Elizabeth & the Catapult captures the attention of a hometown Brooklyn crowd

September 3, 2009, at the Williamsburg Hall of Music

By Adrienne Urbanski
Published: September 6th, 2009 | 3:00pm

Being a band more familiar with skill and subtlety than screams and sloppy guitar work can work against you, leaving you passed by audiences with short attention spans. However, Brooklyn-based Elizabeth & the Catapault successfully roused the large crowd at the Williamsburg Hall of Music, as they filled the small venue with their infectious energy. Lead singer Elizabeth Ziman cut her classically-trained vocals with just enough sarcasm and wry truths to make the music compelling for rock fans used to much messier compositions.

Opening act Jeff Taylor seemed to be an appropriate fit, as his ever versatile vocals beared a striking similarity to those of Ziman. Taylor successfully carried out both rousing rock numbers and slow-paced, blues-flavored numbers, his voice suited well for each style. Ziman and her bandmates commented on the complementary fit between the two acts and deemed it their “desert island line up.” Guitarist Pete Lalish jokingly added that, in his perfect world, Slayer would also be on the bill.

Elizabeth & the Catapult opened with popular songs “Momma’s Boy” and “Perfectly Perfect.” Despite the slowness of the number, the engaged and appreciative audience danced about. Ziman smiled and said, “Seeing people rocking out to a song like ‘Perfectly Perfect’ just makes my heart all fuzzy.” The crowd became especially excited, releasing cheers and sashaying, when the band finally played their best-known hit, from this year's Verve-released album of the same name, “Taller Children” — a song that comments on how little we truly mature between childhood and adulthood.

The concert reached its true height when Ziman invited Taylor to join her back onstage, Taylor’s deeper vocals proving to be a perfect mesh with hers. The two sang several soul and blues numbers, their voices so full together that on multiple numbers they sang a capella. After the charmed crowd demanded an encore, the band returned once again with Taylor to sing the age-old American folk song, “John the Rabbit,” as Taylor and Ziman added their own seemingly improvised verses.

While Elizabeth & the Catapault is an undeniably gifted band, it takes an appreciative audience suited for subtlety to truly give them the attention and gratitude they deserve. Thankfully, playing their home borough, the band received just that.

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For more photos from this show visit Venus Zine’s Flickr page

Elizabeth & the Catapult official site

Elizabeth & the Catapult MySpace page

Verve Music Group