Our old friend Mike Perry pointed out on the webboard that Zack Nipper and Bright Eyes have been nominated for a Grammy for Best Recording Package for Cassadaga. This comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen the packaging, which received almost as much publicity as the recording upon its release. Zack and Co. are facing some stiff opposition from the likes of Black Sabbath, Menomena, The Fold and GTS (the list is here). It's impressive how many indie labels are in the running. Conventional wisdom would say that the Sabbath album should win due to the academy's familiarity with the band. But I'm not buying that logic (Yep, I'm predicting a Bright Eyes win -- surprise, surprise).

Tonight is huge for shows, starting off with The Pendrakes' CD release show at The Waiting Room with Old Money and Landing on the Moon. I'm listening to their CD, Sunday Punch, as I type this. For whatever reason, I was mistakenly under the impression that The Pendrakes was a rock-a-billy band. It isn't. Their style is straight-up rock in sort of a Tom Petty vein. It's well done. Interestingly, the disc was produced by Grasshopper Takeover's Curt Grubb and was recorded at Grubb's basement studio, Grubb Inc. (and mastered by Doug Van Sloun at Focus Mastering). $7, 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, garage punk trio Box Elders, featuring them thar McIntyre Brothers and groove king Dave Golberg, is playing over at O'Leaver's with Bombardment Society (featuring mega-bassist Lincoln Dickison (guitarist for The Monroes)) and Private Dancer (members of STNNNG). Bring your earplugs, it's going to be loud. $5, 9 p.m.

Baby Walrus headlines a show at PS Collective that features a handful of hot Next Wave artists, including Tim Perkins, Hyannis and Talkin' Mountain. 8 p.m., $5.

Meanwhile, Honeybee (a member of the Slumber Party brigade) opens for Canadian band The Most Serene Republic (Arts & Crafts Records) down at Slowdown Jr. $7, 9 p.m.

Hey, does anyone know who Cross Canadian Ragweed is?

Look for Saturday night's show line-up tomorrow.

--Got comments? Post 'em here.--