“Seva has given so much help to so many thousands of people for so many years — such a wonderful example of love in action.”
Bonnie Raitt
Singer / Songwriter
"For nearly 40 years Seva has made an extraordinary contribution to the world — not only through their
international programs, but here in some of the most impoverished communities in North America, on Native American reservations. Thank you Seva."
Jackson Browne
Singer / Songwriter
"Seva takes the impulse towards generosity and turns it into compassionate action that helps people in real need. I honor my friends and relations by giving to Seva in their name — the entire world benefits. I hope you'll join me."
Peter Coyote
Actor / Writer
"Compassion and caring for people in need - that's simply a moral necessity. But it's not
always easy to do. Seva makes it easy. They know how to put your donations to work in ways that truly benefit people."
Joan Baez
Singer / Humanitarian Activist
"When we met the folks at Seva, we knew we were among kindred spirits, joining to bring people together in service to others. Whether preventing blindness in Nepal, assisting native peoples in Guatemala and Mexico, or helping our own Native Americans, Seva has been there to help alleviate suffering and improve people's lives. Long may they rock!"
Phil Lesh
The Grateful Dead
"Seva's efforts create hope and happiness worldwide for so many people in difficult conditions. I've always been amazed and cheered by their good works and I've been very happy to help them in their fundraising efforts."
Bruce Hornsby
Singer / Songwriter
“I admire Seva's spirit of innovation. Seva is constantly looking for new ideas that can benefit the world, especially the poor, and they aren't afraid to try something that no one has ever tried before."
Dr. Muhammad Yunus
Nobel Prize Winner / Seva Partner / Founding Chairman of Grameen Health Services
“I congratulate Seva Foundation for the magnificent work they continue to do."
Odetta
Legendary Folk Singer
“Seva has done an incredible job all over the world helping people who really need it. I am proud to be one of the many who followed Wavy and his friends down this particular yellow brick road.”
David Crosby
Singer / Songwriter
“Such dedication to others — how could you not love Seva and what they accomplish? Well done!”
Graham Nash
Singer / Songwriter
Be the First to Know!
Sign up and be the first to know about upcoming Seva concerts and events.
With red-clown noses in their hearts, and songs to fill the air, a few thousand caring, music-loving souls gathered to wish Wavy Gravy, America’s favorite psychedelic relic, a happy 79th birthday on May 17. It was a fine day for a party in Sonoma County, California as attendees at the seven-plus hour gathering danced and swayed to the musical offerings of Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Steve Kimock & Friends, The California Honeydrops, and Hot Buttered Rum.
Wavy acted as a ‘tweener between sets, telling stories and reading whimsical passages from “Hiparama of the Classics,” a collection of fanciful poetry from one of Wavy’s Beat-generation contemporaries, Lord Buckley. Some Wavy Gravy-isms:
Combining music, purpose, and groovy wisecracks, Wavy, still sharp witted and sharp tongued, though not quite as mobile as he once was, held court in the front corner of the stage, acting as emcee, wise-cracker, kazoo player, and cheerleader for SEVA, the “compassion in action” service organization for which the day’s proceeds would be given. SEVA, which since 1978 has helped ease human suffering worldwide, most notably through restorative eye care, is also famous for throwing down musical-benefit hootenannies. Wavy’s birthday often coincides with SEVA benefits, and this time, SEVA, who has done good work in Nepal for many years, recently announced that a substantial portion of proceeds from this benefit would go to SEVA’s Nepal Earthquake Relief & Recovery Fund, following the devastating April 25 centered near Kathmandu.
The celebration of social action took place at the Sonoma Mountain Event Center, a solar-powered venue that features a cozy but sizeable courtyard/outdoor concert venue. A neighboring indoor event center hosted a glorious upscale silent auction that featured art from Nepal as well as an art gallery with works by Stanley Mouse, Pat Ryan, Mark Hensen, Jerry Garcia and Wavy Gravy.
Hot Buttered Rum started the musical proceedings, quickly shaking out the collective cobwebs and kicking up some dust with its brand of jamming folk-grass. Joined onstage by Leftover Salmon’s Vince Herman and Front Country’s Jacob Groopman and Melody Walker, the ensemble offered such tunes as “Busted in Utah,” “Summertime Gal,” “Walls of Time,” “Sittin’ on Top of the World,” and “The Music Never Stopped.”
The California Honeydrops were next dishing out their aptly self-described fusion of Street Corner Soul, Roots, Delta Blues, and Bay Area R&B. In addition to their originals including “Pumpkin Pie” and crowd fave, “When It Was Wrong,” the twin percussion-keys-sax-trumpet-and guitar collective performed “People Get Ready,” and Wilson Pickett’s “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You,” before coming down from the stage to play and march amongst the audience.
Heralded improvisational guitarist Steve Kimock was next; his quartet for the day included fellow Ratdog alums Jay Lane on drums, Jeff Chimenti on keys, and longtime Kimock sidekick Bobby Vega on bass. Their masterful instrumental set included varied pieces of music that alternatively rocked, soothed, and funked up the crowd. The foursome, particularly Kimock and Chimenti, nicely adapted and slowed down one of their jams to accommodate Wavy’s reading of Buckley’s “The Hip Ghan,” a satirical piece about Mahatma Ghandi. When Kimock’s guitar went out later in the set during “Stella Blue,” Wavy, still a sharp jester and entertainer, sensed the lull in the music, nodded to Vega and resumed reading from Buckley’s work as Chimenti, Vega, and Lane softly played on, making it quite the unforgettable version of “Stella Blue.”
As the sun went down Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, led by Alex Ebert, closed out the main stage segment of the show. The charismatic Ebert strolled and bounded all over the stage, often taking a perch on a speaker or a monitor in front of the stage, singing directly to the crowd. The band of eight delighted the elders and the many children in the crowd with “Dinosaur Party,” “Home,” "Mayla," "Up From Below," "Man On Fire" (featured in the “August: Osage County” movie trailer), "Child," "All Wash Out," "Janglin'," "If I “Were Free," "Life Is Hard," "40 Day Dream," "Better Days," and "Om Nashe Me,” which Ebert explained meant, “the destruction of self.”
Wavy and SEVA had one more trick up their sleeve, offering an additional, intimate indoor VIP reception with Hot Buttered Rum set for those who still hadn’t had their fill.
Seva’s event producer Tamara Klamner says “thanks to the help of the artists, volunteers and sponsors and the 2000+ concert attendees, the event raised $160,000 which will help support the ongoing work of Seva”.
By Alan Sheckter
* We won't share your email and you can unsubscribe at any time.