Strap on your Velcro shoes, grab your lunchbox and hop on the bus to “Vacation Bible School.”

Don’t panic, this is a different kind of school – it’s the school of hard rock.

More commonly referred to as VBS, the quartet hails from the future epicenter of music that is Lake County, Ill. Living in the shadow of Six Flags Great America seems to have had a positive effect on the local music scene.

Vacation Bible School is John on guitar and vocals, Cap’n on bass and vocals, Matt on guitar and Sean on drums.

VBS’s music is a pleasant mix of ’70s-style punk rock and classic ’50s rock ‘n’ roll with a flair for lyrical comedy.

Complementing its music is an energetic and often high-flying live show.

“They’re neurotically fun and entertaining,” freshman broadcasting major Dana Seay said.

VBS has toured across America with fellow Lake County favorites “The Elvi,” effectively spreading its message of Midwestern hilarity as far west as California. If vans could float, they probably would have gone further.

VBS’s debut album, “Lay Down, I Think I Love You,” features 12 hard-driving tracks guaranteed to rock more than dinner rolls.

The album captures the boredom of Midwestern life with catchy choruses, machine-gun verses and lyrics that always end with a punch line.

Track four, “Deep Throat Il,” no doubt will remind any NIU student of our beloved city of DeKalb.

“Kill All the Donkeys,” a song described by the band as its very own hit single, is a touching testament to star-crossed love.

Vacation Bible School is a band that can’t be described with words, or even with its music alone. The only way to truly experience VBS is to see the live show and to hear the members bark insults at each other between songs.

“They’re just a great rock band. You can’t help but love those guys,” senior English major Matt Parish said.

The album is available through VBS’s official Web site at http://listen.to/vbsrock. Just like the band, the Web site is a bit crazy and, more often than not, leaves smiles and questions for anyone nearby.