The Trapps are an original roots rock band that was formed in New Paltz, New York in the winter of 2003 by singer-songwriter Sean Schenker, bass player Jason Sarubbi, and guitar player Warren Gold.
Standing center stage at a Trapps show is Sean Schenker, who's poetic lyrics, soulful vocal delivery and percussive acoustic guitar simultaneously form the band's foundation and direction. On either side of Sean are bass player Jason Sarubbi and drummer Seth Moutal who support the songs with a solid but organic rhythmic groove while belting out sweet vocal harmonies. Guitar players Warren Gold and John Burdick set up at the far left and right edges of the stage and weave in and out of the sonic mix with soaring lead melodies and lush rhythmic passages. Recently, The Trapps sound has been augmented by the riveting and haunting style of lap steel player Josh Roy Brown and the rich, beautiful tones of vocalist Robin Baker.
In 2006, The Trapps released their debut CD titled “Good Luck or Goodbye”. The record garnered high accolades and critical acclaim. “Alright Now” won first prize for best song in the AAA/Alternative category in the 2006 International Acoustic Music Awards and “Blood on our Hands” became a featured track on Neil Young’s website “Living With War”. In June of 2007, first prize in the Relix Magazine Jam-Off contest was given to "I'm Through".
“Cheap Seats”, the band's second studio effort, was released in 2009. According to Rolling Executive Editor Jason Fine, “Cheap Seats” was “Elegant yet raw, darkly emotional but also shot through with light” and “full of surprising contrasts and casual beauty -- rangy, experimental roots-rock played with confidence and hope.” The tracks “Bitter Pill”, “Everything Good is Gone”, “The View” and many others were played on over 100 radio stations across the country, propelling The Trapps up the roots rock and americana charts.
The Trapps have shared the stage with Levon Helm at his Midnight Ramble and were in the lineup of the multi-band rock festival Mountain Jam 5 along with Gov’t Mule and the Allman Brothers. The band has also performed with Martin Sexton, Blues Traveler, Rusted Root, North Mississippi Allstars, and Benevento Russo Duo. The Trapps appeared on WAMC’s “Live at the Linda” Series and were featured artists at the CMJ Music Conference in NYC and the Cape May Singer-Songwriter Music Conference.
Currently, The Trapps are performing at various venues in the New York metropolitan area while remaining hard at work tracking their third studio album. They are also putting the finishing touches on their live recording “Live at the Howland” which they expect to release by the spring of 2013.