For those about to Rock!

"The best AC/DC cover band I've ever heard? There was an all-girl band in America, Hell's Belles." – Angus Young, AC/DC

Malta's Greg Smith is a huge Rock 'n' Roll fan and he can't remember the last time a rock concert came to town (aside from Nonpoint playing an acoustic set in his backyard in March.)

On Saturday, June 6, following the First State Bank Car Show and a slew of other events in Malta, the AC/DC tribute band Hell's Belle's will be playing at the Milk River Pavilion and, according to Smith, this is a concert that will go down in the town's history.

"This is an all age concert and Hell's Belles is a high energy band and a lot of fun," Smith said. "This band sells out big venues across the country and the world. This is going to be a concert to remember and a memory to last the rest of your life. If you don't go, you are going to be sorry, because all of your friends are going to be talking about it for a long time."

Adrian Conner, lead guitarist for the Belles, agreed that the night will be one to remember.

"Expect lots of head banging," Conner told the PCN. "Lots of energy, great music and an awesome show. Malta had better be ready for us because we are ready for Malta."

Hell's Belles formed in 2000, according to Conner, and she and four other ladies make up the band ...each one playing their part to deliver AC/DC's music with "mechanical precision and passionate fury." Conner plays the Angus roll. Mandy Reed on bass (as Cliff Williams), Lisa Brisbois on rhythm guitar (as Malcom Young) Laura D on drums (as Phill Rudd) and newest member of the band, and genuine Aussie, Amber Saxon doing the vocal of Bon Scott and Brian Johnson.

"Amber really brings it," said Conner. "She blows me away every time we are on stage."

Where Conner has high praise for her lead singer, Smith echoed the sentiments about Conner and her guitar playing.

"When you go to an AC/DC show, Angus Young is the focus, he's captivating, and when Hell's Belles is on stage, Adrian is the same way," Smith said. "She takes on that roll and nails it. She's rolling around the stage, doing summersaults, and she is just a dripping, sweaty mess when she comes off stage...she's an incredible guitar player and the whole band is great."

Doors open at the Milk River Pavilion at 7 p.m. and tickets – which are sold Crossroad Coffee, First State Bank, RadioShack, Sew Sassy and Westside Self Service – are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To help people get to and from the concert, Smith has hired the Phillips County Transit to shuttle people around town, free of charge, so that parking won't be an issue.

"From 6:30 that night until two in the morning, all you have to do is call and the transit will come and get you," Smith said. The transit will run from the Phillips County Motor Sports Speedway to the First State Bank parking lot and on to the pavilion.

"They will be continually running that route," Smith said. "But if you are just sitting at home and you want to come to the concert, you can call them and they will come to your house and pick you up, take you downtown or wherever and then to the concert and then deliver you back home at the end of the night."

The number to call for a ride on Saturday night is 654-7555.

The opening act on the night is Helena's Mabel's Rage and Smith said if you are a fan of 1970's and 80's rock, Mabel's will be right up your alley.

"They are more old school and will be playing a lot of Journey and ZZ Top and music like that," Smith said.

Smith said that bringing Hell's Belles to Malta is a trail run for, what he hopes, are more concerts in the area.

"If the county will support this show we hope we can bring more stuff here," he said. "It's a lot more work to make the concert open to all ages so I want every family and high school kid to come out and have a good time."