The world of Warren Zevon devotees should become an excitable fan base upon hearing that a tribute show for the late singer-songwriter is being slated for this fall in Los Angeles, with Jackson Browne, Marshall Crenshaw, Shooter Jennings, Dream Syndicate frontman Steve Wynn and other guests already lined up to pay homage to one of the city’s favorite sons.
“Meet Me in L.A.: The Songs of Warren Zevon” will take place Oct. 24 in downtown Los Angeles at the United Theater (formerly known as the Theatre at Ace Hotel). A presale offer for tickets will begin Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. PT, followed by a general public on-sale Aug. 8 at 10 a.m.
The show is the annual benefit produced by the Wild Honey Foundation, which produces an all-star tribute every fall to benefit autism and other causes.
Browne is one of the rock figures most closely associated with Zevon, having produced or co-produced his two most beloved seminal albums, 1976’s “Warren Zevon” and 1978’s “Excitable Boy” (which included the signature tracks “Werewolves of London” and “Lawyers, Guns and Money”). The concert will also feature some of Zevon’s other most constant collaborators, including a singing appearance by his frequent co-songwriter/producer Jorge Calderon and, appearing in the band, famous session players Leland Sklar and Bob Glaub.
Other guest vocalists will include Inara George of the Bird and the Bee, Eleni Mandell, Susan Cowsill and Phil Cody, with many more to be announced in the three months leading up to the show.
The Wild Honey Orchestra will be led for the occasion by Wild Honey tribute mainstays Rob Laufer and Jordan Summers.
The org’s ensembles are famous for their meticulous live creations of classic rock tracks, as heard in past tribute shows dedicated to such artists as the Beatles, the Band, Buffalo Springfield, the Beach Boys, the Kinks, the Lovin’ Spoonful and Big Star, often with surviving band members or frontmen joining in.
Zevon has been the recipient of some more modest tributes since he died in 2003 at age 56, including a 2016 salute hosted by Judd Apatow that featured Browne, Taylor Goldsmith and Jill Sobule, but this will be a more substantial dip into the singer’s catalog than it’s believed he has been saluted with before. Warning: Wild Honey shows have been known to top out around or even beyond three hours; for now, this one is only promised as including 25-plus songs.
This year, the Wild Honey show will have two beneficiaries, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and the Ed Asner Family Center for the Autism Community.