After months of hype, it's Fight Night. Simon Bowl. Treme vs. The Wire. NOLA vs. Bal'more. Tonight, Tipitina's will host a battle of the bands pitting David Simon's two favorite cities against each other. Wearing the home uniforms will be Galactic and the Stooges Brass Band. Representing Baltimore will be Anwan "Big G" Glover and the Backyard Band and Lafayette Gilchrist and the New Volcanos. Since Don King and Justin Bieber weren't available, we figured we'd give the bands a chance to improve their Standing before the bell rings. Here's what they had to say:

Glover aka Slim Charles of The Wire has been to NOLA before and explained that he "knows what he's stepping into." Yet, he remains undeterred. "Be there man. Throw it on the floor," he said.

When asked to predict the winner, Gilchrist pivoted to the cause of the evening - the Tipitina's Foundation and the Roots of Music - saying, "The kids are the winners." NoDef decided to prod him for an answer befitting a prize fight. Gilchrist seamlessly dialed Muhammad Ali's famous rant, leaving the New Orleans bands playing George Foreman.

For this fight, I’ve wrestled with alligators, I’ve tussled with a whale," he said. "I done handcuffed lightning And throw thunder in jail. You know I’m bad."

Galactic's Ben Ellman was more concise in his prediction,"All I can say is that this is our house."

The most bold prediction of all came from Walter Ramsey of the Stooges. "Tonight, Treme wins in two rounds, knockout. The Wire loses. They go back to Baltimore and cry."

The line remains virtually even as of 4 p.m., though a decided edge could come minutes before the fight begin depending on who shows up to host: Bunk Moreland or Antoine Batiste.