Trachete
Trachete is a Columbus-based all-female rock band consisting of four members: Amee BellWanzo (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Melanie Holm (Bass and Vocals), Danielle Kelly (Lead Guitar and Vocals), and Tera Stockdale (Drums).
All members were active musicians in the community prior to Trachete and often met during performances with their respective bands. Now they continue to rock out while being working moms.
Love/Hate
“Love/Hate” is a song that was inspired by Amee’s relationship with her previous band when she says they were “500% ‘on’ when we were ‘on’ – but also having those times when we were about 1,000% ‘off’.” The lyrics reflect times when valuable relationships become toxic.
Stand Up
According to Amee, “Stand Up” was inspired by the women’s march in DC and was fueled by Brett Cavanaugh’s Supreme Court hearings. She says it was encouraging to see people come out to stand up for what she believes is good for the country.
Off Her Meds
“Off Her Meds” is inspired by situations when disagreeing with someone can label you as being “crazy.” The lyrics reflect her reaction to the lack of civility in forums of discussion and its effects on people.
Follow The Band
Meet The Musicians
Q&A
***Insert Picture***
Interview with lead singer and guitarist of the Amee Bellwanzo (lead vocalist and guitarist)
Trachete is a Columbus-based all-female rock band consisting of four members: Amee BellWanzo (Lead Vocals and Guitar), Melanie Holm (Bass and Vocals), Danielle Kelly (Lead Guitar and Vocals), and Tera Stockdale (Drums). All members were active musicians in the community prior to Trachete and often met during performances with their respective bands. Now they continue to rock out while being working moms.
The Origin Story
We’ve all played music in Columbus forever, and we all wanted to do an all-female project. We knew each other through various music connections, and our individual bands having played together before.
How Did Come Up With Your Band Name?
The name is a play on words. It’s like Machete… but trashier. And also, “The Breeders” was already taken.
What Is It Like To Be An All-Women Band In Columbus?
We are all working moms, and all rockers! And yes, we defy stereotypes, even in 2019. When all of us were coming up in the scene, most of the other musicians on stage were male. On more than one occasion when I was fronting a rock band that was all male (besides me), we played a festival or event with 6 or 8 other bands, and I would be the only female on stage all day.
The bands we’re currently sharing stages with are a lot more female, which is great! Things have progressed and more women are playing rock music locally. Also, a lot of all-female touring bands who come through Columbus contact us to share a bill with them because they’ve heard we’re always stoked to support other lady rockers.
However, the all-mom band still stands out quite a bit. I think there’s a crazy notion that, once you become an adult and start having kids, you have to give up doing the things you love. But we all love music so much, it’s not something we can give up!
We also get a lot of comments that people are surprised a group of moms would rock so hard. People really just need to get over that misconception.
Give Us The Lowdown on Your Sound
Harmonious, grunge-influenced rock & roll.
Quick Question!
What were your top 3 jams during High School?
Here are 4: Beasties. Chili Peppers. The Cure. Boston. (Can you match the band to the Trachete member??)
What is the story behind your outfits?
All our stage outfits relate to our love for the transformative powers of two things: fashion and ‘70s rock.
Where was your most memorable performance together?
We opened for a pretty well-known feminist band called Screaming Females earlier this year, and it was awesome. Their singer is petite in stature – but the power of her vocals and the level of her guitar shredding is 100’ tall! We also fondly remember one of the years we performed on ComFest’s Bozo stage… Danielle was very pregnant, so we all wore fringe-laden, gold-sequined crop tops so she could show off her beautiful belly – and there was a big group of adorable little kids from a local daycare program dancing on the lawn in front of us, so we invited them on stage to be our back-up dancers. Some of them rocked it, and some of them just stood silently mystified. It was beautiful. We hope it was a memorable experience for all of them!
What is your favorite Ohio Beer?
Hilltop Lager, Seventh Son Humulus Nimbus or Rhinegeist’s Little Bubs. But we mostly drink what we call “mom water” (i.e. hard seltzer with an extra shot of Tito’s).