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Trapper Schoepp Band
Ellsworth youngsters shoulder their way into older man’s genre
By Alex Rewey
Though the freshman Mass Communication major Trapper graciously dubs his new surroundings, “Milrockuee,” both brothers have been irked by many a 21+ sign on the local bar/venue circuit.
“Indie kid, what does that even mean?” remarks the eponymous singer and head songwriter Trapper Schoepp, 18, as he casually peruses some of the past year’s press concerning his five-piece piano-led pop group, the Trapper Schoepp Band. Looking on with occasional dismay is the charismatic youngster’s more reserved older brother Tanner, 19, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sophomore and the bassist/occasional drummer. Like most families, they often harmlessly bicker over even the smallest things.
“We’re not like Oasis brothers though,” remarks Tanner. Despite their small differences, one thing they do agree on though is the challenges and difficulties inherent in being an underage band in Milwaukee.
Though the freshman Mass Communication major Trapper graciously dubs his new surroundings “Milrockee,” both brothers have been irked by many 21+ signs on the local bar/venue circuit.
“We really need more all-ages venues,” says Tanner. Despite their young ages, the band has become experts of sorts on all-ages venues around the Midwest since their inception in an Ellsworth, Wis. basement three years ago. Now featuring drummer and fellow UWM student Brady Murphy, as well as Pat Sweeney on violin, and UW-Eau Claire student/lead guitarist David Boigenzahn, the group has paved quite a trail through venues like Minneapolis’ First Avenue, the Varsity Theatre and local stops at the Bremen Café and the Art Bar.
Accompanying the likes of The Wars of 1812, Canasta and Patchouli, the band often finds themselves as the token youngsters on tour. Along with their majority of younger fans, the groups boasts also boasts a solid fan base of elders who they claim to listen because it reminds them of the music from their own adolescence.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, both Trapper and his brother take a number of cues both visually and stylistically from their hero Bob Dylan, whom they consider to be at the apex of artistic musical seriousness.
“The little bits of seriousness we have are dedicated to music,” says Trapper. While this certainly seems true, the band never seems to stray too far from their youthful playfulness.
They laughingly describe their song “Jennings Original,” off their 2007 debut CD “A Change In the Weather” as “one long inside joke.”
Tanner cites singer-songwriters Ryan Adams and Josh Ritter as large influences while his younger brother addresses more eclectic inspiration from British alt rockers The Stone Roses, and the Cali hip-hop group Blackalicious.
Despite each member’s individual tastes, the Trapper Schoepp Band delivers a fairly focused and streamlined sound, never hesitating to jam out on a lengthy mellow pop groove, though they abhor the term “jam band.”
Despite their current laid-back folk pop sound, both brothers now finding themselves in new surroundings, project their stylistic future as more as harder with a more pronounced distorted rock feel.
“We’re starting to meet more people,” Trapper remarks while envisioning a more effects laced record in the future.
Understandably, school has slowed the group’s momentum a bit, with their crowded summer touring schedule now reduced to a few shows a semester.
“We just want to do this as long as we can,” remarks Tanner. While the brothers may be slightly divided on the group’s near future, they both visibly take great pleasure in their craft.
“Having a good time is our number one priority,” laughs Trapper while also contemplating the real pressure and commitments of the group. “It’s like being married,” he adds. Yet, their enthusiasm to continue to produce their playful, yet mature lyricism and soft, meandering guitar and rhythm seems far from waning.
Despite their newly busy schedules, the Trapper Schoepp Band will play a free show at UWM’s Rec Center on Sept. 19 at 10 p.m. They will also play the East Side’s Miramar Theatre on Oct. 9.
> Comments
Brady on Sep 15, 2008 at 07:35 AM:
ridiculous.