BAND

SHAG

• Firmly planted in the Cincinnati funk sound of James Brown, Bootsy's Rubber Band and P-Funk, SHAG is a booty-shaking local phenomenon.

Regular gigs: Bogart's, Ripley's Alive and Sycamore Gardens, but a busy touring schedule keeps the band out of town much of the time.

Most recent CD: Silver City.

Soul Pocket

• Formerly known as Sneaky Pete, the band continues to be the classic soul band to beat on the local club circuit.

Regular gigs: Main Street clubs, particularly RBC.

Most recent CD: None.

The Blue Birds

• Tight and soulful, the Blue Birds mix R&B and steamy blues into one house-rocking sound.

Regular gigs: Mainstays of Main Street and east-side clubs, notably Allyn's on Sunday nights.

Most recent CD: Argentina.

INSTRUMENTALIST

Chris ''FreeBass'' Sherman

• A Bootsy disciple, FreeBass is SHAG's big bottom.

Regular gigs: Bogart's, Ripley's Alive, Sycamore Gardens and lots of out-of-town gigs.

Most recent CD: Silver City with SHAG. Now working on a solo project.

Rick ''Bam'' Powell

• Drummer-about-town Bam Powell has kept time with some of the area's hottest club acts for 15 years. He currently provides the Blue Birds beat.

Regular gigs: Main Street and east-side clubs, Allyn's on Sunday nights.

Most recent CD: Argentina.

C.C. Thomas

• The area's first-call R&B/contemporary jazz bassist.

Regular gigs: In clubs, he usually works with Randy Villars. Sundays, he plays with the Blue Birds at Allyn's.

Most recent CD: None as leader.

VOCALIST

Clyde Brown

• The city's foremost sophisticated soul man, Clyde Brown covers it all from gritty soul to Nat King Cole crooning.

Regular gigs: He performs with various groups at lots of private parties, but also makes the Main Street club scene.

Most recent CD: None.

Duran

• It's not easy to stand out amid the P-Funk finery of SHAG, but with a strong voice and rock-star stage presence, Duran manages it with no problem.

Regular gigs: Bogart's, Ripley's Alive, Sycamore Gardens and lots of out-of-town touring.

Most recent CD: Silver City.

Rick ''Bam'' Powell

• Most drummers aren't known as singers, but since his days with the Raisins, Bam has been an exception.

Regular gigs: He can be found with the Blue Birds and occasionally with his side project Bucket with Bob Nyswonger and Lee Rolfes.

Most recent CD: Argentina with the Blue Birds.

RAP & HIP-HOP ACT

Bombthreat

• Straight out of Bond Hill, Bomb Threat calls itself ''the biggest underground group out there'' and gives the Cincinnati rap scene some gangsta flavor.

Regular gigs: Occasional showcases and self-produced shows.

Most recent CD: Explosive Material.

Holmskillit

• The self-decribed ''hip-hop purist'' has quickly established himself at the forefront of the local rap scene.

Regular gigs: Rap showcases around town.

Most Recent CD: None.

Mood

• The rap act that's literally taken ''Cincinnati'' (the title of its 1997 hit single) to the national rap charts.

Regular gigs: Occasional showcases and concerts.

Most recent CD: Doom, but is best known for ''Cincinnati,'' from the compilation, Blunt Special Blends.