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SCREEN NO JOY RUSSELL MISSES MUSIC MATT SOLO HIP HOP GOODS ARTS SCULPTOR DUNCAN ART CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE DECEMBER 31, 2015 by Mike McJunkin AN EXPAT CHATTANOOGAN EMBRACES A NEW CULTURE IN AN OLD WORLD A NEW YEAR IN THAILAND

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Page 1: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

SCREEN

NO JOYRUSSELL MISSES

MUSIC

MATT SOLOHIP HOP GOODS

ARTS

SCULPTORDUNCAN ART

CHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVEDECEMBER 31, 2015

by Mike McJunkin

AN EXPAT CHATTANOOGAN EMBRACES A NEW CULTURE IN AN OLD WORLD

A NEW YEAR IN THAILAND

Page 2: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

2 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Sweetens CoveGOLF CLUB• SOUTH PITTSBURG

SWEETENS COVE TOUR 2016

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: [email protected] • 423-280-96922040 SWEETENS COVE ROAD • SOUTH PITTSBURG • TN

“Sweetens Cove is one of the most audacious designs we’ve seen. [King-Collins] built one of the most diverse & entertaining set of green complexes found anywhere. This kind of fun, inventive, quick golf is more common-place in the UK, which is why the game is so much healthier there than in America. If you leave [Sweetens Cove] smiling, don’t panic: golf is supposed to be fun.”

— Ran Morrissett, The Confidential Guide To Golf Courses, Vol. 2

PRICE

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ONLY 25 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA

PAYMENT DUE BY DECEMBER 31, 2015

▪ FullClubMembershipwithunlimitedplayfor2016.*▪ PreferentialTeeTimes.▪ FiveGuestRoundsatnocharge.▪ 10%discountonallproshopmerchandise.▪ 25%discountonallbeverages(alcoholic/non-alcoholic).

IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, TOUR PLAYERS WILL RECEIVE:▪ AccesstoaprivateTourwebsite,whichwillincluderealtime updatedstandingsandmessageboard—useittoremind yourfriendsofhowsuperioryourgolfgameistotheirs!▪ Handicapped standings, updated in real time.▪ Everyroundyouplayin2016willberecorded andreflectedintheTourStandings.▪ AccesstoweeklyTOUR-ONLYgamesandcompetitions.▪ AccesstomonthlyTOUR-ONLYtournaments**—allmonthly tournamentswillhaveaseparateCalcuttaandcashprizes specificallytailoredtoeachevent.

▪ AutomaticentryintotheSWEETENS COVE TEAM FOUR-BALL MATCH PLAYevent.▪ AutomaticentryintoTHE 2016 SWEETENS COVE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP.▪ Accesstoweekly,monthly,andyear-endcashprizes.▪ AccesstotheTourkick-offpartyandCalcuttaevent.▪ Accesstoayear-endTourwrapparty.▪ Top 5 finishersonTouratyear-endwillwinaccessto anexclusivecourserankedamongthetop 10 Classic Golf Courses in the United Statesandcashprizes▪ The Tour Championwillwina Two-Year Tour Exemption, whichincludesFREE access to the Tour for 2016 & 2017. ▪ Additionalone-month membership packagesandcash prizeswillbeawardedtotheTop 10 finishersatyear-end.

Here is your opportunity to join the Tour in 2016! SweetensCoveGolfClub,whichreceivedthehighest average rating of ALL golf courses in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, & Louisianaintherecently-releasedConfidential Guide to Golf Courses, v. 2andisaffectionatelyknownbymanyas‘TPCSouthPittsburg’,ispleasedtoannouncetheSweetensCoveTourfor2016.

*JoinNOWandreceiveunlimitedaccesstothecourseatNOCHARGEfortheremainderof2015.**Tournamentparticipationisnotmandatory.

FOR HALF THE COST OF A REGULAR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP, TOUR MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE:

$1500

Sweetens CoveGOLF CLUB• SOUTH PITTSBURG

SWEETENS COVE TOUR 2016

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: [email protected] • 423-280-96922040 SWEETENS COVE ROAD • SOUTH PITTSBURG • TN

“Sweetens Cove is one of the most audacious designs we’ve seen. [King-Collins] built one of the most diverse & entertaining set of green complexes found anywhere. This kind of fun, inventive, quick golf is more common-place in the UK, which is why the game is so much healthier there than in America. If you leave [Sweetens Cove] smiling, don’t panic: golf is supposed to be fun.”

— Ran Morrissett, The Confidential Guide To Golf Courses, Vol. 2

PRICE

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ONLY 25 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA

PAYMENT DUE BY DECEMBER 31, 2015

▪ FullClubMembershipwithunlimitedplayfor2016.*▪ PreferentialTeeTimes.▪ FiveGuestRoundsatnocharge.▪ 10%discountonallproshopmerchandise.▪ 25%discountonallbeverages(alcoholic/non-alcoholic).

IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, TOUR PLAYERS WILL RECEIVE:▪ AccesstoaprivateTourwebsite,whichwillincluderealtime updatedstandingsandmessageboard—useittoremind yourfriendsofhowsuperioryourgolfgameistotheirs!▪ Handicapped standings, updated in real time.▪ Everyroundyouplayin2016willberecorded andreflectedintheTourStandings.▪ AccesstoweeklyTOUR-ONLYgamesandcompetitions.▪ AccesstomonthlyTOUR-ONLYtournaments**—allmonthly tournamentswillhaveaseparateCalcuttaandcashprizes specificallytailoredtoeachevent.

▪ AutomaticentryintotheSWEETENS COVE TEAM FOUR-BALL MATCH PLAYevent.▪ AutomaticentryintoTHE 2016 SWEETENS COVE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP.▪ Accesstoweekly,monthly,andyear-endcashprizes.▪ AccesstotheTourkick-offpartyandCalcuttaevent.▪ Accesstoayear-endTourwrapparty.▪ Top 5 finishersonTouratyear-endwillwinaccessto anexclusivecourserankedamongthetop 10 Classic Golf Courses in the United Statesandcashprizes▪ The Tour Championwillwina Two-Year Tour Exemption, whichincludesFREE access to the Tour for 2016 & 2017. ▪ Additionalone-month membership packagesandcash prizeswillbeawardedtotheTop 10 finishersatyear-end.

Here is your opportunity to join the Tour in 2016! SweetensCoveGolfClub,whichreceivedthehighest average rating of ALL golf courses in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, & Louisianaintherecently-releasedConfidential Guide to Golf Courses, v. 2andisaffectionatelyknownbymanyas‘TPCSouthPittsburg’,ispleasedtoannouncetheSweetensCoveTourfor2016.

*JoinNOWandreceiveunlimitedaccesstothecourseatNOCHARGEfortheremainderof2015.**Tournamentparticipationisnotmandatory.

FOR HALF THE COST OF A REGULAR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP, TOUR MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE:

$1500

Sweetens CoveGOLF CLUB• SOUTH PITTSBURG

SWEETENS COVE TOUR 2016

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: [email protected] • 423-280-96922040 SWEETENS COVE ROAD • SOUTH PITTSBURG • TN

“Sweetens Cove is one of the most audacious designs we’ve seen. [King-Collins] built one of the most diverse & entertaining set of green complexes found anywhere. This kind of fun, inventive, quick golf is more common-place in the UK, which is why the game is so much healthier there than in America. If you leave [Sweetens Cove] smiling, don’t panic: golf is supposed to be fun.”

— Ran Morrissett, The Confidential Guide To Golf Courses, Vol. 2

PRICE

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ONLY 25 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA

PAYMENT DUE BY DECEMBER 31, 2015

▪ FullClubMembershipwithunlimitedplayfor2016.*▪ PreferentialTeeTimes.▪ FiveGuestRoundsatnocharge.▪ 10%discountonallproshopmerchandise.▪ 25%discountonallbeverages(alcoholic/non-alcoholic).

IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, TOUR PLAYERS WILL RECEIVE:▪ AccesstoaprivateTourwebsite,whichwillincluderealtime updatedstandingsandmessageboard—useittoremind yourfriendsofhowsuperioryourgolfgameistotheirs!▪ Handicapped standings, updated in real time.▪ Everyroundyouplayin2016willberecorded andreflectedintheTourStandings.▪ AccesstoweeklyTOUR-ONLYgamesandcompetitions.▪ AccesstomonthlyTOUR-ONLYtournaments**—allmonthly tournamentswillhaveaseparateCalcuttaandcashprizes specificallytailoredtoeachevent.

▪ AutomaticentryintotheSWEETENS COVE TEAM FOUR-BALL MATCH PLAYevent.▪ AutomaticentryintoTHE 2016 SWEETENS COVE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP.▪ Accesstoweekly,monthly,andyear-endcashprizes.▪ AccesstotheTourkick-offpartyandCalcuttaevent.▪ Accesstoayear-endTourwrapparty.▪ Top 5 finishersonTouratyear-endwillwinaccessto anexclusivecourserankedamongthetop 10 Classic Golf Courses in the United Statesandcashprizes▪ The Tour Championwillwina Two-Year Tour Exemption, whichincludesFREE access to the Tour for 2016 & 2017. ▪ Additionalone-month membership packagesandcash prizeswillbeawardedtotheTop 10 finishersatyear-end.

Here is your opportunity to join the Tour in 2016! SweetensCoveGolfClub,whichreceivedthehighest average rating of ALL golf courses in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, & Louisianaintherecently-releasedConfidential Guide to Golf Courses, v. 2andisaffectionatelyknownbymanyas‘TPCSouthPittsburg’,ispleasedtoannouncetheSweetensCoveTourfor2016.

*JoinNOWandreceiveunlimitedaccesstothecourseatNOCHARGEfortheremainderof2015.**Tournamentparticipationisnotmandatory.

FOR HALF THE COST OF A REGULAR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP, TOUR MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE:

$1500

Sweetens CoveGOLF CLUB• SOUTH PITTSBURG

SWEETENS COVE TOUR 2016

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: [email protected] • 423-280-96922040 SWEETENS COVE ROAD • SOUTH PITTSBURG • TN

“Sweetens Cove is one of the most audacious designs we’ve seen. [King-Collins] built one of the most diverse & entertaining set of green complexes found anywhere. This kind of fun, inventive, quick golf is more common-place in the UK, which is why the game is so much healthier there than in America. If you leave [Sweetens Cove] smiling, don’t panic: golf is supposed to be fun.”

— Ran Morrissett, The Confidential Guide To Golf Courses, Vol. 2

PRICE

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ONLY 25 MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA

PAYMENT DUE BY DECEMBER 31, 2015

▪ FullClubMembershipwithunlimitedplayfor2016.*▪ PreferentialTeeTimes.▪ FiveGuestRoundsatnocharge.▪ 10%discountonallproshopmerchandise.▪ 25%discountonallbeverages(alcoholic/non-alcoholic).

IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS, TOUR PLAYERS WILL RECEIVE:▪ AccesstoaprivateTourwebsite,whichwillincluderealtime updatedstandingsandmessageboard—useittoremind yourfriendsofhowsuperioryourgolfgameistotheirs!▪ Handicapped standings, updated in real time.▪ Everyroundyouplayin2016willberecorded andreflectedintheTourStandings.▪ AccesstoweeklyTOUR-ONLYgamesandcompetitions.▪ AccesstomonthlyTOUR-ONLYtournaments**—allmonthly tournamentswillhaveaseparateCalcuttaandcashprizes specificallytailoredtoeachevent.

▪ AutomaticentryintotheSWEETENS COVE TEAM FOUR-BALL MATCH PLAYevent.▪ AutomaticentryintoTHE 2016 SWEETENS COVE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP.▪ Accesstoweekly,monthly,andyear-endcashprizes.▪ AccesstotheTourkick-offpartyandCalcuttaevent.▪ Accesstoayear-endTourwrapparty.▪ Top 5 finishersonTouratyear-endwillwinaccessto anexclusivecourserankedamongthetop 10 Classic Golf Courses in the United Statesandcashprizes▪ The Tour Championwillwina Two-Year Tour Exemption, whichincludesFREE access to the Tour for 2016 & 2017. ▪ Additionalone-month membership packagesandcash prizeswillbeawardedtotheTop 10 finishersatyear-end.

Here is your opportunity to join the Tour in 2016! SweetensCoveGolfClub,whichreceivedthehighest average rating of ALL golf courses in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, & Louisianaintherecently-releasedConfidential Guide to Golf Courses, v. 2andisaffectionatelyknownbymanyas‘TPCSouthPittsburg’,ispleasedtoannouncetheSweetensCoveTourfor2016.

*JoinNOWandreceiveunlimitedaccesstothecourseatNOCHARGEfortheremainderof2015.**Tournamentparticipationisnotmandatory.

FOR HALF THE COST OF A REGULAR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP, TOUR MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE:

$1500

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Page 3: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE PULSE • 3

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 © 2015 by Brewer Media. All rights reserved.

Features4 BEGINNINGS: Wishing a happy New Year to some of our beloved pols.

7 MIXOLOGY: How to “party hearty” on the booziest of holiday nights. 12 ARTS CALENDAR

16 MUSIC CALENDAR

18 REVIEWS: Aberdeen finds lost recordings, Black Record goes proto-punk.

19 SPIRITS WITHIN: Old Blue Eyes and Old No. 7 still make great music together.

20 SCREEN: David O. Russell disappoints in a not-very-Joyful film.

22 JONESIN’ CROSSWORD

22 FREE WILL ASTROLOGY

23 TECH TALK: Lamp Post adds downtown real estate development to its portfolio.

EDITORIALManaging Editor Gary Poole

Contributing Editor Robin Ford Wallace

Editorial Assistant Stephanie Smith

Music Editor Marc T. Michael

Film Editor John DeVore

ContributorsChristopher Armstrong • Rich Bailey

Rob Brezsny • Matt JonesMike McJunkin • Beth Miller

Ernie Paik • Rick Pimental-HabibTerry Stulce • Alex Teach

CartoonistsMax Cannon • Rob Rogers

Jen Sorenson • Tom Tomorrow

Cover Photo Teletha McJunkin

FOUNDED 2003 BY ZACHARY COOPER & MICHAEL KULL

ADVERTISINGDirector of Sales Mike Baskin

Account Executives Chee Chee Brown • Robyn Graves

Linda Hisey • Rick Leavell Stacey Tyler • Logan Vandergriff

CONTACT Offices

1305 Carter St.Chattanooga, TN 37402

Phone423.265.9494

Website chattanoogapulse.com

Email [email protected]

BREWER MEDIA GROUPPublisher & President Jim Brewer II

December 31, 2015Volume 12, Issue 53

6 A Chattanoogan Abroad It’s almost New Year’s Eve in Chiang Mai, Thailand. As I

stare upward at the crumbling bricks of Thapae Gate—bricks that have seen traders, diplomats and monks pass for over 700 years—I prepare myself for not one, not two, but three New

Year’s celebrations over the course of the next several months.

10 Isaac Duncan’s Art of ConversationIt is not often that I get to hit record, sit back and enjoy an interview. It is not often that my imagination is provoked by

simply listening to someone talk. And it is not often that someone is able to stop time with his words and evoke tears

that force me to break my gaze.

14 Prodigy Steps Into The SpotlightMatt Solo is a local hip hop prodigy and is not afraid to tell

you so. Then again, in an industry and genre where it seems like everyone is either waiting in the shadows to profit off of your talent or stick a knife in your back, that kind of bravado

becomes a component of survival.

ContentsCHATTANOOGA'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE

1400 Market StreetChattanooga, TNTickets: (423) 629-2233thecomedycatch.com

Chattanooga’s Premier Comedy Club

KICK ASS SOUTHERN SASS!

LAUGH IN THE NEW YEAR WITH US!

AS HEARD ON “THE JOHN BOY & BILLY BIG SHOW” & XM/SIRIUS BLUE COLLAR RADIO

Page 4: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

4 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

NEWS • VIEWS • RANTS • RAVESUPDATES » CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM FACEBOOK/CHATTANOOGAPULSE

EMAIL LOVE LETTERS, ADVICE & TRASH TALK TO [email protected]

Op-Ed: Political New Year’s ResolutionsWishing a Happy New Year to some of our beloved politicians

Past behavior is the best pre-dictor for future behavior. With that in mind, I intend to predict what resolutions our political syco-phants will make and provide suggestions for a more construc-tive alternative.

Our state senators, Bo Watson and Todd Gardenhire—who share one mind or less between the two of them—will resolve to deny health care to as many Tennesseans as possible, collect large sums of money and perks from the Koch brothers and their ALEC masters, and find guns

that are safe to carry in the Leg-islative Plaza. As an alternative, I would propose that Dumb and Dumber resolve to leave the Sen-

ate so that they can devote themselves full-time to running Volkswagen with Gerald McCormick and Bob Corker.

Our beloved Lieutenant Gov-ernor Ron Ramsey will surely resolve to make sure that every white Christian in Tennessee will be armed with AR-15s and flame-throwers. Black Christians, not so much.

You may think that flamethrowers are over the top, but let me remind you that even though flamethrowers are banned for use in wars, private ownership is legal. UTK Chan-cellor Jimmy Cheek and his Department of Diversity and Inclusion would think twice about launching a war on Christmas by teach-ing tolerance and kindness toward others if Ron Ramsey and Jimmy Duncan were armed with flamethrowers.

As an alternative, I would encourage Ramsey to resolve to actually read the Bible, especially the Gospels, where Jesus instructs us to turn the other cheek, love your neigh-bor, and even love your enemy. Maybe then he would discover the difference between Christianity and hypocrisy.

Our beloved Congressman Chucky Fleish-man will likely resolve to be more like his hero, Mike Huckabee, who entered the Republican presidential primary and then evaporated into thin air. Chucky has already emulated this disappearing act in Congress. Instead, I would encourage the absentee congressman to resolve to get funding to complete the work on the lock at the Chicka-mauga Dam. Twenty years of failure by Re-publican congressmen is long enough.

What New Year would be complete with-out our two brainless U.S. senators? Corker and Alexander will resolve to find new ways to play “Monday Morning Quarterback” with the president while they sit on their hands and do nothing but snuggle up to corpo-

rate interests and proclaim that money is speech. No, Senators, money is not speech. Money is a tool that the super-rich and their lapdogs in the Senate use to flimflam citizens. My hope is that you will resolve to stop your worship of big money and do something for our state for a change.

Last but not least, Donald Trump will resolve to make America white again by deport-ing all Mexicans, Moslems, African-Americans, Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese and Black Irish. My fervent hope is that the Donald will tire of associat-ing with this American riffraff and resolve to move to a whiter country. I bet that Vlad Putin has an extra space near Edward Snowden’s room.

To the rest of you, have a safe and happy New Year.

• • • •Terry Stulce is native Tennessean,

who attended the University of Tennessee on an ROTC scholarship and graduated magna cum laude in 1967. He ser ved two combat tours in Vietnam, one with the 101st Airborne and one with the 69th Border Rangers. He was an LCSW and owner of Cleveland Family Counseling before retirement in 2009.

OPINION

TERRY STULCE

BEG

INN

ING

S

Page 5: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE PULSE • 5

Your Christmas tree was beauti-ful this year. All of your tradi-tional hopes for the season shone through the twin-kle lights and family ornaments, and the star on top was like the cherry on your holiday Sundae.

But now your tree looks like it could use a hug. It has done its job brilliantly, but be-tween the cat pulling off the ornaments and the kids rat-

tling the presents, it now looks like the “before” tree in “A Charlie

Brown Christmas”. And so you begin to work some post-hol-iday magic–find a way to disentangle the dressings (with your family memo-ries still intact, of

course), get the tree out of the house and

into your truck, and give your tree a new life with re-

cycling.

Any of the Hamilton County recy-cling centers will accept your well-loved tree at any hour of the day throughout the month of January. Your tree will live on in the land-scaping of public parks and is also available for you to use in your own yard–mulch and chips are available for free pickup at the Standifer Gap Road location. So recycle your holi-day spirit by giving love to the envi-ronment.

To find the nearest recycling cen-ter, go to recycle.hamiltontn.gov

IN T

HIS

ISSU

E

EdiToonby Rob Rogers

’Tis The Season For Christmas Recycling

Our cov-er story about celebrat-ing New Year's Eve abroad is

by longtime Pulse columnist and professional chef Mike McJunkin, a native Chat-tanoogan who has gained considerable experience with food through his obsessive habit of eating several times

each and every day. Along the way he has trained chefs, owned and operated restau-rants, and singlehandedly increased Chattanooga’s meat consumption statistics for three consecutive years. He can tell you what balut tastes like, what it’s like to eat pork blood boat noodles on the streets of Thailand and how to cure bacon in a loft apart-ment. He is also quite active on Facebook at facebook.com/SushiAndBiscuits.

Mike McJunkin

— Stephanie Smith

In her day-to-day life, arts contribu-tor Beth Miller is a writer,

photographer and videog-rapher who longs for the day she can toss her phone and computer into the river and live a life of solitude away from other humans and reality television. As a

teenager, she had high hopes to become the next Mia Hamm, but those dreams were dashed by her multiple attempts to complete a bach-elor’s degree. She spends her time riding her mountain bike, paddling her kayak, and backpacking the Ap-palachian Trail. Her future dreams include unlearning everything she was taught in grad school and invent-ing edible socks to reduce pack weight on the trail.

Beth Miller

Toast good friends and family this

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Come see why we’rethe liquor storewith a smile...

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Page 6: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

6 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

C h a t t a n o o g a C h am b e r . c o m

Great Chambers help make great cities and the Chattanooga Chamber is committed to making our city a great place to do business.

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GET ON THE LIST TODAY!Located on the Historic Chattanooga Choo Choo campus in Chattanooga’s entertainment district, Passenger Flats is an independent lifestyle community recently completed in 2015. Passenger Flats features newly renovated residences in a studio or one bedroom option, along with exceptional amenities like a resort-style pool, clubhouse,laundry facilities, and free WIFI located on premises. In the center of the Southside community, just steps away from downtown, Passenger Flats is comfort and accessibility all at an affordable price. For more information visit PassengerFlats.com.

Chattanooga’s Greatest Hits

brewer mediaeverywhere. every day.

Page 7: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE PULSE • 7

New Year’s Eve. Everybody drinks something. Even if you don’t partake of alcoholic beverages, you’re the shopper in the grocery buying the sparkling ci-der. It’s a time of celebration—watch-ing the ball drop on Times Square, re-membering the good times in 2015 and looking ahead to that first second after midnight when you’re kissing in the New Year…and drinking in the possi-bilities.

It’s just as important to take care of yourself and be safe as it is to have a good time. Know the rules of alcoholic

chemistry before you drink, have fun, then recover as gracefully as possible with these tips. Trust me—you’ll thank me for this later.

Follow the RulesEat something while you drink. Keep

that stomach full to absorb the alcohol. Choose quality drinks and the lighter the better. Vodka is a better choice than whiskey. Order the right way. Some people say this rhyme is a myth, but try to stick to it: “Liquor before beer, never fear. Beer before liquor, never sicker.”

Alternate and quantify what you’re

drinking. Drink virgin beverages with seltzers and juices in between alcohol-ic beverages. And drink less than one drink per hour because that is as fast as your liver can keep up with you. Hydra-tion is the key—water will be your best friend before the sun rises.

Heed the RebellionAll that being said, I know you’re gon-

na go out and have a good time without thinking about the consequences. After all, rules are made to be broken, right? May the Force be with you.

If you’re hosting a party, consider making a punch to keep the spirits flow-ing and save the wallet. Beers are also

a cheap way to go. But if you’re all in for the liquor, keep in mind the quanity rule and have an assortment of mixers and someone manning the bar to keep everyone in check.

Finally, have sense enough to live to party another day. please use a desig-nated driver. Period. End of discussion.

Ride the Road to RecoverySo it’s the next day and, predictably,

you drank too much. You wake up with the hangover to end all hangovers. How do you recover? Conventional wisdom says to go back to the rules—eat plain scrambled eggs and bananas, hydrate with water and coconut water, and take Vitamin C and aspirin. Also, sleep and avoid caffeine, especially coffee, as that will dehydrate you more. These natural remedies will surely help to stop the world from spinning.

On the other hand, some people say fight fire with fire. Most scientific re-searchers say it doesn’t really work, but for many people, a little bit of alcohol in the morning seems to help. If you do go this route, science be damned, start with the basics. Try a Red Eye or Ojo Rojo, the Mexican hangover cure.

There are many recipes but the gen-eral concept is to fill a shaker with ice, add tomato juice and beer, and mix. Pour into a glass. Add a splash of Worcester-shire, and, if you’re feeling brave, one raw egg. Hold your nose, drink, and vow never to repeat the experience again!

And drink water. Lots of water. — Stephanie Smith

FOOD & DRINKMIXOLOGY

New Year's Eve Drinking AdviceHow to “party hearty” on the booziest of holiday nights

“Drink less than one drink per hour because that is as fast as your liver can keep up with you. Hydration is the key—water will be your best friend before the sun rises”

DAILY WINE TASTINGS 20 BEERS ON TAP

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Page 8: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

8 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

CO

VE

R S

TO

RY

Welcome to Thailand, where you have your pick of three New Year’s EvesStory and photo by Mike McJunkin, Pulse food columnist

A Chattanoogan Celebrates A New Year In An Old Country

I

Both the Common Era New Year’s Day on Jan.1 and the traditional Thai New Year, Songkran, on April 13, are public holidays in Thailand. For a Gregorian-calendar-following Chatta-nooga expat living in Southeast Asia, knowing that I can go out on Dec.31 and celebrate the final moments of 2015 with live music (even if it’s Thai pop), a countdown (even if in broken English), mountains of food (even if I can’t find black-eyed peas), and far too many adult beverages (at least I can get good whiskey) brings a warm moment of familiarity in a temperate sea of exciting unfamiliarity.

Although not a public holiday, Chinese New Year is also celebrated widely across Thailand with fire-works, Chinese lanterns, parades and ang pao (red money packets). This year, the holiday comes on Feb. 8. Thankfully, this date conflicts with nothing more than Vince Neil’s and Creed Bratton’s birthdays, whose in-vitations I have declined along with countless other hometown Chat-tanooga events that I unfortunately cannot attend. That is something you have to learn to accept when you move to another country: Life back home goes on without you.

Amidst the challenges of sorting

out life in a new country, there are certainly moments when I feel the pangs of homesickness, especially around Christmas and New Year’s. Holiday traditions and rituals are im-portant behaviors that nurture us as individuals, as members of a family and as a part of a larger community.

They provide a way for us to ex-press what’s important in our lives and to celebrate significant moments in time. They connect us to a shared history and allow us to make new connections that expand our personal and familial roots.

The simple traditions of eating black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day or sharing a New Year’s Eve toast with friends not only con-nects us to our past but creates a link forward, making new relationships through a shared thread that winds through the fabric of all our experi-ences.

Being able to participate in some of my familiar cultural traditions while living abroad is an important temporal marker. These holiday celebrations are breadcrumbs left along the path of time that help keep me grounded in my own past and from becoming lost in another culture’s space. De-prived of points in time that I would

t’s almost New Year’s Eve in Chiang Mai, Thailand. As I stare upward at the crumbling bricks of Thapae Gate—bricks that have seen traders, diplomats and monks pass for over 700 years—I prepare myself for not one, not two, but three New Year’s celebrations over the course of the next several months.

“Home, it seems to me, is not the place where you are born. It’s the place where you find solace and comfort in the world.”

typically use to keep track of its passage, I could lose crucial milestones that help form and retain memories—memories of spectacular events and poignant mo-ments that I want to retain for the rest of my life.

But living abroad means I get to expe-rience another culture’s holidays and rit-uals firsthand. I have the opportunity to observe and participate in traditions that I had previously only read about or was completely unaware of. And I’ve found that experiencing the unfamiliar has the unexpected side effect of bringing the familiar back into focus. It washes away the fog of familiarity that comes when the sublime becomes mundane through years of unreflecting repetition.

Being able to take part in both the Thai and Chinese New Year traditions here in my adopted home country exem-plifies one of the reasons I became an expat in the first place. I crave the excite-ment of going beyond a country’s Travel Channel gloss and exploring the deeper experiences that can only come by being immersed in that culture and its rituals firsthand.

In the Southern U.S., eating black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day is meant to bring prosperity and good luck for the coming year, a custom vir-tually every culture around the world shares. Kale is eaten in Denmark and Ke-nya to bring prosperity for the new year, and lentils are eaten in Italy for the same reason. The bean and the green may be different, but the concept is similar enough that it translates across languages

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and even hemispheres. Every culture also has its own ver-

sion of the celebratory toast. In Thai-land, drinkers propose a toast by say-ing, “Chon Gaew!” or “Chai yo!” before raising or clinking glasses. The language may be different, but the ex-pression and the sentiment—roughly, “Cheers!”—are the same.

Songkran, or Thai New Year, is a na-tionwide party that has to be seen to be believed. While the holiday is widely associated with images of people be-ing drenched with buckets of water and soaked to the bone by mobs of Super-Soaker-carrying young Thais, the wa-ter being thrown actually has a deeper meaning. Water is used to cleanse and purify all the evil, troubles and wrong-doing of the previous year, providing a fresh, clean start for the new year ahead.

Traditionally, the family Buddha as well as the temple Buddha, is cleaned at this time with jasmine-scented water poured from silver ceremonial bowls. This lustral water is also gently poured over the hands of elders and other re-spected people as part of the family-focused aspects of the holiday.

But the Songkran party that goes on in the streets is a spectacle to behold.

Chiang Mai’s old city, where I currently live, is still surrounded by the original four-mile, water-filled moat—yes, a real moat. During the festival, the moat serves as a filling station for buckets, Super Soakers, and anything else that will hold water long enough to drench everyone in sight.

Enormous bubble machines are brought out into the streets for huge foam parties. Explosive sounds and loud noises are made to chase ghosts away. Candles are lit and piles of wood are burned in front of houses on New Year’s Eve to light the way for good spirits. Each night is capped off with massive fireworks displays that serve as a grand finale to that day’s sopping-wet festivi-ties. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

When I decided to move overseas, part of the anticipated excitement of liv-ing in a new culture was the idea of ex-ploring and joining in celebrations and traditions like Songkran. Over the years, I have experienced many cultures and visited many countries. These visits were intriguing and exciting, but they lacked a connection I didn’t realize was possible until I came to Southeast Asia.

Coming to Thailand was deeply trans-

formative, like the first elated moment when you’re consumed by a new love. The wondrous beauty of being sur-rounded by unfamiliar scenes, traditions and cultures like these jolts you from a sleep you may not have realized you had fallen into. The entire world opened up and became brighter, and I even saw my hometown, the city I’ve called home for most of my life, with new eyes.

As 2016 approaches and I settle into a new country and a new culture, I some-times wonder, what does it mean for an expat to be “home”? With over 220 million people starting 2016 in countries they would not call their own, there are good reasons to consider what makes a place home.

For many people, home is tied to a physical space—a place of birth, a com-munity or even a country that they had no control in choosing. Generations of my own family looked to the Appala-chian Mountains and the Tennessee Valley as their home by assignment, with no real desire—and many times no real chance—to move beyond those boundaries, real or imagined.

Now, we have more freedom to choose where we call home, to choose our communities and exert more con-

trol over how we define ourselves in relation to home. We develop our sense of home as we develop our sense of self. In the same way that our sense of self changes over time with each of life’s experiences and tragedies, our sense of home transforms as we move from place to place, from moment to moment.

As the people and cultures of the world become more intertwined, and as we learn more about the common threads that tie the fabric of humanity together, where we come from doesn’t mean as much as where we are going.

Home, it seems to me, is not the place where you are born. It’s the place where you find solace and comfort in the world. It’s the place where you can relax and become yourself. Having the desire and the freedom to step outside the physical home I was born into is an incredible privilege that I do not take for granted. But in the end, the excite-ment of exploring new cultures and traditions, like Songkran and Chinese New Year, only makes sense when con-trasted against the home I was born to.

Home is not just the place where you lay your head at night, it’s the place you plant your feet every day.

Some of the many fascinating (and tasty) dishes served during

a typical Thail celebration.

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The reason why I do artwork in public places is because I want to give the community something different that they haven’t encountered.”

ArtsBETH MILLER

Isaac Duncan’s Art of ConversationInspiration, enthusiasm and passion come together in the heart of a sculptor

As I entered Isaac Duncan III’s workshop, I carefully stepped around and over objects, tables and tools. Met-al sculptures I recognized adorned the shop while others were in the process of being created. Large quantities of metal lay around on tables, shelves and the floor, waiting to take on a new form.

Duncan and I made our way to two chairs near the middle of the shop, where we continued our deep discus-sion of the “Dukes of Hazard” televi-sion show we grew up watching. For someone from Brooklyn, Duncan is surprisingly Southern. We agreed that watching the show as kids, we were mesmerized by its awesomeness.

I mean, who didn’t want their par-ents to paint the family car like the General Lee? Who didn’t want to jump hay bales? We did. I even owned Daisy Duke pajamas as a kid. But watching the show as an adult is, well, bummer. Let’s just say it didn’t do much to im-prove race relations in this country, let alone in the South.

After I felt the ice had been broken, I hit Record and began with the standard interview questions as to upbringing, education and life in general. Dun-can, with his calm, deep and articu-late voice, shared the impressive edu-cational journey that landed him here in Chattanooga, which can be found on his website, duncansculpture.com.

IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT I GET TO HIT RECORD, SIT back and enjoy an interview. It is not often that my imagination

is provoked by simply listening to someone talk. And it is not often that someone is able to stop time with his words and evoke tears that force me to break my gaze.

Experimental Music Finds A HomeGranfalloon embraces the innovative on East Main Street

There are many singer-songwriter venues throughout Chattanooga; on practically any day of the week you can grab a cup of joe, pull up a barstool and listen to the latest ditty by your favorite local warbler.

The Granfalloon is one of the lat-est event venue spaces to pop up in Chattanooga. A strong addition to the blossoming Southside arts scene, it is right in the heart of East Main Street and is already looking to stand out in the community with the types of events that are current-ly being unveiled.

Having one more venue is a bo-nus, really, especially when you can bring your kids along and introduce them to this music scene early on.

The performances I am most in-terested in, however, will be the

result of a new kind of open mic–an experimental and classical mu-sic open mic. “Open Air” night will provide a nurturing alterna-tive space for instrumentalists of all ages to try out new material or cover tunes with their own instru-ments.

Where else in Chattanooga can you find something like this–out-side of a conservatory or music school? And with coffee to boot? Nowhere, I think.

— Stephanie Smith

Open Air with Jessica Nunn Monday, 6 p.m.Granfalloon400 East Main St.(423) 821-2544granfalloonchatt.com

FRI1.1ANYTHING GOES

The Floor is YOURSA night of music, improv, comedy and who-knows-what-else-will-happen...which is just the way we like it each month.8 p.m.Barking Legs Theater1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347barkinglegs.org

SAT1.2WINTER MARKET

Brainerd Farmers MarketCome browse through a fine selection of winter vegetables and locally-made goods.10 a.m.Grace Episcopal Church20 Belvoir Ave.(423) 698-0330saygrace.net

THU12.31NEW YEAR'S FUN

New Year’s Eve Party on the BluffCome ring in the New Year in one of the coolest venues in the city.9 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art.10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968huntermuseum.org

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He took me through his survival techniques on the streets of Brooklyn and how he used drawing as an outlet in elementary school.

He laughingly described how he got into metal sculpting: “I was really into building, more so than illustrating—graphic design. Forget the rendering and all the marker, texture and layers to make it pop out. Just make the damn thing.”

While I was listening, it was not so much the struggle he endured to reach his current status as an artist that moved me, it was the passion and earnest-ness with which he spoke that evoked emotions we all ignore. I found myself longing to interact and be a part of his conversation.

As Duncan continued to talk about his sculptures, he made it very clear that he did not seek wealth, notoriety or material things. Instead, he sought

something simpler, an art that is dying. “When I put a piece out in the public—and the

reason why I do artwork in public places is because I want to give the community something different that they haven’t encountered—I want them to look at it. I want them to talk about it. I want two people to get together and have a conversation about it—if they like it, don’t like it,” he said with great enthusiasm.

“I want Joe Welder to pass by and say, ‘Damn! That’s a good weld!’ If that’s the only thing he’s got, I’m happy. Because I want people to relate.

“So for me, my sculptures, they’re vessels for dia-logue. They are places where people can come to-gether and have a conversation. I want to remind people that we can achieve whatever we want and put our minds to, because the piece that they see in front of them is a creation from my mind through my body and my skills to create that experience that they are having. And at the same time, I want people to pass by and see something odd and say, ‘Cool, I accept that,’ just like we should be doing to each other every day. I see you and you’re different from me, but I accept that. To me, if you are able to ac-cept something that’s not living, you should be able to accept something that is living.”

“To me, if you are able to accept something that’s not living, you

should be able to accept something that is living.”

Photo by Grant Dotson, courtesy of Isaac Duncan

You complete us.Now recruiting Media Sales Professionals

to represent Chattanooga’s Alternative Newsweekly

Send your resume and cover letter to: Mike Baskin, Director of [email protected]

In the subject line, please include: Brewer Sales Position

brewer mediaeverywhere. every day.

Learn more about us at BrewerMediaGroup.com.Brewer Media is an equal opportunity employer.

Now recruiting Media Sales Professionals to representChattanooga’s best mix of radio and newspaper properties.

Send your resume and cover letter to: Mike Baskin, Director of [email protected]

In the subject line, please include: Brewer Sales Position

Page 12: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

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Creative Discovery Museum’s New Year’s at Noon 10 a.m. Creative Discovery Museum321 Chestnut St.(423) 756-2738cdmfun.orgPenguin Keeper Talks10:30 a.m.Tennessee Aquarium1 Broad St.(423) 265-0695tennesseeaquarium.orgDivers in Secret Reef Exhibit in Ocean Journey11 a.m.Tennessee Aquarium1 Broad St.(423) 265-0695tennesseeaquarium.orgJerusalem 3DNoon, 2, 4 p.m.IMAX Theater201 Chestnut St.(423) 266-4629tnaqua.org/imaxHumpback Whales 3D1, 3 p.m.IMAX Theater201 Chestnut St.(423) 266-4629tnaqua.org/imaxOoltewah Farmers Market3 p.m.Ooltewah Nursery5829 Main St. (423) 238-9775ooltewahnursery.comSouthern Belle Riverboat’s New Year’s Eve Dinner Cruise4 p.m. 

Southern Belle Riverboat201 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 266-4488chattanoogariverboat.comEnchanted Garden of Lights6 p.m.Rock City1400 Patten Rd.(706) 820-2531seerockcity.com New Year’s Eve Dinner featuring Love, Peace and Happiness7 p.m.Broad Street Grille1201 Broad St.(423) 424-3700chattanooganhotel.com Julie Scoggins7:30, 10 p.m.The Comedy Catch1400 Market St.(423) 629-2233thecomedycatch.com

Tennessee Valley Railroad’s New Year’s Dinner Train8 p.m. Tennessee Valley Railroad Grand Junction Station.4119 Cromwell Rd. (423) 894-8028tvrail.com Southern Belle Riverboat’s New Year’s on the River Cruise 9 p.m.Southern Belle Riverboat201 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 266-4488chattanoogariverboat.comNew Year’s Eve Party on the Bluff9 p.m. The Hunter Museum of American Art10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968huntermuseum.org New Year’s Eve “Late

Skate” on the Landing11 p.m.Ice on the Landing Outdoor Skating Rink 100 Riverfront Pkwy. (423) 265-0771iceonthelanding.com

FRIDAY1.1

Delta Bird Program10:30 a.m.Tennessee Aquarium1 Broad St.(423) 265-0695tennesseeaquarium.orgOtter Enrichment11:00 a.m.Tennessee Aquarium1 Broad St.(423) 265-0695tennesseeaquarium.orgJerusalem 3DNoon, 2, 4 p.m.IMAX Theater201 Chestnut St.(423) 266-4629tnaqua.org/imaxHumpback Whales 3D1, 3 p.m.IMAX Theater201 Chestnut St.(423) 266-4629tnaqua.org/imaxEnchanted Garden of Lights6 p.m.Rock City1400 Patten Rd.(706) 820-2531 Julie Scoggins7:30 p.m.The Comedy Catch1400 Market St.

PULSE PICK: JULIE SCOGGINSOver six feet of Southern Sass. Comedy legend Jackie Mason says "...a brilliant young talent!" This show is a must-see for anybody who appreciates great comedy!

Julie ScogginsThe Comedy Catch at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 1400 Market St.(423) 629-2233thecomedycatch.com

Ice On The Landing

For more info call:706.820.2531

1400 Patten Road,Lookout Mountain, GA 30750

A portion of each ticket sold goes to support

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater

Chattanooga

A Magical Adventurefor the Whole Family

6pm-9pm Nightly at Rock City

atop Lookout Mountain!

Gingerbread Cookie DecoratingSugar Plum Fairy Makeovers

Live North Pole Lodge Entertainment Inara the Ice Queen & Jack Frost

The Magical Dancing Forest

Award-Winning Lighting Extravaganzawith Breathtaking Holiday Scenes

Last threenights of the

Season!December 31,

January 1 and 2

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Tennessee Aquarium Keeper Talks

(423) 629-2233thecomedycatch.comThe Floor is YOURS8 p.m.Barking Legs Theater1307 Dodds Ave. (423) 624-5347barkinglegs.org

SATURDAY1.2

Brainerd Farmers Market10 a.m.Grace Episcopal Church20 Belvoir Ave.(423) 698-0330saygrace.netPenguin Keeper Talks10:30 a.m.Tennessee Aquarium1 Broad St.(423) 265-0695tennesseeaquarium.orgOpen House11 a.m. AVA Gallery30 Frazier Ave(423) 265-4282avarts.orgDivers in Secret Reef Exhibit in Ocean Journey11:00 a.m.Tennessee Aquarium1 Broad St.(423) 265-0695tennesseeaquarium.orgJerusalem 3DNoon, 2, 4 p.m.IMAX Theater201 Chestnut St.(423) 266-4629tnaqua.org/imaxHumpback Whales 3D

1, 3 p.m.IMAX Theater201 Chestnut St.(423) 266-4629tnaqua.org/imaxEnchanted Garden of Lights6 p.m.Rock City1400 Patten Rd.(706) 820-2531 Julie Scoggins7:30, 9:45 p.m.The Comedy Catch1400 Market St.(423) 629-2233thecomedycatch.com

SUNDAY1.3 Jerusalem 3DNoon, 2, 4 p.m.IMAX Theater201 Chestnut St.(423) 266-4629tnaqua.org/imaxHumpback Whales 3D1, 3 p.m.IMAX Theater201 Chestnut St.(423) 266-4629tnaqua.org/imaxJulie Scoggins7:30 p.m.The Comedy Catch 1400 Market St.(423) 629-2233thecomedycatch.com

MONDAY1.4 Vintage Swing Dance7 p.m.

Clear Spring Yoga17 N. Market St.(931) 982-1678clearspringyoga.com

TUESDAY1.5 Sherlock: The Abominable Bride7:30 p.m.East Ridge 185080 S. Terrace(423) 855-9652carmike.com

WEDNESDAY1.6 Middle East Dance10:30 a.m.Jewish Cultural Center5461 N. Terrace(423) 493-0270jewishchattanooga.comMain Street Farmers Market4 p.m.325 E. Main St. mainstfarmersmarket.com Acupuncture Happy Hour4 p.m.Center for Mindful Living400 E. Main St.(423) 486-1279centerformindfulliving.wildapricot.orgWednesday Night Chess Club6 p.m.Downtown Public Library1001 Broad St.(423) 757-5310chattlibrary.orgSherlock: The Abominable Bride

7:30 p.m.East Ridge 185080 S. Terrace(423) 855-9652carmike.comReno Collier7:30 p.m.The Comedy Catch1400 Market St.(423) 629-2233thecomedycatch.com

ONGOING “Japonisme and America”The Hunter Museum of American Art10 Bluff View Ave. (423) 267-0968huntermuseum.org “How to Close Your Eyes” by Carmen PapaliaCress Gallery of Art752 Vine St.(423) 304-9789 cressgallery.org“Home for the Holidays”In-Town Gallery26A Frazier Ave.(423) 267-9214intowngallery.com"The Works of Kauffman, Edie Maney & Judy Klick”River Gallery400 E. 2nd St.(423) 265-5033, ext. 5river-gallery.com

Map these locations on chatta-noogapulse.com. Send event list-ings at least 10 days in advance to: [email protected]

Named“One of the

Ten Most Incredible

CaveWaterfallson Earth”-World Reviewer

RubyFalls.com423.821.2544

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MusicMARC T. MICHAEL

The truth is that Matt Solo is easily the equal of some of the leading names in the industry today and, frankly, superior to more than a few.”

MATT SOLO IS A LOCAL HIP HOP PRODIGY AND IS not afraid to tell you so. Then again, in an industry and genre

where it seems like everyone is either waiting in the shadows to profit off your talent or stick a knife in your back, that kind of brava-do becomes a component of survival. The telling factor is whether or not an artist can back it up.

Solo’s latest entry, Prodigy, con-firms once and for all that the young man has the goods to deliver on his lyrical promises. To lightly paraphrase Robert Ritchie, “It ain’t bragging if you back it up…”

Prodigy is a selection of 12 tracks, including the titular track which comes in at number one on the disc. “Prodigy” is a thoughtful tune that examines, among other things, the duality of the hip hop scene, seeming to simultaneously acknowledge the violence inherent in the genre while suggesting that perhaps rap artists, being artists, have a choice to broaden the scope of their work.

As with Solo’s previous work, the rapper’s flow must be heard to be be-lieved and appreciated. While his lyri-cal work is generally thought-provok-ing, the man could rap a grocery list and it would still be verbal wizardry.

“My Cup,” while perhaps not as introspective as the opening track, is nonetheless another sterling example of Solo’s skill on the mic and as a producer. The jazzy/bluesy backing tracks give the track a noir feel. This young fellow and his crew paint some provocative sonic portraits.

“Can’t Hold Me” has an introduc-

FRI1.1LOCAL ROCK

Kindora, Stratton Tingle, Rock Floyd Kick on 2016 in style with a great lineup of local favorites.10 p.m.JJ’s Bohemia231 E. MLK Blvd.jjsbohemia.com

SAT1.2COUNTRY BLUES

Husky BurnetteYou want authentic country blues? Husky always delivers, and more.9 p.m.Puckett’s Chattanooga2 W. Aquarium Way #110puckettsgro.com/Chattanooga

THU12.31NEW YEARS FUN

Danimal Planet and Hank & CupcakesRing in the New Year with a really big show on Patten Parkway.9 p.m.The Honest Pint35 Patten Parkway thehonestpint.com

The Mummies Invade Track 29Just who are these mysteriously wrapped funk masters?

When I tried to dig up the dirt on Here Come the Mummies, I was met with an interesting challenge. While the band does indeed have a Face-book page with some basic informa-tion, true fans know you have to ex-perience the “undead funk” to truly believe.

You can certainly buy their albums (they date back to 2002 even though the band was formed somewhere around 1000 AD). And you can hear that “terrifying funk from beyond the grave” through video footage from that old reliable YouTube.

I say a challenge because no one knows who the band members are…because it’s a closely guarded secret. Rumor has it that’s because there are several Grammy winners from competing labels playing to-gether. Bandmates are swathed in

“mummy” attire, hiding their faces and concealing their true identities.

But an even bigger challenge in digging up dirt on these guys is that when you visit their website for a history of Mummy Cass(anova), Ed-die Mummy, K.W. TuT, Java, Spaz, The Flu, Ra, B.B.Queen,The Pole, Midnight...you get an error mes-sage!

And what could further the mys-tique of the undead funkalicious band better than that?

— Stephanie Smith

New Year’s Eve Everlasting Party with Here Come the MummiesThursday, 9 p.m.Track 29201 W. Main St.track29.co

Local Hip Hop Prodigy Steps Into The SpotlightMatt Solo makes a very strong impression with new Prodigy album

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I write about local music for The Pulse, and I love doing it. I love supporting the scene, I love that there is a scene to support (there wasn’t always, I assure you).

Sometimes, though, I run into a “feast or famine” dilem-ma in which six bands all send me something one week (time-sensitive, of course) and then no one sends me any-thing the following week.

In an attempt to alleviate that, here are some guidelines:1. I can’t write about you if I don’t know about you. I

have bands accuse me of nasty things because they feel overlooked, but then they hadn’t actually bothered to reach out to me. Do so! Anything you send to me via The Pulse gets to me ASAP. All of it. [email protected] is your email friend. Use it.

2. This may seem funny, but I need to hear you. I like hard copies because it means I can add it to my collection of homegrown artists, but digital files work just fine.

What doesn’t work is insisting I come to your live show. I do this when I can, which is rarely, because I have a whole bunch of other jobs and a family I like to spend time with. I also have an office in my home and typically I sequester myself here with your music, lock all the doors, and don’t come out until I’m done.

I like being able to hear a track three, four or ten times if I need to. If the only way to hear you right now is live, then I can’t help you yet, but know that even an open-air recording is doable. I once wrote a review on a very hot band based on an open-air cassette recording of a practice session. It doesn’t need to be perfect for me; I’ve been a musician long enough to hear what you’re doing.

3. Photos. If your pics were taken by a local artist or photographer, include their name (due to space consid-erations, watermarks often get cropped out). Don’t send me cropped photos and say, “Here you go,” without giving credit to the artist. They don’t like that and they blame me (or my editor), even though you’re the guitar monkeys who failed to mention it.

4. Press kits are fine if you have one, but a 10-minute phone call will give me all I need. We can arrange that after the initial contact.

I love music; I love local music and love supporting you guys. Please consider me a resource for promoting who you are and what you do. Best of all, it doesn’t cost you anything beyond the time it takes to reach out to me. So c’mon kids, keep those submissions coming and I’ll do my best to let the world know how damn great you are!

Want To Get Written About In The Pulse?

—Marc T. Michael

tion too beautiful to describe here, hearkening back to the greatest socially conscious R&B singers of the seventies. It then segues into a rap of re-demption, illustrating the vari-ous ways a young man in pain might seek to alleviate that pain, all of them dead ends, until finally finding his salva-tion through the microphone.

Another homage to the art-istry of the genre, it seems as though Solo is making it his mission to bring a whole new level of legitimacy to a genre that, having been pillaged by corporate interests into a low-est common denominator of carefully branded “street life,” has the potential to be as cul-turally complex as any ballet or opera.

“Candy Apple Paint” is full

of gorgeous organ sounds and sentimentality while “Halle-lujah”, still a rap tune, none-theless has a healthy dose of rock and roll. “Hit ‘Em With The Bounce” takes a shot at the wannabe tough guys, though it’s likely the kind of people the song takes aim at would be too clueless to real-ize the groove is about them. (In their defense, it is a slick track.)

As much as I’d like to do a song-by-song breakdown of the rest of the album, there simply isn’t space. It may be that we can revisit the sec-ond half of the album at a later date, but suffice it to say that the remaining tunes are just as well produced, just as lyrically poignant and just as chock full of raw rapping tal-

ent as the opening tracks. The truth is that Matt Solo

is easily the equal of some of the leading names in the in-dustry today and, frankly, su-perior to more than a few. I don’t know what it will take exactly—major sponsorship, the right agent, or a little luck to go with the tremendous skill already present—but Matt Solo is ready for the big time and the album Prodigy is proof enough of that.

Contact Solo via his Face-book page (facebook.com/therealmattsolo) for info on how to add this “must have” album to your hip-hop collec-tion. Well written, slickly pro-duced, socially conscious and masterfully performed, Prodi-gy has all the makings of one young man’s ticket to fame.

Our music editor explains the quite simple process

Page 16: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

16 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

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RPains Chapel

THURSDAY12.31 Rick Rushing with Dakari & Friends 6 p.m. Bluewater Grille 224 Broad St. bluewaterchattanooga.com James Crumble Trio 6 p.m.St. John’s Meeting Place1278 Market St.stjohnsrestaurant.comButch Ross Mountain Dulcimer6:30 pmRock City1400 Patten Rd.seerockcity.comLove, Peace and Happiness7 p.m.Broad Street Grille1201 Broad St.chattanooganhotel.comJesse James & Tim Neal7 p.m.Mexi Wings VII5773 Brainerd Rd.(423) 296-1073Bluegrass Thursdays7:30 p.m.Feed Co. Table & Tavern201 W. Main St.feedtableandtavern.comThe Velcro Pygmies8 p.m.Revelry Room1400 Market St.revelryroom.coRoughwork8:30 p.m.The Foundry

1201 Broad St.chattanooganhotel.comAZREAL and Dogfish Head9 p.m.World of Beer412 Market St.wobusa.com Arlo Gilliam Band9 p.m.Puckett’s Chattanooga2 W. Aquarium Way #110puckettsgro.com/ChattanoogaDanimal Planet and Hank & Cupcakes9 p.m.The Honest Pint35 Patten Parkway thehonestpint.comHere Come the Mummies9 p.m.Track 29201 W. Main St.track29.coThe Beaters

9 p.m.The Chattanooga Choo Choo1400 Market St.choochoo.comMatt Stephens Band10 p.m. Raw Dance Club409 Market St.rawbarandgrillchatt.com SheShe Dance10 p.m.The Office @ City Cafe901 Carter St.citycafemenu.comCanopy, Superbody10 p.m.JJ’s Bohemia231 E. MLK Blvd.jjsbohemia.comAunt Betty10 p.m.Bud’s Sports Bar5751 Brainerd Rd.budssportsbar.com

FRIDAY1.1

Eddie Pontiac5:30 p.m.El Meson2204 Hamilton Place Blvd.elmesonrestaurant.com Mark Merriman5:30 pmRock City1400 Patten Rd.seerockcity.com Binji Varsossa6 p.m.Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Lounge1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461Butch Ross Mountain Dulcimer6:30 pmRock City1400 Patten Rd.seerockcity.comTim Lewis7 p.m.El Meson248 Northgate Parkelmesonchattanooga.comJimmy Harris7 p.m.The Coconut Room6925 Shallowford Rd.thepalmsathamilton.comRoughwork8:30 p.m.The Foundry1201 Broad St.chattanooganhotel.comMark Kelly Hall9 p.m.Puckett’s Chattanooga2 W. Aquarium Way #110

PULSE PICK: THE VELCRO PYGMIESA longtime Chattanooga favorite, Cam and the boys bring the '80s hair metal glory days back to life in a high-energy rock-n-roll New Year's Eve spectacular.

The Velcro PygmiesThursday, 8 p.m.Revelry Room1400 Market St.revelryroom.co

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THE FINEST INWINE&SPIRITS

Page 17: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE PULSE • 17

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Tame and the Strange

puckettsgro.com/ChattanoogaPreston Summerville9 p.m.World of Beer412 Market St.wobusa.comKindora, Stratton Tingle, Rock Floyd10 p.m.JJ’s Bohemia231 E. MLK Blvd.jjsbohemia.comAunt Betty10 p.m.Bud’s Sports Bar5751 Brainerd Rd.budssportsbar.comLive Music10 p.m.Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Piketremonttavern.com

SATURDAY1.2 Eddie Pontiac5:30 p.m.El Meson2204 Hamilton Place Blvd.elmesonrestaurant.com Mark Merriman5:30 pmRock City1400 Patten Rd.seerockcity.com Binji Varsossa6 p.m.Cancun Mexican Restaurant & Lounge1809 Broad St. (423) 266-1461Butch Ross Mountain Dulcimer

6:30 pmRock City1400 Patten Rd.seerockcity.comTim Lewis7 p.m.El Meson248 Northgate Parkelmesonchattanooga.comJimmy Harris7 p.m.The Coconut Room6925 Shallowford Rd.thepalmsathamilton.com Chris Stapleton8 p.m.Track 29201 W. Main St.track29.coRoughwork8:30 p.m.The Foundry1201 Broad St.chattanooganhotel.comHusky Burnette9 p.m.Puckett’s Chattanooga2 W. Aquarium Way #110puckettsgro.com/ChattanoogaLaurel Taylor9 p.m.World of Beer412 Market St.wobusa.comPains Chapel, Subkonscious, 4769 p.m.Revelry Room1400 Market St.revelryroom.coMother Nurture, Stepfathers, Tame and the Strange10 p.m.

JJ’s Bohemia231 E. MLK Blvd.Jjsbohemia.comAunt Betty10 p.m.Bud’s Sports Bar5751 Brainerd Rd.budssportsbar.com

SUNDAY1.3 Open Mic with Jeff Daniels 6 p.m.Long Haul Saloon2536 Cummings Hwy.(423) 822-9775

MONDAY1.4 Monday Nite Big Band7 p.m.The Coconut Room6925 Shallowford Rd.thepalmsathamilton.comVery Open Mic8 p.m.The Well1800 Rossville Blvd. #8wellonthesouthside.com

TUESDAY1.5 Bill McCallie & In Cahoots6:30 p.m.Southern Belle Riverboat201 Riverfront Pkwy. chattanoogariverboat.comOpen Mic with Mike McDade8 p.m.Tremont Tavern 1203 Hixson Pike

tremonttavern.comHeavy Metal Bingo, Comedy Buffet10 p.m.JJ’s Bohemia231 E. MLK Blvd.Jjsbohemia.com

WEDNESDAY1.6 Eddie Pontiac5:30 p.m.El Meson248 Northgate Parkelmesonrestaurant.com Jimmy Harris7 p.m.The Coconut Room6925 Shallowford Rd.thepalmsathamilton.com Wednesday Night Jazz with Dexter Bell Quartet8 p.m.Barking Legs Theater1307 Dodds Ave.barkinglegs.orgOpen Mic Comedy, Shabti, Sweettalker10 p.m.JJ’s Bohemia231 E. MLK Blvd.jjsbohemia.comBlues Night 8 p.m.The Office @ City Cafe901 Carter St.citycafemenu.com

Map these locations on chatta-noogapulse.com. Send event list-ings at least 10 days in advance to: [email protected]

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Page 18: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

18 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

“John and I had some demos that were absolutely vile,”

said singer Beth Arzy, quoted in the book “Popkiss: The Life and Afterlife of Sarah Records.” John is John Girgus of the Cali-fornia group Aberdeen, and he had some choice words for Aber-deen’s first single, “Byron,” on the legendary British indie-pop label Sarah Records: “Garbage. It’s total shit.”

This writer is not alone in thinking that they are way too hard on themselves. The afore-mentioned demos comprise the release at hand: the 18-track compilation It Was The Rain, released digitally and on cas-sette.

Historically, these record-ings are important for the band, since they mapped the way for the group’s first three 7-inch singles, of which all songs are represented here. It’s solidly charming fare for indie-pop fans, but nothing earth-shattering. After a turbulent breakup—mu-sically and romantically—and a four-year hiatus, Girgus broke the ice by asking Arzy for these demo tapes back, which also

seeded the band’s sole proper full-length album, Homesick and Happy to Be Here from 2002.

For the Sarah Records tracks, these rougher, hazier demos show that the group had a fairly clear vision all along, even with certain timbres (like the Cocte-au Twins-esque guitar on “Fire-works”) carrying over to the stu-dio versions. Fans of the 4-track homemade demo aesthetic will be interested in the demos for tracks which would appear on the professional and sophisti-cated-sounding Homesick and Happy to Be Here with more fleshed-out arrangements and real drums instead of a drum machine.

Aberdeen devotees will need this for several songs that weren’t released previously, in-cluding the shimmering bliss-pop of “Bilinda” and “Snowball Dream”; “Self Evidence,” writ-ten by and recorded with Adam Hervey of Timonium; and two fairly faithful covers of the Pas-tels’ quasi-psychedelic (think David Roback) “Baby Honey” that become a little tedious.

At the risk of sounding ob-vious, fans of U.K. indie-pop groups like The Field Mice would likely enjoy their Ameri-can cousins in Aberdeen, and it’s worth noting that Arzy even-tually moved overseas and con-tributed her consistently pretty and clear vocals to Trembling Blue Stars, one of Robert Wrat-ten’s post-Field Mice groups.

For a bunch of “vile” “gar-bage,” Aberdeen’s early mate-rial has actually held up fairly well over 20 years, hitting that wistful pleasure spot more often than not.

No discussion of notable proto-punk outfits is com-

plete without bringing up Rock-et from the Tombs, the blister-ing and unhinged mid-’70s Cleveland concern; it spawned the Dead Boys and Pere Ubu and cultivated iconic material that both of those bands would incorporate into their canons, such as “Sonic Reducer” for the Dead Boys and “Final Solution” and “30 Seconds over Tokyo” for Pere Ubu.

The live album The Day the Earth Met the Rocket from the Tombs, recorded in 1975, should be essential listening for anyone who claims to like punk rock; this is scalding, acid-fight, fin-ger-in-the-wall-socket, white-hot fury and madness that at times sounds like it’s on the brink of self-destruction.

All of the ingredients are fused together in a glorious mess, with mind-melting gui-tar lines from Gene O’Connor (a.k.a. Cheetah Chrome) and the inimitable singer David Thomas (a.k.a. Crocus Behe-

moth) being terrifying. Just compare Pere Ubu’s version of “Life Stinks” from the classic debut The Modern Dance—a worthy and turbulent rendition, mind you—with the tumultu-ous Rocket from the Tombs ver-sion, which blows Pere Ubu’s version out of the water.

After reforming in 2003 with non-original guitarist Rich-ard Lloyd, the group recorded its first studio album, Rocket Redux, released in 2004, fol-lowed by 2011’s Barfly, and now the release at hand is Black Re-cord, made without O’Connor and Lloyd. By conventional measures, this is a perfectly fine garage-rock record and a wisely concise 30-minute blast that is perhaps restrained slightly by the studio environment.

“Welcome to the New Dark Ages” pummels and forges a bluesy riff into punk, Damned-style, and Thomas is clearly having a blast on the album, alternating between his force-ful, rabid vocal style and his un-selfconscious, high-note, sing-songy notes. Yet another version of “Sonic Reducer” is here; it’s by no means bad, but it seems a little superfluous considering all of the versions already out there.

The album is a little more satisfying on its second half, with the half-loony “Coopy (Schrödinger’s Refrigerator)” and the ramping fury of “Read It and Weep.” The band can clearly hold its own as a con-temporary garage-rock group, though Black Record isn’t quite on the level of the riot-on-stage, jaw-dropping intensity of the band’s 1975 incarnation—but not much is.

RECORD REVIEWSERNIE PAIK

A Rainy Night In Aberdeen, Rocketing Up From The TombsAberdeen finds lost recordings, Black Record goes proto-punk

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Page 19: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

THE PULSE • NEW YEAR'S EVE GUIDE • DECEMBER 24, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • 19

Start spread-ing the news: Old Blue Eyes turns 100 years old this month and the crowned whiskey king, Jack Daniels, releases “Sinatra

Century” as a birthday present for his most famed supporter.

1915 was a very good year because on Dec. 12, in Hoboken, N.J., during a cold, wintry night, an Italian immi-grant couple welcomed into the world music’s most legendary crooner, Francis Albert “Frank” Sinatra.

Selling over 150 million records world-wide, Frank Sinatra was an international icon, known for his hopeful, soaring songs, thousand-dollar suits and a stout whiskey beverage always in his hand.

Frank had alcohol under his skin and he never shied away from his enthu-siasm for liquor. He pitied those who fell asleep and woke up feeling the ex-act same. The man showered himself with riches and could afford any adult beverage he wanted, yet he preferred Jack Daniels over any other brand. With Sinatra’s endorsement, Jack Daniels

grew into America’s number-one whis-key, and this month the company is toasting Frank on his centennial birth-day with “Sinatra Century,” a hundred-proof specialty liquor made especially for the Chairman of the Board.

Like a stranger in the night, Sina-tra Century looks unlike any liquor you’ve ever purchased. Gift-wrapped inside a limited-edition collector’s case equipped with a tribute book highlight-ing Frank’s career, his music and the Jack Daniels company, this spirit comes with a previously unreleased soundtrack highlighting Old Blue Eyes’ perfor-mances during his stay at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Prepare for a swing-ing night featuring his greatest hits, in-cluding “Fly Me to the Moon,” “It Was A Very Good Year” and “My Kind of Town.”

The best is yet to come, because after reading the book and dancing with the music, it’s time to drink the amber-col-ored whiskey. Take a small sip and taste the oak with subtle coconut and citrus flavors. Your palate will appreciate the smoky finish and the lasting charred barrel spice.

Throughout his career, Sinatra con-tinuously supported the young-at-heart

fighting across seas. Not only did he speak at rallies that supported housing for veterans, he also toured with the USO, visiting different camps and pro-viding the troops with much-needed entertainment. Much like The Voice, Jack Daniels also provides support for those fighting for America’s freedom. The company sponsors Operation Ride Home, a foundation that provides sol-diers travel vouchers, allowing them a chance to go home and see their family for the holidays.

Come fly with me and let’s stir up a whiskey and water to keep you warm during the holidays. This simple cock-

tail maximizes whiskey’s true taste while also keeping you hydrated, which in turn keeps away the hangovers. It’s a drink that will make you feel so young.

Don’t worry about buying anything other than the liquor. All you need is Jack, water, a cup and ice. Frank pre-ferred his drink mixed at two parts Jack Daniels to one part chilled water and three ice cubes. Raise your glass high and toast New York, New York.

As time goes by, popular musicians will come and go. They’ll release a hit or two and then fade back into obscuri-ty, appearing years later as nothing more than a Trivial Pursuit answer or an ironic karaoke rendition. But Frank Sinatra somehow found lasting power.

Decades after his last number-one single, the Sultan of Swoon remains a pop culture phenomenon. Whether it’s his croon or his swagger, Sinatra’s legacy lives on through generation after gen-eration.

Although La Voz couldn’t be here to celebrate his 100th birthday, it’s safe to assume that he would pour himself a strong Jack Daniels drink, appreci-ate the brand’s growth and maturity throughout the years and toast another hundred years of doing things his way.

Prost!

Christopher Armstrong was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on a brisk morning in November when the stars aligned and Jupiter was visible with the naked eye. He enjoys the changing of seasons, vi-nyl records, books with lots of pages and beer that is too expensive for him to ever buy.

FOOD & DRINKSPIRITS WITHIN

Frank And Jack Together AgainOld Blue Eyes and Old No. 7 still make great music together

“Frank Sinatra was an international icon, known for his hopeful, soaring songs, thousand-dollar suits and a stout whiskey beverage always in his hand.”

CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG

ATHENS DISTRIBUTING COMPANYWINE AND SPIRIT WHOLESALERS

Locally owned since 1961

Visit our website: Athensdistributing.comFollow us on Facebook

Athens Distributing Company ChattanoogaFollow us on Twitter

@athenschatt

ATHENS DISTRIBUTING COMPANYWINE AND SPIRIT WHOLESALERS

Locally owned since 1961

Visit our website: Athensdistributing.comFollow us on Facebook

Athens Distributing Company ChattanoogaFollow us on Twitter

@athenschatt

ATHENS DISTRIBUTING COMPANYWINE AND SPIRIT WHOLESALERS

Locally owned since 1961

Visit our website: Athensdistributing.comFollow us on Facebook

Athens Distributing Company ChattanoogaFollow us on Twitter

@athenschatt

ATHENS DISTRIBUTING COMPANYWINE AND SPIRIT WHOLESALERS

Locally owned since 1961

Visit our website: Athensdistributing.comFollow us on Facebook

Athens Distributing Company ChattanoogaFollow us on Twitter

@athenschatt

ATHENS DISTRIBUTING COMPANYWINE AND SPIRIT WHOLESALERS

Locally owned since 1961

Visit our website: Athensdistributing.comFollow us on Facebook

Athens Distributing Company ChattanoogaFollow us on Twitter

@athenschatt

ATHENS DISTRIBUTING COMPANYWINE AND SPIRIT WHOLESALERS

Locally owned since 1961

Visit our website: Athensdistributing.comFollow us on Facebook

Athens Distributing Company ChattanoogaFollow us on Twitter

@athenschatt

ATHENS DISTRIBUTING COMPANYWINE AND SPIRIT WHOLESALERS

Locally owned since 1961

Visit our website: Athensdistributing.comFollow us on Facebook

Athens Distributing Company ChattanoogaFollow us on Twitter

@athenschatt

ATHENS DISTRIBUTING COMPANYWINE AND SPIRIT WHOLESALERS

Locally owned since 1961

Visit our website: Athensdistributing.comFollow us on Facebook

Athens Distributing Company ChattanoogaFollow us on Twitter

@athenschatt

The Entire Jack Daniel's Family of Fine SpiritsHelp celebrate the new year with a time-honored tradition: a toast with Tennessee's most famous spirits. Distilled and bottled in Lynchburg (worth the visit if you've never been). Enjoy a sip or two of Jack Daniel's Old No. 7, charcoal mellowed drop by drop. Or sample Gentleman Jack, the order of gentlemen around the world. If you're looking for a unique taste experience, savor the smooth taste of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel,

hand-selected by their master distillers. Or if you're looking for something a bit different, try Tennessee Honey, distilled with a little bit of honey to sweeten things up, or if you like some heat to your drink, Tennessee Fire has a cinnamon kick combined with the exceptional smoothness you've come to expect from every Jack Daniel's beverage. No matter the choice, you'll find the taste you love from just up the road. And have a Happy New Year!

Athens Distributing recommends...

Page 20: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

20 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

ScreenJOHN DEVORE

It’s enough to warm the heart of any coldblooded socialist and welcome them into the everlasting embrace of rampant capitalism.”

MONEY IS THE MOST AMERICAN GOD, WORSHIPPED by the American people. Without it, it seems, there can be no

success, no real living, only survival and subsistence in mediocrity. Americans must always be striving toward self-made millions—our heroes have no room for steady incomes and simple hard work, de-spite our national pastime of long hours and second jobs.

So from a certain perspective, it makes sense that we’ve had several major re-leases sanctifying leaders from the busi-ness world. They are our golden calves, our champions, our shared ambition. Steve Jobs, innovator of Apple products, who is generally regarded as not being all that nice, has garnered two Hollywood films about his life, one starring Ashton Kutcher that was immediately forgotten and a more serious one written by Aaron Sorkin starring Christian Bale.

Coming soon is “The Big Short,” the heroic story of Wall Street pirates with enough foresight to bet against the American economy just before the 2008 financial crisis that caused the Great Recession and cost millions of Ameri-cans their homes. And this Christmas, audiences are treated to “Joy,” the rags-to-riches story of Joy Mangano, QVC darling and inventor of the world’s first mass-produced, self-wringing mop. It’s enough to warm the heart of any cold-blooded socialist and welcome them into the everlasting embrace of rampant capi-talism.

To be fair, Joy Mangano (Jennifer Law-rence) doesn’t appear to be a miserable, backstabbing businesswoman. David O. Russell paints her as a harried housewife and single mother whose dreams of mak-

SCR

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NE

✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ NEW IN THEATERS ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴

The Hateful Eight In Tarantino's latest, set in post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunters try to find shelter during a blizzard but get involved in a plot of betrayal and deception. Will they survive? Director: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kurt Russell, Channing Tatum, Samuel L. Jackson

Daddy's Home A mild-mannered radio executive strives to become the best stepfather to his wife's two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling biologi-cal father arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the children. Director: Sean Anders Stars: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg

Sherlock: The Abominable BrideCome see the world's greatest detective on the big screen

Arguably the most famous detec-tive in the world, the inimitable Sher-lock Holmes has been a mainstay of film since the 1920s. Just this past year, we’ve seen Sir Ian McKellen take on the literary giant in the com-pelling “Mr. Holmes,” not to men-tion the popular ongoing American television program “Elementary” starring Johnny Lee Miller.

But for many viewers, the cur-rent true detective is personified by Benedict Cumberbatch, who, along with Martin Freeman as Dr. Wat-son, has delighted audiences in the

“Sherlock” BBC series.And now you can see Cumber-

batch and Freeman on the big screen with “Sherlock: The Abominable Bride” in a special two-night event on Tuesday and Wednesday at Car-mike’s East Ridge 18 theaters. Both showings start at 7:30 p.m.

What makes this show so special is that the pair find themselves in 1890s London, taking up the characters in the traditional settings as created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, mustaches, capes and top hats galore.

The game is indeed afoot.

Life, Dreams, Wealth…And A Whole Lot Of LuckDirector David O. Russell disappoints with a not-very-Joyful new film

Page 21: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE PULSE • 21

ing things are discarded along the path of a lower-middle-class trajectory. She has two children by her ex-husband, a handsome Latin musician who will not work and lives in her basement. She has a mother who is bedridden by choice due to her obsession with soap operas. She has a philandering father who runs a garage with her half-sister, a man without any property or possessions who bounces from love to love until he is unceremoniously dropped back on the front porch of his family. Joy herself works for an airline and muddles along as most people do, paying bills as their homes crumble around them.

But she has ideas! Great ones! About dog collars and mops and other small household items that can improve the lives of women just like her! And so Joy sets out on an unfamiliar journey to a life of opulence through determination,

borrowed capital and, let’s be honest, an enormous amount of luck.

The film does an excellent job of sim-ply glossing over the very unlikely cir-cumstances Ms. Mangano finds herself in, instead choosing to focus on her sin-gle-minded belief in mops. The script makes a habit of setting up obstacles for Joy only to have her knock them over one by one with steely-eyed conviction and late ‘60s rock and roll. The naysay-ers, most of whom live in her house, are almost absurd in their negativity. The slightest setback causes them to

throw up their hands in surrender on her behalf. That’s the film’s ham-fisted method of characterization. Almost ev-ery scene involving these obstacles feels contrived, and were it not for the talent of Jennifer Lawrence the film wouldn’t work at all.

The few glimmers of humor are overshadowed by the movie’s clumsy storytelling and the bizarre choices made by the filmmakers. The lives of salesmen are not quite as interesting as Hollywood hopes, no matter how many cathartic shotgun blasts are shoe-

horned into supposedly meaningful scenes. “Joy” seems to be an appeal to a narrow-minded group of conservative-leaning audience members who see the almighty dollar as the only measure of a person’s success. I suppose those peo-ple need movies, too.

The most disappointing part of “Joy” is that it is a David O. Russell film. David O. Russell has made excellent films in the past. “Joy” is just not one of them. It would be easy to place the blame at the foot of the writers, but as Russell also wrote the screenplay, there is no way to pass the buck.

Everyone can have a compelling story—everyone’s life is full of human experience and emotion, tragedy and comedy, successes and failures.

But the story is only as good as its sto-ryteller, and in this case, the story isn’t worth hearing.

“But she has ideas! Great ones! About dog collars and mops and other small

household items that can improve the lives of women just like her!”

Follow The Pulse on Facebook (we’re quite likeable)

www.facebook.com/chattanoogapulse

The Best Sports Coverage in Chattanooga. Period.

Page 22: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

22 • THE PULSE • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM

Copyright © 2015 Jonesin’ Crosswords. For answers to this puzzle, call: 1-900-226-2800, 99 cents per minute. Must be 18+ to call. Or to bill to your credit card, call: 1-800-655-6548. Reference puzzle No. 0760

ACROSS1 Clearwater’s st.4 The beginning of greatness?9 Those other guys13 Account exec14 Copenhagen amusement park15 Fully grown16 Why I have to drive close to see what’s on your rear window?19 Script on a tablet?20 Hardly hard21 “I Love Lucy” production company23 “Our National Parks” author John25 Cookout cut28 Nissan, way back when30 Fight stopper32 Caps Lock neighbor35 Indifferent travel slogan for a Bolivian capital?37 Fix errata39 Pay increase40 Eternities41 Guy with a self-referential Renault 5?44 Discouraging

word45 Pertaining to the eye46 Short-billed shorebird48 “Ultimate” degree49 Kick out of a club51 And others, in Latin55 “Even *I* knew that!”56 “Darby ___ and the Little People” (1959 Disney film)57 Give the recent harvest report in a few words?64 Bad sign65 Difficult trial66 “Falcon Crest” actress ___ Alicia67 The “sun” in “sunny side up”68 Beat the heck out of69 UtterDOWN1 Served like some green tomatoes2 Leave alone3 Lhasa ___ (Tibetan dogs)4 Blackjack decision5 “Mogambo”

actress Gardner6 Comedian Riggle7 551, in film credits (if films had been around then)8 Affleck film that earned a 2003 Razzie9 “Jurassic Park” predator, for short10 Sound that deserves a scare, maybe11 Clean Air Act org.12 Blanc who voiced the Tasmanian Devil14 Gertrude Stein’s “The Autobiography of Alice B. ___”17 Old Domino’s Pizza spokescreature18 Traitor Vader22 18023 “___ Wedding” (1994 sleeper hit starring Toni Collette)24 World Heritage Site org.25 Talk and talk and talk26 “I Love It” duo ___ Pop27 Ross of flag fame

29 Resells at a jacked-up price31 Dark deli loaf32 Carpentry joint component33 Become a parent, perhaps34 Nascence36 Salon extension38 “Spare me the details”42 Be a brat43 Install new machinery47 “Rich & Meaty” brand50 “I’m amazed!”52 Ling and Loeb, for two53 Actress Massey of “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man”54 Forever, in poetry55 Like a medieval dungeon57 ___ G. Biv58 Genre for Fall Out Boy59 “Pinocchio” keepsake60 Buckingham Palace letters61 Commotion62 President pro ___63 Puppy sound

Jonesin’ Crossword MATT JONES

“Middle C”—no need for piano lessons here.

Free Will Astrology ROB BREZSNY

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In his essay “The Etiquette of Free-dom,” poet Gary Snyder says that wildness “is perennially within us, dormant as a hard-shelled seed, awaiting the fire or flood that awakes it again.” The fact that it’s a “hard-shelled” seed is a crucial detail. The vital stuff inside the stiff outer coating may not be able to break out and start grow-ing without the help of a ruckus. A fire or flood? They might do the job. But I propose, Capricorn, that in 2016 you find an equally vig-orous but less disruptive prod to liberate your dormant wildness. Like what? You could embark on a brave pilgrimage or quest. You could dare yourself to escape your comfort zone. Are there any undomesticated fantasies you’ve been suppressing? Unsuppress them!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Fred-erick the Great was King of Prussia between 1740 and 1786. He was also an Aquarius who sometimes experimented with eccentric ideas. When he brewed his coffee, for example, he used champagne instead of water. Once the hot elixir was ready to drink, he mixed in a dash of powdered mustard. In light of the astrological omens, I suspect that Frederick’s exotic blend might be an apt symbol for your life in 2016: a vigorous, rich, complex synthesis of champagne, coffee and mustard. (P.S.: Freder-ick testified that “champagne car-ries happiness to the brain.”)

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): My Pi-scean acquaintance Arturo plays the piano as well as anyone I’ve heard. He tells me that he can pro-duce 150 different sounds from any single key. Using the foot pedals accounts for some of the variation. How he touches a key is an even more important factor. It can be percussive, fluidic, stacca-to, relaxed, lively and many other moods. I invite you to cultivate a similar approach to your unique skills in 2016. Expand and deepen your ability to draw out the best in them. Learn how to be even more expressive with the powers you already possess.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): John Koenig is an artist who invents new words. Here’s one that’s ap-plicable to your journey in 2016: “keyframe.” Koenig defines it as being a seemingly mundane phase of your life that is in fact a turning point. Major plot twists in your big story arrive half-hidden amidst a stream of innocuous events. They don’t come about through “a series of jolting epiph-anies,” Koenig says, but rather “by tiny imperceptible differences between one ordinary day and the next.” In revealing this secret, I hope I’ve alerted you to the im-portance of acting with maximum integrity and excellence in your everyday routine.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): The coming months look like one of the best times ever for your love life. Old romantic wounds are finally ready to be healed. You’ll know what you have to do to shed tired traditions and bad habits that have limited your abil-ity to get the spicy sweetness you deserve. Are you up for the fun challenge? Be horny for deep feel-ings. Be exuberantly aggressive in honoring your primal yearnings. Use your imagination to dream up new approaches to getting what you want. The innovations in intimacy that you initiate in the coming months will keep bringing you gifts and teachings for years to come.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In an-cient times, observers of the sky knew the difference between stars and planets. The stars re-mained fixed in their places. The planets wandered around, always shifting positions in relationship to the stars. But now and then, at irregular intervals, a very bright star would suddenly materialize out of nowhere, stay in the same place for a while, and then disap-pear. Chinese astronomers called these “guest stars.” We refer to them as supernovae. They are pre-viously dim or invisible stars that explode, releasing tremendous energy for a short time. I suspect that in 2016, you may experience the metaphorical equivalent of a guest star. Learn all you can from it. It’ll provide teachings and bless-ings that could feed you for years.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Be alert for an abundance of inter-esting lessons in 2016. You will be offered teachings about a variety of practical subjects, including how to take care of yourself re-ally well, how to live the life you want to live, and how to build the connections that serve your dreams. If you are even moder-ately responsive to the prompts and nudges that come your way, you will become smarter than you thought possible. So just imagine how savvy you’ll be if you ardently embrace your educational oppor-tunities. (Please note that some of these opportunities may be par-tially in disguise.)

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The silk-worm grows fast. Once it hatches, it eats constantly for three weeks. By the time it spins its cocoon, it’s 10,000 times heavier than it was in the beginning. On the other hand, a mature, 60-foot-tall saguaro cac-tus may take 30 years to fully grow a new side arm. It’s in no hurry. From what I can tell, Leo, 2015 was more like a silkworm year for you, whereas 2016 will more closely resemble a saguaro. Keep in mind that while the saguaro phase is different from your silkworm time, it’s just as important.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “The

sky calls me,” wrote Virgo teacher and poet Sri Chinmoy. “The wind calls me. The moon and stars call me. The dense groves call me. The dance of the fountain calls me. Smiles call me, tears call me. A faint melody calls me. The morn, noon and eve call me. Everyone is searching for a playmate. Every-one is calling me, ‘Come, come!’” In 2016, Virgo, I suspect you will have a lot of firsthand experience with feelings like these. Sometimes life’s seductiveness may over-whelm you, activating confused desires to go everywhere and do everything. On other occasions, you will be enchanted by the lush invitations, and will know exactly how to respond and reciprocate.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In the 19th century, horses were a prima-ry mode of personal transporta-tion. Some people rode them, and others sat in carriages and wagons that horses pulled. But as cities grew larger, a problem emerged: the mounting manure left behind on the roads. It became an ever-increasing challenge to clear away the equine “pollution.” In 1894, a British newspaper predicted that the streets of London would be covered with nine feet of the stuff by 1950. But then something un-expected happened: cars. Gradu-ally, the threat of an excremental apocalypse waned. I present this story as an example of what I ex-pect for you in 2016: a pressing di-lemma that will gradually dissolve because of the arrival of a factor you can’t imagine yet.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The longest river in the world flows through eastern Africa: the Nile. It originates below the equator and empties into the Mediterranean Sea. Although its current flows north, its prevailing winds blow south. That’s why sailors have found it easily navigable for thou-sands of years. They can either go with the flow of the water or use sails to harness the power of the breeze. I propose that we make the Nile your official metaphor in 2016, Scorpio. You need versatile resources that enable you to come and go as you please—that are flexible in supporting your efforts to go where you want and when you want.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In many cases, steel isn’t fully use-ful if it’s too hard. Manufacturers often have to soften it a bit. This process, which is called temper-ing, makes the steel springier and more malleable. Car parts, for example, can’t be too rigid. If they were, they’d break too eas-ily. I invite you to use tempering as one of your main metaphors in 2016, Sagittarius. You’re going to be strong and vigorous, and those qualities will serve you best if you keep them flexible. Do you know the word “ductile”? If not, look it up. It’ll be a word of power for you.

Page 23: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

CHATTANOOGAPULSE.COM • DECEMBER 31, 2015 • THE PULSE • 23

Say you run a venture incu-bator: you grow companies for a living. You’ve been doing it long enough to have a diverse

portfolio of growing startups. So your next move is obviously...real estate?

It may sound counterintuitive, but Lamp Post Properties’ recent purchase of the Mayfield Annex from Hamilton County—announced in December, set to close in January—brings its real estate holdings to four buildings in the down-town Innovation District. And that doesn’t even include Loveman’s second floor, the headquarters of its parent, the Lamp Post Group venture incubator. Loveman’s is re-served for Lamp Post portfolio companies, but every other building is open to anyone.

Renovation is in progress at the old Ross Hotel on Patten Parkway. The for-mer home of Yesterday’s on the ground floor has been christened The Tomorrow Building and will become mostly residen-tial.

The Cornerstone Bank building at Georgia Avenue and MLK will remain a traditional office building. Two Lamp Post

companies have already moved in—Steam Logistics and Reliance Partners—but it is open to any commercial tenant.

Things start to get interesting with Cooper’s Office Supply (actually two buildings) on Cherry Street, purchased last summer. Ground floors will be retail or restaurant, and upper floors will be de-veloped as office space with later-stage startups in mind—companies that need growth space, not incubation space.

Redevelopment may include reclaiming the alleyway that runs from Chattanooga Billiards Club to Seventh Street. Owner-ship has become clouded over the years. Lamp Post is working with the city and other building owners so each building can own the alley behind it and turn it into a public space, maybe an outdoor cafe.

The Mayfield Annex, formerly used for Hamilton County offices, is slated to become the headquarters of the Chat-tanooga office of VaynerMedia. Lamp Post recruited Gary Vaynerchuk’s social-media-focused digital marketing com-pany to open its first Southern office last summer in Chattanooga, and now Lamp Post Properties is buying and developing the Mayfield building in partnership with Vaynerchuk.

“The idea is to create another incu-

bation center in that building” for both Lamp Post and VaynerMedia startups, ac-cording to Tiffanie Robinson, president of Lamp Post Properties. “Gary Vaynerchuk will likely bring down some of his own startups from New York City to incubate in that building, too.”

So, why did Lamp Post get into real estate? The number-one priority is to accommodate the growth of Lamp Post portfolio companies. But another reason, according to Robinson, is about density and placemaking.

“If you look at a map of everything we’ve purchased, it’s kind of like this little campus in a way,” says Robinson, referring to the fact that all four buildings are either on or within a block of Cherry Street. “We

think if The Innovation District wants to be an innovation district, it needs some strong density. So one of the reasons we’ve bought the buildings we have is because of the density that they have to each other. And then whenever those buildings are filled with this next generation workforce, it creates a really interesting density for the entire district.”

Lamp Post also wants to develop down-town, and not just for its own companies. “We want to be part of that next wave of change happening downtown, transform-ing buildings that once had this really amazing life,” says Robinson. “Maybe tra-ditional developers aren’t really neces-sarily looking to touch those buildings because they know they will cost a lot of money that will take a long time to return. We’re willing to take those risks.”

Unlike city planners, though, Lamp Post happily has no strict agenda. “At Lamp Post, we don’t really ever have a master plan to any of our madness,” says Robin-son. “We really believe that whenever you don’t have a big master plan and you take things small chunk by small chunk, then you’re actually opening yourself up to more possibilities. You’re opening yourself up to not getting stuck in one box that you built around the master plan. You’re allow-ing yourself to think more creatively.”

Rich Bailey is a professional writer, editor and (sometimes) PR consultant. He led a project to create Chattanooga’s first civic website in 1995 before even owning a modem. Now he covers Chattanooga technology for The Pulse and blogs about it at CircleChattanooga.com

COLUMNTECH TALK

Startups and Urban DesignLamp Post adds downtown real estate development to its portfolio

“We want to be part of that next wave of change happening downtown, transforming buildings that once had this really amazing life.”

RICH BAILEY

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Page 24: The Pulse 12.53 » December 31, 2015

Sit Back. Relax. Enjoy The Music.