Music returns to Penuche’s Music Hall
By Michael Witthaus
mwitthaus@hippopress.com
With limited reopening of businesses in New Hampshire, open air dining — with strict social distancing guidelines — returned to Penuche’s Music Hall on May 18, along with live music, with musicians playing acoustic on the corner of Elm and Lowell streets. Brad Bosse kicked off the return of live music in downtown Manchester at 1 p.m. on May 18, with a cover of Ben Harper’s “Steal My Kisses” as Penuche’s Music Hall served diners at every table. Amanda McCarthy preformed after Bosse at 6 p.m. In a recent phone interview, owner Chuck Kalantzis talked about the challenges of Covid-19 for businesses like his, and the return of entertainment to his Elm Street restaurant and bar.
What were you doing at Penuche’s Music Hall before the pandemic hit?
We had live music consistently here seven days of the week, either with live bands or some type of local artists [playing acoustic], every day something different in our establishment.
When it happened, what kind of adjustments did you make?
At that time nobody knew what was going on, and it was very difficult to understand which way to go. The first few days I fed families who couldn’t afford anything and delivered food to older people. But with our establishment [being part of the] music industry, I would really put my employees in jeopardy along with the customers if we did takeout, so I stayed away from that. … We did a lot of community things to help out from that end. … I have it on my Facebook every day that if there’s anybody in need, they call me and I make sure they get food in some form.
How do you envision reopening with social distancing rules working?
This is uncharted territory. … Nobody knows if people are gonna be scared to go out. I don’t think so. … I think people that are sick will stay in the house. If you’re not, we need to get out to build our immune systems a little bit more, you know? I’m gonna do everything in my power to continue, keep this industry going in some form. … What I did was set my seating to the left and right of Lowell Street. I’ve also applied with the city to do Sundays as I’ve been doing for the last four years [closing off the street and putting tables there]..
You must be glad you applied to do that before.
I’m the one who brought it to Hanover Street [Penuche’s original location] — outside seating with music I developed way, way back. … They’re not allowing live entertainment [indoors] for a little while, so I have to [have] a little imagination with what I do to develop something comfortable. Music really helps your day. … So I’m putting [acoustic music] out here every day unless it’s raining. … My first night [I had] Amanda McCarthy. When she was a younger girl, I was over at Penuche’s on Hanover Street. She came to my door one day and said, I’m young and I’m just starting to learn how to play music and can you give me a chance? … I kept her going weekly and we’ve had a great relationship all the way through and I give her as much as I can. Look at what she’s developed into — she won best New England songwriter.
Yes, she’s going places.
She wrote on her Facebook page thanking me for giving her a chance and it made me feel good that I could help somebody. That’s the story. … I’m gonna try to continue to have live music daily. Saturdays and Sundays from 1 o’clock on and weekdays from 6 o’clock on at night. During this time, the musicians, great local artists that I’ve had, were sitting in their house not doing something. I called Jonny Friday up, I said listen, I’m gonna help you guys out. Why don’t you come down and use the stage, we’ll put it on Facebook, and that’s what I did during the closure. I tried to make them some money, and I donated money to them while they were performing. Trying to keep it going.
Tipping will probably be Venmo and PayPal for live musicians?
I told Amanda she could do whatever she wants. My concern is to keep the local scene going. … I’m trying to involve everybody. I put a Facebook post on for all the local musicians that want to play. I’m getting a lot of local talent, and outside talent, who say they really want to play.
