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!

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!

Remember that lovely tease that I floated a few weeks back about the man in the red shoes, an alley and multiple weddings?  Remember how it kinda fizzled because while it was guessed, I couldn’t confirm or deny?

Welp, the word is now officially out.  The AJC got the scoop yesterday announcing “Eddie and Agnes”, another great Daren Wang brain-child, which many folks at both Eddie’s and Agnes Scott have worked very hard over the past few months to make a reality.

Daren wrote about the new partnership this morning on his own blog “Verb”…

We posted the wedding announcement in the AJC yesterday, courtesy Jamie Gumbrecht.

These two are made for each other. Agnes with her stately 817-seat Presser Hall, flawless sight-lines, gorgeous windows, comfy seats and great acoustics. Eddie with his expertise, experience, charm, and rolodex. Like Sam and Diane, Ross and Rachel, you can only wonder how it took so long.

We’re working on several concert bookings right now, and we hope to have butts in seats in mid-to-late February.

As Daren said to me a few weeks back, it’s like one day waking up and having a Variety Playhouse size-venue smack in the middle of the city.

Scott points me to a WABE feature from this morning about Eddie’s ever-popular Monday Open Mic Night.

Its nice to see a Decatur mainstay getting some press.  Good stuff.

DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in about Close Up’s latest fundraising efforts…

The DHS Close Up Club will have a social hour at Eddies Attic this Friday, from 4:00 until 6:30.  The club is trying to raise funds to participate in “Inauguration 2008″ a week of government classes and seminars in Washington, D.C. during the 09 inauguration.  Eddies Attic will donate a portion of the sales to the club.  In addition, the club will be hosting a silent auction on for several items including golf and hotel packages, original paintings by Coca-Cola artist Pamela Renfroe, and much, much more.  More information is available at: http://www.elifemagazine.net/closeup.htm

You gotta admire the tenacity of these kids for the cause.  This has got to be, at a minimum, the 3rd or 4th fundraiser they’ve hosted that I’ve heard about.

Of all the performances I’ve seen at Eddie’s Attic, Marc Cohn’s late show there last night was absolutely the best I’ve seen within those four walls. Who knew you could attempt head-banging to “29 Ways” and “Paper Walls”?

Not to mention his wry wit and high-level of sarcasm were right up my alley.  “But I’m not going to play that song you all got married to!”  Ha!

Freakin’ awesome show.

Creative Loafing’s Chad Radford has a great little write up this morning on Decatur-native Adron on the eve of her album release party at the Earl this Wednesday at 9pm.

Get your $7 tickets here!

[photo courtesy of Adronmusic.com]

Somebody pinch me. One of my absolute favorite musicians is coming to Eddie’s Attic on Saturday, September 20th!

Marc Cohn will play both an early and late show at the Attic, on tour supporting his first album in 10 years, Join the Parade. Tickets are more expensive than usual at $35 a pop for General Admission and $150 for a table of 4. Get them here while they last.

Many people know Cohn mainly for his early hit single, Walking in Memphis, or more recently for surviving being shot in the head by a carjacker in 2005. But to me, and a very loyal following of fans who have listened to his three albums continually, waiting 10 years for a fourth, Cohn is one of the great songwriters of his time. He rarely tours (though I think this is his second trip to Atlanta in as many years) so a chance to see him in such a personal venue like Eddie’s is a great stroke of luck for Decatur.

Below…Cohn on Ellen singing “Live Out the String”

Carl sends along this benefit info from the owner of Sycamore Place Gallery…

Yesterday was Desiree’s 32nd birthday.  She completed her third round of chemo and came home for a brief respite from the hospital room.  She returns tomorrow and will finish her fourth and hopefully last round of chemo by summer’s end.  She is appropriately grouchy and overwhelmingly grateful for the prayers, cards, food gift cards, babysitters, financial contributions, rides to and from the hospital, soups, those who packed and moved her belongings from her apartment to my house, the house cleaners, the books & DVD’s, the baseball games for the boys, the camps, and general all over support from the communities of L5P and Decatur, notwithstanding her family and friends from out of town.

She has been denied medicaid.  At this time she cannot work and receives no social services.  The current wait for disability is 2-6 months.  She was diagnosed formally on April 18 and the answer is still up in the air.

Kodac Harrison, Eddie Owen, and Stephanie Stuckey Benfield are coordinating a musical benefit and auction on Thursday, July 31st at Eddie’s Attic.  The musical acts currently include Kodac, Caroline Aiken, Angela Motter, Sonia Tetlow, Elise Witt, Emily Saliers, Matthew Kahler, Klimchak, and Yellow.  A lovely dance/spoken word performance by Lori Guarisco and a reading by Rupert Fike will round out the evening.  There will be auction items including restaurants, art, sports tickets, massage, vacation rentals, and more.  An all-ages show begins at 6:30 and an adult show follows at  8:30 pm.

Please come and enjoy the event and forward this information to friends.  There will be a $20- donation requested at the door.

If you would like to make a financial contribution Ira Katz has set up an account at B.O.N.D. Community Credit Union called “Friends of Desiree’”.  If you would like to make an auction item available please contact Stephanie Stuckey Benfield at stuckey@mindspring.com.

Thanks, everyone, once again and I hope to see you on the 31st!

Sylvia Cross aka Desiree’s Mom aka Cartman & Schroeder’s Grandmama