VINYL: The Classic Rock Experience benefit concert

Denny Laine’s motto has long been deceivingly simple: “Mix it up.”

“I’ve always tried to think ahead about performing different shows with different musicians,” he says. “I can’t go out and perform the same thing every night.”

In 1964, the Birmingham, England native sang lead vocals on the Moody Blues’ version of Bessie Banks’ soul-flavored “Go Now,” which earned the concept album pioneers their first No. 1 hit on the U.K. charts – and first U.S. Top 10 hit. By 1966, Laine had left the Moody Blues to form the Electric String Band, a short-lived pre-prog rock trio featuring the Move’s Trevor Burton.

Less than two years later, Laine moved on again, splitting time between Birmingham supergroup Balls and Ginger Baker’s Air Force (led by the legendary Cream/Blind Faith drummer and also featuring Traffic’s Steve Winwood).

When Paul McCartney invited Laine to join Wings in 1971, he was instrumental in the outfit’s greatest records, including Band On The Run and Venus and Mars. Laine’s 10-year tenure with Wings represents his longest stretch with any one band.

Saturday at the Golden State Theatre, Laine is headlining Vinyl: The Classic Rock Experience, a vibrant musical mix benefiting the Fund for Homeless Women in Monterey County and the Monterey County chapter of Guitars Not Guns.

Laine will be joined by Scott Slaughter and Bill Spencer on keys, Randy Uchida on bass, Stevie Heger on drums, Domenick Allen on guitar, sax and clarinet and Leigh Zimmerman and Cayleigh Capaldi on vocals. The aforementioned Domenick Allen and his wife Leigh Zimmerman have already been making a name for themselves locally with Monterey Meringues, where they serve up tasty treats featuring regional rock-inspired names like Monterey Pop-Corn and Purple Haze-lnut. But prior to diving into the airy and tangy world of meringues, the couple entertained; Allen is a multi-instrumentalist who’s toured with Foreigner and Liberace.

Also performing Saturday is Monterey native/Persephone’s Bees co-founding guitarist Tom Ayres. He’ll be accompanied by bassist Pete Hogemier, drummer Donnie Nix and keyboardist Donnie Dickman.

Musical genius/virtuoso cellist/language of Sneth innovator Rushad Eggleston rounds out the night with a revved-up solo set fueled by imaginary giant bunnies, electric strings and Beethoven, all coated in punk rock impulse.

One of the minds behind this eclectic assortment of musical talent, Steve Vagnini, also knows the value of mixing it up. In addition to his extensive career in public service – over 25 years with the county of Monterey, counting more than a decade as the elected county assessor and clerk and recorder – he’s been an integral force within Monterey’s music scene as a promoter. He does benefit concerts (for groups ranging from Relay For Life to the Rape Crisis Center), festivals (including the West End Celebration, Red White & Blues Festival and Marina Wind Festival) and books music regularly at prominent local spots (such as Sly McFly’s, Doc Ricketts’ Lab and Casa Sorrento).

Vagnini’s passion for music and community combine with a gift for creative partnerships; this event happens in part thanks to a grant from the city of Monterey’s Parks and Recreation Department.

“The beauty of this concert is that it is being held for a number of good reasons,” he says. “We are showcasing a rock legend, introducing Domenick Allen to the community, showcasing two great local musicians and raising money and awareness for two local nonprofits.”

Laine describes his segment of the night as mostly a tribute to Wings, with some early Moody Blues tunes and a song or two off one of his dozen-plus solo records.

In the next couple months, he’ll be releasing Valley of Dreams, a rock concept album that’s been in the works for a long time.

“It’s my view of American music, through the years, that I was influenced by,” Laine explains. “So I’ve written all the songs in different styles.”

A new live show based on Valley of Dreams will follow. Laine is also working on what he describes as an “environmental musical,” about an alien who comes to Earth to help solve the pollution problem, posing as a human.

Though there aren’t any concrete dates yet, Laine says he recently agreed to be a part of a Ginger Baker’s Air Force reunion.

“[Baker’s] a perfectionist and I admire him for that, because I’m a bit like that myself,” Laine says. “And he doesn’t suffer fools. Ginger’s all about the music. He’s good to work with because he’s a good player, but if you can’t keep up with him, he leaves you behind.”

That leads to talk of another benefit of mixing it up: balance.

“If you’re on the road too much you lose your creativity,” he says. “But if you stay off the road, you lose your chops. You’ve got to do both equally.”

VINYL: THE CLASSIC ROCK EXPERIENCE with Denny Laine and Domenick Allen and Special Guests Tom Ayres and Rushad Eggleston 8-11pm (7pm doors) Saturday, Feb. 27. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $20-$30. 649-1070, www.goldenstatetheatre.com.