Local band "Flipp" makes big impact!

"They are hilarious!" exclaims Social Studies teacher Nancie Einess about the local rock band, Flipp. The local area band is back after the release of a new album. While many might be hearing of them for the first time, they are not strangers to the spotlight.

Flipp consists of: Brynn Arens on vocals and guitar, guitarist Chia Karaoke, bassist Freaky Useless, and drummer Kilo Bale. Their success comes from their ties to the fans. Most agree that this is not the kind of band that goes out on stage with the "I am better than you" rock star attitude. And that is why Flipp has become so popular.

The band has been rocking the local scene for the past few years now and gaining more fans by the show. On Jan. 27th they will be holding what is now their third Teenage Rampage at the Quest. [Unky: It’s the fourth Teenage Rampage.] Local bands can submit their tapes and demos to Music Go Round on Lake Street and Hennepin. The winners and runners up are then given the chance to play the show with Flipp. Along with the Teenage Rampage, Flipp can be found every Memorial Day weekend at X-Fest, the 93X sponsored event held in Somerset, WI. No matter which big acts come to play the show, it can be assured that Flipp will be playing loud and hard with the best of them.

Recently, I was given the chance to speak with Brynn Arens and get the story from the source. When asked about playing X-fest every year, Arens states, "It’s a blessing and we feel fortunate." Flipp’s origin dates back to over five years ago when Brynn came to Minnesota to work with another singer and drummer named Kilo Bale. After the singer fell through, Brynn decided he would take over he vocals. A friend of Brynn’s was there and had a camera and some lights and had the idea to make a video. They decided on the cover of 70’s rock legends, The Who’s "My Generation." After they finished the video, Brynn headed back to New York, he started getting calls from label representatives, wanting to know of his band.

So that was the point at which he decided to make the band Flipp. "Our first show was for about 100 friends in Antigo, Wisconsin," Arens explains. "A couple days later we got to play at Edgefest when it was rainy and muddy." While the band was enjoying all that was occurring around them, a friend submitted their same video to MTV’s Alternative nation show. The winner was to play on MTV, opening for White Zombie. Soon after the video was submitted, their friend received the call that Flipp had won! Flipp soon found themselves in front of thousands on the popular television show. "We were pretty nervous," says Arens. "It’s really different from going venue to venue like that." After Flipp completed their bug show, they headed back to the hotel and hung out with White Zombie and simply talked of the industry.

Flipp caught another break when Micael Lang, producer of Woodstock, saw the video for "My Generation." After watching it he asked if Flipp would play at Woodstock ’99. The band agreed and headed off to Rome New York for the weekend filled with peace and love. "I have never seen that many people!" Arens exclaims. "They loved us, and that is the power of a show. If you go out and show that you want to be there, they will want to see you," Arens adds.

While Flipp has long since returned home from the Woodstock festival, they still love playing here, " It rocked!" is how Sr. Alyssa Johnson describes the Flipp album release party. "I just want people to leave our show having a good time. Our show is upbeat; you don’t have to worry about the person next to you during the show. You can be who you are and have fun because that is what it is all about, having fun," Arens summarizes.

To see more of Brett's photos from the CD Warehouse In-Store, go the Fan section of the PHOTOS page.