Merging Hearts Holistic Center
330.222.5353 | 3751 Burrshire Dr. • Canton, OH 44709
The Brighter Side Band consists of four young, multi talented musicians. They play beyond their years and start off each show by letting the audience know “We’re No Boy Band…” The quality of music they produce is exceptional given their ages. The band has been playing venues throughout NE Ohio since September 2010. Band members range in age from 15 to 19. Fuad Farah, age 15, plays lead guitar and saxophone. Jake Friel is 15; he handles the vocals and plays harmonica. Jake is endorsed by Seydel Harmonicas and Blows Me Away Productions. Noah Simionides, age 17, plays bass guitar, upright bass, cello and piano. The oldest musician of the group, Keith Wilson II, age 19, plays piano and drums. The boys first met at a blues jam sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Blues Association. The band came together in 2010 while the boys were participating in a Blues in Schools program through the Canton Chamber of Commerce of Ohio. In the last year, they have excelled far beyond their years.
The band came together because to the boys, the blues has a tone and a style like no other form of music. They remain true to the blues genre while putting their own stamp on every song they perform. The Brighter Side version of “Room to Move,” by John Mayhall, has numerous blues classics buried in it. The band has composed several originals; one of their favorites is “The 755.” It is a slow blues grind with hot guitar and a train-like harmonica riff. In January 2011, they played the J. Geils classic Whammer Jammer on Fox 8 Cleveland with Todd Meany. They went on to represent NE Ohio in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Ohio. The Brighter Side Band won the 2011 Canton Repository Battle of the Bands; the first blues band ever! The band has recently celebrated their one year anniversary.
Together, The Brighter Side has a unique, energetic sound. The vocals alternate with hard blasts of harmonica over the steadily chugging guitar, bass and drums. Jake’s harmonica skills and vocals are unexpected in someone so young. When he starts to sing it is difficult to remember he is only 15. His deep feel for the blues is apparent in his harmonica playing and gruff, soulful vocals. He puts his personality into the music with harp riffs and solos in unexpected places. Jake attends GlenOak High School and is active in theater and church. Fuad has only been playing guitar for two years, close your eyes, it sounds more like twenty. Fuad takes his 1978 Gibson Les Paul to the limit. He admits that playing guitar “is the most fun I can possibly have”. Fuad is featured on almost every song; he goes into “the zone” every time. Recently he recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis for the documentary 3,000 Miles. Fuad attends Jackson High School is class president and is involved in debate; he plays soccer and tennis. Noah, the bass player, chose the band name stating “We’re the brighter side of blues.” A skilled musician in classical and jazz, Noah loves taking everything he knows from the piano, cello and upright bass and packs it into playing the bass guitar. Noah attends GlenOak High School; he plays in Jazz band, is active in his church music ministry and he loves to skateboard. At 19 years, Keith is the oldest band member. He attends the University of Mount Union. Keith is an accomplished drummer and he plays keyboard with the Mt. Union Jazz band and snare drum for the Purple Raiders Marching Band at the University of Mount Union. Keith is also a percussionist for the Alliance Symphony Orchestra. He keeps the boys in line with a steady hand and smooth beat. Keith says “I love driving the bus and watching these kids go crazy!”
The Brighter Side has many influences, soul, blues, boogie blues and rock-n-roll. The band prides itself on knowledge of the blues artists and history of the tunes. Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles, J.J. Cale and the Blues Brothers are some of the artists that the band admires. The Brighter Side Band plays professionally at venues throughout NE Ohio. In June 2011 at the Canton Blues Festival, they stepped in to open for Ronny Baker Brooks. Equally important as the paying gigs, they give back to the community by playing for veteran’s groups and charity events.
The band came together because to the boys, the blues has a tone and a style like no other form of music. They remain true to the blues genre while putting their own stamp on every song they perform. The Brighter Side version of “Room to Move,” by John Mayhall, has numerous blues classics buried in it. The band has composed several originals; one of their favorites is “The 755.” It is a slow blues grind with hot guitar and a train-like harmonica riff. In January 2011, they played the J. Geils classic Whammer Jammer on Fox 8 Cleveland with Todd Meany. They went on to represent NE Ohio in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Ohio. The Brighter Side Band won the 2011 Canton Repository Battle of the Bands; the first blues band ever! The band has recently celebrated their one year anniversary.
Together, The Brighter Side has a unique, energetic sound. The vocals alternate with hard blasts of harmonica over the steadily chugging guitar, bass and drums. Jake’s harmonica skills and vocals are unexpected in someone so young. When he starts to sing it is difficult to remember he is only 15. His deep feel for the blues is apparent in his harmonica playing and gruff, soulful vocals. He puts his personality into the music with harp riffs and solos in unexpected places. Jake attends GlenOak High School and is active in theater and church. Fuad has only been playing guitar for two years, close your eyes, it sounds more like twenty. Fuad takes his 1978 Gibson Les Paul to the limit. He admits that playing guitar “is the most fun I can possibly have”. Fuad is featured on almost every song; he goes into “the zone” every time. Recently he recorded at Sun Studios in Memphis for the documentary 3,000 Miles. Fuad attends Jackson High School is class president and is involved in debate; he plays soccer and tennis. Noah, the bass player, chose the band name stating “We’re the brighter side of blues.” A skilled musician in classical and jazz, Noah loves taking everything he knows from the piano, cello and upright bass and packs it into playing the bass guitar. Noah attends GlenOak High School; he plays in Jazz band, is active in his church music ministry and he loves to skateboard. At 19 years, Keith is the oldest band member. He attends the University of Mount Union. Keith is an accomplished drummer and he plays keyboard with the Mt. Union Jazz band and snare drum for the Purple Raiders Marching Band at the University of Mount Union. Keith is also a percussionist for the Alliance Symphony Orchestra. He keeps the boys in line with a steady hand and smooth beat. Keith says “I love driving the bus and watching these kids go crazy!”
The Brighter Side has many influences, soul, blues, boogie blues and rock-n-roll. The band prides itself on knowledge of the blues artists and history of the tunes. Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles, J.J. Cale and the Blues Brothers are some of the artists that the band admires. The Brighter Side Band plays professionally at venues throughout NE Ohio. In June 2011 at the Canton Blues Festival, they stepped in to open for Ronny Baker Brooks. Equally important as the paying gigs, they give back to the community by playing for veteran’s groups and charity events.
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