Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The alternative rock quintet Mobile formed in Montreal, Quebec, in 1995. Frontman Mat Joly, guitarist Frank Williamson, guitarist Christian Brais, bassist Dominic Viola, and drummer Pierre-Marc Hamelin first met in grade school and co-founded their first garage band as teenagers. As the success of acts including Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and the Dears vaulted Montreal to hotbed status, Mobile challenged conventional wisdom by relocating to Toronto in 2001, and after two years of club appearances signed to major label Interscope to cut their debut LP, 2006's Tomorrow Starts Today. ~ Jason Ankeny