Performer Spotlight: D’Lite Duo & Kenny Jones
D’Lite Duo
D’Lite Duo is a loyal performer for Pier 290 that you can expect to see perform here every month.
D’Lite Duo has been playing as a duo for about 7 years and officially went full-time in July 2018. Their career started in a full band, but they decided that they could provide live music at a more affordable rate by offering a Duo format. They are a “variety cover band” with music that spans many decades (as far back as the 1940’s to current pop and country to classic rock). When asked if they have a certain song or songs that they always play, they said, “Playing songs is similar to eating food. You might like a certain type of food, but when you eat it too often you get tired of it. Playing songs is the same way. The only thing is, certain songs are requested all the time, so we have to give the customers what they want…..even if we aren’t particularly interested in playing it. It’s just part of the job.” Their favorite part about playing at Pier 290 is the ownership, management, staff, and patrons. They said, “It’s always a fantastic vibe and atmosphere, and very professional.”
From all of us at Pier 290, thank you, D’Lite Duo, for being wonderful and loyal performers!
D’Lite Duo Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/dlite.duo.3
Kenny Jones
Kenny Jones is another loyal performer for Pier 290. As a soloist and member of 2 bands that also perform here, Kenny is at Pier 290 a lot!
He started playing music at a very young age. He said, “My mom caught me playing with a toy xylophone along with jingles from the TV and radio when I was maybe 4 or 5, and put me into piano lessons and dance classes as soon as she could.” His first live performances were held at his local dance studio, The Dance Factory– he says, “thank you, Miss Tina!” Following his performances at the dance studio was his playing of the string bass in his 4th grade orchestra. Around the age of 16, he transitioned into playing the electric bass in “garage band” with his high school friends. He now plays in three bands with a different role in each, and he also performs as a soloist. When Kenny is playing solo or fronting the show with other musicians, his band name is recognized as The Sundown Crowd. He plays lead guitar and sings in the band Doghouse Roses. Kenny also plays bass with another band called The Brothers Quinn. When asked how he would describe the music/genre he plays, he responded, “I usually say my genre is classic rock/country/Americana (whatever that means haha), but solo I play a wide range from Hank Williams to Led Zeppelin.” He describes the Doghouse Roses as more of a country band with some rock thrown in, too. When asked about the music performed by Brothers Quinn, he said, “The Brothers Quinn is also all over the map.” He said that it started as an Irish band. He said the band has incorporated more alternative folk and rock elements like Mumford & Sons and Nathaniel Rateliff, as well as a range into Gorillaz and Rage Against the Machine. When asked if he has a certain song or songs that he always plays, he said, “I always open with Angel from Montgomery by John Prine. It just seems to always get me off on a good foot and into the zone to play.” Jones also loves taking requests! He loves to play what the audience wants because it makes it more fun for all parties when the audience is engaged.
From all of us at Pier 290, thank you, Kenny Jones, for being a wonderful and loyal performer!
Kenny Jones’s Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3PX6x4hRnE30UvyjQT2KX2?si=eddc3d40c26448cf
Kenny Jones’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesundowncrowd
Bonus Info about Kenny Jones:
Kenny had a music scholarship at UW Madison where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in String Bass Performance. He also played on the football team! During his time in college, he played in a rock band called Eden’s Empire. After graduating, he moved to Fort Collins where he received a masters in String Bass performance. After graduating with his masters, he stayed in Fort Collins for six years playing in several groups– including symphony orchestras, jazz combos, bluegrass groups (Rich with Friends and Blue Grama), and a rock group called Maxwell Mud. In all of these groups, he played bass with some background vocals. He returned to Wisconsin and began playing solo, as well as taking the lead as lead vocalist and guitarist.
