Blaggards (9 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best World Music
www.myspace.com/blaggards

Since 2004, Blaggards have partied hard and drunk heavily, yet been sensitive enough to make audiences weep at their potato-famine ballads. These purveyors of "Stout Irish Rock," founded by Dublin native Patrick Devlin (vocals/guitar) and Chad Smalley (bass), mix traditional Irish tunes with Johnny Cash and Thin Lizzy covers and boot-stompin' originals akin to the Pogues or Dropkick Murphys. Blaggards' wonderfully sweaty and chaotic live show is the perfect soundtrack for lifting a pint, punching a mate or kissing a lassie. Whether that's a girl or a dog depends on your Guinness intake. — B.R.

Two Star Symphony (4 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Unclassifiable Band
www.myspace.com/twostarsymphony

This wacky classical ensemble calling itself "two star" is like calling a Ferrari a car. Simply put, Two Star Symphony is as edgy a string quartet as can be found anywhere. The quartet delivers exciting, original, head-warping pieces that appeal to audiences from such diverse venues as the hoity-toity Hobby Center to Rudz, where they release a new CD Friday. They've also appeared on a number of local albums in all types of genres and collaborated with the cutting-edge Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. — W.M.S.

Wild Moccasins (5 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best New Act
www.myspace.com/thewildmoccasins

The rapturously lo-fi Best New Act nominees the Wild Moccasins shine with a Kinks-like glimmer. Think "Waterloo Sunset" inside the Loop, with a healthy dash of boy-girl vocals. Along with Young Mammals and the Mathletes, the Moccasins are helping head up a Houston pop scene with a million flavors and as many possibilities. Factor in that the band's median age is barely a spry 20 and you can't help but think that, for a change, we've all just witnessed the birth of one damn vibrant scene with gas in the tank and its heart in the right place. — C.H.

Full Release (6 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Cover Band
www.myspace.com/fullrelease

Though their readily available output runs toward Jay-Z & Linkin Park's "99 Problems/One Step Closer," Rage Against the Machine's "Bombtrack" and Kid Rock's "Bawitdaba" — there's a reason they list their favorite local venue as Scout Bar — all-covers quintet Full Release promises a diverse playlist that also includes Marvin Gaye, the Cure and "99 Luftballoons." Seriously. They also advise, "Full Release is not responsible if you decide to quit your job and take up playing bongos butt-ass naked in a park covered in buttermilk and sliced pickles." You've been warned... — C.G.

Free Radicals w/Harry Sheppard (7 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Jazz

Free Radicals are kind of hard to define; three versions of the same band certainly doesn't help matters. Depending on when, where and how you listen, there may be as few as six or more than 50 musicians involved. Describing its music as "arrestable, permeable and snarky," the almost exclusively instrumental, largely improvisational collective freewheels through free jazz, funk and dub. Track them down at Notsuoh, "in front of Halliburton" or in full-blown salsa practice at Studewood Park Sunday afternoons. — N.L.H.

Hearts of Animals (8 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best New Act, Best Experimental
www.myspace.com/heartsofanimals

As Hearts of Animals, Mlee Suprean makes innovative music that meanders (with purpose) between abstract experimentation and fascinating pop-like melodies; fond of Tuaca and Rudyard's (or so she says), Suprean herself describes her sound as "sweet, fuzzy and melodic." Her self-titled 7" from earlier this year met with a rapturous local reception, and although Suprean's sound may indeed be sweet and fuzzy, her willingness to raise the bar and take chances is what keeps audiences craving more. — B.B.Z.

Sharks and Sailors (9 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Bassist (Melissa Lonchambon), Best Indie Rock
www.myspace.com/sharksandsailors

Louisville in the early '90s ain't got nothin' on 21st-century Houston, at least not as long as Sharks and Sailors are pumping out their distinctive version of that herky-jerky math-rock thing, falling somewhere between Slint's plodding intimidation and Mission of Burma's stabbing intrusiveness. Tempering their oft-jarring music, though, is a sense of whimsy that spurs the trio's desire to book shows in "Imaginationland," enjoy a fine cocktail at "Sparkle Burger" and build their dream home out on "Chodeburglar Avenue." Back in the real world, debut LP Builds Brand New is due next month. — N.L.H.

L.L. Cooper (4 p.m.)
Nominated in: Best Songwriter, Best Roots Rock
www.myspace.com/llcooper

L.L. Cooper namesake Larry Cooper's guitar case has a sticker that says "Houston: We Hate It Here, We Never Want to Leave." Why should he? After years of backing up local singer-songwriter chanteuse Lisa Novak, Cooper stepped up front and, on last year's Old Hardin Store Road, proved his Best Songwriter nomination is no joke. His soulful, semi-psychedelic roots-rock (Stones, Son Volt, Neil Young) is set to return in December on follow-up LP Tucson. — C.G.