Beat Happenings

Bragging rights: Well, kids, it's officially October, and it's time for everyone's favorite high school tradition: the Battle of the Bands! Remember junior year? All the bands sounded like shittier versions of Ratt, so you just voted for the dude with the grungiest flannel. Ah, youth! But since we're all adults now, we know you're looking for all the BotB jollies without the painful dissidence. So might we suggest hitting up Cicero's (6691 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-862-0009) for a high-quality musical mêlée? Their Battle of the Bands debuts on October 6 and continues each Thursday (with three bands per night) until a winner is selected from the finalists on October 27. And with our very own music editor Annie Z. rockin' the judging panel, you're guaranteed that the damn homecoming king won't win by default.

Geometry lesson: Every great song has a great loop, and what is a "loop" if not a fancy name for a circle? And when three fantastic singer/songwriters appear at various vertexes of the Focal Point (coordinates: 2720 Sutton Boulevard; 314-835-1199) at what's being called a Songwriters in the Round show, they form a triangle of talent. Each musician will share songs and explain the sphere of their stories, so expect to analyze complex rotations and experience some laugh lines. Renowned folk artists Noah Earle, Patsy O'Brien and Rich Simmons will all participate on October 9 at 7 p.m. This is one equation you won't mind working out on a Sunday night. So don't be a square: Go get Round.

I Brake for Hurricane Victims: If you can't get enough of the helping those in need, rush out to Off Broadway (3509 Lemp Avenue; 314-773-3363) tonight, October 5. Eight local bands will each play forty-minute sets; basic addition skills prove that equals six-anna-half solid hours of rock! In performance order from the 6:30 p.m. start: Joe Bohac plays the guitarmonica, Geoff Koch plays tunes from his Throwing Rocks at Your Ghost, Grant Essig ain't foolin' around with his folktronica, feisty rocker Terra Naomi gave up waitressing for you, On Tracy Lane pops with sparkling melodies, Modern Red unleashes no-frills college rock, All About Me loves beer-induced jams, and The Alyson sounds MTV-ready. Seven measly dollars earn entrée to the rockin' revelry; proceeds will benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.