2006 Houston Press Music Awards Supplement

Personnel: Felipe Galvan (vocals), Nick Gaitan (bass fiddle), Roberto Rodriguez (accordion), Ryan Scroggins (organ), Patrick Wheeler (drums, percussion), Kenny Dickman (guitar)

Los Skarnales describe their music as sounding "like Tin Tan, Lalo Guerrero, Tom Cat, Jerry Mouse and Had a Meeting With Pachucos and Rude Boys that ended in a recording session. Oh, yeah, with a case or two of beer." But while they're eloquent about how they sound, they go suddenly mealy-mouth when asked what they want to do with their music: "to keep traveling, making our music and letting that music expand into more opportunities for the band as a whole and the members individually." Huh? Then, when they're asked what other Houston band they're most excited about these days, they nut up again, saying, "Not one [in] particular local but more the collective that is coexisting making the Houston scene grow." What the hell? Since when did the baddest 'chucos in town sound like the bullshit people put on job applications? Luckily, the group's music still has some balls. These guys are righteous. Tough, smart, with enough attitude and talent to land a good label deal. But they've got to get another speech writer.

6 p.m.

Name: Tody Castillo

Nominated in: Best Pop

Web site: www.todycastillo.com, www.myspace.com/todycastillo

Personnel: Tody Castillo (guitar), Paul "Falcon" Valdez (drums), Steven Brown (bass, vocals)

While he's written plenty that are just as good, Tody Castillo wishes he'd written "every song" by Ron Sexsmith, Elliott Smith, Elvis Costello and especially Tom Petty, whose Damn the Torpedoes would be in heavy rotation on that proverbial desert island. The Corpus native and current Montrose denizen calls this stuff and his own music "pretty rock-n-roll," and enough local fans agreed with both halves of that description last year to take his debut full-length to the No. 1 slot at Cactus Music & Video for its last year of existence. Castillo digs the Continental Club and Rudyard's, like-minded musical locals Arthur Yoria and Mando Saenz and dreams of opening up for "Tom Petty at the Woodlands or anywhere." Dislikes include "almost every song being played on today's popular radio" and the feeble showing by this year's "U.S. men's World Cup soccer team."

7 p.m.

Name: Million Year Dance

Nominated in: Best New Act; Best Male Vocalist (Jonathan Welch)

Web site: www.millionyeardance.com

Personnel: Jonathan Welch (vocals, acoustic guitar, djembe), Doyle Odom (electric guitar, percussion), Steven Wetherell (piano, guitar, organ, mandolin), Nic Houston (bass guitar, trumpet), Joel Lewis (drums, percussion, backing vocals)

Million Year Dance is a philosophy, at least that's what they say. And it takes a really long time for them to explain it to you: "In the greatest state of liberation one may witness all the wave energies in the universe connected. This energy is called the Million Year Dance of Waves." Ah, okay. They say they don't take themselves too seriously, and then say they want "to create a slow-moving and positive change in the world. We hope to work within the community to make this world transcend into its natural state and, in the meantime, allow people to feel like they are a part of our music and what we stand for." Guys, that sounds kinda serious. It might be easier to just listen to their debut CD, Liberation. That's not quite as intangible or mystic.

8 p.m.

Name: The Hunger

Nominated in: Best National Rock

Web site: www.thehungeronline.com

Personnel: Thomas Wilson (keyboards, vocals), Jeff Wilson (keyboards, vocals), Darren Nelson (bass), Giovanni Capelo (drums), Tim Huston (guitar)

"A garage" and some heroes -- "Ministry, Front 242 and the Cure" -- were the ingredients that provided the Hunger's first rumblings. While they are one of the few Houston rock bands, with or without such goth influences, with a national sales presence, they say that takes a backseat to live performance. "Not just regular ol' performance mind you," they say, "but fiery, frenzied, passionate and, most of all, intense performance. The kind of performance that comes at you off the stage like of tidal wave of power, knocking you off your feet and leaving you gasping for air."

9 p.m.

Name: The Hollisters

Nominated in: Best Roots Rock/Rockabilly

Web site: www.hollisters.com

Personnel: Mike Barfield (vocals), Eric Danheim (guitar), Kevin Fitzpatrick (drums), Denny Blakely (bass)

Words like "local legends" are often used too freely, but with the Hollisters they definitely apply. After forming in 1995, they became institutions at the late, lamented Fabulous Satellite Lounge with their patented mix of Johnny Cash-like boom-chicka-boom coupled with a Gulf Coast swing feel. Two full-lengths with Hightone Records, multiple Press awards and a couple of national tours ensued before the band parted ways six years ago. Now, with guitarist Eric Danheim back home from a sojourn in Seattle, the band has reunited for some special shows, and we are lucky enough to be deemed special enough to host one.

JEFE

4 p.m.

Name: Amanda Robinson

Nominated in: Best DJ

Web site: www.myspace.com/amanda_robinson

Personnel: Amanda Robinson