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Well, hello Roux House! I am a creature of habit. I will run through the same meals, the same TV shows, the same places over and over so it’s good to stretch one’s social muscle and try something new. I hadn’t been there since it was M’s Café eons ago, but they have managed to take what I always thought a charming, but awkward space and make a cozy, good-sounding rock club out of it. The first act on my inaugural visit was Brock Ballow from the local hard-rock outfit Addis, doing a strident solo set on his enviable Martin Koa acoustic guitar. Ballow has a great voice for the material, just a little roughness, a little acrobatics but not going too far in either direction. His melodies are immediate and catchy and his lyrics are the standard fair of girls and introspection of the open road. After seeing Ballow and fellow troubadour Greg Talmage recently, I think Baton Rouge is ready for a singer-songwriter scene.

Elsah played a great blistering set. I won’t go on too much because I will, and have, about this band, but they sound great and really know how to work the crowd. The headliners were The Prescriptions. The power-trio of Baton Rouge music veterans (Singer-guitarist Paul Johnson, Tracy Civello has performed under his own name and recorded countless bands in his studio, bassist Patrick Johnson provides the groove with Elsah) make my favorite kind of bar rock. It’s seedy, riff heavy, not afraid of a well-placed guitar solo. I was talking with another musician recently about when a show starts sounding great - it is when things start to run off the rails. The Prescriptions have that bit of danger in the mix that keeps it cool. I’m not looking for anyone to stab themselves on stage or anything, I just want to see some things get rowdy.

Finally, not a local music note, but check out the VH-1 documentary Metal: A Headbanger's Journey if you get a chance. Cultural anthropologist Sam Dunn points his critical eye to the metal subculture, which has been a big part of his life since childhood. It’s a smart, honest, non-sensational look at the music scene that manages to thrive regardless of whether it is in vogue or not. It’s not going to make a convert (that will be accomplished by Adult Swim’s brilliant Metalapocalypse) but that’s not its goal. It shows that’s there some real thought and cultural value in metal that you might not have considered.

HELLO BATON ROUGE! ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?!

Wednesday, September 20: The Gossip tears it up at Spanish Moon with Mika Miko and Terror of the Sea in tow. Theresa Andersson plays a 7 p.m. set at Red Star, before the 2006 Delta Review release party gets rolling. David Loti is at Chelsea’s. Set Your Goals, the Distance, No Trigger and justinbailey are at The Darkroom. Finally, The LSU Center for Computation and Technology presents High Voltage: Cinema for the Ears – 24-channel electronic music at the Manship Studio Theatre in the Shaw Center.

Thursday, September 21: We Landed on the Moon! lands at the Red Star. Texas troubadour Charlie Robison and Sweet Root are at the Varsity.

Friday, September 22: Legendary singer Susan Cowsill is making a rare live appearance at Phil Brady’s. The Zoo with DJ John Young, Wizdum and others take over the Spanish Moon. The Shady Deal band is at Chelsea’s. Jude Fawlwy, Roseline, Ghosts in Lowlights, Reach Here Thy Hand is at the Darkroom. 6 Pack Deep and Reception is Suspected are at The Caterie. Greg Talmage, JP Hoe and Turning Ground are at North Gate Tavern.

Saturday, September 23: The French Kicks, Supersystem, the Little Ones and Zombi provide one of the more promising lineups this year at Spanish Moon. Country Fried kicks up the dust at Chelsea’s. Another Big Machine performs at the Caterie. It’s a big night at The Darkroom featuring Landmines, Baby!, The Fight Between Frames, My Doppelganger’s Casket, Dark Sacred Day and band-name winner of the week, Roman Gabriel Todd’s Beast Rising Up From the Sea.

Monday, September 25: TJ Black and the Black Sound Parade are at Chelsea’s.

Tuesday, September 26: Benison, Ghosts in Lowlights, Giving Chase and Thru It All are at The Darkroom.