Rock Paper Scissors: music without boundaries

The addresses of Fairfield-grown musicians Gemma Cohen, Miranda Mallard and Darla Murphy of folk-rock band Rock Paper Scissors are separated by state lines, country borders and one very large ocean.

The distance ? which reaches out farther than 5,000 miles between two of the musicians ? has nonetheless done little to halt collaboration. Together, the three have written 12 original songs over the past few months using computer programs such as Apple GarageBand to e-mail their ideas back and forth.

?I have just been inspired to write songs, even if we?re not working together,? says Murphy. ?In France, I would hang out in my apartment and write songs ? I think that inspired them to work on it, too.?

The three women, whose songs have garnered more than 100,000 views on Youtube, finally got to perform their new music, as well as a few of the group?s old favorites, Tuesday night at Cafe Paradiso. They are performing two final shows at 8 p.m. tonight and Thursday in the cafe.

For what could be their final shows, Mallard is playing accordion, trumpet and piano; Murphy is on guitar and bass; and Cohen also will tickle a little bass ? which she began playing just three weeks ago ? to accompany the trio?s crooning.

For the full story, read the Dec. 29, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.