CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Russ Sevinsky, bassist for Troy's Bucket, rocks the crowd. Nearly 200 people showed up for the second annual Battle of the Bands, organized by the UAB and ASUA.

Even without their dancing ape-like mascot, Gorilla Behind Bars stole the vote from a crowd of over 200 last night and walked away with a $300 gift certificate to the Guitar Center.

The finals for the UA's second annual battle of the bands, put on by ASUA and UAB, took place last night.

Gorilla Behind Bars performed with Troy's Bucket, Oliver Nothing and Elsewhere.

Standing in pink net stockings before the show, Bars bassist Geoff Hidalgo, said he felt good about performing.

"But we think Elsewhere is going to win," he said.

However, at the end of the night, only three bands were on the ballot.

Elsewhere was scheduled to perform first, but accidentally forgot a guitar attachment.

Jason Shelley, one of Elsewhere's guitarists, left in rush hour traffic to retrieve the attachment but was unable to make it back in time, disqualifying the band.

Sarah Calvert, ASUA special events director, said amplification is not allowed on the Mall past 7 p.m.

The 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. time window was locked and they had to allow the other bands 30 minutes to set up and play.

"I felt like I was going to die," said Shelley, when he learned of the disqualification. "Like I let everyone down. We don't really care if we win. We just want to play."

Gorilla Behind Bars cut their own stage time to allow Elsewhere to perform one song before the show closed.

When asked how the band would divvy up the gift certificate, Bars drummer Chris Krapek said, "We're going to buy drumsticks, drumheads and guitar strings, probably."

Before the show, Bruce Momich, an audio engineer at the Rialto Theatre, said he thought Troy's Bucket would win.

"I think there's one band here that has had more stage experience than the rest of them," Momich said. "And it's pretty evident."

Even Zaliah Zalkind, a human rights and sustainable development junior, said he thought Troy's Bucket would win, even though he voted for his friends in Oliver Nothing.

"We really weren't concerned about winning," said Krapek. "We're friends with the other bands so it was cool just to play with them."

Rachel Keller, UAB concerts director, said she was pleased with the turnouts and the performances.

"I think they are all pretty diverse and some of the best local bands," Keller said.

Behind her, people relaxed on the grass with their pets, smoked cigarettes and talked in groups as they waited for the next band to go on.

"It brings people together," she said.