An Appreciation: From frigid Minnesota, where even hepcats better have down jackets, comes one of the freshest, finest, least-stylized and most creative acts in rockabilly today. Sound preposterous? Well, let's not forget that the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" has already produced its fair share of turbo-charged rockin' rebels -- hallowed acts including Eddie Cochran, The Fendermen, The Trashmen, and Marvin Rainwater. Sure, it's been a while since their heyday, and other musics have ruled the roost in Minnesota -- and the nation, for that matter. We've had the righteously angry folk-rock of Bob Dylan, the salty and authentic blues of Koerner, Ray & Glover, the fretboard fireworks of Leo Kottke, the homey folk of Garrison Keillor and his crowd, the paisley funk of a short fella once known as Prince as well as the D.I.Y. punk of Husker Du, the Replacements, and Soul Asylum. Minnesota music was booming, yet there wasn't a ducktail or pompadour in sight. For shame. But the lean years of Twin Cities rockabilly have ended with a bang, as this fearless foursome displayed on their last laser effort, The Stimulating Sounds of The Vibro Champs. Perry Mason himself couldn't have made a stronger case for the breadth and vitality of hopped-up bop music in the '90s. This here splendiferous sophomore serving from The Vibro Champs proves that their Stimulating Sounds session was no fluke. There's a vibrant rockabilly underground in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and The Vibro Champs guitarist/singer Dave Wolfe -- the boy with the stiletto sideburns -- is at the center of it all. He's booking bands, promoting shows, putting together compilation CDs, nagging bar owners to take a chance on "roots" music, and even playing co-social director at Rockabilly Bowling night -- I kid you not. Most importantly, Wolfe and his partners in happy crime -- ex-tough guy Alan Subola, bull fiddle teaser-pleaser Emmet Keefe, and drum dynamo Gaz Weiss -- are tearin' it up on stages all across the U.S.A. Stranger Than You Think represents a hip distillation of the band's best new work. You get a bit of blue-eyed R&B, some stray surf licks, a smidgen of jazz, and some moonshine country crooning. Plus plenty of inspired lunacy, especially on the unlisted tracks. But, it's ultimately rockabilly with a capital "R" that'll make The Vibro Champs listeners stand up and cheer. You want retro? Check out the 1000 garage bands ineptly recycling Velvet Underground moves. You want a "roots" sound that's decidedly '90s? Then slap on Stranger Than You Think, and get ready to get buzzed. Tingled. Vibrated through and through. Shout bamalama and breathe hard, baby. -Tom Surowicz, freelance writer and barfly. Eclectone Records is honored to announce the Fall 2009 Release of the upcoming release, “Mr. International”, from The Vibro Champs. For the first time in nearly 10 years, The Vibro Champs are back with new songs, new videos, and a documentary short film about the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of a band with a near 15 year history together. Stay tuned, we’re getting excited… Meet the Vibro Champs, May 6, 2003 AMAZON.COM By Michael T Sturm (Saint Paul, MN United States) The best unknown rockabilly band around. These guys are a local group here in MN, but everyone should hear these guys rip up the music. Vibro Champs have always dug deep to find rare and obscure old rockabilly tunes, as well as the sharply written tunes of the band. If you like the Reverend Horton Heat, Carl Perkins, Deke Dickerson, Ray Condo, Link Wray Etc. Etc. Check em out! Named for the vintage Fender amp, the Vibro Champs sport all vintage instruments and amps, and they make em sing! Review by Joanna Connor Vibro Champs/The Paladins Lee's Liquor Lounge (Minneapolis, MN - August 2, 2003) I walked into Lee's at about 9:30 p.m. and found a seat, just in time to see The Vibro Champs, a great Twin Cities rock-a-billy band who were opening that evening for The Paladins. The band, including guitarist/vocalists Dave Wolfe and Al Subola, Bill Keefe on acoustic bass and Dave Weiss on drums, performed a great set, opening with "Out With The In Crowd." Subola and Wolfe traded vocals and shared comments with the growing, active crowd that keep the dance floor filled to capacity. The band was full of energy and transferred much of that energy to the audience during the set that included songs from their three independent releases and a fourth release that is currently in process. Songs included "Broken Heart," "Buena Suerte," "Wild Child" and "Part Time Girlfriend," along with several excellent instrumentals like the original, "Border Patrol."