The bad news: Your live music options have been somewhat compromised by the occurrence of the third annual Savage Henry Magazine Comedy Festival. The good news: the third annual Savage Henry Magazine Comedy Festival. Please see elsewhere in the Journal for the full scoop on the funny.

Friday: Get ripped

Local blues favorites Buddy Reed & the Rip It Ups transform The Westhaven Center for the Arts from an art gallery to a lowdown, dirty, gut bucket blues dance hall as part of the center's monthly jazz and blues series. You'd think a guy who has shared the stage with Muddy Waters, Big Momma Thornton, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, etc., might be content to rest upon his well-earned laurels. You'd be wrong. For the uninitiated, Arizona Blues Hall of Fame member Reed performs seven days a week around town. Impressive. The Rip It Ups consists of Rick Ryno (drums), David Bethuy (bass) and Andy Fihn (harmonica). Cover is a sliding scale of $5 to $10 with refreshments available. Portion of proceeds benefit the Westhaven Center for the Arts. Show runs from 7 p.m to 9 p.m.

Saturday: Back-to-school nights

As noted last week, the students are back and, as DJs Matt'n'Adam put it, "pushing their way into our Co-op lines, our restaurants and our hearts." They, along with DJ Red and Jaymorg, would like you to join them in introducing Humboldt State University's newest recruits to the best reason to skip out on school work — the ever-popular dancetastic Soul Night, happening at Humboldt Brews at 9 p.m. Featuring all vinyl. As in albums, not outfits. You do have to be 21-or-over, tickets are a brilliant $5.

For another take on higher ed, Bay Area rockers The Sorority bring a raw and rapid sound reminiscent of 1980s groundbreakers The Lazy Cowgirls to the Alibi. Show is 21-and-over, cover is $5, things get started around 11 p.m. Fortuna's The Real DTs round out the bill.

Sunday: This will be great

A listen to Austin psych-pop quartet Tele Novella inspires us to highlight the band's Sunday gig at the Palm Lounge as Your Show of the Week. "Don't Be A Stranger," from new EP Cosmic Dial Tone, bops along, Natalie Gordon's vocals layered sweetly over a salty crunch of sound provided by Jason Chronis (bass, vocals), Sarah La Puerta (keyboards) and Matt Simon (drums). The single "Trouble in Paradise" seduces even further, reminiscent of that state between fully awake and not-quite-asleep and evoking Tele Novella's nocturnal leanings. Cool trivia note: The quartet also contributed a version of The Velvet Underground's "Stephanie Says" to much-lauded Wes Anderson tribute compilation I Saved Latin! Eureka's The Monster Women joins. Show is 21-and-over, starts at 9 p.m. and a $5 donation to the band is suggested.

One of my favorite all-male trios, Nipplepotamus, is also playing Sunday night. Find the band's surfy/psych/acid/punk sounds at the Logger Bar, 9 p.m., along with PDX's doom metal masters Mammoth Salmon. Free, 21-and-over.

Monday: I Block, you block, everybody block

Laborers, celebrate your day at the 29th annual I Block Party, a benefit for the Arcata-Camoapa Sister City Project, raising money for clean water and education projects in Camoapa, Nicaragua. The BBQ-albacore-chicken-tofu-Nicaragua-beer-cold-drinks-desserts-silent-auction- raffle-kids'-area-free-face-painting-filled fest kicks off at noon and goes till 6 p.m. with live music from Lizzy and the Moonbeams, Raising Grain and The Latin Peppers. Dancing is encouraged, admission is free. On I Street between 10th and 11th.

Comatose returning, Creamery rising

Considering how they've been blowing up, the fact that the members of The Brothers Comatose are once again gracing the Humboldt Brews stage is impressive. Don't miss this extremely fun, talented ripping bluegrass band Thursday, Sept. 3. Tickets are $15, recommended in advance, show starts at 9 p.m. and is 21-and-over.

The Arcata Playhouse is back up and running after a quiet summer with music from Bay Area seven-piece Supermule on Thursday, Sept. 4. Supermule is a super group of superbly talented musicians who play a bluegrass-inflected mix of catchy originals, plus covers from artists as diverse as Bill Withers and Bill Monroe. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with show time at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 general and $13 Playhouse and HFS members and are available at Wildwood Music, Wildberries or at 822-1575.

As you're planning ahead, note that the Playhouse continues its new season with The Bills on Sept. 17, Portland rocker Casey Neill and his Norway Rats on Sept. 26, and singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks with Jenny Scheinman on the bill Oct. 2. Full lineup and more information at www.arcataplayhouse.org.

Etc.

Full show listings in the Journal's Music and More grid, the Eight Days a Week calendar and online. Bands and promoters, send your gig info, preferably with a high-res photo or two, to music@northcoastjournal.com.