Annie and the Bang Bang
Fronted and founded by fight director, singer-songwriter, and guitarist Annie Enneking, Annie and the Bang Bang are a Minneapolis band. A mood ring of rock and roll, they genre hop from dreamy folkpop to swampy psychedelic grooves to a grunge-meets-classic rock vibe, crafting musical gems that value energy, animal intelligence, poetry, and mischief.
Adding to their already respectable discography, the prolific band just released double album, RADIO BABY. With songs inspired by the 1970s filtered through their alt-rock hearts, imagine Fleetwood Mac colliding with the raw angst of Nirvana, or the soulful melodies of Heart intertwining with the introspective lyricism of R.E.M.
Annie believes songwriting is an act of spiritual archeology and so sifts through words to find bones of song, telling stories about being a person in a world full of complicated people. She relies on the artistry, thick invention, and dig-right-down-into-it-ness of the Bang Bang: the stacked chording and “just what the song wants” guitar of John Riedlinger, the lead-with-the-heart bass monster that is Kari Tweiten, and the heavy adventure and sharp, corner-turning drums of Mike Kittel.
The band has found, over the years, a collaborative sweet spot — all members contribute song ideas, and all members have a similar work ethic: focus and joy in the making, fulfilled by connection and community in the delivering. Their dedication to craft shares equal footing with a penchant for novelty, discovery, and play. Each member brings immense energy and commitment to the work, fueling the collective joy and success of the band. The communal experience of playing music with one another and for other people is the driving force of their passion and purpose.
Annie and the Bang Bang have five albums out: their self-titled debut, their sophomore effort Save Yourself, 2018’s still up?, and their first ever vinyl, LOVELAND, which dropped on January 29th of 2021. They made a concert film to celebrate the release of the album, as they could not perform an album release live. That film can be found here: LOVELAND (concert film from the Southern). LOVELAND was largely developed during epic band slumber parties and touring adventures in the “before-times.”
The second release of 2021 was WALKIE TALKIE, a love letter to rock and roll. Much of the energy on the album comes from a mid-pandemic longing for connection and a serious itch to create. The band’s drummer, Mike Kittel, crafted a labyrinth of plastic in his south Minneapolis basement so the band could practice together as safely as possible. WALKIE TALKIE is a reflection of and reaction to the pandemic’s crushing isolation and fear. The liberation the band experienced playing together again fuel the music’s surging joy, and the songs channel the "simpler times” of classic rock.
The band delivers a grand, infectious, and deeply committed live show and have played with local luminaries and national acts: Flamin’ Oh's, Kiss the Tiger, The Shackletons, Run Westy Run, Black-Eyed Snakes, Arcwelder, Turn Turn Turn, and Thunderpussy, to name a few. In addition to playing regularly in their hometown of Minneapolis (Turf Club, 7th Street Entry, The Hook and Ladder, Icehouse, The Parkway) they embark on touring adventures throughout the Midwest (Thesis Beer, Trempealeau Hotel, No Name, Big Turn Music Festival, Midwest Music Fest, Rochester Thaw, etc.) and annually tour to Colorado with their tiny trailer and trusty band mascot “Bun Bun,” a plastic light up rabbit rescued from the trash the day before one of their many tours.
