Eyedrum

I am so bummed. We went last night to Eyedrum for the first time to see the Black Lips/​Deerhunter show. The sound was so horrible we didn’t even make it through the Deerhunter set. A sad tragedy because I’ve seen them both at other even smaller venues in Atlanta (the Earl) and it was seriously rocked out.
I know this place is supposed to be non-​profit and funded by volunteers and other supporters… that’s cool, but seriously your sound system is in DIRE need of help.

Like this place a lot –
Grungy enough to have its own character and attract those who are taking risks…
…and yet established enough to care about its longevity and to not lose its niche.
Has that open, sprawling feel of unfinished art space, along with wine poured at makeshift stations, but it all works here in a nice, off-​the-​beaten path sort of way.
Good vibe, colorful personalities, and definitely worth coming down for, when there’s an opening or a show.

I’ve been to several events at Eyedrum and I have to say it is definitely one of my favorites.
Pros:
— Enormous amount of space for any event. It’s not like a lot of other galleries that are crammed into a 200 sq ft box. This place is huge and has multiple rooms for many different possible setups. I hardly recognize it each time I go because the decoration possibilities are endless.
— Plenty of parking and also very close to the MLK Marta station.
— Across the street from Daddy D’s BBQ. Smells great while you are at whatever event you are attending, and tastes amazing too.
Cons:
— It usually gets pretty hot in there. Even for a New Years party I attended where it was super cold outside and the doors were open, it was still like an oven inside.
— The bathroom. Bleh. Usually gross (not as bad as MJQ, but in the running) and you have to walk through a sketchy corridor to get there. There are only 2 – 3 stalls which is an unacceptable number for such a large venue.
Overall, love this place. I am always happy to find out a band I love is playing there or some funky event is taking place there. Just go to the bathroom before you go and wear a tank top so you don’t get too sweaty.

Eyedrum is probably the best performance and gallery space in Atlanta. I remember damaging my hearing in their Trinity Street digs long ago, where shows were cheap and the basement stage cramped. Thankfully, Eyedrum is still cheap, still great, and has a much bigger space.

Came here for the Day of the Dead show and walked away a fan of Uncle Daddy and the Kissin’ Cousins. Besides the art show itself (who doesn’t love an array of uniquely decorated mini coffins?), the band was very entertaining! The washtub bass player made it look easy (it’s not) and the banjo player rocked! The doll-​themed portraits in the front of the gallery were sort of creepy, but my friend’s critique (delightfully inappropriate) made me laugh so hard, I choked on my beer and practically made a scene with my convulsive coughing. I’ve been to quite a few shows at Eyedrum over the years and they’re always memorable.

I enjoy the strange and/​or hipster artistic events that Eyedrum often hosts. For example, last night, I attended Creative Loafing’s Fiction Contest Party in this urban, graffiti-​fied space.
Eyedrum’s only downfalls are:
1. temperature control (It’s always blisteringly hot in the summer and freezing in the cold months).
2. the gross bathroom, accessed by walking through an etch-​and-​sketch, isolated corridor
Anywho, I’ve seen several local bands perform at Eyedrum, in support of the main art show or other community function. Some of the bands were insanely cacophonous, while others, such as yesterday’s Night Moves Gold, rocked with its lounge-​like, mellow tunes.
Eyedrum’s people-​watching is fantastic, I must point out. For example, at a recent art opening, I spotted this lanky chick donning a tight-​red bodysuit get-​up, with a cotton ball stuck to her buns.
So I touched it and said, «Boop!»
You don’t put a cotton ball on your buns and not expect people to be moved to touch it and say, «Boop!»
Anyway, I asked the ruby lady for her name, and she said, all serious, «The Red Rabbit.»
Apparently, that is her identity when out and about. How delightfully eccentric!
Oh, Eyedrum. Oh, Atlanta.

Eyedrum is one of the few places in Atlanta where you can see performance art, and all sorts of alternatives to commercial art, whether in the music, film, visual or theatrical areas. They have regular (open) improvisational music jam sessions, Andy Warhol movies, funky art shows and live music, (which can be very hit or miss). I’ve seen several memorable shows here — The Claudia Quintent was one — a phenomenal group of contemporary jazz musicians; another was a mixed media political piece which incorporated silent film, live music and visual art. Eyedrum is a volunteer-​run organization. If there was anything I would change about Eyedrum, it would be 1) less noise-​music programming (more music!); and 2) create a more classy and inviting atmosphere with wood flooring a la Zeitgeist in Boston

This is the best place to view/​listen/​absorb multi-​disciplinary arts in its finest hour. Art, music, film, theater, literature events. .. they are all housed here.
It is also the home of some of the best kept secrets. .. free– form all invited improv music the first Thursday of every month, the Film Love series, gallery openings that include some amazing music. If you become a member you get in to just about all of the events for free. .. as an individual that’s only $ 40 a year!
For newcomers — it can be hard to find — don’t forget the SE in the addy if you are mapping it. Bring your own toilet paper as the building doesn’t seem to have enough. If it’s hot or cold out — you will be hot or cold inside. If you are in anyway squeemish of the trash that seems to blow in from the street to the front of the building — or the spray paint — or the smokers in the front of the building — than honestly — you shouldn’t have ventured outside of the clean confines of the High Museum. If you are willing to look beyond all of those «things» — than maybe, just maybe you could walk on inside and find something to think about.

My first experience with the Eye Drum was last weekend when I went to see No Age and discovered that I’m really into «tropical punk» music and my new favorite band is Abe Vigoda.
Eye Drum is an art space and art spaces double as some of the best music venues since they are usually well lit and loose that dark rock bar feel that’s usually cliché when you get up there in years.
Eye Drum had nice open white walls with very amatuer art which was amusing to me because I’m such an art snob (self professed; si señor).
The high table that doubled has the bar served wine and (gasp!) PBR, your choice for $ 3.00USD (sorry no peso conversions this time).
Since it was an all age show, Jojo felt really springy and was dying to leave because everyone was so old and the temperature was perfectly air conditioned.
Parking at Eye Drum is your choice of gated abandoned warehouse dirt or the VIP copter landing pad usually reservered for snake eyes and he-​man (just kidding, the copter pad really is at Grady for the mental and uninsured).
Go to eye drum, tell John the ticket guy you like to talk loudly during performance art and he might show you the house collection of fab french cut trousers.

I went to eyedrum for the first time to see Leslie Hall and the LYs, and I was intrigued by the space. It was difficult to find at first, but only because it shares the same address as the building next door. After working around that, we parked in a VERY dark parking lot (yikes!), and made our way inside.
I thought the whole «art space» environment was definitely cool, and I thought it was really neat what they had done with the space. However, I think it was a strange place to have a concert.
What was weird, was that they have the bar set up right next to the stage. That doesn’t make any sense, as people crowd around the bar… I would move that, but that is just my two cents.
Overall, I enjoyed the show, and the drinks were cheap. I like that it is a performance space, and one that is (I presume) non-​profit and a zone of sheer creative energy. I would go back again, but would prefer a larger parking lot… especially considering that this isn’t in the best part of town.

I went during a very busy event. WRAS 88.5 was hosting a night of bands there (called WRASfest) and me and my friends decided to check it out. While I’m sure it was much different than when there are hundreds of people rocking out, I checked out all of the art on the walls as I slowly walked by and was impressed by their rawness and inventiveness. For example, one artist seemed to really dig taking sex toys and making them into strangely futuristic exhibits that made me think of them as anything but sex toys. I highly recommend this place for someone looking for alternatives to the bigger and more ‘refined’ art galleries. Support your local artists!

This was my first art gallery outting with my pals Jessie and Bryan, and it was a very cool place. Local artists display their art– not your typical foo-​foo art, its more raw and cutting edge. The place is in a off warehouse kind of site, and it shares the same address as a neighboring building, which is a bit strange. Try not to have to use the bathroom, cause the bathroom is quite a walk, and it’s not exactly stellar. just try not to pee if you don’t have to. What else? Well it’s free, it’s supporting local art– so it’s a cool outting with friends before you head to the bars.

EyeDrum speaks to my heart and soul. It’s odd to find a place that feels like home, inspires, amazes, and welcomes you with open arms. That is the atmosphere they cultivate at EyeDrum. An Art Community where they welcome change and open ideas.
I wasn’t hip to EyeDrum when it was at the old space, I’m the privileged younger sibling who has only performed in the new space. An amazing space with so many possibilities. Small, medium, and large galleries, a stage for musical and dramatic performances, screen for, well screening films, and a bar on wheels.
I hope that the public will continue to embrace EyeDrum. It is important to have a place where young artists can discover what it means to have experienced artists view your work and give constructive, honest feedback in a supportive environment.
The silo is actually starting to grow on me.

Eyedrum is great! Essential to the art community, especially the younger artists, Eyedrum hosts lots of exhibitions, film screenings, and performances. It’s a great alternative to both smoky clubs and pretentious galleries.

I had an art show here last semester and it was really cool. It’s just an open area that allows acts or art projects from pretty much any line — paintings, media, entertainment, etc. I was part of Georgia Tech’s Listening Machines night, and it was a lot of fun.

A pretty hip place for avant garde art and music, located right in the gentrification zone of MLK. I’ve seen some pretty cool stuff here, and you can always be sure that they’re going to put on a show of things you won’t see anywhere. I’ve seen video installation art, found photography, all kinds of bands from the Paper Chase to Acid Mothers Temple to weird locals, and so on.
It’s an absolutely awesome space: industrial style building made up to look clean and modern. A very comfortable setting for the kind of stuff they like to show here.
They have a gated lot that is pretty huge though on busy nights it overflows into the Mattress Factory Lofts parking located right next door.
Daddy D’z is right across the street, so make a night out of it: BBQ and then edgy art. Right?

Eyedrum is a very artsy place indeed. Yet the aspiring musicians are far from pretentious. The crowd here is friendly and genuinely interested in art, film, and music, which makes for good conversation. I completely recommend this venue if you share those interests and would like to meet similar people. Atlanta’s artists are impressive. Eyedrum is swelling with local talent… even if this isn’t your scene, support the arts and check it out!

What an amazing place… I’ve lived all over the US and there’s no other place like it… a former collective gone legit. Outsider art, insider art, art students… all are welcome and worthy. If you live in Atlanta and you are serious about art, no matter what its form, you need to go to eyedrum.

Quirky, cool, eccentric, hipster, artsy, a little weird. I wish Atlanta had more of this!
Check out their excellent website for up to date schedules and exhibit info.

Amazing Venue for art shows, readings, or concerts. Very DIY and the attitiude given off by the place doesn’t allow people to look down their noses at other people. Small drink selection when shows are going on but that’s all you really need. Don’t miss out on this place, make it a point to stop by and support them!