With The Abbeys...
Graham Elvis from 80s pop sensations THE ELVIS BROTHERS introduced Mike Cohen and Jeff Janulis in 1990. He’d been working on some studio recordings with Mike and drummer extraordinaire, Mark Fornek. Mike and Jeff hit it off very well vocally, their voices complementing each other in a nearly brotherly way. Mike and Jeff had a shared passion for the early rock and roll music of the Everly Brothers, Carl Perkins, Elvis and the like as well as an appreciation for the Beatles and others in a similar vein. Perfecting their harmonies, they took to writing and performing in the early 90s. The duo often opened for the Elvis Bros at Chicago area clubs, and as G. Elvis was want to comment, ‘They didn’t suck’. The two Abbeys applied their Everly-inspired harmonies covering a good portion of the Everlys catalog, as well as overlaying their harmonies on other classic 60s music. They put together a top notch band featuring guitarist Steve Dvorak, drummer Mark Fornek and a turn-style of bass players including but not limited to Chicago blues stalwart Mike McCurdy, Carl Lubicz and John Slywka. In 1995, they released “Please File Under: “Twang††featuring tracks from the group as well as Little Submarine, a song penned by Mike’s friends, the Webstirs and featuring Graham Elvis. Mike and Jeff continued on throughout the decade, making yearly appearances at International Pop Overthrow Chicago fests including the recent April 25th performance. They occasionally play around reclaiming their Everlys roots, under the moniker of “The Everly Hillbilliesâ€. What the heck is a Neverly?New studio recordings coming soon to include new Abbeys Carter Ruehrdanz and Don Koss.
"And all the stories we can tell…
"What great harmonies! Reminds me of my Dad and Uncle, especially "The Stories We Can Tell" album in the 70s.
What else can I say? Just great! I wouldn't mind having your voices on my album." - Edan Everly
Mike also plays bass with The Finns!