Mount Coy

Cigainero confirms that Kerschen will handle all acceptance speeches. Oh, let's just hope nobody gets hurt. -- C.D.L.
Critic's pick (Best Alternative): Japanic
Critic's pick (Best Keyboardist):
Morgan Bouldin
Critic's pick (Album of the Year): The Houston Kid, Rodney Crowell

Best Rock/Pop
Moses Guest
Since the release of American Trailer Home Blues in late 1997, psychedelic rockers Moses Guest have followed the basic blueprint for mid-level success. Aside from a semiregular gig at Last Concert, they make their annual springtime jaunt to the High Sierras and check in on their South Central outposts in Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee. But next year promises much more for the first-time winners.

The big news, you see, comes in the smallest package. They have released a preview EP, foreshadowing the whole enchilada that will arrive around Christmastime in the form of a double, self-titled CD. Says Graham Guest: "We're considering this our ma--" he almost said magnum opus, I believe, which is okay, considering his advanced degree in philosophy -- "er, our major effort."

To the philosopher Hegel, the German word Aufheben, MG's unofficial motto, meant to replace yesterday's blues with today's joys, while wringing those blues for all the higher truth they are worth. Aufheben away, boys. -- J.N.L.
Critic's pick: Moses Guest

Best Metal/Hard Rock
Sevenfold
Like when Jethro Tull took home the inaugural Heavy Metal Grammy, it's unclear if even Sevenfold knows what to make of this award. During balloting, the band's Web site asked visitors to "vote for Sevenfold in the Best Metal/Hard Rock category or write them in where ever you feel they deserve." Sevenfold describes itself as modern rock. The Press once used the term melodic rock. Regardless of the label, there can be little arguing about the quality of the band. It has performed with acts ranging from the Newsboys to Godsmack, even mixing in an opening spot for John Fogerty at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The ability to straddle the Christian/secular fence and maintain an edge probably won't hurt in an age where vaguely spiritual goodies by the likes of Collective Soul and Creed seem to be omnipresent. Viva la Fold! -- Chris Smith
Critic's pick: Pure Rubbish

Best Punk/Ska; Best Underground; Best Drummer (Brian Davis) 30footFALL
It just wouldn't be the Houston Press Music Awards without 30footFALL once again rising to the top of the heap. And in case you haven't yet had an opportunity to check out the band, there's a reason for the enduring accolades: They deliver, time after time after time. 30footFALL entertains, gets its lefty views across, makes sure there's a party going on, and does all of this with aplomb often far removed from the "punk" genre. The underground classification is, frankly, somewhat dubious, given the group's gigantic local profile and multiple national releases on established labels such as Nitro and Fearless. But maybe the punk label merely recognizes that the band members still have their day jobs, that the band doesn't fit completely into any given mold and probably wouldn't be liked by your parents. And a 21 rim-shot salute to Brian Davis for maintaining his recent stranglehold on best drummer honors and demonstrating the terms "punk," "drummer" and "musician" can legitimately coexist. -- C.S.
Critic's pick (Best Punk/Ska): Middlefinger
Critic's pick (Best Underground): Fatal Flying Guilloteens
Critic's pick (Best Drummer): Albert "Tony" Stewart (Lil' Brian & The Zydeco Travelers)

Best Funk/R&B
Grady Gaines & The Texas Upsetters
Back when R&B was more blues than rhythm and owed an obvious debt to the likes of Ray Charles and Louis Jordan, Grady Gaines was picking up his tenor and blowing like a Texan. His three-year association with Little Richard in the mid-'50s yielded recordings like "Long Tall Sally," "Ooh, My Soul" and "Keep A Knockin'," which are at once R&B classics and seminal moments in early rock and roll. As Richard's right-hand sax man, Gaines proved to be one of the few reedmen with enough testicular fortitude to keep up with Mr. Penniman.

After Little Richard retired from rock circa 1957 (the good reverend came back…of course), Gaines took the Texas Upsetters and his volcanic horn on the road, backing up other R&B greats, including such titans as James Brown, Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke. With the last, Gaines appeared on the classics "Bring It On Home" and "Twistin' the Night Away." Meanwhile, in Houston, Gaines and his Texas Upsetters have become an institution. After a brief retirement during the early '80s, Gaines has been knocking out Houston audiences with powerful R&B that's authentic because, well, he helped invent it. So young wanna-bes take note. Grady Gaines plays R&B the way it should be played: with swing and soul and a whole lotta fun. -- Paul J. MacArthur
Critic's pick: Phuz

Best Folk/Acoustic
Clandestine
Clandestine was on the road when the band won the Best Folk/Acoustic award. That's not surprising, since Clandestine tours up to 200 dates each year. The Celtic quartet combines an extraordinarily high level of technique with a fiery verve that comes from playing full throttle in front of festival-sized crowds. Perhaps the best Celtic band in Texas, Clandestine has begun to spin off side projects, including Jen Hamel's solo album this year. -- Aaron Howard
Critic's pick: Denice Franke