slide, will be present, as well as a bungee run, Gyro ride, bounce house, and a petting zoo.

Fun festival games will include the classic cake walk, sack race, toilet toss, bean bag toss, face painting, and a Lego station.

Join the students, parents, faculty, and community this Saturday as we benefit the future of Normal Park.

The event, produced by Normal Park parents and sponsored by Brewer Media and a whole slew of community businesses, means supporting an innovative, award-winning Hamilton County school that has been a testament to the future of creative minds all around town.

Seeing Classic Art Through The Eyes Of Local Artists Do you ever walk through an art museum and wonder what other artists have to say about your favorite piece hanging there on the wall?

For many, it would be extremely interesting to be able to view an exhibit through their professional point of view and to hear their perspective.

If that person is you, this Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Hunter Museum of American Art you have the chance to do just that. They will be hosting “Examinations: The Hunter Collection Through Artists’ Eyes”.

“Examinations” is a collaborative program between the Hunter and the AVA gallery in which artists are filmed reflecting on their favorite work from the Hunter and then participate in a group exhibit at AVA of work they created in response to these pieces.

Artists Myles Freeman, Aaron Cowan, Laura Little, Josiah Golson, and Heath Montgomery will lguide you on a tour as they discuss their

favorite works of art from the collection. The tour is free with museum admission.

This opportunity doesn’t come around often, so don’t miss out on this chance to get a more in-depth tour from the artist themselves. After this tour you may never view the artwork in the Hunter the same way ever again.

— Colin Moran Examinations: Hunter Collection Through Artists' Eyes Saturday, 2 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Avenue ∙ (423) 267-0968 www.huntermuseum.org

THU11.3

FRI11.4

SAT11.5

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Opening Reception: 42nd Holiday Open House

The Library

Ichabod Crane, Brom Bones, the lovely Katrina Van Tassel, and the Headless Horseman come to life.

9:30, 11:30 a.m.

Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. southernlitalliance.org

Make local art your gift of choice this holioday season.

5 p.m.

In-Town Gallery 26A Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com

This deepy moving play is partly inspired by the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado.

8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Brent Weston Solo Exhibit

THURSDAY11.3 Theatre Express: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 9:30, 11:30 a.m.

Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. (423) 777-4222 southernlitalliance.org Paw Pals Storytime 1:30 p.m.

McKamey Animal Center 4500 N. Access Rd. (423) 305-6500 mckameyanimalcenter.org Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Ooltewah Nursery 5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775 ooltewahnursery.com Throwback Thursday And Art + Issues 4 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org 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 Artist Reception: Hill, Bivin, Creswell

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5 p.m.

Reflections Gallery 6922 Lee Hwy. (423) 892-3072 reflectionsgallerytn.com Homebuyer Orientation 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise 1500 Chestnut St. #102 (423) 756-6201 cneinc.org The Library 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com Greg Morton 7:30 p.m.

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

SPOTLIGHT: GREG MORTON Greg started out as an animator for the Scooby and Scrappy Doo Show, and later provided voices for some of your favorite cartoons.

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

FRIDAY11.4 Theatre Express: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 9:30, 11:30 a.m.

Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. (423) 777-4222 southernlitalliance.org 3rd Street Farmers Market 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. lookoutfarmersmarket.com\ Opening Reception: 42nd Holiday Open House 5 p.m.

In-Town Gallery 26A Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com Open Studio Nights 5:30 p.m.

Chattanooga WorkSpace 302 W. 6th St. (423) 822-5750 chattanoogaworkspace.com First Friday featuring Anna Carll, Kathy Hampton & Allen Hampton 5:30 p.m.

Area 61 Gallery 61 E. Main St. (423) 648-9367 LOOKOUT Opening Reception 5:30 p.m.

Swine Gallery (423) 521-1716 100 W. Main St. facebook.com/swinegallery Brent Weston Solo Exhibit 5:30 p.m.

AVA Art Gallery 30 Frazier Ave. (423) 265-4282 avagallery.org Girl Power After Hour(s): Archery at the Library 6 p.m.

The Chattanooga Public Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattlibrary.org Greg Morton 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Wide Open Floor 7:30 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347 barkinglegs.org The Library 8 p.m.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

18th Annual Santa Arrival Parade Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com

SATURDAY11.5 Head of the Hooch 6 a.m.

Ross’s Landing 100 Riverfront Pkwy. headofthehooch.org EarthCare: Perils of Importing Exotics 9:30 a.m.

St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church 7555 Ooltewah-Georgetown Rd. (423) 238-7708 stfrancis.dioet.org NormalPalooza 10 a.m.

Normal Park Museum Magnet School 1219 W. Mississippi Ave. (423) 209-5914 normalpark.com Heritage Day 10 a.m.

Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center 400 Garden Rd. (423) 821-1160 reflectionriding.org Brainerd Farmers Market 10 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 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 18th Annual Santa Arrival Parade 11 a.m.

Hamilton Place Mall 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd.

(423) 894-7177 hamiltonplace.com Examinations: Hunter Collection Through Artists’ Eyes 2 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Greg Morton 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

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

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com

SUNDAY11.6 Chattanooga Market 11 a.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. (423) 402-9957 chattanoogamarket.com

The Library 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8538 theatrecentre.com Opera Tennessee presents Divas and Drinks 6 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. (423) 424-3775 operatn.org Greg Morton 7:30 p.m.

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

MONDAY11.7 Red Bank Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Red Bank United Methodist Church 3800 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com CSOYO Symphony & Philharmonic Fall Concert 7 p.m.

Brainerd Baptist Church 300 Brookfield Ave. (423) 267-8583 chattanoogasymphony.org

900 N. Sanctuary Rd. (423) 838-9804 lookoutfarmersmarket.com

WEDNESDAY11.9 Middle East Dance 10:30 a.m.

Jewish Cultural Center 5461 North Terrace (423) 493-0270 jewishchattanooga.co 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 Chatt About Science: The Mysterious Monkeyface Orchid 7 p.m.

Stone Cup Cafe 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Free Kittens Comedy Showcase 7:30 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-1400 jjsbohemia.com

TUESDAY11.8 East Brainerd Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Audubon Acres

Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • THE PULSE • 13

FILM & TELEVISION

Finding The Righteous Heart Of Indignation Filmmaker James Schamus takes on a highly complex Philip Roth novel

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

I

NDIGNATION IS A WARNING WRAPPED in a coming-of-age tale.

The word means strong displeasure at the unjust, a righteous sort of anger, and the kind that is often celebrated today by the social justice warriors who rant behind their keyboards at the ills of an uncouth, barbaric society.

The indignant are most often driven by emotional responses, seeking to tear down the walls of whatever popular injustice drifts across their newsfeed, not understanding the nuance of the issue or the gray area it occupies. They shout about emails, rail about the Constitution, defend the rights of whatever downtrodden group deserves it this week, shaming any that might disagree with their inordinate correctness with bile or ex-

14 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

hausting logic, then move on to the next topic.

They are often youthful, sometimes ignorant, and sometimes correct.

Still, indignation doesn’t lead to productive discourse, as anger in any form closes important lines of communication and damages relationships. It is a release, a way to lash out at the world in the name of belief.

I have been indignant many times in the past and will likely be so many times in the future—I can only hope that I learn to channel it where it belongs. Indignation, a film based on the Phillip Roth novel, shows the consequences of righteous anger when the stakes are high.

Marcus Messner (Logan Lerman) is the son of a kosher butcher from Newark, New Jersey. The year is 1951 and many young men Marcus’s age are being drafted to fight in the Korean War. The story begins at the funeral of one young man who lost

FILM & TELEVISION

“Indignation warns its views of the dangers of righteous anger: simply being correct does little to protect a person against institutions.” his life at the end of a bayonet.

As Marcus gives his condolences to the young man’s mother, she warns him not to get involved with the war. His father tells her that Marcus as is going to college in Ohio and as a result is allowed a deferment. The bereaved woman wonders aloud how he will keep kosher. At home, Marcus’s family worries about his transition to a more adult work.

His father, in particular, has trouble adjusting to the idea that his son will be on his own.

Marcus moves to Winesburg College, a small school that requires all students to attend chapel in order to graduate, and moves in with his Jewish roommates. Marcus is appalled at having to attend chapel—not because of his heritage, but because he is an atheist.

At first, the young man focuses on his school work and his job at the library, rejecting

offers to join the Jewish fraternity and generally keeping to himself. But as time moves forward, he attracts the attentions of Miss Olivia Hutton (Sarah Gadon), a gentile beauty who awakens him to the world of sexuality.

Olivia is a former alcoholic and survivor of a suicide attempt and very unlike the women he knew from home.

His relationship with Olivia causes strife with his roommates and when he abruptly moves out of his room he draws the eye of Dean Cauldwell, the dean of men at Winesburg. During their meeting, Marcus forcefully argues against the chapel requirement, citing Bertram Russell and his essay “Why I Am Not a Christian.” As the conflicts escalate, the consequences of Marcus’s choices become clear.

Indignation is a cleverly crafted period piece, one that captures the heart of the Roth novel and the themes presented therein. It is beautifully shot and exquisitely cast. The film is peculiarly funny, considering the seriousness of the topics and the potential tragedies facing the characters.

Director James Schamus has a

steady hand and a solid grasp of the story he is trying to tell—the Roth novel is complex and layered, making adaption a challenge.

Lerman and Gadon have an understated chemistry, one selling a wide-eyed fascination behind intellectual curiosity while the other breathing a quiet, damaged confidence. Their relationship works to tell a story rooted in the American traditions of religious idealism and moral certainty.

Indignation warns its viewers of the dangers of righteous anger: simply being correct does little to protect a person against institutions. Marcus’s complaints were certainly justified, his arguments sound and well stated, and served to do nothing but attract the attentions of exactly the wrong person. Viewed from a certain perspective, there’s nothing wrong with keeping your head down. Self-righteousness is narcissism and narcissism never furthers a cause, no matter how noble.

Indignation puts these ideas into perspective with singular clarity.

✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴

Doctor Strange In the latest installement of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a former neurosurgeon embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

Director: Scott Derrickson Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong

Trolls After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy, the happiest Troll ever born, and the curmudgeonly Branch set off on a journey to rescue her friends.

Directors: Walt Dohrn & Mike Mitchell Stars: Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • THE PULSE • 15

MUSIC

Music And Art Can Never Be Rushed Skip Frontz Jr. and the Left Handed Luckies' Vicetown is worth the (long) wait

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

I

T’S BEEN A LITTLE OVER A year since Skip Frontz Jr. and His Left Handed Luckies gave us a sneak peek of their new project, Vicetown. At the time there was only a single with a B-side (“Vicetown” and “12 Gauge Love Affair”). The full album itself was slated for release in December of last year, but art isn’t to be rushed or forced and art is what Skip and company have created on this overdue record with a hard release date of November 22nd.

It was worth the wait.

16 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Besides the aforementioned single (see the Oct. 21st issue of The Pulse for that review), the album contains eight other tracks, each one a study in rockabilly and blues. Musically, Frontz is a man out of time. He has not only mastered the performance of music from a bygone era, he has mastered the ability to write that music as well, bringing to life fresh, new tunes that are so authentically vintage you can smell the Bakelite as the tubes heat up in the Victrola.

“Asphalt (in My Veins)” is a thighslapping, foot-tapping bit of musical energy dedicated to life on the road and the drive so many musicians feel

MUSIC

“Musically, Frontz is a man out of time. He has not only mastered the performance of music from a bygone era, he has mastered the ability to write that music as well.” jumping feet-first into a lifestyle that frequently has non-musicians questioning their sanity.

Fancy guitar work, beautiful pedal steel and a classic Buddy Holly hiccup in the vocals, the tune is nouveau-retro.

“We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)” is as smooth as southern sippin’ liquor, a laid-back bit of music with classically lazy horns, a gently strummed guitar and vocals that just slip on out. Frontz is an excellent lyricist. Other writers don’t say half as much with twice as many words.

“The Axeman (of New Orleans)” which features the always beloved 9th Street Stompers is the happiest, hottest tune about a homicidal maniac you’re likely to hear all month.

Light, frenetic, and tight, the song showcases the instrumental virtuosity of the players and the lovely background vocals are a pleasant addition and a

bit of texture I’d like to hear more of in the future.

“Wormwood” is the band’s answer to, “Hey, you got any Gypsy music?”

The instrumental piece (an homage to absinthe perhaps?) features an interplay between violin and guitar that may as well be a duet between lovers.

Polyrhythmic and sensual, it adds a nice flavor to the mix of the album and is undoubtedly on Gomez and Morticia’s playlist.

“One Dime at a Time” is everything good about rockabilly; shuffling drums, bouncing bass, lead guitar to die for and verses that make us wonder when in the hell Frontz stops to breathe.

There’s definitely some Johnny Cash in the flavor of this tune. “Dustbowl” is a similar, but decidedly jazzier, sort of tune properly themed to the era.

“Chain Gang Boogie” is where you go if you want to see the moment where “not yet rock and roll” became rock and roll. It’s the sort of song that would be equally at home with Ray Charles, Elvis, Brian Setzer or Jerry Garcia.

“Black Widow Stomp” is the last song to talk about on the album. Admittedly one of my favorite tracks, it is a very slight departure in as much as the guitar work is marvelously fuzzed up in a Tex-Mex style that plays well with Frontz’s low-key, slightly dangerous sounding vocals.

The point has already been made once, the album is eleventh months overdue, but the takeaway from this collection of music is that Frontz and the Left Handed Luckies are perfectionists and the extra time was time well spent. It’s hard to know if they captured precisely what they meant to, but I have to think so, and either way they’ve undeniably captured a bit of lightning in a bottle.

The album is flawless, exceptional and available November 22nd at a show near you or via SkipFrontzJr. com And congratulations to Frontz and musical partner Samantha “Sampire” Brotherton on their recent engagement. There couldn’t be a better match.

Calling All Operatic (Diva) Singers!

It was at an open mic event for classical and musical theater pieces when it became clear that not only are there a lot of great voices in Chattanooga, but also, an audience eager to see and hear them.

The series has since been dubbed “Divas and Drinks” and this Sunday they will be celebrating their fifth event, proving rather clearly that the audience is still with them and interested in great musical and operatic theater.

Opera Tennessee, the host of this event, is dedicated to inspiring and educating the greater Chattanooga community by providing opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience, participate in, and be impacted by opera.

The fifth “Divas and Drinks,” open mic night will be held at The Foundry (inside the Chattanooga Hotel) from 6 to 8 pm. Admission is free and singers should bring a clean copy of any sheet music they will be preforming for the pianists and the audience should bring eager ears and excited smiles. — Alyson McGowan Divas and Drinks Sunday, 6 p.m.

The Foundry at The Chattanoogan Hotel 1201 Broad Street (423) 424-3700 www.operatn.org/divas-and-drinks

THU11.3

FRI11.4

SAT11.5

Glass Idols

Jon Mullins

Cornmeal

Touring their new album "Wraith", they bring a melodic intensity to their reality shaping brand of hardcore metal.

9 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net

A mix of soulful vocals, powerful lyrics, hooky melodies and great rhythms.

9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/ Chattanooga

"A definite must for the bluegrass crowd, and big thumbs up for country and jam-band fans" —The Celebrity Cafe.

10 p.m.

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

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • THE PULSE • 17

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Mac Sabbath

THURSDAY11.3 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 Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St. feedtableandtavern.com Daniel Asia 7:30 p.m.

UTC Fine Arts Center 752 Vine St. utc.edu/fine-arts-center Jesse James & Tim Neal 7:30 p.m.

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

The Social 1110 Market St. publichousechattanooga.com Roots of a Rebellion 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co

18 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Doom Burlesque and Sideshow 9 p.m.

JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Glass Idols, Deaf Kings 9 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Open Mic with Hap Henninger 9 p.m.

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

FRIDAY11.4 Eddie Pontiac 6 p.m.

El Meson 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd.

SPOTLIGHT: MINTON SPARKS Minton's spoken word/ honky-tonk hybrid performances elicit whoops, hollers, and general hellraising from all types of audiences.

Minton Sparks Saturday, 8 p.m.

Charles and Myrtle's 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org

elmesonrestaurant.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m.

Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Tim Lewis 7 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Mac Sabbath 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Wide Open Floor 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Roughwork 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry

1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Mathias and the Manifold, We are the Arcturians, Rye Baby 9 p.m.

J​ J's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Jon Mullins 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com/Chattanooga Live Music 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Five40 10 p.m.

Raw Bar & Grill 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com

SATURDAY11.5 Mythical Motors, Eureka California, Dingzui, Hungar Anthem, Dead Neighbors, Jim Shorts 4 p.m.

JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Eddie Pontiac 6 p.m.

El Meson 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd. elmesonrestaurant.com Binji Varsossa 6 p.m.

Cancun Mexican Restaurant

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Somo 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Tim Lewis 7 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Minton Sparks 8 p.m.

Charles and Myrtle's Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org Bessie’s Big 9 Revue 8 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org Roy Book Binder 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Boy Band Review 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Roughwork 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Somo 9 p.m.

Track29 1400 Market St. track29.co The Menace from Earth, Sparky the Band, Wohglemut, Tessa Lynn Plank 9 p.m.

Ziggy’s Bar & Grill 607 Cherokee Blvd.

ziggysbarandgrill.net Cornmeal, Ed Hamell On Trial 10 p.m.

JJ's Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Mark Andrew & Friends 10 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Five40 10 p.m.

Raw Bar & Grill 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com

SUNDAY11.6 Sissy Brown & Monzie Leo, Karla Scaife 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Sweet Georgia Sound 12:30 p.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Haydn Symphony No. 31 3 p.m.

The Read House Hotel 827 Broad St. (hereadhousehotel.com Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Opera TN Presents Divas and Drinks 6 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. operatn.org Side Affect, Joey Sprinkles ​JJ's Bohemia 9 p.m.

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

MONDAY11.7 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 Kip Bradley, General Dollars 9 p.m.

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

TUESDAY11.8 Tom Cordell Trumpet Improv Ensemble

6 p.m.

Spring Hill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy.

(423) 834-9300 Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

WEDNESDAY11.9 Eddie Pontiac 5:30 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonrestaurant.com The Other Guys 6 p.m.

Springhill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy.

(423) 834-9300 Open Jam 8 p.m.

Raw Dance Club 409 Market St. rawbarandgrillchatt.com The Lone Bellow 8 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Wednesday Night Jazz 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org

Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • THE PULSE • 19

RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ERNIE PAIK

Paint The Trees White Small Time Forever, A Tribute to the Songs of Rose Melberg menter is definitely carving out his own off-beat territory with Paint the Trees White, and who’s to say you can’t tackle dark themes with humor and jaunty indie rock?

A

Paint The Trees White Small Time Forever (Grabbing Clouds)

T

he new EP Small Time Forever from the San Francisco quartet Paint the Trees White quite possibly has some of the cheeriest songs ever made about mental meltdowns and divorce.

Led by Josh Permenter, also known as the front man of the band Peel, Paint the Trees White has a style marked with charming, rambling storytelling with barely a break to take a breath; there’s a momentum with a casual—but not sloppy—indie-pop-rock delivery, located at the intersection of Pavement and Voxtrot.

If the opening number “Alimony Money” doesn’t hook you in, then the rest of the EP won’t. Its ability to meander relentlessly while keeping the listener’s interest is notable, with several moments provoking “Did he just say what I thought he said?” thoughts.

At his most hilariously inappropriate, the narrator manages to combine about a half-dozen taboos with psycho-sexual, religion-infused fantasies with erotic asphyxi-

20 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Various Artists Constant and True—A Tribute to the Songs of Rose Melberg (February)

ation, with lines like “Looking pretty good for her age, I’m just saying / I saw her in church, and lord, she was praying” and the desperate, necromantic admission that “robbing the grave ain’t beneath me yet.” The chorus offers the understatement “You know I’m good at making bad decisions,” and the track offers a pounding epilogue and a surprisingly articulate depiction of a meltdown.

Musically, the group doesn’t get too fancy and uses more-or-less conventional rock structures, but the songs are durable supports for Permenter’s stories, which are the primary appeal here; in a loose way, musical flourishes can be representative, like the way the distorted electric guitar lines can signify emotional turmoil.

Another highlight is “Wild Tales,” which begins with a faux “Day Tripper” riff and spirals down with lines like “I’m digging myself deeper and deeper / How could it possibly get any worse?” Per-

thorough discussion about west-coast American indie-pop should involve Rose Melberg, the beloved singer, guitarist and drummer who has been in Tiger Trap, Go Sailor and The Softies, to name her most notable outfits, and some consider her “indie-pop royalty” if there is such a thing.

Her voice has a distinct, consistent sweetness that doesn’t change when expressing joy or sadness or delivering passive-aggressive rebukes, demonstrating a sort of universal grace, and her lyrics can be softly crushing, coolly spurning in the midst of geographic departures and romantic transitions.

Newbies should start with The Softies’ It’s Love for her gentle bittersweetness, or Tiger Trap’s sole, self-titled album for a more upbeat, spry affair.

The compilation at hand, Constant and True, is overflowing with affection from Melberg’s contemporaries with 21 cover songs from artists in the U.S., Europe, Australia and even the Dominican Republic, and two bands—Boyracer and Transmittens—apparently were coaxed out of retirement just to be on this.

Those not accustomed to indie-pop or twee-pop may need a dose of insulin, but for the initiated, it’s a mostly pleasant album that, with a few exceptions, doesn’t opt for reinvention and instead is happy to channel Melberg’s vibe through each artist’s specific methods.

LAKE, known for the end theme song of Adventure Time, offers an adorable take on “Tracks and Tunnels,” with playground keyboard bubble-pops over its breezy, homemade pop-combo charm; it’s followed by the dapper and fey “Selfish” by Fireflies with effeminate male vocals and glockenspiel flourishes, registering a full ten out of ten anoraks on this writer’s twee scale, which he just invented.

Saturday Looks Good to Me offers “Winter Pageant” as a low-key, low-fidelity solo Fred Thomas strum-and-sing number, and the trio Seapony provides a bright, head-nodinducing, hard-to-dislike rendition of “He’ll Never Have to Know.”

However, the absolute standout on the album is the closing track “My Broken Heart,” meticulously reinvented by Rocketship using numerous twists and turns, with spine-tingling cymbal flurries, grand synth-orchestral moments with strings and timpani and torch-song piano balladry; it’s a song that feels like red-carpet treatment, fit for indie-pop royalty.

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ∙ ROB BREZSNY SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Until 2007, Scotland’s official slogan was “Scotland, the Best Small Country in the World.” Deciding that wasn’t sufficiently upbeat, the government spent $187,000 on a campaign to come up with something better. “Home of Golf” and “Home of Europe’s Fastest Growing Life Sciences Community” were among the proposed phrases that were rejected. The ultimate choice: “Welcome to Scotland.” I bring this to your attention, Scorpio, because you’re in a favorable phase to rebrand yourself. But I hope you will be more daring and imaginative than Scotland. How about “Smolderingly Alarmingly Brilliant”? Or maybe “Safely Risky and Unpredictably Wise” or “Home of the Best Secrets Ever”?

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I cheer you on as you attend to your difficult but holy duties. I send you my love as you summon the wisdom and resourcefulness you need to weather the gorgeous storm. Here are clues that might be useful: Whether you are partially or totally victorious will depend as much on the attitude you hold in your heart as on your outward behavior. Be grateful, never resentful, for the interesting challenges. Love your struggles for the new capacities they are building in you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The coming weeks constitute the harvest phase of your personal cycle. That means you have the pleasure of gathering in the ripe rewards that you have been cultivating since your last birthday.

But you also have the responsibility to answer and correct for any carelessness you have allowed to affect your efforts during the previous eleven months. Don’t worry, dear. My sense is that the goodies and successes far outnumber and overshadow the questionable decisions and failures. You have ample reasons to celebrate. But I hope you won’t get so caught up in your rightful exaltation that you’ll neglect the therapeutic atonements.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Like England and Spain, the Netherlands has a royal family, including a king, queen, prince, and princesses. They’re an egalitarian bunch. The young ones attend public schools, and the previous queen’s birthday is celebrated with a nation-wide flea market.

The king’s crown is attractive but quite economical. Its pearls are fake, and other “jewels” are made of glass, colored foil, and fish scales. In accordance with the astrological omens, I propose that you create a regal but earthy headpiece for yourself. It’s high time for you to elevate your selfworth in an amusing and artful way. What fun and funky materials will you use in your homemade crown?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In her book, A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman reports on the eccentric methods that professional writers have used to galvanize their creative process.

Poet Amy Lowell relaxed into her work day by puffing on Manila cigars. Novelist Colette plucked fleas from her cat. T. S. Eliot’s poetry thrived when he had a head cold. Novelist George Sand liked to jump out of bed after making love and immediately begin writing. Novelist William Gass, who is still among the living, wanders around outside taking photos of “rusty, derelict, overlooked, downtrodden” places. As for D. H. Lawrence: climbing mulberry trees naked energized his genius.

What about you, Pisces? Now is an excellent time to draw intensely on your reliable sources of inspiration—as well as to seek new ones.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I am in awe of your headfirst, charge-forward, no-distractions approach.

In fact, I aspire to incorporate more of the Aries-style directness into my own repertoire. But I also love it when, on rare occasions, you flirt with a more strategic perspective. It amuses me to see you experimenting with the power of secrets. Your wisdom often grows at an expedited rate when you get caught up in a web of intrigue that exposes you to dark joys and melodramatic lessons.

During times like these, you feel fine about not having everything figured out, about not knowing the most straightforward route to your destination. You allow the riddles and enigmas to ferment as you bask in the voluptuous ambiance of the Great Mystery. Now is such a time.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): I am pleased to inform you that at least 30 percent of what you think you know about love and lust is too prosaic. Probably too narrow and constrained, as well. But here’s the good news: As soon as you agree to relinquish the dull certainty of that 30+ percent, you will open yourself to a surge of fresh teachings. And soon, I expect, dewy throbs and hot flows will awaken in all the erotic parts of your body, including your heart and brain and soul. If you’re brave enough to respond, generous lessons in intimacy will keep you entertained for weeks.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Over the last two decades, well-meaning Westerners have donated a profusion of clothes to low-income folks in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Kind and magnanimous, right? Yes, but their largesse has had an unintended consequence: the demise of the textile industry in those African countries. With this as a cautionary tale, I’m asking you to take inventory of your own acts of benevolence and charity.

Are they having effects that you

JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES

approve of? If not completely, how could you adjust the way you give your gifts and bestow your blessings?

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Is it possible that you might flourish as a topdog after all the work you’ve put in as an underdog?

Can you wean yourself from the worried fantasy that you’ve got endless dues to pay, and then harness your imagination to expand your confidence and build your clout? I believe you can. And in the coming weeks I will unleash a flood of prayers to the Goddess of Holy Reversals, asking her to assist you. Now please repeat after me: “I am a creative force of nature. I am a strong song of liberation. I am a wise animal with direct access to my primal intelligence.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The next two weeks could be smooth, peaceful, and bland. Is that the experience you want? Mild satisfactions, sweet boredom, and slow progress? There’s nothing wrong with any of that. Please feel free to loll and loaf as you explore the healing charms of laziness. Grant yourself permission to avoid conflict and cultivate sunny self-protectiveness. This is one of those times when silence and stasis are among the best gifts you can give yourself. Welcome the rejuvenating power of emptiness!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): It’s time to replace banged-up, dried-out old obsessions with ripe, juicy fascinations. It’s your duty to phase out numbing traditions and deadening habits so as to make room for exciting new rituals, customs, and sacraments. Can you summon the electric willpower to shed influences that are technically “correct” but lacking in soulfulness? I think you can. Do you love yourself enough to forswear pretty but meaningless titillations? I think you do. Now get out there and do the hard work necessary to bring more serious fun into your life. Homework: Write an essay titled “What I Can Do to Be More Playful.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Over the course of his or her life, the average British person says “Sorry” on over 90,000 occasions. The typical Libran Brit probably utters routine apologies upwards of 120,000 times. Libras from other countries may not reach that heady level, but many do specialize in excessive politeness. (I should know, as I have three planets in Libra in my natal chart.) But in accordance with the astrological indicators, I am authorizing you to be a bit less courteous and solicitous than usual in the next two weeks. Don’t go overboard, of course. But allowing yourself some breathing room like this will help you get more rigorous access to your authentic, idiosyncratic, soulful urges—which will be very tonic.

“It’s a Barbecue”—smoking the competition.

ACROSS 1 Ebsen costar on “The Beverly Hillbillies” 5 Amts. in recipes 9 “America’s Got Talent” judge Heidi 13 “Devil Inside” rock band 14 Long-eared hoppers 16 Nostalgic soft drink brand 17 Open some champagne 19 Clumsy lummoxes 20 “Ambient 4: On Land” musician Brian 21 Tombstone lawman 22 “SportsCenter” source 24 Bad beginning?

25 Freebie with many takeout orders 29 Islamic pilgrimage site 31 “Allergic to Water” singer DiFranco 32 By way of 33 Fabric named for a Mideast capital 36 Religious branch 37 Where ships dock

in the Big Apple 41 Some Louvre hangings 42 World’s largest cosmetics company 43 Condition for TV’s Monk 44 Body scanner grp.

46 Lake Titicaca setting 49 One whose work involves moving letters around 53 It may be reached while binge-watching 55 “Frasier” actress Gilpin 56 “Nasty” Nastase of tennis 57 The one squinting at the clues right now 58 Candy packaged in pairs 60 Barbecue menu item, or what’s going on with the theme answers 63 Almond ___ (candy in a canister) 64 Gets the pot started 65 Commedia dell’___ 66 Woolly mamas

67 Ceases to be 68 Pigsty DOWN 1 Two-legged beast 2 False name 3 “60 Minutes” piece, often 4 U will come after these 5 A mission to remember?

6 Lowest spinal bones 7 Credit, slangily 8 Delivery from a rev.

9 Book publisher Alfred A. ___ 10 Bend forward 11 “Weird Al” Yankovic movie of 1989 12 Understanding start?

15 Ball of yarn, e.g.

18 Jazz devotee 23 “MythBusters” subj.

26 Selfish sort 27 Morty’s mate in animated adventures 28 “2 Broke Girls” actress Dennings 30 Some writeable discs

34 Company with a duck mascot 35 ___-Cat (coldweather vehicle) 36 Auctioneer’s call 37 One-trillionth, in metric names 38 Brand with “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” ads 39 Most spent 40 Tugged hard 41 “Alley-___!”

44 Driveway stuff 45 ___ cog (blunder) 47 Donkey with a pinned-on tail 48 Bull pen sounds 50 It’s represented by a red, white, and blue flag 51 Rhythmic melodies 52 Oprah’s “Epic Rap Battles of History” foe 54 Hazzard County heroes 58 “American Idiot” drummer Cool 59 “I’m speechless!”

61 College, Down Under 62 Grier of “Jackie Brown” fame

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. 803 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • THE PULSE • 21

COLUMN ∙ ON THE BEAT

The Dangers Of "The Chase" Officer Alex studies the cost vs benefits of high speed police chases

Alex Teach

Pulse columnist

I

T’S BEEN A TOPIC HERE IN THE LAST few months, but it’s going to be a topic now again after there have been two more local police chases that ended in death.

Before I go on, let me say to the officers reading this that may have been involved or may have had experiences like this in the past—myself being one of them—know that this isn’t about you. It’s about policy, and about the evolution of such.

There’s the school of thought that all crimes must be pursued to the end with vigor else criminals will think we’re soft and crime will run rampant. It’s a powerful school, but over the years one that I’ve come to realize must be tempered with wisdom.

In my first lesson, I was running radar on the I-24 Dragstrip between the 24/75 split and the Ridgecut (my local readers know exactly the one I speak of) and 88 in a 55 was worth my time, so off I went. Instead of pulling over, he (she?) stomped it, and so did I. 88 turned to 108 more quickly than you’d imagine, and as we proceeded down the Ridgecut at a lonely 3 a.m., I last recall seeing 118 on my own speedometer as I entered the curve with flashing yellow lights that advised a speed limit of 40… strongly.

My quarry was long gone but I stopped thinking about that car so much as the fact as I was starting to fish tail (at a more modest 90 by now) and it occurred to me if I continued or over-corrected, it was a crash I likely wouldn’t survive. The quick cost vs.

benefit analysis left me feeling quite stupid. “Note to self,” I thought as I proceeded to the next exit (and the ensuing adrenaline dump).

Lesson two was a car chase also documented in the “On the Beat” archives on a prime-time Halloween night in a residential area known as East Lake. A chase by an outside agency to the south of our glorious city that wound its way up here, and one with such potential I recall violating our policy by making my car (and its driver) a road block to end that chase one way or the other.

And while I remember placing the ‘Vic in park and loosening my grip on the wheel to mitigate airbag damage, the suspect finally did stop (without impact), but again… cost vs. benefit. “Let it go.”

I don’t know what the two more recent chases were over; I haven’t heard of any local murders or child rapes occurring on those same days and no initial reason was listed in the press releases, but for the guy that ended up burning alive (though likely unconscious) on I-75, what was his offense I wonder?

Intoxicated? Speeding? The curiosity was genuine because in my own fatal-pursuit involvement as a secondary (or way, way beyond) car, I recall the man ultimately dying for having stolen a pressure washer.

I own a pressure washer. It was purchased used and I don’t put it to work nearly enough, and while I like it enough to not resell it myself,

22 • THE PULSE • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

“A civilized society is one based on rules; crimes cannot be ignored or go unpunished or the entire system breaks down into chaos. I get that.” would I give my life for it? No, I can answer pretty quickly. I gave $100 bucks for it, but not my mortal coil, and I wouldn’t expect anyone else to do the same.

A civilized society is one based on rules; crimes cannot be ignored or go unpunished or the entire system breaks down into chaos. I get that.

Without order, there is anarchy, and no matter how romantically depicted anarchy is by such delusional movies as V for Vendetta, anarchy stops being fun after the first 15 minutes or so. I’m saying all this to paint a picture that I’m all about crime and punishment…but I’m also about scale, and reasonableness.

Chase that which can be safely chased, but don’t confuse “contempt of cop” with “doing more

harm than good.”

The 16-year-old just learning to drive that’s in the path, or the kid chasing a ball into the street, even the drunk that steps onto E. 23rd St. into its path (another true story) isn’t worth the price of that stolen love seat / couch / (name your bizarre object).

But that’s just me.

The most dangerous car chases are best ended with the arrest of the driver where they’re sleeping in their Motel 6, not with their bodies (and yours) entangled in a fiery mass…but this is just my opinion (column).

Stay safe, boys & girls.

When officer Alexander D. Teach is not patrolling our fair city on the heels of the criminal element, he spends his spare time volunteering for the Boehm Birth Defects Center.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • NOVEMBER 3, 2016 • THE PULSE • 23