As promised, the Rubberneckers' reunion show was all that and then some. Half original members plus half longtime local rockers incorporated into the madness equaled a whole lot of fun. The nostalgia, celebration and pure love had the crowd in a frenzy. Tainted Zucchini featured butt cheeks and body writing. Three sheriff's deputies showed up. The energy ramped up into a mosh pit early on — which, for me, was the only downer. Well, that, and losing my phone. I can appreciate the gleeful bouncing off strangers who are also caught up in musical abandon — and many people love that shit — but I dislike the aggression that inevitably follows. I want to be lost in the experience of seeing a band I love, not distracted by a need to throw elbows in self-defense. But I was in the minority; most of my friends were thrilled by the body slamming — and it's safe to say that everyone in the Logger was ecstatic over the gig. Nicely done, guys.

This week doesn't boast anything so profound, but we do have interesting options from traditional to riffing on tradition.

Friday

Celtic masters

The Fire, a duo consisting of Rebecca Lomnicky and David Brewer, returns to Arcata to perform a concert of Celtic music at The Sanctuary. Brewer is a renowned piper and whistle player, and a founding member of the band Molly's Revenge. Lomnicky has won international Scottish fiddling competitions since the age of 16 and has a solo recording, The Call. Brewer is also a talented guitarist and bodhran player. More at www.firescottishband.com. Doors at 7:30 p.m., tickets are $10 to $20 sliding scale, all ages.

Dress yourself up

Humboldt Pride ushers in a new era of Club Triangle with a "Heroes & Villains" theme — dress up as your favorite of either. The action unfolds at the Jambalaya starting at 9 p.m., with a drag show at 10 p.m., followed by a dance party soundtracked by DJs Joe-E and Pressure Anya Duo. The $5 cover benefits Humboldt Pride. 21-and-over.

Beyond definition

More "Queer Vibes" — defined "as a space meant for coming together to celebrate our various narratives, bodies, abilities, !!queerness!!, genders & non-genders" — at Richards' Goat with touring dance party bands Loko Ono and Sloppy Jane, plus resident DJ Pandemonium Jones. 9 p.m., cover is $5, party is 18-and-over.

Saturday

Blue Lake jam session

The fourth annual Blue Lake Music Festival takes over Perigot Park with bands including Woven Roots, The Miracle Show, Jimi Jeff and the Gypsy Band, Triple Junction, Shakey, The Movers and the Shakers, and more, starting at noon and lasting till 9:30 p.m. There's no admission fee listed on the poster or the event site, but bring money for food, wine, beer and vendors.

The sound of a good time

Farmageddon Records' relentlessly touring Filthy Still brings what we'll call "bluegrass punk" from Providence, Rhode Island to our own little A-town at the Alibi — but to label it as a particular genre feels narrow minded. There are four of them at last count, a lap steel and drinking songs galore. The usual 'bi details: $5, 11 p.m., 21-and-over.

Hot ticket

Meanwhile, down at the Mattole Valley Grange from noon to midnight, the 26th annual Roll on the Mattole gets underway with vendors, a kid zone, the ever-impressive wildland firefighter challenge (more info in this week's calendar) and music by Delta Nove, Indubious, NPK, Cold Blue Water, Lost Coast Marimbas, Blaze & Blue, DJ Marjo Lak, Ptown Freaks, Aviate and Revelator. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 seniors and students, kids under 12 free with adult — no glass or dogs. Plenty of camping is available at A.W. Way County Park, but numbered campsites with fire pits, picnic tables or shade usually fill up by Thursday. Also, your odds of sleep as partying continues are questionable. And — oh! — yours truly is emceeing this blast.

Tuesday

Staycation

Richards' Goat hosts "Bomba Sonido," tropical beats with Gabe Pressure and Juan Zero starting at 9 p.m. Free, 21-and-over.

Tuesday/Wednesday

Big act, little venues

San Antonio's punk-folk troubadour Ghostwriter has opened for cultural icons including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and T-Model Ford, which is some serious credibility. You can see him play twice this week, on Tuesday at the Jambalaya with The Bored Again — 10 p.m., $5 — and on Wednesday at the Shanty with The Bored Again and the addition of Cliff Dallas and the Death Valley Troubadours — 9 p.m., $2. Both shows are 21-and-over. 

Mosh On

Desert punk psych-tinged veteran rockers the Meat Puppets return to Humboldt Brews at 9:30 p.m. The band's last show there had a rollicking mosh pit, so lace up your Docs and prepare to get shoved. $17, 21-and-over.

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 [email protected].