THE ABIDERS (Twin Cities, MN) put on an unforgettable show of Americana music with something for everyone - originals and classic blues, country, some folksy stuff too. These musicians have a groove - some special kind of chemistry - that sets their sound apart from the rest and connects with audiences. Whether bangin’ out their originals, gritty ol’ blues or back-hill country, The Abiders deliver their own kind of music full of heart and soul. If it ain’t fun, we ain’t doin’ it!
Who we are: Front ‘n center, the band’s dynamic singer/songwriter, Julie Weisenhorn, adds a driving rhythm guitar and vocals that can be sweet-as-pie one minute, and soulfully bluesy the next. Dr. John Mageli, lead guitar, heals the crowd with sweet guitar riffs of blues, southern rock, and solid rock /n roll. Karl “Karlos” Weisenhorn ices the proverbial musical cake with his cross-harp riffs that bring to mind Junior Wells, Norton Buffalo and Paul Butterfield. Carrying the rest of us on his formidable shoulders and Fender Precision Bass and Hofner “Beatle bass” is Dr. Scott Dee, with his unique, melodic style of percussive bass guitar. Andy Anda, violin and mandolin, tugs at the ol' heart strings with his gorgeous string work, and Jeff Linnes-Bagley ratchets up our “sax appeal” with his wailing, but tasteful, tenor.
The Abiders formed as a quartet in 2011 through a chance meeting at Sound Sisters Emporium in Excelsior MN. The band’s 2014 CD, Designated Rider, a follow-up to their sampler Pawn Shop and produced by the incomparable Andy Dee, includes originals and covers (+bonus tracks) that demonstrate the talent, excitement and fun this band can bring to any event.
Former members and forever Abiders: Andy Dee, 2011 - 2020; Doug Molland, 2011-2021; Rick Anderson, 2011 - 2017; Bongo John Haga, 2015-2016; Gary Cobus 2017-2018; John A-Frame Beck, 2017-2019; Larry Hayes, 2017-2019
Some of our venues & events:
Surfside Bar & Grill (Mound, MN)
Mound-Westonka Tonka Brew Fest ‘13-‘22 (Minnetrista, MN)
MN Landscape Arboretum festivals & conference entertainment (Chaska, MN)
Excelsior Brewing (Excelsior, MN)
Lupine Brewing (Delano, MN)
318 Café (Excelsior, MN)
Billy’s Rockford Bar (Rockford, MN)
The Narrows Blues Saloon (Navarre, MN)
The Park Theatre (Hayward, WI)
Mille Lacs County Fair (Princeton, MN)
Sounds Of Spirit Lake (Menagha, MN)
Hamel VFW (Hamel, MN)
Crystal Frolics (Crystal, MN)
Palmer’s Bar (Minneapolis, MN)
Assorted American Legions (Mound, Zimmerman, Hopkins MN)
Pennington Festival (Pennington, MN)
Manitou Station (White Bear Lake, MN)
McGarry’s Pub (Maple Plain, MN)
Girls’ Night Out (Excelsior, MN )
Wayzata Brewery (Wayzata, MN)
Benefit for the Virgin Islands, Minnesota Music Café (St. Paul, MN)
Community: The Abiders believe in giving their time, talents and voices to promoting Minnesota music through the MN Blues Society and supporting the important work of causes like the Minnesota-based Future Roots Project (Nicaragua), the American Heart Association, the Mound-Westonka Rotary, and the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
A special THANK YOU to our amazing “friends behind the lens”!
John Botkin
Neil Schloner
Donald J. Olson