Zoostock pays tribute to Jesse Hiles
Two people who were influences to the local music scene were remembered at the 23rd annual Zoostock in Lansford on Monday.
Jesse “Big Dog” Hiles, a founder of Zoostock 24 years ago, died on Jan. 31. He was the owner of the former Sports Zoo bar and provided the facilities for the annual fundraiser for most of the festival’s duration.
Singer Jimmy Buffett, an international entertainment star whose music impacted many local residents as evidenced by the “Parrot Head” club that had dozens of members, and met for many years at the Sports Zoo, died Friday. Many Parrot Heads volunteered their time over the years at Zoostock.
Coincidentally, one of the musicians at Zoostock is a member of a Florida band which once opened a Buffett concert. Dave Freeman, who plays in the local band Coal Reefers, lives in Florida and plays with the band called the Trop Rock Jukes. Coal Reefers was named after Buffett’s “Coral Reefers” band.
Zoostock is an annual concert that benefits the Carbon-Tamaqua Chapter American Cancer Society. Funds raised during Zoostock are presented to the ACS at its annual Telethon to be held April 6-7, 2024, at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe. Over its duration, Zoostock has raised several hundred thousand dollars for the ACS.
Although the Sports Zoo has closed, current property owner Kevin Zuercher and his wife Deanna donated the use of its adjoining, triangular grove for Zoostock.
The Sports Zoo is being converted into apartments. Zuercher said he plans not only to continue making the site available for Zoostock, but making improvements including constructing a new stage.
“I don’t want to kill it (Zoostock) for the town,” he said. “I think it’s important. The town looks forward to this event. I felt bad to close the bar, but I felt this could go on.”
Lisa Hiles, a coordinator of Zoostock, said she was pleased with attendance. She said she doesn’t feel the 90-degree temperatures impacted the crowd.
Coal Reefers is considered the Telethon house band. Freeman, who grew up in Palmerton but now lives in Florida, flies to Pennsylvania for the Zoostock and Telethon. He arrived on Sunday and is returning to Florida on Tuesday.
Other members of Coal Reefers are local residents Ed Stalosky on drums, Dave Orlik on guitar and John Samson on percussion. As a tribute to Buffett, the Coal Reefers played strictly Buffett tunes.
Freeman said his Trop Rock Jukes opened for Buffett in Delray, Florida, at the star musician’s first concert when reopening occurred after COVID. He said it was an outdoor show and he didn’t get to meet Buffett then, but he did meet him “briefly” in the past.
Freeman said while Buffett was battling cancer, he was forced to cancel some concerts because of treatments. His guitarist happened to be playing in a small bar close to his home - “a small bar like the Sports Zoo,” he said. Buffett was feeling somewhat better, so he dropped into the bar and sang “Five O’Clock Somewhere” with the band. It happened to be the bar owner’s 50th birthday.
Freeman said Buffett’s death reverberated through the entire music industry. His music turned into a culture. “It’s not just for younger people. It’s older people, too,” Freeman said,
Besides the Coal Reefers, other performers at Zoostock were Lyle Mantz, Hatter, Mr. Moon, Ricky & the Ricardos, Sweet Revenge and Project 9.
A special children’s area was set up with several rides including a blow-up slide and jump house.
Souvenir shirts sold at the Zoostock had a drawing of Hiles on the design.
Several local organizations participated, selling food and drinks.