Jim ‘Kimo’ West, who plays Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa, Florida on May 19, 2024. Credit: Photo via westernmost/Twitter

For the last 27 years, the late Scott “Pinetop” Peterson and his family have been trying to spread the word that pets shouldn’t be left in hot cars. After a pet sitter left his black lab in one to suffocate, the Quivering Rhythm Hounds drummer rounded up local acts for a benefit concert every year.

Since his death, Peterson’s family (including this weekend’s emcee, his brother Mark) has carried on the tradition, and managed to recruit Jim “Kimo” West, a slack key who celebrates his 40th anniversary as “Weird Al” Yankovic’s touring and studio guitarist this year.

Tickets to the “Scratch My Back” benefit concert at Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa on Sunday, May 19 are still available for $15.