Out of Favor Boys

Crowds Jam for a Cause
Katie Oliveri - Battle Creek Enquirer - 08/28/05

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C.O. Brown Stadium was rocking Saturday as local and headlining bands took the stage at the Jam 4 Life benefit concert. The effort was to raise money for two local brothers in need of life-saving organ transplants.

Headliners included Georgia Satellites, The Turtles and Tommy James and the Shondells.

But hits like "Hippy Hippy Shake" and "So Happy Together" would come later.

The event kicked off with the hardcore sounds from West McVoy, 18, the brother in need of a double lung transplant, and his band, The Lodger.

"I play guitar, it's fun," McVoy said. "It's the biggest stage we've ever been on."

By 4 p.m., a half an hour into the event, more than 100 people had come out for a night of entertainment to benefit the cause.

"It's pretty impressive actually," said Chris Slocum, 47, of Kalamazoo about the concert. "I mean, everyone needs a hand and it's nice to see so many people come together and these bands play."

Greg and Diane Fleming of Vicksburg were awaiting to hear some hits from the Georgia Satellites.

"It's just a beautiful day," the Flemings said. "And it's for such a good cause."

And while many were drawn to the event by big name-bands, some, like the Flemings, were happily surprised by Out of Favor Boys, a local band from Kalamazoo, who followed The Lodger and opened for Georgia Satellites.

"We really liked the last band," Diane Fleming said after hearing the jazz and blues band. "They were good."

The goal was to raise close to $100,000 for both McVoy and his brother Jason Vaden, 26, who is also in need of a transplant — a kidney transplant.

Aside from proceeds from ticket sales, more than 14 bachelors and bachelorettes also took the stage in between performances Saturday, donning gowns and tuxedos, along with McVoy and Vaden, to participate in the Sexy Singles Event and be auctioned off to raise more money for the brothers.

"I'm selling myself today," joked Alison Satkoski, 25, of Kalamazoo, who works for the American Cancer Society. "We heard about it and wanted to help out with a good cause."

Her mother, Diane Satkoski, 52, said she was excited about the concert and for her daughter. "It's a fun thing to do on a beautiful night," she said. "I had to come to see who was bidding on her."

And so did her dad.

"I might just have to buy her back," said Sam Satkoski, 61, of Stevensville.

Will Simpson, 34, who went to nursing school with the brothers' mother, Linda Vaden, said he didn't mind being one of oldest bachelors to participate in the auction.

"Anything I can do to help bring in money is great," SImpson said. "But the recognition part, the awareness, is big.

And like Simpson, both brothers said the Jam 4 life event wasn't just about raising money.

"It's not the money aspect but about raising awareness," Vaden said. "Get it out there in the open. This is the first step. This just gets the ball rolling. I mean, West isn't the only kid with cystic fybrosis."

Wrifton Graham, 25, who works for Birch River Group which promoted the event, said he was drawn to the cause after finding donation canisters in a local restaurant to raise money for the brothers.

"I met with the family," he said. "They were working hard for a year and finding it hard to raise money. So we hoped this would help."

Graham said he was expecting close to 3,000 at the event by night's end Saturday.

"It's a good time for Battle Creek," Graham said. "And hopefully we'll be able to do this again with different acts and benefactors."

McVoy and Vaden said they hope to make the concert an annual event for different causes each year.

"I just hope this continues after we're done," Vaden said.

Proceeds from Saturday's event will go to a fund in the brothers' names at Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

"If we could raise the extra money, the entire $250,000 would help cover medical expenses not just for now, but long term," McVoy said. "We'll continue to have them (expenses) all our lives."

Linda Vaden, mother of the two boys, said she thought the event was "just wonderful" and was happy the weather held up for the event.

"We have a lot of family here today," Linda Vaden said. "And after all the rain this morning, God blessed us."