OK, I'll cop to it: I partied hard for the long Halloween weekend and I am definitely behind the count in every way at the moment, dear reader. Plus, I've been taking some Ls in the private life department and, while I have sure found ways to buttress my stiff upper lip lately, I am currently paying for it on the backend. Thankfully, I have a great many lovely friends who happily chauffeured me around while I curated my private degradation. Anyway, I titled this week's article after a favorite Pixies song because: a) it rocks; b) there is a wave of pretty decent events out there of which you can partake in; and c) I feel really gross right now, I'm ready, as Black Francis sings, to "kiss mermaids and ride the El Niño. Walk the sands with the crustaceans." The only way out of one of these cycles is through it, so please wish me luck as I enter November blasting my favorite songs and going for cold beach walks.

Cheerio.

Thursday

New venue alert. Well, new to this column, anyway. Humboldt Bay Provisions is throwing a comedy night this evening at 6:30 p.m. and $5 will get you in the door. The event is going to last an hour and a half, which is either just right or excruciating, depending upon the quality of the acts, which I am told might be a bit ribald. Only one way to find out.

Friday

Kanekoa is a ukulele jam band from Maui. I don't normally go in much for jam bands, except for a few Gov't Mule songs because they are heavy enough to satisfy my tastes. However, I am lured by the beauty of the tropics at this moment in the year and, having some beloved Hawaiian family who married into my life, I will give this show the thumbs up. Humbrews is the spot, 8 p.m. is the time and, if you don't buy your advance tickets for $20, expect to pony up an extra $5 at the door.

Saturday

This is the packed-action night of the week, so I'm going to suggest two separate shows, both of which look really good and are within spittin' distance of each other (but don't do that, there's still a pandemic on). Over at the Morris Graves at 6 p.m., I am told by my email pen pal friend John Dillon that his band Inscrutable Rabbit will be playing a set of mostly original tunes, which considering that the rest of the lineup is full of some considerable local veteran talent, ought to be good and, as it's Arts Alive, free to all comers.

Later on at 9:30 p.m., the Shanty is hosting Silver & Nails and my one of my absolute favorite local bands, Blackplate will also be holding court in the band nook near the entrance. This one's free, too, mes amis

Sunday

Martin Sexton, the Piscean singer-songwriter and self-made musician, with a DIY career stretching back to the '80s, is coming over to the Arcata Theatre Lounge to roost for the night at 7 p.m. ($30 seated, $35 standing room). Do you like soulful vocals over plaintive songs about love and hardship? Yes, you do. Come on down.

Monday

I don't usually like to write about sold-out shows but this one still has some meet-and-greet tickets available, so I have the feeling that if you show up, you might be able to snag a general admission ticket. If not, mea culpa. Andrew Callaghan is the comedian behind the hilarious Channel Five YouTube phenomenon, in which our protagonist puts on a suit and, armed with nothing other than a camera and a microphone, wades into terrible places (Trump rallies, QAnon meetings, anti-mask protests) to interview some of the bright stars and everyday people of our current American intellectual discourse. He'll be at the Arcata Theatre Lounge tonight at 7 p.m. and, while I'm hoping that there are still some general tickets for the early birds, expect to fork over $75 for the meet and greet.

Tuesday

Jeffrey Lewis is the spiritual successor to all the best things that New York City rock and roll has to offer. From Lou Reed to The Ramones, this fellow is channeling the howling ghosts of the Big Apple. He's playing the Miniplex tonight, with his band The Voltage. Local support will be offered by the excellent act Los Perdidos and Insects on the Bough, about whom I know nothing but am happy to learn at 8 p.m. ($12, $10 advance).

Wednesday

Austin, Texas, was a haven for live music about 10 years ago, back before the entire country got gentrified and venture capital decided to make all of our lives constantly terrible. From that stew rose Urban Heat, a post-punk trio that plays it heavy and heartfelt. At 7 p.m., the band will be hitting the stage at the Arcata Theatre Lounge, and if you didn't snag the quickly evaporating $15 advance tickets, expect to pay $20 at the door.

Collin Yeo (he/him) prefers physical pain to heartbreak by a long mile, but has discovered that with the right formula, you can hit a trifecta with a hangover. He lives in Arcata, where he is recovering.