Elizabeth and the Catapult 1018 On a very rainy Thursday night I talked with Elizabeth and the Catapult at Joe's Pub before their June 11th record release show of their debut album "Taller Children." After running a little late due to the deluge and a highway gravel spill, I found them backstage along with a massive fury bunny that was playing violin. There music is such a blend of wonderful string arrangements to folk-sounding melodies, and are the example modern singer-songwriters in a time of factory-pressed talent. <b>When did you start playing together?</b> Elizabeth: I definitely found Pete. I stalked him a little bit in Boston. He was playing in this awesome dirty, run down bar. Then after the show I ordered him to play with me and luckily he didn't think I was too weird. Then I met Danny. Danny: And then I sort of stalked her and said you have to let me be in your band. It took awhile, but it worked. Elizabeth: And now we're all here in a good stalking way. There were just a couple of shrines and burnt pictures of each other. <b>Where do you find inspiration for songs?</b> Danny: I think whats kept us together and what draws us together is that we all come from different places musically, but somehow they all meet up. We find ourselves liking the same bands, but I guess for different reasons. Maybe Elizabeth will come to the band with a song and it will sound a certain way. We might not change the song, but we'll change the way it started. Elizabeth:I think I have a little bit more of a classical influences from growing up and thinking I would be a crazy classical pianist, when I was locked in a room nerding out. And they're a little more rocking. Pete: I think we all come at songs from the interest of a songwriters aspect, but we each have our own twist on the arrangement aspect of it. Its almost the same story, but with three different authors. Elizabeth: I write a song that is so basic then we go as far as we can go with the arrangement. <b>How do you feel about tonight's record release/sold out show?</b> Elizabeth: We feel like we wanna fucking party and break out some yummy alcohol. We're all just excited, it's like reaching a new plateau and a new chapter...And hopefully we'll make some money. Danny: It's special too. I remember when we played our first show at Joe's Pub. We were so excited and happy to be here and I think this is just perfect, because this is such a celebration for us. Danny: We've been a band for almost five years. Elizabeth: Almost seventy years. Pete: Especially when it's a home town show our friends, are easily accessible[to jam]. Hahah. That's a lot of where our inspiration comes from too. Our friends are all ridiculously amazing musicians. Elizabeth: We just have to have a catapult collective when we play New York. <b>What about working with Mike Mogis on Taller Children?</b> Pete: Working with Mike was our certain dream situation. We didn't think we would work with him. Danny: It happened on accident too, because we were going to work with someone else and it didn't work out for whatever reason. And then all of a sudden we were like, 'Well what are we going to do now?' Then the phone call came from Mike Mogis. Elizabeth: He said, ' You know, you guys are really good musicians." <b>How was it working at Dan's home studio?</b> Danny: You know the luxury of recording at home is being able to do it over again and again until you get it right. But sometimes that can inhibit you a little, because you get caught up in yourself. We would record something with Mike and ask if we should do it again and he'd be like, 'No' and we'd say OK. Elizabeth: He was just really good about collaborating with a band that have been control freaks for a long time. Danny: He just wanted to make sure we were happy. <b>Will there be a catapult on tour this summer?</b> Danny: I wish! Elizabeth: I'm going to catapult Danny off Pete's shoulders! <b>What do you want to be told in the morning light?</b> Danny: I want someone to tell me that breakfast is waiting Elizabeth: I want somebody to tell me that we get to go fly kites all day and I have no work. Pete: Snow Day! 69 2009-06-13T23:32:29Z 2 0 1782 40.7292 -73.992 425 Lafayette St, New York, NY 2009-06-15T17:36:00Z 3 elizabeth-and-the-catapult-interview-and-record-release-party published 2009-06-15T17:56:07Z Joe's Pub 910