‘Catalyst Sessions’ recap: Robin Zander

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Robin Zander guested on The Catalyst Sessions Monday, on a day that happened to coincide with the 41st anniversary of Dream Police, the most successful album he and his Cheap Trick bandmates ever made.

Zander, who’s lived in Safety Harbor for almost three decades, was on the program, ostensibly, to talk about the three socially-distanced acoustic shows he’s playing this weekend in the Ruth Eckerd Hall lobby cabaret.

But it quickly, and perhaps inevitably, turned into a spirited discussion of Cheap Trick, the mighty, multi-platinum-selling power-pop quartet that sent “Surrender,” “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police” and others into classic rock legend-land. With Zander’s mighty roar of a voice out front, Cheap Trick has forever been the hardest-gigging band in show business.

Zander also admitted that, as a rock ‘n’ roll singer, he needs to exercise his instrument, and after more or less sitting at home for the past six months, he’s excited about getting out and working again.

He also detailed his unreleased second solo album, the Florida-made Countryside Boulevard.

A fascinating, frank and very, very funny conversation with a musical icon.

All three Eckerd shows sold out within minutes of going on sale.

Tuesday on The Catalyst Sessions: Eckerd College theater professor Jessica Thonen talks about her upcoming virtual production Into the Wind.

Streaming weekdays at 7 p.m. on the Catalyst Facebook page. All episodes are archived on our YouTube channel.