Florez, a pretty incredible-sounding band out of Nashville, won the Battle for the Boat over at Icehouse.

The nominations for the Boston Music Awards came out today (or, at least, were in the newspapers today), and Averi earned four nominations. Tying with the Dropkick Murphys for the second highest total, one behind Ray LaMontagne.

Looking over the nominations, I'm psyched. A lot of talented and deserving people/bands earned nods...although it makes for some pretty strong competition in several categories.

My thoughts on several of the categories (those in which I feel knowledgable):

Act of the Year: The Dresden Dolls, Dropkick Murphys, Fountains of Wayne, Howie Day, Godsmack, Pet Metheny and Ray LaMontagne.

Dresden Dolls will have a strong showing in the vote count, and Dropkick Murphys will be able to ride the city love and the Red Sox championship (when you provide the anthem for a monumental experience, that's going to count for something big). Howie Day has been simmering in the Boston scene for years now, and "Collide" has the possibility of affecting the hometown crowd much like "The Remedy" and "You & I Both" did for Jason Mraz at the SDMAs the last couple of years. But Ray should get it. Incredible backstory, amazing voice and I'm sure there are countless people still thinking, like myself, of the awe-inspiring (and I don't use that term lightly) experience at Paradise in January. Ray gets the award, I predict.

Album of the Year (Major): Trouble (Ray LaMontagne), Broken World (Lost City Angels), Joe Perry (Joe Perry), The Way Up (Pat Metheny), Hearts on Parade (American Hi-Fi), The Forgotten Arm (Aimee Mann).

No question. Trouble.

Local Album of the Year: Drawn to Revolving Doors (Averi), Time for Biting (The Dents), A Weakness for Spirits (Darkbuster), Kiss the Culprit (Emergency Music), All I Ever Wanted Was Tonight (Dear Leader).

I keep hearing about Dear Leader and Emergency Music. They might make a showing. But I predict Averi takes this one.

Outstanding Pop/Rock Band: Dropkick Murphys, Fountains of Wayne, Guster, Mission of Burma, Staind, Godsmack, The Click 5.

I adore Guster. But, symphony shows aside, they haven't done much this year to warrant attention. Meanwhile, Dropkick played on the dugout at Fenway Park during the Red Sox pre-playoff rally. "Tessie" was blasted from speakers across the country after the final out was recorded. I'm ignoring the amusement I find that they're considered Pop/Rock. The only competition they face comes in the form of the nattily-dressed boys from The Click 5, who have just exploded over the last couple of months. I think DKM takes it home, but I won't be surprised if we see skinny ties when the award is being accepted.

Male Vocalist of the Year: Aaron Lewis (Staind), Brian Fair (Shadows Fall), Clint Conley (Mission of Burma), Howie Day, Ray LaMontagne, Sully Erna (Godsmack).

Howie Day could get a sympathy nod here. If everyone's awarding everything else to Ray or DKM, perhaps they would want to give him a few votes in this category. But I doubt it. Ray should easily win this one.

Song of the Year: Tessie (Dropkick Murphys), 1,2,3 (Bill Janovitz & Crown Victoria), Collide (Howie Day), Leave (Jojo), Just a Girl (The Click 5), Trouble (Ray LaMontagne).

Johnny Damon might go all caveman on voters if they don't give Tessie the award. For the sake of all Bostonians (actual and honorary), DKM should get this one.

Local Song of the Year: Raging Red (Dear Leader), Here I Am (The Explosion), In Defense of Dorchester (The Street Dogs), A Simple Plan (The Information), God is Going to Get Sick of Me (Aberdeen City), The Razor (The Perceptionists), For Better or Worse (Averi).

Averi should take this one home - and I think the guys will.

Local Male Vocalist: Ad Frank, Brett Rosenberg, Chad Perrone (Averi), Jake Brennan, John Powhida (The Rudds), Mike Gent (The Gentlemen), Reverend Glasseye, Ron Ragona (Lost City Angels).

OK. Nomination folk. Big problem here. You haven't even nominated one of the Boston area's best male voices. Was it because he was busy traveling all over the country this year? Did you just happen to forget he's a Boston musician? Where is Ryan Montbleau? Yeah, Montbleau. The guy whose album, "Stages," you all really dug? Glaring omission. That said, I think Chad Perrone should win this one. With the success Averi has had, in particular over the last 18 months, and the word that is starting to spread through his solo work, his name comes out on top.

Live Act: Darkbuster, Fluttr Effect, Jake Brennan and the Confidence Men, Much and the Mires, Robby Roadsteamer, The Dents, The Dresden Dolls, The Slip.

People are starting to really buzz about Fluttr Effect. And many love The Dresden Dolls. I don't know of the others. Yet.

Local Female Vocalist: Amanda Palmer (Dresden Dolls), Andrea Gillis, Emily Grogan, Grace Potter, Jen D'Angora, Laurie Sargent, Monique Ortiz, Sarah Borges.

Grace Potter. I'll be shocked if she doesn't get this one.

New Local Act: Andrea Gillis, Cyanide Valentine, Furvis, Turpentine Brothers, The Click 5, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, The Mittens.

Who I'd like to see get it? Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Who I think will get it? The Click 5.

Local Rock/Pop Band: Apollo Sunshine, Averi, Dear Leader, Emergency Music, The Dents, The Gentlemen, The Information, Waltham.

Averi. They're headling Avalon. Enough said.

Punk Band: Darkbuster, Dropkick Murphys, Lost City Angels, The Explosion, The Streetdogs, The Unseen.

DKM could take this, but as far as I'm concerned, Boston's punk scene is one that certainly doesn't need to have a band nominated for Rock/Pop also nominated for Punk. According to that which I have heard from my Boston punk operatives (OK, fine. My brother), The Unseen should get this.

Male Singer/Songwriter: Bill Janovitz, Ellis Paul, Jake Brennan, Joe Pernice, Josh Ritter, Peter Mulvey, Ray LaMontagne.

Damn. Josh Ritter was more on people's minds last year - and I have a hunch he'll be back next year. He's good, but with Ray and Ellis in the list, he shouldn't even be a consideration. Ray will get it, but I'd like to know there was a strong Ellis showing.

Female Singer/Songwriter: Catie Curtis, Juliana Hatfield, Lori McKenna, Melissa Ferrick, Mieka Pauley, Paula Kelley, Sarah Borges.

It's not quite Mieka Pauley's time yet, but keep your eyes on her. Melissa Ferrick is a perrenial nominee, and deserving, but Catie Curtis deserves this.

Blues Act: Eli "Paperboy" Reed, James Montgomery, Johnny A, Monster Mike Welch, David Maxwell, Susan Tedeschi, Ronnie Earl.

Susan Tedeschi. Although some people should cast ballots for Monster Mike Welch. Just for the, ahem, name.

Local Producer: Dave Minehan, Matthew Ellard, Mike Denneen, Paul Koledrie, Scott Reibling, Tom Polce.

Reibling.