Espantapajaros (7 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Rock en Español
www.myspace.com/espantapajarosmusic

The name may be a mouthful, but Espantapajaros's music will be instantly familiar to anyone who's ever taken a trip to the Dark Side of the Moon. However, says Buenos Aires native Pablo Espantapajaros, it was the Black Crowes' 1992 LP The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion that "opened the door." Fair enough; hard to imagine the Crowes would disapprove of such incense-clouded songs as "Psicotropico" and "Where Do You Go?" EPs Madera, Siguiendo a la Estrella and Aqui, Ahora, Siempre... are black-light-friendly for sure. — C.G.

Spain Colored Orange (8 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Miscellaneous Instrument (Gilbert Alfaro), Best Indie Rock
www.myspace.com/spaincolouredorange

Two years ago, Spain Colored Orange took home four HPMAs, including Local Album of the Year for Hopelessly Incapable of Standing in the Way, and ever since they have graciously allowed other local indie-rock bands like Young Mammals to have a moment in the sun while preparing follow-up Sneaky Like a Villain. The band promises its imminent release, though, and early leaks like "Music Box" show its songs are still as quirky as they are catchy (and vice versa), so the 2009 HPMAs could have a decidedly Orange hue all over again. — C.G.

Karina Nistal (9 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Latin Contemporary, Best Female Vocalist
www.myspace.com/karinanistal

If Houston ever has to answer the shot across the musical bow fired by M.I.A.'s Kala, Karina Nistal should be the only choice to pull the trigger. Like Ms. Arulpragasam, Nistal is multilingual and multitalented, singing, rapping and dancing her way across the stage while her live band pumps out a feet-friendly brew of R&B, salsa, soul and even a little Bollywood behind her. After 2006's Nistyle, Nistal has steadily been making a name for herself outside Houston as well; the upcoming Nistalgia could finally blow the doors wide open. — C.G.

Moodafaruka (4 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best World Music
www.myspace.com/moodafaruka

No, Moodafaruka is not some Armenian expletive or exotic Middle Eastern dish. But the band (whose moniker is a meshing of "mood" and a type of flamenco dance) does revel in the cross-cultural pollination of their tunes. Formed in 1999 by composer/player Rom Ryan, the often-improvisational collective also includes Mary Ann Willis, Katja Grimm, Arlandus Chimney, Adam Carman and Alesha Herrer. New compilation Essential Moodafaruka is out now, and September brings a new studio record. Your ears may not understand the words they hear, but your ass will get the beat. — B.R.

Umbrella Man (5 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist (Geoffrey Muller), Best Bassist (Nick Gaitan)
www.myspace.com/theumbrellaman4

Mixing genres is no sweat for this swinging, jumpy band that can rock with the best, hit a stone-cold country groove or riff on some old cabaret tune. Members come and go, so Umbrella Man's sound is continually evolving, especially when collaborators show up toting fiddles and saxophones. The addition of vocalist Kam Franklin has given Umbrella Man an exciting new dimension and turned it even further into one of the most eclectic roots-music groups in town, currently gaining momentum as rapidly as any band around. — W.M.S.

Wayside Drive (6 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Alternative Rock
www.myspace.com/waysidedrive

Apologies to Wayside Drive for not discovering them sooner, but a recent trip to the local trio's MySpace page unearthed Verbena-like alt-pop blasts such as "Blanket" and "In My Car," which, luckily, are available on last year's CD Red Room. WSD has impeccable taste in covers, too: They recorded enigmatic, prolific local songwriter Jandek's "The Spirit" on the 2005 album Down in a Mirror: A Second Tribute to Jandek, joining Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Okkervil River and the Mountain Goats. Not bad company at all. — C.G.

dUNETX (7 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Guitarist (Chris Sacco)
www.myspace.com/dunetx

Billing themselves as the "longest-­running active rock act in town," these power-pop veterans of more than 13-plus years are thus no strangers to the HPMA showcase either. Reminiscent of everyone from the Pixies and Weezer to Redd Kross and Cheap Trick, the trio has thus far released three CDs and one singles compilation, with fourth LP Bulletproof & Mile High due this fall. — C.G.

skyblue72 (8 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Alternative Rock
www.myspace.com/skyblue72

2007 HPMA winners for Best Pop, Skyblue72 have somehow moved over to Best Alternative Rock this year. We're still trying to figure it out too — the elimination of the Best Pop category is our best guess — but little has changed about the trio's dynamic, wide-ranging sound, which made Feel My Way Home one of the more noteworthy local albums of last year. — C.G.