By the time you read these words, half the 14 Valparaiso University student bands who made the cut for "The 2009 Battle of the Bands" will have been dismissed from the competition, leaving the final seven hopefuls to wage one final battle for glory.

A preliminary round last night determined who stayed and who left the musical war zone presented annually by VU's Music Enterprise Student Association, a student organization that focuses on career opportunities and hands-on experiences in the music entertainment industry.

Helping to sponsor the battle once again is the university's student-operated radio station, WVUR-95.1 FM.

The genres of the groups facing off tonight in Hilltop Gym at the Athletics-Recreation Center on campus span the popular-music spectrum -- from folk, blues and soul to R&B, rock and funk -- with a panel of equally diverse judges determining who will stand in the winner's circle.

Serving as judges for this year's competition are: Marc Nelson, chief studio engineer for Alley Recording Co.; Zebulun Barnow, publisher and performer with The Blue Man Group; John Parker, tour manager for The Fray rock band; and Valparaiso alumnus Jonathan Gesse, engineer and soundtrack producer for Melrose Pyrotechnics.

Tickets for tonight's finals round are $5 for the general public and are available at the door. There will be a "People's Choice" winner, too, as the audience is requested to vote for their favorite artist following tonight's performance.

VU Battle of the Bands

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: Valparaiso University, Valparaiso

COST: $5, all ages and open to the pubic

FYI: (219) 464-5114

The opinions expressed are solely the writer's. Reach him at beatboss@aol.com.