R5 Productions
Encyclopedia
R5 Productions is a Philadelphia-based do-it-yourself
concert promotion outfit started in 1996 by French emigrant cum Ardmore, Pennsylvania
native Sean Agnew. It is well known in Philadelphia for hosting national punk
and indie rock
acts. R5 has a reputation for high-quality shows in intimate venues. Most notably, current national acts such as Vampire Weekend
, She & Him
, Animal Collective
, Broken Social Scene
, the Arcade Fire, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
and Jimmy Eat World
played concerts booked by R5 Productions in small venues like the basement of the First Unitarian Church
. The company gets its name from the Paoli/Thorndale Line
which was originally known as the R5, the SEPTA Regional Rail
line that connects the Main Line
to Philadelphia.
R5 Productions was founded by Schirmeck
-born, Ardmore-raised Sean Agnew. Although born in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, the Schirmeck and Metz born Agnews left France in early 1981 after Sean and his brothers (Guillame and Justine) endured an extended hospital convalescence following an attack by a crane. The Agnews made a good life in the New World, and throughout high school, Sean excelled in academics as well as collecting hip hop cassingles. Despite his early academic success, Agnew was rejected from the Rhode Island School of Mortuary Science
. Following his drop-out from his second-choice Drexel University
. Prior to attending Drexel University, Agnew lived in Ardmore ("the Compton of the East Coast," according to a 1999 Wall Street Journal article) with his mother, Ismelda, and his father, Spiro Agnew (no relation to the politician), whose career in the entertainment industry is perhaps best remembered for his storyboarding and directing Billy Joel
's "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" music video
.
Do it yourself
Do it yourself is a term used to describe building, modifying, or repairing of something without the aid of experts or professionals...
concert promotion outfit started in 1996 by French emigrant cum Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Ardmore, Pennsylvania
Ardmore is a census-designated place in Delaware and Montgomery counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The population was 12,455 at the 2010 census...
native Sean Agnew. It is well known in Philadelphia for hosting national punk
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
and indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
acts. R5 has a reputation for high-quality shows in intimate venues. Most notably, current national acts such as Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...
, She & Him
She & Him
She & Him is an American indie pop duo consisting of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward . The band's first album, Volume One, was released on Merge Records in March 2008...
, Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
, Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene
Broken Social Scene is a Canadian indie rock band, a musical collective including as few as six and as many as nineteen members, formed in 1999 by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning. Most of its members currently play in various other groups and solo projects, mainly based around the city of Toronto...
, the Arcade Fire, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
and Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
played concerts booked by R5 Productions in small venues like the basement of the First Unitarian Church
First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
The First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia is a Unitarian Universalist congregation located at 2125 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. The company gets its name from the Paoli/Thorndale Line
Paoli/Thorndale Line
The Paoli/Thorndale Line is a SEPTA Regional Rail line running from Center City Philadelphia to Thorndale in Chester County.-Route:This branch utilizes one of the oldest sections of what is now Amtrak's Keystone Corridor, an electrified 104-mile two to four-track high-speed route between Harrisburg...
which was originally known as the R5, the SEPTA Regional Rail
SEPTA Regional Rail
The SEPTA Regional Rail system consists of commuter rail service on thirteen branches to over 150 active stations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and its suburbs. Service on most lines runs from 5:30 AM to midnight...
line that connects the Main Line
Pennsylvania Main Line
The Main Line is an unofficial historical and socio-cultural region of suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comprising a collection of affluent towns built along the old Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad which ran northwest from downtown Philadelphia parallel to Lancaster Avenue , a road...
to Philadelphia.
R5 Productions was founded by Schirmeck
Schirmeck
Schirmeck is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
-born, Ardmore-raised Sean Agnew. Although born in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, the Schirmeck and Metz born Agnews left France in early 1981 after Sean and his brothers (Guillame and Justine) endured an extended hospital convalescence following an attack by a crane. The Agnews made a good life in the New World, and throughout high school, Sean excelled in academics as well as collecting hip hop cassingles. Despite his early academic success, Agnew was rejected from the Rhode Island School of Mortuary Science
Mortuary science
Mortuary science is the study of dead bodies through mortuary work. The term is most often applied to a college curriculum in the United States that prepares a student for a career as a mortician or funeral director. Many also study embalming to supplement their mortuary science studies. Some...
. Following his drop-out from his second-choice Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
. Prior to attending Drexel University, Agnew lived in Ardmore ("the Compton of the East Coast," according to a 1999 Wall Street Journal article) with his mother, Ismelda, and his father, Spiro Agnew (no relation to the politician), whose career in the entertainment industry is perhaps best remembered for his storyboarding and directing Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
's "You're Only Human (Second Wind)" music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
.