Music
Press
Chris Trapper: Organic pop–rock singer–songwriter, on hiatus from his sunny group Push Stars, returns to one of his favorite towns (and former residences). Be sure to shout out requests for his theme song from “Pepper Dennis“ and contribution to the “August Rush“ soundtrack. - Philadelphia Daily News
Chris Trapper boasts an impressive pedigree and a proud indie ethic, having helmed Boston band The Push Stars since the mid–’90s. While that band attracted notice with their reliable repertoire, Trapper’s solo discs provide the better connection. After detouring into trad jazz with sophomore set Gone Again, he returns to the rich, reflective narratives that marked Songs From the Drive– In, his exceptional debut. This time, Trapper enlists impressive support, including Martin Sexton, Duke Levine, various Push Stars and players from Great Big Sea. Still, it’s his insightful, first–person perspective that entices, whether it’s the humor that belies pathos in "Wish I Was Cool" or the aimless malaise occupying "35th Birthday." Add a wealth of arresting melodies and "Hey You" becomes a beckoning call that’s hard to ignore.’ - Performing Songwriter
Chris Trapper’s "Hey You" has been out for nearly a year but such a special album deserves some retrospective praise. The former Push Stars singer–songwriter has released two previous solo albums, but "Hey You" is probably the pick of his entire back catalogue – and that’s saying something for a writer and performer as prolific as Trapper. The sparse, gentle acoustics of "Everytime I See You" and the philosophical "35th Birthday" show Trapper at his understated, evocative best, while haunting opener "Feelings Without Weight" demonstrates a modern, melodic edge to his songwriting.
Despite the diverse nature of the songs, "Hey You" has a sense of unity that ties all the songs together: namely, Chris Trapper’s remarkable talent. His career may perhaps be best summed up by the lyric "Why am I always inside out, Caught in the corners of the crowd?", but I urge you to discover his music for yourself. - Ink 19
John B. Moore’s Top 10 includes Chris Trapper – Hey, You (Starlit)
On his third solo disc, former Push Stars front man Chris Trapper roots his songs in a strong pop foundation, but experiments more than ever before, bringing in steel guitars, accordions, whistles and horns. The result is just as strong as anything Trapper has turned in before and likely to impress anyone who has ever owned a Cheap Trick or Big Star record. - InSite Atlanta Magazine
Best original songs: Chris Trapper, It’s Christmas Time This isn’t merely the best by a Boston singer/songwriter, it’s the year’s best set of new Christmas tunes, period. Simple arrangements and instrumentation (featuring banjo, ukulele, lap steel and the like) accentuate Push Star Trapper’s charm and sincerity as he captures real–life holiday feelings.
- The Boston Herald
…December 1 is a busy night elsewhere, too. CHRIS TRAPPER, singer/guitarist of the Push Stars, plays an acoustic holiday show at the Brattle Theatre. He’ll be doing songs from his new, all–originals CD, "It's Christmas Time", as well as traditional tunes. Of note: "This Time," the theme song to the just–opened August Rush, was written by Trapper and is sung by the film’s star, Jonathan Rhys Meyer. - The Boston Phoenix
On his third solo album, "Hey, You", Push Stars frontman Chris Trapper plays meaty, chewy power pop, the kind his day band has mostly skirted over the past decade. The Boston native also offers plenty of hooky jinglejangle, introspective singer/songwriter musings, and Celtic-spiced alt rock. Trapper recently landed a major score: His song "This Time" is featured in the new Robin Williams movie, August Rush, which opens next month. ” - Cleveland Scene
Chris Trapper’s new disc Gone Again came to me as a welcome treat this past week, featuring as it does the New Orleans-esque stylings of the Wolverine Jazz Band. Trapper’s pop leanings, which are so boldly in the forefront in his usual outfit, the Push-Stars, are here couched in the sensitive and swinging accompaniment of banjo, tuba, clarinet, trumpet and trombone. - Pulse of the Twin Cities
It only seems like Chris Trapper has taken up residency at Club Cafe in the South Side. The Boston–based performer, best–known for his tenure with the very underrated The Push Stars, is an engaging, charismatic performer and a regular visitor to the venue. Plus, the guy can sing and write snappy pop songs, as evidenced on his releases “Hey You“ and “Gone Again.“ Trapper will perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Club Cafe in a special holiday show featuring songs from his seasonal release, “It’s Christmas Time,“ all original compositions. - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Trapper the solo artist is an equally thoughtful troubadour who addresses the weightier side of life. That’s no more evident than on last year’s Hey, You, a solid collection of songs about hard-luck loners and sad-eyed romantics.” - St. Louis Riverfront Times
Discography
Songs From The Middle of the World (2008)
It's Christmas Time (2007)
Hey, You (2006)
Gone Again (2005)
Songs From The Drive-In (2003)
Photos
Bio
The trick to the irresistibly organic, pure pop sound is that the music, and even the lead singer, take a back seat to the real star: the songs. As the principal songwriter and singer for nationally acclaimed alt-rock trio The Push Stars, Chris Trapper is equally sure-footed in his solo career. When on hiatus from The Push Stars, Chris writes, records and tours in support of his solo CDs.
Trapper sounds like the 21st-century young popster he is. The Washington Post
Chris Trapper plays unassuming pop rock with a touch of Big Star soul... The Chicago Reader
His words and music can best be described as an interesting blend of 1950s pop, 1990s rock and old-timey jazz with the ever-present under story of Chris distinctive baritenor. Its intricate power-pop with a compelling knack for telling everyday stories.
For Trapper, it all traces back to those first, halting, joyful songs, when he found another language in music--a deeper language that connected him to others in a way more profound than ordinary conversation.
"Especially when I was a kid, but it's still true--I'm kind of desperate to get thoughts out in a complete way. Songs do that for me, so I know how much they can mean. It's important to me to be inclusive, rather than perceived as intellectual or clever or so creative that people don't get it. I really want to reach people and do it in a way that makes them feel part of what I'm trying to say. Because, like I said, I know how much songs can mean."
His ability to craft songs that are both elegant and accessible is evident on each collection. His organic understanding of classic pop melody is infectious. There is a smart, honest quality to the lyrics that never panders.
Trapper's songs don't need any Stratocaster bluster to get under your skin. The Boston Herald
Trapper writes songs that at first listen are greeted as old, familiar friends. His musical stories are accessible but never trivial, smart but never snobbish, honest but never pandering. He writes about real folks coping with real lives--people whose far-flung People Magazine dreams never pan out--laced with a properly jaded sense of humor and the essential survival tool of not taking yourself too seriously.
Chris Trapper would be the first guy to tell you he's always been unhip, even sort of square,
when it comes to rock 'n' roll attitude. The Boston Globe
Trappers talent as a singer and storyteller stems from what some might call an eclectic apprenticeship. A native of Buffalo, New York, by grade 9 Chris had found his voice, and his older brothers guitar.
"I'm a stutterer," he says, "and I used to get picked on a lot in school. One day, after I'd been called on to answer a question and just couldn't spit it out at all, and the whole class was laughing at me, I went home and picked up my brother's guitar and started writing this kind of whiny song about how everyone picked on me. It wasn't a very good song, but I'd found this incredible outlet to express how I felt. So that's how it began, just a couple of chords and a bad day."
High school was something to be endured but the time spent in a barbershop quartet would prove to be musically invaluable. As a college student Trappers passion was his first band, Awake and Dreaming. They quickly became a Fredonia phenomenon. Once introduced to the life of a singer and performer, opportunities conspired and Chris found his way from the embrace of campus-fame to the anonymity of life in a bit city. Trappers songwriting flourished within the boundless energy of Bostons lush musical community. His unique style and original voice had found a home. It wasnt long before Trapper discovered his musical soul-mates and in February of 1996, with bassist Dan McLoughlin and drummer Ryan MacMillan, formed the alt-rock trio The Push Stars.
The Push Stars create some of the most vivacious guitar pop on the current scene a band that writes and plays honest-to-goodness memorable hooks. The Patriot Ledger
Trapper recalls: There were about seven people at the first-ever Push Stars concert at the Middle East Bakery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The stage was so small that we had to adjust our rock moves" in order to let people get by to use the restrooms. We got paid about fifty dollars, some falafel and a few Pabst Blue Ribbons. It was terrific
After building a strong following in Boston and self-releasing their 1997 debut CD "Meet Me at the Fair, The Push Stars found themselves in a major label bidding war and quickly signed a two-album deal with Capitol Records. The 1999 sophomore CD "After the Party" gave Chris and the band a national audience, prompted the New York Times to call them classic pop perfection and yielded the tongue-in-cheek radio hit Drunk Is Better Than Dead.
The year 2000 got off to an auspicious start with the sudden departure of their mentor and A&R guy Gary Gersh (Sonic Youth, Nirvana, Counting Crow
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