Battle of the Payroll Bands Down to Top 2

The five-month “Battle of the Payroll Bands” challenge is now down to two bands.

After a “Name that Tune” game challenge during Wednesday afternoon’s Luncheon, only the Paymaniacs and the Iconics were left standing from the original pool of five bands competing to reach the top of the charts.

The other three bands, HYPO, Money Pool, and Diminimus, were left by the wayside after battling it on stage to answer such pop music culture questions like:

• This popular song was released as the opening track for one of the band’s many albums. The single was released in 1980, but only reached #23 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart (“Any Way You Want It” by Journey)
• This romantic love song was originally recorded by Erma Franklin in 1967, but came to greater mainstream attention when another artist coverd the song in 1968 (“Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin)

The overall winner will be chosen after a final challenge during Friday’s Closing General Session, which starts at 4:15 p.m. in the Palms Ballroom.