There are cover bands, and then there are tribute bands. The difference is something that Hell’s Belles, an all-female AC/DC tribute band playing at the McDonald Theatre tomorrow night, wants its audience to know. 
Hell’s Belles plays classic AC/DC songs, dresses like the members did and essentially celebrates the band it pays tribute to, while also actively promoting female rock.
The combination is a successful one that has led to a decade of being one of the finest tribute bands around.
“I think they do a fantastic job,” said Mike Hergenreter, talent buyer at Kesey Enterprises and booking agent for the McDonald Theatre.
Having played Eugene several times during West Coast tours, Hell’s Belles is familiar with the city. The past few years the band has headlined the Eugene celebration during the summer.
“They’re an act that has been growing over the years and has escalated to being one of our top headliners at the Eugene celebration,” Hergenreter said.
This time through, the band will have a slightly different look with famed Austin, Texas, musician Patrice Pike heading up vocals, replacing current vocalist Jamie Nova.
“We’re just really excited to come and rock out and present Patrice Pike,” said Adrian “Angus” Conner, guitarist of Hell’s Belles. “It’s a super treat to play with someone so excellent with her voice and be on stage with somebody so professional.”
Fans attending the show can expect the same excitement that has revolved around Hell’s Belles over the last decade, or will be introduced to it for the first time.
It’s an excitement that was started in Seattle in 2000 by guitarist Amy Stozenbach and singer Om Johari. At a time where tribute bands were relatively unheard of, Hell’s Belles became an instant Northwest success with its powerful music energy and precision to being as close to AC/DC as possible.
“It was pretty much a hit in Seattle right off,” Conner said. “I would hear about it on the radio. People freaked out.”
Conner, who joined the band a year after its formation, saw firsthand how fast the fan base latched onto the concept of the tribute bands. Each tour garnered a large following.
Such success came with hard work. In 2001, the band played 26 concerts, followed by 52 shows in 2002 and 54 in 2004. All of this was happening as the band was also challenged with the task of mastering the art of AC/DC. Every track, from the popular to the obscure, had to be perfected, while clothing, mannerisms and other on-stage aspects had to be learned.
“We had to build a fan base,” Conner said. “Back in the day when we were just starting and building the name up, we did tours in the van, and we worked really hard.”
Their hard work landed them gigs in New York, and they traveled as far as Japan to perform.
Today, the band still strives to be one of the best tribute bands around, but focuses mostly on simply honoring AC/DC.
“It’s a complete different thing now,” Conner said. “We’re much more into celebrating their music. It’s always been very important to use to reproduce the music as close to its original form, but I think the attitude now is more celebratory.”
The band still plays the same theme that has helped bequeath sold-out shows to many of the venues it plays.
“It’s about us being badass female musicians and getting to play in front of people that care about the music,” Conner said.
Such a mindset is something that everyone can understand. Aside from their focus of paying tribute to AC/DC, the band is composed of a group of women who just enjoy playing the music they love.
“I’m excited to rock out and feel Eugene’s energy,” Conner said.
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