"Elegant yet raw, darkly emotional but also shot through with light, The Trapps new disc is full of surprising contrasts and casual beauty -- rangy, experimental roots-rock played with confidence and hope."
-Jason Fine, Executive Editor, Rolling Stone
The Trapps band name derives from a particular area of the Shawangunk Mountain Range outside of their hometown of New Paltz, NY, a world-renowned spot for rock climbing enthusiasts. Mountain climbers are conditioned to be alert, to improvise & chart their own course as they embark upon each ascent. Always paying homage to the inherent risk they undertake, they push forward with an awareness of their surroundings and an inner will to complete the journey at hand. Symbolically, this represents the band's approach to the limitless boundaries they are willing to explore, the risks they are willing to take when creating their music.
Formed in the winter of 2003 in New Paltz, NY, The Trapps are an American band that taps the roots of Americana, folk, and rock and roll, and wraps it all into a tightly-knit package that is entirely their own. Though their musical influences are far reaching, the greatest strength of the band is their commitment to the song – all at once they can grab you with powerful harmonies like the Jayhawks or rivet you with a high intensity jam like the Black Crowes, but for this band, it is never done loosely or in a way that pulls the listener away from the essence and presentation of the song itself. For The Trapps, the song is the law, and like the mountain climber, there are a great many ways to approach the ascent, but the thrill is to ultimately finish having learned something along the way.
Led by Sean Schenker (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Warren Gold (lead & rhythm guitar, slide guitar), John Burdick (lead & rhythm guitar), Jason Sarubbi (upright & electric bass, backing vocals) and Seth Moutal (drums, percussion, backing vocals), the band puts a strong emphasis on lyrical fiber. On the band's new CD release, "Cheap Seats", songwriter Sean Schenker describes some of what a listener can expect from the album: "These are songs from the heart… Stories of seeking and searching for truth and for understanding. Reflections on personal experiences of birth, death, love and ultimately the universal aspects of perseverance and growth."
The Trapps released their debut CD titled "Good Luck or Goodbye?" in April 2006. The record garnered high accolades & critical acclaim. "Alright Now" won First Prize for best song in the AAA/Alternative category in the 2006 International Acoustic Music Awards Song Contest. "Blood on our Hands" was selected as one of the top protest songs of our time, and subsequently became a featured track on Neil Young's website Living With War. "I'm Through" won First Prize in the Relix Magazine June '07 Jam-Off contest where the band was a featured artist to watch in the magazine's June '07 issue & compilation CD, alongside Wilco & Martin Sexton.
The band has been a featured artist on WAMC's Northeast Public Radio "Live at the Linda" series, and they have shared the stage with Levon Helm at his Midnight Ramble, Martin Sexton, Blues Traveler, Rusted Root, North Mississippi Allstars and have appeared at multi-band rock festival Mountain Jam 5 along with Gov't Mule and the Allman Brothers Band. They have been a featured artist at the CMJ Music Conference in NYC, and have also performed at the Cape May Singer-Songwriter Music Conference.
With their latest release, "Cheap Seats", The Trapps are already generating a buzz amongst regional radio & industry outlets. The Trapps are a band willing to put assumptions and labels aside and approach their music with an open heart without limitations. The long ascent we endure, in all of our triumphs and tragedies along the way, is at the heart of The Trapps new record "Cheap Seats". Here's to hoping you'll join them for the climb.
