Movin' On may still be a few weeks away, but preparations have already begun.

Local bands will go toe-to-toe tomorrow night to gain one of three slots to perform on the side stage. The show will start at 9 p.m. in HUB-Alumni Hall and will feature: absentee ballad, Changing Frames, East Coast Pimps, giving chase, Holden Caulfield, Jon Gill Band, Judgement, No On 15, Spider Kelly and Spring Drive.

The bands were chosen from a stockpile of approximately 40 others that submitted demos for the contest. Movin' On director Chris Polley said organizers of Movin' On met and ranked the entries, and then chosen the 10 strongest from the group. Though any style of music was allowed to enter, Polley said they were looking for music that was more energetic and lively.

"We were looking for something more upbeat, since the show is going to be outside," Polley (senior-animal bioscience) said.

Battle of the Bands Time: 9:30 p.m. Date: Tomorrow Place: HUB-Alumni Hall Who: absentee ballad, Changing Frames, East Coast Pimps, giving chase, Holden Caulfield, Jon Gill Band, Judgement, No On 15, Spider Kelly and Spring Drive

In addition, they also chose the other three bands that will be performing on the side stage along with the winners of the Battle. On the Brink and Slick Olde Bishops, two of last year's winners, plus Axum were chosen to play at Movin' On.

One change that will be apparent this year is the two-stage set up to accommodate the bands will now be side-by-side. Last year, the bands alternated on either sides of Alumni Hall.

As Polley said, this design was not in the best interest of the show, having to oscillate judges, the sound crew and especially the audience.

Changing Frames, one of the bands chosen for the Battle, is preparing to put on a show that will make a good impression on the judges. Guitarist Steve Yemenijian (sophomore-mechanical engineering) attended last year's competition and hopes to make his band's sound a unique attraction.

"Last year, there was definitely maybe two or three genres that bands fell into. There wasn't really anyone that sounds like us," Yemenijian said.

Characteristics such as energy, presence, originality, skill and crowd engagement are all factors that the judges will look for during a band's set. Yemenijian said Changing Frames is preparing to make the most of its 20-minute set and wow the judges.

"We want to try and do things that not only get the crowd into it, but also get them participating," Yemenijian said.

The prize of the night — the chance to play at Movin' On — is the brass ring that Changing Frames has its eye on winning.

Not only will it provide the band with an added performance, it will provide an occasion to perform in front of a larger, more diverse crowd. "We'd like to play a show with people — not just our friends — and catch their ears as they pass," Yemenijian said.

In the end though, Yemenijian said that, regardless of the results of the Battle, he and his band still look forward to performing tomorrow and then attending Movin' On in a few weeks.

"Even if we don't win, we still got a good concert to see," Yemenijian said.

Admission to tomorrow night's show is free with a Penn State ID+ card.