Elliott Smith - Bumbershoot Festival

Seattle | September 02, 2000
JEMS Archive.
Huge thanks to Chrisedge and Butterking.
00:48 - Needle In The Hay
05:00 - Bled White
08:13 - Stupidity Tries
11:40 - Coming Up Roses
14:44 - Waltz #2
19:08 - Everything Means Nothing To Me
21:58 - Clementine
24:38 - Son Of Sam
28:00 - L.A.
31:40 - Amity
34:11 - Ballad Of Big Nothing
36:46 - Cupid's Trick
40:17 - St. Ides Heaven
43:02 - Junk Bond Trader
46:44 - Division Day
49:52 - Christian Brothers
55:20 - Angeles
58:24 - Fond Farewell
01:02:00 - Alameda • Elliott Smith - Bumber...
01:05:52 - Say Yes • Elliott Smith - Bumber...

[@GodInTheMachine]

anytime i meet someone that likes his music, i know we are gonna be friends. he's the perfect litmus test for good taste. gone but not forgotten.

[@bearjmu]

Truth...I completely agree with that statement.

[@coquio]

Now kiss

[@GodInTheMachine]

Alfalfa Male are you talking to me? Are you talking to me?

[@coquio]

To both you and Shawn Sochaski - I'd gladly kiss you too because I also wholeheartedly agree with you about Elliott Smith's ability to unite great people.

[@danielw.1339]

"Good taste" is subjective.

[@jamieowen4849]

Lyrically he's up there with the greats, so underrated its criminal

[@halalburger267]

Lyrically, melodically, sonically...

[@braydendaglish3492]

Lucky # 100

[@robmaddison8645]

I, as a member of The Roman Centurion League of Antiquity, have reluctantly refrained myself from liking this comment, as much as it pains me, sitting as such it does on 100 likes!

[@tcorp12]

How can I miss a man so much without ever having known him?

[@GodInTheMachine]

cause if you listen to his lyrics, you feel like you know him. or rather HE knows YOU. he was special...

[@tomasagustinmarzetti1321]

thats right my friend!!

[@bacardi119]

onemorebrando That is exactly what I feel about his music. Most of the time I feel he knows me and talks to me through his lyrics. I feel so bad for having discovered him so late.

[@tomasagustinmarzetti1321]

you right! mee too, great music he is make trought the years.but i most to say it is a little deppresing.. XD

[@danielw.1339]

16:03 "I'm never gonna know you now But I'm gonna love you anyhow"

[@mykinfair]

RIP Elliott. His body is temporary, but his music and mind is infinite.

[@arizonabeamer]

A legendary performance by Elliott Smith featuring Jack Kerouac on the drums.

[@citroenian]

Scott McPherson at the drums...

[@johnzackarias11]

@@citroenian It was a joke.

[@citroenian]

@@johnzackarias11 Yes, I had understood it..

[@liammcooper]

i thought it was bruce springsteen for a seccond

[@minneappledv]

@@citroenian Thanks for the attribution --it's too bad that Elliott's scene was such a relative vacuum, considering the group effort that it took to support it.

[@Kapin05]

I really like how full bands tend to make his music so rock-y and upbeat, it's like "yeah, the moon _will_ kill me in time- wait what"

[@UnrealGamer099]

😂

[@jainsworr]

Elliott could've released softer acoustic and harder edged electric versions of all his songs, and they'd still be just as brilliant.

[@kinghani]

His fingerpicking at the start of Angeles is so fantastic

[@starstart23]

Beyond the genius song writing and tender sweet vocal tone, he doesn’t get enough credit for his guitar playing.

[@jeezusjuice344]

I think he gets a lot of credit from other musicians. He doesn't make it on to the lists journalists write, but other artists respect the hell out of his guitar skill. And if I were him, that would mean a lot more to me than being on Guitar World's top 100 or whatever (they've had some seriously questionably rankings, anyway).

[@vangoghsseveredear]

@@jeezusjuice344 I always say this too. Musicians seem to dig Elliott more than your average Joe, because they understand how crazy what he's doing is, even though it sounds nonchalant at times.

[@zebesian]

I love this slew of complete concerts that have recently appeared on youtube. This is the closest that I will get to ever seeing elliott play like this.

[@neildunphy]

I just fucking love this video. As with so many Smith fans it was his whispered lo fi indie shtick that I fell in love with during the 90s and it took me many years and his death to realise just what a rock star the dude was - or could have been. When he plugged in it was amazing as this footage shows. I much prefer it to the later acoustic shows where he was clearly unable to do the songs justice due to his addictions and general ill health. It's a type of voyeurism that doesn't appeal to me as someone who has trodden that path myself. Songs like Stupidity Tries, Clementine, Needle in the Hay and Christian Brothers are given new life in this setting and with these musicians. Perhaps it shows up production on some of his work. I'm thinking of Figure 8 in particular. In a plugged-in concert like this, these songs have a punch that is sadly missing on record. The drumming in particular is excellent, Lyrically Smith was a genius. I'm the only one who really understands what he is singing about. Just like you. It's what every songwriter tries to achieve and almost none do. I've been listening to this concert everyday for a while now. It keeps getting better. Thanks for posting it and thanks to the family for having this attitude to his work and to his many, many fans. Now, let's get the views above 100,000. It's a fatuous world at the best of times but thanks to Elliott and his ilk it still has some meaning. His music saves lives. XO

[@johnarundell7951]

Neil Dunphy Figure 8 is a great record and very well produced. Anyone like Elliott who plays most of the instruments most of the time is naturally a control freak and a perfectionist when it comes to his music. There is no way the album would have been released as it is if he wasn't totally happy with it. He just would have done a Jeff Buckley and scrapped it to start again. Only the best and most committed artists work to such standards and he was most definitely one of them. I don't agree that he was ever unable to do his songs justice at any time, and in fact would have preferred to see him solo if given the choice. This is great don't get me wrong I love it, but the raw power and the beauty of his words, music and emotional impact are most evident when distilled to just the man himself, a chair and a mic. Even if or when his voice or technique were not their best the 100% heart and soul were always there :)

[@kutay9346]

I can't stop listening Christian Brothers. This version is the best.

[@berkeburhan]

Ben de... Bence de...

[@KoreTake78]

Ditto

[@DeadKoby]

Nice to hear a full band with him... Elliott is such an interesting study.. and an inspiration to aspiring song writers.

[@Waverer]

woah, rock version of Needle in the Hay? Weird but I like it.

[@kuroranj]

Amen, keeps bringing back to this vid.

[@Tableworm]

Wish they'd put this concert out on vinyl

[@marktaylor23]

And you open the show. No one saw that coming

[@josephdavola7036]

I was at this show and when I heard the start of 'Needle In The Hay' at that tempo I knew I was in for a treat. Gone too soon... "Would you say the one of your dreams Got in you and ripped out the seems..."

[@JimmyBiggsMusic]

Well, that performance of Everything Means Nothing to Me just kicked the crap out of me. I don't think I need to hear anything else, ever, now.

[@yuric4311]

true

[@weaselsi3099]

he knew what he was doing. he was the one who truly felt the music.

[@WilRockQ]

I'll tell you what I get out of this. First off, Elliott is off the charts brilliant - the crazy volume of great material hasn't been matched I think by any band in the last 30 years. But also that drummer, Scott McPherson...he is superb. He deserves to play for anyone he wants

[@TenInAMillion]

Can you tell me more about him? And who is the guitar/keyboards player?

[@figure8angel]

@@TenInAMillion I know your question is old, but just in case you still don't know/care, that's Sam Coomes of Quasi.

[@marileehord3084]

Love Scott!!

[@opheliajade1986]

He is an impeccable drummer!

[@envy928]

he looks such like a scott lol

[@drago6769]

elliotts regular version of needle in the hay is amazing as are all of his songs but man, can he rock those songs with a whole band behind him

[@gergsar]

Wow, this is a stellar concert, it shows his genius, as a songwriter/lyricist, and what a beautiful voice, so intimate, and passionate. The band is great, and I really liked the keyboards.

[@zararity]

This concert should be released on DVD, brilliant setlist, tight performance, Elliott is on the ball... the version of "Cupid's Trick" here is my favourite ever. So good with a band :)

[@enamabam7]

I absolutely love "Needle in the Hay" and "Christian Brothers," and these versions are SO good!

[@smokyoregon781]

10 years later and those are the exact ones I came for! (Plus amity and say yes)

[@DrawtheCurtains]

Dude, the self-titled songs rock so fucking hard with a full band. Brilliant show.

[@gracem381]

drummer is fucking phenomenal

[@seantighe5256]

Check out sensefield if you haven’t already

[@SunShine-sv8vx]

RIP thank you for the great music you left behind

[@benjamingo111]

He is the best musician of all time

[@benjamingo111]

***** you sound like we'd be friends

[@scruffyp9480]

If it was anyone else I'd hate you for that statement lol

[@doctorjay33]

One of the best songwriters, totally under appreciated

[@dzd2371]

anyone who knows anything about songwriting knows who this guy was I'm most impressed about how much of a bitch he made his guitar

[@kevinmarinier5401]

He certainly was underrated for guitar and piano playing, along with being a once in a lifetime composer and personality. When you find out someone you know likes his music you instantly feel more connected to that person in a special way because you appreciate deep music. Elliott always said his music was poppy, and you can see it in love performance of needle in the hay, regardless of people seeing his music as sad folk.

[@skankinjimbo]

This version of 'Needle In The Hay' is brilliant!

[@paulphoenix1669]

Damn the drums give all of his songs way more life.

[@InfotainmentScan]

Better drumming on these the 2000 concerts than the 1998/99-era shows with Janet Weiss (of Quasi), too... IMO at least, others differ.

[@peterhaverland699]

This guy's name is Sam McPherson I'm told

[@tullytieyre4322]

he's so good, everything of his from around 38:30 onward through elliots solo is freakin brilliant

[@AaronAtkinsHonorableChairman]

greatest live performance of all time. easily.

[@darrenpopovich3671]

I'm so thankful this exists. I feel so shafted in life because I'll never get to see it in person but this is an amazing concert.

[@TheCharlesBakerHarrises]

clementine sounds so amazing with drums :O

[@Vinilemoane]

This is my favourite video in youtube.

[@JVincentFarron]

Elliott is my hero.without his music..forget it.game over.Thank You Elliott

[@lurevideos]

knocking the mic over accidentally and skipping over to the next one..... naturally, like a true artist..... 3:20 minutes

[@matthewpedigo2149]

These are some of the best songs ever written.

[@loganarchermusic]

That drummer is fantastic. Tasteful and powerful.

[@Confounded321]

I got into Elliott Smith at around 14, just before he died; the fact I'll never get to see him live will always kill me, but goodness me, at least I have it. Like a lot of you, his music has dragged me through some tough times. So grateful to this guy and his wonderful, timeless talent. Thanks, bud. Also, Christian Brothers with Quasi... shiiiiyat.

[@jeezusjuice344]

That might be the best version of Christian Brothers I've heard. This was a great concert. I didn't discover his music until a couple of years ago, but I wish like crazy that I had. Still, my parents probably wouldn't have let me go to his concerts when I was 15, but whatever. There are a lot of artists considered his contemporaries, but there's something he had that they don't, and whatever that is makes me keep coming back to his music: nothing else quite satisfies my ears the same way.

[@jake_villanueva]

This live performance is so good. The full band truly does wonders for his music. Love the stripped down solo shows too but he looks so good here and the band sounds so tight.

[@hoagiemusic]

This is so well shot and recorded, and performed! Peak Elliott. Simply awe inspiring. A guitar master class, watching this set made me run out and get a semi hollow. One of the best guitarists and singer-songwriters of all time. This could be an official release.

[@opheliajade1986]

I'm not a seasoned player or knowledgeable when it comes to guitars, can you tell me what guitar he's playing here? Semi hollow ____?

[@hoagiemusic]

@@opheliajade1986 Gibson ES-330 😁

[@deeplyblue7299]

He sounded amazing live , i miss him .I'm never gonna know you now but I'm gonna love you anyhow

[@rodscoelho]

Despite sound quality, is nice to watch a full concert. Elliott remains as one of the last sighs of inteligent life in music. True genius.

[@PaulaHinvaitt]

Thanks for sharing. I love you elliott smitt.

[@middlecreekguy]

On nights I'm drinking and firing one up this is a must hear at high volume. What a rock show this guy could manufacture with very little. A great songwriter/artist that left us way way too soon.

[@hobieslug45]

how can every song be my favorite???????????

[@42Zph908]

I can't believe I'm only hearing Elliott's music for the first time in 2013... What an incredible shame he is gone.

[@zylonandtamponhead]

why does everyone say that? He did his thing, and fought off suicide a lot, from the sounds of things. Jesus, if he was still eating milk and cookies and going on facebook, he prolly wouldn't be the Elliott Smith that you love.

[@robinstratigakis7395]

zylonandtamponhead Relax man

[@aureodelacruz]

zylonandtamponhead he would be the same guy he was, maybe he wouldnt be the guy you picture he was

[@Alexdrod]

zylonandtamponhead Listened to Smith while he was alive. Loved his music just as much. Special is special.

[@jhiramboggs]

Saw him 6 times in Seattle but missed this one

[@goodgrief78]

Wow. He's doing Alameda. I love that song.

[@matthewcobrien]

Sam Coomes (Quasi) on bass and back up vocals. Sadly I missed this show, but saw Elliott with Quasi in Portland the year before.

[@GungaLaGunga77]

I was literally going to write this exact comment! I saw Elliott playing with Quasi in Portland at the Crystal Ballroom. Sam of course was part of Heatmiser with Elliott as well.

[@subtoxin]

Holy s***, I was there! I think about this performance a lot, was a big ES fan but I didn't fully appreciate this at the time, thinking there were many more concerts to come. Thank you for posting this!

[@dingodundee1649]

Absolute best version of "Christian Brothers live."

[@divine483]

Best take of St. Ides Heaven So nice Band Version

[@FenderJazzStudent]

. Wow! This is amazing, with the fast, almost 'upbeat' "Needle In The Hay" opener; just awesome. His voice is so crystal clear and powerful. This performance defies whatever people's conception of him as being a painfully quiet and shy recluse.

[@capeannauction9253]

Every time I listen to Elliott Smith, I want to be a better person afterwards. I hope that in his short life he enjoyed knowing that he had that effect on people sometimes.

[@KhalDrogo76]

oh man Son of Sam, one of his most powerful tracks...never gets old !!!! RIP Maestro!

[@Loudersoft]

Elliott's electric reimaginings of his songs are still better than most people's best acoustic songs. This was incredible, thank you.

[@bluesriot2]

the album XO by the amazingly talented Elliott Smith changed my life forever for the better. I can't recommend it enough

[@SkabCrowley]

best hat ever no joke

[@Luke-er6mr]

Elliott really nailed this performance. Sang great and played great. These songs just sound so good live and loud. I miss you.

[@millennialanimal]

I’m so jaded, but it never fails to amaze me that so much genius came from one man.

[@XenomorphLV426]

This is an amazing set. Lucky people who got to see him.

[@Magicpositions]

Amazing concert! it's pity we can no longer see Elliott play live, feels like life misses a huge part when this kind of greatness is gone for good.

[@viniciuscomacento]

His voice is amazing here! So as the backin' band.

[@synapticgroove1868]

I can't help but feel that the earth cried when Buckley and he shuffled off of this mortal coil. Posterity is smiling down upon them :) Brilliant!!!

[@JakeKolesar]

man elliott was really on his game!

[@bobbyj7470]

This version of Cupid's Trick is so good! How did that tune never become a hit? Oh yeah, cause popular music sucks. What a great show.

[@yongxuechen3389]

everything means nothing to me , almost got me on tears

[@avefiggy2128]

Beautiful person🌻🌻🌻🌻😭

[@moltenguava9418]

ive never heard a version of needle in the hay like this, absolutely amazing

[@dansolo9978]

5:14 One of My all time favourites, and Bottle up & Explode... Why oh why.!? Still missing You...

[@prescott33]

From the first second they started playing...WOW

[@ratboysgirl1013]

Oh my god. What a set to open with an electric Needle in the Hay! Heaven.

[@flashthejoker1]

this is the best Elliot smith performance.... Goosebumps all over!!

[@thebehzat]

This is the best thing on youtube. I was destined to watch this, my computer just clicked on this video by accident and low and behold there's, elliot smith. AWESOME!

[@RustinChole]

I love the rock versions of these songs so much.

[@mclguitar1]

St. Ides heaven is my all time favorite Elliott song. I would've killed to go to this show.

[@Rocks4You97]

Great live. Great band, the bassist sings really good.

[@oreides]

my god, that crowd is solid stone.

[@j1goreczny]

Woah, Christian Brothers sounds amazing here.

[@arthurbittencourt1994]

one of the best concerts on youtube

[@lightfootst.claire442]

People like Elliot only come around once every 50 years.

[@adrockcryers2]

I am incredibly grateful that I stumbled upon this video. Simply amazing. I could watch it over and over again.

[@justinjaner]

"Bled White" with Sam's harmonies is Soo Good!

[@rene2899]

Tremendo el final de Everything Means Nothing To Me, especialmente la batería.

[@bhasdavis5940]

An amazing version of cupid's trick.

[@Jasonlimitless]

Well this isn't fair. Now I want heavier recordings of all his songs ):

[@bopbopperono58]

That's why Basement is my favourite of his. I want a heavy-as-fuck rendition of Speed Trials.

[@scruffyp9480]

Needle in the hay in particular sounds amazing like that!

[@ikramchoudhury8554]

Clementine sounds like a new song !

[@eelnai2503]

@@bopbopperono58 duuuude tell me about it. I wanna do a heavy af version of it so bad.

[@northseaeyes]

how kool ! I was at Bumbershoot in 1981, great festival, great adventure with Louis and the Royal American Airforce Mothership ( a van that picked us up hitching up the coast ) Hope Elliot Smith had a great day that day in 2000 x

[@DrCherylMeier]

I was always so glad when Sam was with him on tour. Thanks for uploading this! I hadn't seen it. love to you. love to elliott

[@theboyoofoly]

this made my day

[@giordanagreotti4328]

Great, Great, Great Elliott's music and voice! I miss and I love him so much... Luckyly I can find exellent live records.. thank you so much for posting!

[@konundrum3678]

I think this is the best live ES performance with a full band on YT....thanks Tumtum...!

[@jessicathomason5319]

This show was excellent, what a treat to find it here ❤

[@blakesadler]

thank you so much for having this up. it's always interesting to hear him live in this era and the Big Star/Alex Chilton influence that came out when he played earlier stuff that he originally did acoustically. I've always loved the versions of Needle In The Hay that came out around this time. This is a great set of power pop, but also seems to get Elliott's other nuances in there somehow. Cheers Tumtum!

[@chriskouldukis5906]

jesus christ you are my hero...elliott + Jeff = best artists ever

[@russianvillageboy]

Love this drummer

[@averagebusinessmen2]

i also love hearing all his acoustic songs converted into a rock format

[@maryhyland]

Elliott.....this guy was so fucking incredible....

[@radiocure5459]

Recently watched "heaven adores you" and fell in love with this version of waltz #2, I don't think this is the one from the film but this drum and bass in these live versions make me insanely happy

[@FenderJazzStudent]

I love watching this concert!!! Elliott's band was so spot on, and I love how even his dark songs sound upbeat, which I guess was a part of his genius. He's one of my biggest influences in music, and life.

[@konundrum3678]

Best live version of Bled White!

[@anthonyrotar]

this was uploaded on my birthday thankyou

[@theoptiml]

Happy Birthday tomorrow! Mine is on Sunday:)

[@anthonyrotar]

thankyou