World Cafe

Before launching the Drive-By Truckers, Patterson Hood moved to Athens, Georgia and started handing out cassette tapes of some early solo songs to everyone he met. A decade later he rediscovered that early work and decided to make it the cornerstone of his album, Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs). On the next World Cafe, hear the 2009 session where Hood talks about it, as a part of the Sense of Place: Athens series.

Athens, Georgia band Telemarket is fronted by Adam Wayton, who also runs his own studio and record label, books a local venue, and plays in two other bands. He says that being part of multiple projects isn’t unusual in Athens, a city full of musicians who all seem to be connected. For our Sense of Place: Athens series, Adam talks about what it’s like to make new music in a place with so much music history, and shares songs from Telemarket’s new album, Ad Nauseum. That’s on the next World Cafe.

In 1976, the members of The B-52’s shared a flaming volcano cocktail before jamming for the first time. A fitting start for a band known for their flamboyant style and quirky songwriting, and the beginning of a long journey together. On the next World Cafe, hear The B-52’s final World Cafe session as part of our Sense of Place: Athens series, where the band reflects on their 45+ year career, as well as live performances of some of their most memorable songs.

A great local record shop is more than just a place to buy records, it can also be a gathering place for the local music scene, and that’s exactly what Wuxtry Records has been for Athens, Georgia since the 1970’s. Owner Dan Wall talks about keeping vinyl alive, and about some of the famous folks who’ve worked at Wuxtry, like Danger Mouse and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck. Sense of Place: Athens continues, on the next World Cafe.

The 40 Watt Club is as legendary as New York’s CBGB or L.A.’s Whiskey a Go-Go, but it’s located in Athens, Georgia: population about 130,000. Longtime owner Barrie Buck talks about hosting bands like Nirvana and the Replacements, and shares what makes the 40 Watt so special on Sense of Place: Athens, next time on World Cafe.

R.E.M. is everywhere in Athens, Georgia. They played at the 40-Watt Club, had their music spun on the University of Georgia’s radio station WUOG, and named their album, Automatic for the People, after a local cafe’s sign, all while inspiring whole generations of Athens musicians in their wake. For our Sense of Place: Athens series, we’re revisiting our 2022 conversation with R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe. That’s on the next World Cafe.