Cheap Trick's Robin Taylor Zander stopping at Rock N Roll Land for an acoustic gig

GREEN BAY - Rock N Roll Land is getting a visit by a Cheap Trick member with a familiar first and last name but take special note of the middle name.

Robin Taylor Zander, the son of lead singer Robin Zander, will perform an acoustic set at 6 p.m. Friday at the record store at 838 S. Military Ave. He’ll also sign copies of his debut solo album, “The Distance,” which came out in April.

Cover is $10 at the door.

It’s part of a Midwest run of dates for the younger Zander, who has played rhythm guitar in Cheap Trick for the last seven years and also filled in on drums, bass and lead guitar when other members of the band have had to miss tour dates.

He shows off that same versatility on “The Distance,” playing every instrument on the Confidential Records release. He has described the music as similar to Cheap Trick and counts ‘60s British Invasion bands, ‘70s punk and early ‘80s New Wave among his influences.

“He sounds so much like his dad it’s crazy,” said Todd Magnuson, owner of Rock N Roll Land.

More music Here are all the major concerts, comedy shows in Green Bay through 2024

His visit is another chapter in Green Bay’s long-running relationship with the Rockford, Illinois, band that got its start in the mid-’70s playing bars in the Midwest, including regular gigs at the Pack and the Hounds pub. In a 2018 interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette, lead guitarist Rick Nielsen talked about how he used to knock the ceiling tiles out with his guitar while playing to a packed house at the Green Bay live music hot spot.

Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or [email protected]. Follow her on X @KendraMeinert. 

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Cheap Trick's Robin Taylor Zander plays Rock N Roll Land in Green Bay