Long Island-based Laura Stevenson and The Cans will make their second trip to Athens when they bring what Punknews.org describes as “unpretentious indie-tinged pop music” to the Union Wednesday at 10 p.m. The show is presented by ACRN.

Front woman Stevenson, a member of the punk music collective Bomb the Music Industry!, began writing music during a self-described dark time in her life.

“My songs were fueled by a lot of soft serve and frozen yogurt,” Stevenson said. “I'd been writing, but there was no actual vision.”

“Then I began piecing ideas together and getting better as a songwriter. People began noticing and I started collecting friends from other bands in Long Island. Now we have a solid group touring and playing all the time and it's really fun.”

Regarding the name of her band, The Cans, Stevenson is warming up to the moniker, although she initially didn't like the nonsensical name.

“I kind of actually love [the name] and hate it at the same time,” Stevenson said, laughing. "[The name] really has no significance other than the fact that it gives young boys license to talk about my boobs, which is unfortunate."

Improper anatomical passes aside, Stevenson's penchant for poignant, heart-achingly sincere folk-pop songs resonates throughout her four releases. Stevenson pulls at the heartstrings in softer numbers such as “Holy Ghost!” and “Nervous Rex,” and she gets a little rowdy in the alt-country track “Amphibian,” off of her most recent release A Record + 3.

The musical range of The Cans varies, which is a good thing, according to Stevenson.

“We stick out like sore thumbs in whatever group we run with, whether it's the punk kids, or the folk kids, or the indie-rock kids,” Stevenson said. “But I think it's a good thing that we don't fit into any particular genre or scene.”

The Athens musical scene is rife with bands of various sounds and genres, which was one of many likable aspects of the town, according to Stevenson.

“We hung out with the dudes in Spooktober and She Bears and we went to some diner where I think I freaked out a waitress,” Stevenson said. “I ordered an iced coffee and she looked at me like I was crazy.”

“Later on we checked out [The Union], and it was really cool. I'm really psyched to come back to Athens and play there."

Because of her punk roots in Bomb the Music Industry! or otherwise, the punk scene has been the first of presumably many to heap praise onto Stevenson's wistful take on pop music, with Punknews.org describing her sound as “unpretentious indie-tinged pop music.”

“I don't really know what 'indie' music means,” Stevenson said, laughing. “But I like unpretentious.”

A member of Bomb the Music Industry!, ever the champions of the DIY scene, Stevenson used the time for some tongue-in-cheek self-promotion.

“Come to the show! It will be fun and unpretentious!”

The show, presented by ACRN, will feature Stomp the Condor, The Ghost of Asa Phelps and She Bears. Cover is $5.