Your weekend arts forecast: MMYep, Hanson’s coming to town
It was 1997 when Oklahoma brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson hit No. on the pop charts with “MMBop,” an infectious indie-pop dance record credited to the singular name Hanson. Drummer Zac, the youngest brother, was 12 when “MMBop” was nominated for a pair of Grammys. Guitarist Isaac was 17, keys player Taylor 14. The album Middle of Nowhere was a towering success.
So what happened to Hanson? Although the brothers were never able to reap the same financial rewards, or repeat the chart success of that debut, they’ve kept at it, refining their sound, and their rock ‘n’ roll street cred, as they matured. Today, Hanson has released eight studio albums – the most recent is Red Green Blue, out since May – and plays to a fiercely loyal, global fan base.
Hanson plays Jannus Live, in downtown St. Petersburg, Sunday, July 17. Tickets are here.
Tatiana Kallmann
Crossover soprano
Colombian-American opera singer Tatiana Kallmann, who has studied and performed internationally and is currently in the University of South Florida’s Ph.D. in Music Education and Research program, appears in concert Sunday at the Polish American Club, 1343 Beach Drive SE.
Kallmann is a lyric soprano whose specialty is crossover music, blending the warmth, grace and style of bel canto opera with popular song. She has been a Tampa-based voice instructor for 15 years.
Suggested donation is $15; there will be a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres. Doors open at 4; performance at 4:30.
One for Robby
Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of Robby Steinhardt, the legendary violinist from the band Kansas, and a longtime Tampa resident.
Vocalist Greg Billings, who recently “retired” his Greg Billings Band, headlines (with “Friends”) a 4 p.m. tribute concert and Celebration of Life Sunday at the OCC Road House & Museum, 10575 49th Street N., Pinellas Park.
Others on the bill include Stormbringer, Big Brother, Borderline and Charlie Huhn. Admission is free, although it’s a benefit for the Howard W. Blake High School Music Program in Hillsborough County.
Palladium shows
St. Pete jazz guitarist Nate Najar has assembled a swingin’ combo for Thursday’s performance at the Palladium Theater’s Side Door Cafe. The band – and guest list – includes Jeff Rupert, Randy Sandke, Daniela Soledade, John Lamb, Carl Amundson, Ron Moss, Patrick Bettison, Joe Porter and Jean Bolduc. Tickets here.
Friday brings blues guitarist Alastair Greene, who not so long ago left the touring Alan Parson Project band after seven years. His electric trio album, The New World Blues, was produced by Tab Benoit. Tickets for the Side Door Café concert are here.
Saturday night’s Side Door Café event is called A Night of Classic Burlesque & Vaudeville Era Entertainment, with comedy, music, schtick and striptease. Reserved seats are sold out, find general admission seating here.
Other one-nighters
Australian comedian Celeste Barber is onstage at the Mahaffey Theater tonight (Thursday, July 14).
Tonight finds jazz saxophonist Trace Zacur playing thestudio@620.
Ted Nugent plays Ruth Eckerd Hall Friday.
Comic actor Chris Tucker has two standup shows Saturday at the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center.
In the theaters
Animals Out of Paper is in its first weekend at Jobsite Theater, inside Tampa’s Straz Center. More on this show Friday in the Catalyst.
In the Straz’s Jaeb Theatre: The musical comedy Nunsense: A-Men. Find all about it here.
Amiri Baraka’s Dutchman continues at American Stage (St. Pete). Details are here.
At LAB Theater Project, it’s Mike Deeson and James Rayfield’s country musical It Started with a Kiss.
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