Wisconsin 
Who: Wisconsin
What: Melodic Alternative Rock
Where: Brantford, ON
To Contact: Hype Music, (905) 275-9613,

Wisconsin is the cream of the crop of the Brantford, ON music scene. Despite having known one another since their high school days, it took close to a decade for the current five-man formation to solidify. Their first full-length release Rhymes Without Reason is a self-funded, independent release being distributed by Universal Music. Wisconsin won the distribution contract when they were named the 'Best Unsigned Band in Canada' at NXNE 2001. Their guitar-driven rock has won Wisconsin several other independent music competitions over the last few years. Wisconsin members, Paul Harris (vocals/guitar), Ernie Meggison (guitar/vocals), Chris Amey (bass), Jeff Melick (guitar/vocals) and Robert Chowhan (drums), list The Doughboys and Foo Fighters as a couple of their musical influences. It's not difficult to hear these influences in many of the songs on Rhymes Without Reason, but Wisconsin still has its own personality. If anything, their approach is a bit more on the melodic side. No wonder the band has been so successful in competitions and their CD is proof that these guys can play. Rhymes Without Reason is on all accounts an excellent recording, but the musicians, who are obviously their own worst critics, still admit to wanting to be even more prepared next time. As bassist Chris Amey put it, "We would spend more time on pre-production, so fewer things are figured out on the fly. You get a better feel and performances if things have been worked out well in advance." It's hard to imagine either the feel or performances on Rhymes Without Reason being any better than they already are.

Ritual 
Who: Ritual
What: Alternative/Metal
Where: Cornwall, ON
To Contact: Ritual, www.RitualNet.com

The release of their self-titled CD last June was an epiphany of sorts for Cornwall, Ontario's Ritual. The recording marked the band's bold return from a three-year hiatus. Since then, Ritual has already seen a couple of songs off the new CD rise to the top of polls on well-known indie music Internet sites. The band has also had one song from the CD used in the American television series Witch Blade and another in a radio commercial for Pontiac. There is no doubt that metal is what lies at the core of Ritual's music. The songs off the new CD feature well-pounded drums, unison of thumping bass and overdriven guitar, and vocals screamed to the point of natural distortion. It's not difficult to believe that Helmet, Queens of the Stone Age and Black Sabbath share a dominant place on Ritual's CD rack. Ritual's self-titled CD was tracked using Steinberg's Nuendo software at Distortion Studios in Ottawa, mixed at the Park Studios in Los Angeles and Mastered at Metalworks Studio in Toronto. The recording was essentially self-produced by the band members, with some help from their soundman and friends. One thing the band is considering doing differently next time around is to save some money by tracking songs themselves. The members of Ritual, Sean Harley, Jason Collis, Joel Labrosse and Daryl Kiviaho, handle all promotion and publicity for the band themselves. The success they have had in selling their music in innovative ways has proved the effectiveness of their methods.

Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew 
Who: Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew
What: Blues Jam Fusion
Where: Moncton, NB
To Contact: Monarch Music, (506) 863-3980, www.colepaugh.com

Since the release of their latest recording Trip, things have been going extremely well for Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew. They were recently featured and nominated for 'Rock Artist of the Year' at last year's East Coast Music Awards. The band was also a finalist in the CBC's Great Canadian Music Dream. They also had a song selected to be a part of the Great Canadian Talent Search compilation CD through a contest run by Canadian Musician. Singer/guitarist Chris Cloepaugh and bassist/singer Lynn Daigle have been with the band since its inception in 1996. Since that time the band has seen more drummers come through its ranks than Spinal Tap. Colepaugh, originally a drummer, decided to solve this problem on Trip by playing the drum parts himself -he clearly hasn't lost his touch. As talented a multi-instrumentalist as Colepaugh may be, he's no acrobat. The band uses drummer Remi Borque for live performances.
Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew definitely hail from a purer era of rock. Their funky blues style is not a far throw from better-known jam bands like Phish, Blues Traveller and the Grateful Dead. As they have yet to receive the right offer, Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew are happy to keep full independent control of their creative future. But as bassist Lynn Daigle put it, "As soon as a label offers us a good deal and a solid team to work with, then we would definitely consider relinquishing some of our control." One thing the band has learned over the years is how to actively promote itself. As Lynn Daigle put it, "Time runs out very quickly with a new release on the independent level. Funding dries up and the industry gets hooked on the next new thing. Get it out, get it heard and get it going!"

Credit: Julian Mainprize is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

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