Remember what it's like to be fifteen?  Music is your whole world and every show you want to go to is 21 and up. The only beacon of glory then, and now: DIY all-ages scenes like Berkeley, Ca.’s Gilman Street, breeding ground for bands like Operation Ivy, Green Day, Rancid, Dead Kennedys, et. al., and downtown L.A.’s The Smell. On the East Coast, Philadelphia’s response is an operation called R5 Productions.

R5 Productions is owned and operated by suburban Philly native Sean Agnew. It was named for the regional railroad line he would’ve taken to get to Philadelphia from the Main Line area where he grew up. In 1996, Agnew, who Philadelphia Weekly dubbed the city’s “last indie man standing,” founded the concert promotion agency upon the principles of providing inexpensive all-ages shows in a friendly, non-aggressive atmosphere.

In the spirit of true punk rock, there are no bouncers, no re-entry restrictions, no barriers, and no overpriced water bottles. Even now, with concert prices inflating to counteract diminishing record sales, most R5 shows remain under fifteen bucks. All of these elements promote a pure and authentic connection between the fans, the music, and the artists.

Venues for R5 shows include various small to medium-sized club locations, halls, warehouses, basements, colleges and universities. But the majority of R5 shows take place in the basement of the First Unitarian Church in Center City. This holy house has become a meeting ground for these sweaty and intimate performances for both local and national acts. They've hosted everyone from Philly heroes Jai Alai Savant and the now-defunct This Day Forward to Bright Eyes, Anti-Flag, Dr. Dog, Against Me! and the Go! Team.

In the same spirit of commonality and unity that the company is built upon, while there is a backstage area, many of the artists mingle and hang around the crowd throughout the night. The partnership between R5 and The First Unitarian works out well because the church supports the idea of providing a safe, drug- and alcohol-free social option for youths.

The success of R5 seems based on the right combination of professionalism and a “for the kids, by the kids” ethos. The company uses full professional sound systems, and essentially does all the work a normal live music venue could accomodate.

They manage to keep prices low and even pay the bands more than a larger club could.  Often the payout ends up being more than the actual agreed-upon guarantee because of the greatly reduced overhead and expense tallies.

While other Philly venues, such as the warehouse-style Electric Factory, have lost their authenticity and rock ‘n’ roll edge in favor of a Clear Channel-indebted, barrier-restrictive, advertisement-laden sterile corporation, R5 remains true to its independent commitment despite Clear Channel’s attempts to take over Agnew’s venues.

In addition to rock shows, R5 hosts a variety of fun, low-cost, and community-based punk-rock inspired events. The legendary semi-annual Punk Rock Flea Market and the fourth annual Making Time New Years Eve Celebration are two well-known R5 productions.

On Saturday, December 22 they held the Punk Rock Flea Market Holiday Edition. The summer edition hosted over 2,500 local Philly hipsters and 100 vendor tables. This is not a strictly punk-based offering of music and clothes, but a full-on DIY lifestyle flea market, replete with everything from furniture, computers, stereo equipment, hand-made goods and art, vegan baked goods, bikes/skateboards, as well as music, books, clothes, and information from various non-profit groups. The flea markets take place at another R5-affiliated club, the more elegant and grown-up Starlight Ballroom, providing a full-service kitchen and bar, but remains all-ages.

Proceeds go back into the company itself, and are used to purchase necessary equipment and supplies to ensure a prosperous and affordable future relationship between R5 and The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia.

Shortly after the flea market on when else but NEW YEAR’S EVE, is the annual wild and crazy Making Time New Years Eve Celebration! This event is hosted by the local dance club Making Time. It is a six-and-a-half hour party from 9 pm to 3:30 am, and includes all you can drink domestic and well drinks for $30- far more affordable and more crazy fun than most overly swank New Year’s Eve celebrations in the city. Music fans even get champagne toast at midnight. Sparks, confetti, balloons, fake snow, lasers, fog and general good time amenities make this three-floor music event a favorite. 

*Sorry kiddos- this one is a 21-and-up event, but it's the only one.

Other all-age shows coming up through R5 include Super Furry Animals, Born Ruffians, the Liars and No Age, and Xui Xui.

Ultimately, with R5, Sean Agnew has created one of the most influential DIY concert promotion agencies in the country and one of the longest running independent agencies in Philadelphia. Embracing the DIY, "for the kids" ethos has made the company more than an outlet for music. R5 is a iconic representation of Philadelphia’s independent, grassroots, equalitarian history. And moreso, a symbol for what’s important about independent music: freedom, a commitment to one’s values, and a self-made, non-corporate, non-discriminating spirit.