Last month McKinleyville native and metal-scene stalwart John Hee passed away at the age of 43. Known for his impressive and kinetic bass playing in many local bands, including Acts of Aggression, Entheogon, Kids for Sale and, most recently, Dead Man's Tale (winner of the 2013 KMUD Battle of the Bands), John will be celebrated by his surviving band mates, as well as his friends and loved ones this week at a show at the Alibi (see below). I didn't know John personally but I am glad that he is being sent off with heavy music at that most cherished local venue for loud and dirty rock shows. It's the way things should be. And if your survivors care about you enough to celebrate you with music and art, that certainly says something good about you and your time in this world. This week sees people putting on memorials, benefit shows for the catastrophically afflicted, and remembrances of war veterans and bygone pop music. And all of it matters to those of us inhabiting the thinnest and most beautiful place in the timeline: the land of the living.

Go live it up.

Thursday

The Temptations are one of the few groups who fit the cliché of needing no introduction. Indeed, from the nascent love story of My Girl to the heavy crush of Psychedelic Shack or Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Mr. Otis Williams and company have been singing to the world for nearly 60 years. Lucky are those with tickets to the sold-out show tonight at 7 p.m. at the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts.

A contemporary, heady-yet-ass-moving affair, Lyrics Born plays Humbrews tonight with local funk outfit Object Heavy. 9 p.m. ($18). Known for a loose and cool flow married with affirmative grooves, this MC should provide a fairly uncomplicated seance into the perfect feeling.

Friday

The Slap Frost Tour of alternative hip hop makes its way to The Jam tonight. Headlining the evening is Casual of the venerable three-eyed mascot group Hieroglyphics. Also appearing will be Z-Man, Vocab Slick, The Dirty Rats Crew and many more. 9 p.m. ($10, 21+).

Saturday

Angry Hammer Productions and Pay It Forward Humboldt are putting on a benefit show at Siren's Song today for the victims of November's horrifying Camp Fire in Paradise, California. The action kicks off at 4:20 p.m. — hyuck hyuck — and will feature a raffle and silent auction as well as $5 tacos while supplies last. The featured bands include recent album-releasers Blackplate, propulsive country act Barn Fire!, as well as rockers War Möth, The Sturgeons, Not Ewe, Wetspot, Beer and a Bottle and the recently added Dirt Magic. The entrance fee is however much you feel like donating between $5-$100 as all sales go towards the aforementioned afflicted so dig deep if you can.

The Alibi hosts the celebration of bassist John Hee's life tonight at 11 p.m. when his erstwhile band Dead Man's Tale plays its last-ever gig along with skate-punkers Imperial Destructo and metal act Frequency Shift. The door charge is $5-$20 with the proceeds going to the departed's family. If you have a little scratch left over, maybe think about buying a round for the boys in the band. They probably need it.

Sunday

Former New Yorker-turned local playwright James McManus and director Michael Fields present a matinee showing of their collaboration Radioman at Dell'Arte today at 2 p.m. ($10-$15). The play features the stories of American war veterans from the Vietnam era onwards, including those of local hero and Blue Ox Mill owner Eric Hollenbeck. A perhaps obvious warning: This production includes language some may find upsetting.

Monday

Tony Levin's bald headed and mustachioed visage has been holding down the low-end for many decades for top acts in the world where theatricality meets virtuosity. The long-time bassist and Chapman Stick player for Peter Gabriel, my favorite era of King Crimson, as well as far too many top shelf names when in the studio, Mr. Levin is about as good as it gets. He joins his similarly accomplished — albeit in the jazz world — keyboardist brother Pete, as well as drummer Jeff Siegel for the second-night performance of the Levin Brothers Trio at the Arcata Playhouse tonight. If you are a modern jazz lover and you missed yesterday's gig, fear not. This one's likely to smoke, too. 8 p.m. ($34).

Tuesday

The Redwood Jazz Alliance kicks off its 2019 season with a smoking hot organ trio featuring Messrs. Peter Bernstein, Larry Goldings and Bill Stewart on guitar, keys and drums respectively. This group is highly regarded in the world of contemporary jazz and certainly sounds great on the tracks I have heard so I can only imagine that the live show cooks, as well. The Arcata Playhouse is the place to be, 8 p.m. is the time and $15 is the price unless you are student or senior.

Wednesday

I've wanted to rep a Sci-Fi Pint and Fry Night at the Arcata Theater for some time now but have been unable to honestly vouch for many of the movie selections because their relatively obscure titles are outside of my admittedly limited purview. However, that all changes tonight because that most dated and delightful Jane Fonda thirst trap from 1968, Barbarella, is featured on the big screen at 6 p.m. ($5 minimum purchase of food or beverage). This bright, bikini-clad and baffling modern classic has been on my radar since I first checked it out from the library as a young kid thinking it might be a bit like Star Wars. It is not. However, it is certainly enjoyable in its own special way.

Full show listings in the Journal's Music and More grid, the Calendar and online. Bands and promoters, send your gig info, preferably with a high-res photo or two, to [email protected].

Collin Yeo thinks that every banquet should end with a glad toast to the vultures. He lives in Arcata.