40 Watt Club

The best venue in Athens. Possibly in the state of Georgia as well. I adore the 40 watt. I love the venue, the staff and bands that come here. You know who you are.

show was great. but the bartender LOST my debit card and then gave me attitude when i told her she gave me the wrong card. when i told her it wasn’t my card she handed me off to someone else like i had an attitude problem. completely unprofessional & disrespectful. make sure you show them your ID if you start a tab because they clearly don’t know what they’re doing.

Grungy in all the right ways. I would love to see some bigger names at the 40 Watt like the Georgia Theatre. I can understand why this isn’t plausible quite so much size wise, but it would be amazing to see more big names and variety there.

Love it. Especially the LIVE SHOWS!
I did a belly dance performance last winter at 40 Watt, and it was so fun. I invited my friends to come watch show, and they enjoyed it and the bar. I’m gonna do another belly dancing performance at the end of this April. Everyone who’s interested, please come and have fun with me !!!

I’ve only been to the 40 Watt club once so far and my experience was good! The venue is small, but the important thing is that acoustically it’s good (this is in comparison to some Atlanta venues). Though small, the club has been around for some time. Bands like REM have played at the venue.
Inside the club there are 2 bars on opposite walls and some seating towards the back. On the left hand side of the stage there looks like there was a room with a pool table. I wasn’t curious enough to check it out.
As far as the crowd, for obvious reasons, expect it to be college age. I did notice that it cost an extra $ 2 for a ticket if you were under 21 for the show I attended.
The only thing I’ll fault them on was the bartenders attitude. The bartenders seemed a bit rude, but I think I would be too if were dealing with college students who just turned 21 all the time.
Overall 4 stars for a good venue with little wrong. I’m looking forward to my next visit!

Went to Sold Out Elf Power/​Deerhunter show. Super unprepared staff were not ready for the volume of people. 3 hour plus wait and I missed most of the opening band which is who I came to see. I have been to hundreds of events of all kinds and have never had to wait more than a couple of minutes. Totally disorganized staff ruined this show for me. AGAIN, THAT WAS A THREE HOUR WAIT TO GET INTO A TINY VENUE.

I’ve seen two shows here: Frank Black in the late ‘90s and Frightened Rabbit two days ago. Both very memorable shows in a relatively intimate setting. I’m tempted to dock them a star because Wednesday’s opening act, Augustines (who were great, by the way), had some sound issues that the in-​house sound guy seemed flummoxed by.
But that’s rock-​n-​roll, folks.
Athens is the only unqualified cool place in the state of Georgia, and the 40 Watt is at the heart of it. Keep getting great acts and I’ll keep making the drive!

Saw Butch Walker at the 40 Watt this weekend. Had a great time and found a perfect spot to watch the show by the raised bar on the left.
Only gripe is with the lack of organization. You never know if they’re going to have one line or two and the staff doesn’t communicate. Everything’s will-​call list only with no physical tickets. So if I bought tickets for anyone else and those people can’t show up until later, there’s no way to accommodate that or split the order. Supposedly it’s to cut down on scalping but I’ve never seen another venue do it this way. How about digital tickets? Also, the two lines were using different stamps and I was apparently given the wrong stamp so I couldn’t order a drink until after they got their stuff together.

40 Watt has been around for a while in different incarnations and locations and I have had the pleasure to see most of them. I don’t like to go to bars much any more because I’m, er, vintage… but make an exception for 40 Watt, which feels like home, if home were an old furniture store and former thrift shop with a stage where magic happens on a regular basis and surprise abounds. It’s a dive, but I mean that in a good way. Wondrous things go on here. Carry ear plugs in case you need them so you don’t wreck your hearing.

Excellent large capacity (around 900) club. This is a much better option than the venues in Atlanta that are similar sized (Variety, Masquerade, Roxy, etc.). They’re still booking quality bands, too. Layout is a bit similar to Toad’s in New Haven, CT (spacious single level open floor). The only issue I’ve had is they often don’t even open until 10 pm, and headliners have taken the stage at midnight or later. That’s crazy on a school night, but I guess it’s rock ‘n’ roll.

There is not a better place on the planet to see loud bands play to a packed house.
Everyone should see the Drive By Truckers at the 40 Watt at least once in their life!

Checked out a show here last night, really liked the venue. They have cheap beers with tall boy pbrs at 4 bucks a can along with some good microbrews around 5 bucks.
Air quality was good since there was no smoking and the place was comfortable as it didn’t get sweltering hot in there like some concert venues.

I went to high school about 15 miles from the fabulous 40 Watt Club. When you live in northeast Georgia as I did during my formative years that is just a hop-skip-&-jump away. Now it has to be a must see to drive that 70 absolutely boring miles from ATL to visit. Upon arrival it does not disappoint. After 30+ years the Athens staple has seen it all. I wish the walls could talk.
It is basically the CBGB’s of the South for lack of better term and using the parlance of our times. I have seen everyone from Melvins, Motorhead, Melt Banana, Low, Heiroglyphics, and even puppet shows here. The staff is very friendly and fortunately does not let the Little 5 Points attitude only an hour and a half away invade their own realm.
Go see some live music in a truly live venue!

So, I have only been here 3 times, for 3 very different shows (Old Crow Medicine Show, The Melvins, and Athfest 2010 for the Holy Liars), but I am definitely anticipating my next show there!
The $ 3 24oz PBRs and $ 4 24oz Coors Lights are a deal! And since there is no ventilation/​circulation in the place, it helps to stay hydrated =)
For all shows I was able to stand fairly close to the stage so I could see (I am short) but had I been farther back in the crowd, I would not have been able to see anything. I understand that this is to be expected though, considering this is a bar venue.
However, I have been to some bar venues in St Louis where the places are tiered, so that even if you are in the back of the bar, it is higher than the stage. But, I won’t hold this against the 40 watt.
The bartenders and nice, and the bathrooms are actually pretty clean (which is important for a girl). There are couches and chairs to sit on if you get tired and an ATM on site since some vendors don’t accept cards for merchandise.
The sound is awesome in the place and the lighting is good.

Recently saw a show here for the first time in about 17 years, and thankfully, nothing has changed.
The 40 Watt Club is proof that God exists, and of all the high falutin’ places throughout the bible belt, he has chosen an unassuming little spot in the middle of Bulldog country.
How else do you explain the vibe between the band, the crowd, and the venue, that rarely happens in most places, and yet, it seems to happen here regularly. Its GOT to be divine magic…
It doesn’t matter who is on stage, who’s watching in the audience, or who’s working the door or the bar. Always a good time, always friendly, and for a moment, we are reminded that Budweiser ads CAN come to life! That life is good, and things that we’re nostalgic for can be found again. Am very grateful that this place still exists. Amen…

I’ve been to several venues in the states and abroad and few venues come close the 40 Watt. The staff is courteous, friendly, and enthusiastic, the bartenders are fantastic, the sound is outrageously fantastic, and the caliber of shows here are nothing short of phenomenal.
Sure, I can refresh your memory or educate you on this venue’s history, or tell you of all the talent this venue has showcased throughout the years, but you will never truly understand the magic of the 40 Watt unless you’ve been there and witnessed it in all of its glory.

40 Watt! You haven’t changed! Or rather, you have changed, but not since 2001, so you felt warm and welcoming and comfortable for me.
I’m glad I came to visit. I’m even more glad I could snag a seat in the back (even though I couldn’t really see). I’m glad I showed my husband a slice of classic Athens. I’m glad that you had cheap nonalcoholic beer for me to drink (even if it was O’Douls). I’m even glad that your toilet seats don’t have pee all over them, but that’s more of a generalized sign of southern politeness rather than anything specific to you as a venue.
Thanks for sticking around, 40 Watt. There’s a reason why you’re a classic.

I bet if I had gone to UGA, I would have spent more than my fair share of saturday nights here. I went to see a Daft Punk Cover band, threw back a handful of tall boy PBRs, for about 3 bucks each. Could that be any better? I think not.
Great sound, fast staff, and an all around cool place.

I’ve come here many times, first for M.I.A. (before she got famous, when it was only $ 15!) and then for Krush Girls…
I love the space. It’s intimate and fun, and easy to find your way around. It never got too crowded and I never had a problem with the staff or getting in.
If I ever go to Athens for a concert, I always hope it’s here! :)

I have seen a lot of different types of shows here from Alela Diane to Cinemachanica to Okkervil River to the Black Lips to Vetiver. A lot of good times to be had here. A must in Athens life.
There is a very, very special place in my heart for the 40watt. First Athens show I went to was here. Saw Of Montréal and MGMT on my birthday, Halloween of 07. All I can say, magic happens at the 40watt.
A place that I’ll frequent no matter what guy I’m with or not with, no matter if friends are too busy for a show, and no matter if I’ve only got $ 20 to my name for a $ 10 show.
Long live the 40 watt!