Local Musicians Injured in Crash Staging a Return at Sweetwater

San Anselmo’s Daniel “Uzi” Uzilevsky and Erik Smyth have apparently made a full recovery from a major head-on collision they were in on Highway 101 in August 2012.

The local musicians will appear with their band, Elephant Listening Project, at a special March concert at Mill Valley’s Sweetwater Music Hall. The event, set for March 1, is also serving as a fundraiser to help the band members pay for their hefty medical bills. A silent auction will include autographed memorabilia from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Metallica, Stanley Mouse and Santana.

Smyth and Uzi, who both have frequented the Fairfax music scene, were returning to Marin after an Elephant Listening Project gig in Cotati when on Aug. 19.

Uzi, 43, was on a respirator for nearly a week and remained hospitalized for days after. He punctured both his lungs, broke his femur and broke several ribs in the accident.

Smyth, 42, who suffered from broken ribs and broken lower vertebrae, was released from the hospital two days after the accident.

Marin community members quickly rallied around the two, of the crash. A benefit was held in September in Fairfax at multiple downtown bars for the musicians.

The Elephant Listening Project played at the Sleeping Lady in Fairfax on Dec. 21 to benefit the four-year-old San Geronimo resident Collin Anderson, who has been diagnosed with leukemia, because Anderson had a benefit in Fairfax the same night as the one for Uzi and Smyth.

“Colin's went largely ignored,” according to the Elephant Listening Project Facebook page. “We feel it is our duty as good citizens of this town, to play a benefit for him and make sure he gets the attention he deserves. Please come out and support this very worthy cause.”

During the band’s performance hiatus, while Smyth and Uzi recovered from their injuries, the band wrote and recorded tracks for a debut full-length album that’s expected to be available for sale and download this summer. A three-song CD teaser from the upcoming album will be given away free to the first 200 guests to arrive at the Sweetwater show.

Members of the group have played in other bands including The Mo’fessionals, The Coup, Montrose and Chrome Johnson. 

Marin band Biambu's Groove Room will open the show.

Visit Sweetwater's website for more information about the event.