Artist: Renee Montgomery
Nominated for: Best Female Vocalist
Sound of choice: The belter's belter
Time logged: Five years

Etc.: The Montgomery-fronted Skillit split up in May, and as of a few weeks ago, Montgomery had moved to Austin. Now, she's trying to maintain a bi-local presence by writing songs with former Skillit-mate Cris Rogers in Houston and easing into Austin's open-mike scene. She also started playing guitar last year. Don't be surprised to see a demo tape before long. And don't be surprised if the Austin exposure lands her a slot on next year's Austin Music Awards ballot. The woman can sing.

Artist: Trish Murphy
Nominated for: Best Folk/Acoustic; Best Female Vocalist; Song of the Year ("Wrong Side of Town"); Songwriter(s) of the Year

Sound of choice: Contemporary, melody-rich folk
Time logged: One year
Etc.: It's hard to believe that Trish Murphy has been working solo now for only some 12 months. In that relatively short period of time, she's accomplished a lot. Perhaps most significantly, she's succeeded in putting her toothy, collegiate pop past with Trish and Darin to rest for good.

Artist: Necessary Tension
Nominated for: Best Jazz
Sound of choice: Pub improv
Time logged: Five years

Etc.: The past year saw the release of an eponymous CD, recorded live at Rudyard's, but that's just a souvenir of the rotating lineup's (flautist Bob Chadwick, bassist David Craig, drummer Keith Karnaky, et. al.) raison d'etre: an endless stream of low-key Thursday-night jam session entertainment that's become (along with Horseshoe's Wednesday nights at Mary Jane's) the most reliable off-night pleasure in Houston's local constellation.

Necessary Tension performs at 8 p.m. Sunday at Q Cafe.

Artist: The Orphans
Nominated for: Best Rock/Pop
Sound of choice: Rock and roll
Time logged: Almost two years

Etc.: A product of Houston's far western reaches, the Orphans are steered by a trio of childhood buddies with a common love for straightforward, emotionally direct songs that have bold melodies and tons of heart. So far, these simple pleasures have translated into an uncommonly good local debut, Homecoming, numerous club appearances and, of course, a nomination in this year's Music Awards.

The Orphans perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at Cydney's.

Artist: Mondo Perez
Nominated for: Best Drummer
Sound of choice: Whatever's required
Time logged: Four years (with Under the Sun and the Surrealtors)

Etc.: Mondo Perez has two jobs: one behind the set with Under the Sun, the other keeping the drum stool warm for the Surrealtors. While the two bands are quite different -- Under the Sun more blues-rock; the Surrealtors more acoustic pop -- his considerable skills are just as obvious with both.

Mondo Perez performs with the Surrealtors at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Ball Room, and with P.J. Cooper and Under the Sun at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Rhino Room.

Artist: Pierre and the Zydeco Dots
Nominated for: Best Cajun/Zydeco
Time logged: Nine years (with varying Pierres)

Etc.: There were some shakeups about a year ago that resulted in a couple of different bands both fronted by guys named Pierre, and it got kinda confusing for a while. The Pierre now fronting the Zydeco Dots is Pierre Stoot, while longtime Dot-leader Pierre Blanchard today pumps the windjammer in front of the Bayou Stompers. The Zydeco Dots, if memory serves, have won this category every Music Awards year so far. Their inclusion this year must be either a reflex or a reflection that -- whoever's the frontman -- the band is made up of seasoned, talented zydeco veterans.

Pierre and the Zydeco Dots perform at 8 p.m. Sunday at Cydney's.

Artist: Project Grimm
Nominated for: Best New Act
Sound of choice: Hook-savvy indie rock
Time logged: One year

Etc.: Assembled from the remains of once-promising Houston acts the Mike Gunn, Bleachbath and Smile 69, Project Grimm contains a bit of all those bands, and more. This potent power trio is having little problem making its way inside the Loop with a sound that matches the familiar sounds of the past with a dynamic, melody-driven approach that's something new altogether.

Project Grimm performs at 4 p.m. Sunday at Metroplex.

Artist: Richard Ramirez
Nominated for: Best Industrial
Sound of choice: Electronically manufactured, sonically unbound noise
Time logged: Six years

Etc.: Largely a studio dweller, but occasionally venturing into the live light of night, Ramirez churns out homemade tapes of avant-experimentalism at an assembly line rate, pausing at times to collaborate with sympathetic noise savants such as Japan's Merzbow (with whom Ramirez will be playing several New York shows this fall, when he's also got LPs -- yes, LPs -- scheduled for release on German and Greek labels). Ramirez is making quite a name for himself in circles described by lines that 99.9 percent of music listeners will never, ever cross.