The "Battle of the Bands" idea is probably as old as the universe's second band.

Given humans' propensity to both rock out and strive for power, it was only a matter of inventing fire before the all-night contests could begin.

Now, years after Cro and the Magnons defeated The Neanderthals to win the first battle, Movin' On continues the tradition.

However, while the Magnons won eternal glory, saber-tooth tiger coats and new mastodons, the performers this Saturday have no corporate tie-ins to win. But that doesn't mean they can afford to jam any less hard. Whether they know it or not, Battle of the Bands participants are responsible for keeping civilization supple and evolving.

History is filled with examples of band battles that did more than just entertain: When ancient Celts built Stonehenge as a stage for epic rock battles, they didn't know that the rock formation could also double as a primitive astronomy tool. Marco Polo's expedition to the Orient was all to find this hardcore bass player who he thought could push his band to victory. And the clean coal movement, a movement devoted to one of the most important issues facing the nation today, got its start in Centralia, Pa. after a band thought earth-conscious pyrotechnics might impress some judges.

So battlers, remember that you're part of a noble and important custom. You're not just playing for a Movin' On gig. You have a sacred task -- to stoke the Promethean fire of rock and roll.

And if the lack of prehistoric prizes has you down, just think about your groupies and be thankful that walking on your knuckles and smelling like a mammoth went out of style long ago.

Billy Wellock is a sophomore majoring in English and The Daily Collegian Venues Chief. His e-mail is waw5010@psu.edu and he has both rocked and lived to tell about it.