“Eddie & Agnes” Officially Announced
Decatur Metro | December 17, 2009
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.
Latest from Decaturish
AGNES SCOTT, NOT AGNES
Hey, Nellie. If this venture includes Agnes Scott, I have to assume they signed off on the name. Doesn’t that signify that “Agnes” is an acceptable, albeit not historical, nickname?
People can insist that my name is not my formal name but, if it’s what I use, it’s my name nonetheless.
I agree with Scott. While my name is Eric, I am often called Dumbass, Moron, Dips**t or Loser. And those are just the ones my wife calls me.
P.S. I answer to all of those.
The Agnes crap is something that the marketing department over there has been pushing. I don’t particularly care if some marketing person who will be at the school for three years thinks it’s cute.
There are a whole bunch of us alumna – including a couple of others who post on here- who hate it (and in fact cringe over it) and have let the school know. Of course it won’t have any impact until we have $1 million to donate, but I am not going to give in.
It”s my school and piece of me is there.
And Eric, I have a whole bunch more names for you.
Would you mind explaining why you don’t like the short-form name? I’m just curious. Is it annoying in the way that some people call John Hopkins University instead of Johns Hopkins? Or is there some other deeper significance that I’m missing?
Actually, it’s not the series name that bothers me. Actually, the series name is fine and makes sense. I guess I am not clear.
It’s the Agnes nickname for the school. For some reason a couple years back, I think after Mary Brown Bullock left, someone decided the nickname “Agnes” was cute. In a 100 years, no one called the school Agnes. It was ASC or Scott. It feels to many us like pure marketing contrivance, not how the very vast majority of former students actually brand our former school.
You guys can argue with me, but it’s not your alma mater, not your $100,000 in tuition and not your memories.
Thanks. I wasn’t arguing – just wondering.
I know, Paula! I was referring to the people who were!
Nelle, but aren’t you finished with it?
Maybe the present students like “Agnes”, and it’s time to move on–give up the marketing to more brand-conscious students.
Besides, “Agnes” sounds like the name of a friend’s older sister, and that can’t be all bad.
This is ridiculous. I am a senior at “Agnes” this year and have rarely heard it called otherwise — even by professors (and deans, natch). I think most of us are more concerned with the difficulty in finding post-graduate employment from people who have never heard of our school (and there are a LOT of t hem) than how it’s referred to in conversation.
Maybe alums should focus their energies more on actively aiding, and interacting with, ASC students rather than aimlessly lamenting their alma mater’s nickname.
Ann graduated from Scott and I never remembered it called anything but Agnes Scott or Scott. And of course the women are “Scotties”. She and I were the stereotypical Ga Tech/ Agnes Scott liason 39 years ago. Its all about tradition, an important commodity.
The name of the series is definitely “Eddie and Agnes.” It is approved by both institutions, unlike the logo I’ve posted, which is still waiting for the final sign off.
Oh..Gosh.. I hope it doesn’t become a target like the “T” on the tech tower and someone has to hunt it down periodically after being stolen. Secure it well!
Sorry, Nellie, but the official release from the colleges also calls it “Agnes and Eddie”:
http://www.agnesscott.edu/news/newsDetails.aspx?Channel=%2fChannels%2fAdmissions%2fAdmissions+Content&WorkflowItemID=82d41abb-4d17-442f-8a8a-61a6c2019381
Or, “Eddie and Agnes”. Whatever. Looks like you can take up your complaint with Management.
Daren – you’re the best!
Nellie – I feel you, but if it’s been apporved by both institutions then it IS okay!
Let’s rejoice! This is awesome!
OMG. Who cares what it is called. Big picture, people. Sheesh.
I do. It’s my school.
I prefer Agnes. Scott seems sexist for a women’s school.
Wow, I saw 13 responses and actually came in here expecting enthusiastic discussion of possible artists who will appear as a part of this series. Instead it’s prolonged kvetching about an arbitrary nickname. Give me a break. If I were half as sensitive about the way my alma mater’s (UGA) been depicted over the years, I’d have had an aneurysm by now.
So, in that mode, who would you like to see appear here? The Indigo Girls spring immediately to mind. When they played Eddie’s a couple years ago, two or three shows sold out instantly.
Sorry lump. My fault. I am very sensitive this week.
Agreed. Borderline threadjacking Nellie.
Think about how all the people who worked so hard to make this happen feel about this thread now.
Geez, I know! Some people will complain about anything.
Post: “Hey look! The City of Decatur is lowering property taxes and the Brickstore has instituted a new ‘Free First Beer’ policy! Yippee!!!”
Response: “Aww hell. There goes the neighborhood. I’m sure that means that the community garden will be turned into a parking lot. And now parking will be even worse getting to the Brick Store. Everybody chant with me: HIGHER TAXES. NO FREE BEER!”
FWIW, I’ve never heard Agnes Scott referred to as just Agnes. I might start now, though.
lumpintheroad, based on your logo graphic I think we’d agree that getting Jeff Mangum would be AWESOME. Of course he’d have to come out of seclusion, start playing again, etc. But that would be way cool.
Will it be possible to have some plays under that same umbrella? I don’t guess it seems quite ‘natural’ for Eddie to step out of his role that much, but it would be nice to have some good off broadway shows do some shows there. As a bit of an aside.. I was just thinking that the gallery would be more than happy to lend some of our art work out to any plays getting off the ground. Maybe a vintage houseware/furniture store would do the same… who knows.. just a thought if something like that ever got going
Bill
One thing I’d like to see the venue drop is the ethos of Eddie’s Attic. Love the room, love a lot of the acts, HATE the banners admonishing patrons to zip it. I’ve always felt a good crowd can police itself.
Hopefully they’ll allow a little hootin’ and hollerin’ at this place.
Having paid good money to listen to previously unknown seat neighbors discuss their uninteresting lives in exhausting detail at Chastain and The Variety, I reserve the right to respectfully disagree, and express my undying gratitude for the ‘Eddie’s ethos’. I’ve heard, and contributed to my share of, hootin’ and hollerin’ there without any shame or admonition, but never been bored to tears or aggravated to the point of finding security by fellow patrons. Is it the policy that makes it work, or a better crowd? (after all, it is Decatur)
YES, Gladys, and can you say “halleluyer”!?! If there hadn’t been a need for the sign, I daresay it wouldn’t be up there now.
I couldn’t disagree more. The main reason I go to Eddie’s is that the acoustics are good and the audiences actually listen to music instead of talking over it. It makes for an enjoyable listening experience and the musicians appreciate it. I don’t think the Attic has a problem with people making hooting in appreciation, just talking when they should be listening.
People who want to talk loudly can always go out on the deck, where they can talk to their heart’s content and they don’t even have to pay for tickets. I would love it if all music venues had similar rules.
And no, I don’t think crowds police themselves.
I’m going to break the mold and be a YIMBY on this. I live a block away from Presser Hall, and know that these events will bring all kinds of traffic and parking to my street, but I love it.
Especially if they can get Built to Spill. Please.
I hope they get the Yimbys to perform. I love them and they so rarely appear anywhere!
Have you heard they’re cover of “Oklahoma”. Man, it rocks.
Oops. Forgot the “?”.
Oops– you also forgot the “ei” in “their”.
(Sorry, DM– couldn’t help meself.)
How embarrassing.
Very exciting- looking forward to seeing a show at the venue soon!
Any word on how frequently the venue is going to be used? Monthly?
sweet! I can’t wait to see what acts they book!
My only concern is that it will likely be a dry venue, and I do enjoy throwing back a few cold ones at a concert.
So does anyone know if there will be booze?
Congrats for getting this thread back on positive vibes. This looked like it was going to degenerate into something akin to the toddler angst thread about taking toys away from kids who enjoy a free park.
Congrats to Darren on setting this up. A great collaboration between our fine local college and our local champ of original music. Let’s focus on the positive. Like any clues on who’s going to perform? Eddie has some great contacts given all the talent that got their start at the Attic. We could get some big acts in here.
Thanks Daren and to everyone that made this happen. So exciting! I can WALK to a concert! Very nice logo too, I know it’s not approved yet, but I hope it is. It’s beautiful.
Sorry about earlier, guys, especially Daren. I was half joking because Chad teases me about my propensity to get irritated about the Agnes thing. Actually, I think the Agnes and Eddie name is good for this particular thing; it’s the other uses that bug me. Then my temper took over my reason. That’s never a pretty thing.
Anyway, I vote for the first show to be a Tracksides ’88 reunion- Wendy Bucklew, Indigo Girls, DeDe Voght, Ellen James Society…. and Michelle Malone (otherwise known as the woman who made me wish I was a lesbian). It would be a great fundraiser for something local too.
Hey Nellie,
Don’t forget Kristen Hall, Catbird Seat, Natalie Farr, Ashley&Mark(God rest his soul), Kristian Bush and Andrew Hyra. What I wouldn’t pay to hear Wendy B. cover “Buckets of Rain” again. It would be like one of the annual all-weekend benefits for the homeless they used to hold in the Springtime.
E&A Shows will be monthly, kinda. And they will be dry, I’m afraid. It’s kind of a logistics issue more than anything. Once we have the process down, it’s possible that we’ll revisit alcohol sales.
And don’t worry about he hijack. It’s your school, you care and it shows. Much better than apathy.
I did forget them! I still have a CASSETTE of Wendy’s in my car. We used to hang out a lot. Where did Andrew go?
Andrew moved back out to LA and put out a solo record a few years ago, but I don’t think he’s put out anything since. Good songwriter and _amazing_ voice.
As long as we’re dreaming about a Trackside ’88 reunion, I’ll also throw in the Vigilantes of Love and Gerard McHugh, as well as Eddie himself singing The Times They Are A-Changin’. Haunting.
DAREN!
I have been singing Rage in the Ring all freaking day. Get me some Bucklew!
Hmmmm….. I hope what I said about ‘tradition’ wasn’t taken to be negative. I was just reminiscing. I think the name is great.. and there is nothing at all wrong with new traditions. Indeed, new traditions go a long way towards adding to the heritage of any institution. And the logo is marvelous. I’m sorry that Daren even had to use the word ‘hijacked’ in describing the the union of two great institutions.