DADDY IS CALLIN’
By Karen Nugent
I remember going to Nantasket Beach - and of course its famous amusement park- as a child. It was a blast then, and it’s still a lot of fun. But I’m talking grown-up fun, as in blues, cocktails, and to-die-for pizza.
While the amusement park is long gone, something almost as exciting has sprouted.
The Boston Blues Society recently formed a partnership with Daddy’s Beach Club, 280 Nantasket Ave. in Hull, right across from the beach.
The club, formerly the Dry Dock, re-opened in April, after owners Jeffrey Lemkin and Paul Papetti, the general manager, spent more than $750,000 on renovations and back taxes.
The 135-seat club has a full bar – including a dozen or so micro-brew beers- and has become well-known by foodie-types for its thin crust New Haven-style pizza. That comes with all kinds of great toppings such as artichokes, baby spinach, olives- you name it.
“There is never a cover charge,” Papetti said. “We know people are on a budget. They can come here for good food, great music, and a cold beer. The pizza is the main stay. People say it’s the closest to Italy they’ have ever had.”
Daddy’s, which is open year-round, features mainly blues acts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a 2-6 p.m. show each Sunday, along with a second evening show. Sometimes, there are rock bands in the mix, and in the summer, there is the occasional reggae band to add to the tropical beach ambiance.
Recent acts included Mission of Blues, Greg MacKenzie, and Erin Thornton and the Soul Drivers. Lois Greco, that rockin’ blues babe, is a regular, Papetti said. Guitar great Ricky King Russell is scheduled for September.
“I love it there,” said BBS Secretary Carole Mellor. “You can sit by the big open windows and the sea air comes in. It is a very good size with the dining room to the left overlooking the ocean, and a very large bar area with tables to the right and stage in between. I feel like I'm on vacation when I am sitting there by the ocean enjoying the music and eating the awesome pizza.”
“Also, it is kid friendly and early in the evening you can see little kids eating and dancing in their seats to the music,” she said.
Actually, there’s something for everyone each night of the week at Daddy’s. Mondays are open mic nights, and its karaoke time on Tuesdays. Wednesdays showcase country and cowboy music; Thursdays are DJ dance nights.
Papetti, a Mattapan native, has been in the music management business for more than 30 years, booking acts and managing clubs. He decided to re-open after nearly five years because of the great location.
“It’s always a beach party!” he said.
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