Rock revival: Longtime Manchester music men return to roots at Penuche’s Music Hall

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Peter Pappas, left, and Don T. Tibbetts – getting the band back together, sort of, July 29 at Penuche’s Music Hall. Photo/Carol Robidoux

MANCHESTER, NH – Now that he’s got the city’s blessing to close part of Lowell Street for his Sunday block parties, Penuche’s Music Hall owner Chuck Kalantzis is pulling out all the stops to deliver a great outdoor dining experience. That includes booking some local music legends for this weekend – Joe McDonald will split the bill with two former Central High School teachers Peter Pappas and Don T. Tibbetts, half of the once wholly righteous rock band, Head Shop.

“The only way to describe it is legendary,” says Kalantzis, who was going over the fine print with Pappas and Tibbetts outside his eatery on the corner of Lowell and Elm streets Wednesday. “Joe McDonald played at my first restaurant, Chuck’s Restaurant and Scoreboard Lounge. This guy is phenomenal. He’s beyond being a legend – he’s been playing for 30 years. He’s played the whole state, and everyone knows him. All the musicians look up to him.”

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Joe McDonald will play at Penuche’s Music Hall July 29 from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Pappas, who has continued to play solo at venues all around the state, was sipping in IPA with Tibbetts, who will be making the most of his conga drum while Pappas strums. Tibbetts talked about the Head Shop origin story.

“We got the band together so we could be in the Faculty Follies at Central. That was in 1988,” Tibbetts says. Rounding out the band, with Pappas and Tibbetts, were Jim Kokolas on guitar and Joe Connolly on keyboards. “We all played with different bands in college, and as it turned out, all these songs kept coming to us. So we played our first gig as Head Shop for a birthday party at the Elks Club in Auburn, and from there, we just kept going.”

The band played itself out by 2007, but getting at least part of the band back together will be a thrill for Pappas and Tibbetts, who will resurrect some of the “Pure Sixties Rock’n’Roll” Head Shop was known for – and other rock classics – for an acoustic set on July 29, from 2:30-6:30 p.m.

Kalantzis says he’s dedicated to boosting the local music scene, something he’s always tried to do.

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Head Shop lite: Don T. Tibbetts, left, and Peter Pappas, back together again at Penuche’s Music Hall.

“Let’s get the city of Manchester back on the map. I remember when there was nothing going on for musicians in this city, who made 20 bucks a gig – these guys like Joe and Peter stuck it out,” says Kalantzis.

The landscape for local musicians is still tough, says Pappas.

“In the 1970s we were getting $75 a night, if that, and literally now you maybe get $100 bucks a night,” Pappas says.

Fortunately, they’re in it for the love of music.

“What Chuck’s doing comes from the heart,” says Pappas. “We’re going to have fun on Sunday. I’m psyched.”

About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!