Fans of the local Boston music scene always have an abundance of tunes to be able to check out, given the ever-deepening pool of area talent and multitude of venues. Usually, things work out in the listeners' favor: one can't miss band one night, another the next.

But sometimes the fates align themselves and cackle a bit as a potential audience member realizes she can't be two places at once. A musical cagematch emerges, with two candidates vying for the cover charge and possible CD sale.

Today we give you two noteworthy acts, each of which will be playing for the hometown crowd tonight. Five-piece Tides has the special event corner covered - the band will hold a CD release for its latest EP, "Waiting For the Day," at Bill's Bar. But across the way in Somerville, local singer-songwriter Tim Blane will also be headlining - a two-set night at Johnny D's. Here's your breakdown to the Saturday Night Showdown:

-- The Act: Tides
The Location: Bill's Bar
Recent Accolades: Performance at 108 FM's KISSFest earlier this summer, radio play for single "Follow"
Myspace
The Breakdown: "Waiting For the Day" continues to demonstrate the tightly-honed pop-rock sensibilities that Tides has been delivering for the past several years. The sound is a little bit of Coldplay, a lot of U2, perhaps even some matchbox twenty thrown into the mix - tight grooves, strong harmonies and the kind of lyrics that women want to hear and men wish they could come up with on their own. There is an unabashed earnestness to Tides' take on pop and performance, and Bostonist has been a long-time fan of what the band (Drew English, Matt Benjamin, Andy Sutherland, Dan Robinson, Eric Michaud) delivers.

-- The Act: Tim Blane
The Location: Johnny D's
Recent Accolades: On Tuesday night, Blane was named the Boston regional winner of the Starbucks/NEMO Music Makers competition, earning a bid to the finals next month at the Hard Rock Cafe.
Myspace
The Breakdown: It's clear, listening to Blane perform live or on his latest release, "Clockwork," that the years studying at Berklee paid off. There is a smoothness and a knowledge of how to fuse together various elements - jazz, dashes of reggae, rock, soul - into a pop-ish sound unique and comfortably familiar at the same time. The range of material on "Clockwork" makes the album one of, if not the, best local pop-rock releases of the year thus far, highlighted by the catchy "Me Being Me," driving "Tennessee" and ballad "Undone." Armed with a tight band for many of his live performances (and the two sets scheduled for this evening), Blane is one of those guys you almost want to resent for his musical prowess - but he comes off as too personable and charming to dislike.