We’re thrilled to be playing the Emerald Lounge on MoogFest Saturday with some of our finest regional friends!!

Schedule for the Moogfest Local Showcase at the Emerald Lounge:

Friday, Oct. 26
8:30pm – Doors
9:00pm – Listed showtime
9:30-10:45 – Panther God
11:00-12:15 – Aligning Minds
12:30-2:00 – Futexture

Saturday, Oct. 27
8:30pm – Doors
9:00pm – Listed showtime
9:30-10:15 – Novakord
10:30-11:15 – Sonmi
11:30-12:30 – RBTS Win
12:45-1:45 – Paper Tiger

Moogfest and the Emerald Lounge have arranged for Moogfest pass holders to receive complimentary admission to the Emerald Lounge for the events, but the events will also be open to the general public for a great low price: tickets for each night will be $10 to the general public. The shows will be free for all Moogfest weekend pass holders. Single day Moogfest ticket holders will receive complimentary admission to the Emerald Lounge for the same day they hold a Moogfest ticket only. Don’t miss this opportunity to see what makes Asheville music so special – and support local artists!

Saturday Showcase Tickets / MoogFest Tickets

VERVE Asheville chatted with molly, as well as some of asheville’s leading ladies in the music biz about the scene, venues & what it’s like to keep on breaking new ground.  Read the story:  Western North Carolina’s Smartest Magazine for Women – January 2012 – Behind the Music

Jessica Tomasin, Liz Whalen, Crissa Requate. Photo: Zaire Kacz

Photo taken at Moog Music by Erin Brethauer

Asheville Citizen Times:  written by Michael Flynn

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011312160008

Many people still associate Asheville with old-time and acoustic music, but electronica has developed a deep following in the city.

“It’s been on the rise for at least the last 10 years,” says Paper Tiger singer Molly Kummerle (aka RubySlippers), talking to take5 after a class session on Ableton mixing technology. “There’s a huge electronic scene about to pop.”

Existing fans and those interested in the genre should hit the Emerald Lounge on Saturday, as Paper Tiger and Chattanooga, Tenn.’s Digital Butter bring a beat fest to the Lexington Avenue venue that includes DJ sets from Mike McBride (Peripheral) and Kummerle herself.

A seductive blend of Kummerle’s jazzy vocals and Isaac Gottfried’s mellow trip-hop grooves, Paper Tiger released its debut CD last January. After several years of performing, Gottfried (MINGLE) has decided to stick to production with the group, so Paper Tiger’s live show now features revamped sets and remixed samples.

“A live show never stops growing — you always find better ways to do things,” Kummerle says. Behind her smooth vocals Saturday will be Dave Mathes (Madlock) on drums, McBride on keys and samples, Ben Mason (neb.Cinema) on visual production, and guests such as Chuck Lichtenberger on melodica.

Digital Butter

The evening plugs in at 10 p.m. with Peripheral’s DJ set. His mix of serene melody and thick rhythm has drawn notice, including top honors in the initial Moogfest remix contest. “He is an incredible producer — his original content is amazing,” Kummerle says.

At 10:30 p.m., Digital Butter takes over, marking its first show in Asheville. Featuring, as Kummerle says, “a skinny white guy, a drummer and a gorgeous front woman,” the trio is Becky Ribeiro (Bexy), on vocals and trumpet, Adam Staudacher (SKiNNYiLL) on production and bass, and Hunter White (H-note) on drums. “We’ve wanted to bring them for a long time,” Kummerle says. “It’s such a sultry, R&B, edgy electronic sound. It’s really catchy.”

Molly Parti

After Paper Tiger’s midnight performance, Kummerle wraps the show at 1 a.m. with her debut DJ set under the moniker Molly Parti. Mixing samples through a MIDI controller is another outlet for her to explore the sonic possibilities of electronic music. “It seems to fit me more than anything else I’ve done,” Kummerle says about electronica. “This is the opportunity to play and have fun.”

In the wake of Moogfest’s big crowds and the instrument maker’s move downtown, look for the local electronic scene to keep growing, Kummerle says. That includes a new Paper Tiger disc next year. “We’re six or seven songs into a new record,” she notes. “We’re all still working on music all the time.”

Flynn writes about entertainment for take5. Email mickfly@bellsouth.net.

The Suspect: Paper Tiger
This ultra-cool Asheville duo plays original lounge and trip-hop. Paper Tiger is Ruby Slippers (Molly Kummerle) and MINGLE (Isaac Gottfried.) Showcased at the Moog Foundation CD-release Party at the Orange Peel, they’ve opened for King Britt, NOMO and Brooklyn’s Eliot Lipp.

Can Be Found: Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Emerald Lounge.

RIYD: Portishead, Morcheeba.

You Should Go If: You find James Bond movies incredibly romantic; you designed your own tattoo that looks like both a bird and a mustache; you sometimes roll your right pant leg up and pretend as if you’ve biked places that you’ve actually driven; your “Bah, humbug”: credit limits.

http://www.mountainx.com/article/38376/The-Profiler

By Becky Upham on 12/13/2011 02:00 PM

Even not having been on the official weekend lineup of MoogFest this year, we had an amazing festival weekend and are still reeling in the sweet bliss of incredible shows, fantastic costumes, good time spent with old friends, and many new friendships sparked in the glow of the mutual love of music. We’re incredibly proud of our little city for once again hosting such a spectacular event and for coming out in costumed hoards to show spirit and hospitality!

Big thanks to all who worked to make this what it was and what it’s growing into, this genre of music is very dear to our hearts and we are deeply inspired to see how so many different creative people are implementing the great inventions of Bob Moog to bring out the music in their hearts. Our MoogFest Veterans late night set at the kick off party got a mention for us and fellow veterans RBTS WIN by one of our favorite music writers/musicians/tastemakers Bob Boilen HERE, and there is also killer extensive coverage of the entire festival, including live shows, photos, videos, and festival recap. We’re honored to have NPR call our little city home for 4 big days! More of our own recap coming after Molly has gotten some sleep ;) Be well, little tigers!

MOOGFEST LATENITE w/ Paper Tiger & RBTS WIN at the One Stop in Downtown Asheville, downstairs from the Asheville Music Hall (where the Consequence of Sound kickoff party takes place)… for more info, check & RSVP HERE!!

Also, check out the Asheville Citizen Times this Saturday for a few words from Molly on our adventures & experiences from the festival last year!

Shuffle Magazine #12

On The Prowl
With an acclaimed MoogFest set under their belt and with a new album in stores, Paper Tiger is at the forefront of the Asheville scene.
By Fred Mills

Sweet dreams are made of this: from the opening seconds of Me Have Fun (a sample—vinyl-sourced, natch—of regal horns, followed shortly by a slinky, downtempo bass/percussion throb), the listener can’t help but sense he or she is in for something special. Indeed, as the next 50-odd minutes unfold you’re transported into a hazy-yet-glistening universe of blissed-out beats and dense, trip-hop textures; of sensual keyboard lines and deft deployment of head-turning samples; and most important, of riveting, deeply soulful female vocals that are simultaneously seductive and vulnerable. Meet Paper Tiger: singer Molly Kummerle and beatmaster Isaac Gottfried, who are helping to transform Asheville’s electronic/dance milieu into something akin to the vaunted Bristol, UK, scene that gave the world Massive Attack and Portishead.

“We are definitely of those bands, and honored,” says Kummerle, also of local jazz/soul outfit RubySlippers, when asked if the Bristol comment holds water. (Reviewers have often compared her vocals to Beth Gibbons of Portishead.) “Some of my favorite music comes from the European electronic scene, and we also have a great love of old school hip-hop mixed in with Motown.” Adds Gottfried, aka deejay Mingle, “There’s no escaping the fact that our collective tastes from the past have melded into our current style. That being said, I also hope we can be seen as something a little different, and I think this will become more evident as Paper Tiger moves forward.”

No question there. Formally together for about a year and a half—Kummerle and Gottfried met in 2002, and first collaborated on a cover of Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees”; they later tested the live waters as simply RubySlippers/Mingle—Paper Tiger’s trajectory tilted skyward several notches last fall when the band performed at the three-day MoogFest in Asheville, putting them in front of an international audience. Glowing reviews for Me Have Fun have furthered the momentum, and plans are in place for a new video and an EP of remixes while they work on material for the next album.

There’s also to be an uptick in concert appearances, including a set at this summer’s Bele Chere festival, although intriguingly, Gottfried will be dialing back his live activity to concentrate on the production side. Drummer David Mathes, from Sonmi Suite, has already been working with the band, so he and Kummerle will form the core touring version of Paper Tiger, with selected other players sitting in when possible. Explains Gottfried, of his decision to remain in the studio, “It can be difficult to decide how your music is going to be played live, simply because of the sheer number of ways it can be done. Molly and David have been tweaking the live show to allow for sounds to be triggered and played by the both of them.”

Both musicians are quick to point out that there’s an exciting creative vibe surrounding Asheville these days, and that MoogFest in particular raised the bar not only for them but for the local music scene as well. And for her part, Kummerle can’t wait to showcase Paper Tiger in front of new faces. “We want to challenge our own art and not get too comfortable,” she says. “And I’m also a live performer, so there is a huge opportunity to be able to present your music and connect with a live audience to share in that energy created.”

http://www.shufflemag.com/paper-tiger-on-the-prowl/

Needless to say, we’re thrilled!!  We’ll be joined by SKEW Records producer Peripheral on electronics … check out the announcement from the Asheville Citizen Times.

MoogFest darlings Paper Tiger make a return trip to Asheville for this year’s Bele Chere festival. Marc Broussard is among the headliners for this year’s street festival.

The City of Asheville and the Bele Chereentertainment selection committee announced today that they have chosen local bands to fill more than half of the performance slots for the 2011 Bele Chere July 29-31 in downtown Asheville.

Festival headliners

Headliners for the event include Marc Broussard, Big Gigantic, Mambo Sauce, The London Souls, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, The Whigs, Apache Relay, Rebirth Brass Band, Hoots & Hellmouth, and Railroad Earth.

Local bands - Some of the local bands performing are: Floating Action, Secret B Sides, Kovacs & The Polar Bear, RBTS Win, Sirius.B, Doc Aquatic, Sonmi Suite, The Billy Sea, Sanctum Sully, Paper Tiger, The Vertigo Jazz Project, Lyric, The StereoFidelics, Do It To Julia, Papadosio, and Balsam Range.

In addition, the winner of the Last Band Standing contest will open the festival on the Haywood Street Stage. Last Band Standing: The Road to Bele Chere 2011 is in collaboration with WNC Magazine.

For more information about Bele Chere, visit the official Bele Chere website.

Seeing Red

Singer-songwriter Molly Kummerle (aka Ruby Slippers) kicks off an over-the-rainbow career in Asheville.

by Joanne O’Sullivan . photos by Anthony Bellemare

There are singers, and then there are performers. Molly Kummerle is the latter. The voice, the moves, the clothes, the makeup and that certain je ne sais quoi that makes it all look easy—Kummerle has the total package, including the fabulous alter-ego and stage name Ruby Slippers. Working in a musical range that spans sultry electronic to smoky cabaret, she’s frequently on stage locally in clubs and festivals, and when she’s not, she’s probably in the recording studio. (Or, she’s coordinating coverage for major music festivals at her music-biz day job, festival marketing coordinator for Music Allies in Asheville.) And while she may someday entertain the idea of moving to a big city to be a rock star, at the moment she’s committed to kicking things off right here in Asheville.

Kummerle grew up on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, listening to steel drums, calypso and her parents’ jazz and R & B records. When Hurricane Hugo hit the island hard in 1989, the family chose an unlikely spot for relocation: an old farmhouse in Barnardsville, where her mother, fiber artist Marcia Kummerle started raising angora goats and making yarn under the label Good Fibrations.

An eclectic, bohemian upbringing to be sure, but as an English major at Brevard College, Kummerle didn’t envision herself becoming a performer. In fact, she wanted to be a nature writer. But then, a few months after graduating, she sang backup in a friend’s soul band, and truly, it was all over. Songs came to her as she walked, rhythm informing words, and she played around with singing and songwriting.

It wasn’t until Stephanie Morgan of Stephanie’s Id invited her to do a cabaret event at Tressa’s that she really came into her own. The cabaret character Ruby Slippers was born. “She’s sort of French and sweet, but also mischievious,” says Kummerle. “She’s my inner child.” She began performing regularly under that band name with Andy John and Robin Tolleson. Jazzy, but with an acid lounge twist, the group drew raves and Kummerle drew comparisons to singers from Fiona Apple to Natalie Merchant.

Ruby Slippers is one side of Kummerle’s musical personality, but there are others. Performing live with DJ Mingle (aka Isaac Gottfried) turned into what she describes as a “downtempo pop electronic project” called Paper Tiger. Along with drummer Dave Mathis, Paper Tiger has played at the Orange Peel, MoogFest, POP Asheville, LAFF and the Emerald Lounge. They recorded a CD, Me Have Fun, that was released in January, and they’re working on another this spring. While there’s a certain sultriness to Paper Tiger’s sound, there’s a stronger kinship to groups like Portishead or Thievery Corporation.

Of her musical evolution, Kummerle says, “I’m always challenging myself to make music that’s more and more ‘me’.” But she’s also invested in boosting the local music scene however she can. “I want to raise awareness about the electronic scene here—it’s so rich and diverse,” she says. “The higher we raise the bar, the better it will be for all of us.”

Ruby Slippers will perform at Tressa’s on May 6. Paper Tiger is slated to perform at Bele Chere in July. www.papertigermusic.com.

VERVE Magazine

Album Review: Paper Tiger – Me Have Fun
BY DAVID BUCHANAN ON FEBRUARY 17TH, 2011 IN
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/02/album-review-paper-tiger-me-have-fun/
Asheville, NC is known for a great many things — a handful of which can be found noted on CoS‘s coverage of the inaugural Moogfest 2010. As a hub for music and the arts, North Carolina’s dearest mountain city rests firmly in the palm of the late Robert Moog’s memory, an eclectic reverberation of electronics and DJs surpassing anything we could possibly dream up. Rising from the fires of these multiple craft facets are Isaac Gottfried (aka MINGLE) and Molly Kummerle (aka RubySlippers), who together form lounge/trip-hop duo Paper Tiger.

Paper Tiger’s own back-story is introduced by the following statement: “In the beginning, there was a jazz singer who met a DJ/producer. They shared a mutual love of Radiohead and collaborated on their own cover version of ‘Fake Plastic Trees’. [...] Although both [Isaac & Molly] were working with other projects, they felt a spark in their new creation and began to write and record their own material.”

That is nothing to scoff at, in terms of an origin story, though I would not dare call Me Have Fun a harbinger of Brit-rock imitation — in fact, far from it. At the outset of openers “Happy Hour” and the album’s title single, you get snippets of a clearly straight-vinyl sample, a bubbly child trying to giggle his way through spit, and a transition from whimsy to moody as the haunting scope of “Me Have Fun” chimes in. Kummerle subtly brings her whispering vocals in, whilst Gottfried lays a very jazzy set of layers behind her — textbook, but skillful.

Segueing from “And So On”, an acoustic guitar kicks off “Don’t Panic Betty”, and you find the scheme of things playing itself out: songs and segues alternate from beginning to end, only dropping the ball abruptly every so often, in terms of smoothness on progression. Me Have Fun is a nearly instrumental piece by and large, with Kummerle serving as more of an additional instrument than a distinctive voice in the sea of sounds. There are elements of funk (“Hibiscus”, “Last Call”, “Window”), R&B (“Deep Sea”), Middle Eastern influence (“Paper Tiger”), and even the essence of Zero-7 (“Freezer”); these theme changes are minutiae to those who do not dabble in trip-hop regularly, but in instances where Kummerle comes to the forefront, she shines as daftly as Gottfried would fit in remixing a pop.

I would not consider anything lyrical here to be astounding, save a few lines on “Freezer”, but if you bought this album expecting trip-hop, the likelihood that lyrics were your main focus are slim to none, in retrospect.

To call this act the States’ answer to England’s own Portishead would be accurate and can contribute to discussion on the debut release of Me Have Fun in ways both good and bad. Will it transcend genres or make an everlasting shift known in the world of electronic music? Hardly, but there is no displeasure in listening, and definitely no harsh criticisms beyond a fine line betwixt derivation and inspiration. Kummerle’s and Gottfried’s individual projects and accolades lend credibility to anything either of them touch, and while Me Have Fun is substantially devoid of pop hooks or melancholy, Paper Tiger is a new phase for our two heroes, overall.

Pity the game’s already been saturated for some time. Here’s to hoping we’ll see King Britt make a mark alongside Paper Tiger in the near future?