Standing in the DJ booth at Johnny's Irish Pub Monday night like a preacher in his pulpit, Jeff Cosco challenged the few dozen musicians who had gathered to face the music: "I believe I have the answer to why things aren't the way they were," Cosco says.

Yes, the club music scene has faded since the late '70s and early '80s, perhaps because of the hike in the drinking age and tougher DWI laws. But "who we forgot to blame," Cosco says, "is us.

"We forgot what a music scene is. A music scene is not playing covers like no others," he insists, pointing the finger at a city awash in bands that can sound just like Dave Matthews. "Covering music is not a music scene. Creating music is a music scene."

This was the second social gathering sponsored by Rochester Band Insider, or RBI, a chance for local musicians to discuss the scene. Cosco is a veteran of that scene, going back to bands like Cheater, and freely admits that he also made the mistake of abandoning his own music in order to play cover songs; his penance is assembling a Web site that broadcasts local original music 24 hours a day, www.sorethumbradio.com.

As Cosco spoke, many heads nodded in agreement. But then the anti-Christ strode up to the pulpit: Richard Paolotto, manager of the local Journey tribute band 50-50. Sure, times were great for local music 25 years ago, Paolotto says. "But then things changed. People wanted to hear what they were hearing on the radio every day." As an example, he used the Rochester band Uncle Plum, once the biggest draw in town as a cover band; when it began playing its own music, Paolotto claims, the crowds dwindled.

"It didn't work for them," he says. "What are you talking about?" a voice challenged from the back of the room; it was Uncle Plum guitarist Mike Gladstone, who attributed the band's drop as a draw to factors other than playing a handful of original songs.

Cosco plunged on, arguing that all he was calling for was just a few originals each set, citing the old bands Duke Jupiter and Lou Gramm, in his days with Black Sheep, before he was recruited to sing with Foreigner. "Nobody recruited Black Sheep because of their cover songs," Cosco says. "And they did play cover songs, believe me. They played a lot of Free."

Sure, these guys all know each other, but are looking at the same thing through different lenses. Everyone seemed to agree Paolotto was right on one count, cover bands make the money. But on this night, the room was with Cosco and his warning, "Don't make the mistake I did."

For more, including an announcement of the next meeting of RBI in a few months, check www.rochesterbandinsider.com.