Paper Tigers claw into campus scene

By Theresa Lawson

Two voices filter through the windows of Trumbull College, as Shannon Morrison, TC '00, and David Tittle, MC '99, put the finishing touches on their newest song. On Fri., Feb. 13 at 8 p.m., they will perform in the Trumbull College Common Room as the newest musical duo to grace Yale's campus. Calling themselves Paper Tigers, Morrison and Tittle have been playing together for a year, and first performed publicly several weeks ago at Six Feet Under. Describing their sound as "hard core folk," Paper Tigers got their name from an Indigo Girls song. Tittle explained, "[Our name] is a symbol of weakness and strength, [and] an apt representation of our music. The lyrics that we write are often about our own fragility but are presented in a strong way. There's something very powerful about putting forth your deepest emotions in this medium."

LIZ OLINER/YH Local folk heroes Shannon Morrison, TC '00, and David Tittle, MC '99, plan to stick around.

Although Tittle tends to write most of the group's lyrics while Morrison is responsible for the bulk of the music (he plays guitar and piano), their songs are "definitely a collaborative effort." When asked where they get their song ideas, the two look at one another and laugh. "We're both emotional people," Morrison said.

Tittle concurred. "Angst abounds," he noted. The subjects of their songs vary from love and faith to sexuality and homelessness. "We come at things from such disparate angles: he's from California, I'm from Maine; he's straight, I'm gay," Morrison explained. "We draw from our different perspectives to express ourselves through music."

So what led Paper Tigers to perform publicly? "It was a natural progression," Tittle said. "We've been playing for our friends for about a year now. They encouraged us." The group's new manager Nicole Diamond, MC '99, confirmed this statement. "I've been listening to these two since they first started working together, and I'm so glad they're finally letting the rest of Yale see how wonderful they are."

For Morrison and Tittle, it is the music that keeps them going. "I love working with David because he helps me...say what I want to say creatively," Morrison said. "There's no way we could do this without being close friends. We can pour our hearts into these songs and not feel judged."

Tittle agreed. "That's what makes it worth it, those moments when we can look at each other and say, `Yeah, that's it.' And we can be doing that in a cramped music room or performing in the Calhoun Cabaret."

Morrison and Tittle are definitely appreciative of their growing audience. "[It was] one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done at Yale," Tittle said of the group's first performance. "We had such a great time, and the best thing about it was that everyone had a great time with us." Added Morrison, "It was really a blessing, that's the only way I can describe it." Tittle laughed, "To be honest, I still can't get over the response that we're getting to all of this. It doesn't quite make sense to me yet."

And what about the future of Paper Tigers? The question maked both Morrison and Tittle pause. When Morrison finally replied, his answer was optimistic. "Our current plan is to keep playing gigs, and eventually to record an album," he said. With negotiations in the works to perform at both Bulldog Days and Spring Fling, the group has a busy semester ahead. Tittle smiled. "We'll be around," he promised.

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