If you frequent the Pittsburgh music scene, somewhere along the line you've encountered Sam Matthews -- maybe in the Crow Flies or Devilish Merry or Slim Forsythe and the Parklane Drifters or The 9th Ward or the Bumps or Joybox or Carsickness or the Feral Family or the Whereabouts.

Yes, Sam Matthews has played in a few bands over the past 30 years or so. And now, as the guitarist hits the milestone of 50, he's in more bands than he's ever been in.

His bandmates and friends celebrate Sam at 50 Saturday at the Thunderbird Cafe with the "Sam Matthews Celebrity Roast." The first half will be acoustic with performances by Devilish Merry, Slim Forsythe and the Beagle Brothers (Sam gets a break here). The second half is electric with Joybox, Crow Flies Trio and The 9th Ward.

"I don't know what to say about being 50. The age thing hasn't hit me yet," Matthews says. "Usually I hide when my birthday comes around, but this was Evan [Knauer]'s idea. Truthfully I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than by getting up and playing five 30-minute sets with five different bands on three different instruments."

Matthews adds that he's about to debut a new band called The Burning Path with Vince Curtis (Real Enemy, Half Life) and his laptop. They open for punk/goth legends Christian Death at the 31st Street Pub on June 13.

Saturday's show begins at 10 p.m. at the Thunderbird in Lawrenceville.

In last week's Modey Lemon review, I mentioned the possibility of maniacal drummer Paul Quattrone being pulled away from The Modey Lemon when and if Led Zeppelin or The Who needs a replacement.

OK, those bands didn't call, but Quattrone was in fact headhunted by Brooklyn dance-rock band !!! (Chk Chk Chk). He passed that audition, of course, and will be touring with them in New Zealand and Australia, just prior to the Modey Lemon U.S. tour in June.

The third installment of the Best in the 'Burgh acoustic music showcase takes place Friday night at Connections Cafe in Oakland with local musicians performing original works to raise money for breast cancer research.

It will feature Mike Strasser (who recently moved back here from San Francisco), Ahveekhy (recently returned from Ghana), Mark Dignam, Alicia Romano, Euphonic Brew, Cry Fire and Midge Cricket. It's hosted by London musician Joel Lindsay.

The all-ages show is at 7 p.m. at 3495 Bates St. Admission is $5; $4 for students with ID.

The Mr. Roboto Project is a United Nations of brutal sound this weekend.

Tonight, it's The Endless Blockade, a powerviolence band from Ontario, with Japan's Coffins playing brutal grindcore/black metal, Hellnation (from Kentucky) and our own Slices and Abysme.

On Friday, it's Invasion (Spain), Chronic Seizure (Chicago), with Kim P--- and Do Crimes.

Both begin at 7 p.m. at 722 Wood St. in Wilkinsburg. Go to www.therobotoproject.org.

Karl Hendricks, Lohio, The Maxi-Pads and Workshop -- there's a bill with some diversity, brought to you by the New Yinzer Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Brillobox in Bloomfield. There will also be readings by novelist Lori Jakiela and poets Bob Pajich and Kelly Ramsey. Admission is $5. ... Bobby LaMonde, of the Science Fiction Idols, is spinning British rock past and present at the British Rock Party at the Lava Lounge on Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

-- Scott Mervis