'Hey, here are some noise canceller headphones ' you know, just in case it gets too loud for you.'

Maybe I should've been more apprehensive when Rob Chafin, drummer for the UD-based band The Works, handed me the largest set of earphones I've ever seen in my life. Standing in the basement of 158 Medford, watching these four guys tune up and prepare to play, I had no idea what to expect.

What I heard was an original song titled 'Fall' and it bared an awesome, Phish-esque sound which reminded my of something I'd want to be listening to while enjoying the weekend on my front porch with friends.

'We don't want to be called a jam band because we are, but we aren't,' Chafin explained. 'We're more of a funk-slash-rock-slash-jam band!'

'I'd say more free improvisational rock band,' added Dave Bartoletti, keyboardist for The Works.

Yet just one year ago, The Works were singing a totally different tune. In fact, they were singing under a totally different name: Thesaurus. Thesaurus competed against 10 other local bands during Battle of the Bands at the KU Pub last April. A win at the Battle was based on a collaboration of four judges votes and audience response. When Chris Houser, current guitarist of The Works and former member of Cheezcake, saw Thesaurus play and win at Battle of the Bands, he contacted them. Thesaurus was already in jeopardy of losing a guitarist, and when approached by Cheezcake, saw great potential in a partnership between the two bands. Thus, The Works was born, with members Chafin on drums, Bartoletti on keyboard, both current UD students, Houser on guitar and Chuckie Love on bass.

When asked how the guys came up with their band name, they just laughed and said it was no great epiphany. After a late show one night, the band members were craving some food and stopped at a Steak n' Shake. When the waiter asked one of the members wanted he on his sandwich, he replied simply, 'Just give me the works.' And thus, the band's name was created.

The Works have only played two shows together so far, both at the Art Street Amphitheatre, but they already sound as if they've been playing together for a lot longer than that. All four seem very relaxed in their musical style, and while they practice they adopt a trial-and-error approach to what sounds good, what's fun to play and give each other a chance to try a few rowdy solos. And they love every minute of it.

The Works are finishing up a CD that will come out by the end of November, as well as a Web site that will post band info, show times, etc. Their temporary Web site can be found on thefacebook.com by clicking on The Works Fan Club link.

Fans can jam to The Works Nov. 11 at The Dive, a bar in Fairborn. The show there will be a lock-in with two other UD bands: The Goods and The Skeleton Crew. For booking information elsewhere, contact The Works' manager Sara Johnson at (314)-210-6383.