The Cartmans, Fuck The Robots, The Perfume, Panda Power and The Disco Biscuits all competed at a Battle of the Bands on late Wednesday night/Thursday morning at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, with the Biscuits taking top honors. The members of all five groups looked suspiciously like the Biscuits, who in fact changed costumes and musical modes during this, the second set of their New Year’s Eve show. For instance, The Cartmans performed South Park material: ‘Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)’ (with Biscuits bassist Marc Brownstein as Chef) ‘It’s Easy MMMKay,’ and ‘Blame Canada’ (Former Jambands.com columnist Erica Gruenberg joined on vocals for this song which carried a bit more oomph because Toronto’s The New Deal also appeared on the bill). Panda Power is particularly worthy of note as the group took the stage in Panda costumes to perform original compositions with Japanese lyrics, while writhing go-go dancers in schoolgirl outfits cheered on the action. Following Panda Power, the audience was permitted to select a winner by applause with the Biscuits taking top honors. Relix staffer Jonathan Schwartz, who praised the spectacle, challenged the outcome: ‘The fix was in. Panda Power was clearly the best band of the night. I would go on tour with this band.’ [Incidentally, Jambands.com offers its salutations to Mr. Schwartz who recently married his longtime steady squeeze Sharon, both of whom were graced by a surprise Biscuits performance at their wedding fete this past Monday at NYC’s Slipper Room]. The evening also featured an interlocking set with the New Deal that led from ‘Basis Of the Day’ during the Biscuits first set into the New Deal and then back into ‘Basis’ at the conclusion of the New Deal’s performance. The Biscuits are in Philadelphia for two nights at the Electric factory tonight and Saturday.