Band drumming up help for a friend

LAKE STEVENS — Mike Phillips and his band play lots of benefit shows, but the one on Sunday will be different.

The four-person country and classic rock band will be playing to raise money for their drummer, JR Combs of Snohomish.

Combs, who beat throat cancer a few years ago, needs a series of expensive treatments in the oxygen chamber to prepare him for an oral surgery, Phillips said. Otherwise, he could face a potentially deadly disease. Combs’ insurance plan won’t cover the treatments, Phillips said.

To help, Phillips and other musicians from across Western Washington have planned Sunday’s concert. Several bands already are lined up to play, but Phillips is looking for more people to perform. An auction is planned as well, with items generously donated by friends and local businesses. “I don’t have any illusions about how much money we are going to raise, but anything helps,” Phillips said.

He described Combs as a first-class drummer and a great friend, always ready to help. The two have played together for about two years.

Cancer took a toll on Combs, but he hasn’t lost his passion for music. “He just keeps on keeping on,” Phillips said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.

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