The Stingers

When The Stingers play, audiences respond. With solid vocals and peerless musicianship, the Chicago-based quartet play a tasty, crowd-pleasing blend of classic and roots rock, deep blues, ‘60s-style pop and gritty soul and R&B. They mix familiar covers with lesser-known treasures, while putting a distinctive Stingers stamp on it all. It’s a musical mix that keeps club, summer festival and private party audiences wondering what they’re going to pull out of their collective hats next.

The Band-

Dan Kening (guitar/vocals) has been obsessed with all things guitar since his grade school days, when he taught himself how to play Johnny Rivers’ “Secret Agent Man.” He’s equally at home playing soaring rock licks, funky rhythm grooves and even a bit of country twang. His wife tells him he may be single again if he buys one more guitar.

Mark Malen (drums, vocals) is something of a Renaissance man. In addition to providing the rhythmic crash-boom-bang for the Stingers, he’s a talented vocalist, keyboardist and songwriter. He has been involved in the Chicago music scene for many years, and has also combined his love of travel with music by touring in a few countries in Europe. Mark has a good sense of humor and also a good sense of smell. Consequently, he can instantly tell when one of his jokes stinks.

Henry Small (keyboards, harp, vocals) is the bands resident “blues man.” A triple threat, Henry shares lead vocals with Mark, plays everything from jazzy Hammond-style organ to New Orleans piano boogie-woogie, and wails a pretty mean blues harp.

Ron Vesely (bass) is the glue that keeps everything together for The Stingers, holding down the lower end of the sonic spectrum with his melodic and funky Fender bass work. A noted professional sports photographer, Ron can often be found “trying out” basses for hours at a time at Guitar Centers from coast to coast before games.