DougNSharon
09-28-2008, 12:36 PM
Sometimes you get reminded why it's nice to be an old hippie.
The SEVA Foundation hosted a special concert in honor of their 30th anniversary last night at the Paramount Theater in Oakland. The organization started in 1978 with founding members including Wavy Gravy and Dr. Larry Brilliant, who now heads the philanthropic arm of Google. First major thrust was tackling cataracts in Tibet and Nepal, and the first big rock benefit for the organization was one of the Grateful Dead's New Year's run shows in 1979that netted $100,000. Thirty years later, SEVA has been credited with helping 2 million people regain their sight and the charity now has several other projects, including dealing with diabetes in Native American populations. You can find out more at seva dot org.
Now, about the concert....
Opening was Ruthie Foster with Nina Gerber, fresh from the San Francisco Blues Festival. Great energy and very well-received.
Next up was Bonnie Raitt with old friends Hutch Hutchinson and Ricky Fatar in her band (no Jon Cleary, unfortunately). Third song was a gorgeous "Angel From Montgomery" with Ruthie Foster. Next was "Thing Called Love" with Jackson Browne. NEXT was "Love Has No Pride" with Elvis Costello, plus David Crosby and Graham Nash singing backup! NEXT we get "Gnawing On It" with Roy Rogers on a second slide. We're an hour in, folks......
Next was a nice but a little stiff performance by Jackson and his band, featuring 5 of the songs from his new CD. Women of all ages sigh and dream.
After an intermission, Elvis Costello came back with just his guitar for a three-song set concluding with "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" that had many old butts boogie-ing.
Crosby-Nash followed with a brief set, and Crosby looked in shockingly good health and voice. He must have lost 30 lbs. since I last saw him on the CSNY tour a couple of summers ago. Actually, everyone looked eerily good --- you would have thought you were seeing Bonnie and Jackson (sans beard now) in 1978, not 2008.
Old favorite Terry Haggerty of Sons of Champlin got to do some solo guitar stuff while the stage changed and people found either the restroom or bar for the home stretch.
To close, Los Lobos burned it up for a few numbers, but without Cesar Rosas for some reason. They brought Elvis back out for a version of "Uncomplicated," which also had a puzzled-looking Bonnie on slide as the band buzzed along on one chord for most of the song (uncomplicated indeed!).
Show closed with the Lobo boys bringing out Jorma and Jack from Hot Tuna for a couple of numbers, then tearing through versions of "Not Fade Away" and "Bertha" from the GD songbook with Jackson Browne taking his turn to look puzzled at center stage.
All in all, a beautiful and uplifting night of music with proceeds going to a terrific cause!
The SEVA Foundation hosted a special concert in honor of their 30th anniversary last night at the Paramount Theater in Oakland. The organization started in 1978 with founding members including Wavy Gravy and Dr. Larry Brilliant, who now heads the philanthropic arm of Google. First major thrust was tackling cataracts in Tibet and Nepal, and the first big rock benefit for the organization was one of the Grateful Dead's New Year's run shows in 1979that netted $100,000. Thirty years later, SEVA has been credited with helping 2 million people regain their sight and the charity now has several other projects, including dealing with diabetes in Native American populations. You can find out more at seva dot org.
Now, about the concert....
Opening was Ruthie Foster with Nina Gerber, fresh from the San Francisco Blues Festival. Great energy and very well-received.
Next up was Bonnie Raitt with old friends Hutch Hutchinson and Ricky Fatar in her band (no Jon Cleary, unfortunately). Third song was a gorgeous "Angel From Montgomery" with Ruthie Foster. Next was "Thing Called Love" with Jackson Browne. NEXT was "Love Has No Pride" with Elvis Costello, plus David Crosby and Graham Nash singing backup! NEXT we get "Gnawing On It" with Roy Rogers on a second slide. We're an hour in, folks......
Next was a nice but a little stiff performance by Jackson and his band, featuring 5 of the songs from his new CD. Women of all ages sigh and dream.
After an intermission, Elvis Costello came back with just his guitar for a three-song set concluding with "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love and Understanding" that had many old butts boogie-ing.
Crosby-Nash followed with a brief set, and Crosby looked in shockingly good health and voice. He must have lost 30 lbs. since I last saw him on the CSNY tour a couple of summers ago. Actually, everyone looked eerily good --- you would have thought you were seeing Bonnie and Jackson (sans beard now) in 1978, not 2008.
Old favorite Terry Haggerty of Sons of Champlin got to do some solo guitar stuff while the stage changed and people found either the restroom or bar for the home stretch.
To close, Los Lobos burned it up for a few numbers, but without Cesar Rosas for some reason. They brought Elvis back out for a version of "Uncomplicated," which also had a puzzled-looking Bonnie on slide as the band buzzed along on one chord for most of the song (uncomplicated indeed!).
Show closed with the Lobo boys bringing out Jorma and Jack from Hot Tuna for a couple of numbers, then tearing through versions of "Not Fade Away" and "Bertha" from the GD songbook with Jackson Browne taking his turn to look puzzled at center stage.
All in all, a beautiful and uplifting night of music with proceeds going to a terrific cause!