Poster courtesy of The Decatur Minute.

As DM’s Events Calendar shows, George Winston kicks off the Eddie and Agnes series tonight at Presser Hall on Agnes Scott’s campus.

In a recent interview with the AJC, Winston explains why he’s DRIVING from California to the Decatur event and why he’ll be performing without shoes.

Q: We know you don’t want microphones at this show in Decatur. What else can audiences expect from the performance? Will you perform in your socks?

A: Yes, shoes make too much noise on the floor. And I don’t like the sound of a miked piano. I’ll be playing fall and winter songs. Some Vince Guaraldi, folk and melodic piano, New Orleans R&B. I’m sure the drive over will inspire something, too. I have yet to make it to the Great Plains, Tennessee and Alabama. I want [the journey] to affect what I play. We’re all influenced by the seasons whether we think about it or not.

Sock-tip to the AJC’s Jamie Gumbrecht.

Tickets for the event can still be purchased HERE.

Over on his blog, Live Apartment Fire, 11Alive’s Doug Richards recounts the rather humorous tale of how he once drunk-judged John Mayer (and assumedly Clay Cook) at an Open Mic Night Shootout at Eddie’s Attic back in 1998.

Eddie served the judges all the free beer we wanted, and I had a couple. Maybe more. My mood became increasingly contrary as the night wore on. One performer was pitiful, as I recall. All the other judges gave her a thumbs down; I gave her the only thumbs up. It was a mercy vote.

At one point, a duo came on stage called the Lo-Fi Masters. They were two too-cheery white guys with guitars and enormous skill. They were perky and cute. I despised them. They emerged winners of that night’s shootout, despite the fact that I voted against them at every opportunity. I enjoyed the evening, but mostly forgot the details.

Luckily, Mayer was able to overcome Richards’ drunken harsh judgment and become the celebrated, outspoken superstar he is today.

Richard’s also posts an old WAGA segment on Eddie’s Open Mic Night back in the day.  You can view it in his post.  (Oh hair styles, will you ever stop changing?)

Thanks to Steve for pointing this out!

Eleven AND A HALF year-old Decatur resident, Sydney Rhame, has herself a colorful, front of the the Living & Arts, multi-page spread in Sunday’s AJC.  Written by Rosalind Bentley, the article takes up nearly an entire page of newsprint and features multiple pics of Rhame.

In it, we learn that since she won $1,000 from Kudzu, Sydney has been taken in by voice coach Jan Smith, “who counts R&B megastar Usher and his protege, teen-pop throb Justin Bieber, as clients.”  She’s also taking hip-hop dance classes “not because [she] want to sing hip-hop, but because the moves could help her in a pop career.”  Sydney’s goal is a record deal by age 12.

The article is not yet online – part of the AJC’s new strategy to give extra value to the print edition – but once it’s up I’ll post the link here.

Congrats Sydney!

UPDATE: Lynne sends in another must-read dog poem:  “Another Reason I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House” by Billy Collins, former Poet Laureate of the United States (and Decatur Book Festival keynote speaker a couple years back).

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From the “It’s funny cause it’s true” file.

Here’s the beginning of the poem “Cleaning Up After Your Dog”, from today’s Writer’s Almanac…

Pull plastic bag from pocket

and wave it like a flag

or diploma. Make sure many people

congratulate your care

for the community.

Check bag for holes.

Double check.

Read the rest of the poem HERE.  (The part about the cop is something I always find myself doing when a cruiser passes mid-cleanup)

In the midst of helping young Decatur musician Sydney Rhame win $1,000 from Kudzu last year, we also promoted “Girls Rock Camp”, a start-up non-profit founded by “long-time Decaturites” that assists young girls in starting bands and creating original music.

Well, this year the organization is hosting a three day event for the 19 and older crowd!  “Ladies Rock Camp” is limited to 25 participants and will be held at Atlanta Charter Middle School features a culminating performance at L5P’s Five Spot and a songwriting workshop with the Indigo Girls Emily Saliers.

No prior musical experience is necessary and tuition is just $350!

For more info, check out the full press release after the jump or head on over to the Ladies Rock Camp page on the Girls Rock Camp website.

Read the rest of this entry »

Daren Wang just announced – via Twitter – that the first Eddie & Agnes concert at Presser Hall will be none other than pianist-superstar George Winston.

1st Eddie & Agnes show-2/23. GEORGE WINSTON plays from seasonal albums, N.O. R&B, stride piano & from LOVE WILL COME, MUSIC OF V. Guaraldi

So maybe I spoke too soon (or too generally) when I said the concerts would “all rock”, but that’s still a pretty good get and should fill up the space quite nicely!

I know I sometimes (read: often times) mess up post titles, but not this time.   You read that correctly.

According to Bill, DeKalb Public Library was recently cited – along with Eddie’s and the Drunken Unicorn – by the Avett Brothers as key to helping them get their start in the music biz.

Here’s his eyewitness report…

When North Carolina’s the Avett Brothers – whose breakthrough album “I and Love and You” [was] nationally acclaimed as one of the best of 2009 (and by Decatur’s Paste magazine as one of the top 10 of the decade) – played a sold-out Fox Theatre on New Year’s Day, they sent a shout-out to the Atlanta audience for supporting them over the years while they slowly built their regional and now national following. They also mentioned three venues they said helped them get their start in the South’s major metropolis: the Drunken Unicorn, Eddie’s Attic and, believe it or not, the DeKalb Public Library (they called it the Decatur Public Library).

Sweet!  Speaking of “things that make your library cool/hip”, did you know the DeKalb Public Library operates a blog?  Check it HERE!

Daren Wang tweets…

I’ll be announcing the first concert in the Eddie & Agnes series on Twitter first. We’ve got a contract, just need to work out the details!

Think that might merit a follow?  If so click -> @darenwang

If that isn’t enough, Daren promises to promote many more of his “hare-brained ideas” there.  And what would Decatur be without a big book festival with sponsored port-o-lets and beer that costs in excess of $2,000??

As just announced on Twitter, the Decatur Book Festival is hosting a free preview screening of the film-adaption of “The Lovely Bones” at North DeKalb’s AMC theater on January 7th at 7pm.

If you’d like to snag yourself some free tickets, email Daren@verb.org.