For many mosh pit bands touring the college circuit, originality seems to be a great absence. Some groups even continue on the same, simple, three-chord punk realm.

But for Little Blue Crunchy Things, innovation seems to be the only reoccurring aspect that keeps them away from the norm.

With a mesh of metal, alterna-rock, hard-core punk, rap and even a little ska, it seems difficult to put LBCT into any one, specific category.

Little Blue Crunchy Things seems to have passed the adolescent lyrical and musical base that most main stream bands have established, and have instead formed more of a “brainy punk” sound.

For instance, singer Noel Tabakin tackles every subject from AIDS, on the bluesy tune “The Doctor,” to suburban narcissism, on the funky “See What I’m Smelling.”

“I try to talk about big issues without preaching at people,” Tabakin said in a recent press release. “I wrote [‘The Doctor’] a couple years ago when there were a lot of cheesy, corny songs that treated safe sex in weird ways. I wanted to tell a story instead of tell people what to do.”

When it comes to their songwriting, it seems that each member has a different idea that all come out in the finished product.

The various interests of each member contribute heavily to the band’s unique sound.

“It’s very subconscious,” Tabakin said. “It’s a collective event, though we’re trying not to be. Nobody’s dictating to anyone how to play. I’ll rap out the lyrics and people will just play.”

The story of Crunchy Things began about ten years ago in a Milwaukee high school with bassists Bill Backes and Ric Eells and their basic, metal-punk band.

The band has since gone through a huge evolutionary process with revolving door-like line-up changes and constantly changing musical styles.

After performing as a house band at the Milwaukee club Skank Hall, the band members began making their way to colleges all over the Midwest.

LBCT has won many honors, including nominations for several music awards from the Milwaukee area and a place in the final round of the Ticketmaster/Musician Magazine Showcase. It has even been featured on the College Music Journal’s compilation CD with their song “Soul Searching.”

As for the highly unusual name, the band members are keeping tight-lipped. But it is a name that the band has kept through their many changes.

Little Blue Crunchy Things and their sweaty, rip-roaring, jump-around-until-you-puke stage antics, return to the Maintenance Shop Saturday night at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $5, $6 the day of the show, and all ages are welcome.