It's almost unimaginable these days to see a band that's been around as long as The Smithereens still touring with most of its original members.
When the band pulls into La Rosa on Thursday, March 12, three of the four OGs — guitarist Jim Babjak, drummer Dennis Diken and bassist Mike Mesaros — will be there, along with John Cowsill as guest lead singer.
Cowsill, whose namesake band scored a number of hit singles in the 1960s, stepped in for this show in the place of founding lead singer-songwriter Pat DiNizio, who died in 2017.
The Smithereens formed in New Jersey in 1980 and gained a following and a place in music history for their timeless power-pop sound and strong, catchy melodies. Their sound was layered with guitar, bass and drums in clear reference to the 1960s British invasion (the Beatles, Kinks and The Who), with some nods to Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe.
Expect to hear signature songs that defined their live shows, including "Blood and Roses," "A Girl Like You," "Only a Memory," "Behind the Wall of Sleep" and singles from their critically-acclaimed albums "Especially for You," "Green Thoughts" and "11."
Thursday's concert begins at 7:30 at La Rosa, 800 N. Country Club Road, with the alt-country/Americana band Barnaby and the Butcher opening. Tickets are $44.67 through larosatucson.org.
Two Armens come to Century Room
In what sounds like it could be a joke looking for a punchline, two Armens are coming to Tucson's Century Room.
New York-based Armenian-American jazz pianist and composer Armen Donelian will team up with Armenian jazz saxophonist and composer Armen Hyusnunts on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13, at the downtown jazz club, 310 E. Congress St. at Hotel Congress.
Armenian-American Armen Donelian will play two sets at the Century Room on Friday with another Armen, the Armenian jazz saxophonist and composer Armen Hyusnunts.
This is not the first time the two Armens have joined forces. They took the show to Armenia in 2023 and brought it to the Century Room the following year.
Donelian, whose résumé includes performances with some of the biggest stars of American jazz, including Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker and Paquito D’Rivera, has been collaborating with Hyusnunts since the pair met at the 1998 Yerevan International Jazz Festival in Armenia.
Hyusnunts, who earned his master's degree in orchestra saxophone, spent years with the Artashes Kartalyan’s Jazz Quartet before forming the distinctive ethnic jazz quintet, Time Report, in 1997. He's been the conductor, bandleader, composer and, most recently, artistic director of the Armenian State Jazz Orchestra in addition to touring internationally with jazz artists including Vardan Ovsepyan and Richard Bona.
Donelian and Hyusnunts will perform as a duo at 6:30 p.m. Thursday and with the Armen Hyusnunts Quartet at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets start at $30.90 through hotelcongress.com/venues/centuryroom.
Busy weekend at Fox Tucson
Fox Tucson Theatre is on a roll this weekend: three concerts in three nights.
And not just any concerts. There's legendary singer-songwriters, a leading Irish band and a comedian who has the distinct honor of being one of a few to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
Yep, the Mother Church of Country Music.
Tickets are available through foxtucson.com or the box office, 17 W. Congress St.
- The fun kicks off Thursday, March 12, with the reunion tour of "On A Winter's Night," Christine Lavin's landmark 1990 folk compilation record showcasing winter-themed song with Lavin, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, Cheryl Wheeler and others.
Gorka and Kaplansky will be part of "On A Winter's Night Reunion Tour," which also features Cliff Eberhadt and Patty Larkin. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are $24-$56.
- On Friday, March 13, Danú, one of Ireland's leading traditional ensembles, will put us in an early St. Patrick's Day mood.
The traditional Irish band Danú is coming back on Friday for their first Tucson concert in a decade.
Danú, from Ireland's oldest city, County Waterford, is known for fusing traditional Irish melodies with intricate melodies and rhythmic energy that capture the rich cultural heritage of Ireland. Some have said that they can envision the beauty of Ireland as they watch the seven-member band perform on mandolin, bodharán, uillean pipes, tin whistle and bouzouki.
Friday's concert, Danú's first since they played a holiday concert at Centennial Hall in 2016, begins at 7:30 p.m.; $24-$50.
- Comedian Henry Cho joined that rarified group of stand-up comedians to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry when he was welcomed to the Mother Church of Country Music in February.
Standup comedian Henry Cho is heading to Fox Tucson Theatre on Saturday.
He and comedian Gary Mule Deer became the first comedians to be inducted since comedian Jerry Clower became an Opry member 49 years ago. Cho also became the Opry's first-ever Asian-American member.
It would not be surprising if Cho mentions the honor when he brings "The Empty Nest Tour" here on Saturday, March 14.
Cho, who has been doing clean, family-friendly comedy since the mid-1980s, was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and sports a thick Southern accent that propels much of his comedy. He once told the UK magazine Asian Express, "I'm an Asian with a Southern accent. To a lot of people, that right there is funny."
Cho goes on stage at 8 p.m. Tickets are $47-$70.
