40 Watt Club
Athens, Georgia
Unlike most storied music houses, the walls of the 40 Watt Club haven't heard decades of history making — but that's mostly just because it's moved so damn many times. Currently settled into some digs on Washington, this venue was instrumental in the rise of America's punk and new wave scene, playing host to bands like Pylon, Love Tractor, Indigo Girls, Modern Skirts, and R.E.M. — in fact, the ex-wife of R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck is now the owner. These days, it's the home base for acts like of Montreal, The Whigs, and the Drive-By Truckers, serving notice that while the address may have changed, the club's importance has not.
