Class of '97 to host rock show at the Mint Bar on Saturday

1997 was the year Leonardo DiCaprio was the "king of the world" aboard the deck of the Titanic, Bill Clinton was inaugurated for a second term and the Spice Girls wanted to know "what you want, what you really, really want."

1997 was also that year 56 seniors at Malta High School turned their graduation tassels to the left and put high school in their rearview mirrors. A lot can happen in 20 years and this Saturday, June 24, some of those former students are meeting at the Mint Bar to celebrate days gone by with a party featuring live music from America's Liquor Down Band.

"We thought it would be fun to have a live band," Julie Snellman (Lundstrom in '97) said. "And I thought it would be fun to have a 90's cover band for our 90's reunion. They have been in Malta a few times and we heard that they have a lot of energy with their live show."

America's Liquor Down Band was formed in 2009 in Great Falls, according to the band's website, and features a song catalog of rock starting in the 1950's and ending in the 1990's. Lead singer Layloni Ghee - who is also a radio host on KTZZ out of Conrad, Mont., - has been compared to KISS' front man Paul Stanley and Tina Turner and watching the band's videos on their Facebook page leaves no doubt that she commands the stage. Joining Ghee in America's are bass guitarist Baz Vlad (20 years experience,) and James McCloud on guitar (a 'jack of all axes.') Snellman said she believes that America's has played in Malta before if she recalled correctly, it was at the last All Class Reunion.

As of last week, a total of 40 people had confirmed their attendance at the 1997 Malta High School Class Reunion (Snellman heard that perhaps one person from as far away as Hawaii might make the trip, though he hasn't said for sure if he can.)

"I am pretty excited about 40 people showing up," Snellman said. "I don't think we had that many at our 10th reunion so we are pretty excited."

The show at the Mint Bar gets underway in the bar's new east lot at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 24 and will continue to 1 a.m. Snellman said that though the Class of 1997 is celebrating their 20-year reunion at the show, they want any and everyone to come down and help them have a good time.

"We want everyone to come down and listen to the band and have fun and party at the Mint," she said. "Come down and visit with some of the class of 1997 and have some fun. The Mint is providing a tent and tables to sit at outside and it is going to be a friendly atmosphere for everyone so I hope lots of people show up. "