ALTERNATIVE

Ain't Helen

• This all-female band has quickly emerged as one of the top local alternative groups.

Regular gigs: Ain't Helen plays everywhere, from the WEBN fireworks to clubs and coffeehouses.

Most recent CD: 30 Hours.

Monk

• The new group led by former Over The Rhine guitarist Ric Hordinski mixes pop with ambient sounds.

Regular gigs: York Street Cafe, Sudsy Malone's and frequent tours.

Most recent CD: Quiver.

Over The Rhine

• From beatnik rap to sensual folk-rock, OTR has expanded both its personnel and its sonic palette, remaining one of the area's most intriguing bands.

Regular gigs: Frequent tours and March 28 at Bogart's.

Most recent CD: Besides.

COVER/PARTY BAND

Absolut

• Absolut plays the latest alt-rock hits, drawing huge, young crowds.

Regular gig: Tonight at Murray's Pub, Thursdays at Mad Frog, weekends at Salamone's and the Blue Note.

Most recent CD: None.

Marsha Brady

• Marsha Brady keeps dance floors filled with an assortment of moving music from funk to disco. The band features Sean McGary, son of the late local jazz great Jimmy McGary, on guitar and vocals.

Regular gigs: The Blue Note, Sycamore Gardens and Main Street clubs.

CD: None.

The Menus

• Rock, from classic to alt, all of it served up with an energy that has kept this band on top of the demanding and often thankless cover-band scene.

Regular gigs: Blue Note and lots of park events when the weather warms up.

Most recent CD: Infinite Recess.

HARD ROCK

Denial

• Denial's the new kid on the hard-rock block, with a tough edged alt-rock sound.

Regular gigs: Blue Note.

Most recent CD: None.

Black Bone Cat

• Featuring local metal vets Mike Skimmerhorn on guitar and Les Sharp on drums (both formerly of Spike), this band keeps classic metal flame alive.

Regular gigs: None.

Most recent CD: None.

Leap Skyward

• From beer-soaked rock joints to the Ensemble Theatre's production of Eric Bogosian's Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, Leap Skyward does it all. Mixing R&B and even country into its potent hard-rock formula, the band's sound is tough yet original.

Regular gigs: At Annie's as an opening act and headlining dates at various area clubs.

Most recent CD: Shootin' for the Moon.

ROOTS ROCK

Big in Iowa

• Starting in the northern suburbs, Big in Iowa has been cracking the Cincinnati scene with a twangy, original brand of country-rock.
Regular gigs: At various area clubs.

Most recent CD: Big in Iowa.

Goshorn Brothers Band

• These 1997 Roots Rock Cammy winners continue to blend blues, rock and country into a seamless musical whole.

Regular gigs: Habit's Cafe (the duo of Larry & Timmy Goshorn), the River Cafe, Allyn's, East End Cafe and various local nightspots.

Most recent CD: True Stories: Live At Tommy's on Main.

Robin Lacy & DeZydeco

• Driven by its bandleader's hyperactive squeeze box, DeZydeco works its swamp-rocking voodoo on willing victims all over town.

Regular gig: Shady O'Grady's, the Blue Note and monthly gigs at Redfish downtown.

Most recent CD: Robin Lacy Live.

ROCK INSTRUMENTALIST

Scott Covrett (Robin Lacy & DeZydeco)

• A versatile guitar player who mixes country, blues and Cajun licks into a rock 'n' roll gumbo, Scott Covrett keeps the good times rolling with DeZydeco.

Regular gigs: Shady O'Grady's, the Blue Note and monthly gigs at Redfish downtown.

Most recent CD: Robin Lacy Live.

Rob Fetters

• Balancing the sonic explorations of his friend Adrian Belew with his own uncanny pop sense, Rob Fetters has been one of the best things about Cincinnati rock for 15 years.

Regular gigs: Rare local performances, as his day job as house composer at Sound Images studio keeps him pretty much out of the clubs at night.

Most recent CD: Lefty Loose, Righty Tight.

Craig Nelson (Absolut)

• The man behind the modern-rock riffs for this popular cover band.

Regular gig: Tonight at Murray's Pub, Thursdays at Mad Frog, weekends at Salamone's and the Blue Note.

Most recent CD: None.

VOCALIST

Rob Fetters

• Rob can seldom be found ''playing out'' nowadays, but his long stints with the Raisins and the pyschodots haven't been forgotten.

Regular gigs: You'll hear him rock out at the Cammys with the 'dots, but he doesn't do many local performances.

Most recent CD: Lefty Loose, Righty Tight.

Noah Hunt

• Former Uncle Six front man and winner of the 1997 folk vocalist Cammy for his duo work with Jason Dennie, Noah Hunt now plays in the big leagues with the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band.

Regular gigs: None.

Most recent CD: Trouble Is . . . (with the KWS Band).

Jim Miller (Leap Skyward)

• It's a big job fronting Cincinnati's busiest original hard-rock band, but Jim Miller is more than equal to the task.

Regular gigs: At Annie's as an opening act and at various clubs around town.

Most recent CD: Shootin' for the Moon.