The Bowery Presents

Music Hall of Williamsburg upcoming shows

Elizabeth and The Catapult / Jeff Taylor

Michael Daves

Venue:
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Date:
Thu 9/03
Notes:
18+
Doors: 8:00 PM / Show: 9:00 PM
$12 advance / $14 day of show
Tickets
Elizabeth & The Catapult
official website
myspace
The title of Elizabeth and the Catapult's Verve Forecast debut album Taller Children reflects the unique blend of pop playfulness and grown-up introspection that defines Ziman's distinctive songwriting. Such memorable originals as "Rainiest Day of Summer," "Apathy," "The Hang Up" and "Hit the Wall" embody a vibrant mix of open-hearted wonder, whimsical humor and forthright emotional insight, merging classic pop melodicism with an array of acoustic textures, jazz twists and orchestral flourishes.

The quality of the songs—including a memorable reading of the Leonard Cohen classic "Everybody Knows" —is matched by intimate, effortlessly soulful performances by the Brooklyn trio, which also includes guitarist Pete Lalish and drummer Danny Molad.

Although the bulk of Taller Children was recorded with producer Mike Mogis (noted for his work with the likes of Bright Eyes, M. Ward and Rilo Kiley), several of the album's performances were drawn from the homespun demos that the band recorded in drummer Molad's home studio. The resulting album strikes a vital balance between lush sophistication (with such elements as Ziman's elegant string arrangements) and spare, unadorned simplicity.

The qualities that make Taller Children such a refreshing surprise have already made Elizabeth and the Catapult a beloved favorite on New York's downtown club scene, where the threesome's winsome tunes and energetic, surprise-filled live shows have won them a large and devoted local fan base.

Elizabeth's warmly personal songs reflect the diverse influences of her lifelong pursuit of music. She grew up in New York's Greenwich Village, just down the street from the Cafe Wha? and the Fat Black Pussycat, where her future heroes Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell got their start.
Jeff Taylor
official website
myspace
To call Jeff Taylor quirky may be The Understatement Of The Year. The 6’5” sinewy-strong entertainer is a handsome devil known for his Gumby-like flexibility on stage and unorthodox

time signatures, beat boxes, and esoteric lyrics. While performing, Jeff’s freakish mannerisms and piercing stare often make him appear like a man possessed.

If forced to draw comparisons, we could say Jeff is a more eccentric Beck meets early Radiohead. Disturbingly entertaining and engaging, Mr. Taylor’s energy is electric. He is backed by an all-star cast of band mates: Percussionist Mark Guiliana (Avi Shai Cohen), Neal Persianni on bass (Semi Precious Weapons) and multi-instrumentalist Rob Hecht (fiddle, baritone sax,harmonies). The band provides the perfect soundscape for Mr. Taylor’s unfettered, nerd-ballistic live performances. This is, after all the

kid who was caught bird whistling (just one of his signature oddities) during a feist soundcheck at town hall and was later

invited on stage by the band to accompany them for a song. Taylor has also guested during performances with Matisyahu and Michelle Ndegeocello.

Look out for his debut release on Rockwood Music Hall Records in 2009.
Michael Daves
myspace
Michael was born in 1977 in the southern empire of Atlanta, Georgia. Soon after, he began to make loud noises, so his loving parents put music instruments in front of him. It was a good plan. He grew up in that grand tradition of staying up late & singing real loud. Although he's since moved north, the humid south remains in heart and sinus cavities

Currently Michael lives in New York, where he is supervised by his daughter and two vigorous cats. Brooklyn, New York is a very exciting place to live. In addition to playing music & teaching, Michael enjoys turning the knobs & playing with the buttons some on several pieces of recording equipment. This is why he put a studio into his house.

As well as performing solo, Michael has appeared in public with the likes of: Tony Trischka, Chris Thile, Rosanne Cash, Natalie MacMaster, and John Herald (of the Greenbrier Boys).

Amen.

Sometimes people write things about Michael:

"a virtuoso"

"a leading light of the New York bluegrass scene"

"a dazzling guitarist and fearless singer at the heart of a burgeoning New York City bluegrass scene"

-New York Times

"By gracefully weaving in and out of fast and slow numbers and keeping his listeners on their toes, Daves proves Live at the Rockwood has something for just about everyone. With nothing more than an acoustic guitar, an impressive vocal range and a love, respect and understanding of good ol'time American music, he shows us just how fantastic a single performer can be."

-Elmore Magazine (Nov '08)

"Guitarist-singer Michael Daves, 29, was a wilder revelation. A Georgia boy relocated to Brooklyn, N.Y., he knows both bluegrass and rock. Daves owns a nasal, yipping voice that seems to have escaped from some crazed hillbilly past. With his hair flopping and his thick eyeglasses slipping, he looks like a mad uncle just let out of the attic. His guitar work was so intense and jolting, and his voice such a yelping cry from the heart, he seemed a punk-grass force of nature. "

-Boston Herald
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