For a longest time I was afraid to watch these later performances but this is beautiful. Reminds me of the Leonard Cohen line: "Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack, in everything. That’s how the light gets in."
It's funny. I still distinctly remember that guy yelling this during the show. There was something incredibly surreal about being there. I'm glad someone captured video so now I'm sure it actually happened.
This video is school for everyone who wants to learn how to play his songs. Whoever filmed this (the uploader?) is a genius for zooming in on his fretting hand. Thanks so much!!
"Get a back bone" .... Huh? What.. get a back bone?.. wow.. I could tell you a dream I had.. apart from that I couldn't be more for fucking real.... Ok I'll try... "Elliot Smith R. I. P my friend
All of my life my grandfather had a guitar that he would break out occasionally and play. When I turned 14 I started to learn to play. When I turned 25 (2004) my grandfather passed away and left me his guitar. For years I didn’t play it bc it reminded me of him and it had this huge sound that I wasn’t accustomed to. Discovered Elliott in 2012 or so and started learning some of his stuff. It took me a while to realize this was the EXACT same model that my grandfather had left me. I put new pegs and a better nut on it with some new strings of course and gave this thing new life. Best sounding guitar I’ve ever owned. And I now own a Martin. That model Yamaha just has a unique rich sound that not even a solid wood top can match. Idk how they did that but I am grateful. And thank you Grandaddy. Miss and love you
It’s one of the tracks he was making that I can’t find in his earliest years. He was refinishing a lot of his early unreleased works in the basement. “Memory Lane” seems completely made for the album and his little lyrical reference is classic Elliott professionalism. “Kings Crossing”was previously a song called, “three.” Elliott recorded with the, “Murder of Crows”, handle.
As to Elliott’s appearance in this video he looks more like someone who is struggling with a personal injury than someone wasted on drugs. Though Cat Powers may have exaggerated or had some facts wrong Elliott was injured in a scuffle with the police at a Flaming Lips/Beck concert on 25 November 2002. He had some kind of reaction from the pain medication prescribed after the incident. As someone who suffers from chronic pain and spasms and tight muscles I see a physically injured person here. Elliott was also under a lot of stress because the legal issues from this encounter, though improved, were still not fully settled.
"Plainclothes Man" is one of my favorite Elliott Smith songs, way back from Heatmiser days, and seeing this recording of it was excellent. On his worst day, he was still amazing. Somehow I'd missed this video before tonight.
It’s a painful tune but extremely powerful and easily digestible to individuals who are harsh self critics and who have experienced abuse. It’s gotta angsty youthful sorta glow to it.
took me 20 years :-) Just try Memory Lane, so much fun to play.After a couple of additional years. Not sure you can fully appreciate the genius of ES unless you actually have tried to play his songs.
Elliott is still my best musician. He's got such a wonderful voice and very kind heart. The most beautiful human I've ever met. I can't thank you enough, Elliott. XO XO XO
I've seen comments from you on other Elliott videos. They always make my heart hurt (in a good way). I was very young when he was making music, so I never got to see him play music live. But he's still my favorite musician ever. From your comments, you can feel the huge love you have for him. I hope you're doing well ❤️
Despite being a true original he's also the perfect amalgamation of macartney Lennon Neil young Dylan Wilson and Syd Barrett. Probably why I love him so
I do feel sad for the man who is clearly an empathetic and sensitive person. The difficulty he had was he used his art to explore hurt and vulnerable parts of himself. I think that can leave you exposed when you share these things and also it creates a identity crisis, where the personal nature of your art becomes public. I know they werent autobiographical songs but his pain was being expressed for better and worse. I think he ended up having something to live up to, which can be such a burden. Sometimes the only way to heal is to find a place where you can fall apart safely. Thank you i hope you have found peace elliott
He is the best！ (*^^*) I've been a big fan of his since 1996. I feel so happy because he looked so happy! I'd like to thank his father, Mr.Gary Smith too. Thank you very very very much ! XO 💖
I was there with my sister. It was my third time seeing him. I cried once or twice. It was truly being in the presence of greatness. Before the show he was casually walking around in the front amidst the crowd. No one bothered him. I love him. His death was one celebrity death that really hit me hard. Still saddens me so much.
I think by painful he meant, tough to watch... Just because like he said, he seems so fragile here, and this was in May 03, so close to the end... But yes, definitely enjoyable.
The guy screaming i hate my life right before St ides heaven could've so easily been me. But I never knew of him when he was alive but this is true inspiration. He has an influence on my personal writing. Hail to the king of singer songwriters !
It's nice to hear 2 things in this late career show; healthy Elliott hitting his marks and songs etc. But the crowd just going nuts when a particular favorite comes up... In the early live stuff he captures and kidnaps the crowd near every time, but here he's their HERO. That's something every talented person plagued with doubt or depression should experience at least once. (For their talent...)
The people who were able to see him live are so lucky. He died when i was 2 and i discovered him 6 years ago. Still obsessed with him. Still sketch him all the time. Man, it sucks so much.
You’re lucky to have gotten this though. Elliotts appeal is very familiar with the concept of pain. If he were still around maybe he would not have had the same impact. Elliott is a legendary Romantic composer from the postmodern era. His tragic death is a big part of his legacy and the appeal of fans.
sounds like you need to listen to some more of his live shows if you think this is one of his most painful. Check out his last few shows in 2001 when he can't even finish a song.
This is just magical! Thanks for doing this Ben but you should have still included the last two songs with a still picture or whatever for those of us without access to the audio bootlegs. The sound quality is brilliant. I want to hear Blackbird please? Wonderful rendition of Pretty :)
Something dark about his key in memory lane. Lower register; easier to sing live, but many of the melody resolutions go down instead up...iunno, it seemed to me, anyway. I like it.
If his dad feels that way he should release Abused, Taking A Fall, Stickman, and all the other finished studio tracks he won’t allow official release of due to the lyrics. And these songs are AMAZING.
Ebbtide42 ah sorry you are 100% correct I’m sorry I didn’t make that distinction. Step dad. Who Elliott accused of abuse. And wrote a song about called “abused.” He believed it happened enough to tell his mom about it a couple months before he died.
Im gonna order, "Copete" from netflix. May Philliop Hoffman rest in peace. I`v never seen a movie that he didn`t make better. Like Elliott it`s a horrible loss that shocks the system. Damn it all.
I think I was at this show? I was still living in Austin then, and I can't imagine I would have missed this... I just can't remember. I seem to have vague memories of the show, and being disappointed that it wasn't a full band show and that he played a bunch of songs I didn't know... Also: this was the second Steamboat location, and it was crap compared to the first one (which was on 6th Street).
![Elliott Smith Acoustic Live - Black Cat, Washington DC - 1998 [audio only]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/iTcaWpuoqqQ/mqdefault.jpg)
in case anyone was wondering who filmed this: it was me! I ran out of battery for the encore:too bad!)
I even brought my mother with me!
I was there, it was magical.
@@damianhood8459 your a good son
true thanks for zooming in on the frets and his fingerwork
cheers man, you just made the internet a little bit better
For a longest time I was afraid to watch these later performances but this is beautiful. Reminds me of the Leonard Cohen line: "Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack, a crack, in everything.
That’s how the light gets in."
"play whatever you want" - a good dude
Thanks. You seem cool too.
It's funny. I still distinctly remember that guy yelling this during the show. There was something incredibly surreal about being there. I'm glad someone captured video so now I'm sure it actually happened.
He might aswell there all amazing. not one bad song
And then he plays my favorite song
I feel for him here, obviously feeling rough. The vocals are haunting
Elliott knew how to touch the soul. For this he paid a heavy price. Thank you Elliott.
Nah, he deserved better, his life and death should not be romanticized .
RIP Elliott Smith
This video is school for everyone who wants to learn how to play his songs. Whoever filmed this (the uploader?) is a genius for zooming in on his fretting hand. Thanks so much!!
indeed it is! this is the video i always come back to practice and perfect my playing, so many details captured!
"Get a back bone" .... Huh? What.. get a back bone?.. wow.. I could tell you a dream I had.. apart from that I couldn't be more for fucking real.... Ok I'll try... "Elliot Smith R. I. P my friend
.....i can't pass day without listening to his voice.....XO
Satellite is so fucking good
was looking for this comment
All of my life my grandfather had a guitar that he would break out occasionally and play. When I turned 14 I started to learn to play. When I turned 25 (2004) my grandfather passed away and left me his guitar. For years I didn’t play it bc it reminded me of him and it had this huge sound that I wasn’t accustomed to. Discovered Elliott in 2012 or so and started learning some of his stuff. It took me a while to realize this was the EXACT same model that my grandfather had left me. I put new pegs and a better nut on it with some new strings of course and gave this thing new life. Best sounding guitar I’ve ever owned. And I now own a Martin. That model Yamaha just has a unique rich sound that not even a solid wood top can match. Idk how they did that but I am grateful. And thank you Grandaddy. Miss and love you
That's such a great story, what guitar model was it?
@@jimtroeltsch5998 yamaha fg 180 i believe.
Ironic you say this. Check out the band Grandaddy. You'll like them if you like Elliott. Your signoff might have taught you about another thing.
@anonymouse4138 ahh I too assumed at first he was talking about THE Granddaddy,. How strange
Beautiful sad my throat and eyes tell me how close pain and beauty can be.
memory lane is phenomenal.
was just thinking that @6.25
It’s one of the tracks he was making that I can’t find in his earliest years. He was refinishing a lot of his early unreleased works in the basement. “Memory Lane” seems completely made for the album and his little lyrical reference is classic Elliott professionalism. “Kings Crossing”was previously a song called, “three.” Elliott recorded with the, “Murder of Crows”, handle.
I imagine Elliott to be in a sweet place right now, laughing his ass off writing some sweet, inspiring, happy music to fit the bliss he lives in.
Fuck yeah! The guy was so sweet and amazing and bet he’s having a blast wherever he is :)
love you elliott, wherever you are! i pray for your kind soul every day.
:')
🙏
Fuck this is amazing. I'd pay anything to have been there.
As to Elliott’s appearance in this video he looks more like someone who is struggling with a personal injury than someone wasted on drugs. Though Cat Powers may have exaggerated or had some facts wrong Elliott was injured in a scuffle with the police at a Flaming Lips/Beck concert on 25 November 2002. He had some kind of reaction from the pain medication prescribed after the incident. As someone who suffers from chronic pain and spasms and tight muscles I see a physically injured person here. Elliott was also under a lot of stress because the legal issues from this encounter, though improved, were still not fully settled.
wow he looks like a mess, great music nonetheless.
He will always be my favorite.
Same here.
People like Elliott get chewed up and spit out. Yet they’re the best. I’m pretty sure it has some parallels with the Christian Messiah
Just when I can't get any lower in my life, I end up back at Elliott Smith.
"Plainclothes Man" is one of my favorite Elliott Smith songs, way back from Heatmiser days, and seeing this recording of it was excellent. On his worst day, he was still amazing. Somehow I'd missed this video before tonight.
It’s a painful tune but extremely powerful and easily digestible to individuals who are harsh self critics and who have experienced abuse. It’s gotta angsty youthful sorta glow to it.
Plainclothes Man is my all time favorite song hes written...this was far from his worst day btw
I was only able to listen to elliotts music...16 years after he s gone....man...this guy is solid. Hes an Angel.
"Thenks"
Yeah they basically took his God givin beauty and displayed it as a burnt offering instead of getting him help
'Strung Out Again' is overwhelming. xx
dude his hand is insane. I've been playing for 10+ years and i cant make my hand do that on (better be quiet now)
what about happiness intro?
took me 20 years :-) Just try Memory Lane, so much fun to play.After a couple of additional years.
Not sure you can fully appreciate the genius of ES unless you actually have tried to play his songs.
Whenever I feel like shit and worthless Elliot is always there for me 😔
Be careful ❤️🩹
Elliott is still my best musician.
He's got such a wonderful voice and very kind heart.
The most beautiful human I've ever met.
I can't thank you enough, Elliott.
XO XO XO
I've seen comments from you on other Elliott videos. They always make my heart hurt (in a good way). I was very young when he was making music, so I never got to see him play music live. But he's still my favorite musician ever. From your comments, you can feel the huge love you have for him. I hope you're doing well ❤️
This is genius at work. Drugged or not beautiful is beautiful.
he's clean here by all accounts.
he is very much clean in this
Despite being a true original he's also the perfect amalgamation of macartney Lennon Neil young Dylan Wilson and Syd Barrett. Probably why I love him so
Very well said.
Ive watched this before but never noticed he played satellite. How could I miss that! Its one of my fav songs!
My dad was in a nursing home at the end of his life. Memory Lane is the most horrifying song Ive ever heard
"high on anfetamines, the moon is a light bulb breaking and It´ll go around with anyone, but it won´t come down for anyone" That´s poetry, people.
Pablo Sinuhé how do you interpret those lines?
How to drive in Oregon Reviews personally I think your spot on good analysis 👌
I do feel sad for the man who is clearly an empathetic and sensitive person. The difficulty he had was he used his art to explore hurt and vulnerable parts of himself. I think that can leave you exposed when you share these things and also it creates a identity crisis, where the personal nature of your art becomes public. I know they werent autobiographical songs but his pain was being expressed for better and worse. I think he ended up having something to live up to, which can be such a burden. Sometimes the only way to heal is to find a place where you can fall apart safely. Thank you i hope you have found peace elliott
He is the best！ (*^^*)
I've been a big fan of his since 1996.
I feel so happy because he looked so happy!
I'd like to thank his father, Mr.Gary Smith too.
Thank you very very very much !
XO 💖
His paternal father?
I was there with my sister. It was my third time seeing him. I cried once or twice. It was truly being in the presence of greatness. Before the show he was casually walking around in the front amidst the crowd. No one bothered him. I love him. His death was one celebrity death that really hit me hard. Still saddens me so much.
I think by painful he meant, tough to watch... Just because like he said, he seems so fragile here, and this was in May 03, so close to the end... But yes, definitely enjoyable.
fucking love his voice and playing this show
i can't stand up cause i don't have no knees
48:02"I fucked up too man!"
The guy screaming i hate my life right before St ides heaven could've so easily been me. But I never knew of him when he was alive but this is true inspiration. He has an influence on my personal writing. Hail to the king of singer songwriters !
It's nice to hear 2 things in this late career show; healthy Elliott hitting his marks and songs etc. But the crowd just going nuts when a particular favorite comes up...
In the early live stuff he captures and kidnaps the crowd near every time, but here he's their HERO. That's something every talented person plagued with doubt or depression should experience at least once. (For their talent...)
The people who were able to see him live are so lucky. He died when i was 2 and i discovered him 6 years ago.
Still obsessed with him.
Still sketch him all the time.
Man, it sucks so much.
Oh nice, we are the same age, I have been listening obsessively for only a year. Do you have a snap?
You’re lucky to have gotten this though. Elliotts appeal is very familiar with the concept of pain.
If he were still around maybe he would not have had the same impact.
Elliott is a legendary Romantic composer from the postmodern era. His tragic death is a big part of his legacy and the appeal of fans.
This is definitely my favorite show of his filmed on youtube, most of my favorite songs, with good sound quality.
He looks like a moon person in that light beamed down from the heavens
He is :)
una lucha entre el yo del pasado y el del presente. melodías perfectamente desgarradas
One of the most painful Elliott Smith shows to watch,fragile and so beautiful...
sounds like you need to listen to some more of his live shows if you think this is one of his most painful. Check out his last few shows in 2001 when he can't even finish a song.
for me his saddest show is his last one at red fest
Satelite!!!
I love Elliott, all that songs are very very good!!
Its a good show. listen and stop bullshit about what u read in the gossip
This one hurts me to watch.
….I know my place- hate my face Xo M
Lyrics changed from third person to first for division day.
I am also f**ked up too man...
Omg... thank you so much.
that rendition of st ides heaven is dark
this performance really blows me away... truly his best of the later performances. at least in my opinion.
Thanks so much for this. His beauty and brilliance, always real, always Elliott. .
This is just magical! Thanks for doing this Ben but you should have still included the last two songs with a still picture or whatever for those of us without access to the audio bootlegs. The sound quality is brilliant. I want to hear Blackbird please? Wonderful rendition of Pretty :)
Cripes that Happiness intro has some weird chords.
The Best! Forever! R.I.P.
aw this is saddening :/
Dude was just great.
9:44 ...
Something dark about his key in memory lane. Lower register; easier to sing live, but many of the melody resolutions go down instead up...iunno, it seemed to me, anyway.
I like it.
I just learned how to play satellite
Thanks for sharing this. Miss you Elliott!!!
One of the few writers who can bring tears to my throat.......
your throat?
@@robykills you know like the lump in your throat you get from crying and feeling emotional I think that might be what they were getting at x
great for learning the songs. elliott seems kind
What a beautiful soul
Thanks
40:59 that lester flatt g run, classic
pretty ❤
Thanks for this!! Miss him ❤️
I love how fragile he sounds..
Bravo!!! 🙏
Thanks Elliot, your gifts are received and much appreciated!
So incredible.
If his dad feels that way he should release Abused, Taking A Fall, Stickman, and all the other finished studio tracks he won’t allow official release of due to the lyrics. And these songs are AMAZING.
Step dad* his real father was good to him from what i know
Ebbtide42 ah sorry you are 100% correct I’m sorry I didn’t make that distinction. Step dad. Who Elliott accused of abuse. And wrote a song about called “abused.” He believed it happened enough to tell his mom about it a couple months before he died.
its my understanding it was his mom and sister who didn't want those songs released@@RustinChole
is it possible to get the audio from the soundboard for the last 2 tracks that were omitted here? love this concert. thanks so much!
archive.org/details/esmith2003-05-03.flac
Memory lane is the hardest song to learn
He just didn’t care here it seems judging by his appearance can’t imagine what he was going theoufh
wearing me
what happened?
amazing work, thanks
Im gonna order, "Copete" from netflix. May Philliop Hoffman rest in peace. I`v never seen a movie that he didn`t make better. Like Elliott it`s a horrible loss that shocks the system. Damn it all.
So sad seeing him in 2003
so much pain
His poor hairline..
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
I think I was at this show? I was still living in Austin then, and I can't imagine I would have missed this... I just can't remember. I seem to have vague memories of the show, and being disappointed that it wasn't a full band show and that he played a bunch of songs I didn't know... Also: this was the second Steamboat location, and it was crap compared to the first one (which was on 6th Street).
im getting some kevin spacey in usual suspects vibes from elliott here
"all i want now is happiness for you and me" - he sings it so peacefully
I wonder if he wrote that for Chiba.. that song alone is enough to inspire me to not stab anyone until the day I die. Rest well Elliott. We love you.
@@ImprovEyes-fc9fojoanna said he wrote it for her