Elizabeth and the Catapult CD release - Joe’s Pub (New York, NY; Jun. 11, 2009)

Sheltered music-nerd turned dynamic singer/songwriter Elizabeth Ziman looked at-home behind the piano in the intimate, sold-out confines of Joe’s Pub June 11th for a CD release performance. As the front-woman of Elizabeth & the Catapult, the somewhat-awkward yet still-captivating songstress led her band through a set of ballads and pop songs that could easily have served as the soundtrack of a Broadway musical.

Opening with her self-admitted favorite track “Apathy” (watch for our soon-to-be-released exclusive interview), Elizabeth immediately established control over the audience with powerful vocals and undeniable passion. At ease with their muse at the helm, bandmates Pete and Danny established their presence with soulful guitar progressions and infectious percussion. The Brooklyn-based, Boston-trained musicians danced their way through the set list with well-timed tempo changes and crowd-pleasing collaborations with surprise guests.

Most notable was the appearance of raspy samba singer Jeff Taylor (his MySpace page) on a playful duet reminiscent of an old-fashioned work song. Taylor’s intensity, matched by Ziman’s purity, provoked a stomping, clapping groove session that everyone was in on. As Ziman re-assumed leadership over the evening, she began to unwind and come into character. Her voice provided the narration of an on-going story driven as much by silly witticisms as heartfelt lyrics and metaphorical exclamations. 

The new album’s title track, “Taller Children” invoked a sort of Fiona Apple alter-ego that led to the angelic singer letting an F-bomb fly and a possessed look glaze over her. The song gave Ziman and the Catapult their rock-star moment for the evening. However, with various instrumentalists filtering on and off the stage, adding violins, trumpets, and a standing bass to the performance, the flawlessness of the group took a hit due to the sloppiness of their guests. A particularly excruciating technical delay prior to the cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Everybody Knows” watered down the appeal of their interpretation of the legendary tune.

Still, with red slippers and plaid dress, Elizabeth stormed back in true Dorothy fashion, taking full advantage of the insanely pure acoustics of the venue. Despite at times getting too loud for her own good, (particularly in her outcrying “Waiting for the Kill"), Ziman made the subtle adjustments necessary to smooth out her vocals in each case.

Perhaps most theatrically, the group brought Barnum & Bailey to life with “Perfectly Perfect”; utilizing the violin and accordion to stir up a carnival-crazed frenzy that Ziman rightfully described as, “a circus act with a midget . . . missing a finger.” Just as fun was “Race You,” recently used on a Nike Women’s website, and complete with swaying, clapping, and snapping that brought the audience back to their own childhood moments of revelry when such carefree behavior was commonplace.

The only real low-point of the night came as Elizabeth & the Catapult wrapped up the set with a series of encores. The first of these being an over-the-top rendition of “Lime in the Coconut” featuring opening act The Xylofolks in full animal costumes (their odd shtick) and another contribution by Jeff Taylor. After witnessing some very serious talent earlier in the night, it was somewhat disheartening to see the childish side of the performance water it down. While I can appreciate their unwillingness to take themselves too seriously and embrace a “rejuvenile” attitude, I also worry that they refuse to ever take themselves seriously enough and still cater too much to their family and friends in the audience rather than the global marketplace of ears.

When their “Rabbit Song” closed out the show, it was quite disappointing that such an incredibly gifted trio would avoid highlighting their full repertoire of musical mastery in exchange for a few cackles from the crowd. There is no doubt that seriousness and play can combine in the right mix to make for a beautiful performance. The balance between these elements will be crucial for their tours moving forward.

In the end, there is no question that this group has the chops to be a permanent fixture on the indie/pop scene. Elizabeth Ziman’s sultry bravado and classically developed range make her the ultimate artist à la a Roaring-20’s lounge singer crossed with a strange yet charming musical theater luminary. At the very least, Ziman has a future on Broadway and at the very best a few appearances with Danny & Pete on the Billboard Top 10. With praise already being given by the likes of NPR, Rolling Stone, and iTunes, the time is now for the refreshingly close trio of Elizabeth & the Catapult to truly launch into stardom. Catch them on tour June 19th-August 6th with a return to New York at the Bowery Ballroom on July 19th, or download their album by clicking the iTunes link, or for a physical copy at www.elizabethandthecaptapult.com.

DOWNLOAD: Elizabeth and the Catapult - Taller Children (MP3) or Follow us for more Elizabeth and the Catapult MP3s (Twitter)

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