OLYMPIA, Wash. — Friday night at Charlie's Bar and Grill in Olympia and Hell's Belles are shaking things up all night long something the all female AC/DC tribute band, originally based in Seattle, has been doing for nearly 25 years.
"The cool thing about being on stage is you give people a vacation from their life," said lead vocalist Lauren Piston. "It's like 90 minutes away from all your troubles, and just to live in that moment of passion is pretty cool."
When Piston isn't singing her heart out on stage, you might find her at the grooming salon she owns in Burien, The Painted Pooch.
"Right now I'm taking this opportunity to brush out my own dog," she said.
Piston really does paint pooches year round with dog friendly dyes, but visit her Federal Way home and you'll discover her heart belongs to abandoned animals.
"This is my rescue bunny room," she said as she opened a door down a hallway. "All of these bunnies were rescued from bad situations, and had to be medicated and taken to the vet."
"And then we have Lynyrd, like Lynyrd Skynrd," she said pointing to an iguana.
"I think I've always rooted for the underdog, " Piston said. "I think being kind of a misfit and a little awkward myself growing up, and these animals that nobody wants, I just want them to know love".
Piston also volunteers at Footprints Wildlife Refuge Center in Carnation. It's a busy life, but somehow Piston has sound the time to tour with Hell's Belles, whose fiery star attraction grew up in Federal Way, Adrian Conner.
"AC/DC's music sounds like it's simple but it's not simple," Conner said. She has mad respect for the Australian heavy metal band, famous for its knickers-clad guitarist, Angus Young and songs about sex, drinking and damnation.
"They are like wizards of rock and roll songwriting and the music that we get to emulate touches all ages and all types of people, and we even convert non-AC/DC fans into AC/DC fans," Connor said.
The respect goes both ways. Angus Young once called Hell's Belles the best AC/DC tribute band. Pitch perfect, powerful and delivered at high voltage, Hell's Belles continues to conquer every stage the play.
The next Hell's Belles show is Friday, August 16 at the Rock the Mountain festival in Darrington.
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