2008 Houston Press Music Awards Showcase

Beetle (8 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Tribute Band
www.myspace.com/beetleband

"We don't try too hard with the costumes, wigs and fake accents," admits Beetle bassist/vocalist Paul Beebe, but Houston's fab foursome still brings the mop-topped '60s to life most Thursdays at the Continental. And though instrumental limitations force Beetle to focus on early Beatles material, the band is just as apt to break out rarities like "Bad Boy" as "A Hard Day's Night." Beebe, who also does time in about 20 other local bands, describes Beetle as simply "Beatles. Rock. Roll." We couldn't have said it better. — B.R.

John Evans Band (9 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Songwriter
www.myspace.com/johnevansband

John Evans has been around so long and been to so many of these Press awards affairs we can actually refer to him as "venerable." He's been nominated for songwriting and performances, and taken home several statues over the past decade. Never one to shy away from changing style and direction, Evans has taken a musical scalpel to everything from honky-tonk to punky rockabilly to preppy Old 97's pop-rock, each time with class and muscle. He could've moved to Austin a hundred times but hasn't; 'nuff said. — W.M.S.

Whorehound (4 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Metal
www.myspace.com/whorehound

As familiar and welcome a sight at Rudyard's as the Montrose pub's famous burgers, Whorehound describes itself as "Texas roadhouse metal, diesel, one-legged dog, pickup trucks with nails in the bed and FM roads you don't much want to change a tire on after sundown." And also, "heavy...freaking...metal." They're not wrong: The veterans of Houston bands like Dinosaur Salad, Drunken Thunder and Transmaniacon MC apply the lessons they learned from Black Sabbath and Slayer's Reign in Blood well indeed. Look for an album soon — C.G.

Brian's Johnson (5 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Tribute Band
www.myspace.com/briansjohnson666

For those of us not old enough to have seen the late Bon Scott live or watched Brian Johnson make out with our mom backstage at the Summit in 1982, Brian's Johnson will adequately and rather awesomely feed our hunger for the definitive AC/DC experience. Featuring members of locals Awake, 30footFALL and local sludge crew Bowel, BJ howls like the men from Down Under as only a group of hardcore guys from Montrose could. Let your big balls bounce to the left and to the right; those big balls, as you (and the band) well know, should be held every night. — C.H.

Dine Alone (6 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Alternative Rock
www.myspace.com/dinealone

If your ears had asses, Dine Alone's brand of alternative rock would kick them. An amalgamation of Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and a less lame Chevelle, the foursome has become a bit of a Fitzgerald's staple over its five years. With the release of debut LP Era Carnival, Dine Alone is eyeing the mainstream as well; vocalist Carlos Spiers promises "11 songs that will grab you by the boo-boo!" We're not exactly sure what the "boo-boo" is, but it's probably not the hand. — S.S.

Chrome44 (7 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Alternative Rock
www.myspace.com/chrome44

Last year's Best Metal winners are about to wreak their own singular brand of havoc in the Alternative Rock field. In the past, Chrome44 has held it own against the likes of Ill Niño, Corrosion of Conformity, Chimaira and DRI, among many others, powered by chops that balance steam-powered riffs, punishing rhythms, sweeping melodies and moments of deceptive calm. Their Into the Red won Record of the Year at the 2006 Texas Buzz Music Awards, and the new "Kerosene Dilemma" plunges into the future with Papa Roach-like force. — C.G.

Poor Dumb Bastards (8 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Punk
www.myspace.com/poordumbbastards

Longtime "drunk rock" punk heroes Poor Dumb Bastards have a song called "My Dad, Two Whores, and a Crackpipe," which is one of the least offensive tracks in their arsenal. Meanwhile, lead singer Byron Dean, who would never be described as "fit" — ever — is hardly opposed to his own nudity. If that's still not enough, the Bastards' MySpace page, in what can only be the ultimate indication of the band's ultimate nonconformist attitude, is totally lacking a punk-rock layout; it's just the plain ol' white one. Yeah, we know, it's absurd. — S.S.

LoneStar PornStar (9 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Alternative Rock

Music critics and other effete indie tastemakers often fear what they don't understand, so Lonestar Pornstar's popularity positively baffles (and frightens) the hell out of them. Those not quite so prone to overthinking things know exactly why: LSPS's songs hit the sweet spot between rap, rock, reggae and metal, and their mosh-heavy live shows are a kick. One of the few local bands with national distribution (via Houston label Risk It All), LSPS's second album is due in September; the band may not be your bag, but it's damn good at what it does. Its logo is pretty bitchin', too. — C.G.