SIDE LAKE—A local band is getting ready to bring 1960s and 1970s classic rock to the Range, giving their audiences an opportunity to relive an earlier era.
The McCarthy Beats, consisting of John Koppel, Gina Koppel, Courtney Feia, Jesse Thronson, Adam Thronson, Gene Nicolelli and Pete Vandelinder are performing their “Red Deck Concert” at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 6 with a rain date of July 7.
The Red Deck concert has become an annual event, and is named after the deck of the Koppel’s Side Lake home.
“We are next to McCarthy Beach State Park, and people can watch from the beach and can bring their own lawn chairs,” Gina said.
Their band’s concert of the season is at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, on the stage of historic Hibbing High School and is part of Celebrating Music at HHS, part of the Hibbing High School 100th Anniversary Celebration. The musical celebration in addition, includes Bill Bauman, HHS Class of 1979 with Memories of the HHS Marching Band, and A tribute to Jimmy Hyde. Hyde is a 1969 Hibbing graduate and professional drummer. For many years Hyde was the drummer for country music star Eddie Rabbitt.
McCarthy Beats was formed three years ago as a basement band and eventually expanded to its once a year Red Deck Concert around the Fourth of July Holiday. Its membership consists of mainly former Hibbing High School students. John Koppel, Nicolelli and Vandelinder are classmates with the Hibbing High School Class of 1972.
In 2022 they and their bandmates from McCarthy Beats played at the Androy during their 50th class reunion, fulfilling a longtime bucket list.
Two of the band members, Feia and Nicolelli currently commute from the Twin Cities.
Gina and John are retired pastors from Chisholm Assembly of God Church, where they played in the Worship Band with the Thronsons.
McCarthy Beats has about a dozen or so fan favorites, including music by the Beatles, Stones, Guess Who, Carole King, Jethro Tull, and the Doors.
This year the band is working on some new material for the HHS 100th Anniversary, including “Reelin’ in the Years” by Steely Dan, “Riders on the Storm,” by The Doors; and
“Green-Eyed Lady” by Sugarloaf. They’re also considering a Dylan song.
This year we have new ones throwing in. For the High School Lineup. We have about a dozen new songs, the crowd usually reacted to some of the Beatles and Stones, fleetwood Mac.
“We’re just excited for the Hibbing High School 100th anniversary with all the various nights and all activities to be able to play on Thursday (July 11) night in the auditorium,” John Koppel said.
Gina said she and John have family traveling to Hibbing for the 100th Anniversary celebration, and is looking forward to the many festivities.
“Hopefully, it’ll be a very special time for Hibbing,” Gina said.
Nicolelli, the band’s drummer, is also in bands in the Twin Cities area. In a recent phone interview, Nicolelli said he’s looking forward to once again play on the Range. He noted that he and Gina Koppel had played in a band years ago, and he and Vandelinder grew up together playing in a band along with being members of the HHS Band.
“It’s wonderful,” Nicolelli said, noting the performance on July 11 will mark the first time since his senior year in high school that he’s performed on the HHS stage.
“I don’t know how many people realize how many excellent musicians there on the Range—as a kid I learned from some of the best,” Nicolelli said. “Being on the Range is something special.”
Nicolelli mentioned Sister Rosalee from the Assumption School first introduced him to music. Being his father, Gene Nicolelli Sr. was a drummer, he said drums were “an easy choice” when it came time to select an instrument.
“My big tie for the Hibbing High School 100th anniversary is that I played with the high school band in my junior and senior years with Mr. Baldrica as the instructor,” Nicolelli said. “The last time I played on stage there was senior year, 52 years ago and was with the concert band.”
Nicolelli recalled in his high school years that he and a bunch of guys would march with the HHS Band and then run from the parade route to the Memorial Building, where they’d change uniforms in time to march with the Hibbing Drum and Bugle Corps.
While in high school Nicolelli said he and Vandelinder practiced with their band in basements of their homes, until Vandelinder landed them their first gig playing at a school dance.
Nicolelli also mentioned Hyde, who he said served as a mentor when he first started playing drums.
“I was horrible on drums and then Pete Vandelinder invited him over,” Nicolelli recalled.
“I had a taste for drumming and my father played drums,” Nicolelli said. “I picked drums and luckily for me, I was a natural—I’ve been playing drums since I was 12 years old.”
While in high school, Nicolelli said he had thought briefly about playing football, and instead followed his dad’s advice about music being a lifelong interest.
“If you play drums, you can pay your whole life,” he recalled his father’s words.
If someone had told him that he’d be still playing drums at 70 in his younger years, Nicolelli said he would have laughed.
“I’m loving it more than when I was a kid,” Nicolelli said.
Hibbing High School 100th Anniversary takes place July 6 through July 13. For a complete list of activities and to share memories, go to hibbinghs100.com.
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