Though Juniper Tar may have taken much of the local folk-alt-rock thunder this year with its busy schedule and endlessly creative marketing techniques, there may not be a Milwaukee band having a hotter 2012 than Trapper Schoepp & The Shades. From a RadioMilwaukee Album Of The Year award to a fresh recording contract to singing the national anthem at Miller Park, the band is not so quietly becoming one of city’s signature local acts.
Solidified in 2009 with brothers Trapper and Tanner Schoepp at the heart of it, the band wasted no time in releasing Live and Moved, a solid melodic exploration of the trials and tribulations of growing up in a small town (Ellsworth, Wis.: Population 3,284) and transitioning to the big city. These themes continued into last year’s Run, Engine, Run, but with a distinctly more mature and self-assured delivery from Schoepp and his bandmates. And this impressive collection of introspective roots rock gems did not go unnoticed.
Run, Engine, Run was recognized as Album Of The Year at this year’s RadioMilwaukee Music Awards (along with the band being nominated in just about every other category) and served as the catalyst for the band’s recent signing with Los Angeles-based indie label SideOneDummy Records (Flogging Molly, Anti Flag, 7 Seconds). The label plans on rereleasing Run, Engine, Run internationally on September 25, with a tentative tour to follow.
“I hope we do CMJ, South by Southwest, and then get on the road with some bigger acts,” says Trapper Schoepp, singer/guitarist. “Fingers crossed. We’re ready to live up to our album name, Run, Engine, Run.”
That has seemed to be the secret of the band’s success to this point, which includes a recent opportunity to open for Soul Asylum at the legendary Troubadour in L.A. Sure, they have the old tried-and-true combination of talent and connections (the band was brought to the attention of SideOneDummy through a former bandmate of drummer Jon Phillip), but the driving force behind the band’s meteoric rise is the chemistry between and tireless work ethic of each band member.
“We were just talking in the van about how so much apart of being a successful band is just finding the right buddies to play with and sticking to it,” Trapper says. “We’ve lucked out in finding each other, but I think perseverance is important, too. Gotta keep on keepin’ on.”
All of this notoriety comes with its perks locally as well. The band played a raucous Summerfest set at the U.S. Cellular Connection Stage and crossed an item off Trapper’s bucket list when they sang the national anthem at Miller Park before a recent Brewers-Cubs game (even though Trapper admits to being a Twins fan). But as easy as it might be for so much success in such a short time to go straight to a 22-year-old’s head, Trapper seems to have a genuine appreciation for the process and for paying his dues as an artist.
“It was certainly an honor to sing at Miller Park,” says Trapper, “but playing at a club with 50 people there can be just as gratifying. I think it’s good to stay in that mindset as a young touring band.”
See for yourself tonight as Trapper Schoepp & The Shades cap off its impressive summer by opening for Murder By Death at Turner Hall.
