Weekend spotlight: ‘SNL’ veteran Chris Kattan

If he’d never done anything else, Chris Kattan will go down in comedy history for his role in the classic “More Cowbell” Saturday Night Live sketch from 2000.

Kataan has maybe a single line, but his role in the make-believe Blue Oyster Cult is pivotal: He’s “playing” guitarist Buck Dharma as the band attempts to record “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” for fictional producer Bruce Dickinson (Christopher Walken). As such, it’s Kattan-as-Dharma who kicks off the song, every failed attempt, with its signature guitar riff.

Of course, Kataan left a lot of famous footprints during his tenure (1996-2003). There was Mango, Mr. Peepers and that disco-bar parody featuring the head-bobbing Butabi Brothers (Kattan and Will Ferrell spun the characters off into the film A Night at the Roxbury).

Kattan takes the stage Saturday at 9 p.m. (doors at 8) at Bayboro Brewing. Find tickets at this link.

Latin joy

Sunday at the BayCare Sound: Astropical, a two-band mashup of Colombia’s Bomba Estéreo and Venezuela’s Rawayana. The “Latin music supergroup” released a self-titled album in March. “We’re living in very dark times for humanity and I feel like this kind of music is what we need to vibe on a different level,” Bomba vocalist Li Saumet told NPR. “All of the songs on this album are very positive; they’re meant to lift people’s minds and spirits.” Details and tickets are at this link.

Last stop on the Love Train?

With original members Eddie Levert and Walter Williams in their 80s but still singing and grooving, the O’Jays begin the next leg of their ongoing “Farewell Tour” Sunday at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center. Will this be the end for the venerable R&B trio? Here’s a 2022 Catalyst interview with Williams – decide for yourself. Tickets for the Sunday show are here.

On theater stages

Mandy Keen in “Maggie.” Photo provided.

It’s the second and final weekend for Jobsite Theater’s 2025 production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at Tampa’s Straz Center. Tickets are here.

Actress Mandy Keen’s acclaimed one-woman show Maggie is back onstage Saturday (8 p.m.) at the Commodore, 811 E. 7th Ave. in Tampa. “Packed with physical comedy and audience interaction, this show is a love letter to anyone who’s ever been underestimated, or thrown away. Maggie is a chaotic and surreal journey through the refuse of life, where there’s beauty in the trash, if you’re willing to dig.” Find additional details, and tickets, here.

Aaaaand …. back to the concert calendar

Tonight at the Palladium Theater Side Door Cabaret: Dave Omlor and The Rain Dogs performing a show of Tom Waits music, titled (of course) “What’s He Building in There?” Find tickets for the 7:30 show here.

Tonight at the BayCare Sound: Bay area frequent fliers UB40 and The Fixx share the bill. Find tickets here.

Here’s comes the biggest concert of the month: Katy Perry performs Friday at Tampa’s Benchmark Arena (you know, the Venue Formerly Known as Amalie Arena). Tickets for “The Lifetimes Tour” are at this link.

Saturday’s Betty Fox Band show at the Palladium Side Door is sold out.

Country band Little Big Town plays the Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheater Friday. Tickets.

Friday at the Palladium Theater’s Hough Hall (the big room), it’s jazz saxophonist Vincent Ingala, named “Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year” several times by Billboard, and his band. Details and tickets are here.

Saturday brings comedian Zachariah Porter to the Tampa Theatre. Details and tickets are here.

Saturday at Jannus Live: Kolohe Kai, the Hawaiian reggae/pop band. Tickets are here.

Classic Albums Live is back at the Capitol Theatre Saturday, performing Legend, the Bob Marley compilation. Tickets.

A group of young performers called the Motowners will be on the Palladium Theater Hough Hall stage Sunday, with full band, playing the Temptations, The Four Tops, Diana Ross & The Supremes, the Miracles, Marvin Gaye and many more. It’s a 4 p.m. show, and tickets are at this link.

Your Weekend Spotlight appears every Thursday in the Catalyst’s CREATE section. 

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