Southwestern Ontario. It seems to be home to some of the finest rock bands gracing Canadian stages these days, and “Finding Core” is no exception. Based in the Chatham area, the members of “Finding Core” describe themselves as the highest endorsed but unsigned act in the country. Eric Broadbent, lead guitarist and band spokesman, says that because of a persistent and aggressive marketing campaign over many years, at least 25 companies, including Peavey, Paul Reed Smith, Dot On Shaft and Spector have provided sponsorship. He personally has received a number of free instruments while other band members get theirs at astonishingly low prices. In fact, says Eric, he's been told by music reps that Finding Core” has received better deals than some of Canada's so called “A List” groups. “We're climbing the ranks of the endorsements,” says Eric, “which is crazy.”

For the uninitiated, Paul Reed Smith guitars are high end instruments used by popular players such as Carlos Santana, Nickelback and Ted Nugent. And Peavey amplification is tough, state of the art American manufactured equipment that's widely used by bands playing anything from country to rap.

The band's manager and marketing director is Sandra Lee: a music lover who just happens to be Eric's fiancé. He gives her the credit for “taking just another band into a very visual contender”, and he jokingly quips, “I think she only made $10 last year for all her valuable assistance and belief in our projects.” The Chatham area homemaker, who took on her managerial tasks about a year ago, has been nominated for a 2008 London Music Award for most popular manager. “Finding Core” is also among the 30 or so nominees for most popular rock band. The awards are sponsored by “Scene” magazine, which has a Canada wide distribution.

Obviously, a win would not only be a reward for hard work but could catapult the band into the national spotlight.

The group has shared the stage with a number of top acts including ”Quiet Riot”, “Default”, “Great White” and “I Mother Earth”. Club audiences, including patrons of the popular Harpo's in Detroit, have embraced the band. It placed fifth out of 1,500 entries in the 2007 Great Canadian Band Challenge. In a format similar to the “American Idol” TV series, the five finalists performed before judges at the Hard Rock Cafe in Toronto. The show was webcast live to more than 10,000 viewers and was taped for broadcast later this year on a three episode reality TV show.

The music of “Finding Core” is also featured weekly on the A-Channel's “Old Autos” show hosted by Rick Walker: the man responsible for the video which sent the group to the band competition.

The band's name is an interesting study. According to Eric, “It represents finding your inner self and being; trying to find who you are as a person by looking inside yourself. Being a general audience or family band, we look deep inside to bring to the surface who we truly are.”

“Finding Core” is a four member combo. Albert Huggett is the front man who provides the lead vocals. Eric Broadbent and JZ Taine are the only two original members. Eric plays lead guitar and provides backup vocals. He's also a bit of cutup since he sometimes does guitar licks with a power drill! JZ, who hails from Windsor, plays bass and also does some backup vocals. Drummer Adam Tuckwell also adds some percussion work and lends his voice to the background mix.

The band, born seven years ago in Chatham, plays “power rock”……rock ‘n roll with an edge, aimed at family oriented general audiences. Its wide demographic appeal ranges all the way from young kids to people who are 40 plus. Right now, “Finding Core” does not have a label and is seeking a distribution deal, which Eric says is worth “a lot more money than an actual full-package label”.

The group does have available a disc titled “Silence”, recorded by the original members in 2005. It was, as Eric says, “a mammoth effort done over a 14 month period, costing a small fortune. But it sounds big and is on par with some of the best professional stuff on the market.” It was recorded at Barnyard Studios in Blenheim and is still available at several stores, including Dr. Disc in Windsor. You can also order it online at www.findingcore.com .

The Web site has been bombarded with American queries: at least double or triple the hits from the Canadian market…meaning that an American tour is a distinct possibility down the road. Some of that music is aired regularly on 95.1 “The Rock” and is heard regularly on an Erin Mills radio station in the Georgetown, Ontario, area. Other stations globally have also aired the disc.

The future for the four talented musicians of “Finding Core” is bright. The group has just completed its first production rehearsal for a new disc which should be on the market by the fall. All tunes have been penned and arranged by band members.

The band will also be doing a western tour this year and will perform in venues from here to Vancouver, where the music scene is described as “huge”. There's also the possibility of more video exposure on MuchMusic and MTV.

There's no doubt that a lucrative distribution deal is all that's necessary to propel “Finding Core” into mass popularity, not only in Canada but in the highly sought after American market, and it's another feather in the cap for the rich pool of Southwestern Ontario musical talent just waiting to be discovered.

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story copyright 2008 Windsor Life Magazine