Dueling Piano Bar Firms up Seaport Plans

Boston’s Seaport District will get a little more musical towards the end of this year when a dueling piano bar debuts within the Element Hotel at 391 D St. D's Keys Dueling Pianos and Singalong Bar is the work of three partners with combined decades of experience running piano bars: Robert Morse, Ron Shelton, and Matt Nichols come to this new project from Providence’s Point Street Dueling Pianos, which they’ve operated for the last five years.

Nichols, who is a native of Massachusetts, told Eater he was “pretty excited to bring the dueling pianos concept back to Boston after such a long hiatus.” The concept will be different from Howl at the Moon, he said — more reminiscent of the now-defunct Jake Ivory’s that operated on Landsdowne Street in the Fenway neighborhood before closing in early 2009. (Howl at the Moon is part of a national chain with locations in Boston and Foxboro; it describes itself as “part bar and part concert.”)

At D’s Keys, there will be two piano players on stage, and the audience will be able to make requests. There will also be accompanying bass, drum, and guitar players.

“We'll roast patrons to celebrate their special occasions, as we do our best to combine high level musicianship with good-natured humor,” Nichols said. “Since our show is all request and patrons of all ages join us, expect to hear song requests ranging from the 1950s through present day hits.”

D’s Keys will accommodate about 300 people, with seats for 200 angled towards the stage. There will be a small selection of food with a heavy focus on bar service, including liquor, beer, and wine. There are a few things left to finalize, Nichols said, including an operating schedule, which could run from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. The team is aiming for an opening around the end of the year.

• A Dueling Piano Bar May Be on the Way to a Seaport District Hotel [EBOS]