Songs can lift the human spirit, no matter the subject matter. Bright Side Band's lead vocalist, Shannon Miller, of San Jose, says, "We have audience members who come up to us afterward and tell us how inspired they were by our music. We somehow allow for that effect to happen, even when we're singing horribly tragic Celtic tunes," she says, laughing. "I feel like, when we're performing, it has this transformative influence on our audience, taking them to a different place.
"Celtic music is very soulful for me. It's part of my heritage. I'm very Irish. Maybe it's in my bones. The music is ethereal and it just gets me in my heart. I feel it deep inside. It takes a toll emotionally, when I'm singing those songs, about love lost or revolution or death. It's rare when you find a happy Celtic tune. They tend to be more bittersweet. But I love singing it."
Miller also loves singing with this new band, joining guitarist Jon Rubin and violinist Laurel Thomsen.
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"It's kind of effortless with the three of us," Miller says. "We're all on the same page, musically. It's a joy to work with them. They create such beautiful music. http://brightsideband.com
