I had the benefit of seeing Elliott perform many times, several times in Toronto, once in Montreal, once in London and once in New York City. I got to see him perform solo, with Quasi as his backup and opening band, as well a few times during the xo tours. One time in a dimly lit Toronto club, I stood alone near the bar watching the opening band, and guess who walks up and stands right next to me? That's right, it was Elliott, checking out the opener as well (who was a local musician I in fact crossed paths with, she was just a solo act but very different from Elliott's style). I thought about saying something to the man who influenced me so greatly, but either could not muster the courage to say anything worthwhile or knew that he was the type who did not really want to be bothered with fans before going on stage. Either way, in hindsight, I feel sad that I did not just turn to him and ask him if I could buy him a beer or whiskey. Anyways, I know we will meet again some day. For now, R.I.P. you beautiful soul.
I listened to this back in 2013.. I got divorced and shortly after my mother passed away .. this video helped me through those times .. I’d listen to this everyday after work, with a pack of camel lights and a case of bud light, sometimes a bottle of Evan if I could afford it .. can’t believe that was ten years ago .. everything reminds me of her still 💔 much peace and love from Southern California .. it gets better, than worse again.. over and over till we pass on I suppose .. wish I could have hugged you Elliott .. I believe we both could have used it ..
I think this is one of the best ES live recordings on UA-cam-his vocals and guitar are on point. The setlist is great too! Been a repeat listener of this upload since 2013 and it's always a great listen. Thanks for making it available!
Just stumbled upon this. Been listening to Elliott since 2005 and have to say he's my favorite musician of all time. It's so wonderful hearing something that is so familiar yet slightly different in the live versions of his songs. Never saw him live obviously, but this is a real treat: thank you!
VERY impressed with this - this recording is clearest version of these songs lyrics I have ever heard. The only complaint I have is that some of his between song banter seems to have been removed. But yeah - really great to (finally) hear some of the lyrics and know exactly what he was saying without referring to a written copy of said lyrics!!!
I think this is the best live performance I ever heard from him, thanks so much! I consider him an absolute musical genius, a true master song writer. His guitar playing on this is sounds like two people it is so good. And I rarely hear anyone talk about how good his lyrics are. Sure, suicide is in almost every song , but he was so intelligent and crafty with his words. I miss him so much, but at least he left us so many masterpieces
You, Brian ... you very lucky man! I adore Elliott and his music... a real obsession... missing him so much... thank for posting ... beautiful words for Elliott, i didn't know him but I am sure he was a beautiful kind soul... we can get it listening to his songs ...
spellbinding, favourite artist of all time, the champion, this is probably the best live recording I have heard to date!!!! never heard this before today and my mind is blown by the quality and precision of this. My earphones are right up and my jaw is on the floor!!!! Elliott Smith you will always be the best in my mind and your fans are all totally rocking too!!!!! One Love X
let us leave Mary feel however she wants, gosh! Youth is a scam, you can never be "truly" young. On the other hand, you can always listen to ES's music and that's sort of really great. I also wish I had even the slightest chance to meet Elliott or see him perform live. :) Cheers to both of you.
elliott is something else, very consistent, I really like about 90% of all he wrote. I just can't think of any other artist with the same rate... not even the beatles Thanks a lot for the upload.
I'm hard pressed and empty handed, trying to think of a song of Elliott's that struck me as just a..."contract satisfier." Y'know, "need 6 more minutes before we've got an album, Elliott." _Sure, I'll slap something together tonight. Tomorrow we can play with some levels, be finished by lunch._ [He said disinterestedly.] That simply never happened. 💯 certain.
Amazing!Thank you so much..Never got to see him but love figuring his tunes out..Played Maxwells too and it's such a rough little venue..They fed us refried beans so not too bad I guess..
Btw, this is incredible, best hour I've had in a long while. Such nice quality, never heard his voice sound so soft and beautiful throughout this! Thank you so much for it. :)
I wrote an article on that. Very interesting stuff. Especially on the Figure 8 album.. (which is my favorite Elliott Smith album.) Man.. this is a good performance..
i've always loved elliott for his sad and sweet words. now i love elliot for his multifaceted guitar parts, which i somehow almost missed. has this happened to anyone else?
I haven't noticed the moon bit, but I agree one every other count. His bridges, his hooks, they're just amazing. Coast to Coast is my favorite example; it's just amazingly catchy but in a totally non-cheesy way, it's still an amazing piece of music.
elliott smith deserved so much more respect i know he had demons,the trouble i think some people including producers etc didnt give him enougn credit. becuase he surfferd with deppresion wich can creep up on any off us at any time in our lives.sometimes it feels like the black dog you just cant shake off,ihope when he closed the book, in his heart he knew what an insperration he was and still is this is my medicene. i hope your in a nice place man
Early when he was with Heatmiser he was with Johanna who also was like the Band's Manager....It was her that STOLE solo tapes of his and took them to a production company that turned into ROMAN CANDLE.....He was with her for quite sometime on and off....He Moved to NYC by himself....and had few different relationships but nothing of real extent....Most notable fling was with a lady named AMITY from which the song AMITY is about on the XO album...
Incredible POST....You don't BY CHANCE have this on a blog or site for downloading??? If interested I can point you to a BLOG that has a HQ Elliott @ The Cats Cradle show from 1999..... and to quoe Mr Smith ....Thankssssss Love the way he says THANKSSSSSS
This performance stands out to me. Elliott Smith is undoubtedly genius songwriter, but he definetyly played shows very messed up(which of all of the greats, Jimmy Page for example did. ) However it takes away from some of the performance at times. Not this time at all. I love Elliott Smith in the same way I love the Beatles. Thanks for posting this gem! GO SEE THE ELLIOTT SMITH DOCUMENTARY ALL FANS! I will go with any of you and become friends if you live in the state of Florida.
Justin Milner "Don't get blown up on new years or anything" Classic Elliott, I know that he is not here anymore, so I really hope he is somewhere else and that I get to cross paths with him when I am somewhere else too.
Justin Milner Actually Elliott only got bad into drugs and alcohol when he moved out to LA. I paid very close attention to "Heaven Adores You". It's the Elliott Smith Documentary. It has a soft melancholy that is sad but beautiful at the same time. I can't seem to learn enough about him though. It's very poetic the way he lived his life.
Never thought of his songs that way- was always just blown away. But geez, yes. Almost always true in songwriting- no bridge; no song. But for him in particular; the melodies- charmed, but droning. His fulcrums change it all. James Taylor is still the best, so far as I can tell, in writing bridges. Joni Mitchell delivers. In less prehistoric terms, Matty Scannell rules, with his ability to write a bridge that can turn on a dime. But Elliot Smith! Thanks for the insight; love him all the more now
Particulary I downloaded it by soulseek, it's a p2p program [slsknet.org]. But, of course there are many options when the subjet is get bootlegs of Elliott, like another p2p (i believe must known this) - BitTorrent (for dvds of him, it's a very nice choice). Though for this one, or even other concerts, there's an "easy way" to obtain some shows. With no secret, I've already inclueded the direct link at 0:54:00. "That's why". :)
After this his biggest relationship was with HEROIN, sadly enough. There was talk of him and Johanna but she was just torn up with what he had evolved into by that point...Now oddly enough he proposed to Jennifer Chiba like a week or two before he died...EVEN MORE ODD he was totally CLEAN (other than perscribed meds in the perscribed amount)...He wanted to finally have a child and decided he had to CLEAN to be a Parent..Obviously this is when the BASEMENT ON THE HILL was being worked on in 2003
yeah i noticed he mentions the moon quiet a bit i think its poetic musing. i could care less if someone rakes in a ton of money by releasing this for sell. you have the audio available to you, why not rip it? its actually something ive been meaning to do with his live stuff because i fear a lot of it might be taken down for copyright issues or something
As awesome as this show is, you can download it directly from archive.org and have been able to for years--and is most likely where the "uploader" got it from. Give credit to the taper who taped it long ago.
![Elliott Smith Acoustic Live - Black Cat, Washington DC - 1998 [audio only]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iTcaWpuoqqQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![Elliott Smith Acoustic Live - Black Cat, Washington DC - 1998 [audio only]](/img/tr.png)
![Elliott Smith - XO [live compilation - full album]](/img/n.gif)
I had the benefit of seeing Elliott perform many times, several times in Toronto, once in Montreal, once in London and once in New York City. I got to see him perform solo, with Quasi as his backup and opening band, as well a few times during the xo tours. One time in a dimly lit Toronto club, I stood alone near the bar watching the opening band, and guess who walks up and stands right next to me? That's right, it was Elliott, checking out the opener as well (who was a local musician I in fact crossed paths with, she was just a solo act but very different from Elliott's style). I thought about saying something to the man who influenced me so greatly, but either could not muster the courage to say anything worthwhile or knew that he was the type who did not really want to be bothered with fans before going on stage. Either way, in hindsight, I feel sad that I did not just turn to him and ask him if I could buy him a beer or whiskey. Anyways, I know we will meet again some day. For now, R.I.P. you beautiful soul.
Dude. You should have bought him a beer.
Elsbeth Steele Hindsight is 20/20! Maybe Ill get a chance to do it in my next life ;)
That's a very cool story. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing.
Just curios, who was the opener singer??
I listened to this back in 2013.. I got divorced and shortly after my mother passed away .. this video helped me through those times .. I’d listen to this everyday after work, with a pack of camel lights and a case of bud light, sometimes a bottle of Evan if I could afford it .. can’t believe that was ten years ago .. everything reminds me of her still 💔 much peace and love from Southern California .. it gets better, than worse again.. over and over till we pass on I suppose .. wish I could have hugged you Elliott .. I believe we both could have used it ..
Thanks for your comment. I’m so sorry, my deepest sympathies. 🌻
❤
Almost 2025 and I’m still here .. I appreciate this video so much! Thank you !!
Coming Up Roses
I love this so much
Just when I thought I've heard the best live performance
I always find new with Elliott
Dearly missed
And adored
absolutely i could not say it better - fuck religion - i have elliott
This was on my 19th birthday. God I wish I had known about him back then.
This was the first time I heard him do everything means nothing to me on guitar instead of piano.Thanks!
Help, I've been listening to Elliott Smith since junior high and I can't stop! I need an intervention. I need someone to stop me - physically stop me.
hope you're still listening to him 7 years later
@@julescastel No doubt
lmfao...me too...me too man.
its at times like this when you realise how many fantastic songs this guys writen
every song
I think this is one of the best ES live recordings on UA-cam-his vocals and guitar are on point. The setlist is great too! Been a repeat listener of this upload since 2013 and it's always a great listen. Thanks for making it available!
Just stumbled upon this. Been listening to Elliott since 2005 and have to say he's my favorite musician of all time. It's so wonderful hearing something that is so familiar yet slightly different in the live versions of his songs. Never saw him live obviously, but this is a real treat: thank you!
I love the end "Don't get blown up" lol the whole Y2K craze. Then it's just too cute when he says "have a good time bye"
He nails every guitar part!! and they're super complex. Everything reminds me of her is amazing.Genius, and missed.xo
Absolutely beautiful!
This is a really great concert. And good quality also.
thank you for uploading this.
Thank you so much for posting this - actually crying listening to "White Lady" - how amazing he is and what comfort he gives us all....
"What I used to be will pass away and then you'll see..."
This recording is absolutely on point. Another gift from Elliott. Gives my dead heart a little beat. Thank you so much.
VERY impressed with this - this recording is clearest version of these songs lyrics I have ever heard. The only complaint I have is that some of his between song banter seems to have been removed. But yeah - really great to (finally) hear some of the lyrics and know exactly what he was saying without referring to a written copy of said lyrics!!!
I think this is the best live performance I ever heard from him, thanks so much! I consider him an absolute musical genius, a true master song writer. His guitar playing on this is sounds like two people it is so good. And I rarely hear anyone talk about how good his lyrics are. Sure, suicide is in almost every song , but he was so intelligent and crafty with his words. I miss him so much, but at least he left us so many masterpieces
Holy shit.... Last Call is so perfect. I love all Elliott Smith everything, but that's the best recording I've ever heard of Last Call....
A true hidden jewel. Everytime I bump into recordings like this I feel like he's right next to me. Thank you!
You, Brian ... you very lucky man! I adore Elliott and his music... a real obsession... missing him so much... thank for posting ... beautiful words for Elliott, i didn't know him but I am sure he was a beautiful kind soul... we can get it listening to his songs ...
thank you Alyne Isabelle. lived there at the time, saw many col show's at Maxwelles (can picture myself here), but, was not in attendance.
spellbinding, favourite artist of all time, the champion, this is probably the best live recording I have heard to date!!!! never heard this before today and my mind is blown by the quality and precision of this. My earphones are right up and my jaw is on the floor!!!! Elliott Smith you will always be the best in my mind and your fans are all totally rocking too!!!!!
One Love X
I miss that Guy so very much . I saw him just twice in Paris, what a beautiful soul
Fuck, I live 10 minutes away from Hoboken. But why did I have to be so young in '99. I wish I had the chance to see him
cherish your youth
let us leave Mary feel however she wants, gosh! Youth is a scam, you can never be "truly" young. On the other hand, you can always listen to ES's music and that's sort of really great. I also wish I had even the slightest chance to meet Elliott or see him perform live. :) Cheers to both of you.
Absolute beautiful.
beautiful audio quality thank you
The Biggest Lie...jesus...that song brings me to my knees. Absolutely heartbreaking.
elliott is something else, very consistent, I really like about 90% of all he wrote. I just can't think of any other artist with the same rate... not even the beatles
Thanks a lot for the upload.
I'm hard pressed and empty handed, trying to think of a song of Elliott's that struck me as just a..."contract satisfier." Y'know, "need 6 more minutes before we've got an album, Elliott."
_Sure, I'll slap something together tonight. Tomorrow we can play with some levels, be finished by lunch._ [He said disinterestedly.]
That simply never happened. 💯 certain.
Can't Make A Sound is just fantastic
Thanks for upload
This was definitely one of his greatest performances that I know of. Thanks for sharing this.
Amazing!Thank you so much..Never got to see him but love figuring his tunes out..Played Maxwells too and it's such a rough little venue..They fed us refried beans so not too bad I guess..
Wish I'd found this sooner unbelievable quality of recording and playing from elliott
OMG I thought I had every lives with good quality. But this one was missing. Thx so much.
It seems that he's singing just for me.
Cannot believe I haven't seen this upload before! Amazing quality - thanks for uploading!
Btw, this is incredible, best hour I've had in a long while. Such nice quality, never heard his voice sound so soft and beautiful throughout this! Thank you so much for it. :)
Been coming here every night to get my Elliott Smith fix. Thanks for uploading this!!
I wrote an article on that. Very interesting stuff. Especially on the Figure 8 album.. (which is my favorite Elliott Smith album.) Man.. this is a good performance..
Thank you for sharing, isabelle
i've always loved elliott for his sad and sweet words. now i love elliot for his multifaceted guitar parts, which i somehow almost missed. has this happened to anyone else?
Absolutely.
I haven't noticed the moon bit, but I agree one every other count. His bridges, his hooks, they're just amazing. Coast to Coast is my favorite example; it's just amazingly catchy but in a totally non-cheesy way, it's still an amazing piece of music.
Heavy
ps. thanks for posting this.... You just made me very happy :)
That Jon Brion song is really good!
Très beau
What a great version. Thanks!
Good lord! That acoustic son of sam! Haven't come across it before
thanks for this footage
thanks a lot for this. incredible quality!
thank you for uploading
elliott smith deserved so much more respect i know he had demons,the trouble i think some people including producers etc didnt give him enougn credit. becuase he surfferd with deppresion wich can creep up on any off us at any time in our lives.sometimes it feels like the black dog you just cant shake off,ihope when he closed the book, in his heart he knew what an insperration he was and still is this is my medicene. i hope your in a nice place man
I Appreciate his care for George.
Great quality
This was amazing. Thank you.
this is amazing!
greattttttttt music! thanks!
well done. would have preferred video to go along but the sound quality captures Elliott so well.
thanx from a diehard fan
Awesome whisteling
thank you , so much.....
very cool. Thanks for the upload!
46:32 lmaooo i was dead laughing when i heard that. "did you know that?". RIP
Thank you!!!
So good.
MERCI
fantastic guitar
this is absolute gold
Happy Birthday, Elliott.
amazing
This is gold!
Early when he was with Heatmiser he was with Johanna who also was like the Band's Manager....It was her that STOLE solo tapes of his and took them to a production company that turned into ROMAN CANDLE.....He was with her for quite sometime on and off....He Moved to NYC by himself....and had few different relationships but nothing of real extent....Most notable fling was with a lady named AMITY from which the song AMITY is about on the XO album...
thank you so much :)
You're the best!!!!!!!
oh yes he was just the best. mis ya bro.
Incredible POST....You don't BY CHANCE have this on a blog or site for downloading??? If interested I can point you to a BLOG that has a HQ Elliott @ The Cats Cradle show from 1999..... and to quoe Mr Smith ....Thankssssss Love the way he says THANKSSSSSS
While listening to this, I'm beginning to feel like Figure 8 should have been done this way
I love how at the end the audience is screaming for Christian brothers, because that is exactly what I would be cheering for if I was there.
"Trouble" actually at 46:41.
why is elliott so amazing?
You can get the show from archive.org. Search google for archive.org elliott smith maxwells
Meow, loves Elliott meow! xo
This performance stands out to me. Elliott Smith is undoubtedly genius songwriter, but he definetyly played shows very messed up(which of all of the greats, Jimmy Page for example did. ) However it takes away from some of the performance at times. Not this time at all. I love Elliott Smith in the same way I love the Beatles. Thanks for posting this gem! GO SEE THE ELLIOTT SMITH DOCUMENTARY ALL FANS! I will go with any of you and become friends if you live in the state of Florida.
Justin Milner "Don't get blown up on new years or anything" Classic Elliott, I know that he is not here anymore, so I really hope he is somewhere else and that I get to cross paths with him when I am somewhere else too.
Justin Milner Actually Elliott only got bad into drugs and alcohol when he moved out to LA. I paid very close attention to "Heaven Adores You". It's the Elliott Smith Documentary. It has a soft melancholy that is sad but beautiful at the same time. I can't seem to learn enough about him though. It's very poetic the way he lived his life.
this is nice
Never thought of his songs that way- was always just blown away. But geez, yes. Almost always true in songwriting- no bridge; no song. But for him in particular; the melodies- charmed, but droning. His fulcrums change it all. James Taylor is still the best, so far as I can tell, in writing bridges. Joni Mitchell delivers. In less prehistoric terms, Matty Scannell rules, with his ability to write a bridge that can turn on a dime. But Elliot Smith! Thanks for the insight; love him all the more now
good god i want to be at this show.. lucky bastards
Don't forget the phrase 'coast to coast' and 'pictures'.
Jealous Guy by John Lennon. ♥️
pic at 5:01 looks like thomas edison
Particulary I downloaded it by soulseek, it's a p2p program [slsknet.org].
But, of course there are many options when the subjet is get bootlegs of Elliott, like another p2p (i believe must known this) - BitTorrent (for dvds of him, it's a very nice choice).
Though for this one, or even other concerts, there's an "easy way" to obtain some shows. With no secret, I've already inclueded the direct link at 0:54:00. "That's why". :)
♡
i miss you so much. but ive got to stay here without you.
Maxwells is soon to be gone :(
It seems that Archive.org doesn't have the correct first file (for Son of Sam)... Does anyone have the right one?
I thought this was going to be a Elliott/Smiths mashup haha
Sweet jesus
After this his biggest relationship was with HEROIN, sadly enough. There was talk of him and Johanna but she was just torn up with what he had evolved into by that point...Now oddly enough he proposed to Jennifer Chiba like a week or two before he died...EVEN MORE ODD he was totally CLEAN (other than perscribed meds in the perscribed amount)...He wanted to finally have a child and decided he had to CLEAN to be a Parent..Obviously this is when the BASEMENT ON THE HILL was being worked on in 2003
Huh?
yeah i noticed he mentions the moon quiet a bit i think its poetic musing.
i could care less if someone rakes in a ton of money by releasing this for sell. you have the audio available to you, why not rip it? its actually something ive been meaning to do with his live stuff because i fear a lot of it might be taken down for copyright issues or something
Just curious, would you mind if I took the audio and seperated the tracks and made it possible for others to get copies of this?
As awesome as this show is, you can download it directly from archive.org and have been able to for years--and is most likely where the "uploader" got it from. Give credit to the taper who taped it long ago.
Hello sir, may I use that in my song?