Zoo back together again, playing 'fun rock V roll'
More singing, less screaming. That's how the recently revamped Naked Zoo might describe its new sound. After a year of silence, the hard rock band returns to the Springfield nightclub scene this weekend. They play tonight and Saturday at Jamaica's, 2100 E. Pythian St The Zoo had a strong local following until a couple of years ago, when the band started mining more searing, in-your-face metal music. But after making successful tours of the Midwest and South, including club gigs in Dallas and Houston, the band split up last year. Bassist Bryan Lawson left to pursue other musical Interests. Lawson landed with the band Open Fire, and Naked Zoo fizzled. But the band is back, and the addition of bassist Jeremy Coatney helps give the Zoo a new voice. Springfield rock fans may remember Coatney with his former group, Mr. Scary. "Jeremy has a great voice, and so now we're able to concentrate more on vocal arrangements and harmonies," says guitarist Geno Puckett. Although the Zoo may be taking a bit lighter approach to their music, they say they haven't gone soft. "It's not wimp rock by any flight moves by Ron Sylvester means," Puckett says, "just more straight-ahead rock 'n' roll." The Zoo is hoping a different approach will bring out their base of fans who remember them as the good-timin' party rock band of years past. "When we went real heavy, our popularity waned heavily, too," Puckett says. "What we're ' doing now is just fun rock 'n' roll, and I think it will appeal to 1 more people." ' Coatney and Puckett join gui- 1 taist Scott Snow and drummer Terry Lawson in the current alignment. For now, they're back to bas- ing their sets on covering the music of other groups, including Aerosmith, ACDC, KISS, Brother Cane, White Zombies and Stone Temple Pilots. A place to call home One good aspect of running a club is you can always hire your band to play. But The Bindlestiffs are more than the group of Rocket 88 pro- ThS new Nked ZOO performs tonight and Saturday at Jamaica's, 2100 E. Pythian St. features a jam each Thursday. The "Blues Alternative" acoustic jam takes place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. with Bert Smith host of the radio show by the same name on KTOZ-FM (104.7) and along with Cory Reeves and Mike Smith. group's EP, "Crow Pie Blues." But the band also dabbles in country rock and more straightforward rock 'n' blues. They're headed to Austin, Texas, to play South By Southwest in March. Week nights Acoustic blues is the order of the night at the Outland, which Recreation prietor Jim Holopter. They're a rousing blues-based rock band out of Kansas City with driving rhythms that should have people out of their seats. The Bindlestiffs play at Rocket 88, corner of Commercial Street and Jefferson Avenue, Saturday. At times, the group's up-tempo hard rock blues brings back memories of one of Holopter's former bands, The Royal Nonesuch like the song on the Paintball Springfield Palntball Games, 601 N. National Ave., 869-GAME. Paintball games. Open 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, and other times by appointment Rugby Springfield High School Rugby practice for under 19 age group, 3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at field next to Mercy Villa, Montclair Street at National Avenue. For information, call Brody Shuck at 881-1969. Springfield Rugby Football Club practices, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. New players invited. Call Colin Jones at 887-3691. RUHMHG Ozark Racing Systems Sarcoxie-to-Carthage 15-mile run, 2 p.m. Feb. 6 in Sarcoxie. Call Rick Sill at 782-4845 or Ridge Runner Sports, 882-5590. Polar Bear 10K and 5K, Feb. 19 at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar. Call Charlie Miller, 326-4121. Shooting Ozark Shooters Sports Complex, U.S. , 65, 15 miles south of Ozark, toll-free number, 587-3093. Open 10 a.m.-dark daily. Skeet, trap, sporting clays, wobble trap, rifle and pistol ranges. Ron Sylvester is entertainment writer for the Springfield News-Leader. Radio AM STATIONS: KIDS, 1340: Kids programming. KLFJ, 1550: Easy listening inspirational music. KTOZ, 1060: Big Bandnostalgia. KTTS, 1260: 94.7 FM: Country. KWTO, 560: News, talk shows. FM STATIONS: KADI, 99.5: Contemporary Christian. KGBX, 105.9: Adult contemporary. KGMY, 100.5: Country. KKHT, 98.7: Adult contemporary hits. KLTQ, 96.5: Soft rock. KOSP, 105.1: Oldies. KSMU, 91.1: National Public Radio affiliate. KTXR, 101.5: Easy listening. KTOZ, 104.7: Alternativerock. KWFC, 89.1: Christian gospel. KWND, 88.3: Family oriented. KXUS, 97.3: Album-oriented rock. KZBE, 95.5: Rock classics. Speak Out! Everyday. Leagues year-round, weekly tournaments. Slf IING Ozark Mountain Ski Club, 6:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Legend's, 1772 S. Glenstone Ave. General membership meeting open to all interested in snow ski trips. For information, call 883-5591 or 886-8026. Trips planned in February to Summit County and in March to Steamboat Springs. Snow Bluff Ski Area, ski slopes and inner tube hill, 12 miles north of Interstate 44 on Missouri 13. Fee for lift tickets and rental equipment. Call 376-2201 for hours of operation. Table tennis Table tennis players interested in forming a club or leagues, meet 6 p.m. every Thursday at Wesley Methodist Church, 922 W. Republic Road. Free lessons available. Call 881-0552. Taekwonpo Classes for disabled, sponsored by Springfield Parks and Recreation, 5-6 p.m. Mondays, Northview Center, 2600 North Robberson, 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Doling Community Center. Call Springfield Park Board, 864-1049. , trails open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Center open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily except Mondays. Programs include: Evening Stroll, 6-10 p.m. today. Explore a dark, wintery world where some animals use the night to search for food. Bring a flashlight and dress for the weather for this un-guided stroll. Trails will be open until 10 p.m. Art in Nature: Reflections of a Wildlife Artist, 74J p.m. today. Ages 12-adult are invited to hear Al Agnew, one of America's foremost wildlife artists, speak at this program. Call to register. For Adults Only: Winter Tree ID, 10 a.m.-ncon Saturday. A challenging program to learn to identify trees without their leaves. Dress for the weather for this outdoor program. Call to register. Conservation videos: "Watching Birds with Roger Tory Peterson" and "Family Life of Birds," 2-3 p.m. Sunday. No registration required. Ruth and Paul Hennlng State Forest, (417) 334-3324 - Scenic overlook, 1 mile west of Branson on Missouri 76. Hiking trails, an observation tower and naturalist led trail walks. Hours: 4 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. CassvUle: Ozark Chinquapin Nature Center, Highway F, Roaring River State Park, 847-3742. Cave hikes, slide shows, nature walks and more. By appointment only through Feb. 28. Dasketdall City league teams interested in playing a game against the U.S. Medical Center inmate varsity team is asked to call Roger Graves at 862-7041, Ext. 278. DlCYCUUG Springbike Bicycling Club For information about club, call 882-9978. Weekly rides: Saturdays, depart at 9 a.m. from various locations. November-December rides originate from Lake Springfield park. No rides on holiday weekends, club event days or if temperature is below 35 degrees. Special rides: Super Bowl Sunday Ride, starts 1 p.m., Sunday, Glendale High School, south parking lot, 20-40 miles. Back in town by game time. FniSBEE Springfield Ultimate Frlsbee team practice, Wednesdays and Sundays, field west of Glass Hall, next to Southwest Missouri State University campus. New players welcome. Call 866-8176 or 759-7262 for practice times. Nature SprlngfMd Nature Center, 4600 S. Chrlsman Road, 882-4237. Nature The News-Leader January 2S40, 1994 Weekend