10/27/2026
After sunday's overly emotional post, lets keep it a little light today. Because its TUESDAY BAAYBEEEE! AND WE'RE STILL BEIN SWEET ON OTHER FOLKS IN THIS TOWN WHO DESERVE YOUR SUPPORT (because if you still haven't heard, or if this is somehow your first time reading one of these -- being a small business is a TOUGH gig, especially these days). More and more little shops keep closing week after week and its tough to watch your town change and get increasingly... gentrified? Is that the word i want? You know what i mean. Like, there's a Target downtown now. What the hell is that all about? Anyways, without any more hemmin' or hawin' --
I have no idea how the 40 Watt Club does what it does and remains as awesome as it is. Everybody knows they're the coolest music venue in town (don't even come at me with the Georgia Theater -- you were way cooler before you burned down and we all know it), but what you maybe don't know is that every single person i've ever met that works there -- and i've met A LOT of the folks over the years -- can only be described a "righteous dudes". Especially the HBIC Jim Wilson. Let me tell you a little story that i take every opportunity to tell people because it meant so damn much to me.
First off, just so you're aware -- we are directly across the street from each other. We serve coffee to their folks pretty frequently -- sometimes we're lucky enough to serve some of the acts coming through (Patton Oswalt coming and hanging out at my cafe and chatting with my about my stupid cocktail names that are all pop-culture references was a particular highlight of my career). To say we're acquainted with each other is an understatement. This relationship has certain perks that you just don't get in other industries -- athens service industry is pretty cool that way. So when one of my favorite bands of all time came through a number of years ago (Jimmy Eat World -- if you grew up in the 90s, you also love them), i was invited to be "put on the list" so that i could come check out the show after i was able to get out from behind the bar.
Now, if you know me at all, you know i have a little bit of apprehension around large groups of people -- i wouldn't go as far as saying i'm enochlophobic but i certainly get very anxious when i'm stuck in large groups. Buses, airports, live music, even crowded restaurants are all anxiety inducing nightmares for me. So, while i love live music -- my desire to actually go to a show is usually pretty hampered by this. Despite having lived in Athens for almost 20 years, i can count on one hand the number of shows i've actually gone to. So when i was invited to be put on the list (because they knew i loved Jimmy -- i told you they're ritgheous dudes over there) i politely declined because i knew i wouldn't have a good time. And you know what the people at the 40 Watt did for me? They put me on the list anyways, insisted i come by after my shift, and let me stand in the back behind the sound board where the only other person near me was the sound guy and i got to finally see what turned out to be one of the best shows i've ever seen. Jimmy Eat World knew the crowd was a bunch of 30 somethings and they played THE HITS. Basically the entirety of Bleed American and Futures with a little bit of Clarity thrown in for good measure. And i would have missed it had it not been for (probably in their mind) the tiny act of kindness that they extended to me just to make me feel comfortable. Tiny for them, huge beyond measure for me. That's something i can't ever pay back. That's something that doesn't happen in other towns. That's the kind of thing that i point to when i people ask why i still live in my college town over 20 years later. Because there is still a number of locals and townies that really look out for each other. I think the word is COMMUNITY. Athens still has it if you know where to look.
Which is ultimately the reason i'm still doing this -- because you never know when you'll have another chance to give another homie their flowers. And the 40 Watt deserves a whole bouquet -- only the finest red roses. Because we love you guys. We're blowin' kisses at you from across the street. You can't dodge them all.
Ooops, i forgot to keep it light. Oh well. I am what i am.
