Warehouse, Hot Fudge and Penny Lame →

Over the past two years, post-punk quintet Warehouse has risen to prominence in Atlanta’s thriving underground music scene. Tesseract, the band’s debut, released on Bayonet Records (founded by Beach Fossils’ Dustin Payseur and his wife, Katie Garcia), captured the attention of national audiences and press outlets with its busy dual guitar work and singer Elaine Edenfield’s guttural growls. Since then, the band has spent time in New York recording a follow-up album, and recent live shows have consisted almost entirely of this new material, showcasing a band with more pointed melodicism. Athens psych-rockers Hot Fudge and singer-songwriter Jianna Justice’s Penny Lame project open Saturday’s show.

Damien Rice and My Bubba →

Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice takes his time when making a new album. Embarking on a solo career after his band Juniper dissolved in the late ’90s, Rice has released three full-lengths in the span of 13 years. His most recent, 2014’s My Favourite Faded Fantasy, finds the troubadour addressing the dissolution of his relationship with partner and musical collaborator Lisa Hannigan with heartbreaking honesty. The eight-song collection follows in the footsteps of Rice’s breakout album, O, and sophomore effort, 9; his lilting voice soars over finger-plucked acoustic guitars, with additional strings and pianos adding emotional gravitas.

Wand, Arbor Labor Union and Shade →

Los Angeles-based band Wand has kept extremely busy since forming in 2013. The group released its debut album on fellow California fuzz-maker Ty Segall’s God? imprint in 2014 before setting off on tour supporting Segall himself. Wand has since recorded and released two more albums spanning the gamut of sludgy riffs, mind-altering jams and fantastical lyrics seemingly pulled from your favorite RPG. However, the band shouldn’t be written off as simply another psych-rock clone in a genre that tends to produce much of the same; its devotion to development and evolution of sound over such a short period of time proves the trio still has much in store. Athens groups Shade and Arbor Labor Union (formerly Pinecones) open the show.

Archers of Loaf and Monsoon →

Archers of Loaf (Photo by Sandlin Gaither)

Indie stalwarts Archers of Loaf made a career out of supplying Generation X with thoughtful, distorted noise-pop. The Chapel Hill, NC, four-piece—led by sometime Athenian and Crooked Fingers mastermind Eric Bachmann—rose to underground fame during the early-‘90s alt-rock boom, issuing four albums before tiring of the constant record-to-tour cycle. After a surprise return to the stage in 2011—which begat a double live album released earlier this year—and a sensible catalog re-issue by North Carolina label Merge, the band is set to hit the road once again, stopping by the 40 Watt this Saturday. Local trio Monsoon will provide opening support.

Light the Night Benefit →

In August, Flagpole spoke with Durham “Durs” Henderson about changes coming to his local house-show venue, Rowdy Dowdy. With residents graduating and moving away, the future of the DIY spot, which hosted its final blowout event on the Fourth of July, was unclear. Partygoers can rejoice once more, though; the Dowdy folks have teamed with Creature Comforts for an organized night of debauchery, art and fundraising. In addition to a four-band bill, headlined by Florida transplants Roadkill Ghost Choir, Dowdy’s return will incorporate art installations, a raffle and a silent auction to raise money for Light the Night, a coordinated walk much like Relay for Life that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Cusses, Cinemechanica and Double Ferrari →

Savannah band Cusses makes a lot of noise for a trio. Taking cues from both the boisterous, arena-ready hard rock of the ‘80s and the Riot Grrrl movement that followed, Cusses creates songs that pummel and propel, featuring rapid-fire guitar riffs and singer Angel Bond’s standout voice. The group’s recently released four-song EP, Here Comes the Rat, is a solid continuation of the groundwork laid on its 2012 self-titled debut, and precedes an already planned forthcoming full-length, Golden Rat. The band joins Athens heavy-hitters Cinemechanica and Double Ferrari at the Caledonia on Friday. The use of earplugs is greatly encouraged.

Strand of Oaks and Tedo Stone →

HEAL, Indiana native Tim Showalter’s emotionally gripping 2014 release, was the sound of trying times. Writing and recording the appropriately titled album was a means for Showalter to exorcise personal demons. A near-death car accident, a house fire and marital problems all served as source material for the record, which showcases the Hoosier-turned-Philadelphian’s songwriting versatility, with ballads (“Wait For Love”), shredding (“Goshen ‘97,” featuring J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.) and plenty of synth-y forays (“Same Emotions,” “Woke Up To The Light” and “Plymouth”). Local songwriter Tedo Stone and his band open with their own take on rudimentary rock.

Laser Background, co co ri co and Half Acid →

The solo project of Philadelphia multi-instrumentalist Andy Molholt—whose excellent 2013 LP, Super Future Montage, was influenced by childhood, Roald Dahl and candy—Laser Background is a vehicle for Molholt to grapple with the ills of the world through music and polish it up with a twee sheen. His latest effort, the three-song Kelly Wisdom EP, finds the songwriter jovially waxing poetic on the human condition over drum machines and fizzy guitars, offering up chunks of insight and truth with a cartoon-like vocal delivery. Athens experimental outfit Half Acid and indie-pop group co co ri co, which features members of Reptar and Muuy Biien, head up Thursday’s bill.

New Madrid, Triathalon and Woodfangs →

New Madrid elevated its game in 2014 with the release of sophomore album Sunswimmer. Produced by David Barbe at Chase Park Transduction, the group expanded its summer-evening guitar-twang repertoire, experimenting with more atmospheric textures and sturdier songs, like the driving "Manners" and chugging "Forest Gum.” Their headlining slot at the 40 Watt this Friday may also include some new material the band has been fleshing out at Normaltown Hall. New Madrid hits the road this March with Diamond Rugs, which features members of Black Lips, Deer Tick and Athens’ own T. Hardy Morris. Savannah's surfy, Motown-inspired Triathalon and Athens psych-rockers Woodfangs open Friday’s show.