Country duo Brothers Finch kicks cancer at 2 North Bistro

Dustin Finch, lead vocalist and guitarist of the country duo Brothers Finch, is full of hope. When he was diagnosed with cancer last year, Finch said he "never gave up on it." Now a cancer survivor, Finch uses the duo's musical opportunities to share his optimistic outlook on life.

"It makes me feel good that as a survivor, I can put my music out there and give people some hope," he said. "I want to make sure they do have hope, because I had hope myself and I survived cancer."

Finch and his twin brother Brandon plan to bring that optimistic message to Cape Girardeau when they play a benefit concert for the American Cancer Society. The concert is 8 p.m. Saturday at 2 North Bistro. Admission is $10 and proceeds go directly to the American Cancer Society.

Brothers Finch, a contemporary country duo, has worked to establish a name for itself in the country music scene in Nashville, Tenn., for the last couple of years. They competed on CMT's "Can You Duet," and submitted a video in the "Music City Madness 2" contest in Nashville. In 2007, their independently produced video "Lifetime," peaked in the top eight of the contest, garnering them a seven-week run on CMT and CMT.com.

"They said there were over 780,000 videos across America and only 64 only got chosen to be on that show. So even being one of the 64 to star out was pretty much an honor," Finch said. "We made it to the top 8 in the country. I think that just kind of gave us a really good boost, in the public eye that is."

"Lifetime" is a ballad about the fragility of life, and the lyrics encourage people to live every moment to its fullest.

"Just never give up on it and have hope that you can make it through it," Finch said. "God can do miraculous things. He pulled me out of it and he can pull others, too."

Brothers Finch has shared a mission and assisted a number of charities including Operation Troop Aid, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Relay For Life.

Cancer is an issue that hits home with Finch and the duo has been supporting charity organizations for years. In fact, Finch said they played a benefit concert last year for the Ronald McDonald House in support of children with leukemia and cancer, just two weeks before his diagnosis.

Now, having struggled with cancer himself, Finch said supporting the charity organizations reaches him on a more personal level.

"It means a lot to me now that I've gone through that. I can be on a real personal level with these people. I know what they've gone through, because I've gone through it too. It's a really great thing. It makes me feel very privileged to be able to do that."

Another privilege he said, is playing music. The brothers' dream as young boys growing up in Fredericktown, Mo. was to form a band.

"When we were 9 or 10, we used to beat and bang on Lego buckets," Finch said. "As kids we were listening to radio jingles, just ear-catching stuff. We kind of picked up on the music thing, just playing air guitar and drums and stuff. We actually had the image in our head before we ever even got any instruments that we were going to try to make it a lifelong career."

The twins' passion for music led them to Full Sail University in Orlando, Fla., where they both received a bachelors degree in entertainment business and an associates degree in recording arts. The brothers experimented with a variety bands before paving their own path on the contemporary country scene.

Brothers Finch released its self-titled EP in March at the 40th Annual Country Radio Seminar in Nashville -- the Music City they now call home. Finch said they are putting together another album now, but it's "still a work in progress."

For tour dates and more information about Brothers Finch, visit www.brothersfinch.com.

WANT TO GO?

What: Brothers Finch; benefit concert for the American Cancer Society

When: Saturday, July 25

Where: 2 North Bistro, 2 N. Main St.