Check out some of my favourite bands from London and Southwestern Ontario…

Raised by Swans hail from London, Ontario. Their latest release is a collection of 13 tracks that feature melancholy vocals lamenting over dark melodies. Imagine David Sylvian going into the recording studio with Thom Yorke of Radiohead to create an album. The result might sound a lot like Codes and Secret Longing from Raised by Swans. This album would be right at home on the 4AD label.

The Straits – The first time I heard songs from the self-titled debut from this London band through the built in speakers of my laptop, I was hooked. Then I played some of the tracks on the air at CHRW. And after seeing them live, I had to buy a copy of the six-song CD. The Straits describe their music as, “Equal parts soul, art rock, garage and beat rock with a twang…” The vocals remind me of early albums from The Replacements. Look for these lads on the nominee list at the 2006 Jack Richardson Music Awards and quite possibly at the podium.

Legend Killers were born when some high school buddies got together to jam and partake of a few beers in the summer of 1985. Hailing from London, Ontario Canada, and named after their wrestling hero Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Legend Killers are now considered to be the ultimate London garage band. They did it first and they did it best. A little heavier than most garage bands, with a nice dollop of 70's raw power, the Legend Killers were and to this day still are one hot live act. Their live performance at 2005 The Jack Richardson Music Awards was the highlight of the evening.

Design For Dying - Just when you thought things were about to wind down, the room fills with a frightening monstrosity of ear piercing guitar riffs, nauseating drum blasts, hair pulling bass lines and an abattoir of aggressive vocal patterns. Design for Dying will leave you with the urge and adrenaline to scream into the sky and have you coming back for more of their very unique and aberrant style of heart pounding Technical Metal.

The Ashgrove - Passion is the fuel that drives independent music. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Goderich, Ontario - home of "radio friendly modern rockers", the Ashgrove. Together since December 1994, their four-album discography includes the 2004 release 1000 Summers. The album is the result of three years of preparation and it is not just a collection of songs, it is an album rich in production and layering. Musical segues weave throughout, tying the songs together to serve up something new to discover upon each listen. And after ten years, I am still a fan.

The Marble Index - I heard The Marble Index in concert on a live-to-air broadcast on CHRW and I had to find out who they were. And when I did, I went out and bought their self-titled release. The band is from Hamilton, Ontario (a.k.a. The Hammer) and – unlike the other bands on this page – they are not independent. But the album combines the passion of an indie release with the attitude of The Clash and the vocal energy that is reminiscent of an early U2 B-side.

Grinder - And the award for the coolest indie band Website goes to Grinder. Since Darren McCarty (originally from Leamington, Ontario) of the Detroit Red Wings had some free time during the 2004/2005 NHL season, he was able to focus more attention on his band. Their album Gotta Keep Movin features a collection of raw power originals plus covers of songs by The Damned and The Stooges. This album just rocks. Check out Grinder live when they return to Call The Office in London on Friday, May 20.