All the Rage

Son Venezuela

Many of the Kansas Citians who actually know how to move their hips with Latin swagger owe that knowledge to Son Venezuela. A longtime local purveyor of salsa, merengue, cumbia, calypso and other funky south-of-the-border beats, this 10-piece continues to sizzle its way around the Midwest. In fact, the temperature's rising: DJ Jalapeño now anchors the band with electronic zing while percussionists Luiz Moreira and Fernando Reynoso work the congas for crowd after sweat-washed crowd. sonvenezuela.com

Live Act

The Architects

See Rock.

Bacon Shoe

Whereas most of us stopped writing joke raps at age 16, Bacon Shoe MC Lethal D kept at it into his 20s and, lo — he's actually funny. The decidedly ungangsta rapper has the ill prescription for comedy, spinning explicit yarns about squid tentacle enemas, finger fucking, STDs, meth, bestiality, creamed corn, dildos and dead pig heads. Throw up earmuffs if you must — the antics of the group's hype man ('Toine) and mascot (Mr. Ruggles) will still crack your shit up. myspace.com/baconshoe

The Beautiful Bodies

There's well-known, and then there's notorious. Thanks to Beautiful Bodies singer, keyboardist and all-around temptress Alicia Solombrino, this art-rock band has quickly been catapulted into the latter category. That rep undoubtedly has at least something to do with her risqué costumes and undulating dance moves, but beneath all the onstage theatrics lives a band that simply knows how to bring the noise. myspace.com/thebeautifulbodies

It's Over

See Pop.

Roman Numerals

See Rock.

Male Vocalist

Adam Stotts (Overstep, the Lucky Graves)

A rock-and-roll anti-hero who prefers rumpled plaid shirts and actual men's jeans to any sort of peacock attire, Adam Stotts keeps it pure and mean. His guitar work is almost as unmatchable as his voice. When he steps up to front the on-again, off-again local mainstay Overstep or leads his bluesier Lucky Graves, the sound generating from the towering brute could kick-start a Harley. He has the range of a young Chris Cornell and the rugged sass of Paul Westerberg, and he deserves to be as famous as either one. myspace.com/theluckygraves

Billy Smith (Olympic Size, Roman Numerals)

It may be his first nomination for an individual award, but Billy Smith is certainly no stranger to these awards, let alone the local music scene. Besides bringing some of the best live music to the city as booker for the Record Bar, Smith somehow also finds a way to squeeze in some stage time of his own with two bands — the spacious, moody Olympic Size and the disco-slaughtering Roman Numerals. myspace.com/olympicsize

Brandon Phillips (the Architects)

In this corner, the returning champion: Brandon Phillips! He's last year's Best Male Vocalist winner, vocal flamethrower for the Architects, co-founder of ska throwback the Sex Police, half of the Anodyne Records brain trust, and all-around good guy and local rock star. And, really, that's all that can fit in one paragraph. If you're keen on voting for the underdog, Phillips ain't the one, but keep something in mind — he didn't get to the top for no reason. myspace.com/architectskcmo

Danny Fischer (the Afterparty)

With swarthy good looks, dusty denim jeans and a harmonica in hand, Danny Fischer looks like a train-hoppin' troubadour from another time. In folk-pop band the Afterparty, Fischer channels Santo & Johnny's dreamy "Sleep Walk," Bob Dylan, and even the zany meanderings of Daniel Johnston. On last year's superb Under the Rainbow, Fischer croons and warbles about young women who are as sweet as candy and who leave a young man wrecked and happy. The Afterparty live isn't always consistent, but when Fischer puts his heart into it, the shows are pure gold. myspace.com/afterpartykc

Shaun Hamontree (American Catastrophe)

OxBlood Records was the local label to know over the past year, and Shaun Hamontree was its carnival barker — and not just because the American Catastrophe frontman's cavernous whiskey barrel of a voice and nearly 6-and-a-half-foot stature make him seem like something out of a backwoods traveling sideshow. Of course, all of that's important, but it wouldn't mean a thing without his commanding stage presence and a charisma that Kansas City music hasn't seen in years. myspace.com/amcat

New Act

Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk

This may come as a shock, but playful, multilayered indie rock doesn't have to originate from Montreal. In fact, the Kansas City trio Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk would be happy to demonstrate what an American take on Broken Social Scene might sound like with some extra-jangly guitars, bounding drums and ethereal vocals mixed in for good measure. myspace.com/babybirdsdontdrinkmilk

The Popsicles

The poet Robert Frost said that when it came to the end of the world, fire would be favorable but ice would suffice. Had the road-less-traveled-taker written instead about Armageddon via a blue-raspberry-flavored comet, then we'd know the man would've been a Popsicles fan. This eccentric troupe of rockers and over-the-top backup singers can be frightening to watch, especially when frontman Erick Sharda starts physically fighting with Erika Marshall onstage during the cathartic climax of "Oh My Dear (My Darling)." But then the band kicks into a tasty disco-stomp number like "Woo Wot Kid," and the world seems momentarily safe from the Popsicles' wrath. myspace.com/thepopsicles music