The Pulse 16.49 » December 5, 2019

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 48 | DECEMBER 5, 2019

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BREWER MEDIA GROUP Publisher James Brewer, Sr.

Contents

VOLUME 16, ISSUE 49 • DECEMBER 5, 2019

General Manager Kira Headlee THE PULSE Managing Editor Gary Poole gary@chattanoogapulse.com

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Assistant Editor Jessie Gantt-Temple

In what’s becoming as big a part of the beginning of the holiday season as Thanksgiving and Black Friday, MainX24 celebrates Chattanooga’s Main Street and Southside neighborhood this weekend by hosting a grassroots, 24-hour long festival organized by locals.

Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Editorial Interns Lauren Justice Mackenzie Wagamon

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Director Of Sales Mike Baskin mike@brewermediagroup.com Office 1305 Carter St. Chattanooga, TN 37402 Phone 423.265.9494 Email info@chattanoogapulse.com Website chattanoogapulse.com Facebook @chattanoogapulse Founded 2003

by Zachary Cooper & Michael Kull 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.

MAINX24 NEEDS MORE THAN 24 HOURS

THE AMEN CORNER SHINES IN THE CIRCLE Faith can be a very powerful emotion; it can bring people to their knees, keep them hopeful in times of trouble, and motivate them to be better people. However, faith can also be tested in ways we didn’t know possible. The CTC is telling a moving story about one woman’s test of faith.

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MATT MOVIN IS DOING JUST THAT Chattanooga is a hotbed of musical talent. In truth, it has been for twenty years, but once upon a time no one seemed to know that. Bands and performers who built strong names and loyal followings on the road were virtually anonymous at home.

4 CONSIDER THIS

12 ARTS CALENDAR

23 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

4 FROM THE EDITOR

14 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

23 JONESIN' CROSSWORD

5 EDITOONS

20 MUSIC CALENDAR

24 FILM & TELEVISION

9 SHRINK RAP

22 MUSIC REVIEWS

26 GAME ON!

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 3

CITY LIFE · BETWEEN THE BRIDGES

Cons ider This w ith Dr. Rick

Happy Birthday To Us! Old enough to drive, not old enough to vote

S “I no longer force things. What flows, flows. What crashes, crashes. I only have space and energy for things that are meant for me.” — unknown Letting go can be a hard task for many people. Sometimes we can best let go incrementally. Sometimes cold turkey. It’s when we’re forcing that round peg into the square hole that we run into trouble. Trouble with our controlling nature.

Whether letting it flow, or letting it crash, witness your external and internal universe and let it be. Breathe. Become part of the coming and going, wave-like nature of things.

Dr. Deepak Chopra, author, complementary/Ayurvedic medicine healer and spiritual inspirer teaches us to “allow yourself and others the freedom to be who they are. Do not force solutions—allow solutions to spontaneously emerge. Uncertainty is your path to freedom.” — Rick Pimental-Habib, Ph.D.

IXTEEN YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH A DREAM introduced a new publication to Chattanooga. A weekly alternative newspaper that promised to keep its finger on the “pulse” of Chattanooga.

By Gary Poole

Pulse Managing Editor

“

With an often irreverent attitude and style, those early trailblazers gathered together an eclectic group of contributors to take a fresh look at Chattanooga.”

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And so, The Pulse was born.

Under the leadership of co-founders Zach Cooper and Michael Kull, and the editorial direction of Bill Colrus, The Pulse quickly found a place in our fast-changing city.

With an often irreverent attitude and style, those early trailblazers gathered together an eclectic group of contributors to take a fresh look at Chattanooga. Our people, our music, our art, and our culture.

And from the very first issue, which (correctly) forecast the rebirth of the Southside from urban blight to today’s vibrant community, The Pulsehas never shied away from telling intriguing stories.

Nor has it shied away from telling stories that others might not want told or were unable (for any number of reasons) to tell themselves.

Through five years (and four of-

fice changes), the original gang held things together with hope and optimism, only to come to what they feared would be the end of the road.

Enter Jim Brewer II. I remember clearly having lunch with him back in 2008 when he mentioned he was thinking of purchasing The Pulse. As one of those early contributors myself, I was all in favor of the move. Not only would it keep the paper alive (which I felt was very important), it would also bring it into the Brewer Media Group family.

As a family-owned business with deep roots in the community, I was not afraid The Pulse would be castrated by some faceless corporation. And so eleven years ago, we made one more move into our current home on Carter Street and entered into a new chapter.

The past decade has seen a num-

EDITOONS ber of new challenges. The growth of the internet, the explosion of social media, the decline of magazines and newspapers, the way people changed how they consume media—all contributed to keeping us on our toes and never being able to afford to be complacent.

Even so, what has kept The Pulse viable has been our vision: telling great stories about Chattanooga.

Our people, our music, our art, our culture. And we do that every week with some of the best writers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

I also would be remiss if I didn't send out a very appreciative thanks to the amazing assistant editors we've had over the past eleven years: Janis Hashe, Brooke Brown, Jenn Webster, and our current assistant editor Jessie Gantt-Temple. Their tireless dedication to making sure every issue is as accruate and strong as possible is something I am very thankful for.

As for the city we call home and have been writing about, well...Chattanooga has changed a lot in the past sixteen years, and it shows no sign of slowing that rate of change. In fact, from everything we can see, the changes are coming ever faster.

The city is all but exploding with new homes, new apartments, new restaurants, new clubs, new galleries, new business, new development—all a testament to what makes Chattanooga one of the most compelling cities in

the Southeast, if not the country.

All one has to do is head down to the Southside this week to MainX24 to see just how much the city has changed since we published out first issue.

Or simply stroll around the West Village, the rejuvenated MLK district, the ever-expanding downtown, or the eternally cool Northshore.

Sure, we have our challenges. There are many issues that any city faces: problems with crime, education, infrastructure, and so forth. But I see a city that is facing those challenges, searching for solutions, and trying every day to make this a better, stronger, more welcoming community.

Just trying to keep up with everything that is changing is a challenge in and of itself. There are so many great stories happening in this city, and I look forward to sharing them every week with you as we move into our seventeenth year.

Thanks for being there with us.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 5

MainX24 Needs More Than 24 Hours The annual Southside street party creates new traditions

By Kevin Hale Pulse contributor

“

MainX24 is bigger and better than ever in its thirteenth year. Over 150 events are planned and packed into a 24hour time frame.”

I

N WHAT’S BECOMING AS BIG A PART OF THE BEGINning of the holiday season as Thanksgiving and Black Friday, MainX24 celebrates Chattanooga’s Main Street and Southside neighborhood this weekend by hosting a grassroots, 24-hour long festival organized by locals, merchants and party revelers in an attempt to make the Scenic City as popular for night owls as it is for families.

MainX24 is bigger and better than ever in its thirteenth year. Over 150 events are planned and packed into a 24-hour time frame. At the time of publication, organizers are still adding eclectic get-togethers that draw a few dozen people and making final tweaks to the tried and true community-wide celebrations.

For you early risers, it all starts off at 6:30 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the fire hall on East Main Street with

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all proceeds benefiting the Forgotten Child Fund. You can also grab sausage biscuits, coffee, and hot chocolate.

There will be boxes available to drop off a new unwrapped toy or a new coat.

Buddy Shirk with Summitt Piano returns with the Steinway D Concert Grand and a bevy of local pianists, schools, and the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Choir to entertain you while enjoying all the pancakes you can eat.

Shirk helps the crowd segue into the day’s most popular event: MainX24 Southside Parade sponsored by EPB. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. and regularly draws around 13,000 people and participants.

“The more weird and creative the parade, the better,” exclaims Monica Kinsey, one of the event’s organizers who lives and works on the Southside. “The parade really prepares the Southside business community for their biggest shopping day of the year.”

The route covers the Main Street corridor from Jefferson Street to Coward Street.

“You can count on this being the wackiest parade you have ever seen,” says Dawn Hjelseth, Director of Development for green|spaces. “The mutt strut and roller girls are always a highlight of the event.”

After the parade, storefronts open up and offer everything from art to Christmas merch and photos with Santa.

Stop by the H’art Gallery where artists come from varied underserved backgrounds and circumstances: those experiencing homelessness, living with mental and physical disabilities, disabled veterans, women fleeing abusive situations, political refugees, and others. Their community programs are designed to serve a wide range of populations.

You might take part in cookie decorating, watch sumo wrestling, flash mob dancing, or catch the silent disco at Mean Mug Coffeehouse. Chattanooga Cigar Club will host a celebrity bartend-

ing event where you can show off your karaoke skills.

“It’s hard to pick among the variety of events,” says Kinsey.

“Make sure you eat and stay hydrated. You can rest on Sunday.”

A MainX24 tradition is the World Heavyweight Chili Championship and Vendor Market. It all starts at 11:30 a.m. and is only $15 for all the chili you can eat.

Hjelseth has been heading up the event for seven years, while the event itself is in its eleventh year.

“Over 20 teams will be competing in the cook-off this year with both bloody marys and beer being served,” says Hjelseth. “Make sure and pace yourself. Some people go home and take a nap then come back.”

MainX24 is definitely a marathon not a sprint.

If you want to see some racing action early, don’t miss the annual MainX24 Adult Big Wheel Race. It is a longstanding MainX24 tradition that takes place in the Choo Choo Gardens immediately following the parade. The race features 24 co-ed, adult teams of four that race around a course (relay style) on adult sized big wheels (drift trikes).

It’s double elimination format and the winner takes home the coveted ‘Goat’, not to mention bragging rights for the next twelve months and a nominal prize, be it cash, gift cards, or bourbon. This year’s event will directly benefit the Northside Neighborhood House and SoundCorps.

Speaking of sound, new this year is Chromesthesia, an auditory and visual experience a year in the making. Josh Green will be debuting a live drum triggered light show in conjunction

“

If you want to see some racing action early, don’t miss the annual MainX24 Adult Big Wheel Race. It is a longstanding MainX24 tradition that takes place in the Choo Choo Gardens.” with the ambient enchantments of Eric Setterlund. Sensory percussion wizard Mason Self will be exhibiting his otherworldly, face melting compositions.

This all goes down on 1404 Coward Street at 1 p.m.

Another MainX24 first will be one for beer lovers. Market South is bringing all of Chattanooga’s craft beer to Main Street for a party in their parking lot from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. After the brewfest, they will have an “out-of-thisworld” release party.

My seven-year-old son wouldn’t let me write this story without mentioning how he wants to meet a National Park Ranger.

Kids can earn a Junior Ranger badge and learn how to read and write script

from the Civil War, transcribe letters written by soldiers during the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Campaigns, and imagine being a Civil War soldier wearing reproductions of Civil War uniforms. This “Hands on History” program is free. Just look for the National Park Partners booth next to the Granfalloon at 400 E. Main Street.

And who doesn’t love cheese? Stop

by Bleu Fox Cheese Shop and pick up a cheese plate cone. It has everything an artisan cheese plate has to offer created for your strolling and snacking pleasure. You will find some of the shop’s favorite artisan cheeses and accoutrements such as charcuterie, olives, marcona almonds and crackers.

Regan’s place will host a meet and

greet with Elsa and Anna where you can take pictures and get your face painted from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be a balloon artist on site. Smirnoff and Bailey holiday cocktails will be available (for adults, of course). Admission is $5 for ages two and up.

Dance Tonight Chattanooga encourages you to come dance and be entertained at their studio from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you only know the Hokey Pokey and don’t know any ballroom dances, never fear as they will have instructors and demo basics for you so you can get on the dance floor. This event is free and open to the public.

Handle and Bar is shutting down a section of Main Street for an afternoon of bike shenanigans with Handup Gloves, Ocoee Bikes, and Law Enforcement United. They will have radar races in a variety of categories (twoup sprints that our friends in blue will clock) followed by slow races that will test your track stand skills. Ocoee Bikes will be there offering demos and holding a drawing for their Ocoee Frame Set build up. Don’t forget to throw your name in the raffle before 3 p.m. for your chance to win.

At Habitate For Humanity, the ConNooga folks will use their Jedi mind tricks on you to bring out the Younglings and Padawans to their Family Fair and Saber Idol Jr. contest. Saber Idol Jr. is a performance competition where kids are given a light saber and 30 seconds of music to show off their skills.

The best performers will win fabulous prizes including a pass to ConNooga for the winner. Also watch out for the Witcher Axe Throwing Challenge.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 7

COVER STORY

Collective Clothing will host a Stranger Things themed fashion show with outfits from their shop and also pieces that were actually worn by actors on the show.

Come dressed up and join the after party just moments after the fashion show with a live DJ. Set up outside American Draft, get pics at their sets around the garden, or enjoy some classic ‘80s amusement in the CoinOp Arcade.

Comedy doesn’t go unnoticed at MainX24. David Scott calls himself more than a stand-up comedian: He’s a throwback entertainer. Scott goes by the name Mr. Showtime and believes in more than just standing behind the microphone and telling jokes. He puts on a spectacle that will leave you “LAFFIN’, SINGIN’ and SWINGIN’.“ After night falls, Wildflower Tea Shop and Apothecary will host their Wild and Bitter event where they collaborated with local herbalist/cocktail creatress/stellar human Kaleena of The Bitter Bottle to bring you some truly unique botanical cocktails, as well as celebrate the launch of her amazing new herbal bitters line.

You can groove to the musical stylings of equally fierce female artist 8 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

LVNDR while sipping in the Wildflower space decked out like you’ve never seen it (presented by Margaret Summersell of BohemianSeed). You must be 21 or older, it’s $5 at the door and proceeds go to Crabtree Farms.

And in one of the more risqué MainX24 events, Gate 11 Distillery will host “What’s Under My Kilt?“ Four men in kilts. Mysterious items hidden underneath their kilts. Fabulous prizes for those who can guess correctly, all while drinking Gate 11 liquor. What could go wrong?

Volunteer contestants will be blindfolded, placed on their knees, and have their hands placed at the bottom of the kilt. They will be given 30 seconds to grope around and guess the mysterious item hidden beneath the gentlemen’s kilt.

The contestant with the most correct guesses will win a fabulous prize pack as if the game itself wasn’t rewarding enough.

It’s impossible to list everything MainX24 encompasses, so check out MainX24.com and their Facebook page before you head out. “Come out and explore,” says Kinsey. “See what piques your interest and try something new but plan on having a great time!”

COLUMN · SHRINK RAP

Four Steps For Holiday Peace (Of Mind) Reading this will calm your nerves today and all year long

Y Dr. Rick

Pulse columnist

“

My holiday wish for you is that you can enjoy every bit of it, without worry, without needing to be perfect or taking on too much.”

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

OU KNOW THAT OVERWHELMED sensation where it all feels like too much? Maybe you can’t see how you’re going to get everything done in time. How did this list get so long? It’s paralyzing to even think about.

Most people know the feeling: the heart-racing, shallow-breathing anxiety that accompanies a full plate of obligations, duties, tasks. It doesn’t feel good.

Maybe these stressed-out moments lead you to gaze out the window, wishing you could just take off for a while…go on a really long drive, or cash in the kids’ college fund for a week of white sandy beaches and mai-tais.

Anxiety is about the future. So, when you feel it, you can use the feeling to realize that you’re not at all being present.

Perhaps this is what happens to you at the holidays, or special occasions that you want to go “just right”. Perhaps you have a long-term relationship with anxiety and would benefit from a conversation with your physician or a therapist.

That “spiraling out of control” feeling, that mountain growing out of a molehill, may begin with one or two challenging moments, and then increase in a way we therapists refer to as “generalizing”.

Generalizing means that a thought starts out small, but expands beyond the original issue, until the problem no longer feels manageable, but instead feels quite overwhelming. It’s a snowball rolling down a hill.

Sometimes this anxiety is best helped with medication. Your therapist or physician can help you decide that. However, meds aside, let’s look at ways to reign it in, and you can add these to your Big Bag O’ Tools. Because it’s very empowering to feel that you have the tools you need to regain some control.

1. First, breathe. At the very first signs of anxiety, you’re breathing will be shallow, so it’s important to take 5 to 10 slow, deep, gentle breaths. This helps keep not only your mind from racing, but also helps your physiological systems to calm down and function normally. What you don’t need right now is more adrenaline. You need to slow down and return to center.

2. Second, realize that what’s happening is about perspective. You’re seeing the issue all at once, it’s too big, and so of course it’s going to feel unmanageable. Let this feeling be your red flag that cues you to start looking at it differently.

3. And here’s how to do that: Take the big picture and break it down into small, bite-size pieces. Allow yourself to think in terms of “one step at a time”. Right now, all I have to do is make this phone call.

Then, done with that—now all I have to do is gather my things and walk to my car. Now—all I have to do is start the car, breathe, and drive to the store. You get the idea. You can’t eat a whole plateful of food at once. You take it a bite at a

time. This is the same way to treat your anxiety.

4. Create a mantra for yourself, beginning when you first awaken, such as: Stay present. Just focus. One step at a time. Keep it simple. Breathe. Whatever catch phrase helps you stay with yourself, and not abandon yourself.

A few other practical tips that could help: Make a list and divide it up over several days, instead of trying to do it all today. Elicit the help of a friend or friends to help with some of the tasks, making it more fun and take less time. Learn to delegate, learn to say no, learn that you are a priority.

My holiday wish for you is that you can enjoy every bit of it, without worry, without needing to be perfect or taking on too much. Remember that it’s all about being with loved ones, being grateful, and sharing the spirit. ∙∙∙∙ Until next time: “You owe it to everyone (including yourself) to find pockets of tranquility in your busy world.” — Georges Bernanos

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Amen Corner Shines In The Circle Theatre Centre takes on an amazing work

Dylan Reads Dylan This Friday, professional theater actor and musician Dylan Kussman will be doing a reading of the classic tale “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” by Dylan Thomas at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga.

Thomas, a Welsh poet, wrote this piece in 1952. Rather than a narrative structure, the story uses descriptive passages in more of a fictionalized, autobiographical style. The story captures Thomas’ memory of Christmastime from his childhood. There is some comedic effect from the characters added and his memories are told in an entertaining way.

Children are more than welcome to join in on this magical night, in fact, they will be considered VIP. While the reading begins at 7:30 p.m., refreshments like hot chocolate and cider will be served at 6:30 p.m. to put everyone in the holiday spirit.

The reading will last about 45 minutes, and with Kussman’s theatrical experience, it will no doubt be full of energy and expression as he reads the Christmas tale.

While the event is technically free, suggested donations are $10 for adults and $5 for children. All proceeds will be given to the church so church officials can further their mission spreading good deeds and faith around our community.

— Lauren Justice

F

AITH CAN BE A VERY POWERFUL EMOTION; IT can bring people to their knees, keep them hopeful in times of trouble, and motivate them to be better people. However, faith can also be tested in ways we didn’t know possible.

By Addie Whitlow Pulse contributor

The Chattanooga Theatre Centre is telling a moving story about one woman’s trying test of faith during the holiday season with their production of James Baldwin’s “The Amen Corner”, opening Friday night at 8 p.m.

“The Amen Corner” was written

by James Baldwin and published in 1954. The production tells the story of Sister Margaret Alexander

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in 1957 Harlem. A single mother, Alexander has been dedicated to her congregation for years, but suddenly her dying husband arrives at her door; soon, she’s in danger of losing both her congregation and her son, who she’s trying to keep on the right path.

The Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s production is directed by Ricardo Morris and features a cast of seventeen, in addition to a childrens’ ensemble. The cast started rehearsals on October 28, a week

after auditions. Morris explained that one of the challenges he’s experienced in the Chattanooga theater community is finding African American actors, but over 30 people came to audition for “The Amen Corner”.

The role of Margaret Alexander will be portrayed by Marsha Mills, who is making her CTC debut. Carlos Davis, who was in last season’s “Fences”, will portray her husband, Luke. Morris explained that much of the cast has never acted on a professional level before so it’s been a great way to introduce them to the Theatre Centre. “[This production] is really universal in terms of humans and life and in terms of trying, regardless of the color of the skin of the people doing

it. There are characters that everyone can identify with, or know somebody, or have somebody in their family that may be that way. It’s a great opportunity, I think, to see just a little slice of church life for the black community,” explained Morris. “And even though it’s set in 1957, some of the ideas and things that they’re talking about, fortunately and unfortunately, are still relevant today. So that’s kind of a twoedged sword.”

An aspect of the show that’s especially important to Morris is allowing the cast to interact with the audience and include them in the production as much as possible, so he’s discovered a great way to make them feel like they’re part of the on-stage experience.

“The cast members will go out into the lobby area, just before the house opens, and they’ll come into the theater with the audience. They’ll interact with them one-on-one, in character, as if they’re all going into a church service. So there will be meet-andgreets, and talking to their friends, in costume and in character. On a special cue, everyone will start singing and move onto the stage. I wanted the audience to feel like they’re part of the congregation, too,” Morris said.

Because the show will be performed during the Christmas season and is also set during the holidays, Morris explained that they’ve replaced

“

The cast members will go out into the lobby area, just before the house opens, They’ll interact with them oneon-one, in character, as if they’re all going into a church service. ” a few of the songs in the production with Christmas songs, such as “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World”.

Additionally, Morris said you can’t have an African American church without great music, so audiences will experience live music throughout the production. In order to make the show more intimate, “The Amen Corner” will be performed in the Circle Theatre.

The set for the production is very similar to what you’d imagine when thinking of 1957 Harlem, such as simplistic storefronts and churches.

Morris explained that it’s actually been a bit of a challenge to incorporate a church and a storefront, with an apartment inside, onto a smaller stage. Additionally, Morris said he pays very close attention to intricate details in order to make the show as authentic as possible.

“As a director, I like to pay attention to the small details like the chairs or what kind of plants we have. So there’s a lot of that, and authentic-

ity; working with 1957 women is a lot different than working with 2019 women. They’re all wearing dresses, and gloves, and hats, and coats, and crossing their legs at the ankles.

There’s almost a retraining of social cues,” Morris explained. “That becomes part of the process for me, the history; what’s going on in the United States. There’s definitely some references to racism and poverty and things like that. And giving the cast that kind of background information, so they feel there’s a backstory for their character.”

The Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s production of “The Amen Corner” opens Friday at 8 p.m., and will be performed through December 22nd, with evening shows Thursday through Saturday and Sunday matinee shows.

If you’ve ever wanted a chance to experience the moving and inspiring work of James Baldwin on stage, then you definitely don’t want to miss the CTC’s production of “The Amen Corner”.

THU12.5

FRI12.6

SAT12.7

Mary Poppins

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

Chattanooga Holiday Market

C. S. Lewis' children's classic transports us all to the wonderful frozen land of Narnia.

7:30 p.m.

Back Alley at Mars Theater 117 N Chattanooga St. bapshows.com

The Chattanooga Market moves indoors with all your favorite vendors.

10 a.m.

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com

Everyone's favorite nanny comes to life in the timeless tale of the adventures of the Banks children.

7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. theatrecentre.com

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR THURSDAY12.5 Throwback Thursday 4 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Fine Art Student Show Gallery Opening 6 p.m.

John C. Williams Gallery 4881Taylor Circle (423) 236-2000 southern.edu River Runners 6 p.m.

Basecamp Bar and Restaurant 346 Frazier Ave. (423) 803-5251 basecampcha.com Beginner Embroidery: Ornaments 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Author Cassandra King Conroy 6 p.m.

Girls Preparatory School 205 Island Ave. (423) 634-7600 gps.edu Bitters 101 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Origin Moment Teen Show Opening 6 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org Open Mic Poetry 6:30 p.m.

Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com Comedian Donnie Baker 7 p.m.

Sky Zoo 5709 Lee Hwy (423) 521-2966

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skyzoochattanooga.com Mary Poppins 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com David Scott 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Alcoholics Not Anonymous Comedy Open Mic 8 p.m.

Barley Taproom 235 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 682-8200 chattanoogabarley.com

FRIDAY12.6 “Metamorphosis—Creating With Wood” Opening Ceremony 5 p.m.

In-Town Gallery 26 Frazier Ave. (423) 267-9214 intowngallery.com First Friday Open House 5:30 p.m.

Area 61 Gallery 721 Broad St. (423) 648-9367 area61gallery.com Dylan Kussman reads Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas In Wales 6:30 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga 3224 Navajo Dr. (423) 624-2985 uucc.org The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe 7:30 p.m.

Back Alley at Mars Theater 117 N Chattanooga St. (706) 621-2870 bapshows.com David Scott 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com St. Paul’s Artist Series: King’s Counterpoint

7:30 p.m.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 305 W. 7th St. stpaulschatt.org The Floor is Yours: Gift Givers 7:30 p.m.

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

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Improv “Movie” Night Presents: Home for the Holidays Movie 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 The Amen Corner 8 p.m.

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

SATURDAY12.7 Holly Jolly Holiday Market 9:30 a.m.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church 7524 Hixson Pike (423) 842-1342 saintalbanschatt.com Chattanooga Holiday Market 10 a.m.

Chattanooga Convention

Center 1150 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Wooden Collage Houses 10 a.m.

Townsend Center 301 E. 11th St. (423) 266-2712 townsendcenter.org CCS Holiday Market & Variety Show Noon Chattanooga Christian School 3354 Charger Dr. (423) 265-6411 ccsk12.com Grand Opening + Champagne Pop Up Noon The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Mary Poppins 2:30, 8 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com David Scott 4, 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Mrs. Claus Adventures 6 p.m.

Enterprise South Nature Park 190 Still Hollow Loop (423) 893-3500 parks.hamiltontn.gov The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe 7:30 p.m.

Back Alley at Mars Theater 117 N Chattanooga St. (706) 621-2870 bapshows.com Heather Land 8 p.m.

Walker Theater 399 McCallie Ave. (423) 757-5580 tivolichattanooga.com Chattanooga’s Secret History 8 p.m.

Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com The Amen Corner 8 p.m.

Mr. Showtime David Scott

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com Bad Santa Karaoke 10 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. (423) 629-2233 thecomedycatch.com Whose Line Chattanooga 10 p.m.

Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com

SUNDAY12.8 Mixed Media House Portraits 10 a.m.

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

Chattanooga Convention Center 1150 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Holiday Tea and Open House 1 p.m.

The Houston Museum 201 High St. (423) 267-7176 thehoustonmuseum.org Family Fun Day 2 p.m.

The Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff Ave. (423) 267-0968 huntermuseum.org

Mary Poppins 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com The Amen Corner 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. (423) 267-8534 theatrecentre.com The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe 2:30 p.m.

Back Alley at Mars Theater 117 N Chattanooga St. (706) 621-2870 bapshows.com Creating a 2020 Vision Board 3 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org DIY Liqueur as Gifts 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org David Scott 7:30 p.m.

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

MONDAY12.9 Beginner Cake Decorating: Frozen Edition 6 p.m.

The Chattery

1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Winter Belly Dance Session 6 p.m.

Movement Arts Collective 3813 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 401-8115 movementartscollective.com Joggers & Lagers 6 p.m.

Chattanooga Brewing Co. 1804 Chestnut St. (423) 702-9958 chattabrew.com Beginner Tarot 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Comedy Open Mic 9 p.m.

The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy (423) 468-4192 thehonestpint.com

TUESDAY12.10 Chattanooga Self Improvement Meetup 8 a.m.

The Edney Innovation Center 1100 Market St. (423) 643-6770 theedney.com Festive Wreath Making: Holiday Edition 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org

Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. (423) 643-7700 chattilibrary.com Macramé Ornament Making 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Paths to Pints 6:30 p.m.

The Tap House 3800 St. Elmo Ave. taphousechatt.com Improv Crash Course 8 p.m.

Improv Chattanooga 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 843-1775 improvchattanooga.com Poetry, Pups & Pints 7:30 p.m.

Stone Cup Café 208 Frazier Ave. (423) 521-3977 stonecupcafe.com

WEDNESDAY12.11 Main Street Market 4 p.m.

522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Beginner Embroidery: Holiday Hand Towels 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Artsperiences!

6 p.m.

Mad Knight Brewing Company 4015 Tennessee Ave. (423) 825-6504 madknightbrewing.com Using Calligraphy for Holiday Place Cards 6 p.m.

The Chattery 1800 Rossville Ave. (423) 521-2643 thechattery.org Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 13

Holiday

Shopping Guide

Anyone who is into mountain biking, scuba diving or rock climbing needs this waterproof camera.

The Campark Waterproof Action Camera includes 4K resolution, a 2-inch HD screen and a wide-angle lens. Start moving! $39.99 · campark.net

Produce a piquant variety of hot sauces with this DIY Make Your Own Hot Sauce Kit, offering cayenne, ancho, curry, and chili spice packs. Simply follow the instructions, combining the spices with the included peppers, vinegars, and brown sugar to create your own handcrafted condiments. $35 · uncommongoods.com

You may learn more than you wanted to know about others and reveal more than you want about yourself as you play this hilarious I Have This Friend Game. The game for “normal people with seriously messed up friends”, players take turns reading over 200 embarrassing statements and then confess each time something that applies to “their friend”. $19.99 · walmart.com

The the stylish man on your list (or for yourself), the Falster 2 Touchscreen Smartwatch is one of the best looking watches out there. Skagen makes a very nice watch, with a minimalist face and a handsome leather band. It’s also a smart watch that’ll help him keep track of his life and his health. $295 · nordstrom.com

14 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Give that special woman on your list the sun, the moon, and the stars with this stylish Sun Moon Star Print Dress that will make her the envy of any heavenly body. We’ve also been told it works great as a Ms. Frizzle costume from The

Magic School Bus, but that’s entirely up to her.

$26.99 · dresslily.com

Before Toni Morrison’s death this year, the Nobel Prizewinning author released The Source of Self-Regard, a collection of essays and speeches that are just as moving and incisive as her celebrated fiction. $28.95 · penguinrandomhouse.com

If someone in your life wants to learn to make cocktails, Cocktail Punk: Basic Bitters Set is the perfect starting point. There are also several other sets for those ready to experiment. $32 · cocktailpunk.com

Give yourself a double dose of nostalgia with this grown-up, just-for-you version of one of childhood’s greatest gadgets: the Create Your Own Reel Viewer. Assemble snapshots of your favorite memories and add them to your very own reel using the redemption code included with your viewer. $14.95 · uncommongoods.com

Fly a paper airplane— if you want to let go, fly slow, and be Zen. This SmartphoneControlled Paper Airplane goes exactly where you tell it to.

Just fold the sporty “paper” (actually crashproof carbon fiber) using one of the included templates, attach the Bluetooth-enabled device, download the app to your phone, and commence takeoff for a flight of fancy. $45 · uncommongoods.com THE PULSE • HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • 15

Let the tie-dye take you away.

This Ahh-mazingly Soft Hoodie is made from super soft fleece (a blend of 60% cotton, 40% Polyester), is machine washable, and is oversized with a longer length for a bit of extra coverage and goes great with leggings & jeggings. $22.47 · ae.com

Having trouble with your WiFi at home? Google’s Nest Wifi is not the sexiest gift, but it’s a techie gift that’ll keep everyone in the house from yelling at the router on a regular basis, because it revolutionizes the home router system. $229 · bestbuy.com

Two sisters created Izzy Wheels with the tagline, “If you can’t stand up, stand out.” They now collaborate with artists and fashion designers all over the world to transform wheelchairs into fashion statements.

The dozens of wheelchair covers are sure to reflect the bright personalities of those using them. $152.63 · izzywheels.com The Fire Hose Limber Jac is just as tough as you’d expect a Fire Hose jacket to be and it’s made of seriously rugged 100% cotton canvas. But at 8-oz., it’s a lighter-weight canvas that’s great in milder weather or when you’re on the move. Get it now! $53 · duluthtrading.com

Designer lamp, speaker and cooler in one. With the Kooduu: Synergy Pro you can enjoy ambient light, your favorite music and chilled drinks. Wherever you want, whenever you want. In the park, on your balcony or on the beach. From a balmy summer evening in your garden to an icy cold winter afternoon in front of the fireplace. It's a multitasking party machine that combines a portable wireless speaker, an LED light, and an ice bucket (or a planter). Perfect for indoor and outdoor entertaining. $209 · amazon.com

16 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Go back to the ‘80s with a retro-inspired NES Classic Edition that comes loaded with only the best video games: Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros., Zelda, and more. It’s never too late to enjoy the decade that started it all. $99.98 · amazon.com Why should women have all the skin-care fun? This hydrating Bro Mask from Jaxon Lane has glowing reviews and has won multiple awards. If your recipient is new to masks, there is a YouTube video explaining how to use it. $28 · jaxonlane.com

This Uber Chill XL Personal Mini Fridge combines style and function in one scaled-down appliance.

Warm or cold, enjoy food and drinks either way with dual settings and storage for up to twelve cans. Its sleek, retro shape draws attention but takes up little space under a desk or on a countertop. $69.95 · thegrommet.com The blue light on smartphones interferes with sleep, but many users rely on the devices’ alarms to wake up in the morning. Help them make the bedroom a phone-free zone with this handsome Georg Jensen HK Clock With Alarm in old-fashioned analog style. $104 · finnishdesignshop.com

THE PULSE • HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • 17

THE MUSIC SCENE

Movin Is Doing Just That Local rapper’s new album is sure to be heard

Secor And Tuttle Bring The Folk This Saturday, Chattanooga will be host to some phenomenal talent in the form of Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle. These accomplished musicians will come together in this must-see performance at the iconic Songbirds.

Ketch Secor is a seasoned multi-instrumental musician best known as the founder of the Grammy-Award winning band, Old Crow Medicine Show. As frontman and fiddler, Secor has spent the past twenty years performing folk and alternative country music for his devoted fans.

Molly Tuttle is a masterful guitarist and songwriter who has gained recognition and fans with her pure sound and range. The upand-coming artist was named “Instrumentalist of the Year” at the 2018 Americana Music Awards.

Tuttle, a truly versatile music lover, has been accepted into the folk, Americana, bluegrass, and traditional country communities. She had gained numerous accolades across these genres, including a “Song of the Year” award from Folk Alliance International.

She was also the first woman in history to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s “Guitar Player of the Year.”

Suffice to say, this is one concert music-loving Chattanoogans need to see. The concert will be on the Songbirds North Stage at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome, and tickets may be purchased through the Songbirds website for $25. — Mackenzie Wagamon

By Marc T. Michael

“

Pulse Music Editor

Full of heart, soul, and sincerity, the album stands as a monument to years of hard work and perseverance.”

18 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

C

HATTANOOGA IS A HOTBED OF MUSICAL TALENT. In truth, it has been for twenty years, but once upon a time no one seemed to know that. Bands and performers who built strong names and loyal followings on the road were virtually anonymous at home.

That’s not the case anymore.

There is exponentially more opportunity here for those willing to seek it out, and there’s the rub. All too often I hear complaints about a lack of venues, pay, recognition, appreciation, and so on.

It’s a topic I’ve addressed in this column on more than one occasion and all those thousands of words can be boiled down to one simple point.

The music business is a business.

Having a great act, having talent, having something to say, having a hook…those things are all prerequisites to success, but in and of themselves, they are not enough. Success lies in promoting yourself, in hustling, finding opportunity and, when necessary, creating opportunity.

Fortunately, the younger generation of performers is growing savvier about this basic tenet of life as a

performer. Among those that have stepped up to the plate to claim success for themselves, Matt Movin is one of the best.

His new album, Movin’ Be Movin’, has set a new high water mark in the young rapper’s career. The production values are as good or superior to anything being released commercially, and his talent as a lyricist, writer, and performer is on par with any big name act today.

Full of heart, soul, and sincerity, the album stands as a monument to years of hard work and perseverance, and yet, Movin understands better than many that this and $2.50 will buy a cup of coffee.

Because he understands this (and I wish more younger musicians did) he has thrown at least as much time, effort, and fierce dedication in to making things happen for himself.

There’s nothing easy about creating great music, but ironically, once this is done it seems to be all too easy to sit back and wait for someone to notice.

It is a race half-run, but Movin is in it to go the distance, and I have rarely seen someone so hungry to win.

“Hurtful”, “God”, “Wish You the

“

At times the album dips into ground familiar to all; at other times it seems to be deeply autobiographical, and throughout, it is honest and sincere.”

Best”, and “All Pressure, No Let Up”, are songs that run the gamut of personal experience, philosophy, pain, joy, and a drive to excel. At times the album dips into ground familiar to all; at other times it seems to be deeply autobiographical, and throughout, it is honest and sincere. In a word, the album has guts. It is both relatable and a look inside the life of the man who created it.

It is poetry, plain and simple and once you combine that with an ear for musical hooks and beats and an ability to wield a microphone like a scalpel, a sword, or a ton of TNT, you have an album of such quality that folks ought to be proud someone from their hometown made it.

And yet for all that, it might have passed by without a mention were it not for Matt’s overwhelming determination to be heard, to stretch beyond the limitations of home-

town hero.

As much blood, sweat, and tears that went in to the production, no less of the same goes in to making the calls, setting the shows, networking, promoting, and otherwise boosting the signal to make sure people hear what he has to say.

His work ethic is impeccable and it gives one pause to consider how many other great albums have been written and recorded that went unheard because their creators stopped when the last track was mastered.

That will never be the case with Matthew Movin, he will not be relegated to the bin of “could have beens.” He has both the talent and the motivation to become the next breakout star of the hip-hop world and the proof is in the album.

Available now, Movin’ Be Movin’ is a crowning achievement in the career of a young man who will settle for nothing less than success.

These Aren't Broadway Cats

If you’re looking for a taste of the Emerald Isle, Saturday nights at The Honest Pint will scratch that itch with their ongoing series of Celtic performers including this week’s new act, Fractious Cats.

To borrow a line from Tom Waits, the trio is well-versed in “brawlers, bawlers, and bastards”. Ranging from the strictly traditional to the thoroughly modern, the Cats’ music is comprised of history, ferocity, good will, humor, and more than a touch of silliness delivered with a healthy dose of jokes and story-telling.

Their collection of familiar favorites from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales is counterpointed by some deeper cuts that will likely be new to all but the most ardent fans of all things Celtic.

The show, which is free, starts at 9 p.m. and yes, they do take requests (as long as it isn’t “The Unicorn”.) — MTM

THU12.5

FRI12.6

SAT12.7

Didges Christ Superdrum

Amber Fults

MainX24 Block Party

Have we mentioned lately how awesome Amber is? No? Well she is and you really should go see her. Seriously. Go now.

6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com

Honestly, we could pick any of the MainX24 musical events and you'd be happy. We just like Clyde's shrimp po boy 7 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com

The masked madmen bring an extraterrestrial vibe merging electronica and heavy metal together.

9 p.m.

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

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 19

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR THURSDAY12.5 David Anthony & Paul Stone 6 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Collin Raye 7 p.m.

Memorial Auditorium 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Toby Hewitt 7 p.m.

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

Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Jesse Jungkurth & Friends 7:30 p.m.

Mexi-Wing VII 5773 Brainerd Rd. (423) 296-1073 Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Didges Christ Superdrum, Cypher Machine 9 p.m.

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

FRIDAY12.6 Gino Fanelli & The Jalopy Brothers 6 p.m.

Edley’s Bar-B-Que 205 Manufacturers Rd. edleysbbq.com Amber Fults 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com As Issac 6:30 p.m.

Calvary Chapel 3415 Broad St. calvarychatt.com The Simp Gatsby 6 7 p.m.

The Camp House

20 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

149 E. MLK Blvd. thecamphouse.com Albert Cummings 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Chattanooga Song Circle 7 p.m.

Pax Breu Ruim 516 E. Main St. paxbreuruim.business.site Stringer’s Ridge 7 p.m.

OddStory Brewing Company 336 E. MLK Blvd. oddstorybrewing.co Fault Lines 7 p.m.

The Spot of Chattanooga 1800 E. Main St. facebook.com/1800EMain St. Paul’s Artist Series: King’s Counterpoint 7:30 p.m.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 305 W. 7th St. stpaulschatt.org River City Sessions 7:30 p.m.

Cadek Conservatory 725 Oak St. cadek.org D.J. Cherry & Friends 7:30 p.m.

Gate 11 Distillery 1400 Market St. gate11distillery.com Nick Williams 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Colter Wall 8 p.m.

Walker Community Theater 399 McCallie Ave. tivolichattanooga.com Maradeen and The Afternooners 8 p.m.

Wanderlinger Brewing Company 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Husky Burnette 8:30 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Reflect featuring Black Carl 9 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Homegrown 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Electric Avenue 9 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks Hit Town Band 10 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Wasted Riffs 10 p.m.

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

SATURDAY12.7 Wanderlinger 1 Year Anniversary Party 10 a.m.

Wanderlinger Brewing Company 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Danimal 10:30 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Magic Birds 11:30 a.m.

Office Coordinators Inc. 326 E. Main St. officecoordinators.com Ariel Omarzu Ketterer Noon Locals Only Gifts & Goods 10 Frazier Ave. localsonlychattanooga.com Chattanooga Boys Choir Singing Christmas Tree Noon; 5:30 p.m.

Tivoli Theatre 709 Broad St. tivolichattanooga.com Priscilla and Little RicKee 1 p.m.

Chrysalis 1401 Williams St. (423) 521-4731 PainX24 1 p.m.

The Wheelhouse

1216 E. Main St. (423) 266-3656 ET, Iron Fez, Husky Burnette 2 p.m.

Mean Mug 114 W. Main St. meanmugcoffee.com David Ingles & Friends 6 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com MainX24 Rockfest 6 p.m.

The Bicycle Bar 45 E. Main St. (423) 475-6569 Spiked Café 6 p.m.

Hart Gallery TN 110 E. Main St. hartgalleytn.com Tre Powell 6:30 p.m.

Westin Dorato Bar 801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Keith Harken 7 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net A Night With Ketch Secor and Molly Tuttle 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks MainX24 Block Party 7 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com The Fridge & Danimal Planet 7:01 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com Counterpoint Concert Series with Tim Hink 7:30 p.m.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 305 W. 7th St. stpaulschatt.org Neshawn Calloway 7:30 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Ryan Oyer 7:30 p.m.

Westin Alchemy Bar

801 Pine St. westinchattanooga.com Wind Symphony Christmas Concert 8 p.m.

Iles PE Center 4881 Taylor Cir. southern.edu Silent Disco 8 p.m.

Mean Mug 114 W. Main St. meanmugcoffee.com Dallas Walker 8:30 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Brandon Maddox 9 p.m.

Home Plate Bar and Grill 5611 Ringgold Rd. homeplategrillga.com Slicksilver 9 p.m.

Mayo’s Bar and Grille 3820 Brainerd Dr. mayosbarandgrill.com The Malemen: A Night of Motown 9 p.m.

Songbirds South 41 Station St. songbirds.rocks PBR Band 9 p.m.

SkyZoo 5709 Lee Hwy. (423) 468-4533 Tempus, Sleepyhead, Midnight Promise 9 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Sound System Culture Presents Showcase 001 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Misfit Toys 9 p.m.

HiFi Clyde’s 122 W. Main St. hificlydeschattanooga.com Free Lacing 10 p.m.

Barley Chattanooga 235 E. MLK Blvd. chattanoogabarley.com Flavorless #29 with Justin

Cudmore 10 p.m.

The Urban Lawn 306 W. Main St. theurbanlawn.com Wasted Riffs 10 p.m.

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

SUNDAY12.8 Nickolas Edward Williams 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 Noon 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 Close 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com The Other Brothers 2 p.m.

WanderLinger Brewing Co. 1208 King St. wanderlinger.com

MONDAY12.9 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 AA Bondy, The Bardos, Stellers Jay 9 p.m.

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

TUESDAY12.10 Acoustic Bohemian Night 6:30 p.m.

Mexi-Wing IX 6925 Shallowford Rd. mexiwingix.business.site William Blackart, Silver Kit, Rye Baby 7 p.m.

The Spot of Chattanooga 1800 E. Main St. facebook.com/1800EMain 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 Samantha Fish and Nicholas David 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Dustin Concannon 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 Live Jam Session with Freddy Mc & Friends 8 p.m.

The Granfalloon

400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com

WEDNESDAY12.11 Christmas Concert 7 p.m.

Songbirds North 35 Station St. songbirds.rocks Jesse James Jungkurth 7 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Nathan Warner Quartet 7 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Open Mic Night 7:30 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 In Flames 8:30 p.m.

The Signal 1810 Chestnut St. thesignaltn.com Sexy Beasts 9 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 21

ERNIE PAIKS’S RECORD REVIEWS nami that takes its time to build its waves before crushing the shoreline with a rich ocean of bouillabaisse, to be both feared and savored.

I Éliane Radigue Occam Ocean 2 (Shiiin)

Arthur Russell Iowa Dream (Audika)

A

careful listeners.

Following last year’s Occam Ocean 1, which featured solo, duo and trio works, Occam Ocean 2 uses an orchestra, creating a piece that’s even more ambitious and more spellbinding than its predecessor.

Radigue collaborates here with Frédéric Blondy, a pianist and founder of ONCEIM (l’Orchestre de Nouvelles Créations, Expérimentations et Improvisation Musicales), the ensemble which performs the 52-minute work with strings, reeds, brass, guitars and an accordion.

The piece is a thick and nourishing mass of sound that slowly builds before slowly shifting its amorphous mass; a strange energy is at work here, often using dissonant tones and conveying moods that aren’t easily described.

Now let’s go back to that quote in the first sentence of this review, about the river stream; here, as hinted by its title, the music is an ocean of sound where differences can only be sensed in the collective level rather than the individual level.

It’s an unstoppable tsu-

bout her 1974 electronic piece “Adnos”, musician and composer Éliane Radigue wrote, “Moving stones around in the river bed does not affect the stream, but alters the fluid shape.”

To this writer, two things stand out about that sentence: 1) That it could apply to a great deal of Radigue’s catalog, and 2) That it is reminiscent of some nugget of wisdom from Eastern philosophy—coincidentally, the Paris-born Radigue began a deep interest in Tibetan Buddhism in the mid ’70s.

Now 87 years old, Radigue has spent the 21st century primarily creating for acoustic instruments, after several distinct phases of her career, first working with musique concrète pioneers Pierre Schaeffer and Pierre Henry in the '50s and '60s, then focusing on using feedback and tape loops, and then using analog synthesizers (mostly the ARP 2500) for three decades.

Her work unfolds gradually and purposefully, sometimes meditative and sometimes harsh, with shifting, complex drones that have great payoffs for patient, 22 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

n an alternate universe, one of the demo sessions that Arthur Russell recorded in 1974—with John Hammond of Columbia Records or Paul Nelson of Mercury Records—would have resulted in a life-changing contract, leading to a series of acclaimed pop albums and fame as a songwriter for even more famous singers.

Instead, Russell’s career largely stayed underground, and when he passed away in 1992 at the age of 40, fame and fortune eluded him; he left behind a huge, remarkable archive of material of which he compulsively revised, creating multiple mixes of individual tracks with no definitive final edit.

Interest in Russell’s work was revitalized around 15 years ago, with the release of the compilation The World of Arthur Russell on Soul Jazz Records and the creation of Audika Records, which was devoted to reissuing and unearthing Russell’s material, driven by Steven Knutson with the help of Russell’s partner Tom Lee. Trained in the cello since a child growing up in Iowa, Russell never settled into a single genre; his danceoriented work (released under names like Dinosaur L and Indian Ocean) perhaps brought him the most (relative) fame, but he created equally compelling and transcendental music in the realms of contempo-

rary classical (documented on the compilation First Thought, Best Thought), pop (heard on the collection Love Is Overtaking Me), and the unclassifiable (the stunning voice/cello/echo-box work World of Echo).

The new collection Iowa Dream gathers tracks from the two aforementioned demo sessions in 1974 along with home recordings and other rarities, and it is nearest in spirit to Love Is Overtaking Me, being superficially closest to conventional pop songs.

Because Russell often left songs incomplete, Peter Broderick was employed for the challenging task of editing the Iowa Dream material, sometimes putting fragments from different takes together to make completed songs.

Russell’s collaborators included several underground notables, including Ernie Brooks (of The Modern Lovers), percussionist David Van Tieghem, Rhys Chatham and Henry Flynt, sometimes playing instruments that they aren’t known for playing.

Lyrically, Russell seems to celebrate or single-out the small moments of life, elevating observations—a movie’s ending that seemed “tacked-on” or the routines of his parents—and transforming them into art.

It’s not difficult to realize why Russell’s demo sessions didn’t lead to record contracts—his way of doing things is peculiar, and his oddly structured songs often have their own strange flow. But that’s one of the reasons why a new generations of fans find his work so fascinating and affecting.

JONESIN' CROSSWORD

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “My greatest asset is that I am constantly changing,” says Sagittarian actress and activist Jane Fonda. This description may not always be applicable to you, but I think it should be during the coming weeks. You’re primed to thrive on a robust commitment to selftransformation. As you proceed in your holy task, keep in mind this other advice from Fonda. 1. “One part of wisdom is knowing what you don’t need anymore and letting it go.” 2. “It is never too late to master your weaknesses.” 3. “If you allow yourself, you can become stronger in the very places that you’ve been broken.” 4. “The challenge is not to be perfect. It’s to be whole.” P.S. And what does it mean to be whole? Be respectful toward all your multiple facets, and welcome them into the conversation you have about how to live.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You can’t escape your past completely. You can’t loosen its hold on you so thoroughly that it will forever allow you to move with limitless freedom into the future.

But you definitely have the power to release yourself from at least a part of your past’s grip. And the coming weeks will be an excellent time to do just that: to pay off a portion of your karmic debt and shed worn-out emotional baggage.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian playwright August Strindberg didn’t have much interest in people who “regurgitate what they have learned from books.” He was bored by stories that have been told over and over again; was impatient with propaganda disguised as information and by sentimental platitudes masquerading as sage insights. He craved to hear about the unprecedented secrets of each person’s life: the things they know and feel that no one else knows and feels. He was a student of “the natural history of the human heart.” I bring Strindberg’s perspective to your attention, my dear one-of-a-kind Aquarius, because now is a perfect time for you to fully embody it.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): “It’s no fun being in love with a shadow,” wrote Piscean poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. And yet she indulged profusely in that no-fun activity, and even capitalized on it to create a number of decent, if morose, poems. But in alignment with your astrological omens, Pisces, I’m going to encourage you to fall out of love with shadows. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to channel your passions into solid realities: to focus your ardor and adoration on earthly pleasures and practical concerns and imperfect but interesting people.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): In com-

posing this oracle, I have called on the unruly wisdom of Vivienne Westwood. She’s the fashion designer who incorporated the punk esthetic into mainstream styles. Here are four quotes by her that will be especially suitable for your use in the coming weeks. 1.

“I disagree with everything I used to say.” 2. “The only possible effect one can have on the world is through unpopular ideas.” 3.

“Intelligence is composed mostly of imagination, insight, and things that have nothing to do with reason.” 4. “I’m attracted to people who are really true to themselves and who are always trying to do something that makes their life more interesting.”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “I’m drowning in the things I never told you.” Famous make-up artist Alexandra Joseph wrote that message to a companion with whom she had a complicated relationship. Are you experiencing a similar sensation, Taurus? If so, I invite you to do something about it!

The coming weeks will be a good time to stop drowning. One option is to blurt out to your ally all the feelings and thoughts you’ve been withholding and hiding. A second option is to divulge just some of the feelings and thoughts you’ve been withholding and hiding—and then monitor the results of your partial revelation. A third option is to analyze why you’ve been withholding and hiding. Is it because your ally hasn’t been receptive, or because you’re afraid of being honest? Here’s what I suggest: Start with the third option, then move on to the second.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): I’ve got some borderline sentimental poetry to offer you in this horoscope. It may be too mushy for a mentally crisp person like you.

You may worry that I’ve fallen under the sway of sappy versions of love rather than the snappy versions I usually favor. But there is a method in my madness: I suspect you need an emotionally suggestive nudge to fully activate your urge to merge; you require a jolt of sweetness to inspire you to go in quest of the love mojo that’s potentially available to you in abundance. So please allow your heart to be moved by the following passage from poet Rabindranath Tagore: “My soul is alight with your infinitude of stars. Your world has broken upon me like a flood.

The flowers of your garden blossom in my body.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Try saying this, and notice how it feels: “For the next 17 days, I will make ingenious efforts to interpret my problems as interesting opportunities that offer me the chance to liberate myself from my suffering and transform myself into the person I aspire to become.” Now speak the following words and

see what thoughts and sensations get triggered: “For the next 17 days, I will have fun imagining that my so-called flaws are signs of potential strengths and talents that I have not yet developed.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): An interviewer asked singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen if he needed to feel bothered and agitated in order to stimulate his creativity.

Cohen said no. “When I get up in the morning,” he testified, “my real concern is to discover whether I’m in a state of grace.” Surprised, the interviewer asked, “What do you mean by a state of grace?” Cohen described it as a knack for balance that he called on to ride the chaos around him. He knew he couldn’t fix or banish the chaos—and it would be arrogant to try. His state of grace was more like skiing skillfully down a hill, gliding along the contours of unpredictable terrain.

I’m telling you about Cohen’s definition, Leo, because I think that’s the state of grace you should cultivate right now. I bet it will stimulate your creativity in ways that surprise and delight you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Poet Juan Felipe Herrera praises the value of making regular efforts to detox our cluttered minds. He says that one of the best methods for accomplishing this cleansing is to daydream. You give yourself permission to indulge in uncensored, unabashed fantasies. You feel no inhibition about envisioning scenes that you may or may not ever carry out in real life. You understand that this free-form play of images is a healing joy, a gift you give yourself. It’s a crafty strategy to make sure you’re not hiding any secrets from yourself.

Now is a favorable time to practice this art, Virgo.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In accordance with current astrological omens, here’s your meditation, as articulated by the blogger named Riverselkie: “Let your life be guided by the things that produce the purest secret happiness, with no thought to what that may look like from the outside. Feed the absurd whims of your soul and create with no audience in mind but yourself. What is poignant to you is what others will be moved by, too. Embrace what you love about yourself and the right people will come.”

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “I swear I became a saint from waiting,” wrote Scorpio poet Odysseus Elytis in his poem “Three Times the Truth.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you may be in a similar situation. And you’ll be wise to welcome the break in the action and abide calmly in the motionless lull. You’ll experiment with the hypothesis that temporary postponement is best not just for you, but for all concerned.

“Save IT Till the End”—those last two.

ACROSS 1 “Anaconda” singer Nicki 6 Bot. or ecol.

9 Earth-shaking event 14 Singer with three albums named after ages 15 PC key beside the space bar 16 Detach 17 Salad ingredient that’s fuzzy on the outside 19 ___ di pepe (tiny pasta variety) 20 Shoo-___ (favorites) 21 Raise crops 22 Barn-roof adornments 23 Drug buster, for short 25 Much of Mongolia 28 Titular host of NBC’s “Game of Games” 30 It can cause a row 31 Geometry calculations 33 Belt loop puncher 34 False pretense 38 Busy spot for

Finnish travel 42 “Bonanza” role 43 Linseed product 44 “I have ___ / the plums ...” (poem line spoofed in memes) 45 Big ___, California 46 De-lumps, as flour 48 Obi-Wan or Luke, e.g.

53 It’s got 14 points on Malaysia’s flag 56 Not just some 57 Aquatic barrier 59 Nutritional amt.

60 Anniversary gift before wood 61 Dwyane Wade’s team for most of his career 63 Singer Cleo or Frankie 64 1099-___ (bankissued tax form) 65 Decline slowly 66 Beginning 67 “Evil Dead” hero 68 Puff pieces?

DOWN 1 “___ Whoopee” 2 Menzel of “Frozen 2” 3 Bygone

documentaries 4 “Thrilla in Manila” victor 5 “Bring the Funny” judge Foxworthy 6 “Lord of the Rings” villain 7 Get on up 8 “Addams Family” cousin 9 Eighth note, in the U.K. 10 “The Last of the Mohicans” character 11 “___ kettle of fish” 12 Baseball Hall of Famer Ralph 13 Are real 18 Boil over 24 Reunion group 26 “Field of Dreams” state 27 “The Burning Giraffe” painter 29 Acronymic 1992 single by The Shamen (from “Boss Drum”) 31 “That feels good!”

32 “Can’t Fight This Feeling” band ___ Speedwagon

33 Feel unwell 34 Petty arguments 35 Great series of wins 36 “___ you kidding me?”

37 ___ Dew (PepsiCo product) 39 Grammatical subject 40 Welsh standup comedian Pritchard-McLean 41 Court judge 45 Evil computer system in “The Terminator” 46 Dagger holder 47 “Big-ticket” thing 48 Jiggly dessert 49 Aquafina competitor 50 Leary of the “Ice Age” series 51 “Fame” actress Cara 52 Goofy smiles 54 “It’s ___!” (“I’ll see you then”) 55 Hotel postings 58 Alfa Romeo rival 61 “Paper Planes” rapper 62 “Last Week Tonight” airer

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. 965 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 23

FILM & TELEVISION

Martin Scorsese Delivers A Killer Hit

Mafia movie highlights the men behind the men

By John DeVore

“

Pulse Film Editor

Italians faced prejudice on the shores of their new nation and fear of the other opened doors to tall tales of the cosa nostra.”

24 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

W

HILE MOST WOULD ARGUE THAT THE MOST ICONIC American film genre would be the Western, the gangster film might be a close second. They share many of the same ideas—order vs. chaos, machismo as virtue, violence as the ultimate solution, etc. Our most notable actors can be found in these films, from Al Pacino and Robert De Niro to Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp.

Their performances owe a great deal to earlier films like White Heat featuring James Cagney or Little Caesar with Edward G. Robinson. As long as there have been movies, there have been films about gangsters. More specifically, as the years go on, film has focused increasingly on the Italian mafia.

There is likely an element of bigotry in this popularity. As with most immigrant groups, Italians faced prejudice on the shores of their new nation and fear of the

other opened doors to tall tales of the cosa nostra and a mythologizing of the mob. Rooted in elements of truth, these stories made for great movies, the best of which turned the focus internally to the characters of the criminals themselves.

Each generation has their own Mafioso—James Cagney, Warren Beatty, Robert De Niro, James Gandolfini. With all respect to filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola and Robert De Palma, it was Martin Scorsese that modernized the

genre, paving the way for show runners like David Chase to create essential mafia material like The Sopranos.

Scorsese has released his most recent film, The Irishman, direct to Netflix with a limited theater release (not in Chattanooga, it seems, as AMC and Regal are opposed to films being released simultaneously on a streaming platform), and it’s as complex a film as any in his filmography.

It’s a twilight movie, one that moves away from the party atmosphere of Goodfellas, examining the life of an aging hitman and the nature of regret.

Frank Sheerhan (Robert De Niro) is a WWII vet who makes a living driving meat trucks. Early on, Sheerhan meets a man named Skinny Razor (Bobby Cannavale), a member of the Philidephia mafia, and arranges to sell some of the meat on the side.

When he gets caught, Sheerhan is assigned a union lawyer by the name Bill Buffalino (Ray Romano), who gets him off scot free despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Bill later introduces Sheerhan to his cousin Russell (Joe Pesci), the head of the Northeastern Pennsylvania crime family. Sheerhan begins to do small jobs for Rus-

“

Martin Scorsese shows the people behind the bravado, cuts through the lifestyle, and reveals the shell that remains.” sell, eventually culminating in hits.

As Sheerhan works his way up the ranks, he becomes a bodyguard for Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). The film then follows the history of the Hoffa story, all the way up to his infamous disappearance.

Obviously, the cast for the film is outstanding. It’s a film that sprawls, spanning decades, which necessitates some CGI de-aging for the principle players. Given that many of us have grown up with these actors, we know what they looked like in their youth, which can sometimes be jarring in early scenes.

But the story is strong, and the performances stronger, which makes the suspension of disbelief all the easier.

There has also been some talk about the lack of female characters in the film. This is a valid concern—the women in the film are very much side characters, with very few lines, and little development. Given the subject matter, the male-centric casting is appro-

priate.

Scorsese hasn’t shied away from female roles—Lorraine Bracco was an essential part of Goodfellas, as were Sharon Stone in Casino and Cathy Moriarty in Raging Bull. Instead, this is a deliberate choice by Scorsese to highlight the isolation of the main character in particular.

The women in the film were side characters in the lives of the men portrayed and their absence in relation to the action of the film is meant to show the devastation of the mafia lifestyle. It’s a film about choices and consequences. Their abandonment is the point.

The Irishman is a film by a master of his craft, returning to a genre that he helped shape, that shows how much there is to say.

Good films are about subjects; great films are about people.

Martin Scorsese shows the people behind the bravado, cuts through the lifestyle, and reveals the shell that remains.

It’s a beautiful film.

✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴

The Aeronauts Pilot Amelia Rennes (Felicity Jones) and scientist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) find themselves in an epic fight for survival while attempting to make discoveries in a gas balloon.

Director: Tom Harper Stars: Felicity Jones, Eddie Redmayne

Portrait of a Lady on Fire On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding portrait of a young woman.

Director: Céline Sciamma Stars: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami, Valeria Golino

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 25

COLUMN · GAME ON!

Be A Savage Game Hero This Year Support nonprofits that take gamer charity to the next level

T Brandon Watson Pulse columnist

“

As we collectively watch the sun settle on a fantastic year of gaming, I’d like to tell you about organizations that have triumphed to make life better for those in need.”

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

HE BIG BOX CHRISTMAS RELEASes popped early in a blaze of fire and glory that has my eyeballs rolling and my thumbs raw. With titles like Death Stranding, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, The Outer Worlds, and Borderlands 3 you’re going to be plenty busy; I know I have.

There shouldn’t be any question as to what games will be neatly placed under the tree, heck, go online and take a gander for yourself. This year was glorious for both triple A and indy games raising the bar while simultaneously emptying wallets.

But I’d like to shamelessly use my platform to share with you, my comrades of thumb sticks and fellow delvers of the DLC, opportunities where you can give back this holiday season. As gamers, we’ve banded together to topple industry standards, rallied to help out developers facing cut-throat markets and rampant corporate greed.

Gamers of both table-tops and video screens across the world have united under common goals of righteousness.

As we collectively watch the sun settle on a fantastic year of gaming, I’d like to tell you about organizations that have triumphed to make life better for those in need.

These organizations have planted seeds years ago and now have taken root into gaming culture. Even our Children’s Hospital at Erlanger has been supported by some of these great gamers with the biggest hearts right here in the area.

The AbleGamers Foundation is a nonprofit out of Charles Town, West Virginia that provides people with disabilities a means to get their game-on with adaptive technologies and custom gaming setups. The mission of AbleGamers is to create opportunities that enable play, in order to combat social isolation, foster inclusive communities, and improve the

26 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

quality of life for people with disabilities. The organization has fifty years experience in providing adaptable gaming setups for various disabilities.

If you want to have some faith restored in humanity just go to their site at ablegamers.org and read their stories and check their photos. Fair warning: have tissues ready.

I’ve seen what amazing things some local makers can do when they get together for a righteous cause.

I encourage anyone with the means and passion to look Ablegamers up and see how they can contribute.

The technology that has come about from making video games accessible to everyone has really inspired some marvelous leaps that may contribute to great advances in the future. Its technological advancement driven by altruism, and that’s something we all can appreciate.

There are children fighting for their lives right now in hospitals you’ve probably never heard of, in places you’ve probably never been. These little warriors and their parents are fighting against insurmountable odds that most of us cannot fathom. The lives of these little warriors endure the constant barrage of tests, connections to medical equipment and rigorous treatment routines.

Charities like GameChanger offer a means to allow these child fighters to temporarily escape their isolation and help ease their minds through their treatments with gaming. GameChanger connects everyone from big tech businesses, game developers, and average joes to support through donations of dated, new or used games and gaming equipment. GameChanger will arrange pickup at your home or place of business if you have dated PCs or other

gaming items or swag eating up precious space.

Go online at gamechangercharity.org the next time you’re thinking of making a Gamestop-drop or just to make room for that post-Cyber Monday purchase.

Sure a few dimes from a McKay’s trade in sounds tempting but knowing that your dusty copy of Borderlands is out there helping young warriors rest is a feeling that’s better than any two-bit trade-in any day.

If you’re more of an entertainer and exhibitionist I recommend putting that Twitch content to work through Extralife. Extralife has a local team that raises money for our local children’s hospital through gaming events. Extralife also isn’t just limited to videogames, so break out that webcam and get to broadcasting your D&D campaigns for a noble cause.

The easy how-to and why-for can be found at extra-life.org and will get you plugged into the larger gaming fundraiser community across the nation.

Maybe between tallying up your kill/ death ratios consider throwing a little love out there with a charity or two.

Do something righteous while simultaneously mowing down the undead or vanquishing demonic hordes. We as gamers can and do help the real world, heck, we’ve been practicing for it for most of our lives.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 5, 2019 • THE PULSE • 27