Fairchild

There is more then one band under this name 1. These brothers come armed. Equipped with the well-honed tools of their rock 'n roll trade and the closeness of the family bond, the four Smith lads that make up modern alternative rockers Fairchild present a formidable musical threat. It is one destined to be taken seriously, as they build on the success of their 2009 debut album, Dare To Believe. The title of that first record was fitting.

1. These brothers come armed. Equipped with the well-honed tools of their rock 'n roll trade and the closeness of the family bond, the four Smith lads that make up modern alternative rockers Fairchild present a formidable musical threat. It is one destined to be taken seriously, as they build on the success of their 2009 debut album, Dare To Believe. The title of that first record was fitting. Jeff, Phill, Donny and Dave Smith are deeply committed to pursuing their musical dream, and their combination of passion and musical power is surely not to be denied.

The Smiths have played together as Fairchild for just a couple of years now, but the two older brothers, guitarist/singer Jeff and drummer Phill, have played hundreds of gigs together in earlier bands on the Toronto rock circuit. "Phill and I always came as a pair," says Jeff. "The other two [younger siblings Donny, bassist, and Dave, guitarist] had to grow up so they were kind of our roadies. We inspired them to start their own bands, then we came to a point where we all felt compelled to try to make music for a living. This is what we feel we were born to do, so why not try doing it together and really giving it everything we've got?"

The enthusiasm and musical chops of the two younger brothers quickly impressed Jeff and Phill, and the band soon headed to the studio. Fairchild wasted no time in making an impact on Canadian radio. Their very first single, "Dare To Believe," made serious believers of domestic radio, charting on MaxTrax Rock and Galaxie Rock, then on Top 40 (CHR) and Hot AC formats. Their follow-up single, the testosterone-fuelled "I'll Take You," fared equally well, and Fairchild's reputation as a genuinely exciting live act was confirmed as they shared stages with the likes of Finger Eleven, Kim Mitchell, Saga and Mariana's Trench.

Fairchild are justifiably proud of their musical achievements on Dare To Believe, but they are even more excited about and confident in their new material. They have steadily been writing new songs and demoing them with noted veteran sound engineer Todd Farhood (Kim Mitchell). "Now I feel we are really discovering the Fairchild sound" says Jeff.

"After a couple of years playing together non-stop, I can really say honestly that we understand each other way more on a musical level," says Jeff. "We have really developed that sixth sense with each other. We just understand where the others are going on a song and with the music in general."

Their sound is a refreshing fusion of classic and contemporary modern rock elements. This hybrid style has been arrived at honestly, as it reflects the diverse yet compatible tastes and influences of the four brothers. "Classic rock from the '70s and '80s is our foundation, our roots," explains Jeff. "Guns 'N Roses and Aerosmith are key inspirations for me." Phill adds "I was more into Bon Jovi and Skid Row, while for David it is pop-punk like Fall Out Boy. We all respect each others music and we're all influenced by it."

Jeff is Fairchild's primary lyricist, and he takes this responsibility seriously. "I've tried to go into more depth as a songwriter," he says. "To me, things seem over-saturated today. It's all about going to a dance club and picking up a girl. I want to write songs with a little more substance and more meaning."

Fairchild are dedicated to making their music accessible. "Our stuff will never be hard to get," Jeff pledges, while Phill says "we want to bring the listeners in and really create an atmosphere for them in our songs." Their songs may feature lyrical introspection, but they are presented with a full-blooded rock energy. Jeff's brothers all contribute to writing the music, and band unity has never been stronger.

Not that it's always peace and love within the Fairchild camp. They have yet to begin onstage brawls the way notorious feuding rock ' n roll brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher (Oasis) or Ray and Dave Davies (The Kinks) have, but Jeff Smith laughingly recalls "there are times I've really wanted to kill them. Blood is thicker than water though, I guess!"

United in their love of rock 'n roll, the brothers in Fairchild are now real contenders.

2. Is a AOR band from Minneapolis, MN. They released three albums. Fairchild in 1978, Shadowland in 1982 and Fairchild III in 1985. They were also featured on the Minneapolis, MN with the song "No way I can Stay".