Just like most show-goers, I learned about R5 Productions going to see my favorite bands at the First Unitarian Church. Since then, I’ve been awestruck by Sean Agnew’s ability to mix great music and a DIY attitude with such professionalism, and I had to find out more.

How did you get into promoting shows?
I started doing shows in ‘96 for punk and ska bands that I wanted to see who were skipping over Philly. Maybe seven or eight times a year - more of a hobby than a “business.” I never thought that it would turn into this. Back then, bands were normal functioning human beings and did most of the booking themselves, which made it a lot easier and more fun. You could just e-mail a band from NYC to come down on a weekend - and that was that. Soon these bands started to pass my info on to other people, and slowly but surely I started doing more and more shows with more and more bands.

What are the best venues in Philly for emerging artists and why?
I think Johnny Brenda’s is the best smaller to mid-sized room on the east coast right now. They have the most chill and friendly staff, great sound and the balcony rules. So many bands have come through there and have fallen in love with the room. I am so psyched that it exists in Philly!

What’s the best show you’ve ever done?
In a few weeks, the answer will be Andrew WK’s spoken word presentation entitled “The Glory Of Our Time,” but until that happens, I think it was Godspeed You Black Emperor at the 4040 in 2000. 800 people totally mesmerized - you could hear a pin drop.

What does Philly’s music scene need most right now?
More record stores would be great, but as far as a “scene” is concerned, I think a big help would be bands booking and producing their own events. There are so many weird and unused spaces in Philadelphia. If bands took advantage of these alternative venues, shows would seem more like a special event, instead of just the usual pay $10 to stand in a black boxed room, drink a beer and have a bunch of loud music and lights flash at you for three hours straight.

Where do you see R5 in ten years?
Hopefully doing a bunch of different events like picnics, movie screenings, the “r5k” -a 5k run for indie/punk kids, complete with slip and slide finish line. Just doing shows gets boring pretty quick - we need to get some variety in there!

This interview was also featured in City Paper’s Music Exchange section.

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