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THE BAND
Detroit's Paper Tiger is an energetic two-piece rock band that delivers simple melodic tunes with a raw punk attitude. Maureen Maki (guitar, vocals) and Neil Yee (drums, vocals) create a full band sound while sticking to the basics of good simple pop songs about raw emotions and typical teenage angst. Paper Tiger's honest approach to music and songwriting is the good feeling goojallee yum yum stuff that rock should be made of. Drawing on influences such as Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, Velvet Underground, and Roxy Music, Paper Tiger makes you feel the music and hum along or scream and yell out your latest relationship boo-hoo.
Though unable to be serious for any length of time (even a paragraph?) the two "friends" have managed to sustain this project (Paper Tiger) for over a year and are continuing with total attitude and commitment to rock stardom seen only rarely by the likes of other Detroit die hards such as ICP, Iggy Pop, and Kid Rock.
THE PRESS
PAPER TIGER review of CD "Hoopla"
"Paper Tiger's Maureen Maki (guitar, vocals, sneers) and Neil Yee (drums and smiles) have hatched their plan for rock's duo-based future: herky-jerky rhythm rock, alternately beguiling and hyperexpressive vocals and a punkity-rockity energy that rules! Dude!"
-Chris Handyside, Metro Times, March 8-14, 2000
"It seems that Detroit's (heck, the world's) favorite clown rappers, ICP have purchase sampling rights to the Paper Tiger song, "Sky" (which Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J heard on Paper Tiger's unreleased demo tape.) .... Hopefully, you'll hear bits and pieces of "Sky" on ICP's next full-length (and, hopefully, you'll hear the whole thing on Paper Tiger's as-yet-unrecorded debut full-length)."
-Chris Handyside, Metro Times, January 19-25, 2000
"Like Beat Happening, but with a bigger sound and better stage presence -ok, so comparisons aren't always the best way to talk about a band, but you gotta admit that if minimal pop-punk is your bag, Paper Tiger is your band."
-Chris Handyside, Metro Times, March 10-16, 1999
"Seems like you can't walk down the street nowadays without tripping over a stripped-down rock 'n' roll duo."
-Greg Baise, Metro Times, July 7-13, 1999
"Taking the spotlight prior to the Witches was newcomer Paper Tiger. A two piece, they feature Maureen Maki on guitar and vocals and Neil Yee on drums and some vocals. All songs are written by the band who term their material 'stripped down dreamy pop.' The music is simple and melodic with a raw, crunchy guitar sound. This Paper Tiger's got teeth!"
-Top Kat, Real Detroit, August 26 -September 2, 1999
THE PERSONNEL
Maureen Maki has been making paintings and calling herself a visual artist for quite a few years now. Her career as a visual artist has always existed right alongside her devotion to rock and roll. In the early 90's she was running Club Heidelberg, Ann Arbor's underground hot spot for all the Sub-Pop alternative shit later to be labeled grunge by the media. After all that hoopla, Maureen decided she might as well be making the music along with the goofy gals and guys crashing on her couch every weekend. She continues to paint pictures and often includes her guitar in the mix.
Artist Web Site: www.maureenmaki.com e-mail Maureen
Neil Yee is sound guy extrodinaire, proprietor and genius behind The Gold Dollar, Detroit's coolest underground club, computer geek guy, and a kickin' musician and drummer to boot. Yee's earlier bands 249 and Ion's Escort reached fame in Madison, Wisconsin and Detroit, Michigan. He continues to showcase all the music too adventurous for anyone else to book along with a smattering of local rock celebrities at his cool laid back secret Detroit club, the Gold Dollar. His decision to run with Paper Tiger has changed his life.
Business Web Site: www.golddollar.com e-mail Neil
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