All the Rage

Suits with the open-collar look, cowboy hats, pencil-thin goatees and mean corridos that prick like cactus thorns — the guys in Kansas City's Mafia Norteña gotta be getting laid 10 times a week. Hell, we'd do 'em, and we don't even habla español. Mafia Norteña is best known for its songs about bad guys, those narcocorridos about border-crossing drug traffickers. Sexy. It also doesn't hurt that this band has achieved international recognition. What's Spanish for groupie, anyway? mafia-nortena.com

Mañana Band

The Mañana Band holds down the fort at Johnny G's in KCK, keeping the dance floor hot with a greasy enchilada of tejano and mariachi sounds. All five members have been in the pros for more than 30 years, allowing the group to spontaneously shift into Norteamericano mode with an alter-ego rock-R&B-country band called All Funked Up. Don't wait until tomorrow — party with the Mañana Band hoy. myspace.com/mananaband ofkansascity

Miguel "El Mambo" Orchestra

When Miguel "Mambo" DeLeon moved to Kansas City in 1983, the only kind of salsa to be found was the lumpy red stuff served in little bowls at Mexican restaurants. For that, El Mambo would not stand. The singer and percussionist's first local band, Sensation Caribe, brought Caribbean music to the old Parody Hall in the River Market. Since then, he has opened for the likes of Tito Puente and Ruben Blades, and in 1992 he recorded a ridiculously awesome cover of the Police's "Every Breath You Take" (hear it on Miguel's MySpace page). Now that salsa has taken hold in Kansas City nightlife, DeLeon towers triumphant. myspace.com/miguelelmamboorchestra

Tropical Azul

Founded way back in 1980 by brothers Andrew and Jose Torres, Tropical Azul is still playing the beats that drive the kids wild. This 10-piece band of brothers, nephews, cousins and friends spreads the party-gospel of cumbia music at clubs, weddings and lots and lots of quinceaneras — which explains why Tropical Azul retains a young following. The band blends reggaeton and hip-hop beats, with some rhyming provided by the band's multitalented guiro player. And just to keep the old folks happy, Tropical does the occasional corrido or ranchero song, too. myspace.com/tropi calazul1

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)