A show of support by local musicians Saturday night at Modern Formations was originally intended as a benefit for Rick Gribenas, his wife, Charissa, and stepson Jaden.

Now, sadly, it will also be a memorial and celebration of Rick's life. The accomplished visual artist and musician died March 17 at 31 of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The music will range from acoustic indie-pop to melodic punk with River Is to Train, Soft Sickle, Jonbro + Vasculator + 8cylinder, Onodrim, Tusk Lord, Mike Tamburo and Dave Bernabo's Assembly.

It begins at 6 p.m. at Modern Formations, 4919 Penn Ave., Garfield. Donation ranges from $5 to $15. All proceeds will benefit the family.

Pitt students should probably be studying for finals on Friday night, but WPTS and a few of Pittsburgh's finest acts have other plans.

Hip-hop pranksters Grand Buffet and world music/indie-rock sensations Centipede Eest team up with Persona Grata and Science Is Dead at the William Pitt Union at 8 p.m. for a show benefiting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Admission is $10; $7 with the donation of two nonperishable items. All proceeds benefit the Food Bank. Go to www.wpts.org

• HR, aka Paul "HR" Hudson, the explosive frontman of Bad Brains, brings his heady mashup of hardcore, hip-hop and reggae to the 31st Street Pub in the Strip Friday at 10 p.m. with Cultivator, Oh ... They're Going to Kill Us and DJ Preslav. Although HR still tours occasionally with his seminal hardcore band, he's matured into the Rastafarian vibe of punk's elder statesman. Last year, HR released "Hey Wella," his first solo album in eight years, on the newly formed D.C. Hardcore label. Tickets are $12. Call 412-391-8334.

• Tim Barry, of Richmond punk rockers Avail, hits the 31st Street Pub Saturday with a rowdy roots-folk round-robin with his pals on the Suburban Home record label, Josh Small and Austin Lucas. Local folkpunkers Endless Mike & the Beagle Club open the show. 10 p.m. $10-$12. 412-391-8334.

• Amps for Christ, a project from Henry Barnes (Man Is the Bastard) that combines the Claremont, Calif., native's love of folk with his background in experimental noise, shakes the Smiling Moose on the South Side tonight with Sikhara, Tusk Lord & Short Dark Strangers. Admission is $5.

• The loudest, most punishing show of the weekend? It's under the Bloomfield Bridge on Easter Sunday at the new venue, The Nerve, with sludge band Black Pus along with the return of Pittsburgh's insanely heavy power trio Midnite Snake and Dire Wolves. It starts at 7 p.m. at 500 Dargan St. Proceeds from the $5 to $10 donation go to the family of Rick Gribenas.