Jbird
Kick Henry Jackassowski
As far as 50w goes, I agree.This is becoming my go-to suggestion for the "under $1k" budget. Most venues that you'll be playing won't handle a 50 watt amp without a master volume. I like the Fender 1968 Deluxe Reverb reissue but not the 1965. The best thing is to go to a music store and make some noise though. See what you dig (bring your own guitar though).
I have the EVH III mini head, 50w.
The other day I was jamming with my buddy Paul on guitar too, and his son on drums. I never had the master volume past 3. In a small club with a crowd it would be overkill anything past 4. Luckily the amp has a good preamp that still sounds good without having to crank the master.
30w would still be loud. I have a friend from work that used to play in a funk band. I went and saw them many times in clubs around the Kalamazoo area. My friend Will would usually use his Roland G-100 pedals thru their PA, but he always had a backup amp, a Roland Cube 15w. He used the 15w a couple of times that I saw them and it was plenty loud enough even in crowded clubs. Though again he was running it thru the PA...