2006 Houston Press Music Awards Supplement

Personnel: Sean (drums), Chris (guitar, vocals), Curran (mad skillz), Althea (professional speaker thumper)

We recently editorialized that too few young people were psychedelic. That comment definitely does not apply to the Riff Tiffs, a young four-piece that gets freaky and droney with admirable aplomb. "Radiohead, Sonic Youth, Bright Eyes and a slew of classic rock" are cited as influences, while the band describes the resultant music as "emotionally charged songs that mix relaxed, ambient sounds with fast, aggressive rock n' roll."

5 p.m.

Name: Flying Fish Sailors

Nominated In:

Best Folk

Web site: www.flyingfishsailors.com

Personnel: Greg Henkel, Joseph Linbeck, Jay Lee, Jim Henkel and Mitch Lawyer

"Traditional folk music for the 21st century" is the stock-in-trade of these sea salts and Zappa- and Devo-loving buccaneers. Regular denizens of the Continental Club complex, these fish can also be found flying in allied bands such as Beetle and Light Rock Express. Their stated goal: "To find a way to keep enjoying the music business"; their dream is an "animated appearance on The Simpsons." (We can see it now: They're playing on the docks, and the Sea Captain introduces them thusly: "Arrr, this be the yarrest band thar be...") Feel free to request "pop songs from the '60s and '70s" at their shows, but don't holler for "Danny Boy" -- you might get a harpoon through your midships.

6 p.m.

Name: Snit's Dog & Pony Show

Nominated in: Best Roots Rock/Rockabilly

Web site: www.snitshow.com

Personnel: Kevin "Snit" Fitzpatrick (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Sam Dunlap (lead guitar, vocals), JD DiTullio (drums), Little Screamin' Kenny (bass, vocals)

Kevin "Snit" Fitzpatrick, the leader of Snit's Dog & Pony Show, calls their music "roots rock with a bit of twang and the blooz." You gotta figure anybody that spells "blues" that way either a rapper or a honky-tonk veteran. Snit doesn't look much like a rapper, so his being a honky-tonk vet is the safer bet. But since the Verizon Wireless Theater is his favorite local stage, those must have been some swanky honky-tonks. The title of the group's latest release is No Good Deed Goes Unpunished, and Snit says he's eager to get to Europe and start promoting it. Maybe while they're on their Euro-tour, Snit could work in his dream gig: opening for Status Quo in the UK.

7 p.m.

Name: David Brake and That Damn Band

Nominated in: Best C&W

Web site: www.davidbrake.com, www.thatdamnband.com

Personnel: David Brake (lead vocals, piano, bass), Jeff Duncan (fiddle, vocals), Ronnie Dobbs (lead guitar, vocals), Chuck Payne (drums)

"Freeform Americana singer/songwriter rock country & blues" multi-instrumentalist Brake gave his group their peculiar moniker after "a disgruntled neighbor" grumbled that "somebody needs to tell that damn band to be quiet." Brake has quite an array of quality originals -- check the 2003 disc Lean Mean Texas Machine for details -- but these folks are definitely not cover-averse: "We become a jam band with anything we can put our own stamp on -- popular or obscure," Brake notes, so long as you don't expect him to sing "chick vocal songs." "Elton and Joel" are two of Brake's favorite ivory-ticklers, and he also admires the Beatles, early Springsteen, Steve Earle, the Replacements, "Clark and Van Zandt," Johnny Cash and Jack Ingram.

8 p.m.

Name: Molly & the Ringwalds

Nominated In: Best Cover Band

Web site: www.theringwalds.com

Personnel: Carrie Ringwald (keyboards, vocals), Jennifer Ringwald (vocals, bass), Sam Ringwald (guitar, vocals, bass), Gene Ringwald (drums), Dekan Ringwald (guitar, bass, vocals)

Three-time winners of this category, the Ringwalds revel in all things Reagan-era -- everything from the Violent Femmes to Young MC to Tears for Fears. A while back they started encouraging their fans to join them on stage for a little live karaoke action. "Come on," they invite, "be a hero, impress your friends and family, experience what it's like to be a rock star, win the guy or girl of your dreams!"

9 p.m.

Name: Lonestar Pornstar

Nominated in: Best Alternative Rock

Web site: www.lonestarpornstar.com

Personnel: Greg David Stegman (vocals), Dallas (guitar), Phil Lock (bass), Adam Bomb (guitar), Manny Perez (drums)

Yes, panties and assorted other items of clothing with a decidedly female smell to them get thrown up on stage during every show. And yes, front man Gregg Stegman likes to close each show with "Thank you for getting naked!" But, no, they're not porn stars. They're just some regular-looking guys. Well, some regular-looking guys who happen to play some of the best Texas rock around. The group is as popular in Austin as they are here, in part because they're as smart as they are talented. They're in all the right musicians' organizations, like the Austin Indie Alliance and the Houston Band Coalition. They have a sense of humor ("Our dream gig is to have Paris Hilton open for us") and the common sense not to start any band rivalries ("That's how Biggie and Tupac got shot!"), but they lack the PR savvy to know better than to tell reporters, "This is a stupid question." Oh, well, the music is still really good.