Friday night's Battle of the Bands contest, sponsored by the Asylum, time warped to the feeling of a junior high talent show -- back when training bras and popularity contests conformed one's world.

Although the presence of streamers, professor chaperones and the scent of Oxy-10 were absent, it was inevitable that some bands depended on friends to beef up voting.

"I don't look at it in terms of competition. The whole Battle of the Bands thing is weird, they should just divy up the money to everyone," said Garrett Rothman (sophomore-English), Junction's bassist.

For some groups, the politics of such a contest was irrelevant.

"When we applied, we didn't think we'd get in. I just want to do our stuff," said Simon Tarr (sophomore-film), Zen Yankees' guitarist and vocalist, before the show. "This is basically a popularity contest, let the most popular band win. I don't care."

Aside from Junction and the Zen Yankees, the lineup included Eggbound, Jay Cheddar and the Cheesetones, Imploding Organic Avoidables, the Dirges and Philipsburg metal act, the Dark.

Boasting a jangly set of tuneful pop songs alternative enough for the "big hair" set, the Dirges captured first prize worth $150. Angsty originals like "I Walk Alone," and "I am," seized the crowd into a fist-pumping frenzy that only peaked during its cover of "Born to Run."

Furthering the Dirges' pared down style, Imploding Organic Avoidable performed its own dysfunctional version of MTV's "Unplugged" to mass appeal. Highlights included an acoustic reading of "Staying Alive" which led into Pearl Jam's "Alive."

MTV Buzz kids cheered, sweated and danced as if connected with the band. Combining a kiddie nostalgia with today's trends made for fun results although it got ugly when band members started smashing an acoustic guitar while the bass player sang the chorus to Nirvana's "Smells like Teen Spirit."

"I liked them, I thought they were original. They appeared not to take themselves too seriously," said Karen Mulkerrin (freshman-business).

Next on the bill, Jay Cheddar and the Cheesetones performed like hardcore-charlatans exposed to intense rays of seventies bad taste.

Bassist Bob Sweeny (junior-general arts) came on stage sporting an off-white, fly collared shirt and fish nets which set the tone for a set of absurd send-ups including "Play that Funky Music," the "Barney Miller" theme, and the Smashing Pumpkins' "Siva."

"What Jay Cheddar is doing is a service to history because they're creating a reemergence of classic songs," Rothman said. "They can take anything from Godflesh to John Cougar Mellencamp and make it ear candy."

Its performance was good enough for a second place tie with Eggbound (who also won the staff favorite category). Seducing its audience with its "sex metal," Eggbound proved they were truly the most talented.

The last two acts that followed were the Zen Yankees and the Dark. Both bands held captive audiences but by the time they came on most had already voted.

"Creative -- I love their lyrics. I never heard anything like that before," said Erik Weidenboerner (junior-biology) of the Zen Yankees.