Several are performing at tech company holiday parties this month. Once banished to the basement with their pocket protectors, geeks are feeling good about themselves and are no longer afraid to perform in public. On Friday night, Gross played at BTG's annual holiday party at the McLean Hilton. Nearby in Tysons Corner, drummer Dave Costa played at the holiday party for UUNet Technologies Inc., where he works as a technical support person. There, Costa planned to suck up to company CEO and guitar buff John Sidgmore by playing a few songs by the boss's idol, Jimi Hendrix.
Theories abound as to why techies form bands.
The phenomenon even has a scientific basis, experts say. Computers are used, for example, to mix instruments as well as sampling sounds for use in songs. Many band members also communicate by e-mail and often exchange song lyrics via computer. But some bands stake a claim to geek-band status even though they lack techie members. For example, Washington-based vocalist Jim Boyd insists his band, Boot, is a geek band even though only its guitar player Tim Ward, a software designer, works in technology.