As the war with Iraq continues to spark controversy, some students have turned to local bands and musicians as an outlet for their opinions.

Since the war started, there has been an increase in the playing of Outkast's "Bombs Over Baghdad" at Players Nite Club, 112 W. College Ave., Chris Crider, aka DJ Slam, said.

"Last Thursday, I had three requests for it, which stuck in my mind because it's been almost a year since it's been requested that much," said Crider, who works at Players and at WIKN-FM (107.9). "At 107.9 we started playing 'Bombs over Baghdad' once an hour."

Students can voice their opinions through song requests for local cover bands, but the musicians have the responsibility of determining whether to make a political statement through their music.

Matt Day, a guitarist for Stept On, said it's an awkward situation.

"We're in a position where I can't mask my feelings about the war," Day said.

At a recent concert, he told the audience, "No matter how you feel about what's going on, you have to think about the soldiers out there that are fighting for our freedom."

Afterward, he said he dedicated a song to the troops.

Stept On also plays a song Day said might take on new significance because of current events.

"Our new song, 'Embrace,' is about freedom. I almost felt cheesy writing it, but now it just feels right," he said.

However, Day said the band has no intention of playing new war songs.

"We usually try to keep the political statements to a minimum," he said. "People come to see us to get a release from all that."

Tim McKenna, lead singer of Axum, had the same outlook on playing war songs at concerts.

"Leave the anti-war movement to the political bands," McKenna said. "We play covers to make sure people have a good time."

Yet McKenna said Axum still wants to voice its opinion concerning these current events.

"We're very supportive of the war as a band," he said.

Though Axum chooses not to address the topic of war at its concerts, it uses an online forum for fans to express their opinions.

"On our Web site, this week's topic is posting your thoughts on the war," McKenna said. "I would like to facilitate discussion about it."

Some bands may also start to incorporate their thoughts on the current events into their songwriting.

"If you're seriously writing songs, you can't help but write songs about what effects you," Dennis Fallon, lead singer of Katsu, said.

Fallon also said he felt the college demographic could become more conscious of lyrics as students listen to new music.

"On a national level, I think it's going to affect the music that comes out," he said.

War could also alter the creation of local music. Mike Woliansky, lead singer of Giving Chase, said the war may start to affect how he writes his songs.

"I think it's possible that it will push me to write more political things," Woliansky said.

"It's important for you to use the time and attention you have from the audience to say something important that might have an effect what people are thinking," he said.