Instruments 4 Success, a nonprofit that helps veterans dealing with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries through the healing power of music, is hosting its first ever Merry Vet-Mas Bash at 2 p.m. Dec. 14 at the VFW Post 720.
“Some VFW posts are aging out, there are a lot of older vets going but not a lot of younger guys,” said Stephen Bradford, founder of Instruments 4 Success. “So, we’re trying to get some younger vets in and get them involved in some of these Veteran of Foreign Wars type things.”
Bradford has assembled four local bands to perform at the event: The Zeppelin IV, a Led Zeppelin tribute band; Public Enemy #1, a Motley Crue Tribute band; Picture Show, a Stone Temple Pilots tribute band; and Velvet Crush and Varlets, a band formed from a nonprofit that shows young kids how to earn a living in the music industry.
“We’re just trying to have an all-around amazing time for everybody that attends,” Bradford said. “We are trying to raise a few dollars for instruments for success but we’re more concerned with everybody having a good time.”
Bradford has studied the effects of music with doctors at Arizona State University and found that it reconnects neural pathways and prevents Alzheimer’s and dementia. He has also seen the positive effects of music with the veterans and their families that he works with at the Phoenix and Prescott VA, he said.
“If we can get people playing music together within a family unit and have one more thing that they can bond with and try to heal with,” Bradford said. “Music is just a universal, awesome thing that speaks to everybody … When you’re playing music, it’s hard to think about the negative things in your life.”
There is a recommended donation of $5 for veterans and $10 for non-veterans. However, Bradford emphasized that a veteran who cannot afford the donation will not be turned away.
At the event there will be Navajo tacos served as well as prizes, raffles and giveaways.
“The big prize is an autographed guitar by Sebastian Bach, who is the former lead singer of the band Skid Row,” Bradford said.
He noted that he is in the process of obtaining other gifts for Santa Claus and his elf to hand out to the veterans in attendance.
Bradford added that he is also trying to show off the VFW Post facility at 48th Street and Thomas Road in Phoenix.
“It’s a really big kind of a concert hall and it seems a shame not to fill it up with awesome music and amazing people,” Bradford said.
The donations from the event will help Bradford to continue Instruments 4 Success’s efforts and purchase the instruments needed for that.
“Guitars are getting more expensive instead of less expensive, so getting a few dollars together to help support the program would be amazing,” Bradford said.
