City: Los Angeles, CA

Members: Jared Leto, Tomo Miličević, Shannon Leto, Tim Kelleher

Top Songs: The Kill, Attack

Genre: Alternative, Post-Grunge

Initially known as an actor (most notably on the '90s TV drama My So-Called Life and in movies like Requiem for a Dream), Jared Leto also had musical ambitions. His band, 30 Seconds to Mars, debuted in 2002 with a self-titled effort featuring a post-grunge sound suggestive of groups like Chevelle or Incubus. 30 Seconds returned three years later with A Beautiful Lie, an emotional album thematically based around the concept of change. By that point the lineup had shifted a little, slotting in Tomo Milicevic at guitar alongside Leto's vocals and guitar, his brother Shannon Leto on drums, and bassist Matt Wachter.

Source: Johnny Loftus, allmusic.com

City: Winnipeg, MN

Members: Beth Torbert

Top Songs: I Love Myself Today, Chotee, Spaceman

Genre: Pop-Punk, Rock

Born in New Delhi, India, to a pair of boarding-school teenagers, Bif Naked was adopted by American missionaries and moved to Minneapolis. Several other moves preceded her eventual settling in Winnipeg where she enrolled at the University of Winnipeg as an aspiring drama major. At this time, she also joined Jungle Milk, an eclectic troupe of musicians, and married the act's drummer. She inked a deal with Concrete Records and an eponymous, full-length release soon followed. When the label went under, Bif Naked regained the masters and, in 1996, reissued the album through her own Her Royal Majesty's Records imprint.

Source: Tom Demalon, allmusic.com

City: Toronto, ON

Members: Mike K., Ron Bechard, Kenny Cunningham, Sekou Lumumba

Top Songs: Trippin, Hang Ten

Genre: Alternative, Rock

Edwin & the Pressure is the second album by the Canadian alternative rock singer Edwin, released by Sony on April 2, 2002 in Canada. Though technically his second solo album, Edwin himself considered it a debut for his then-new band. The album continued the pop-oriented, electronically flavored style of the previous album. However, the sound was heavier and more guitar-dominated, and the lyrics were more explicit than before.

Source: Wikipedia

City: Vancouver, BC

Members: Theo Goutzinakis, Tom Thacker, Gabe Mantle, Tyson Maiko

Top Songs: Soda, You’re Too Cool, For the Moment

Genre: Punk

A punk revival quartet from Vancouver, Gob was formed in 1994. Soon after, Tom Thacker (guitars/vocals), Theo Goutzinakis (guitars/vocals), Craig Wood (bass), and Gabe Mantle (drums) issued their debut album, Too Late...No Friends. In addition to several split releases with other Canadian punk bands, the band recorded the full-length How Far Shallow Takes You in 1998; it was reissued in the U.S. the following year. The World According to Gob appeared in early 2001.

Source: Johnny Loftus, allmusic.com

City: Toronto, ON

Members: Kyle Bishop, Greg Taylor, Shawn Magill, Matt Jones, Chris Danner

Top Songs:

Genre: Hardcore

Toronto hardcore band Grade comprised singer Kyle Bishop, guitarists Greg Taylor and Shawn Magill, bassist Matt Jones and Chris Danner. Issuing their debut EP Separate the Magnets in 1998, the group also earned notoriety opening bands including Fugazi, Jimmy Eat World and the Promise Ring; upon signing to Victory Records, in 1999 Grade issued the single "Triumph and Tragedy," followed later that year by the full-length Under the Radar. Embarrassing Past was issued in fall 2000 as well as a shift in band members.

Source: Jason Ankeny, allmusic.com

City: Toronto, ON

Members: Brittin Karroll, Collette Trudeau, Felicity Herst, Leah Emmott

Top Songs: I’m Afraid of Britney Spears

Genre: Pop-Rock

The genesis of LiveonRelease has its form in guitarist Brittin Karroll. Karroll started playing bass at age eight before moving onto guitar at age 12. Her father Peter was a rock band manager, so naturally Brittin had the lifestyle in her blood. Before the age of 15, she had been a roadie and assisted at various music showcases and industry events. Wanting to form a rock band in her hometown outside of Vancouver, Karroll received a demo tape from Collette Trudeau, a school mate.

Source: Jason MacNeil, allmusic.com

City: Ajax, ON

Members: Mike Bilcox, Glenn Dunning, Liam Killeen

Top Songs: Now That You’re Leaving, Standing All Alone, Days Go By

Genre: Punk, Rock

Not by Choice is a Canadian punk rock music band from Ajax, Ontario. They have released two albums, Maybe One Day in 2002, and Secondhand Opinions in 2004. They are currently signed to Linus Records. Their distribution deal went with Warner Music Canada until 2003, and most recently MapleMusic Recordings. Maybe One Day certainly earned Not by Choice their early share of prestigious acclaim with a MuchMusic Video Award for Best Independent Video ("Now That You Are Leaving"), a CASBY award for Best Independent Album, and inclusion on two Big Shiny Tunes compilations (Now That You Are Leaving and Standing All Alone). Maybe One Day was released in Japan in September 2003, and has had amazing success, selling over 25,000 records. Not by Choice blasts out of the confines of punk rock by incorporating their sundry catalogue of inspirations to enhance their own high-octane style, leaving them poised to dispel hoary old notions of the sophomore jinx with the release of Secondhand Opinions.

Source: Wikipedia

City: ON

Members: Yas Taalat, Bobby McIntosh, Adam Arsenault, Sasha Kosovic, Elie Abdelnour, Brad Dean

Top Songs: Room To Breathe, Nothing’s What It Seems

Genre: Rap, Hardcore

Originally formed as a hip hop duo in Sudbury, Ontario in 1988 by rappers Yas Taalat and Bobby McIntosh, the pair subsequently moved to London, Ontario after high school. In 1995, they were invited to freestyle with a punk band consisting of guitarists Adam Arsenault and Sasha Kosovic, bassist Elie Abdelnour and drummer Brad Dean, which evolved into an ongoing collaboration. In 1998, the group released its debut EP, Trapz of Poetic Poison, on an independent label. In 2000, they followed up with the album Only If I Knew. They subsequently signed to Sony Music and released their major label debut, Misfits.strangers.liars.friends, in 2001. That album spawned the Canadian hit singles "Nothing's What it Seems" and "Room to Breathe". Yas and Bobby formed Dead Celebrity Status as a side project, and eventually Project Wyze broke up. Yas and Bobby now devote their time to DCS.

Source: Wikipedia

City: Vancouver, BC

Members: Red1, Fit, DJ Kemo

Top Songs: Top Of The World, Crazy World, Movie Star

Genre: Rap, Underground Rap

This quintet from Vancouver, Canada, prides itself on representing every aspect of hip-hop culture: MCing, DJing, graffiti, and breakdancing. The Vancouver quintet made up of MC's Red 1 and Misfit, DJ Kemo, who is also an accomplished graffiti artist, and breakers Zebroc and Dedos, has achieved remarkable success by becoming Canada's best-selling hip-hop group ever.

Source: Jon Azpiri, allmusic.com

City: London, ON

Members: Nicole Hughes, Mark Holman, Jeff Depew, Phil Zeller

Top Songs:

Genre: Alternative, Rock

Formed during the summer of 1992 in London, Ontario, Scratching Post encountered numerous member changes along the way before solidifying their 1998 personnel of vocalist/guitarist Nicole Hughes, guitarist Mark Holman, drummer Jeff Depew, and Phil Zeller on bass. In 1995, they released their first recording, a self-titled EP that printed only 500 units. When they signed with indie-label Squirtgun Records in 1996, the band released Flamethrower, which was reissued in early 1999 due to popular demand. Scratching Post's energetic power rock achieved loads of airplay on Canadian college radio and their mix of catchy pop and aggressive metal attracted a loyal following.

Source: Roxanne Blanford, allmusic.com

City: Vancouver, BC

Members: Mad Child, Prevail, Moka Only

Top Songs: Injected, Lady Venom, Breathe feat. Nelly Furtado

Genre: Rap, Alternative Rap

The meeting of two West Coast rappers fuelled this talented Canadian band. In 1996, Mad Child was a solo artist performing in San Francisco when he returned to his hometown of Vancouver. There he met Prevail, who was gaining attention for his energetic live shows and abilities. The two joined forces and headed to San Diego to perform at the annual B-Boy Summit. The group was initiated into the Rock Steady Crew, one of only three bands to do so. Following this, the group released three independent singles before releasing Balance, their debut effort in 1999 on Battle Axe Records. A world tour and hundreds of performances followed. In 2001, the band released its second album, Bad Dreams. The same year they received a Juno Award for Best Rap Recording for Balance. In 2002, the band performed with Nelly Furtado and won a second Juno Award for Best Rap Recording. Monsters in the Closet followed in 2003, and Heavy appeared in 2004. Their music has been featured on soundtracks, computer games, and other outlets. They've also worked with members of the Beat Junkies and Jurassic 5, among others.

Source: Jason MacNeil, allmusic.com

City: Toronto, ON

Members: Jenny Vegas, Claire Blake, Dawn Mandarino, Michelle Lemoignan

Top Songs: Summer Song, It’s Over, Who’s The Fool Now?

Genre: Indie Rock

Jenny Vegas (guitar/vocals), Claire Blake (bass), Dawn Mandarino (guitar), and Michelle Lemoignan (drums) formed the Canadian power punk outfit Tuuli in 1997, with the ambition to assimilate Nuggets-styled garage punk (the Chocolate Watchband, the Kingsmen) and Detroit rock (the Stooges) with more slanted, hook-laden indie in the vein of Blondie or the Manic Street Preachers. Retaining a base in Toronto, Tuuli worked a series of Canadian music festivals and began a handful of infrequent tours to the United States, opening for the likes of Kittie and Cheap Trick, and peppering the visits with sporadic spots on a few national television shows. Their reverence for their heroes could be heard early, on EPs like the limited self-released Hotrods & Honeysuckle and the more widely available Rockstar Potential disc, offering an alternative to the Ramones idolatry of similar girl groups like the Donnas.

Source: Dean Carlson, allmusic.com