Cancer Sucks!!!

Cancer Sucks benefit features a stellar lineup of 10 bands

Hey, it sucks. We all know it.Which is why Cancer Sucks, Tulsa’s cancer charity with an attitude, is hosting its third-annual musical blowout to raise money for research and treatment of the disease.This time, the Cancer Sucks Benefit Concert, hosted by Cain’s Ballroom and presented by radio station KMOD, 97.5 FM, will showcase more than 10 bands, hold raffle-style drawings for autographed rock ’n’ roll memorabilia and other giveaways.Last year’s gala brought in more than $10,000, said Rick Horton, founder of the Tulsa-based nonprofit organization.He hopes to double that amount this year.“The venue space is donated. Local businesses covered all of our overhead. All workers and bands volunteered their time,” he said.“All, and I mean all, of the money from this production goes directly to charity — that’s fairly rare for any nonprofit organization,” he said.The event’s headlining act, the Vanished, made special arrangements just for this show.“We were actually going to be off the road at the time,” said Kevin Kirkwood, co-founder and lead vocalist for the melodic, dark, poppy rock act from Texas.“But since my grandmother died from ovarian cancer three years ago, we’ll play almost any cancer fundraiser. Once we heard about what Cancer Sucks was doing, we couldn’t say no.”The popular regional act released “ACT I: Captives” this year, and recorded the EP here in Tulsa with native Zac Maloy — a multi-genre music producer and former Nixons singer — at Maloy’s own Rosewaters Studio.Maloy co-wrote two of the tracks, Kirkwood said.“We all grew up as Nixons fans, so it was a real treat to work with him.”And beware: The band’s live performances are live, as in electric.“When we get off stage sometimes, if there wasn’t blood or someone didn’t break something or, you know, some sort of bodily injury did not happen, we usually didn’t do our job,” Kirkwood joked in a TulsaWorld interview earlier this year.As Horton said, music fans can rock out and help fi ght a disease that affects nearly every family.And when it comes to fundraising, local ties are the ones that bind the strongest, said Horton.“All of these bands have Tulsa ties,” he said. “We work local, with local bands and locally- owned venues like Cain’s.”Dirty Penny, a super-tight Santa Cruz, Calif.-based bighair glam rock band, found its national footing thanks to a performance at this summer’s Rocklahoma festival in Pryor.“They look like they just stumbled off of Motley Crue’s tour bus more than a decade ago, but they’ve won awards for best drummer and best glam band this year, too. . . . They’re amazing.”Not only that, but the band was more than willing to help the Cancer Sucks cause — a manager was affected with cancer earlier this year, he said. There’s a strong tie with rock act Seven Story Drop, as well. The band’s manager hails from T-Town, too, he said.And, some of the strongest names in up-and-coming Tulsa music are performing at the event – Crooked X, Down for Five, RadioRadio, Bageyes, A.D.D., Anna Dilemma, Run Like Woodrow and Motive for Movement.All funds raised will go to the American Brain Tumor Association, in the memory of Jan Dean and in honor of Amber, assistant program director, morning radio producer and host of the metal/screamo/ hardcore show, “Unauthorized Airplay,” that is broadcast on Z104.5 the Edge.Dean, a longtime Tulsa radio personality and mentor to many in the field, died from a brain tumor earlier this year at age 48. Amber survived brain cancer, he said.Everyone in attendance will receive a $10-off coupon from Guitar Center, a free CD plus many other giveaway items, Horton said.“So, just for coming in and donating $10, you automatically get it back,” he said.Attendees also will receive a drawing ticket with admission. Additional tickets can be purchased for $1, he said.Ticketholders will have a chance to win autographed music memorabilia and floor seats to see Ozzy Osbourne in Oklahoma City, a Black Stone Cherry-signed drum head, Dallas Cowboys football signed by Randy White, over a dozen signed concert posters from Cain’s including one signed by original members of Bob Marley & the Wailers, at least one signed guitar from Rocklahoma, two $100 gift certifi cates to Precision Body Art, as well as gift certificates from local restaurants and hotels, he said.

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CANCER SUCKS BENEFIT CONCERT

When: Doors open 5:30 p.m. FridayWhere: Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St.Admission: All ages welcome, $10 donation, tickets can be purchased in advance from participating bands, Cain’s box office, by calling (866) 443-8849, or online at www.tulsaworld.com/CancerBenefit or www.tulsaworld.com/gettix.Bands: The Vanished, Dirty Penny, Seven Story Drop, Crooked X, Down for Five, RadioRadio, Bageyes, A.D.D., Anna Dilemma, Run Like Woodrow and Motive for Movement.