ALIBI

Karen Kidder has been fronting ALIBI for many years, singing lead, backups and playing various percussion instruments. She has been active in local theater and was once a Rose Queen in Jackson County. Karen also has a degree in music and teaches preschool at Vandercook Lake Schools.

Kelly Kidder has been a professional bassist and singer since the age of seventeen. He had the fortune of performing with the Jackson Community College show choir as their first bassist who was also a featured singer. Pop, country, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz, big band, oldies, he has been a member of groups in almost every style of music. Kelly also brings his knowledge of luthierie to his live performances, building his first bass at age eighteen. His current instrument is as wildy entertaining as his stage show performance.

Julie Pienkos, though possessing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, has chosen to spend her life making music in various venues all over Jackson and beyond. She has been a pianist, vocalist, organist, and guitarist at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church for 24 years and has just finished five years as choir director there. She has sung soprano with the Jackson Chorale since 1996, and has been keyboard player and background vocalist with the local rock band ALIBI for six years. In her spare time, Julie has occasionally been part of a pit band in musicals at local venues and she continues to accompany students in solo/ensemble competitions.

Ben Payne – Drummer

Hometown: Jackson, MI
High School: Jackson High School
College: Eastern Michigan University

Influences: Rolling Stones, Mercury Rev, Cracker, Dead Kennedy’s, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Ginger Baker, Herb, U2, Jane’s Addiction, Jimi Hendrix, Air, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, The Smiths, Parliament, Slayer, Beastie Boys, The Misfits, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Ministry, Cake, Hank Williams Jr., Spice Girls

Past Projects: 1991 – 1994 , Son of a Gun; 1993 – 1995, Ben Arnold; 1999 – 2001, Jacktown Hustlers (Album: For the People); 2001 – 2002 Marita Esteva; 2006 – 2007, La Dolce Vita (Tangerine Moon Productions)

Other Projects – Musical Theater / Pit Orchestra: Guys n’ Dolls, Fame, Annie Get Your Gun, Godspell, Seussical, High School Musical I & II, Back to the 80’s

Interests: Home Brewing, Winemaking, Mountain Biking, Hunting, Gardening

Jay LeFaive is a relative new comer to the band. Jay is ALIBI’s resident metal master and has been shredding with the band for three years. He has also worked with several other local groups and is a favorite with the ladies.

Steve Barrett is ALIBI’s other guitarist – he’s been around too long to mention and also plays in pit orchestras for local theater. He’s also been known to blow on a French Horn occasionally!

Julie Klee has been doing sound for ALIBI for approximately ten years, and can occasionally be found onstage with them as a backup vocalist. She is involved both onstage and offstage as an actor, choreographer, director, and sound engineer for many local theater productions. For her day job, she works as a Contracting Clerk for a national anesthesia billing company. Julie is also nationally certified to teach ballet and jazz dance, and enjoys drawing, painting, reading, rollerblading, and riding her moped.