Treadmill Trackstar

Treadmill Trackstar is an acoustic-oriented adult alternative pop band based in Columbia, South Carolina. Angelo Gianni (vocals, guitar), Chris Grigg (bass), Katie Hamilton (cello), and Tony Lee (drums) formed Treadmill Trackstar in 1994 and quickly became local favorites, developing a hard, cello-driven pop sound that made them a sort of indie-level alternative version of Electric Light Orchestra, highlighted by Gianni's poetic and quirky song lyrics and Hamilton's distinctive cello work. The following year, they released their debut album, Excessive Use of the Passive Tense, on the independent Raging Rose imprint. By 1996, the band had become quite popular on the Southeastern circuit. Among their fans were Hootie & the Blowfish, who signed Treadmill Trackstar to their Atlantic-distributed label, Breaking Records. The band's first album for the label was titled Only This and released in the fall of 1997; they band began touring the album hard, with up to 200 shows a year. When Breaking Records dropped the group in 1998, the wear and tear took its hold, and Treadmill Trackstar disbanded, its members moving on with their lives. The band reunited for a benefit show in 2007, however, and rediscovering that unique cello pop sound, decided to give it another go, this time with Chris Mills on bass instead of Grigg. Declaring themselves non-profit, the newly arisen Treadmill Trackstar used a Kickstarter campaign to release I Belong to Me in 2013, beginning a late, second phase of the band's career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Steve Leggett, Rovi