Wild Honey Celebrates The Band: 'Music From Big Pink and Beyond,' March 25th in Glendale, Calif.

Benefit for the Autism Think Tank to take place 
March 25 at the Alex Theatre 

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Press Release) — Benefit-concert producers the  Wild Honey Foundation   present  The Band’s first two albums,  Music From Big Pink   and  The Band, plus bonus songs, performed by a star-studded house band featuring  Garth Hudson, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of The Band, with guest singers. The event, which benefits the  Autism Think Tank, takes place  Saturday,  March 25, 2017 at 8 p.m.,  at the historic Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd. in downtown Glendale, Calif.
 
Led by acclaimed musical director Rob Laufer (whose credits include George Martin’s Hollywood Bowl tribute to  Sgt. Pepper), the  Wild Honey Orchestra, in collaboration with   Hudson, his partner  Sister Maud  and friends, will tackle the deeply influential and unforgettable Music From Big Pink  and The Band   in their entirety, with the same level of love, passion, and stunning musicianship brought to previous takes on the Beatles and the Beach Boys. These iconic records include timeless tunes like “Up on Cripple Creek,” “The Weight,” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”  The show will also include bonus songs such as “It Makes No Difference,” “Stage Fright,” and “The Shape I’m In.”

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No musical detail will be spared as Wild Honey cuts to the heart of these iconic songs with help from guest performers:  Jackson Browne, Van Dyke Parks, Carlene Carter, Terry Reid, The Continental Drifters,  Peter Case, Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello) Motown legend  Brenda Holloway,   Syd Straw, Jerry Riopelle, Keith Allison (Paul Revere & the Raiders), Cait O’Riordan (Pogues)  David Baerwald (David & David), Victoria Williams, Steve Barton(Translator), Louise Goffin, Luther Russell, Robert Francis, Cindy Lee Berryhill, Skylar Gudasz, Jackson Browne and Steely Dan collaborator Jeff Young, Plainsong (feat. Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts), Julianna Raye, Nick Guzman, Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate), Bebopalula,  All Day Sucker,  bassist  Bob Glaub, and the always-possible Very Special Guests. 
 
Current members of the Wild Honey Orchestra include a who’s who of respected L.A. recording artists: musical director Rob Laufer, guitar, vocals; Sarah Kramer, horn and string leader/vocals;Jim Laspesa (Dave Davies/Susanna Hoffs), David Goodstein and Ryeland Allison, drums; Derrick Anderson (The Bangles) and Robby Scharf, bass; Rusty Squeezebox (Baby Lemonade, Love), guitar; Chris Price (Emitt Rhodes) and Willie Aron, keyboards, vocals; Jordan Summers, Danny McGough and Robert Lloyd, keyboards; Nelson Bragg (Brian Wilson Band), percussion; Kaitlin Wolfberg (L.A. String Explosion) and Lyn Bertles, strings; Tara Austin, vocals. After performing at the 2015 Wild Honey White Album show, Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne declared the Wild Honey Orchestra to be “just about the most cracking backup band I’ve ever heard. I told my friends that playing with that many amazing musicians behind me felt like piloting a 747.”
 
As with last year’s sold-out Beach Boys tribute at the Alex, the concert will benefit the Autism Think Tank. This non-profit organization brings together a team of top autism specialists, via an Internet medical conference, to tackle the medical and psychological problems faced by children and young adults with autism like Wild Honey co-organizer Paul Rock’s 13-year-old son Jake, whose own issues have improved since his involvement with the organization.   

Autism Think Tank:  http://www.autismthinktanknj.com/http://thecmf.org/who-we-are  
Wild Honey Foundation:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/183120448393501/