2007 Houston Press Music Awards Showcase

Chrome 44 Nominated In: Best Metal www.chrome44.com 5 p.m. Chrome 44 is back on the prowl after recently welcoming new (and former) vocalist Sloane Gallegos to the front of the stage. Slugging it out since 2000, they have a burgeoning base of dedicated fans. Constantly touring around Texas, they recently wrapped second CD Into the Red at Houston's Spyder Studios. "Chrome 44 strives to create a sound as unique as it is raw," they claim on their Web site, and it sounds like they have.

SkyBlue 72 Nominated In: Best Pop www.skyblue72.com 6 p.m. Serving up creamy "rock sauce" since 2003, SkyBlue72's origin story sounds almost like a fairy tale. "Davis and Jessica started writing songs together on Jessica's porch," begins Jessica's big brother and bassist Frank Zweback. "Then they started dating. Frank joined and got them off the porch. Jessica and Davis broke up. Drama drama drama. Then they rocked on." Everybody loves a happy ending. But there's more. "Not only are we a rock band," says Frank, "but we love puppies, restoring old houses and reading about video games."

Molly & the Ringwalds Nominated In: Best Cover Band www.theringwalds.com 7 p.m. Forget the Point — everybody knows Molly & the Ringwalds' Friday happy hours at the Continental Club are where Houston really turns for its '80s fix. Otherwise they wouldn't have owned the HPMA's Cover Band category since 2003 — that's right, this year could make it one for the thumb. With a repertoire deeper than the detention-forged bond between the five Breakfast Club members, and no reservations about letting their fans take over lead vocals if they so desire, the Ringwalds could own this category until the original Van Halen re-forms and beyond.

Zydeco Dots Nominated In: Best Zydeco zydecodots.tripod.com 8 p.m. The Zydeco Dots, celebrating their 20th anniversary with a new CD due this month, have won the HPMA Best Zydeco award so many times we've honestly lost count, but at this point it should probably be renamed in their honor. Their calendar remains as full as ever, and their Web site is worth a visit to watch the dancing swamp critters alone.

Sharks and Sailors Nominated In: Best Indie Rock, Best Bassist (Melissa Lonchambon) www.sharksandsailors.com 9 p.m. The four deep-sea fishing enthusiasts (or so they say) of Sharks and Sailors owe their existence to a parking lot. "I met Mike and Phil in the parking lot of Francisco's practice studio, and Al and I had a lot of friends in common but were just acquaintances," says bassist Melissa Lonchambon. "All of our old bands [Voltex, Sjolander, Panic in Detroit] ended up breaking up about the same time." A common sight at Walter's, Rudyard's and the Proletariat since their first gig in May 2005, they're also partial to Richmond inside the Loop. "That's where all the margaritas (and mango-ritas) are," explains Lonchambon. S & S hope their first album, due later this year, is the first step toward landing a tour bus with "sushi, an Xbox 360, widescreen TV that only gets ESPN, 360-degree Mötley Crüe spinning drum kit, caged orangutans and beer kegs on both sides of the stage, and a Santa Claus at every show."

Venue 719 Main 713-236-8150

Sean Reefer & the Resin Valley Boys Nominated in: Best C&W, Best Misc. Instrument (Will Golden) www.myspace.com/resinvalleyboys 5 p.m. Since forming in 2002, Sean Reefer & the Resin Valley Boys haven't changed a lick. What they have done, says Sean Raiford, is "stayed true to our original vision of bringing old-time country back on the radar." They've also brought their old-time country everywhere from Meridian, where they opened for Junior Brown, to the roof of the Hotel Icon, where they twanged a women's fashion magazine party. (Nice work if you can get it.) Their home base remains the Continental Club, where they usually play at least once a week; lately they've been prepping album No. 2 in the studio. Just watch out for Raiford's infamous fart machine. "I'll put the machine behind my drummer's chair and then when he sits down, I'll press the remote button," he says. "Silly, I know, but we are a bunch of guys."

Snit's Dog & Pony Show Nominated in: Best Roots Rock/Rockabilly www.snitshow.com 6 p.m. When not holding up the bar at McElroys, Snit's Dog & Pony Show can be found rocking and rolling all over Houston, though Warehouse Live's studio is their current venue of choice. According to Snit himself, the idea for the group dates back to 1986, but they've been going strong since opening for Joe Ely at the Continental Club in 2000. "That really got the ball rolling for us," the ex-Hollister says. Hoping to one day tour Europe with Status Quo, and to not get busted drinking the headliner's beer, they really want people to get their name right. "Last year at the Awards, even the emcee called us 'Snit Dog and the Pony Show,'" moans Snit.

Gritboys Nominated in: Best Local Rap/Hip-Hop www.gritboys.com; www.myspace.com/gritboys 7 p.m. The first half of this southside rap group's name is an acronym for "Ghetto Reality in Texas," and that's just what they bring. It's not exactly the nightmarish fever dreams of the early Geto Boys, nor the now-tired cornucopia of car culture clichés of Mike Jones, or the moronic dance-floor chants of a Hurricane Chris and everybody else the Box is drilling in your brain — these Worthing High products just come up with smoldering beats and tell it like it T-I-is. Used to be that was what hip-hop was all about, and if it ever is again, these guys will go platinum-plus.