Friday night's Asylum show at the HUB Ballroom proved that State College is capable of supporting an underground rock scene.

Three local bands -- The Pinch, Junction and The Imploding Organic Avoidable -- provided the focal point for an interesting evening of moshing, sing-alongs and (gasp!) a social conflict.

The moshing started when student trio The Pinch began playing their brand of original hardcore funk, a sort of Replacements/Red Hot Chili Peppers hybrid. They played mostly originals, including songs called "Funk Babe" and "Cool Rider," and received a rousing response to their finale, Jimi Hendrix's "Fire."

The Imploding Organic Avoidable demonstrated why they are the area's most unique and entertaining cover band by doing a set that included songs from Paul Simon's "Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard" to Nine Inch Nails' "Head Like a Hole."

Lead singer/guitarist Mark Pfaff (sophomore-engineering) said he was pleased to play the Asylum, which is free and open to all ages.

"We're being paid extraordinarily, incredibly well for what we do . . . we're just a street band," he said.

They may be just a street band, with the no-frills acoustic sound of Pfaff, guitarist Mike Matthews (sophomore-engineering) and washtub-bassist Greg Symons (junior-hydrology), but they played Friday with enthusiasm and a sense of humor that was hard to ignore. At first, their set seemed like a private joke, but it ended with most of the crowd of more than 100 laughing along.

The night's most interesting interlude (the social conflict) came as Junction drummer Ben Azzara (junior-English) read a poem before his band's set.

"If people ask me how my holiday break was, I usually read them this," he said, proceeding to recite the slightly morbid piece. But a few lines into the poem, he stopped to shout at a man who was heckling him, challenging him to step onto the stage and speak to the audience.

Bassist Garrett Rothman (junior-communications) joined in confronting the leather-clad heckler, who eventually came to the microphone and growled a short, vulgar tirade against bisexual people.

He left immediately and hurriedly, prompting more taunting from Rothman and Azzara. Singer Vanessa Downing (junior-agriculture) also addressed the man.

"If you hate me and you know me . . . that's fine," she said. "But if you hate me just because I dig chicks, that's not cool."

Jackie Davie, Asylum president, said she wished Junction had just ignored the man, calling their challenge "off the wall." But she added she was pleased the audience remained in control.

"I've seen the same people in here every week and there's never been a problem," she said.

Downing was apologetic at the end of the show.

"Hopefully we'll get to play on campus again . . . we're just here to have fun," she said.

Davie said Junction might be asked to perform at Asylum again as long as they agreed not to antagonize the crowd.

After all the antics, Junction played a powerful and energetic set with original songs reminiscent of Fugazi and other East Coast hardcore acts. The crowd was appreciative, cheering for an encore and supporting a substantial slam pit.