Despite all the joy it professes, Christian church music is about as uplifting as wet cardboard. And the comatose recitation of prayers - you expect God to hear that? Well, that all changed last Thursday at Third Presbyterian Church as we all bid farewell to The Buddhahood's Tony Cavagnaro. It was a solemn affair, but the happiness and promise of his music bubbled beneath. The ceremony ended and The Buddhahood marched down the aisle like a Big Easy second line. The entire congregation followed out in a makeshift parade that erupted into dance spilling into the street and adjacent parking lot. The horns were blown and the drums beaten with the band's fervent love for its departed leader. And I'm sure God - wherever she is - heard it loud and clear.

Not to worry, the second shift of fresh new rock 'n' rollers is on deck. Friday night was Round 2 of Water Street Music Hall's high school battle of the bands. Last week's City cover boys, Preemptive Strike, won by a landslide. Kids at these shows are still a little new to the rock show protocol, so whatever reaction a band gets is perhaps a little more genuine. Preemptive Strike drove 'em nuts with simple, catchy, three-chord punk rock. Other bands rocked hard and genuine for the most part, with a lot of what I guess you could call "scream-o" dominating the show. My one tip for these bands: don't tell crowds what to do. Don't try and orchestrate mosh pits. This is supposed to happen on its own, based on the power of the music. You want the crowd to go bananas? Earn it, motherf**ker.

It's ironic to think anyone in The Quitters would actually quit, but Dave Snyder's gone. I saw the new three-piece version at The Bug Jar Saturday and must say this band's songs are so well written that everyone could quit and it would still sound good.

Then Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival holy-rolled in from Cleveland and rocked pentacostaly lo-fi. Songs about getting kicked in the nuts by Jesus and the handling of snakes onstage made this a great show for the whole family. I'm bringing Mom next time.