Bands Battle, Everyone Wins at Xconomy's Battle of the Tech Bands

A rockin’ good time was had by all at this year’s Xconomy Battle of the Tech Bands 3 held at the Middle East in Cambridge. Whether you were a fan of electronic hip-hop, country-rock-soul, heavy metal or something in between, the face off between East coast and West coast left little to be desired as Boston bands attempted to defend their hometown honor against Seattle rivals.

The clash of guitars, drums, and tech minds led to loud noise and the winner of the third Battle of the Tech Bands, The Dirty Truckers, Boston’s own “gritty country rock band.” The Dirty Truckers, who were the 2009 audience favorite, won by a narrow margin of 182 votes to the 180 votes of electronica hipsters, Deadbeat Darling.

To kick off the party a little bit early, CHEN PR hosted an event before the Battle of the Bands at ZuZu, the restaurant upstairs at the Middle East. We were joined by clients and friends to socialize, drink and of course eat some of the great food. We had a great time and more than 60 people showed up—many of which joined us for the show afterward. Check out the pictures!

This Xconomy event was not only a fun time for those of us in local tech circles; it also helped generate some much-needed financial support for the Science Club for Girls and Year Up Boston. This year’s show raised $1,100 for each organization

Xconomy: Battle of the Bands is Back!

The Battle of the Bands has come to offer a welcome respite for the winter blahs. For the last few years, Xconomy has pulled together this fun event at the venerable Middle East in Cambridge, and the tech community has responded with enthusiasm. Everyone heads in to huddle from the cold, reconnect with other techies and share some brews.

This year's event has a twist - the event will pit Seattle bands against Boston bands. Privately, colleagues - who would only agree to comment off the record - have expressed concerns about this matchup. While Boston has a vibrant music scene, Seattle's record of successful bands speaks for itself. Brows are furrowing.

February 4th will tell the tale. We'll see you there.

Xconomy's Battle of the Tech Bands, Take Two

Last January, several of us CHENers, along with a couple of adventurous clients, checked out Xconomy's first Battle of the Tech Bands. That was the first time I'd set foot in the Middle East in more years than I care to count, and I had a good time. (I really need to get out more.)

Xconomy reports that close to 350 people gathered last year to hear six local groups, so they're going to stick with a winning formula. The event again will be hosted at the Middle East in Central Square, Cambridge, on January 22. This year, half of all ticket proceeds from the event will go to benefit local charities.

To be eligible, at least one member of the band must have a day job at a New England-area technology or life sciences company or a venture-capital or private-equity firm that invests in technology. Check this for the nitty gritty details. The deadline for entries is Friday December 12.

Prizes go to the Audience Favorite and Most Innovative bands.

Meanwhile, Xconomy recently announced that it has closed the first tranche of its second round. CommonAngels re-upped from round one and LaunchCapital, a small early-stage fund, also participated. Individual angels rounded out the round.

Xconomy is on a roll. In June, Xconomy Seattle launched, followed by Xconomy San Diego in October. According to Xconomy, these were "key steps in fulfilling our mission of providing hyperlocal coverage of the innovation communities in key technology and life sciences clusters."