Rock Candy

ROCK 'N' ROAR
7 p.m., Civitan Amphitheater, Little Rock Zoo. $8.

Spring! The birds are chirping, the grass is greening and it's finally nice enough for concerts to be played outside. Rock 'n' Roar, the best Zoo-tied outdoor concert series around, returns after a successful start last year with a concert by Max Recordings' resident super group, the Big Cats, and local indie-pop heroes Grand Serenade. The bands play in the zoo's Civitan Amphitheater, a spacious and cool looking space, normally used for what? Lions jumping through hoops? Lectures? Concerts given by animatronic animals? Who knows? But it's a fantastic place to see live music when the weather's nice. For the uninitiated, the Big Cats is a fantastic pop-rock band made up of Little Rock natives who played together in bands in high school and then went on to be in bands like Green Day and the Stills and form record labels. They only play a few times a year, usually near holidays, so don't blow it. Originally from Heber Springs, Grand Serenade has built up a sizable local following with a strong sense of melody and lasting hooks. Plus, Mendoza's Taco Truck will be on hand with authentic Mexican food for sale.