Guy Schwartz performs at 5 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe.
Sevenfold
Nomination: Best Male Vocalist (David Underwood)
Time logged: Four years
Sound: Spiritualized
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Etc.: Some bands think novelty is the way to go, hiding weak musicianship and songwriting behind bunny ears and penis jokes. Or extremism. Rapping or rocking the loudest and fastest. Generally doing anything that separates them from everyone else -- because that's what the major labels really want, right? Uniqueness? So instead of doing something well, these types of bands do everything poorly. At the opposite side of this coin is Sevenfold. Just a quintet of boys hell-bent on making solid, polished pop rock. Led by lyricist and vocalist David Underwood and guitarist Dane Sonnier, he of Sonnier Brothers fame, Sevenfold mashes together strong, straightforward rhythms with catchy, unpredictable melody lines with spiritual lyrics that aren't overtly Christian but Christian enough to turn most listeners off. In a world of fools who think individuality is the avoidance of clichés, a band like Sevenfold is bravest of all. -- A.M.
Sevenfold performs at 5 p.m. at the Aerial Theater.
Simpleton Music
Nomination: Best New Act
Sound: We're gonna rap around the clock tonight
Time logged: One year
Etc.: Simpleton describes its sound as continuous nonstop flights of jazz, hip-hop, rock and soul. Formed last year from the remains of four different Houston bands, Simpleton Music already has an eponymous album to its credit, and last month was the opening act for No Doubt at the Woodlands Pavilion. Not a bad way for a quartet to kick off its first tour of duty together. -- P.J.M.
Simpleton performs at 8 p.m. at Spy (downstairs).
Song
Nomination: Best Female Vocalist
Sound: Quiet storm
Time logged: One and a half years
Etc.: Song describes her style as alternative R&B. Sure enough, Song has the smoothness of Sade with the jazziness of Ella Fitzgerald, never really settling between the two. Her songs ebb and flow, and if you close your eyes, you can picture yourself in a 1920s-era smoky bar. In 1989, when Song was attending Huston Tillotson in Austin, she got her first taste of live pop, at SXSW. She had never seen a live band before that. Soon after, Song was singing in cover bands. After bouncing around from city to city, Song finally settled on Houston, where her family lives. -- G.G.
Song performs at 4 p.m. at The Hub.
South Park Mexican
Nominations: Best Rap/Hip-Hop, Musician of the Year, Song of the Year ("High So High"), Album of the Year (The 3rd Wish: To Rock the World), Songwriter of the Year
Sound: WHUUUUUZZZZZHAAAAAAP!
Time logged: Seven years
Etc.: Oh, what a wonderful year it has been for the one they refer to as the South Park Mexican. In Houston rap, he has become the breakout star of the year, making all the lesser-talented MCs out there his very own putas. His fourth album, The 3rd Wish: To Rock the World, is his biggest seller yet, spawning the oft-spun hit "High So High" and making his label, Dope House Records, the place where all young rappers want to drop their rhymes. He even got his music played on KRBE -- and you know damn well that station doesn't play local rap. Well, in an age of Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez, here's a Latino performer that wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of seeing him wiggle his ass. He's from South Park, dammit. As he says on his album, the day of the wetback has striked upon thee. -- C.D.L.
South Park Mexican performs at 9 p.m. at the Aerial Theater.
Sugar Shack
Nomination: Best Punk/Ska
Sound: From their garage to you
Time logged: 14 years
Etc.: With rock-solid chops and timing that Rolex would envy, this quintet's joyous abandon in exploring the land between the punk and pop makes a strong statement both live and on record. Though occasionally repetitious, the group's most recent effort, Get Out of My World(Estrus Records), is hard-edged and juicy. Lyrically, the band explores the fringe and bizarre: lady vampires, Lotto prizes and even monogamy. Bulldozer rhythms, furious drumming and jacked-up vocals are abundant throughout. -- B.R.
Sugar Shack performs at 8 p.m. at the Aerial Theater.
DJ Sun
Nomination: Best DJ/Dance
Sound: Burn, baby, burn
Time logged: Five years
Etc.: Followers of the omnipresent DJ (and they're out there) are probably wondering whether the man will have time to accept the award if he wins. The popular acid-jazz spinner has spent the past year working overtime, serving up eclectic, bass-beautiful grooves at some of Houston's trendiest hangouts. Working six nights a week (oddly enough, he rests on Fridays), Sun (né Andre Sam-Sin) can be found playing such diverse venues as Hyperia, Swank Lounge, Privé and Brasil -- and that doesn't count the various events where he has spun alongside visiting performers like, most recently, Groove Collective. And of course, there is his long-running public-radio show, Soular Grooves, Saturday nights on KPFT. -- C.D.L.
DJ Sun performs at 5 p.m. at Spy (upstairs).
