The Pulse 14.29 » July 20, 2017

VOL. 14, NO. 29 • JULY 20, 2017

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

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VOL. 14, NO. 29 • JULY 20, 2017

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ADULTING TIME IN CHATTANOOGA

If you haven’t noticed, “adult” is a verb now.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase “I have to adult now” or “adulting is hard.”

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OLIGARCHISTS VERSUS THE FREE PRESS

There’s no battle raging in the country right now quite like the one between the White House and the press. While I’m only 35, I can’t remember another time when the press was so adversarial towards a sitting president.

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CAN THE INTERNET CREATE AN ART MOVEMENT?

One of the most important developments in recent art history is the inception of the internet meme.

TALENTED TABS TEASE TWO TERRIFIC TRACKS

Tab Spencer is set to release two new tracks in the upcoming weeks. The precise date and release party has yet to be announced but I was fortunate enough to get advance copies of the tracks over the weekend.

ALSO INSIDE

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Swiping Singles, Millennial Style Many singles are well aware of the difficulties of dating. Quite frankly, it’s just really hard to find the right person relying on chance.

Do you stumble upon them at a mall? No, this isn’t 1980. Maybe you randomly run into Mr. or Ms. Right while grocery shopping? That’s a great story, and I, and many others would more than want that.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

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CONSIDER THIS

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MUSIC CALENDAR

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JUST A THEORY

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MUSIC REVIEWS

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NEW IN THEATERS

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FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

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ARTS CALENDAR

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JONESIN' CROSSWORD

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THE COMIX

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GAME ON!

Jen Sorensen’s weekly political cartoon appears in alternative newspapers around the country, as well as in magazines and websites such as Ms., The Progressive, and Daily Kos. Jen’s work has won several awards, including the Herblock Prize.

Longtime crossword creator Matt Jones' first crossword appeared in The New York Times two decades ago. Since then, he has created over 800 crosswords for the syndicated “Jonesin' Crossword”, in fine newspapers across the country.

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 3

BEGINNINGS ∙ CITY LIFE

Adulting In Chattanooga Summer camp, cooking, careers and finances all come together

By Lauren Waegele Pulse contributor

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

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor Gary Poole Assistant Editor Brooke Brown Music Editor Marc T. Michael Film Editor John DeVore Contributors Rob Brezsny • August Dent Steven W. Disbrow • Matt Jones Tony Mraz • Ernie Paik Rick Pimental-Habib Michael Thomas • Brandon Watson Editorial Intern Lauren Waegele Cartoonists Max Cannon • Rob Rogers Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

ADVERTISING Director of Sales Mike Baskin

Account Executives Brittany Dreon • Rick Leavell Libby Phillips • John Rodriguez Danielle Swindell • Logan Vandergriff

CONTACT

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

The Pulse may be distributed only by authorized distributors.

Contents Copyright © 2017 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

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F YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED, “ADULT” is a verb now. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the phrase “I have to adult now” or “adulting is hard.” The reason for this could be that the transition into adulthood is becoming less and less natural, particularly for millennials, those born between 1980 and 1995.

This idea doesn’t just come from observing the verbification of the word “adult.” In fact, the notion that millennials are struggling to enter adulthood is well-supported.

According to the Pew Research Center, millennials are the first generation in the modern era to have “higher levels of student loan debt, poverty and unemployment, and lower levels of wealth and personal income than their two immediate predecessor generations (Gen Xers and Boomers) had at the same stage of their life cycles.” Also, millennials have also been the generation that stays in their parents’ houses, says an NBC report.

All of these stats seem pretty negative, and, as a millennial myself, the truth is a little bit troubling. Of course, not all millennials are subject to those statistics (thank you, multiplicity of experience), but still, hearing that your generation struggles with adulthood is pretty disheartening. The next natural step is to do something to fix this problem.

Some say that there really isn’t much to do because the parents of millennials are to blame for being overprotective and helicopter-esque. Others say that it’s the fault of America’s educational system for not stressing practical classes like home economics enough. But, a small group has decided to take manners into their own hands.

This latter group, the fixers of America’s young adult problem, has started something

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“Some say that there really isn’t much to do because the parents of millennials are to blame for being overprotective and helicopter-esque.” that most find absurd but many find helpful. Multiple cities across the United States have begun implementing “adulting” classes.

This trend all started in Maine when co-founders of the Adulting School and the Adulting Collective, Rachel Weintstein and Katie Brunelle, felt that there should be a place for adults-in-training to troubleshoot and ask questions.

Since then, even our own Chattanooga has embraced this idea.

The Chattery is currently offering a summer camp themed series on adulting. The series covers everything from finances, cooking, stress management, and career management.

With creative names like “S’more Money, S’more Problems” and “Let’s Talk About Stress Baby,” the

classes combine food, fun, and important life skills that are open to all ages, not just millennials.

Shawanda Mason, creative director of the Chattery, says, “Adulting isn’t always fun, so we decided to make it fun. Through this series, people will gain additional skills that will help them in the work place and even in the kitchen.”

This series is a safe space for anyone who needs a little bit of guidance, which every one of us needs from time to time.

Millennial or not, life is full of difficulties. If all of these difficulties were faced with the fun and positivity that this series provides, the world would be a better place.

Head on over to the Chattery for some summer camp fun plus some real-world accomplishment.

Consider This with Dr. Rick

EdiToon

by Rob Rogers

“I’m going to make everything around me beautiful—that will be my life.” — Elsie de Wolfe, socialite “None of us are getting out of here alive so please stop treating yourself like an afterthought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth that you’re carrying in your heart like a hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.

There’s no time for anything else.”

— Keanu Reeves, actor

Going Diving In To The Deep Brew Sea Have you ever had to make the hard decision between eating food, drinking alcohol, and hanging out with some fish at the aquarium? Well, look no further.

There is finally an event where you can have all three of those things at the same time, and it’s happening right here in Chattanooga.

This Saturday night, our beloved Tennessee Aquarium is hosting Deep Brew Sea, an awesome event with an endless amount of food, beer, music, and fish.

Deep Brew Sea gives Chattanoogans the opportunity to check out what happens in the aquarium after dark.

If you’ve never been to the aquarium, you’re pretty much missing out on the crown jewel of Chattanooga. In fact, the aquarium played a huge part in Chat-

tanooga’s revitalization and helped make it in to the city that it is today. Also, the jellyfish exhibit, my personal favorite, is more magical than Disney World.

Going to Deep Brew Sea not only guarantees that you’ll have a great time, but it also benefits the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute. Do a good deed this weekend for someone else and for yourself by diving into the Deep Brew Sea and swimming with the fishes.

— Lauren Waegele

“When you are in the final days of your life, what will you want? Will you hug that college degree in the walnut frame? Will you ask to be carried to the garage so you can sit in your expensive car? Will your financial statement bring you comfort or peace? Of course not. What will matter then will be people. If relationships will matter most then, shouldn’t they matter most now?” — Max Lucado, pastor/author Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.” — Joseph Campbell, American mythologist

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COLUMN ∙ JUST A THEORY

Top Seven Signs Of Climate Change Yes, it's really happening. No, there isn't a real debate. Deal with it.

Steven W. Disbrow Pulse columnist

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FTER FAILING MISERABLY LAST month to give you a full-sized “Top 10” list of Human Parasites, I thought I’d try again, and see if I can make it to at least Seven Signs of Climate Change. So, here we go: #1 It’s Hotter Than Usual Let’s face it, this summer has barely gotten started and it’s already miserable here in the #CHA. To make things worse, it’s even more humid than usual. But, that’s just because of the moisture from all the insanely strong storms that seem to roll through the area every five hours or so.

Of course, those storms are stronger than usual because the overall temperature of the planet has ticked up a bit, so there’s more energy kicking around in the atmosphere, which gives us stronger storms. #2 It’s Been Colder Than Usual This may seem like a distant dream at this point, but Spring this year was a little extra chilly at times…weirdly, uncomfortably so. I don’t think I’ve ever had to wear my good jacket so late into the Spring to keep warm in the mornings.

Of course, by the end of the day I was sweating like crazy and trying to pull off as many layers as possible without getting arrested for indecent exposure. Temperaturewise, it was a very topsy-turvy spring. #3 Winter Is Com…Wait. Did Winter Happen?

Seriously. Did we actually have Winter this year? It all seemed just like one big,

long “fallspring” to me. #4 Iceberg! Dead Ahead!!

Just last week, an insanely large iceberg broke free from the “Larsen C” Ice Shelf in Antarctica and began to bob its way around the ocean. How large is “insanely” large? Well, it’s about the size of Delaware, and it’s estimated to weigh about a trillion Tons.

Yes. A trillion tons.

That’s a lot of ice, and losing it is very very bad. The less ice at the poles, the less sunlight and heat are reflected back into space, which means the planet will warm up that much faster. #5 Pesky Pests Are Peskier Than Usual I touched on this last month, but it’s already apparent that this is going to be a banner year for mosquitoes, fleas and other parasites and pests that love warmer weather. Personally, I’ve never been bothered all that much by mosquitoes…I’m just not one of those people they like to bite.

At least I wasn’t until this year.

This year the wee monsters have been at me as much as the people around me, which is annoying. It’s almost as if they’ve evolved a taste for my blood too. #6 Glacier? I Barely Know Her! All over the world, glaciers are shrinking. This makes sense, because it’s getting warmer all over the world too. At the same time, permafrost is melting, which may be an even more ominous thing.

That’s because inside the permafrost are frozen bacteria, viruses

“This year the wee monsters have been at me as much as the people around me, which is annoying. It’s almost as if they’ve evolved a taste for my blood too.” and animals. As the permafrost melts, these things are thawing out, and in some cases, waking up.

In 2012, a boy in Siberia died after being exposed to Anthrax (the virus, not the band), that seems to have been lying dormant in a reindeer carcass that was previously encased in permafrost. Who knows what other diseases are about to wake up from their long naps? #7 Sea Level Is Rising In Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, there is a small island town, Tangier, that’s about to disappear forever due to sea level rise. It’s a slow process, but the island should be completely gone within the next 30 years or so.

Fortunately, it’s not really a problem. At least not for Presi-

dent Trump. In a June phone call with island Mayor James Eskridge, Trump said, “not to worry about sea-level rise.”

Why not?

Because, as Trump also told Eskridge, “Your island has been there for hundreds of years, and I believe your island will be there for hundreds more.” Now that’s some solid science right there! I don’t know why we even bother with “research” and “experiments” anymore. All you gotta do is believe!

Thanks, Trump!

Steven W. Disbrow is a programmer who specializes in e-commerce and mobile systems development, an entrepreneur, comicbook nerd, writer, improviser, actor, sometime television personality and parent of two human children.

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COVER STORY

By August Dent

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Pulse contributor

any singles are well aware of the difficulties of dating. Quite frankly, it’s just really hard to find the right person relying on chance. Do you stumble upon them at a mall? No, this isn’t 1980. Maybe you randomly run into Mr. or Ms. Right while grocery shopping? That’s a great story, and I, and many others would more than want that, but not everyone is so lucky.

With these difficulties surrounding dating something new has grown and blossomed: dating apps, specifically the swipe left and right apps like Bumble, Tinder, Grindr, and many others. These dating apps allow you to view pictures and profiles, and then swipe left or right to show your interest in hopes of potentially matching.

With dating options so limited beyond your work environment, school, social circles, or the previously mentioned random chance, it makes logical sense to pursue an outlet where you can meet others who want similar things and have similar interests.

Many of the men and women I chatted with about these apps had comparable experiences. “It’s just way easier to connect with people, and find people looking for the same thing,” said one 25-year-old Chattanooga woman. She continued to say that she has had successful matches on Bumble, Tinder, and Coffee Meets Bagel, but that the

same annoying one-word messages, and the occasional “ghosting” (aka never responding again after a few back and forth messages) were two of her biggest app dating pet peeves.

One trend was obvious during my conversations with app dating users, the convenience. With everything being connected to our phones and almost always having our devices on us, it makes sense that the popularity of app dating has spread and gained many new members over the last few years.

As most Pulse readers know, Chattanooga has a whole lot to offer: music, arts, food, great bars, and much more, making for a great dating city. Tennessee isn’t known for being the best state for singles, but I believe our Scenic City is a bit different.

The city has a vibrancy, acceptance, and with it’s expanding art and restaurant scene, a million and one options for a night out.

From personal experience, I’ve

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come to realize there are quite a lot of married people in their 20’s in town. With a higher amount of married young adults, the ability to successfully find compatible matches gets even harder. So where do you go? You can keep complaining to your friends and bugging them about setting you up, or you can download one of the many dating apps and giving it a try.

I had no idea what to expect when I joined, but what I found was that a lot of people felt and had the same problems I had. It’s hard to find the right people who want the same things you do. That’s where the biggest advantage of using a dating app comes into play; it puts together groups of people who all want something similar, a potential relationship.

Let’s take a look a few aspects of app dating: PROFILES When it comes to app dating you have one initial chance to show people who you are and what you’re all about in your bio and through your photos. Bios are

tricky for both men and women, but try keeping it short, sweet, and honest.

After compiling my interviews and research from active members, here were some of the consensus tips.

Tips for women: Do not start your photos with a filtered image, specifically a picture with an animal filter. It’s never bad to see you have a cute or fun personality through your pictures, but starting with a filtered image and having more than one is a surefire way to make me, and many others swipe left. We all know you aren’t really a puppy.

Tips for Men: No filters, and no fishing photos. I haven’t had one woman tell me that they like fishing photos, and some will swipe left because of them. Shirtless selfies? Hard pass. You can send those later if you want, but putting them in a profile isn’t a good look.

Tips for women and men: Never have just one photo. One group picture is fine, but no one wants to search an image to see who you are, so make it clear. One close-up picture is good, but don’t shy away from travel, eating, or active pho-

COVER STORY

tos. It helps to learn who you are and what types of things you enjoy.

Put some effort into your profile. A quote by your favorite singer isn’t giving me any insight into you or your personality. Show your personality as best you can by giving tidbits about what you like, what you don’t like, etc. to help those of us interested decide if we may be a good fit.

Lastly, and maybe the two most important things, don’t doctor or filter your pictures too much and leave all sexual innuendo out of your profile.

There is no reason to have someone be disappointed because you lied about your height, looks, etc. Just be yourself and you’ll have a much better chance of having something real come from it all.

Sexual innuendo in a profile is a complete turnoff, even if you are just looking for something casual. Save it for the private messages.

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER THROUGH TEXT This is the tricky part. With texting, it is always difficult to gauge reactions and understand humor and intent, but there are ways to make texting fun.

Never shy away from the occasional compliment and always ask questions.

It’s never weird to ask random questions. It’s fun and helps you learn a lot more about the person you’re interested in.

Just like your profile, leave conversation about sex until after you’ve met.

There is no quicker way to turn a po-

“When it comes to app dating you have one initial chance to show people who you are and what you’re all about in your bio and through your photos.” tential male or female interest off than immediately asking them about sex, or sending racy messages when that isn’t what they’re looking for. Sex is an important part of a relationship, so those questions are not off limits, just don’t bombard a stranger with them until you’ve at least bought them a coffee.

CONFIRMING IDENTITY The inevitable awkward moment: trying to make sure the person you are speaking with is actually who they say they are. By now most of us have seen a show, read a story, or maybe even experienced being catfished. If you think something weird might be going on, ask for a video with some sort of personalization, because when it comes to app dating, being safe is the most important part.

Sure, they may have given you their Instagram and sent you a few pictures, but I always, and I mean always, think video chatting or sending each other videos saying hello is a must. If they are who they say they are, then they won’t fight you on this. Period. From my experience, everyone has been who she said she was, with the exception of a couple discrepancies from a few filtered images.

DATING AROUND TOWN Chattanooga is a great dating city.

There are plenty of things to do, and it’s small enough to be able to walk from place to place, which is always good when enjoying a few drinks. But where should you start? I always think meeting sooner rather than later is a good thing. In that case, just grab coffee! It’s the best way to see if there is a little spark and any compatibility. It’s short and there’s no pressure, not to mention it’s also a cheap meet.

If you have been messaging and talking on the phone for a little while and really feel like a connection could be there, go for it and set up something around town. Having a date where you can walk around and talk with no pressure is the best way to start. A sit-down dinner for the first date sets you both up for potentially awkward moments, get out and do something that gets you out of your shells.

I recommend doing something that gets you moving. Maybe head over to High Point climbing, take a hike, peruse the Hunter Museum, participate in a bar crawl, or simply anything outside.

When you’re struggling to find the

right date, there is one place to go: The Pulse website. Yeah, I know, I’m biased, but check out the calendar filled with fun ideas as there is always something cool going on around town that’ll make for a great morning, afternoon, or evening out.

The unique food and drink scene in town makes for perfect conversation starters with a newfound friend.

Whether you bond over brunch or afternoon drinks, just go someplace that gets you guys talking; even if it’s about the random food you’re trying or your own inability to cook.

Chattanooga has everything you need for a great date from outdoor activities like visiting Rock City, Ruby Falls, or walking around Coolidge Park or expanding your musical taste at a concert. The times of happenstance meetings are drifting further away the larger our cities grow and the more technologically involved our lives become. Apps are a great way to meet people who are interested in a serious relationship, good friends, or something casual, and it’s all in the palm of your hand.

It can sometimes be hard to get yourself to download the app, make a profile, and go for it, but during this day and age using a dating app is one of the smarter ways to potentially find your person.

Editor's Note: This is an opinionbased article written by a 26-year-old male. All tips, ideas, etc. stem off of research and talking with active dating app men and women.

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FILM & TELEVISION

Oligarchists Versus The Free Press

How private billionaires are weakening the free press

Immigrant Dreaming Of Rock-N-Roll Radio Dreams, winner of the 45th Rotterdam International Film Festival’s Tiger Award, is the newest feature film from Iranian-British director Babak Jalali (Frontier Blues).

Radio Dreams creates the bizarre yet very real world of PARS-FM - a Farsi-language radio station broadcasting from the heart of San Francisco.

The story unfolds over a single day as the station’s program manager, Hamid—a brilliant, misunderstood Iranian writer (played by the “Iranian Bob Dylan” Mohsen Namjoo)—prepares for a triumphant broadcast of a live performance pairing Metallica and Kabul Dreams, Afghanistan’s first rock band.

Meanwhile, Hamid must juggle a dysfunctional mix of on-air talent, station managers, and performers while fending off the owner’s plans to wrest control of the station.

“Babak Jalali has masterfully created an authentic yet curious world inhabited by spellbinding characters who provide much-needed insight into the sometimes surreal experiences of American immigrants,” said Hannah Campbell, Vice President, Matson Films. “Radio Dreams is all at once a poignant art film, tragicomic hero's journey, and immeasurably topical socio-political dialogue.

The intrigue is simply undeniable.”

Radio Dreams brings to life the sometimes bizarre experience of immigrants pursuing dreams in the U.S.A. with the perfect mixture of honesty, art, and sociopolitical topicality served up in an ingenious, offbeat transmission.

Radio Dreams Opens Friday, 6 p.m.

Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. (423) 803-6578 www.chattpalace.com 10 • THE PULSE • JULY 20, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By John DeVore Pulse Film Editor

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HERE’S NO BATTLE RAGING IN THE country right now quite like the one between the White House and the press. While I’m only 35, I can’t remember another time when the press was so adversarial towards a sitting president. Of course, almost all of the animosity between the two is earned by the thin-skinned politician who labels any negative coverage as fake news.

The press doesn’t take these attacks lying down, and since lying is the president’s forte, there is almost nothing but negative press. It’s no wonder that the White House would choose to limit their contact with the fourth estate. The Trump administration can’t win if the man at the top is always distracted by unflattering news.

A testy relationship between the wealthy (and the president is the grotesque poster child for wealth) and the media is nothing new—the purpose of the press is to speak truth to power and the power always lies with the rich.

A new Netflix documentary, Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press explores these ideas, although the story centers on a largely indefensible company. Still, there are enough issues in the film to consider it well worth your time. Like any good documentary, it forces you to consider things from a perspective you’d rather not.

There aren’t too many Americans unfamiliar with the character of Hulk Hogan. He was the first wresting superstar, “winning” titles during the golden era of wresting against other notable wrestlers like Andre the Giant and Macho Man Randy Savage. And like most wrestling superstars, as he aged, the shine came off his apple.

The past few years were rough for the Hulkster, with a marriage that appeared to dissolve in real time on his VH1 reality show, which ended up costing him an enormous amount of money. And then, in 2012, a sex tape between Hulk and the wife of a friend ended up online. More specifically, the video was published on the quasi-tabloid site Gawker.

Gawker is a media outlet that straddles the line between sensational yellow tinged journalism and

FILM & TELEVISION

“They defied multiple court orders to remove the tape from their website, calling Hulk Hogan a public figure and therefore newsworthy.” legitimate news. They are responsible for terrible clickbait as well as occasional quality reporting.

Regardless, they defied multiple court orders to remove the tape from their website, calling Hulk Hogan a public figure and therefore newsworthy.

Hogan argued that the tape didn’t depict Hulk Hogan—it depicted Terry Bolea, Hulk’s real personality, and therefore was protected by privacy laws.

In the end, Gawker was forced to pay Hogan a $31-milliondollar settlement, effectively bankrupting both the company and the editor-in-chief.

The result isn’t the interesting part, however.

Remember: Hogan was nearly bankrupt himself when he began the lawsuit due to a recent divorce. Lawsuits are expensive on both sides. Where did Hogan get the money to con-

tinue a five-year suit? The answer came in the form of Peter Thiel, a Silcon Valley billionaire who agreed to fund the lawsuit based on a personal vendetta against Gawker, who years earlier had outed him as gay.

There’s no way Gawker would have lost without Thiel.

From here, the documentary makes an uneven pivot, away from the Gawker story towards the possibility of the rich and powerful to effectively end a media they dislike for negative coverage. Thiel, an avid Trump supporter, Randian libertarian, and investor in dubious life extending technologies, admitted his involvement in the case openly.

And while it’s hard for a moral person to take the side of Gawker, it’s easy to be uncomfortable with the power Thiel wielded in the case of Hulk Hogan’s sex tape. Gawker is with-

out a doubt an imperfect messenger for freedom of the press, much the way Hustler was imperfect in regards to obscenity and free speech. But Gawker was silenced by a marriage of a sympathetic judicial system and an angry billionaire.

Given that our government is currently run by an angry billionaire who gets to appoint sympathetic judges, the case should at the very least give us pause. We might find Gawker repulsive, but the actions of Thiel and others like him might be worse.

The film ends with another case—the silent purchase of the Las Vegas Review Journal by casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. The story is more serious than the Gawker story, in that it involves a significant political force and a traditional media outlet.

The story is much the same, however. A rich man attempts to buy influence through controlling the media. It’s another unsettling step towards the disinformation that dominates the world right now.

Nobody Speak: Trials of the Free Press shows where we’ve been and argues against where we’re going.

✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴

Dunkirk Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II. Director: Christopher Nolan Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Damien Bonnard, Aneurin Barnard, Lee Armstrong

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets A dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets.

Special operatives Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace.

Director: Luc Besson Stars: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Can The Internet Create An Art Movement?

How memes have become a 21st century artform

A Mural’s Influence And Grand Celebration The Bessie Smith Cultural Center doesn’t get nearly as much attention as it should. Right on MLK Boulevard, the Center is a beacon for education about African American culture, heritage, and experience in Chattanooga through art.

This weekend, the Public Art Chattanooga is hosting an art celebration at the BSCC known as the Big 9 Art Bash.

The event will feature local sculptors, a tribute to the late Booker T. Scruggs, and a commemoration of the MLK mural that has aided in the exciting growth of this area of downtown Chattanooga since its dedication in 2016.

The MLK mural is truly one worth celebrating. The mural is the largest in Chattanooga, spanning over 40,000 square feet. Robert Ellis states in the mural blog that this mural really reinforces the important role that public art plays in economic development and neighborhood beautification.

Now, the mural is the star of new short film “America’s Boulevard: A Mural on MLK,” which shows how art can bring community and business to a region that faced economic hardship.

Art makes a difference; both Public Art Chattanooga and the BSCC understand that. Make your way to MLK Boulevard this Saturday to celebrate art and its influence.

— Lauren Waegele Big 9 Outdoor Art Bash Saturday, 7 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd.

(423) 266-8658 www.bessiesmithcc.org 12 • THE PULSE • JULY 20, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Tony Mraz

Pulse contributor

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NE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DEvelopments in recent art history is the inception of the internet meme. Materially and conceptually, the meme is the first truly new and distinctive artform to emerge in the 21st century.

This is likely because a meme cannot exist without three things that were invented in the late 20th century—the physical infrastructure of the internet, digital imaging technology, and social networking. Without this holy trinity, a meme would not be able to flourish, spreading like an intellectual virus to minds worldwide.

Merriam Webster defines a meme as “an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture.” The term was invented

by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in the late 1970’s, when he was proposing his theory of gene-based evolution. In his work, he uses “meme” to describe genetic traits that spread or are transmitted beyond the physical body.

In the internet world, memes spread far beyond the confines of their creators’ bodies. They can be videos, images, sayings, hashtags, intentional misspellings, or anything else that is copied and shared.

A single posting can result in a meme being shared millions of times and circulated internationally, an effect that has been used to do everything from marketing goods to influencing elections.

In our most recent presidential election, memes played a significant role in the outcome. Many a fertile young mind was impregnated with right wing and centrist ideas by skilled propagandists, many of whom were hired to pull votes away from

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“A single posting can result in a meme being shared millions of times and circulated internationally, an effect that has been used to do everything from marketing goods to influencing elections.” the left.

An example of this is the altright’s appropriation of Pepe, a cartoon frog who was created by San Francisco artist Matt Furie. Much to the artist’s chagrin, this lovable character from the comic “Boy’s Club,” became a symbol of white nationalism and racial intolerance.

Appropriation has been a mainstay of modern art since the 1960’s when Marcel Duchamp introduced his “Readymades,” the most notable of which is a urinal bearing the signature “R. Mutt.”

By taking an object, image, or idea, and changing its context, an artist is able to add their own meaning to it.

This process, also known as “recontextualization,” is at the very heart of meme creation.

This past week, local mu-

sician and video artist Nick Lutsko gained internet fame by recontextualizing a series of statements by Alex Jones.

In the video (visible on facebook at Superdeluxevideo) which immediately went viral, Nick uses some of Alex’s conspiracy theories as song lyrics, singing them in the indie folk style of Bon Iver.

In less than a week, the video has been viewed over five million times, and even garnered a response from Jones himself.

Nick is surprised by the overwhelming response to his work, telling us “The attention this thing has gotten is surreal.

It’s pretty amazing how you can take two totally unrelated things and make something that resonates with so many people.”

“The first step to making

one of these videos is finding compelling footage,” he explains, detailing his process.

“This takes the most time, and is the least fun. Luckily, I had a lovely intern at Super Deluxe help out with compiling footage for this latest Alex Jones video. Once I appropriate all of the clips from YouTube, I arrange them in a cohesive way. After that, when I have the ‘lyrics’ in place, I begin writing the music. Then the song is recorded, and imported into iMovie 9 and I synchronize the footage to the music by slowing things down

and speeding them up.”

The hilarity of Nick’s video is an example of why most people make memes. The most common memes out there are funny images with words applied to them.

Local meme expert Fry Jacob tells us, “In its raw form, a meme is an inside joke we are all in on—but it’s more than jokes over a funny picture. There has to be a common human connection for a meme to exist. It can be niche, but as long as it rings true for most of the intended audience, then it’s a meme. I think

some people are using the term meme too loosely and calling every image macro with an unfunny, unoriginal, or unrelatable joke a meme.”

He continues, “They are beyond relevant. A meme is an idea shared by a group—It’s human nature. The earliest meme I can think of is everyone doing the “Wassup” Budweiser frog thing after a super bowl. Everyone enjoyed hearing and doing it, and It would take more than a psychologist to tell us why that phenomenon exists. Really, it’s just for the lulz.”

THU7.20

FRI7.21

SAT7.22

Hello, Dolly!

Station Street Sip & Savor

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The musical telling of Dolly Levi's search for love and marriage in Yonkers, with plenty of farce along the way.

7:30 p.m.

Christ United Methodist 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. ebctchatt.com

An all inclusive, one price admission food tasting, beverage sampling and live music extravaganza.

5 p.m.

Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St stationstreetsipandsavor.com

One of those "bucket list" musicals you really need to see at least once in your life.

2:30 p.m.

Colonnade Center 264 Catoosa Cir. colonnadecenter.org

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Peter & The Starcatcher

THURSDAY7.20 Ooltewah Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Ooltewah Nursery 5829 Main St. ooltewahnursery.com Signal Mountain Farmers Market 4 p.m.

Pruett’s Market 1210 Taft Hwy. signalmountainfarmersmarket.com Variations on a Vineyard: Women, Wine, & Art 5:30 p.m.

Hunter Museum of Art 10 Bluff View Ave. huntermuseum.org Peter & The Starcatcher 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. theatrecentre.com The Way Ahead 7 p.m.

Heritage House Arts Center 1428 Jenkins Rd. chattanooga.gov David Scott 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com ‘NOOGA presented by Improv Chattanooga 7:30 p.m.

Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Hello, Dolly!

7:30 p.m.

Christ United Methodist Church

14 • THE PULSE • JULY 20, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

8645 E. Brainerd Rd. ebctchatt.com Summer Sike Movie Series 7:30 p.m.

The Crash Pad 29 Johnson St. crashpadchattanooga.com A Very Sordid Wedding 8 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com The Little Hours 10 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com

FRIDAY7.21 Chattanooga Market at Erlanger 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger Hospital Medical Mall 975 E. 3rd St. chattanoogamarket.com Cambridge Square Night Market 5 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesqauretn.com Emerging Artist Series; Cydney Parkes 5 p.m.

Gallery 1401 1478 Market St. gallery1401.com Radio Dreams 6 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Red Tent Gathering + Film Screening 6:30 p.m.

Movement Arts Collective

ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT The Midnight Swinger combines the style and cool of a ’60s Las Vegas performer with the flash and excitement of a 21st century Super Bowl halftime extravaganza.

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

3813 Dayton Blvd. movementartscollective.com Yoga On The Square 6:30 p.m.

Cambridge Square 9453 Bradmore Ln. cambridgesquaretn.com Deep Brew Sea 7 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium 1 Broad St. tnaqua.org Peter & The Starcatcher 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Theatre Centre 400 River St. theatrecentre.com David Scott 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 7:30 p.m.

Colonnade Center 264 Catoosa Cir. Ringgold, GA colonnadecenter.org Hello, Dolly!

7:30 p.m.

Christ United Methodist Church 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. ebctchatt.com Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka 8 p.m.

Signal Mountain Playhouse 1104 James Blvd. smph.org Darkness Rising 10 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka

SATURDAY7.22 Scenic City Scorcher 7:30 a.m.

Outdoor Chattanooga 200 River St. outdoorchattanooga.com Community Yard Sale 9 a.m.

The Bethlehem Center 200 W. 38th St. thebeth.org St. Alban’s Hixson Market 9:30 a.m.

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

Northside Presbyterian Church 923 Mississippi Ave. (423) 266-7497 Chattanooga River Market 10 a.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Brainerd Farmers Market 11 a.m.

Grace Episcopal Church 20 Belvoir Ave. (404) 245-3682 Farmer’s Market 11 a.m.

Nutrition World 6237 Vance Rd. nutritionw.com Red Wolf Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. reflectionriding.org Station Street Sip & Savor

5 p.m.

Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St stationstreetsipandsavor.com Radio Dreams 6 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Movie Under the Stars 6:30 p.m.

Burks United Methodist Church 6433 Hixson Pike burks.org Big 9 Outdoor Art Bash 7 p.m.

Bessie Smith Cultural Center 200 E. MLK Blvd. bessiesmithcc.org David Scott 7:30, 9:45 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 7:30 p.m.

Colonnade Center 264 Catoosa Cir. Ringgold, GA colonnadecenter.org Hello, Dolly!

7:30 p.m.

Christ United Methodist Church 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. ebctchatt.com Mid-Summer Night’s Contra Dance!

7:30 p.m.

Brainerd United Methodist Church 4315 Brainerd Rd. contranooga.weebly.com Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka

8 p.m.

Signal Mountain Playhouse 1104 James Blvd. smph.org Darkness Rising 8 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Movies in the Park 9 p.m.

Coolidge Park 1 River St. firstthings.org

SUNDAY7.23 Chattanooga Market 11 a.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Red Wolf Talk Noon Reflection Riding Arboretum 400 Garden Rd. reflectionriding.org Free Fiddle School 2 p.m.

Fiddlers Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Hello, Dolly!

2:30 p.m.

Christ United Methodist Church 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. ebctchatt.com Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 3 p.m.

Colonnade Center 264 Catoosa Cir. Ringgold, GA

colonnadecenter.org Radio Dreams 6 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com David Scott 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com Comedy Buffet w/ Caleb Syran 8 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com ​Darkness Rising 8 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com

MONDAY7.24 Red Bank Farmers Market 3 p.m.

Red Bank United Methodist 3800 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 838-9804 Adulting Summer Camp: S’more Money, S’more Problems 5:30 p.m.

The Edney 1100 Market St. theedney.com Protect Our Parks 7 p.m.

Unitarian Universalist Church 3224 Navajo Dr. uucc.org TRP Auditions: The Real Inspector Hound CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

Main Street Market 7 p.m.

The Ringgold Playhouse 155 Depot St. Ringgold, GA (706) 935-3061

TUESDAY7.25 Adulting Summer Camp: Cook It, Cook It Real Good 5:30 p.m.

Dish T’Pass Cooking School 302 W. 6th St. thechattery.org Tuesday Night Chess Club 6 p.m.

Downtown Library 1001 Broad St. chattilibrary.com Darkness Rising 6 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com TRP Auditions: The Real Inspector Hound 7 p.m.

The Ringgold Playhouse 155 Depot St. Ringgold, GA (706) 935-3061 Chattanooga Lookouts vs.

Birmingham Barons 7:15 p.m.

AT&T Field 201 Power Alley lookouts.com Radio Dreams 8 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Top Secret Tuesday 10 p.m.

Palace Picture House

16 • THE PULSE • JULY 20, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com

WEDNESDAY7.26 Chattanooga Market at Erlanger East 10:30 a.m.

Erlanger East Hospital 1751 Gunbarrel Rd. chattanoogamarket.com Main Street Market 4 p.m.

522 W. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Adulting Summer Camp: Let’s Talk About Stress, Baby 5:30 p.m.

The Edney 1100 Market St. theedney.com Darkness Rising 6 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. chattpalace.com Chattanooga Lookouts vs.

Birmingham Barons 7:15 p.m.

AT&T Field 201 Power Alley lookouts.com Comedy Open Mic 7:30 p.m.

The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St. thecomedycatch.com Radio Dreams 8 p.m.

The Palace Picture House 818 Georgia Ave. Map these locations on chattanoogapulse. com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

OPINIONS & DIVERSIONS

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 17

MUSIC

Talented Tabs Tease Two Terrific Tracks

Tab Spencer's powerhouse lineup delivers two tasty tunes

Beyond Nickel Creek: Sara Watkins Goes Solo A couple of years ago, I had the incredible opportunity to see Nickel Creek perform live. As a pretty big bluegrass fan, I was amazed by their skill and creativity. One of the staple instruments of bluegrass is, of course, the fiddle.

Sara Watkins, best known for fiddling in Nickel Creek, has beyond mastered the fiddle and has proved to have pipes of gold. Not only that but she also plays the ukulele, guitar, and percussion. Watkins is an example of musical genius, and this Friday, you can experience this genius at the Songbirds Guitar Museum.

Watkins, as a solo artist, has released three albums, and her most recent, Young in All the Wrong Ways, was dubbed a “breakup album with myself” by Watkins herself. “I looked around and realized that in many ways, I wasn’t who or where I wanted to be,” she says.

Her new album is filled with resolve and hope for future possibilities, which makes it relatable and enjoyable to listen to. Indeed, listening to such a talented musician while surrounded by some of the finest guitars in the world is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So, keep your Friday evening free to experience the songwriting and music playing of Sara Watkins. — Lauren Waegele An Evening with Sara Watkins Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station Street (423) 531-2473 www.songbirdsguitars.com 18 • THE PULSE • JULY 20, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

By Marc T. Michael Pulse Music Editor

T

AB SPENCER IS SET TO RELEASE two new tracks in the upcoming weeks.

The precise date and release party has yet to be announced but I was fortunate enough to get advance copies of the tracks over the weekend.

Yet again, the work exceeds already high expectations. Yet again, I wonder why a local artist isn’t already receiving national attention.

The two tracks are written by Garret Bordon who also contributes lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Bordon is joined by respected musician

and frequent collaborator Jack Kirton on lead guitar, mandolin and backing vocals. Chris Williams provides violin and Patrick Himes plays the organ.

The tracks were recorded at various local and regional studios which, on the one hand, makes it difficult to offer kudos to any particular engineer or studio, but on the other hand the results suggest these fellows cherry-picked the best of the best each facility had to offer.

The quality of the recording is phenomenal.

I don’t suppose I’ve ever made this point in an article before, but while there is obviously artistry to playing an instrument, writing a song or singing a tune, anyone who doesn’t think there’s just as much artistry to recording has

MUSIC

“Yet again, the work exceeds already high expectations. Yet again, I wonder why a local artist isn’t already receiving national attention.” no earthly idea how music works.

No doubt the band member’s wellknown engineering expertise came in to play, but everyone involved in putting this music to tape (or hard drive I suppose) deserves some serious praise.

“Man I Won’t Become” is the first track, opening with a rich, lush acoustic guitar complemented by a restrained, almost mournful mandolin.

Indeed, the whole track has a sort of mournful quality.

Not quite brooding, the introspective lyrics are a sobering assessment of one’s place in life, the possibilities and the not-possibilities bookended by a Roger Waters-esque exploration of a son relating to a father who is no longer there.

In that respect it is, among the sons of the world, a near universal theme and one that is explored thoughtfully.

The placid acoustic tune is beautifully counterpointed by a moving electric guitar solo midway through.

While track one is marked by a relatively sparse acoustic arrangement

Another Big Ass Saturday In The Scenic City

driven by lyrics, track two is an absolute masterpiece of musical orchestration.

The interplay of acoustic and electric, organ and violin, lead and backing vocals makes this a much more musically complex piece.

It is so artfully arranged and performed that on the first few listens I barely heard the lyrics at all; the vocals were just two more instruments in a song that is sonically enthralling. That being said, the lyrics are no less powerful than anything Bordon writes (and he is a hell of a writer,) it’s just that the craftsmanship of the music in this song is absolutely brilliant.

While the actual release is TBD, you can preview the songs now at tabspencer.bandcamp.com. Garret’s own talent is outstanding, but he also displays a knock for partnering with the right musicians. Bordon and Kirton are a formidable duo and have been for some time. The addition of Williams and Himes only helps to solidify this latest entry as some Tab Spencer’s best work to date.

It’s going to be a very busy Saturday in the Scenic City this weekend.

Starting at noon on Saturday, the Revelry Room presents the Chattanooga Girls Rock showcase. The week long summer rock camp for girls ages 10-17 culminates in this full stage performance in which the campers will present the songs they have written and demonstrate the stagecraft they have learned.

Last year’s inaugural event was standing room only so pick up your tickets now via the Revelry Room website and support a very worthwhile cause.

Later that evening the City of Chattanooga presents the Big 9 Art Bash at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Artist meet-andgreets and interactive displays will be present with “Big 9” era jazz music in honor of the late Booker T. Scruggs. That event starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available now.

Ashley and the Xs

At 8 p.m. Ashley and the Xs take the stage at the Revelry Room as they open for Grammy winner Mike Farris.

Dr. B and the Ease are releasing their first full-length album at Mayo’s in Brainerd on Saturday.

The show starts at 8 p.m. and they will be joined by Vedra and Drowning Romance.

Finally, Dream Collective with Sparky; THE Band will be performing Saturday evening at The BUS Bar located at 522 Highway 64, Ocoee. That show is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m.

— Marc T. Michael

THU7.20

FRI7.21

SAT7.22

All My Love

Liz Moriondo

Martin Hayes

Looking for a perfect date night? Grab that special someone and enjoy a tribute to Soul legend Luther Vandross.

7 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com

Singer, guitar player, songwriter, and a dreamer with a dynamic voice is a force of nature that brings country to a new level.

9 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com

Very few Irish fiddlers can command a stage by themselves the way virtuoso Martin Hayes.

You will be amazed!

8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 19

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Fastball

THURSDAY7.20 James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.

St. John’s Meeting Place 1278 Market St. stjohnsrestaurant.com Rick Rushing 6 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Forever Bluegrass 6 p.m.

Whole Foods Market 301 Manufacturers Rd. wholefoodsmarket.com Prime Country Band 6:30 p.m.

Motley’s 320 Emberson Dr. Ringgold, GA (706) 260-8404 Bluegrass & Country Jam 6:30 p.m.

Grace Church of the Nazarene 6310 Dayton Blvd. chattanoogagrace.com All My Love: A Tribute To Luther Vandross 7 p.m.

The Granfalloon 400 E. Main St. granfalloonchattanooga.com Singer Songwriter Series 7 p.m.

Fiamma Pizza Company 405 N. Market St. fiammapizzacompany.com Bluegrass Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

Feed Co. Table & Tavern 201 W. Main St.

20 • THE PULSE • JULY 20, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

feedtableandtavern.com 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 Open Mic Night with Jonathan Wimpee 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Allman Joy: A Tribute to the Life of the Allman Brothers 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Caney Village, Oginalii,

Hammell on Trial 9 p.m.

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

FRIDAY7.21 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m.

Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Rebekah Jean 6 p.m.

Cambridge Square Night Market 9453 Bradmore Ln. chattanoogamarket.com Eddie Pontiac 6 p.m.

El Meson 2204 Hamilton Place Blvd. elmesonrestaurant.com

PULSE MUSIC SPOTLIGHT Croation electronica collides with Southern hip-hop and creates a unique sound and presence. Come check out one of the best MC's in the city and see why we're such fans.

SoCro Friday, 9 p.m.

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

Binji Varsossa 6 p.m.

Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Fastball, Midnight Promise 7 p.m.

Miller Plaza 850 Market St. nightfallchattanooga.com Geneva 7 p.m.

Thunder Creek Harley-Davidson 7720 Lee Hwy. thundercreekharley.com Dreamstate Emergency, Praymantha, Sickness In The System 7 p.m.

Music Box @ Ziggy’s 607 Cherokee Blvd. ziggysbarandgrill.net Tim Lewis 7 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Jimmy Harris 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com An Evening with Sara Watkins 7:30 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Courtney Holder 8 p.m.

The Casual Pint 5550 Hwy 153 hixson.thecasualpint.com Sound Advice 8:30 p.m.

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Mike Farris The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com SoCro 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com The Steel Woods 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Kara-Ory-Oke 9 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. citycafemenu.com Liz Moriondo 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Dead Affect 10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com VooDoo Slim 10 p.m.

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

SATURDAY7.22 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m.

Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Chattanooga Girls Rock Camp Showcase Concert

Noon Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Bluegrass Brunch Noon The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy. thehonestpint.com The Do Rights 12:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Scenic Sounds Showcase 5 p.m.

Spot Athletic Arts Venue 3210 Brainerd Rd. spotvenue.co Bud Fest 6 p.m.

Stove Works 1226 E. 14th St. stoveworks.org Eddie Pontiac 6 p.m.

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

Cancun Mexican Restaurant 1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461 Drew Sterchi and The Blues Tribe 7 p.m.

Songbirds Guitar Museum 35 Station St. songbirdsguitars.com Alanna Royale, Courtney Daly Band 7 p.m.

Chattanooga Riverfront

201 Riverfront Pkwy. riverfrontnights.com Migos 7 p.m.

McKenzie Arena 720 E. 4th St. utc.edu/mckenzie-arena Tim Lewis 7 p.m.

El Meson 248 Northgate Park elmesonchattanooga.com Jimmy Harris 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Dr. B and the Ease, Vedra, Drowning Romance 8 p.m.

Mayo’s Bar and Grill 3820 Brainerd Rd. mayosbarandgrill.com The Countrymen Band 8 p.m.

Eagles Club 6130 Airways Blvd.

(423) 894-9940 Taylor & Company 8 p.m.

VFW Post 4848 2402 Amnicola Hwy. (423) 624-6687 Sistren 8 p.m.

Charles & Myrtle’s Coffeehouse 105 McBrien Rd. christunity.org An Evening with Martin Hayes 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Ty Cooper

8 p.m.

The Casual Pint hixson.thecasualpint.com Sound Advice 8:30 p.m.

The Foundry 1201 Broad St. chattanooganhotel.com Mike Farris, Ashley and the Xs 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co Drakeford 9 p.m.

Puckett’s Restaurant 2 W. Aquarium Way puckettsgro.com Underground Oasis: Demonic Confection 9 p.m.

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

El Palomino Night Club 1503 Foust St. (423) 624-6600 The Cheifs, Breaknecks, Genki Genki Panic, Snarky 9 p.m.

Sluggo’s North 505 Cherokee Blvd.

(423) 752-5224 Chase Martin 10 p.m.

Clyde’s On Main 122 W. Main St. clydesonmain.com Mark "Porkchop" Holder 10 p.m.

The Office @ City Cafe 901 Carter St. CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 21

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Jimmy Herring & The Invisible Whip citycafemenu.com VooDoo Slim 10 p.m.

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

SUNDAY7.23 Summer Music Weekends 11 a.m.

Rock City Gardens 1400 Patten Rd. seerockcity.com Brooks Dixon 11 a.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Dana Rogers 12:30 p.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Kofi Mawuko 12:30 p.m.

Tennessee Aquarium Plaza 1 Broad St. chattanoogarivermarket.com Ink + Ash 1:30 p.m.

Flying Squirrel Bar 55 Johnson St. flyingsquirrelbar.com Rye Baby 2 p.m.

First Tennessee Pavilion 1829 Carter St. chattanoogamarket.com Bluegrass Jam 4 p.m.

Fiddler’s Anonymous

22 • THE PULSE • JULY 20, 2017 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.

Long Haul Saloon 2536 Cummings Hwy. (423) 822-9775 Mathis & Martin 7 p.m.

The BackStage Bar 29 Station St. (423) 629-2233 Jimmy Herring & The Invisible Whip 9 p.m.

Revelry Room 41 Station St. revelryroom.co

MONDAY7.24 Monday Nite Big Band 7 p.m.

The Coconut Room 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Very Open Mic with Shawnessey Cargile 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

Nihilist Cheerleader, Pinecone, Chillhowie Royal 9 p.m.

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

TUESDAY7.25 Danimal 6 p.m.

Backstage Bar 29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com Bill McCallie and In Cahoots 6:30 p.m.

Southern Belle 201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.com Open Mic with Mike McDade 8 p.m.

Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike tremonttavern.com Bobbyrock, Swanky Tiger ​9 p.m.

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

WEDNESDAY7.26 Noontunes with Seaux Chill Noon Miller Plaza 850 Market St. noontunescha.com Toby Hewitt 6 p.m.

Backstage Bar

29 Station St. backstagechattanooga.com No Big Deal 6 p.m.

SpringHill Suites 495 Riverfront Pkwy. springhillsuites.com Old Time Fiddle & Banjo Show 6:30 p.m.

Fiddler’s Anonymous 2248 Dayton Blvd.

(423) 994-7497 Joel Clyde 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 Jazz in the Lounge 8 p.m.

Barking Legs Theater 1307 Dodds Ave. barkinglegs.org Lee Bains and the Glory Fires, Matt and Marty B 9 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia 231 E. MLK Blvd. jjsbohemia.com Prime Cut Trio 9 p.m.

The Palms at Hamilton 6925 Shallowford Rd. thepalmsathamilton.com Map these locations on chattanoogapulse.com. Send event listings at least 10 days in advance to: calendar@chattanoogapulse.com

RECORD REVIEWS ∙ ERNIE PAIK

David Greenberger and Prime Lens, Yoko Ono

David Greenberger and Prime Lens My Thoughts Approximately (PelPel)

Yoko Ono Fly (Secretly Canadian/Chimera)

Y

involves its own nuanced artistry and decision-making: which passages to include, how to sequence and group them and what mood to express as he uses his own voice to recite the stories of others.

Greenberger’s latest album, My Thoughts Approximately, is a collaboration with Prime Lens—actually, “and Prime Lens,” which is an anagram of “Dennis Palmer”—an ensemble formed after Palmer’s passing in 2013, including Palmer’s bandmate Bob Stagner in the improvisational group The Shaking Ray Levis, bassist Evan Lipson and keyboardist Tyson Rogers.

(Disclosure: I know these artists personally and stand firmly in the Pauline Kael-esque “screw objectivity” camp of criticism.)

Multi-instrumentalist Amanda Rose Cagle sings or plays (over a

our humble reviewer was recently physically attacked (in a brotherly, horseplaying way) by a friend who apparently didn’t appreciate his stance that all art and music has a degree of artificiality and that no matter how “authentic” a conveyed emotion seems to be, it’s always framed by the artist.

In other words, art-making requires decision-making in some form or fashion, even if decisions are consciously left to chance (see John Cage’s indeterminacy, for example).

For four decades, David Greenberger has been having conversations with senior citizens and documenting them, culling stories for his long-running zine The Duplex Planet and also for numerous musical collaborations. It might be easy to overlook, but Greenberger’s role

dozen instruments) on a majority of tracks, and guests Frank Pahl, trumpeter Dan Dorrill and organist Steve Hickman have brief yet welcome contributions.

As with other Greenberger albums, the anecdotes used vary wildly in mood, from touching stories to humorous moments to more complicated, disquieting glimpses.

“Refugees” is a tense recollection from Ilona Kaba about sneaking over the Hungary-Austria border and being a refugee in a women’s prison, and Charlie Hewis’ war story “Home at Last” is delivered matter-of-factly, with floating, gentle music tracing his path from turmoil to domestic tranquility.

Although there’s some frolicking genre-hopping, dominant styles include jaunty piano-driven jingles and slithering, amorphous jazz. Moments of agitated comedy are mirrored in manic accompaniments, like the revved-up track “Dynamo,” and adept uses of instruments for foley art pop up, like the cat-clawing sounds that end “My Princess.”

My Thoughts Approximately is a potpourri of emotions and charming musical arrangements, providing keen glimpses viewed through the artists’ lens and framed with perceptive care.

“E

veryone knows her name, but no one knows what she ac-

tually does.” That’s a quote from John Lennon about Yoko Ono— the pioneering singer, Fluxus performance artist and filmmaker and, yes, Lennon’s wife.

Actually, many bitter Beatles fans would claim that they did in fact know what she did: break up the Beatles. (This has been refuted.)

Just mentioning the name “Yoko” would be a joke for some, but in the avant-garde world, she is rightfully considered to be a visionary artist who also belongs in the “Unconventional Vocalist” hall of fame if one were to exist.

A deep-dive reissue project of Ono’s works from 1968 to 1985 is underway from Secretly Canadian and Chimera Music, with deluxe vinyl, CD and digital-download editions, and one of the highlights so far is the 1971 double-album Fly. It’s a wild trip that at times is deeply uncomfortable to hear, shattering notions about femininity with its relation to aesthetics.

Ono’s eccentric vocalizations— with peculiar enunciations and primal, wordless cackling—are boldly difficult, and even when she dials down the strangeness, her singing can smolder with a bleak, raw emotion, like on the piano/ guitar ballad “Mrs. Lennon” (the tune of which was subconsciously borrowed by Alex Chilton for Big Star’s “Holocaust.”)

Fly opens with “Midsummer

New York,” which sounds like it could be from a roadhouse bluesrock bar band if it weren’t for Ono’s “Janis Joplin from another planet” vocalizations; it’s followed by the 17-minute “Mindtrain,” with slide-guitar licks and an irresistible bass groove, serving as a bed for Ono’s freestyle, unhinged spoutings.

When it comes to deliciously maddening delirium-inducing repetition, “Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking For a Hand in the Snow)” takes the cake, with a single riff hammered into the ground from a dream-team lineup including Lennon, Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr, with Ono chanting “Don’t worry!” in an unsettling way.

The second half of Fly goes into more abstract territory, with the metallic junkyard clatter and echoing vocals of “Airmale” and the baby-babble, violent outbursts and tape-manipulation of the 23-minute title track.

This edition includes four bonus tracks, including the notable “The Path” with electronic bubbling and reverberating panting, evoking scifi suspense.

Make no mistake—this is “out there” stuff, but it’s inspired, uncompromising and unforgettable.

As actress/musician Ann Magnuson put it, “There’s a reason the coolest guy in the world fell in love with her.”

Where the BIG Hits live!

Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 23

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ∙ ROB BREZSNY CANCER (June 21-July 22): I predict that four weeks from now you will be enjoying a modest but hearty feeling of accomplishment—on one condition: You must not get diverted by the temptation to achieve trivial successes. In other words, I hope you focus on one or two big projects, not lots of small ones. What do I mean by “big projects”? How about these: taming your fears; delivering a delicate message that frees you from an onerous burden; clarifying your relationship with work; and improving your ability to have the money you need.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Spain’s most revered mystic poet was St. John of the Cross, who lived from 1542 to 1591. He went through a hard time at age 35, when he was kidnapped by a rival religious sect and imprisoned in a cramped cell.

Now and then he was provided with scraps of bread and dried fish, but he almost starved to death. After ten months, he managed to escape and make his way to a convent that gave him sanctuary. For his first meal, the nuns served him warm pears with cinnamon. I reckon that you’ll soon be celebrating your own version of a jailbreak, Leo. It’ll be less drastic and more metaphorical than St. John’s, but still a notable accomplishment. To celebrate, I invite you to enjoy a ritual meal of warm pears with cinnamon.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “I’m very attracted to things that I can’t define,” says Belgian fashion designer Raf Simons. I’d love for you to adopt that attitude, Virgo. You’re entering the Season of Generous Mystery. It will be a time when you can generate good fortune for yourself by being eager to get your expectations overturned and your mind blown. Transformative opportunities will coalesce as you simmer in the influence of enigmas and anomalies. Meditate on the advice of the poet Rainer Maria Rilke: “I want to beg you to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I’ve compiled a list of four mantras for you to draw strength from.

They’re designed to put you in the proper alignment to take maximum advantage of current cosmic rhythms. For the next three weeks, say them periodically throughout the day. 1. “I want to give the gifts I like to give rather than the gifts I’m supposed to give.” 2. “If I can’t do things with excellence and integrity, I won’t do them at all.” 3. “I intend to run on the fuel of my own deepest zeal, not on the fuel of someone else’s passions.” 4. “My joy comes as much from doing my beautiful best as from pleasing other people.”

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SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The world will never fully know or appreciate the nature of your heroic journey. Even the people who love you the most will only ever understand a portion of your epic quest to become your best self. That’s why it’s important for you to be generous in giving yourself credit for all you have accomplished up until now and will accomplish in the future. Take time to marvel at the majesty and miracle of the life you have created for yourself.

Celebrate the struggles you’ve weathered and the liberations you’ve initiated. Shout “Glory hallelujah!” as you acknowledge your persistence and resourcefulness.

The coming weeks will be an especially favorable time to do this tricky but fun work.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I suspect you may have drug-like effects on people in the coming weeks. Which drugs? At various times, your impact could resemble cognac, magic mushrooms, and Ecstasy—or sometimes all three simultaneously. What will you do with all that power to kill pain and alter moods and expand minds? Here’s one possibility: Get people excited about what you’re excited about, and call on them to help you bring your dreams to a higher stage of development.

Here’s another: Round up the support you need to transform any status quo that’s boring or unproductive.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” So said psychologist Carl Jung. What the hell did that meddling, self-important know-it-all mean by that?

Oops. Sorry to sound annoyed.

My cranky reaction may mean I’m defensive about the possibility that I’m sometimes a bit preachy myself. Maybe I don’t like an authority figure wagging his finger in my face because I’m suspicious of my own tendency to do that.

Hmmm. Should I therefore refrain from giving you the advice I’d planned to? I guess not. Listen carefully, Capricorn: Monitor the people and situations that irritate you. They’ll serve as mirrors.

They’ll show you unripe aspects of yourself that may need adjustment or healing.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A source of tough and tender inspiration seems to be losing some of its signature potency. It has served you well. It has given you many gifts, some difficult and some full of grace. But now I think you will benefit from transforming your relationship with its influence. As you might imagine, this pivotal moment will be best navigated with a clean, fresh, open attitude.

That’s why you’ll be wise to thoroughly wash your own brain -- not begrudgingly, but with gleeful determination. For even better re-

sults, wash your heart, too.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A “power animal” is a creature selected as a symbolic ally by a person who hopes to imitate or resonate with its strengths. The salmon or hare might be a good choice if you’re seeking to stimulate your fertility, for example. If you aspire to cultivate elegant wildness, you might choose an eagle or horse. For your use in the coming months, I propose a variation on this theme: the “power fruit.” From now until at least May 2018, your power fruit should be the ripe strawberry. Why? Because this will be a time when you’ll be naturally sweet, not artificially so; when you will be juicy, but not dripping all over everything; when you will be compact and concentrated, not bloated and bursting at the seams; and when you should be plucked by hand, never mechanically.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): The Greek word philokalia is translated as the “love of the beautiful, the exalted, the excellent.” I propose that we make it your keyword for the next three weeks—the theme you keep at the forefront of your awareness everywhere you go.

But think a while before you say yes to my invitation. To commit yourself to being so relentlessly in quest of the sublime would be a demanding job. Are you truly prepared to adjust to the poignant sweetness that might stream into your life as a result?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): It’s a favorable time to strengthen your fundamentals and stabilize your foundation. I invite you to devote your finest intelligence and grittiest determination to this project. How? Draw deeply from your roots. Tap into the mother lode of inspiration that never fails you. Nurture the web of life that nurtures you. The cosmos will offer you lots of help and inspiration whenever you attend to these practical and sacred matters. Bestcase scenario: You will bolster your personal power for many months to come.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Two talking porcupines are enjoying an erotic tryst in a cactus garden.

It’s a prickly experience, but that’s how they like it. “I always get horny when things get thorny,” says one. Meanwhile, in the rose garden next door, two unicorns wearing crowns of thorns snuggle and nuzzle as they receive acupuncture from a swarm of helpful hornets. One of the unicorns murmurs, “This is the sharpest pleasure I’ve ever known.” Now here’s the moral of these far-out fables, Gemini: Are you ready to gamble on a cagey and exuberant ramble through the brambles? Are you curious about the healing that might become available if you explore the edgy frontiers of gusto?

JONESIN' CROSSWORD ∙ MATT JONES

“It’s PAT”—some pat answers, yes.

ACROSS 1 Chicken ___ (Italian dish, informally) 5 TV logician 10 Blot 14 Hairy twin of the Bible 15 Fluorescent bulb gas 16 ___ cosa (Spanish “something else”) 17 French term for a temporary residence 19 Algerian setting for Camus’s “The Plague” 20 Did some pranking 22 One-named ‘50s-’60s teen idol 25 Shelley’s elegy for Keats 26 Castaway’s refuge, perhaps 27 Fix eggs, maybe 29 Running count 30 Cross-shaped Greek letter 31 Diva’s rendition 33 “___ Ho” (“Slumdog Millionaire” song) 34 Duo behind the CW series “Fool Us” 39 Giants giant Mel 40 Brand in the pet aisle

41 Bigwig 43 Handled 46 Tar clump 47 John who once cohosted “Entertainment Tonight” 48 First Lady and diplomat Roosevelt 50 Got to the point?

52 With 56-Across, low-budget programming source 55 “It seems to me,” online 56 See 52-Across 60 Has ___ with (is connected) 61 Without ___ in the world 62 Golden State sch.

63 Construction area 64 “Death of a Salesman” protagonist 65 Marshmallow Easter treat DOWN 1 Rally feature 2 “___ told you before ...”

3 “Insecure” star Issa ___ 4 Kid’s dirty “dessert” 5 “Damn Yankees”

villain, really 6 Gazelles, to cheetahs 7 Fairy tale baddie (unless it’s Shrek) 8 “Marat/Sade” character Charlotte 9 Work out some knots 10 Symbol of deadness 11 Like some fibrillation 12 Thymine (T) : DNA :: ___ (U) : RNA 13 Graffiti artist who opened (and closed) Dismaland in 2015 18 Words between “chicken” and “king” 21 Wrecks 22 Qualified 23 “The faster the better” 24 “Kind of ___” (classic Miles Davis album) 27 Stereotypical last word of art films 28 “This American Life” medium 31 Sagrada Familia architect Gaudi 32 Splinter, for one 33 Leader of the Holograms, on Saturday morning TV 35 Like horror movie

characters, as they eventually find out 36 Running account 37 Opening for Quest or glades 38 Shine’s partner?

42 Dissertation writer’s goal 43 Tintype tints 44 Homecoming attendees 45 Visit to an Internet page, informally 46 ___-Roman wrestling (var.)

47 Game show question that determines which team plays 49 Using half as many digits as hexadecimal 50 Most common throw with two dice (D6es, for those of you playing at home) 51 TV show that took in Ted Danson 53 Seafood in a shell 54 “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” star Michael 57 0°F phenomenon 58 Torero’s encouragement 59 Quick snooze

Copyright © 2017 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. 841 CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 25

COLUMN ∙ GAME ON!

Fun Is Just A Hand Toss Away Our gaming guru offers up a tale of two games, batteries not required

Brandon Watson Pulse columnist

H

OWDY GAMERS! I’M WRITING to you from the sun scorched plains of West Texas. That’s right, I’m a reverse Volunteer and semi-proud native of the “everything is bigger here” state.

Summer is fading quickly and let’s face it, your thumbs could use a vacation from the endless bombardment of discount game sales and your social skills are getting as pale as your complexion. But never fear, I have two outside games that will keep the hand-eye skills razor sharp and alleviate some of that social anxiety borne from the over consumption of pixels.

If you’re ever in Texas and encounter groups of men and women huddled up with extended measuring tapes and shaking their heads in disappointment, it’s not what you may think and you should get your mind out of the gutter. What you are probably witnessing is a tense match of Washers.

Washers is a toss game enjoyed by the most analytical and argumentative minds, well maybe the most argumentative. It’s basically horseshoes with a lot of measurements and occasional fisticuffs. This favorite yard game requires two cups or PVC couplers four inches in diameter placed in the center of sand filled boxes spaced 25 feet away.

The object of Washers is to get your washers into the center cup for three points washers that fall into the pit closest to the cup are one point and anything landing

outside of the box is zero. Washers closer to the cup count for points and the first team or player to reach 21 wins.

Keep in mind that playing this in any official capacity requires an intricate measuring device for scoring. Anything from an 1/8 inch difference in distance to the cup could make or break your game.

Special rules allow for opposing players to knock out washers or cover washers, if your opponent covers your washer with theirs they negate your points.

Experience may vary depending on the environment but out West the rules are rigidly enforced by a strange code of honor that is tough to translate into a coherent format on the game’s official website, but official rules are there for all to learn to get a game going.

Suffice it to say that Washers is an amazing yard game that combines tactile skill with some basic carpentry knowledge and if you have acute OCD tendencies you may want to consult your doctor to see if Washers is right for you.

Moving to the Southeast has introduced me to a whole new level of experiences and cultural institutions that still enthrall me after a near decade of living there. Mustard and Vinegar BBQ dressing still perplexes me in profound ways.

But outside of the culinary fare, I was first introduced to the pub favorite game of Cornhole in the Carolinas. Yes, this infantile snicker inducing game named Cornhole is referred to in Texas as “the

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beanbag toss”, yeah with a name like that you can see why it’s not really a thing out here.

Cornhole like Washers has its origins steeped in mythical obscurity possibly dating back to 14th century Europe. This game is played very similar to Washers with the same point goal to 21. The major difference is that Cornhole is not played with hard steel projectiles and requires no tape measure holstered to your hip.

Players take turns pitching bean filled bags with the goal of scoring points by of course getting it in the hole or keeping their colored bags on the board. What I love about Cornhole is that you can play this game virtually anywhere, no basic carpentry certification required and the entire family can get in on it.

I believe that every tap house in Chattanooga keeps a Cornhole kit available. I prefer places like

Southside Social who keep their Cornhole boards right out front for a friendly match with friends or soon-to-be friends about every night. Easy to set up, easy to learn, difficult to master.

Like other toss games each individual develops their own technique and style to the game and the American Cornhole Association has a website dedicated to offering official rules and tournament locations throughout the country.

It’s perfectly okay to unplug and rejoin society from your latest achievement hoarding conquests. So get up and see what the cool kids are doing outside for a change you may be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

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

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • JULY 20, 2017 • THE PULSE • 27