Somehow what should have been a lackadaisical post-holiday week turns out to have a number of potentially damn fine shows. Of special note, the joy that is the Humboldt Folklife Festival starts this Saturday with the Pilot Rock Ramblers and Clean Livin' at the Mad River Brewery at 6 p.m. Other highlights include Monday's Songwriter Night featuring Mo and Morgan, Lemon Lemon Cherry and Joanne Rand in the Big Hammer Tent and Lyndsey Battle at the Logger Bar. Both shows start at 7:30 p.m. and cost $5. You've also got your Jazz Night, your Old-Timey Night, your Outlaw Country night and more. See the Journal calendar for further details.

Now, let's break our usual chronological format to highlight a particularly happy event.

Saturday: Labor of love

Here are things Tacocat, Ponytime and Chastity Belt have in common: Seattle, a certain danceability to their various forms of pop/punk/rock, and members in the "supergroup" band Childbirth. Julia Shapiro (guitar, vocals), Bree McKenna (bass, vocals) and Stacy Peck (drums) are clearly having fun, but dead serious about kicking ass, lyrically and musically. Favorite tracks include "Crossbitch" ("She'll fuck you in the eye with a needle"), "How Do Girls Even Do It?" (addictively riffy riff on how confusing lesbian sex is to the confused) and "I Only Fucked You as a Joke" (self-explanatory). The wonders of Childbirth happen at the Lil' Red, along with Colorado's Lisa Prank, who offers "makeout pop music influenced by heartbreak, stickers, psychedelic kittens, tarot cards, and dolphins leaping over rainbows!" Rounding out the bill is Eureka's own The Lost Luvs. The show is only $4, 21-and-over and starts at 9 p.m.

The rest of this week/end's recommendations, in order:

Friday: Face-melting

Fourth of July fireworks a distant memory? Do you need more explosions? No worries! A-town will literally (literally!) blow up when the experimental sludge ferocity of Tacoma's Lozen and punk-noise brilliance of Los Angeles' Qui (who boasted The Jesus Lizard's David Yow as a band mate for a time and still work with him when schedules permit, according to the band's Facebook page) land at the Jambalaya. Joining these two duos, local sweetheart garage rockers, Clean Girl & The Dirty Dishes. Cover is $5, show is 21-and-over, doors open at 9 p.m., things ignite around 10 p.m. (Note: Last week's Setlist incorrectly listed this show as being at the Alibi — it's at the Jambalya. We regret the error.)

Friday/Saturday: Love them two times

Up in Trinidad, L.A.'s bluesy rockers Hunter & The Dirty Jacks celebrate the Humboldt release of latest album Single Barrel with not one, but two nights at Cher-Ae Heights. The band's bio cites influences The Rolling Stones and the Black Crowes and a quick listen confirms both the underlying raunchy blues hooks and emphasis on rock 'n' roll. Free show, 21-and-over, 9 p.m.

Saturday: Punk! Junk!

Things get loud at the Alibi once again with Portland punk rock 'n' rollers P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. and Fortucky junk rockers The Real DT's. You may attend this show if you have an ID confirming you are at least 21 years of age. The folks who run these things will expect you to ante up the $5 cover around 10 p.m. and the ear-blistering begins 11-ish.

Saturday: You will dance

Did you get your tickets yet, fans of the gypsy-jazz? The ever exuberant Diego's Umbrella heats up Humboldt Brews once again, beginning at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and really, just get them ahead of time — people love these guys! Show is 21-and-over.

Whoa! The prodigal son returns

Possibly Blue Lake's most missed musician — frontman for the town's beloved circa-mid-2000s The Rubberneckers, yes, we're talking about the one, the only, Clay Smith — comes home to the Mad River for one night of music and mayhem at the Logger Bar, Saturday, July 19, coincidentally the final day of the Folklife Fest. If you're too new to town to remember Smith, think of your wildest, most whiskey-drenched cowpunk cousins and that'll give you a clue as to the powerful flavor of The Rubberneckers' music. We anticipate he'll bring back old favorites and will know more about his new stuff next week. Blue Lake is a family and this will be one hell of a reunion, folks. Don't miss it.

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.